Special Education for Beginners | Managing Paraprofessionals, Special Education Strategies, First Year Sped Teachers, Special Ed Overwhelm, Paperwork for Special Education Teachers

What do you use for curriculum in your special education program? Do you follow what the general education students are using? Do you use a tried and true program completely separate from the gen ed curriculum? Do you search for the next greatest lesson on the internet to teach a specific skill? Today, for the last episode of the Sped Teacher Small Talk for the year, Paul and I dive into the compl...

Welcome back to the Sped Prep Academy Podcast. In this episode, we take a look into how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be a game-changer in writing Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals and PLAAFP statements.  Listen in to learn about: Common fears about AI in education Demystifying AI presence in our lives Practical benefits in the  field of special ed Efficiency- streamline your IEP wri...

Paul and I are taking a break from the heavy topics that often plague a special education department. Today we chose to tell a few stories from our careers and have a few laughs. Just a warning...there is a little off-collar humor and language used that not everyone may appreciate. But hopefully you'll take this episode for what it is...2 teachers who needed a break from the stress of the job...

Welcome to another episode of Sped Teacher Small Talk, a segment of the Sped Prep Academy Podcast with my co-host Paul Hubbard! In today's episode, we discuss a crucial topic that is important for all special education teachers— self-care. In a profession that demands a high level of emotional and physical commitment, taking time for yourself isn't a luxury; it's a necessity. Listen...

In this segment of the Sped Teacher Small Talk, we explore the often-underestimated importance of fostering strong relationships between special education and general education teachers. With actionable advice and real-life experiences, we dive into how this collaboration can lead to tremendous student growth. Topics Discussed: The Power Dynamic : Although you are the expert in all things special...

You are not going to want to skip this episode!! Today's guest is Dyslexia & Science of Reading expert and advocate, Melanie Brethour. Fueled by her personal journey following her son Benjamin's dyslexia diagnosis, Melanie is not just an advocate but a powerhouse of practical advice and actionable strategies. She is the founder of Decoding Dyslexia Quebec and Soar with Dyslexia, and...

In episode 137, we are focused on the topic of supporting teaching assistants. Our paraprofessionals support us as special educators and also provide invaluable support to our students. So it's time we provide them with the SUPPORT they deserve. This episode explains 5 strategies to help you be successful in supporting your staff and provides insights into how to actually make it happen. Tune...

 I know some of us are already back in the swing of things here in the 2nd week of August but many of you are still a few weeks to a month out from thinking about back to school but I wanted to go ahead and get this episode out so that you can mentally prepare for a new school year…As we know, the beginning of a school year can be both exciting and challenging….there’s quite a bit to do to prepare...

It was my turn to break the rules this week and forego the spinner in order to choose the topic Paul and I discussed. What did I choose? Impact Statements Also known as adverse effects, this section of the IEP often gets minimal focus despite its immense importance.  Listen in as Paul and I examine the reasons why these statements are crucial and discuss how writing stronger impact statements can...

I implemented this strategy about 5 years ago and it definitely helped the individuals in my department become a team unit…where everyone felt valued, everyone felt heard and everyone felt appreciated for their strengths and not judged for their weaknesses. This week's episode focuses on implementing a Paraprofessional Interest Survey for your staff. Listen in to learn about how this easy too...

In this episode of the Sped Prep Academy Podcast, we had the pleasure of hosting Melysa Mei, a passionate preschool teacher from NYC. Melysa has been teaching for 17 years and is a devoted play advocate. To help spread the play-based love Melysa started her own online business - Pre-K Spot helping other early educators in child-led play-based strategies. With experience ranging from nannying, to e...

Piggybacking on the conversation with Paul from episode 131, I want to share about the 5:1 Ratio Principle of Positive Feedback to parents. Although this principle will apply to any relationship you have (paras, colleagues, administration, home life), today's episode focuses on how to make it work with the parents of your students. Why does this ratio matter so much? Positive feedback grabs p...

