🎙 Join Caitlin and guest Michelle Morris, an experienced self-contained classroom teacher, as they unpack real talk for new special ed teachers. From unexpected chaos to building strong staff dynamics, Michelle shares the five things she wishes she knew starting out—plus how to lean into your team and your strengths without losing your mind. 💡 Whether you're brand-new or deep in the trenches, this episode will leave you feeling seen, supported, and ready to pivot with grace. 🔑 Key Takeaways �...
Jul 22, 2025•12 min•Ep. 61
In this short and practical episode, we explore the power of pre-correcting behavior—a quick strategy to set students up for success before a problem even starts. You’ll learn how to spot patterns, cue expectations in the moment, and reinforce positive behavior with intention. 💡 Key Takeaways 🔍 Know the behavior patterns —when and where issues usually occur 🗣️ Use quick verbal cues right before problem moments 🎯 Reinforce success immediately with specific praise and rewards 📋 Pre-correction...
Jul 15, 2025•4 min
This episode started as a quick Misfit Minute—but it turned into a deep dive, so we made it a full one. Inspired by that iconic Big Bang Theory clip with Sheldon and the chocolates, we break down a question behavior folks love to debate: 👉 Is it positive reinforcement... or positive punishment? We walk through a simple way to understand the four terms: Positive/Negative Reinforcement and Positive/Negative Punishment …without getting stuck in jargon, so you can apply it in real situations, not j...
Jul 08, 2025•7 min•Ep. 60
In this bite-sized episode, we dive into a powerful mindset shift: don’t just teach the rule—teach the replacement behavior . Saying “don’t do that” isn’t enough. Real behavior change happens when we teach students exactly what to do instead. 💡 Key Takeaways : 🚫 Saying “don’t do that” doesn’t teach a skill —replacement behaviors do 🔁 Replacement behaviors aren’t add-ons —they are the behavior plan 🧩 Prompting, modeling, and reinforcing appropriate actions is essential ❓ Before correcting beh...
Jul 01, 2025•1 min
Part 13 ( the last step ) of the FBA Mini-Series! You’ve got the plan… now let’s make sure it actually works. In this final episode of our FBA Mini-Series , Audra and Sami walk you through how to track behavior data, define roles, build fidelity, and make sure your BIP stays meaningful. This is the wrap-up you didn’t know you needed, filled with practical ways to follow through on everything you’ve created! 🔑 Key Takeaways 🧠 Track what matters – Collect data on both the target and replacement ...
Jun 24, 2025•18 min•Ep. 59
💡 Key Takeaways: 🖊️ Use a dual-sided clipboard with a whiteboard front and chalkboard back for both data and student visuals 🎯 Turn the chalkboard side into a Velcro token board or quick-reinforcer tracker 🧵 Small quarter-sheet clipboards are perfect for mini data sheets and can be worn on lanyards or fit in your pocket 💼 Clipboards aren't just for paper—they’re flexible tools that can help paraprofessionals stay organized and responsive 🙌 Use these tools to make reciprocal visuals, portab...
Jun 17, 2025•3 min
🤝 Join Caitlin and Audra as they dive into the crucial topic of fostering strong working relationships between school-based BCBAs and teachers ! Learn from their real-world experiences – both successes and challenges – in building mutual respect and understanding for the benefit of students. 💡 It's all about teamwork ! Discover how to move beyond potential roadblocks and create effective partnerships. 🔑 Key Takeaways ✅ Lead with trust —respect teachers’ expertise, time, and lived experience �...
Jun 10, 2025•15 min•Ep. 58
🎙️ Misfit Minute #4: POWER Up Your Praise – Praising What You Want Repeated Tired of generic praise that doesn't seem to stick? Caitlin highlights the power of behavior-specific praise – telling students exactly what they did well. Learn why focusing your positive attention can cultivate the behaviors you want to see and shift the tone of your classroom. 💡 Behavior grows where attention flows . Let's make sure it's flowing towards the positive! 🔑 Key Takeaways ✅ Be Behavior-Specific : Move be...
Jun 03, 2025•1 min
Planning a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) for high-intensity behaviors? This episode walks you through the 7 stages of the Crisis Cycle —and how to use it as a practical tool in your FBAs and behavior plans. We’re talking real-world escalation, de-escalation, and everything in between : what the student actually does, how staff should respond, and how to keep your team aligned in high-stress situations. 🔑 Key Takeaways • The Crisis Cycle is a predictable escalation pattern —and one of the mos...
May 27, 2025•26 min•Ep. 57
Sick of saying “no” and getting big reactions? Audra shares an easy-to-remember acronym— R.E.D.O. —to help reframe your redirections and get more buy-in from students without the meltdown. 💡 Teach them it’s not “No forever,” it’s “Yes, just not yet.” 🔑 Key Takeaways ✅ R – Reframe the No: Say what they can do instead ✅ E – Engage with Warmth: Invite, don’t command ✅ D – Define the Next Step: Be clear about what’s first/next ✅ O – Offer Motivation: Use reinforcers that actually matter to that le...
