Shows
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsMisfit Minute #8: Redirection Without Power Struggles — Gentle, Positive Behavior StrategiesIn this quick episode, Caitlin shares how to redirect student behavior without power struggles, using subtle, positive phrasing that preserves dignity and prevents escalation. Learn how to guide students clearly—without ever saying “No!”💡 Key Takeaways🔄 Redirection doesn’t need to be confrontational💬 Use clear, positive language to say what to do instead🧠 Build habits with consistent, gentle phrasing🤝 Preserve student dignity and avoid resistance✨ Try phrases like “Use a calm voice” or “Try again with walking feet”📚 Resources & Visuals🎧 Other episodes you’ll love:🔗 Ep. 3: 6 Ways to Approach Challenging Behaviors and Trauma-In...2025-07-2901 min
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsEp. 61: 4 Must-Know Tips for New Special Education Teachers in Self-Contained Classrooms🎙 Join Caitlin and guest Michelle Morris, an experienced self-contained classroom teacher, as they unpack real talk for new special ed teachers. From unexpected chaos to building strong staff dynamics, Michelle shares the five things she wishes she knew starting out—plus how to lean into your team and your strengths without losing your mind.💡 Whether you're brand-new or deep in the trenches, this episode will leave you feeling seen, supported, and ready to pivot with grace.🔑 Key Takeaways🌀 Be flexible—plans change, behaviors erupt, and that’s okay🙅 Don’t take things per...2025-07-2212 min
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsMisfit Minute #7: Pre-Correcting Behavior—3 Easy Steps to Prevent Common ChaosIn this short and practical episode, we explore the power of pre-correcting behavior—a quick strategy to set students up for success before a problem even starts. You’ll learn how to spot patterns, cue expectations in the moment, and reinforce positive behavior with intention.💡 Key Takeaways🔍 Know the behavior patterns—when and where issues usually occur🗣️ Use quick verbal cues right before problem moments🎯 Reinforce success immediately with specific praise and rewards📋 Pre-correction is easier than correction—set students up to shine🎒 Keep visual cues...2025-07-1504 min
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsEp. 60: Is It Positive Reinforcement or Punishment? Let’s Settle the DebateThis episode started as a quick Misfit Minute—but it turned into a deep dive, so we made it a full one. Inspired by that iconic Big Bang Theory clip with Sheldon and the chocolates, we break down a question behavior folks love to debate:👉 Is it positive reinforcement... or positive punishment?We walk through a simple way to understand the four terms:Positive/Negative Reinforcement and Positive/Negative Punishment…without getting stuck in jargon, so you can apply it in real situations, not just pass a...2025-07-0807 min
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsMisfit Minute #6: How to Teach Replacement Behaviors That Actually WorkIn this bite-sized episode, we dive into a powerful mindset shift: don’t just teach the rule—teach the replacement behavior. Saying “don’t do that” isn’t enough. Real behavior change happens when we teach students exactly what to do instead.💡 Key Takeaways:🚫 Saying “don’t do that” doesn’t teach a skill—replacement behaviors do🔁 Replacement behaviors aren’t add-ons—they are the behavior plan🧩 Prompting, modeling, and reinforcing appropriate actions is essential❓ Before correcting behavior, ask: “Have I taught what I want to see instead?”🌱...2025-07-0101 min
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsEp. 59: Making Your BIP Work: Data Collection and Fidelity in FBAs - Part 13 of the FBA Mini-SeriesPart 13 (the last step) of the FBA Mini-Series!You’ve got the plan… now let’s make sure it actually works. In this final episode of our FBA Mini-Series, Audra and Sami walk you through how to track behavior data, define roles, build fidelity, and make sure your BIP stays meaningful. This is the wrap-up you didn’t know you needed, filled with practical ways to follow through on everything you’ve created!🔑 Key Takeaways🧠 Track what matters – Collect data on both the target and replacement behaviors📈 2025-06-2417 min
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsMisfit Minute #5: Best Clipboards for Data Collection and Token Boards in Special Education💡 Key Takeaways:🖊️ Use a dual-sided clipboard with a whiteboard front and chalkboard back for both data and student visuals🎯 Turn the chalkboard side into a Velcro token board or quick-reinforcer tracker🧵 Small quarter-sheet clipboards are perfect for mini data sheets and can be worn on lanyards or fit in your pocket💼 Clipboards aren't just for paper—they’re flexible tools that can help paraprofessionals stay organized and responsive🙌 Use these tools to make reciprocal visuals, portable schedules, or motivation systems for students on the move📚 Resourc...2025-06-1703 min
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsEp. 58: Bridging the Gap: Building Teacher-BCBA Collaboration for Student Success🤝 Join Caitlin and Audra as they dive into the crucial topic of fostering strong working relationships between school-based BCBAs and teachers! Learn from their real-world experiences – both successes and challenges – in building mutual respect and understanding for the benefit of students.💡 It's all about teamwork! Discover how to move beyond potential roadblocks and create effective partnerships.🔑 Key Takeaways✅ Lead with trust—respect teachers’ expertise, time, and lived experience🧠 Use teacher-friendly language and avoid behavior jargon (save “DRO” for later)🎯 Ask open-ended questions to understand t...2025-06-1015 min
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsMisfit Minute #4: Power of Praise: Encouraging Positive Actions in Students🎙️ Misfit Minute #4: POWER Up Your Praise – Praising What You Want RepeatedTired of generic praise that doesn't seem to stick? Caitlin highlights the power of behavior-specific praise – telling students exactly what they did well. Learn why focusing your positive attention can cultivate the behaviors you want to see and shift the tone of your classroom.💡 Behavior grows where attention flows. Let's make sure it's flowing towards the positive!🔑 Key Takeaways✅ Be Behavior-Specific: Move beyond "good job" to praise like "Thanks for using a quiet voice" or "I noticed you cle...2025-06-0301 min
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsEp. 57: Creating a Crisis Cycle Plan in Behavior Support - Part 12 of the FBA Mini-SeriesPlanning a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) for high-intensity behaviors? This episode walks you through the 7 stages of the Crisis Cycle—and how to use it as a practical tool in your FBAs and behavior plans.We’re talking real-world escalation, de-escalation, and everything in between: what the student actually does, how staff should respond, and how to keep your team aligned in high-stress situations.🔑 Key Takeaways• The Crisis Cycle is a predictable escalation pattern—and one of the most useful tools in behavior planning• Define what e...2025-05-2726 min
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA ProfessionalsMisfit Minute #3: REDO Your “No” – Turning Redirection Into a WinSick of saying “no” and getting big reactions? Audra shares an easy-to-remember acronym—R.E.D.O.—to help reframe your redirections and get more buy-in from students without the meltdown.💡 Teach them it’s not “No forever,” it’s “Yes, just not yet.”🔑 Key Takeaways✅ R – Reframe the No: Say what they can do instead✅ E – Engage with Warmth: Invite, don’t command✅ D – Define the Next Step: Be clear about what’s first/next✅ O – Offer Motivation: Use reinforcers that actually matter to that learner✅ “Yes… after…” can prevent b...2025-05-2002 min
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