You made it! It is the end of the year and we have all survived...and at times even thrived...a pandemic. I am so proud of you and all that you have overcome. Let’s finish out the year strong, and together. In this week’s episode I want to share with you a few tips that have worked for me to add just a little calm to the chaos. In this episode you will learn: The benefits of still maintaining a schedule How to adapt grading to make it easier on yourself How to set up centers so you can get 1:1 t...
May 13, 2021•15 min•Ep. 59
Title: How to Incorporate Social Skills in the Special Ed Classroom Challenging behaviors can appear at any time from any student, but they always seem to be more prevalent in the Spring. Where do these behaviors come from and how can we respond appropriately? Join me in this week’s episode as I chat with Amanda and Danielle from Navigating Behavior Change for answers to these questions and more. In this episode you will learn: The benefits of using the scope and sequence method in teaching beha...
May 06, 2021•28 min•Ep. 58
As special education teachers we are tasked with the unique job of teaching both state standards and a student’s personalized IEP goals. It can be very overwhelming at times. In this week’s episode, I’m going to share with you some strategies that I have found that can make things a little easier to balance. In this episode you will learn: The benefits of focusing on state standards in whole group instruction How to use your one on one time for IEP goal instruction How to turn circle time into s...
Apr 29, 2021•12 min
Are your ducks a little out of line right now? Do you feel like you are completely overwhelmed to the point that you don’t even know where to start? Join me as I chat with Lauren Larson from Structure Special Ed about all things organization in this week’s episode. In this episode you will learn: The benefits of finding your own system How to adapt what you already have in place How to stop listening to what works for others and find your own path About the benefits of trial and error Links and ...
Apr 22, 2021•24 min•Ep. 56
The end of the school year is right around the corner! Statewide testing and IEP season are both in full swing. So how do you and your students finish the year strong? Join me for this week’s episode where I will share some tips and strategies for you and your kiddos to be the best that you can be! In this episode you will learn: The benefits of the pyeudonym PIRATES How to help your students prepare for testing How to stay organized and sane during IEP season About being intentional with your t...
Apr 15, 2021•14 min
Being a new teacher can be such a scary thing. Some have just graduated and have a good foundation, others are coming from different fields entirely and need tons of support as they make the transition. Teacher Mentors an absolute necessity for those first crucial years. In this week’s episode I’m chatting with Kasey and Madison from Ability Driven Teaching about how to be an impactful teacher mentor. In this episode you will learn: The importance of setting a schedule with your mentee Simple wa...
Apr 08, 2021•28 min•Ep. 54
The dream of every special education teacher is for their students to be in a positive learning environment: behaviors are appropriate, students are engaged and succeeding. So how do we get our classrooms to this utopia? One of the key steps is giving positive and specific praise as often as you can. In this week’s episode we will talk about positive and specific praise and how to use it correctly to create your very own dream world. In this episode you will learn: The benefits of positive and s...
Apr 01, 2021•9 min•Ep. 53
Are your students pushing your buttons as we near the end of the school year? Do you feel like your entire classroom needs a reset button? Join me in this week’s episode of Be the Exception as I talk with Chyna, an elementary behavioral special education teacher. She shares some strategies that are tried and true to get your students back on track and maintain some order to finish strong. In this episode you will learn: The benefits of building relationships with your students, even if you don’t...
Mar 25, 2021•19 min•Ep. 52
Title: Being Intentional with Wait Times as a Teacher So what is wait time? How much should you give? There are so many questions when we deal with our students who are struggling with developmental delays and sometimes not enough answers. In this week’s episode we will talk about the definition of wait times, the benefits of allowing for longer ones and how paying attention to the directives given makes all the difference in the world. In this episode you will learn: The benefits of allowing ex...
Mar 18, 2021•13 min
Our students come to us with so much background and history. There are pieces that can be traumatic and those affect their daily behavior in the classroom. So how do we deal with trauma in our students, how do we help them be successful in spite of their past? In this week’s episode I am joined by Rachel from Safe Space Teaching who will share with us strategies for creating a trauma informed classroom. Her tips are easy to put in place, but have a huge impact on learning. In this episode you wi...