May 20, 2025•2 min
Planning an IEP can feel like a whirlwind—deadlines, data, collaboration, and student needs all rolled into one big meeting. In this episode, Caitlin and Audra walk through a practical timeline for IEP prep, from parent check-ins to drafting goals and reviewing behavior plans. Whether you’re a teacher, BCBA, or case manager, this one’s packed with real-talk and ready-to-use tips to make your IEPs more effective and less stressful. 🔑 Key Takeaways 📅 Start early—draft a prep timeline 4–6 weeks i...
May 13, 2025•16 min•Ep. 56
🎙️ Misfit Minute #2 : W.A.I.T. – Why Am I Talking? Sometimes, the most powerful support you can offer during a student’s escalation… is silence. Caitlin introduces the W.A.I.T. strategy ("Why Am I Talking?")—a simple but transformative tool for de-escalation and emotional regulation. 🔑 Key Takeaways ✅ Silence can be a strategy—not avoidance ✅ Extra words = extra demands during escalation ✅ Give students space to feel, process, and reset ✅ Speak with purpose: clear, calm, and kind ✅ “I’m here w...
May 06, 2025•2 min
Continuing on in our FBA-BIP mini-series , we're at Step 11 . This week, we’re diving into the consequence side of behavior plans— what to do after students engage in either the challenging behavior or the replacement behavior. It’s not just about preventing problem behavior… it’s about teaching, reinforcing, and responding with consistency and care. 🔑 Key Takeaways 🧠 Reinforce replacement behaviors immediately and consistently —across staff, settings, and time 🎯 Match the function with the r...
Apr 29, 2025•19 min•Ep. 55
🎙️ The Misfit Minute #1: 5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Teaching Welcome to the very first episode of The Misfit Minute — your quick wins podcast series packed with fast, practical tips for educators, BCBAs, and therapists. In this debut episode, Audra shares 5 honest, heartfelt lessons learned the hard way — so you don’t have to. ✨ If you're in the messy middle of teaching, this one's for you. 🔑 Key Takeaways ✅ Set boundaries early — your time matters ✅ Saying “no” is a professional sk...
Apr 22, 2025•3 min
This week, we’re diving into ABA strategies for building tolerance in real-life situations like haircuts, doctor visits, and dental appointments. Many learners with autism and anxiety struggle with these experiences, and traditional approaches like social stories aren’t always enough. We’ll break down how to desensitize fears, use reinforcement effectively, and teach coping skills to make these essential life skills more manageable. 🔑 Key Takeaways ✅ Meet learners where they are – Start with th...
Apr 15, 2025•17 min•Ep. 54
Continuing on in our FBA-BIP mini-series , we're at Step 10! This week, we’re tackling one of the most important steps in behavior intervention planning — choosing the right replacement behavior . Just reducing problem behavior isn’t enough; we have to actively teach what to do instead in a way that’s functional, motivating, and sustainable. 🔑 Key Takeaways ✅ Replacement behaviors must meet the same function – If a student yells to escape a task, teaching them to request a break makes sense. Gi...
Apr 01, 2025•9 min•Ep. 53
Join us as we break down the pros and cons of being a BCBA in a school vs. clinic setting , covering collaboration, job stability, workload, and more! 🔑 Key Takeaways ✅ Team Collaboration Matters – Schools often provide a built-in multidisciplinary team (SLPs, OTs, teachers, etc.), while clinics may have fewer collaboration opportunities. ✅ Family Involvement Differs – Clinics typically have more direct parent involvement due to insurance requirements, while schools rely on IEP meetings and tea...
Mar 18, 2025•36 min•Ep. 52
In this episode, we break down antecedent strategies—the proactive steps you can take to prevent challenging behaviors before they escalate. We explain how these strategies differ from setting event strategies, why they’re essential in a behavior plan, and how to apply them effectively in real-world settings. 🔑 Key Takeaways ✅ Antecedent vs. Setting Event Strategies – Learn the difference and when to use each. ✅ Proactive Supports – Identify triggers early and modify tasks before behaviors occu...
Mar 04, 2025•13 min•Ep. 51
Struggling to address aggression in non-vocal learners? In this episode, Audra and Caitlin dive into practical strategies for managing sudden, seemingly random aggressive behaviors. They explore why behaviors might spike, the importance of consistent reinforcement, and how taking a step back can be the key to moving forward. ✨ Key Takeaways 🔄 When to Reset: If a learner’s aggressive behavior escalates, revisit earlier interventions, even if it feels like “going backwards.” ⭐ Know Your Learner: ...
Feb 18, 2025•17 min•Ep. 50
This episode explores the intersection of autism and anxiety , highlighting how to identify and address anxiety-driven behaviors in students with autism through evidence-based, student-centered approaches. ✨ Key Takeaways ✔️ We address a recent Facebook group question about trichotillomania and anxiety. ✔️ Recognizing Anxiety in Autism : Girls with autism often exhibit higher levels of social anxiety due to heightened awareness of social differences. ✔️ The Evolution of ABA : 20 years ago, inter...
