Shows
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsEp. 56: How to Prepare for an IEP Meeting: Timeline, Tips, and Parent CollaborationPlanning an IEP can feel like a whirlwind—deadlines, data, collaboration, and student needs all rolled into one big meeting. In this episode, Caitlin and Audra walk through a practical timeline for IEP prep, from parent check-ins to drafting goals and reviewing behavior plans.Whether you’re a teacher, BCBA, or case manager, this one’s packed with real-talk and ready-to-use tips to make your IEPs more effective and less stressful.🔑 Key Takeaways📅 Start early—draft a prep timeline 4–6 weeks in advance if possible📬 Reach out to families before the meeting to check in on their priorit...2025-05-1316 min
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsMisfit Minute #2: W.A.I.T.: The De-escalation Strategy That Starts With Silence🎙️ Misfit Minute #2: W.A.I.T. – Why Am I Talking?Sometimes, the most powerful support you can offer during a student’s escalation… is silence. Caitlin introduces the W.A.I.T. strategy ("Why Am I Talking?")—a simple but transformative tool for de-escalation and emotional regulation.🔑 Key Takeaways✅ Silence can be a strategy—not avoidance✅ Extra words = extra demands during escalation✅ Give students space to feel, process, and reset✅ Speak with purpose: clear, calm, and kind✅ “I’m here when you’re ready” can be magic📚 Resources & Insp...2025-05-0602 min
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsEp. 55: How to Reinforce Replacement Behaviors and Respond to Problem Behavior – Part 11 of the FBA Mini-SeriesContinuing on in our FBA-BIP mini-series, we're at Step 11. This week, we’re diving into the consequence side of behavior plans—what to do after students engage in either the challenging behavior or the replacement behavior. It’s not just about preventing problem behavior… it’s about teaching, reinforcing, and responding with consistency and care.🔑 Key Takeaways🧠 Reinforce replacement behaviors immediately and consistently—across staff, settings, and time🎯 Match the function with the reinforcement (e.g., escape behavior = give a break)💬 Avoid reinforcing the pr...2025-04-2919 min
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsMisfit Minute #1: 5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Teaching🎙️ The Misfit Minute #1: 5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started TeachingWelcome to the very first episode of The Misfit Minute — your quick wins podcast series packed with fast, practical tips for educators, BCBAs, and therapists. In this debut episode, Audra shares 5 honest, heartfelt lessons learned the hard way — so you don’t have to.✨ If you're in the messy middle of teaching, this one's for you.🔑 Key Takeaways✅ Set boundaries early — your time matters✅ Saying “no” is a professional skill✅ Not everyone will like you, and that’s okay✅ Ask for support (an...2025-04-2203 min
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsEp. 54: ABA Tools for Tolerance – Haircuts, Doctor Visits & MoreThis week, we’re diving into ABA strategies for building tolerance in real-life situations like haircuts, doctor visits, and dental appointments. Many learners with autism and anxiety struggle with these experiences, and traditional approaches like social stories aren’t always enough. We’ll break down how to desensitize fears, use reinforcement effectively, and teach coping skills to make these essential life skills more manageable.🔑 Key Takeaways✅ Meet learners where they are – Start with the smallest step they can tolerate and build up gradually.✅ Break it down like a task ana...2025-04-1516 min
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsEp. 53: Teaching Positive Behaviors – Part 10 of the FBA Mini-SeriesContinuing on in our FBA-BIP mini-series, we're at Step 10! This week, we’re tackling one of the most important steps in behavior intervention planning—choosing the right replacement behavior. Just reducing problem behavior isn’t enough; we have to actively teach what to do instead in a way that’s functional, motivating, and sustainable.🔑 Key Takeaways✅ Replacement behaviors must meet the same function – If a student yells to escape a task, teaching them to request a break makes sense. Giving them a fidget does not.✅ Make it easy...2025-04-0109 min
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsEp. 52: BCBA in Schools vs. Clinics – Pros, Cons, and What to ExpectJoin us as we break down the pros and cons of being a BCBA in a school vs. clinic setting, covering collaboration, job stability, workload, and more!🔑 Key Takeaways✅ Team Collaboration Matters – Schools often provide a built-in multidisciplinary team (SLPs, OTs, teachers, etc.), while clinics may have fewer collaboration opportunities.✅ Family Involvement Differs – Clinics typically have more direct parent involvement due to insurance requirements, while schools rely on IEP meetings and teacher communication.✅ Job Stability & Work-Life Balance – Schools offer predictable schedules, summers off, and union protectio...2025-03-1836 min
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsEp. 51: Antecedent Strategies in Behavior Plans – Part 9 of the FBA Mini-SeriesIn this episode, we break down antecedent strategies—the proactive steps you can take to prevent challenging behaviors before they escalate. We explain how these strategies differ from setting event strategies, why they’re essential in a behavior plan, and how to apply them effectively in real-world settings.🔑 Key Takeaways✅ Antecedent vs. Setting Event Strategies – Learn the difference and when to use each.✅ Proactive Supports – Identify triggers early and modify tasks before behaviors occur.✅ Flexible but Clear Plans – Ensure strategies are individualized and easy to implement.✅ Avoid Overloading Behavior Plans – Focus on the most effective strategi...2025-03-0412 min