Mar 11, 2021•30 min
Every special education teacher has to write IEP goals..it does not matter what level you teach or what grade level you work with. Writing effective goals does not have to be difficult. There are 5 easy steps that you can take right now that will have you feeling like a pro in no time. Join me for this week’s episode and learn to write data driven, measurable goals! In this episode you will learn: The benefits of a Post-It Party to get organized How to write a SMART Goal How to know which areas ...
Mar 04, 2021•12 min
We all know that one of the biggest factors in student learning is classroom management. But, how can we make strides in student behavior and organization? It all begins with being intentional! Join Erin Godwin from Organized in Elementary as she chats with me in this week’s episode about decluttering and structuring your environment to become a rock star at classroom management. In this episode you will learn: The benefits of structure and routines in the classroom How to adapt to the needs of ...
Feb 25, 2021•24 min
If you have spent any time in a classroom then you know that managing student behaviors can be a challenge. There are so many varied situations and structuring your classroom to meet the needs of each student is an ever changing task. Having some go-to tools can make life just a little easier. Join me in this week’s episode as we discuss building out your behavior toolbox. In this episode you will learn: The benefits of knowing the ABCs of student behavior How to the type of behavior occurring H...
Feb 18, 2021•13 min
Scattered papers, pens laying around the room, data collection forms with ripped edges in a haphazard stack on the windowsill, seventeen windows open on your laptop...sound like your life? Then this episode is for you! You are a great teacher, you just need a few tips to get yourself organized so you can focus more on being present for your students. Join me as I chat with Jennifer DeBrosse from Positively Learning about an organized classroom and organized data collection methods. Jennifer will...
Feb 11, 2021•23 min
Predetermination is when any member of the IEP team makes decisions before the IEP meeting and fails to seek parental input in those decisions. This not only goes against what is in the best interest of the student, it is also illegal. IDEA states that parental input must be included in the IEP team’s decisions. In this episode, I will share with you 4 ways that you can avoid predetermination and all the legal headaches that can come with it. Don’t worry, these are simple strategies that even th...
Feb 04, 2021•10 min
Mindset is all about our attitude and how we interact with our emotions. As teachers, especially this year we have to find ways to recognize the negative and then move past it to the positives. We need action steps to reach a mindset that allows us to be present for ourselves, our colleagues and our students and their families. In this episode Lindsay Titus shares with us some easy and simple things we can do right now to improve our mindset. Join us as we learn about the journey out of Shouldvi...
Jan 28, 2021•31 min
4 Simple Strategies for Special Education Teachers Needed in 2021. I’m back and ready to tackle the last few months of school with you! There are many things to come in the next few weeks as we chat about all the things you have been asking for! For now, sit back and relax as we learn to love on ourselves and set some self-care goals and boundaries for 2021. 2020 was hard and 2021 has started off much the same. As teachers of special needs students we must find renewed energy, lower stress level...
Jan 21, 2021•9 min
Who is this for? This episode will appeal to special education teachers who often suffer from burnout and compassion fatigue but may not know how to create a self-care plan that will lead them down a path of improved mental health. By the end of the podcast, you’ll have a list of resources, tips, and techniques that you can put into action immediately to begin creating a self-care plan that works best for you. I'm a special education teacher/school leader who has maintained a passion for mindful...
Nov 12, 2020•15 min
Have you struggled to find the resources you need to teach your older SPED students the skills they need to transition into adulthood? Do you want to take your job preparedness lessons beyond just filling out applications and job interviews? You know they need more, you know each of them may need something different, and now you’re trying to teach them necessary vocational and life skills... virtually. Help is on the way in the form of practical advice as well as access to valuable resources - s...
Oct 15, 2020•25 min
We all know how valuable - and necessary - observations are. As teachers, we learn about our students every day from observing them. Their strengths as well as the areas upon which we need to focus. But knowing the value of observation doesn’t make it any easier when the person being observed is… you! I’m here to share with you 10 tips to help you ROCK your next observation. By being as prepared as you can - and remembering to breathe - you’ll be able to show your admin( and anyone else who stop...
