Little Bits of TLC

In this insightful episode, we dive into the crucial practice of interpreting and communicating assessment information to design and implement effective educational programs. The discussion emphasizes the collaborative process essential to developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities. Highlighting Lathyrelle's dual expertise in mental health and education,...

In this episode, Heather talks with Pat about High Leverage Practice #4: using multiple sources of information to gain a complete understanding of a student’s strengths and needs. Pat shares insights from their experience navigating complex, multi-provider settings, emphasizing the importance of listening, asking questions, and approaching collaboration with humility. They explore how different pe...

In this insightful episode, Alex delves into the multifaceted world of collaboration in special education, highlighting the essential role of partnerships between educators, families, and multidisciplinary professionals. With a background in ABA and a current role that bridges clinical and educational settings, Alex offers a unique perspective on navigating complex systems to secure vital services...

In this episode, we dive into High-Leverage Practice #2: organizing and facilitating effective meetings with professionals and families. Pat shares insights from their work across diverse community partnerships, including schools, youth organizations, and family support centers, highlighting how each setting shapes the structure and purpose of meetings. The discussion emphasizes the complexity of...

In this episode, Heather and Veroncia dive into High-Leverage practices by examining how collaboration among professionals directly impacts student success. Veroncia shares real-world examples of working alongside special educators, therapists, general educators, administrators, and families to align goals and support students across settings. The conversation highlights how shared expertise and c...

This episode explores the power of positive and constructive feedback in guiding student learning and growth. Heather and Candace discuss how feedback not only supports academic progress but also strengthens motivation, confidence, and self-regulation. Candace emphasizes the importance of being immediate, specific, and developmentally appropriate when giving feedback, as well as celebrating small...

This episode explores how educators can support students in maintaining and generalizing new learning across different environments and over time. Heather and Manny break down the difference between generalization—applying a learned skill in new settings—and maintenance—retaining that skill after time or breaks. Through classroom examples, they highlight strategies like frontloading expectations,...

This episode explores how teachers can provide intensive instruction that supports both academics and behavior. Heather and Ashley dive into what true intensity looks like in classroom instruction, going beyond small groups or surface-level strategies. Ashley shares experiences from her time as both a teacher and administrator, emphasizing the importance of planning, engagement, and building stron...

This episode explores using assistive and instructional technologies to support student learning. Heather and Lathyrelle discuss how these tools go beyond apps and devices, highlighting simple yet powerful supports such as changing fonts or providing glasses. They emphasize the importance of universal design for learning, where strategies designed for one student can benefit many. The conversation...

This episode focuses on strategies to promote active student engagement. Candace and Heather dive into the challenges of working with students who are resistant to academics and highlight the importance of understanding each learner’s motivators, strengths, and barriers. They discuss practical strategies such as adjusting content levels, breaking tasks into manageable steps, incorporating movement...

This episode explores the power of flexible grouping to support students academically, socially, and behaviorally. Manny shares real classroom examples where intentional groupings helped students bridge language barriers, build peer-to-peer learning opportunities, and reduce challenging behaviors rooted in frustration or misunderstanding. The conversation highlights that flexible grouping is not a...

This episode features Heather with Eryn as they explore the use of explicit instruction to support student learning. The discussion highlights how explicit instruction goes beyond simply modeling skills, emphasizing the importance of think-alouds, breaking content into smaller steps, providing examples and non-examples, and giving students multiple opportunities to practice with guided feedback. H...

This episode explores high-leverage practice number 15: providing scaffolded supports to help all learners succeed. Ann shares practical strategies for identifying student needs, adapting instruction, and embedding scaffolds into everyday classroom routines. From adjusting the environment to leveraging peer support, small groups, and technology, she highlights how scaffolding can be flexible, indi...

This episode explores teaching cognitive and metacognitive strategies to support learning and independence. Heather and Jon unpack what it means to help students—and adults—notice and reflect on their thoughts, connecting those thoughts to behaviors and emotions. Jon shares practical examples from his work with students, showing how guiding them to ask, “What am I telling myself about this?” can b...

This episode focuses on adapting curriculum tasks and materials for specific learning goals. The conversation breaks down the difference between accommodations, which provide access without lowering expectations, and modifications, which adjust the content itself. Heather and Eryn highlight the common confusion between the two, emphasizing the importance of identifying the “game changer” supports...

In this episode, the focus is on systematically designing instruction toward a specific learning goal. Ann shares how years in the classroom have taught her that success depends not only on following curriculum and pacing guides but also on recognizing and adapting to the diverse learning needs of students. She emphasizes the importance of identifying prerequisite skills, diagnosing gaps, and usin...

This episode explores the process of identifying and prioritizing long- and short-term learning goals. The conversation emphasizes the importance of backward planning, starting with a student’s vision for life after high school and mapping the steps needed to get there. Mary shares how centering student voice, family input, and community partnerships creates more relevant and sustainable transitio...

This episode focuses on conducting functional behavioral assessments (FBAs) to develop effective student behavior support plans, with a special emphasis on students experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges. The conversation highlights the importance of observing students across different settings, identifying patterns and trends, and considering factors beyond surface-level assumptions. Li...

In this episode, Heather and Jon dive into teaching social behaviors. They explore how social, emotional, and behavioral skills are deeply tied to awareness—both of ourselves and the dynamics within a group. The conversation highlights how presence, body language, and even unspoken cues can shape classroom interactions and students’ sense of safety. They also examine how students often pick up on...

This episode focuses on providing positive and constructive feedback to guide student behavior. Manny shares how behavior-specific praise goes beyond simple affirmations by naming exactly what students are doing well and why it matters, helping them understand expectations and build lasting skills. The conversation highlights the importance of giving both the "what" and the "why,&qu...

In this episode, Heather is joined by Candace to explore how to build a consistent, organized, and respectful learning environment that helps students thrive. Together, they discuss how classroom climate directly influences behavior, engagement, and academic growth, and why setting clear, positively stated expectations is essential. Candace shares insights from her work with teachers and paraprofe...

This episode focuses on how schools can use student assessment data to guide instruction and drive meaningful improvements in student outcomes. Mary and Heather discuss the challenges educators face in moving from collecting data to actually analyzing it in ways that inform decision-making. They highlight the importance of setting small, actionable goals, adjusting strategies when needed, and invo...

Heather Volchko and Lathyrelle Isler explore High-Leverage Practice #5: interpreting and communicating assessment information to collaboratively design and implement educational programs. The conversation centers on making technical data accessible by breaking down jargon, reading the room to gauge understanding, and adapting communication for diverse audiences, including educators, parents, and s...

Heather is joined by Ann to explore what it really means to use multiple sources of information to understand a student’s strengths and needs. Drawing from years of experience, Ann shares how combining data, context, and human insight creates a clearer and more accurate picture than any single measure could. They discuss how to balance hard metrics with lived experiences, interpret results in ligh...

Join Heather Volchko and guest Jon Barberio as they dive into the real work of collaborating with families to support student learning and secure needed services. They unpack how to start conversations in a way that invites parents in as partners, even when school and home expectations don’t quite match. You’ll hear stories of navigating misunderstandings, aligning on shared goals, and bringing st...