Autism Classroom Resources Podcast: A Podcast for Special Educators

Teachers struggle a LOT with building and leading their classroom team. I want to structure this month’s podcasts around helping you do both because even if you’re just out of school and surrounded by paraprofessionals with three times as much experience, you need to take the lead. So today, I start with a discussion of the nuts and bolts of building the structure with a classroom staff so they can work as a team.1:48​ - Why leadership isn’t some big, scary thing3:55 - An overview of the first part of the structure you’ll need: the classroom zoning plan6:20 - What a zoning plan doesn’t include and the key to making it work8:00 - The purpose of the lesson plan and setting up the vision for your classroom10:50 - What to keep in mind as you build the classroom structure with your staffGrab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode131Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.comWant more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.comJoin the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

You want your students to have the best chance for successful inclusion, no matter the teaching environment. But students with autism, intellectual disabilities, or behavioral issues can sometimes find being in a larger educational setting difficult. So in this episode, I continue my discussion from last week and include four more tips on how to plan and organize for students with ASD entering a general education atmosphere so they can be set up for success.3:00​ - How to be proactive with providing behavioral support for successful inclusion6:43 - Why you don’t want to wait to provide support for a behavioral problem until after it occurs8:13 - What you need to consider about reinforcements in the new, larger environment10:57 - An important inclusion step educators often forget about14:18 - How to make sure you prepare your staffGrab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode130Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.comWant more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.comJoin the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

How can autistic students be successful and make the most progress in a general education setting? Whether they’re spending time in a specialist class like music or art or a full day in general education, there are some core things you can do to make sure the core program still works for them. In the first episode of this two-part series, I reveal some of the structure and support you can provide for students with ASD in larger environments.3:45​ - The first step in planning successful inclusion for a special needs student4:53 - An example of how the first step can play out with a student7:33 - Effectively communicate your goals to the staff8:58 - A really good strategy for identifying primary goals and sharing them with others10:14 - Don’t forget about these (I’ve seen so many general ed classrooms that don’t have them)Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode129Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.comWant more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.comJoin the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

If you’ve been listening for a while, you’ve heard me talk about student engagement. I’ve talked about the need to keep them engaged and things to do to keep them engaged. But this time, I want to talk about it very explicitly in terms of why it’s the key to everything for students with ASD and other disabilities. 2:29​ - What engagement means and what it looks like 4:36 - Why engagement is so important for your students 8:20 - The trick about engaging students you need to be aware of 9:04 - How to keep engagement on track during transitions 11:51 - How to schedule engaging activities when you have less staff on hand to help 14:52 - How to plan for unexpected breaks that can wreak havoc in your engagement scheduling Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode128 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

How was the Special Educator Academy born? One of my biggest dreams has always been to create a place where special educators could come together and learn from each other. And Facebook, while great for connecting, wasn’t going to cut it. In this episode, I reveal how I came up with the idea for the academy, what if offers to educators like you, commonly asked questions about it, and how you can make use of it (even if you think you don’t have time).00:56​ - What it was like to work as a school consultant pre-Internet4:38 - How the academy has changed over time to make it easier to find answers to your questions7:00 - An area the academy covers that I know is always in need9:03 - How the academy is designed to used in very small doses of time and still be worth it12:09 - What the academy is intended to beGrab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode127Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.comWant more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.comJoin the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com

July’s here! It’s an interesting month for us teachers. Everyone tends to slow down this time of year, go on vacation, and just relax and chill. But those of us in the teaching world take some time out of our summer to gear up for the new school year. So to move you forward in that direction, today I want to give you some idea of materials I’d prioritize as you sit by the pool and think about how you want to set up your classroom.1:30​ - How I used to spend my summers prepping for the classroom5:12 - Ways to set up your visual schedules6:33 - Making the use of visual schedules much easier (attention newer teachers!)8:43 - What kind of picture schedule should you use?12:29 - Ways to create materials for independent task work14:09 - Why work tasks are important and the kinds of tasks you want to includeGrab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode126Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.comWant more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.comJoin the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

Students (and not just autistic ones) can get stuck on specific topics or items that they just can’t seem to let go. But these obsessions serve a purpose for the student. It’s your job to figure out what that is and how to handle it. In this episode, I take a look at perseverations, functions they can serve, and some strategies you can use to address them in your classroom. 2:06​ - How to know when you have a student who perseverates 3:54 - Figuring out what function perseveration serves for the student 10:37 - Ways to handle obsession-based perseveration 14:13 - My favorite concrete way to set limits on perseveration 17:09 - How to handle object-based perseveration Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode21 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