Oct 08, 2020•12 min
As a SPED teacher, your list of have-to-dos, want-to-dos, and wish-I-could-dos is a mile long at the start of every day. Even if getting to the end of that list is nothing more than a dream, there are ways to get more done. Ways to be more effective and productive as you manage your classroom. My good friend Sofie from Where I-Aut-a Be will be with us today, sharing her pro tips on building rapport with parents, data collection, and the importance of seeking out a mentor. She also shares with us...
Oct 01, 2020•22 min
Are you wondering how to replace the learning, experience, and just plain fun of community-based instruction (CBI) and field trips this year? Whether you’re teaching virtually, in-person, or a mix of the two, chances are your options for student trips are seriously limited. The good news is your students don’t have to miss out on the learning or the fun! Much like just about everything else this year, it simply takes some creativity. By going on trips as a class virtually, students can explore f...
Sep 24, 2020•14 min
Does creating a schedule for your self-contained SPED classroom seem like a puzzle that can’t be solved? Every time you think you’ve got it, you realize you’re missing a piece or you suddenly find an extra piece with no space left to fit it into the big picture. Today, I’m thrilled to have Lisa Hollady of Chalkboard SuperHero joining me on the podcast. Her scheduling skills are pretty legendary and she’s sharing tips and strategies to help us gain some scheduling superpowers of our own. Lisa als...
Sep 17, 2020•35 min
We teachers knew starting this school year was going to be like nothing we’d experienced before. And now that I’m a couple of weeks in, I can say with complete confidence, we were right. I’ve learned some lessons already - because the teacher is always a student, too right?!? There’s something to learn and discover nearly every day about this new way of teaching. Whether it’s quirks about some of our technology, or ways that same technology can make our days run more smoothly and efficiently, or...
Sep 10, 2020•15 min
No doubt we’ve all had personal experience with a garden. Whether you have a green thumb or struggle to keep plants and flowers alive, planting and tending to a garden teaches you about more than just plants. The same is true for our students. I am a huge fan of classroom gardens - and have had great success with them over the years. Student learning through gardening can lead to reaching IEP, related services, math, reading, and life skills goals - and more. I always love having an opportunity ...
Aug 20, 2020•26 min
It’s not necessary to say - again - that this back to school presents teachers with challenges we haven’t faced before. One of those challenges is keeping students and staff safe by following social distancing guidelines. This includes wearing a face covering, most often masks. For some of our students, particularly those with sensory sensitivities, wearing face masks will be difficult. Today I’m excited to share with you some strategies and tips I’ve developed that will help you and your studen...
Aug 13, 2020•11 min
Feeling overwhelmed by all there is to do and learn as a teacher is normal. We’ve all felt like it - more than once! The important thing remember is that while feeling overwhelmed is okay, not doing anything about it isn’t. Because you can’t be your best anything with you’re overwhelmed and depleted - not your best teacher self, not your best friend self, and certainly not your best wife and mom self. So what can you do when you feel that way? My good friend Brianna Shoulders will be with us tod...
Aug 06, 2020•27 min
Were you hoping this year’s back to school was going to look a lot like last year’s back to school? Yeah, me too. But that’s simply not our reality. For many states and districts, Back to School 2020 means adopting a fully virtual or blended learning environment. And that means taking all we learned about teaching our special education students this spring and doing it again. But this time, we’re going to raise the bar on virtual learning. We’re going to work together and support each other as w...
Jul 30, 2020•16 min
Can you imagine spending your days in a classroom where everyone thought you were different or weird? Where not even the teachers understood why you behaved the way you did and why some things came easily to you and others were so very hard? You knew you were uncomfortable and things were difficult and strange for you, but you didn’t know why. And no one else knew why either. I’m thrilled to have Becca Lory Hector join us today. After finally being diagnosed on the autism spectrum as an adult, B...
Jul 23, 2020•38 min
Thinking about all the things you need to start a new school year can be overwhelming. You know there are supplies and materials you need to create a classroom that is safe and interactive and organized and… Then once you’ve made your list of everything you need - the list that just keeps getting longer - you realize creating that classroom of your dreams is going to be expensive. But it doesn’t have to be. There are items that are true “must-haves” and others that will make your life easier and...
Jul 16, 2020•13 min