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsEp. 50: What to Do When You Don’t Know the Function of a BehaviorStruggling to address aggression in non-vocal learners? In this episode, Audra and Caitlin dive into practical strategies for managing sudden, seemingly random aggressive behaviors. They explore why behaviors might spike, the importance of consistent reinforcement, and how taking a step back can be the key to moving forward.✨ Key Takeaways🔄 When to Reset: If a learner’s aggressive behavior escalates, revisit earlier interventions, even if it feels like “going backwards.”⭐ Know Your Learner: Conduct informal preference assessments regularly to keep reinforcers fresh and effective.🧩 Consistency is Key: Ensure all team members are aligned on reinforcement st...2025-02-1816 min
Formula Indie AmericaFORMULA INDIE AMERICA 10.2.2025ALICAT – BitterAnna Walsh – Rock Collector Audra Watt – Bullet Trains BABO BABY – Your Babo Baby Benja Chilling – Blankita Bonita Bruce Dickey – Gypsy of Imagination Cazzjezter – Monitoring Spirit Chioke – YO BRO CLACKS – The Distance Cuff The Duke – Leaving it All Behind Cylus – Control D3NO – Stranger To Me Denise Marsa - Kiss me in the rainDJ QuarkBeats – Turn the Tide (Hindi) Doctor Noize – I'm Listening DOGFACE AND THE PONY SOLDIERS – No Better Time2025-02-103h 03
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsEp. 49: Understanding and Addressing Anxiety in Autism – Strategies for Special EducationThis episode explores the intersection of autism and anxiety, highlighting how to identify and address anxiety-driven behaviors in students with autism through evidence-based, student-centered approaches.✨ Key Takeaways✔️ We address a recent Facebook group question about trichotillomania and anxiety.✔️ Recognizing Anxiety in Autism: Girls with autism often exhibit higher levels of social anxiety due to heightened awareness of social differences.✔️ The Evolution of ABA: 20 years ago, internal events like anxiety were often ignored in behavior analysis. Today, there's a stronger focus on addressing underlying cau...2025-02-0420 min
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsEp. 48: How to Create Effective Classroom Schedules for Special Education and ABA SettingsCreating a classroom schedule for special education and ABA settings can feel like solving a puzzle! In this episode, Caitlin and Audra share their strategies, tips, and tricks to make scheduling manageable and effective for students and staff. From color-coding and post-it notes to balancing para rotations, this episode will help you build a flexible schedule that works for everyone.✨ Key Takeaways🕒 Start with the non-negotiables: Plot out staff lunch breaks, student lunch, therapy schedules, and specials first.🎨 Color-code by staff: Use colors to keep track of...2025-01-2116 min
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsEp. 47: Managing Paras in Special Education: Building Teamwork, Accountability, and Clear BoundariesWorking with paras in special education classrooms can be both rewarding and challenging. In this episode, Audra and Caitlin share practical strategies for creating a positive, productive environment for paras, fostering teamwork, and addressing common issues like problem behaviors and resistance to change. ✨ Key Takeaways📝 Set clear expectations: Overcommunicate and provide written resources like para binders for clarity. 🌟 Acknowledge strengths: Reinforce and assign tasks that align with your paras' skills while preventing burnout. 🛑 Address issues early: Redirect problem behaviors quickly and document actions for accountability...2025-01-0719 min
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsEp. 46: Reverse Inclusion in Special Education – Building Peer Connections and Social SkillsWhat if inclusion didn’t just mean “pushing students in” but also “inviting peers in”? In this episode, we chat with Megan Stenziano from Moms Managing Behavior about a game-changing approach called reverse inclusion. From lunch and recess to peer buddy programs and after-school activities, Megan walks us through how her school created inclusive, meaningful social opportunities for all students. We discuss creative ideas, practical solutions, and even a program so popular it had parents saying, “It’s harder to get into than Taylor Swift tickets!” 🎟️ Don't miss this one!✨ Key Takeaways📢 What is Reverse Inclusion? — It’s when general education...2024-12-1724 min
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsEp. 45: Must-Read Behavior Books for Teachers and BCBAsIn this episode, we’re sharing some of our favorite behavior books for teachers, BCBAs, and parents. From foundational ABA classics to practical sensory guides, we’ll explore resources that equip you with tools to better support your learners!🎯 Key Takeaways📚 Build Your Behavior Toolkit: The right books can equip parents, teachers, and behavior analysts with actionable strategies.🧠 Diverse Perspectives: From ABA foundations to sensory needs, there's something for every professional and parent.💡 Practical Insights: Books like The Behavior Code and Let Me Hear Your Voice offer...2024-12-1011 min