The things I hear about visual schedules and autism always amaze me. I might hear some myths once or twice while others stick around for years. Some teachers don’t think they need to use them for their autistic students, but even some who do can have implicit biases that cause their visual schedules to not be as effective as they should. So in this episode, I want to set the record straight. If you’re a teacher or someone trying to help others who work with individuals on the spectrum, then these myth busters will help you see how visual schedules can aid your students with autism. 2:52​ - Busting myth #1 about high-functioning students with autism 4:27 - The myth that scapegoats visual schedules for the way autistic students behave 5:49 - My counter to myth #3 about dependency on visual schedules 7:14 - The myth I see people embrace most often that drives me nuts 8:43 - Why visual schedules are more than just daily picture schedules Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode74 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

I want to veer off track a little today. I’ve dedicated this month to discuss the relationship between communication and behavior. But in this episode, I talk about what happens when you put your amazing behavior plan in place... and it still doesn’t work, despite your best efforts. What do you do then? Tune in to find out my step-by-step process! 1:36​ - How to know if, how, when, and where behavior has actually changed 6:14 - Discovering if your behavior strategies are being implemented correctly 8:10 - Another common thing you might discover by talking with your staff 8:59 - Have you given the plan implementation enough time to work? If so, consider these questions 10:34 - What to do if problem behavior hasn’t decreased despite demonstrations of replacement behavior from the student 12:06 - When all else fails (a.k.a. going back to the drawing board) 13:56 - An important reminder about the FBA process (especially if you need some consolation) Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode125 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

Communication doesn’t explain all challenging behavior in students with autism. What if behavior related to anxiety or sensory input gets reinforced inside the body? Those students who function in the average to above-average range still face hurdles, and one of them is an increased rate of anxiety and depression. In this episode, I discuss how you can address those with communication responses in your functional behavior assessment. 5:12​ - The conversation with an Academy member that got me thinking 8:28 - The tricky nature of proper behavior analysis for students with anxiety disorders 11:14 - Keep this in mind when attempting to fit anxiety into the functional behavior analysis process 13:46 - An example of a behavior hypothesis for the FBA that takes anxiety into account 17:14 - Further illustrating why behavior and communication aren’t always necessarily the same Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode124 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

Instructing small kids to “use their words” to replace problematic behavior with communication skills might be enough. But for your students who’ve built up habits around their challenging behavior, it’s not so easy. It takes some thought and planning to make it work. In this episode, I talk about functional communication training and how this process of teaching communication skills as a replacement to challenging behavior can be hugely effective and work really well in the classroom... when done right. 3:47​ - The first step in functional communication training 4:41 - The single biggest decision you’ll make in your FC training 7:28 - Some guidelines to help you be efficient with step two of the process 10:57 - How I would approach implementing FCT in the classroom 13:08 - The keys to making functional communication training stick for the student Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode123 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

It always amazes me when I talk to people about positive behavioral support and find out what they think about it. I’ve been mystified by some of the definitions I’ve heard out there. Today, I really want to get into the nitty gritty of positive behavioral interventions and support (PBIS). So in this episode, I talk about what PBIS is, where it came from, and where it’s gone since its arrival. 2:16​ - The origins of positive behavioral interventions and support 6:37 - The myth that PBIS isn’t based on science 8:03 - How school-based positive behavioral support data helps teachers with administrations 9:07 - Why PBIS is different from ABA (applied behavior analysis) 11:44 - The element of PBIS I find the most challenging (and the most interesting) 13:05 - How some states, school districts, and organizations may approach using PBIS Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode122 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

You’ve more than likely heard the old story about what it means when a boy pulls a girl’s pigtails, right? I bet many of you were skeptical when someone first told you that that behavior was a form of communication and made it sound like an okay thing. And while it isn’t okay, there is a very strong connection between communication and behavior. Since May is Better Speech and Hearing Month, I’m switching gears and making this month’s podcast theme about the connection between communication and behavior. In this episode, I share some of the research I’ve found about how communication impacts behavior, how behavior grows out of communication deficits, and what all that means for intervention purposes. 4:42​ - What research shows about the development of communicative intentions of children in the past 50 years 6:40 - Why language-impaired kids show more behavior problems than other kids their age 9:22 - Why some with developmental disabilities experience a decrease in problem behavior 10:22 - Why it’s not enough to teach students just any communication skills 11:08 - A quick rundown of what functional communication training is Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode121 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

