Welcome to a brand new month on the podcast! July is all about working with one of the most essential (and often most misunderstood) members of your classroom team—your paraprofessionals . In this episode, Jennifer kicks off the series by discussing one of the most important shifts you’ll ever make as a special educator: moving from a boss mentality to a leadership mindset . If you’ve ever struggled with managing adults, felt unsure about how to delegate, or dreaded para drama more than your to-...
Jul 02, 2025•13 min•Ep. 217
In this final episode of our June Summer Strategy series, we’re turning the spotlight back on YOU —your growth, your leadership, and your mindset. Summer isn’t just a time to rest (though that’s definitely important!)—it’s also the perfect opportunity for intentional learning that fills your cup instead of draining it. Whether you want to build stronger systems, lead your para team more effectively, or learn how to better support your autistic learners, this episode reminds you that professional...
Jun 25, 2025•10 min•Ep. 216
Let’s be real — August sneaks up fast. The to-do lists pile up, caseloads change, para schedules shift, and IEP meetings seem to pop up before you’ve even unpacked your room. In today’s episode, I’m sharing 5 simple, actionable prep tasks you can tackle this summer — without spending hours in your classroom or losing your well-deserved rest. These are quick wins that can be done in short bursts of 15–30 minutes to give you a major head start when back-to-school season hits. In This Episode You’l...
Jun 18, 2025•11 min•Ep. 215
Summer break is here—but before you fill every day with appointments, activities, and professional development, let’s pause. This episode is all about helping you find a better balance between rest, personal growth, boundaries, and just the right amount of planning. Whether you’re someone who jumps directly into prep mode or someone who needs some solid nap time or lazy mornings (or both!), this episode will help you use your summer with intention —not obligation. In This Episode, You'll Learn: ...
Jun 11, 2025•11 min•Ep. 214
In this first episode of our Summer Strategies for Special Educators series, we’re taking a pause before the full summer reset begins. Whether your classroom is already packed up or you're heading into Extended School Year, this is the perfect moment to reflect on the past year. What went well? What could have gone better? And what absolutely crashed and burned? Jennifer walks you through a simple, reflective framework designed just for special educators. You'll review key areas like paraprofess...
Jun 04, 2025•13 min•Ep. 213
This week’s episode wraps up our teacher burnout series with a powerful collection of real-world advice from real special educators. In Episode 212 , we hear from 14 special educators from the special education community who share their own burnout prevention strategies—no fluff, no theory, just real talk and real tools. From setting boundaries and saying no, to reclaiming your time, creating meaningful routines, and finding ways to recharge with movement, mindset, and joy—this episode is filled...
May 28, 2025•20 min•Ep. 212
In this episode of Special Education for Beginners , we’re continuing our focus on teacher burnout —and today’s topic might be the most practical yet. As special educators, we often pour from an empty cup. We overcommit, stay late, skip lunch, and carry the emotional weight of the work home with us. But burnout doesn’t just happen because of how much we’re doing—it happens when we don’t have boundaries in place to protect our time, energy, and mental health. In this episode, I’m sharing 5 realis...
May 21, 2025•13 min•Ep. 211
Hey there, special educators! This week on Special Education for Beginners, we’re continuing our month-long series on teacher burnout with a powerful, honest, and deeply important conversation. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jessica Werner , founder of Northshore Learning and a passionate advocate for teacher wellness. Dr. Werner works with schools across the globe to help retain great educators by addressing the real causes of burnout—especially those tied to student needs and behavior—an...
May 14, 2025•23 min•Ep. 210
Burnout isn’t just being tired—it’s about feeling empty. And most likely, it's something we all face at some point in our career. In this episode, we discuss the emotional, physical, and mental weight of teacher burnout—especially in the world of special education. From the never-ending paperwork to the emotional energy required just to make it through the day, it’s no wonder so many educators are running on empty. In this episode, Jennifer shares 5 key “buckets” of real, restorative strategies ...
May 07, 2025•20 min•Ep. 209
Surprise! April had five Wednesdays, so you're getting a bonus episode to wrap up our Inclusion Series—and this one is all about action . Throughout the month, we’ve broken down the barriers to inclusion, defined what inclusion really means, explored reverse inclusion, and shared how to build strong inclusive teams. But there’s one piece we haven’t covered yet: how to actually implement inclusion successfully . In this episode, I’m sharing practical, realistic tips to help you support students i...