Talk about a tear jerker! Today Paul, my monthly co-host, and I discuss the importance of developing strong, lasting relationships with the parents of the students we work with. Paul shares an emotional story about a the bond he has with a previous student and her mom that conveys the amount of love special education teachers have for their students. Paul and I both agree that, by establishing act...

Thank you to the email subscriber who asked for support with centers at the High School level.  While the use of centers can be applicable and beneficial at any grade level, implementing centers in a high school setting  is out of my area of expertise. So I asked Fiona Gonzalez back to the show to discuss this topic. Fiona is a mod/severe high school transition teacher in Southern California and i...

Joining us on Episode 129 is Michelle Vazquez, a highly experienced resource specialist and special education teacher based in Southern California. Michelle has been dedicated to the education sector for nearly 14 years, and her passion for supporting special education teachers is evident through her own podcast, 'Stepping Into Special Education.' When she's not spending time in the...

Welcome to the 6th installment of the Sped Teacher Small Talk series with co-host Paul Hubbard, where  we dive into a randomly generated topic each month. This month we are discussing the crux of our jobs as special educators...Writing IEP goals. Paul uses a great analogy within this episode about how a good goal and strong progress monitoring techniques are like dropping water on the same spot on...

Welcome to another episode of the SpEd Prep Academy Podcast: "The Power of a Creative Outlet for Special Educators". In this solo episode, I delve into the dynamic world of special education and the integral role that creativity plays within it. We've all felt a bit like Batman, the steadfast, highly skilled superhero always ready to face the complex challenges of the classroom, but...

Today on Episode 126 of the Sped Prep Academy Podcast, we are joined by Lily Cornielle-Cordero from Teach Empowered. With an impressive 19-year career in education, Lily has dedicated herself to making a positive impact in the lives of students. She currently serves as the English Language Learner, Equity, and Student Support Specialist in Connecticut, and she brings a wealth of knowledge and expe...

It's not often that we get to hear directly from general education teachers about what they want from us, how we can support them and get ideas about how to work collaboratively together...but today's guest shares all that and MORE! In today's episode, I'm joined by Johanna Kuiper, a middle school math teacher from Oregon who is on a mission to engage students academically and...

Welcome to the 5th installment of the Sped Teacher Small Talk series with co-host Paul Hubbard, where  we dive into a randomly generated topic each month. But because Paul wanted to be a rebel this month, he asked to choose the topic instead of spinning the spinner. Because the end of this school year is closing in quickly, Paul asked to discuss transitioning students to a new teacher. Listen in a...

Welcome to another episode of the Sped Prep Academy Podcast! In today's episode, we have the pleasure of talking with Laine, a Special Educator and Transition Specialist with over 15 years of experience. Laine shares her insights on the importance of affirming neurodiversity in the classroom, as well as discussing the evolution of teaching methods and the use of respectful terminology. This e...

I am thrilled to welcome back Maureen Howard from Spoonful of Sped for the second time on the show. Maureen is a special education teacher and was a guest on Episode 96 where we chatted about how to implement student-led IEP meetings . Today, Maureen is here to talk more about how we can help to increase our student's skills even more by helping them run a school store. In this episode, Maure...

Welcome to the 4th installment of the Sped Teacher Small Talk series with co-host Paul Hubbard, where  we dive into a randomly generated topic each month. In this episode, we discuss preventing problem behaviors in the classroom, specifically for students on the autism spectrum. Paul and Jennifer highlight the importance of understanding that each student with autism is unique and may exhibit diff...

Executive function is the ability to plan, manage, organize, and “do” your life. In other words, it is the ability to prioritize and execute. Executive functioning is not only linked to school but it can be linked to the concept of adulting, which children tend to learn about and work on as they go through school. Today's guest is Rachel Kapp from Kapped Educational Therapy. Listen in as Rach...

Sharing common IEP goals between special education teachers and related service providers can be highly beneficial for the success of your students. By collaborating on goals, both parties can ensure that the student is receiving comprehensive support across different settings and addressing their individual needs. This approach can also streamline the goal-setting process and make it easier for b...