All month long I’ve been talking about the controversial topic of applied behavior analysis on this podcast. In today’s episode, I wrap up the series about ABA by discussing what teaching programs are and why they’re important. You’ll also learn how to really boost your instruction and your student’s learning across the classroom. 2:16​ - What teaching programs are and what they look like 4:41 - Why having a specific teaching program for your autistic students is important 5:46 - What happens when I do training on task analyses 7:06 - Four reasons why you must have a written teaching program in place Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode120 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

Are you sabotaging instruction in your classroom without realizing it? Luckily, you can easily catch and fix it as long as you know there might be an issue. In this episode, I slightly shift gears away from talking about ABA to discuss ways you could be sabotaging your own instruction. You’ll hear about seven saboteurs and how to find out if you’re committing one of them. 3:50​ - Instruction saboteurs #1 and #2: How your facial expressions give you away 5:31 - Saboteur #3: Why you should watch your hands 6:49 - Saboteur #4: Beware of these verbal cues 8:25 - A pretty obvious saboteur to avoid 8:53 - How saboteur #6 can cause hiccups with functional instruction 10:08 - The most subtle saboteur of them all 11:07 - Why it’s critical to ensure you’re teaching what you mean to teach and how to avoid these issues Grab the transcript, freebie, and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode119 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

What is naturalistic instruction? In today’s episode, I talk about what it is and how implementing it in a classroom setting can be a little tricky. I also give you a few strategies, along with other tips, to help make it easier for you to use this type of instruction and still make an impact for your students. 2:06​ - Reiterating an important point I made about applied behavior analysis in the previous episode 3:28 - Defining what naturalistic instruction is 5:37 - The principles of naturalistic intervention 7:06 - An example of incidental teaching to give you an idea of a naturalistic strategy 9:16 - Another thing that’s tough about naturalistic instruction in the classroom 11: 23 - Some tips and resources to boost naturalistic instruction success Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode118 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

Applied behavior analysis has been a sticky issue in the autism community. A number of people advocate very strongly against it. Being a board-certified behavior analyst myself, I’m not against it. But I still recognize that it has its problems. In this episode, however, I want to focus on what applied behavior analysis really is and talk about some of its misconceptions and strengths. 3:37​ - Why applied behavior analysis isn’t just about teaching 4:57 - How behavior analysts train to apply ABA to real-life problems 6:58 - One of the biggest myths I hear about applied behavior analysis 7:46 - Another thing applied behavior analysis is NOT 8:48 - A tendency some people have with ABA that drives me nuts 11:13 - What originally attracted me to applied behavior analysis 12:14 - The most common myth about ABA and why the misconception exists 14:15 - Remember this if you come up against lots of resistance when you’re teaching Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode117 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

Today marks the completion of my podcast episode series on independent work systems! Over the last few weeks, I’ve talked about why we use these systems in the classroom as well as critical elements and frequently made mistakes in implementing them. In this episode, I wrap it up by discussing some of the most common questions I get about these independent work systems and some of the things educators struggle with when setting them up. 1:58​ - What do you do if a student never finishes the work? 5:53 - How do you get your staff to stop talking when prompting students? 8:15 - Does a student need to have their own independent work system? 11:26 - What if a student doesn’t yet have any skills independently to practice in the system? Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode116 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

When implemented correctly, independent work systems are amazing! It drives me crazy when people reduce them to busy work, because every single element within an independent work system exists for a reason. In this episode, I talk about the most common mistakes I see with these systems in classrooms and how you can avoid them so that your students can develop independence as quickly as possible. 3:21​ - Why “program slippage” happens to both new and highly experienced classroom staff 5:29 - The students who still needed a place to finish 9:05 - The importance of a clear start and end to independent work tasks 9:56 - A certain kind of task I often see included that shouldn’t be 11:53 - Don’t make this mistake, especially with young kids 14:19 - A smart student who still needed this motivator to complete his work 17:26 - A useful tip to help you catch program slippage quickly Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode115 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? http://SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group http://specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

