T21 Gr. 3 - Mercy for Marthas

FREE Social Stories About Bullying

Published on September 23, 2026September 23, 2026 by Mary Cooney1 Comment

With a new school year in full swing, many parents and children are feeling anxious about the possibility of bullying. Multiple studies have shown that children with special needs are at higher risk of being victimized by bullying. In fact, they are two to three times more likely to experience bullying. Children with speech difficulties are even more vulnerable. And the psychological and emotional consequences sometimes last into adulthood.

Being proactive about this issue, and helping children recognize bullying even before it happens is one way to help prevent and mitigate patterns of bullying. So, here are two highly-illustrated, FREE social stories about bullying, written for children with (or without) special needs.

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A FREE Reading Comprehension Workbook About Saints

Published on August 11, 2026August 11, 2026 by Mary Cooney4 Comments

Here’s a FREE reading comprehension workbook about the lives of saints for students in grades 2-4. Now that my son has learned to read, he is reading to learn. A reading comprehension workbook is a perfect way to combine religion and reading.

I wrote it with the differentiated classroom in mind: the large font makes it accessible to most students, large colorful pictures aid interest and comprehension, and the variety of activities allow teachers to choose what’s best for their students.

As more and more Catholic schools adopt inclusion programs for students with special needs, more and more teachers need curricula that can work for a variety of learners. So when I make resources for my son and the kids in our co-op, I try to include different levels of learning.

If you’re a home school mom, this workbook also allows you to cover the same material with different ages.

This workbook can be used for children in grades 2-4 with various levels of comprehension and writing activities.

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Nature Study for Kids with Special Needs: Amphibians and Reptiles

Published on July 27, 2026July 28, 2026 by Mary CooneyLeave a comment

Here’s a unit study on Amphibians and Reptiles I created for my son with Down Syndrome who is entering third grade. I made this to boost my son’s reading comprehension while helping him to marvel at the wonderful world of insects. Studying nature teaches children to observe closely and quietly and to appreciate the wonders of creation. These worksheets were designed to complement the activity of looking at real amphibians and reptiles and observing their traits and behaviors. However, they can also be used as stand-alone reading comprehension and writing activities.

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Nature Study for Kids with Special Needs: Insects

Published on July 7, 2026July 13, 2026 by Mary CooneyLeave a comment

Here’s a unit study on Insects I created for my son with Down Syndrome who is entering third grade. I made this to boost my son’s reading comprehension while helping him to marvel at the wonderful world of insects. Studying nature teaches children to observe closely and quietly and to appreciate the wonders of creation. These worksheets were designed to complement the activity of watching real insects and observing their traits and behaviors. However, they can also be used as stand-alone reading comprehension and writing activities.

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