Feb 04, 2025•21 min•Ep. 49
Creating a classroom schedule for special education and ABA settings can feel like solving a puzzle! In this episode, Caitlin and Audra share their strategies, tips, and tricks to make scheduling manageable and effective for students and staff . From color-coding and post-it notes to balancing para rotations, this episode will help you build a flexible schedule that works for everyone. ✨ Key Takeaways 🕒 Start with the non-negotiables : Plot out staff lunch breaks, student lunch, therapy schedul...
Jan 21, 2025•16 min•Ep. 48
Working with paras in special education classrooms can be both rewarding and challenging. In this episode, Audra and Caitlin share practical strategies for creating a positive, productive environment for paras, fostering teamwork, and addressing common issues like problem behaviors and resistance to change. ✨ Key Takeaways 📝 Set clear expectations : Overcommunicate and provide written resources like para binders for clarity. 🌟 Acknowledge strengths : Reinforce and assign tasks that align with ...
Jan 07, 2025•19 min•Ep. 47
What if inclusion didn’t just mean “pushing students in” but also “inviting peers in”? In this episode, we chat with Megan Stenziano from Moms Managing Behavior about a game-changing approach called reverse inclusion. From lunch and recess to peer buddy programs and after-school activities, Megan walks us through how her school created inclusive, meaningful social opportunities for all students. We discuss creative ideas, practical solutions, and even a program so popular it had parents saying, ...
Dec 17, 2024•24 min•Ep. 46
In this episode, we’re sharing some of our favorite behavior books for teachers, BCBAs, and parents. From foundational ABA classics to practical sensory guides, we’ll explore resources that equip you with tools to better support your learners! 🎯 Key Takeaways 📚 Build Your Behavior Toolkit : The right books can equip parents, teachers, and behavior analysts with actionable strategies. 🧠 Diverse Perspectives : From ABA foundations to sensory needs, there's something for every professional and p...
Dec 10, 2024•12 min•Ep. 45
In this episode, we are tackling the first step of developing a solid behavior plan after the FBA has been completed and decisions made. Today, let's talk about Setting Event Strategies ! Key Takeaways 🧠 What Are Setting Event Strategies ? These are long-term adjustments that address factors influencing behavior, such as sleep, nutrition, routines, and the environment. 🌊 The Iceberg Analogy : Setting events are like the part of the iceberg beneath the water—hidden but critical for understandin...
Dec 03, 2024•21 min•Ep. 44
In this episode, we discuss the challenges of protecting vulnerable populations , including aging parents and individuals with autism, from scams. We dive into practical strategies for teaching boundaries , internet safety , and identifying red flags , with examples tailored for different developmental levels. 🎯 Key Takeaways 💡 Scammers thrive on urgency : Their goal is to create fight-or-flight reactions, pushing victims to act quickly and irrationally. 🔑 Examples and non-examples matter : T...
Nov 26, 2024•13 min•Ep. 43
🎯 Key Takeaways ✔️ Collaboration is Key : Bringing the family and team together at this stage ensures everyone is on the same page and supports a collaborative approach to behavioral intervention. ✔️ The Importance of the FBA Meeting : The FBA meeting is an essential step to review findings, involve the family, and determine whether a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) is needed. ✔️ What We Look For : In this episode, we discuss guiding questions to help decide if a BIP is necessary, such as whet...
Nov 19, 2024•22 min•Ep. 42
🎯 Key Takeaways ✔️ Prompt Dependence Defined : Understanding prompt dependence and its impact on students’ ability to act independently. ✔️ Choosing the Right Prompting Strategy : Not all learners benefit from the same prompts! Learn how to assess if most-to-least or least-to-most is right for your learner. ✔️ The Power of the Pause : Pausing before prompting gives learners a chance to respond independently, which is key for fostering confidence and autonomy. ✔️ Prompt Fading Tips : Systematic ...
Nov 12, 2024•16 min•Ep. 41
Key Takeaways 📝 Differences Between IEPs & 504 Plans: IEPs offer specialized instruction and services, while 504s provide accommodations to help students access general education. 📊 Eligibility Requirements : IEPs require both a disability diagnosis and educational impact, while 504s only require a documented disability. 👩🏫 Parental Advocacy Tips : Advocating for accommodations without overwhelming the 504 can enhance support. 🎓 Transitioning from IEP to 504 : Discusses when students m...
Nov 05, 2024•21 min•Ep. 40
In this episode, Audra and Sami discuss the ethical implications surrounding the recent P. Diddy scandal , power dynamics in influential figures, and how this ties into our work as behavior analysts and educators . We dive deep into the importance of giving assent to students and clients and why protecting vulnerable individuals—whether in schools or society—must be our priority. Key Takeaways : 🧠 Power dynamics matter : Figures in positions of authority can misuse influence, making it crucial ...
Oct 29, 2024•11 min•Ep. 39
