Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki

In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education with Nikki, we’re exploring why some students apologize constantly, even when they haven’t done anything wrong. We unpack how excessive apologizing is often not about politeness at all, but instead a nervous system safety strategy linked to anxiety, shame, masking, people pleasing, and fear of correction. For many students, especially autist...

In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education with Nikki, we’re exploring masking in the classroom and why a student looking “fine” on the surface does not always mean they feel safe, regulated, or understood underneath. We unpack what masking actually is, why autistic students often do it, and how behaviors like forced eye contact, suppressing stims, copying peers, staying silent, or p...

In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education with Nikki, we’re exploring a question that sits right at the heart of education and behavior support: should compliance really be the goal? For years, many of us were taught that quiet, obedient children who follow instructions without question are the definition of success. But in this episode, we unpack why compliance alone tells us very...

In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education with Nikki, we’re exploring one of the most misunderstood drivers of behavior in children and teens: shame. We unpack the important difference between guilt and shame, and why shame is not simply an emotional reaction but a nervous system response to perceived social threat. When students feel exposed, corrected, embarrassed, or “wrong,” beh...

In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education with Nikki, we’re unpacking a behavior pattern that can feel incredibly confusing for educators and parents. Why do some students seem to deliberately mess up their own work just when they were close to succeeding? Whether it looks like ripping up work, scribbling over answers, refusing to finish, shutting down, or suddenly becoming silly, w...

In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education with Nikki, we’re unpacking something that can feel surprisingly personal as educators and parents. Why do some students avoid praise? Why do they shrug off encouragement, get silly, look away, minimize their work, or even become dysregulated right after being complimented? We explore how praise is not always experienced as positive or motiv...

In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education with Nikki, we’re talking about a behavior pattern that can feel incredibly confusing at first. Why do some students seem to fall apart after they’ve done really well? After they’ve achieved something difficult, completed a task, or successfully coped through a challenging situation, behavior can suddenly escalate. We explore why this is usu...

In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education with Nikki, we’re exploring why some students only meltdown with certain adults and what that actually tells us about safety, trust, and nervous system regulation. We talk about the “safe person effect,” restraint collapse, and why children often hold everything together in high pressure environments before finally unraveling with the people...

In this episode, I’m diving into something I see constantly in autism and special education classrooms: “silly” behavior. The giggling, noises, dramatic movements, baby voices, and chaos energy can often look disruptive on the surface, but in many cases, there’s something much deeper happening underneath. I’m talking about why silly behavior is often linked to regulation, anxiety, sensory needs, t...

In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki , we’re talking about something small that makes a huge difference: the positive email. Not the reminder. Not the concern. Not the “we need to talk.” Just a simple message that says, “I wanted to share something good.” Because in special education, families hear about challenges a lot. And when every message from school feels he...

In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki , we’re talking about something every special education teacher faces at some point: parent conflict. The difficult email. The tense meeting. The phone call that makes your heart race before you even answer. Even when you are doing everything right, parent conflict can still happen. This episode is about how to handle those mome...

In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki , we’re talking about one of the hardest emotional parts of teaching that nobody really prepares you for: taking student behavior personally. Because when a student shouts at you, refuses your help, or pushes back against everything you offer, it hurts. You care. You try.... And when that care feels rejected, it can sting deeply...

In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki , we’re talking about something that so many teachers quietly struggle with, staying empathetic when you’re completely drained. If you’re tired, irritable, emotionally flat, or feel like you’re running on fumes… that doesn’t make you a bad teacher. It makes you human. This episode is about protecting your energy, understanding c...

In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki , we’re talking about something every SPED teacher has experienced...  the student who refuses to cut, write, or glue… and the moment you start wondering if it’s behavior or avoidance. Most of the time? It’s neither. It’s fine motor fatigue . This episode breaks down what’s really happening in those little hands, why fine m...

In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki , we’re talking about how to create a communication-rich classroom - not by pushing students to talk more, but by designing an environment that invites communication naturally. Because when communication feels safe, visible, and supported, students don’t just communicate more - they connect more, participate more, and start trus...

In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki , we’re talking about social connection, and why it’s time to move away from forced friendships and one-size-fits-all “social skills.” Because real connection isn’t about making students interact the right way. It’s about helping them feel safe, respected, and free to connect on their own terms. This episode explores what authen...

In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki , we’re talking about echolalia - and why it’s not something to stop, fix, or correct. Because echolalia isn’t “random.” It isn’t meaningless. And it definitely isn’t bad behavior. Echolalia is communication. This episode breaks down what echolalia really is, why students use it, and how we can respond in a way that honors neuro...

In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki , we’re talking about communication, and not just speech. Because every student communicates. Not every student uses words. And that doesn’t make their communication any less valid. This episode is all about teaching communication beyond words... supporting non-verbal and minimally verbal students through AAC, visuals, gestures,...

In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki , we’re talking about something that so many of our students get told every day... “Sit still and focus.” And honestly? For neurodivergent learners, that expectation just doesn’t make sense. Movement isn’t a distraction. It’s a need. This episode breaks down why movement is essential for regulation and learning, how it supports...

In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki , we’re talking about the moment after a meltdown, when the room is quiet, everyone’s drained, and you’re wondering… okay, now what? Because what happens after sensory overload matters just as much as what happens before it. This episode walks through how to help students recover safely, calmly, and compassionately, without rush...

In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki , we’re talking about something that’s often missed in behavior conversations - the environment. Because sometimes it’s not the reward system, the visual schedule, or the strategy that’s causing the behavior. Sometimes… it’s the noise, the lighting, or the constant movement around a student. And once you start seeing behavior th...

In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki , we’re talking about reinforcement.. and why it can feel so uncomfortable sometimes. Because yes, reinforcement works. But it can also start to feel like bribery… or like we’re controlling students instead of supporting them. So let’s clear the air. This episode is all about how to use reinforcement in a way that feels ethical,...

In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki , we’re talking about refusal...  the kind where you plan everything perfectly and your student still says “no”… or shuts down completely. Arms crossed. Under the table. Straight to the calm corner before you’ve even started. If you’ve ever thought, “But they can do this… why are they refusing again?”  ....  this...

In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki , we’re talking about advocacy — the kind you need when you know what a student needs, but the system just isn’t moving. You know the feeling.... You’ve got the data.. You’ve got the experience... You can see the pattern clear as day… and yet you’re stuck in meetings that go nowhere, hearing “we’ve tried that” or “they just need...

Hey teacher friend... few things sting like seeing a student suddenly “lose” a skill they worked so hard for. One day they’re thriving, and the next, it’s like they’ve forgotten everything. Before you panic or question your teaching, take a breath - regression isn’t failure. It’s feedback. 💛 In this episode, we’re unpacking why regression happens, what it’s really telling you, and how to respond...