Every special education classroom should have some kind of independent work system. Even students in general ed, with or without autism, need one too. Some people don’t believe that, but I’ve successfully used systems for students without autism (and there are research studies out there that back me up). In this episode, I talk about why independent work systems are so important and the benefits they provide for the classroom and the students. 0:39 - The simple reason behind my passion for building independence in students 7:09​ - Classroom benefits of having an independent work system in place 8:34 - The many ways an independent work system benefits your students 11:39 - What you can do once students get independent with their system 12:45 - What independent work systems are and are NOT designed to do Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode114 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

If you follow me on social media, you can probably tell that I love independent work systems! Social media has made sharing tasks among each other much easier compared to the days before the arrival of Pinterest and Instagram. But it also means you have access to tons of misinformation, and there’s a lot of it out there when it comes to independent work systems. What is an independent work system, though? Today, I’m kicking off a new series of episodes about independent work systems by clearing up those misconceptions, defining what the system is, and discussing what it's truly designed to be. 5:32 - Defining what an independent work system is and the four questions it must answer 8:55 - Why these systems are effective tools for students 9:31 - The critical element I often see get left out of independent work systems 10:58 - What the work structure in the system is designed to do for the student 11:42 - A must-have element for a student to complete the work system and the only thing it’s designed to teach Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode113 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

Do you remember when you asked a teacher at some point, “But when am I ever going to use this?” You understood that you had to learn things merely to get to the next stage of learning. But you probably had a teacher who made something like geometry finally make sense by showing how it could help you figure out the amount of paint you needed for a room, not just solve the x in the equation on the board or in the math book. That’s why I love teaching life and functional skills and squeezing academics into student activities they think are fun! Cooking is an excellent example because it offers tons of opportunities to practice so many different kinds of skills. In this episode, I talk about some of those skills you can teach and generalize with cooking in the classroom. 2:07​ - Thoughts for those thinking, “But I can’t do cooking in the classroom!” 3:29 - Learning readiness skills and what they do and don’t mean 5:11 - The many many levels of math skills you can teach with cooking 8:48 - Why cooking doesn’t have to be a “one and done” activity for your students 9:17 - The functional literacy skills that come with cooking 11:16 - How students learn social skills through classroom cooking activities Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode112 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

I’ve mentioned my sister (who’s on the autism spectrum) in a previous episode. Looking back, she’s one of the reasons why I’ve been so focused on life skills instruction in my work. She moved through the general education system, and even got an accounting associate’s degree, without extra help. However, she struggled to generalize her knowledge to everyday situations. In this episode, I want to talk about not only ways to get your students engaged in life skills instruction but also how to vary your teaching so they can generalize their skills for functioning in daily living. 0:43 - How my sister got through school and demonstrated a struggle with generalizing knowledge 4:47 - Keeping students actively engaged while working on reading comprehension life skill activities 7:22 - An engaging tool for students that doesn’t seem like a reading activity on its surface 8:45 - One of my favorite ways to work on functional reading and math 10:14 - A strategy I used in a life skills program for elementary students with severe challenging behaviors Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode111 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

I want to see color when I walk into a room. I don’t want to live in a world that’s robbed of color. Yet, walking into a transition classroom devoid of it inspired an idea. So in today’s episode, I want to talk about life skills classroom materials and what to look for when you buy them, make them, or find them. 0:54 - The depressing classroom set-up that sparked one of my life skills products 3:49 - How we tend to approach teaching adults with autism 5:38 - Why I created my real-life photo matching file folder tasks 6:41 - How to incorporate the written word into the file folder tasks and ways to customize the materials 8:13 - How to use the file folder tasks for teaching students math skills 11:40 - Avoid doing this when looking for materials for older students in life skills classes Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode110 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

Today, I’m shifting from morning meeting to life skills in the special education classroom. Even if you think you know what the term “life skills” means, it doesn’t mean the same thing for everyone, including every parent and school system. Making that assumption can sometimes get you in trouble. But there are also some myths about life skills that need eliminating. So in this episode, I kick off a new series about teaching functional life skills and bust some of the myths that people have about them. 3:01​ - Defining what functional means to me and what life skills are 5:02 - Tackling the first myth about life skills for autism that has developed over the years 6:52 - Another misconception that stems from the idea that programs must be “all or none” 9:01 - Busting the life skill myth I hear most often, especially in the autism community 10:48 - Why you shouldn’t wait until you notice a problem before you start teaching functional skills 12:01 - The biggest functional life skills myth of all and how my family plays into my perspective on it Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode109 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