Apr 30, 2025•14 min•Ep. 208
Inclusion sounds amazing in theory—but in practice? It can feel scary, complicated, and even a little overwhelming. In today’s episode, I’m addressing into the real-world barriers that can stand in the way of building inclusive classrooms… and sharing what we can do to push past them. From time constraints and unclear roles to limited resources and resistance from staff, we’re talking about the tough stuff—and how to respond with creativity, teamwork, and intention. You’ll walk away from this ep...
Apr 23, 2025•20 min•Ep. 207
This third segment in our April inclusion series discusses the crucial aspect of building successful inclusion teams . If you missed the earlier discussions on the core principles of inclusion and reverse inclusion strategies , be sure to check out the previous episodes. Today, we focus on the importance of teamwork in providing inclusive classrooms for our students because true inclusivity cannot be achieved single-handedly. Key Insights: The Power of Teamwork: Effective inclusion requires a un...
Apr 16, 2025•16 min•Ep. 206
We are continuing the theme of Inclusion during the month of April. In my opinion, inclusion is one of the most important things that we can do for our students, but finding ways to do that can be challenging, especially when your program is self-contained and when your students are with you, the majority, if not all, of the school day. You're going to have to get creative in finding those opportunities. And that's where today's guests come in. Megan and Jen from Moms Managing Behavior have crea...
Apr 09, 2025•26 min•Ep. 205
Inclusion is a word we hear constantly—in IEP meetings, PD sessions, and school mission statements. But for many special educators, inclusion still feels more like a buzzword than a practical reality. In this episode of Special Education for Beginners , I discuss what inclusion really means—and why it’s more than just placing a student in a general education seat. I share my personal perspective on the true purpose of special education , offer real-life stories that bring inclusion to life, and ...
Apr 02, 2025•13 min•Ep. 204
In this final installment of our series on assistive technology (AT), I want to provide you with a way to effectively plan and implement AT within your IEPs. This episode provides educators with a comprehensive toolkit designed to ensure that all students have the tools they need to succeed and gain independence in their learning environments. What You'll Learn: How to effectively integrate assistive technology into IEPs. Strategies for involving all stakeholders in the AT planning process. An o...
Mar 26, 2025•14 min•Ep. 203
Welcome to this episode of Special Education for Beginners , where we are continuing the discussion on assistive technology in special education. As we continue this series, today's episode focuses on how to build sustainable systems that endure and evolve with our educational needs and changes. Joining us is Paige Buckingham, the Assistive Technology Lead Facilitator for Kansas Infinitec, who has been instrumental in training districts, including mine, to integrate and sustain assistive technol...
Mar 19, 2025•23 min•Ep. 202
Today we're going beyond the basics of Assistive Technology and exploring its expansive potential to transform educational experiences for students with special needs. Joining us today is Brian, CEO of RoboKind, who brings a wealth of experience with over 15 years in educational technology leadership. We'll be discussing: The challenges teachers face with understanding and implementing AT. How RoboKind's innovative technologies are providing real solutions that align with educational standards a...
Mar 12, 2025•31 min•Ep. 201
🎉Today we're celebrating a big milestone—it's our 200th episode! 🎉 This March, we're exploring the important, but sometimes confusing, topic of Assistive Technology in education. Today we cover the basics of assistive technology—what it is, why it can seem confusing, who’s responsible for it and how we can better address it in our IEPs. Listen in as we: Breakdown the definition of AT to more easily understand it Discuss examples in our own everyday lives Clarify why AT can seem confusing and h...
Mar 05, 2025•13 min•Ep. 200
In this episode of Special Education for Beginners , we’re wrapping up our ESL series with practical, easy-to-implement strategies for supporting Dual Language Learners (DLLs) who also have IEPs. Throughout February, we’ve explored the challenges and best practices for working with the multilingual learners on our caseloads. This week, I’m sharing 7 actionable strategies to help your students access content, develop language skills, and build confidence. 📌 7 Strategies to Support ELLs 1️⃣ Lever...
Feb 26, 2025•15 min•Ep. 199
This month on Special Education for Beginners we are discussing the essentials of supporting multilingual learners in special education settings. Today, we are joined by Katherine Hamilton, Vice President of Programs at Ensemble Learning, to discuss creating inclusive environments that not only meet the educational needs of multilingual students but also celebrate their diverse cultural identities. Talking Points: Supporting Multilingual and Dual Identified Students: Effective instructional prac...
