Hi, I’m Emma Ryan — special education teacher, BCBA, and creator of The Learning Garden.
I entered the field of education because I thought it was my best chance at changing the world. I still kind of believe that — just with a lot more humility!
My classroom career has taken me everywhere: first through eighth grade, general ed and self-contained, urban schools and rural ones, Catholic school classrooms packed with 35 first graders and quiet resource rooms with just a few students. In 2024 I added my BCBA certification to the mix. What I’ve learned during all of these experiences is that the right resource at the right moment can genuinely change how a student experiences their day — and how a teacher experiences theirs.
For a long time I leaned heavily on resources other people made. I don’t know what I would have done without them. But there were a few very specific things I needed that I simply couldn’t find — so I made them myself. And then I thought: someone else probably needs these too.
That’s The Learning Garden. Practical resources for executive functioning, life skills, ABA, and special education — built by someone who has actually been in the room.