Surprise! You thought I was done with the morning meeting series on the podcast. I thought I was done too and said so in the last episode. But I’d forgotten that I hadn’t covered how to get morning meeting right for older students yet. So today, I want to talk about age-respectful activities and walk you through what a morning meeting can look like for middle or high school students.3:03​ - What I mean when I use the term “age respectful” for activities7:03 - An example of a morning meeting for a middle or high school classroom10:55 - Another important skill you can make into a functional activity12:24 - How I incorporate some kind of music and movement activity for students during the day14:38 - An activity I use to settle students down after music and movement timeJoin us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial.ResourcesGrab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode108Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.comWant more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.comJoin the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

In the last couple of episodes, I’ve talked about why morning meeting or circle time is important and the skills you can teach in whole group instruction. There are strategies you can really capitalize on during morning meeting/circle time while others might come as a surprise to you as a possibility in a group. So in this episode, I discuss those strategies for teaching skills to students in group instruction. 2:09 - How explicit teacher-focused instruction can enhance your generalization instruction with students 3:38 - A misconception about using discrete trials in morning meeting and circle time 5:09 - The surprising similarity of instructional strategies across different disciplines 6:20 - A quick overview of the steps of discrete trials and ways you can implement them in group instruction 8:04 - How pivotal response training is like incidental teaching on steroids 9:26 - Other strategies to teach skills during circle time or morning meeting 11:14 - An alternative to choral responding that’s one of my favorite tools to use in any group activity Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode106 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

Circle time or morning meeting? While what we call it depends on the age of the students, the need to effectively teach skills during this time is still the same. So in this episode, I discuss the importance of targeting both curriculum skills and individual goals for various age groups, as well as the kind of skills to teach. 2:26 - Why circle time/morning meeting is a good time to address curriculum goals 3:08 - Five common areas to consider regarding general goals of morning meeting for the group 4:07 - The three different types of instruction I use for daily scheduled activities 6:02 - Discussing specific skill targets to meet in group instruction 8:35 - Ways to implement social skills for younger and older students 12:10 - Ways to implement communication language and learning readiness skills for all age groups Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode105 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

Confession time. Early on in my career, I hated morning meeting. I thought it was a complete waste of time and dreaded when anybody asked me to run it because I didn’t feel confident in my ability to do it well or make it fun. Moving to South Florida changed that. I got to work with educators there who modeled circle and class meetings done right and ones where things didn’t go so well. In this episode, I want to talk about why group activities are so important and intimidate some educators. 3:06 - Skills that autistic students need to learn that morning meeting can provide 4:24 - Why these kinds of group activities are important for students of all ages 6:47 - The necessity to teach in a respectful and relevant way, especially for older students 9:22 - How group instruction helps autistic students in the three areas where they have difficulties 11:10 - Some challenges that teachers face with group activities Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode104 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

Rolling staff shortages. Revolving substitute teachers. Understaffed classrooms. These are the problems I hear about from many of you on social media and through the academy. I recorded today’s episode last year in the midst of the pandemic. But as we’ve gone through 2021, the importance of special educators advocating for their needs has become even more apparent. It’s clear that we need to make our voices heard and do so in a productive way. So in this episode, I discuss three strategies you can use to advocate for yourself in an assertive but not argumentative way. 3:19 - Four reasons why teachers might avoid asking for help 9:09 - A simple-sounding strategy that can have complexities beyond the surface 10:52 - The most successful method for advocating for any type of classroom assistance 14:52 - A tip I frequently recommend when you don’t know how to address a problem 17:03 - The #1 element that underlies all three strategies Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode52 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

Teachers often ask me about how to handle challenging behavior from their students. It’s one the biggest hurdles in their classroom and a main cause of burnout. I’ve spent a good chunk of my career assessing, addressing, and researching challenging behavior in students. So in this episode, I discuss the research and principles underlying my approach and include some ideas and examples of what does and doesn’t work.2:02 - Why appropriate student behavior must be taught, not expected3:53 - The importance of separating the behavioral problem from the student in your mind6:07 - Conditions that can affect challenging behavior in your student8:32 - The main reason why problematic student behavior occurs in the first place9:57 - How the function of challenging behavior is directly related to deficits in skills12:21 - How to base your treatment on the behavior’s function15:55 - Why you should be less concerned about the form the behavior takes than its purpose16:51 - Summarizing the seven principles of handling challenging behaviorJoin us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial.ResourcesGrab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode6Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.comWant more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.comJoin the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