Feb 19, 2025•34 min•Ep. 198
Welcome to a new month here at Special Education for Beginners! All February long we will be discussing a topic that many special educators encounter but don’t always feel fully prepared to support— English Language Learners. In this introductory episode, we’re breaking down the basics of English as a Second Language (ESL) and how it intersects with special education. Many special educators encounter English Language Learners (ELLs) but often struggle to distinguish between language barriers and...
Feb 05, 2025•13 min•Ep. 197
The theme for January 2025 has been all about learning how to implement student-led IEPs. To wrap up this series of episodes, I'm joined by a teacher who works within my district and who has been implementing student-led IEPs for the last 2 years. Listen in as Bristol Bale and I discuss the real-life application of this transformative practice. Key Discussion Points: Why Student-Led IEPs? Bristol shares her initial motivations for shifting to student-led IEPs, highlighting the lack of student aw...
Jan 29, 2025•15 min•Ep. 196
Welcome back to Special Education for Beginners ! Over the last two episodes, we’ve been diving into the important topic of student-led Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). In the first episode, we explored what student-led IEPs are , who they’re for, and why they matter. Last week, I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Daniel Biegun, who shared some incredible insights about the life skills students develop through this process—skills like communication, self-advocacy, and collaboration...
Jan 22, 2025•13 min•Ep. 195
Last week, we kicked off our first theme of the year with a broad look at student-led IEPs . We discussed who student-led IEPs are for and provided a a brief overview of what the process looks like before, during, and after the meeting. If you missed episode 193 , go back and catch up...it’s a great foundation for today’s discussion, so be sure to check it out! This week, I’m excited to continue the discussion of student-led IEPs with a conversation with Dr. Daniel Biegun who is here to build re...
Jan 15, 2025•21 min•Ep. 194
Welcome to the first episode of 2025! As we start the new year, it's the perfect time to explore new and empowering approaches to special education. This episode unpacks the essentials of Student-Led IEPs, their importance, and how they vary across different educational stages. Join us as we outline actionable strategies for implementing these meetings and discuss the tremendous impact they can have on students' educational experiences. What We Cover in This Episode: Overview of Student-Led IEPs...
Jan 08, 2025•14 min•Ep. 193
In this episode of Special Education for Beginners , Jennifer shares 15 gift ideas to help you show appreciation to your paraprofessionals and support staff this holiday season. From completely free options to more personalized gifts, this episode has something for every budget. Tune in to discover thoughtful and practical ways to make your team feel valued and supported. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why showing appreciation to your staff is essential for building a cohesive and positive t...
Dec 11, 2024•13 min•Ep. 192
Welcome back to Special Education for Beginners ! Today’s episode is a special one as we close out our beloved "Ask Us Anything" series with my incredible co-host, Paul. After two amazing years of working together, including 11 months of answering your burning questions about special education, Paul and I are wrapping up this chapter of the podcast. We’ve tackled everything from scheduling nightmares and behavior strategies to managing paraprofessionals and navigating IEPs. Through it all, we’ve...
Dec 05, 2024•30 min•Ep. 191
In the final part of our three-part series on administering achievement tests, we’re focusing on how to present results confidently in IEP meetings. Sharing test results can feel intimidating, but with the right strategies, you can turn these meetings into meaningful, collaborative discussions. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to present your report as a conversation rather than simply reading the data. The importance of using parent-friendly language and providing clear, actionable explanatio...
Nov 27, 2024•16 min•Ep. 190
In this episode of Special Education for Beginners , we continue our three-part series on administering achievement tests by focusing on how to write professional, comprehensive reports based on the data you’ve collected. Writing a well-organized report isn’t just a formality—it’s a critical step in the evaluation process that guides decision-making and sets the foundation for collaboration with your IEP team. You’ll learn: Why writing a clear, professional report is essential for documenting th...
Nov 20, 2024•16 min
In this episode, we kick off a 3-part series on how to administer, report on and present achievement tests professionally. Today, we focus on setting up for test administration . I’ll walk you through the specific steps to create a structured, distraction-free environment that allows students to focus and perform at their best. I’ll also share practical advice on monitoring student behavior during the test—like fatigue or distraction—that can impact results and provide valuable context when inte...
Nov 13, 2024•13 min•Ep. 188