People on the outside may think our classrooms have gone back to pre-pandemic normal. But we know that’s not true. Last year may have presented different problems for teachers, but some of those problems still exist. I recorded today’s show last December, hoping that we wouldn’t have to face the same issues a year later. Yet, many of you are still understaffed, tired, feeling compassion fatigue, and have families in crisis. In this re-released episode, I talk about lessons I’ve learned from highly stressful, personal situations in hopes of giving you ideas to take care of yourself better. 5:52 - The biggest thing that prevented me from burning out 7:26 - How I put it into practice when my mother’s health started declining 8:05 - Ideas for how to implement this burnout-proof strategy in your classroom 9:15 - How a supportive community helps you avoid burnout 11:05 - What you absolutely must do for yourself to overcome teacher tiredness Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode63 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

The things I hear about visual schedules and autism always amaze me. I might hear some myths once or twice while others stick around for years. Some teachers don’t think they need to use them for their autistic students, but even some who do can have implicit biases that cause their visual schedules to not be as effective as they should. So in this episode, I want to set the record straight. If you’re a teacher or someone trying to help others who work with individuals on the spectrum, then these myth busters will help you see how visual schedules can aid your students with autism. 2:52 - Busting myth #1 about high-functioning students with autism 4:27 - The myth that scapegoats visual schedules for the way autistic students behave 5:49 - My counter to myth #3 about dependency on visual schedules 7:14 - The myth I see people embrace most often that drives me nuts 8:43 - Why visual schedules are more than just daily picture schedules Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode74 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

Many times, a student’s reaction to not getting what they want is a temper tantrum or a meltdown. So you try to avoid that outcome by giving them what they want. But oftentimes, I’ll hear someone say that they can’t reinforce students by giving them what they ask for even if they’re asking nicely. So what if you’re in a situation where you can’t do that? What are you supposed to do then? In this episode, I talk about Dante and what you can do with a student like him to teach him that he can’t always have what he wants. 2:33​ - Why this problem happens in the first place 3:53​ - What you shouldn’t do to solve the problem 5:53​ - The key to teaching a student like Dante to wait when he asks for something 6:55 - Where to start first when you’re teaching your student to wait 9:03​ - How to handle your student’s AAC device in the classroom Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode103 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, so many teachers are still not settled into any type of normalcy. You’re teaching in what I like to call a triage classroom: a bare-bones or revolving door staff. In this episode, I want to discuss how to survive and thrive in the holiday season. I go over some basics that might have fallen by the wayside but need to come back into play as you gear up for the end of the year. * This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases and will be awarded a small commission at no extra cost to you in the event of a sale. * 5:58​ - A visual that helps keep things calm when routines and schedules get turned upside down 7:40​ - A visual to help when new situations and expectations crop up 9:18​ - A visual to help remind students how to behave in situations 10:05​ - A visual to let students know the length of a special activity 11:11​ - A visual to have around for struggling students when you’re not around Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode102 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

What do you do when you can't honor a student’s attention-seeking replacement behavior? And how do you avoid a resurgence of the negative behaviors or the sabotaging of your behavior support plan in a new environment? In this episode, I talk about Stephan and reveal six techniques to think about when replacements for attention-seeking behaviors aren't being effectively reinforced. 00:42 - A little story about attention-seeking Stephan 4:08 - Critical pieces to have in place before you start dealing with an attention-seeking student 5:33 - How to teach your student to wait for attention reinforcement 7:29 - What to do if you can’t give the reaction when it’s requested 8:34 - A method for letting a student know when to expect a reaction to attention-seeking behavior 9:29 - Helping a student see how situational behavior results in specific outcomes 10:52 - How to implement limits for students on attention-seeking behaviors 12:16 - Using social narratives or stories Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode101 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

What do you do when you can’t honor the function of the replacement behavior you’ve chosen? What if you run into a situation where it’s just impossible? In this episode, I focus on escape-related behavior with a quick story about a boy named Mica and reveal five things to try if trouble arises due to task demands you’ve given your student. Welcome to episode 100! 00:50 - A quick behavioral story to kick off this milestone episode 5:38 - One simplistic way to address behavioral issues regarding task demands 6:31 - Turning on what I call the “high-octane task mix” 7:21 - Another method similar to the high-octane mix 8:42 - How to effectively give your student choices when presenting them with tasks 9:36 - The best way to amp up the engagement of the tasks themselves Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode100 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

You’ve seen some suggestions for addressing behavioral problems that don’t work when put in a real life context. I know I’ve been in a lot of situations where the theoretical, data-supported response just doesn’t have an effect in my classroom. The context of what inspires challenging behavior is just as important as the science behind the behavior. So in today’s episode, I want to highlight how we think about our responsive strategies in behavioral support. 1:33 - A story to demonstrate how simplistic behavior approaches don’t always work in the real world 3:23 - The most critical element to include in your behavioral support plan (and the different forms it can take) 5:10 - The second contextual element your responsive strategies must have 7:03 - How I’d think through the problem illustrated in my story to address challenging behavior 10:48 - The third and final element your strategy needs to contain Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode99 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

It’s that time of year when challenging student behavior starts cropping up and behavior plans get put to the test. When coming up with replacement behaviors, you can’t just rush your way through it and hope for the best, though. You need to carefully consider certain characteristics in the ones you choose. These three traits will make the difference in whether your plans work or not. So in this episode, I discuss more about replacement behaviors and making sure they’re effective in actually changing the way students conduct themselves in your class. 2:30 - A quick explanation for understanding the truth of replacement behaviors 3:31 - The secret sauce that makes replacement behaviors work effectively 4:29 - The 3 must-have characteristics of efficient replacement behavior 5:43 - An scenario where replacement behavior proves inefficient and fails 8:09 - Illustrating an effective and successful replacement behavior 9:36 - The real beauty of this kind of functional communication training Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode98 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

I’m guessing you don’t like to be hit or spit at by your students, right? Due to the time of year and the kind of year (or year and a half) we’ve had so far, we’re in the midst of some challenging classroom behavior. So today, I want to talk about ways we can actually help students avoid committing these problem behaviors in the first place. These won’t solve all the problems you’ll face, but by using these techniques you can narrow your focus and cut back on things that require a bigger approach. 2:00​ - The benefit of practicing useful strategies before entering a difficult situation 3:06 - Transition warnings, one of the most common strategies used 4:35 - A strategy for students challenged by bigger environments 6:45 - How strategy #3 is similar to taking a field trip 8:31 - A strategy for students with focus issues or behavior related to automatic reinforcement 10:01 - The most common strategy for students with autism Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode97 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

Now that the new school year is underway, you’re probably dealing with some challenging behaviors. Students are readjusting to being back in the classroom. Some are even dealing with interruptions from quarantines which can increase challenging behaviors to a level you haven’t seen before. So in today’s episode, I want to focus on the three biggest mistakes I see in behavioral support and management plans and processes. 2:08 - The #1 mistake I see in behavior plans 4:28 - Why people make the second biggest mistake 4:58 - An example of what mistake #2 can look like and how to correctly address it 8:44 - Why you shouldn’t wait to implement your new behavioral support plan 12:16 - Wrapping up with a quick recap Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode96 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

Some problems can arise that indicate an issue with your zoning plan. Luckily, like classroom schedules, zoning plans are one of the easiest things to troubleshoot. In this episode, I won’t speak about obvious issues. Instead, I talk about three subtle problems you and your staff might face that you can address by simply fixing your zoning plan. 1:2​2 - First issue that demonstrates a need to change your zoning plan 2:12 - How to fix issue #1 on the zoning plan 2:43 - Second problem that exposes a clear zoning plan issue 3:41 - Final problem and why zoning plans need to be a collaborative document Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode95 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

Are you running into problems with your students that a tweak or two of your classroom schedule can solve? While the schedule is the hardest thing to create in the classroom setup process, it’s also possibly the easiest to fix because it’s pretty clear what the issue is when it occurs. So listen in as I cover five specific problems you could run into in the classroom that indicate a need to fix your schedule. 1:15​ - Two ways to address incomplete student activity 2:09 - A similar behavioral issue and how to approach it 2:45 - Visual cue solutions to try if changing the schedule isn’t feasible 3:20 - What to do if you’re always running out of time before activities can finish 3:55 - How to handle a particular problem that can occur when transitioning students to new activities Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode94 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

Last week, I started talking about behaviors you can address in your classroom with visual support tweaks. I continue that this week with even more common behavioral issues that can be eliminated with visual cues. I know that at this point in the year, you really don’t have time at all. So I also provide a free download to help you implement some of the solutions I discuss in today’s episode. 1:06​ - Addressing the lack of clean up by students or staff at the end of an activity 1:53 - A visual cue solutions for off-limit areas or activities 2:31 - A free visual resource you can use 2:43 - How to deal with distractions in the classroom for your students 3:24 - Why you’ll want feedback from outside your classroom to double-check this Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode93 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

You see visual cues everywhere you look--restroom signs with gender indications, traffic lights and stop signs at intersections and on corners, etc. They’re pretty easy to implement and even though they don’t automatically solve problems, they work more often than not. So they should work in the classroom too, right? In today’s episode, I discuss student behavioral issues that you can address by adding or changing the visual cues in your classroom design. 1:07​ - Possible signs and causes of student behavioral issue #1 1:34 - Visual cues to check before you start assigning supervision 2:24 - Next thing to keep in mind for after you implement visual cues 2:49 - Student behavioral issue #2 and what to do to solve it 3:54 - A solution to a couple of similar problems I often see Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode92 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

Last week I discussed a couple of behavior problems you might face with your students in the classroom and how to solve them. Not a chance that those were the only ones, right? Ha! So I’m back this week to talk about even more behavioral issues that indicate a need to fix your classroom’s physical design. Once again, I quickly reveal the problem then give some solutions that should help you reduce or eliminate the issue. 1:14​ - Why your students might be climbing the furniture 1:52 - A few quick tips to prevent any further furniture climbing 2:28 - A crucial step you need to put in place that goes beyond preventative measures 3:16 - How NOT to resolve this student behavioral problem 3:34 - Three solutions to help you protect materials for classroom use Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode91 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

We’re almost at the end of our journey on classroom setup! We’re in the troubleshooting phase right now, but starting today I’ll be delivering snack-sized episodes that discuss making decisions about what isn’t working and discovering how to know what to change. In this episode, I talk about a couple of warning signs that show a need to fix your physical classroom environment and share solutions that should help. 2:00 - Why students might be running around your classroom 2:50 - Ways to prevent your students from running in the classroom 3:57 - How some teachers solved a problem in this area of their classrooms 4:45 - The solution to your students leaving an activity area or table 5:08 - What to do if the solution causes your back to face the room Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode90 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

For the last few episodes, I've discussed setting up all the elements of the basic CORE you need to run your classroom. Next comes the most critical piece as you start working with your students: troubleshooting. As the school year starts, all of your systems will need some tweaking. So I’m kicking off a series of episodes to walk you through the process. Today, I outline a plan for helping you prioritize the troubleshooting process so it won’t overwhelm you. 1:59 - What you should do with your team each day for the first school week 3:11 - A suggestion if you can’t get your team together 4:36 - What you need to know before you begin prioritizing 5:29 - The first rule for prioritizing what to fix in the troubleshooting process 6:52 - Which things you should tackle before anything else 7:41 - What’s coming up in the next few episodes Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode89 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

You’ve collected some classroom data, so now what? Leaving it sitting in a binder doesn’t help anybody; therefore, it’s critical that you set up systems for regular analysis. We take this data for legal reasons, to show progress, but most importantly, to troubleshoot any learning issues confronting our students. So in this episode, I discuss how to make analysis happen and the three elements to consider for developing systems that ensure the data gets analyzed and is practical for your classroom. 4:40 - The biggest takeaway from what little research exists on classroom data collection 6:14 - A tool that makes graphing your classroom data easier than ever 9:22 - How my ex-preschool’s strategy can help you fit this into everything else you have to do 10:52 - Two keys to adapting the preschool’s strategy to work for you 12:56 - Why paraprofessionals must get on-board with the analysis process Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode88 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

When it comes to a data collection, there’s no one-size-fits-all, and it involves way more than just finding the right data sheet. You have to ensure you build a system with the right data, not more data. So today is all about focusing on data systems. In this episode, I walk you through how to get started and what you need to consider when creating your systems for instructional data collection. 3:14​ - The question I get asked a LOT about data collection and why there’s no real answer 4:48 - Why quality over quantity matters when collecting data 6:06 - Two things you must be aware of when you’re collecting data 7:52 - How to get started on building a strategy for data collection 11:04 - Why you need to integrate your data plan with your zoning plan and what to look for afterward 12:41 - The final key about data collection systems I must reveal Join us inside the Special Educators Academy for your 7 day free trial. Resources Grab the transcript, freebie and resource links at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode87 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message