108 episodes
107. *Special Announcement* 4 Steps to Prep Paraprofessionals, Special Ed Assistants for the Beginning of the School Year
20/08/2024 | 18 mins.Hey Special Ed Teacher,
*Special Announcement at the end of the episode!*
Do you know what to prep your educational aides before the beginning of the school year? What do they need to know before your students step into your classroom? How do you create an inclusive classroom so your staff feels part of the team?
Today I’ll be sharing steps to ensure your Paraprofessionals feel like team members of the classroom community. We need to acknowledge their contributions, involve them in decision-making processes, and provide opportunities for professional growth. When paraprofessionals feel respected and included, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated. By investing time and effort into these areas, we can help our paraprofessionals feel confident and capable in their roles, ultimately leading to better outcomes for our students.
Take Care,
Michelle
Resources mentioned:
EP 3: 5 Tips to Work Best with Your Paraprofessional
Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY!
Connect with Michelle Vazquez:
Leave a 5 star review
Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE!
Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE!
Follow on INSTAGRAM!
Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com106. Dyslexia: What Is It & How Special Education Teachers Can Help Struggling Readers with Melanie Brethour
13/08/2024 | 38 mins.Hey Special Ed Teacher,
In today’s episode, we have special guest Melanie Brethour. Melanie Brethour is a resource teacher from Montreal, Quebec, dedicated to dyslexia awareness and the science of reading. Her commitment was sparked by her son Benjamin's dyslexia diagnosis at age 9. To better support him and her students, she earned Orton-Gillingham associate-level certification and became a CERI structured literacy teacher.
Melanie founded Decoding Dyslexia Quebec and Soar With Dyslexia on social media to provide resources and support. She also volunteers for Dyslexia Canada, helping parents navigate dyslexia. Guided by the motto "when you know better, you do better," Melanie continues to advocate for dyslexia understanding and support for struggling students and their families.
In this interview, Melanie and I discuss the challenges and potential solutions for identifying and supporting students with dyslexia. Melanie shared her personal experiences and recommended structured literacy approaches for teaching reading skills to dyslexic students. They also discussed the importance of transparency in parent communication and the role of special education teachers in identifying learning difficulties. This is a very insightful conversation you don’t want to miss!
Take Care,
Michelle
Resources mentioned:
Scholastic Science of Reading Teacher Resources
Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY!
Get your Spotify ‘Back to School Special’ playlist HERE!
Connect with Melanie Brethour:
Soar with Dyslexia Resources
Instagram: @soarwithdyslexia
Facebook: Soar with Dyslexia
Linkedin: Melanie Brethour
Connect with Michelle Vazquez:
Leave a 5 star review
Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE!
Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE!
Follow on INSTAGRAM!
Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com105. How to Lessen Stress at the Beginning of the School Year for Sped Teachers With Brittany Blackwell
06/08/2024 | 35 mins.Hey Special Ed Teacher,
Already stressed with the new school year coming up? Don’t want to feel overwhelmed with all the things that come with being a special education teacher?
In today’s episode, we have special guest Brittany Blackwell, M.Ed. Brittany is an award-winning special educator and teacher burnout & sustainability strategist from South Carolina. With over thirteen years of experience in elementary and middle school classrooms, Brittany has become an expert in addressing teacher burnout. She is also the host of the popular podcast "The Resilient Teacher Podcast".
In this interview, I discuss with Brittany the challenges and strategies of teaching special ed, focusing on using technology to streamline processes and prioritize self-care. Brittany shared her experiences and introduced her programs, emphasizing the importance of understanding one's personality traits to manage stress and avoid burnout. We also discussed the importance of balancing personal and professional responsibilities. Listen in to reduce your stress this next school year!
Take Care,
Michelle
Resources mentioned:
Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY!
Get your Spotify ‘Back to School Special’ playlist HERE!
Connect with Brittany Blackwell:
Website: http://www.teachingmindbodyandsoul.com
Podcast: http://www.teachingmindbodyandsoul.com/podcast
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/TeachingMindBodyandSoul
Tiktok: http://www.tiktok.com/msprincessteach
Email: brittany@teachingmindbodyandsoul
Personalized Roadmap to Teacher Burnout Recovery Quiz: http://www.teachingmindbodyandsoul.com/quiz
Connect with Michelle Vazquez:
Leave a 5 star review
Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE!
Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE!
Follow on INSTAGRAM!
Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com104. Concrete-Representational-Abstract Method: How to Utilize CRA in Math with Students with Special Needs
30/07/2024 | 9 mins.Hey Sped Teacher,
Are you wondering if the way you are teaching your students math is effective? Are you curious what the best way to teach math to your students with special needs is?
In this episode, we are diving into how to utilize the Concrete-Representational-Abstract, or CRA, method with your students. I am sharing my top 6 tips for implementing the CRA method effectively. You’ll learn the importance of assessing students, setting your classroom up for success with the CRA method, integrating the method into your lesson plans, and more!
Take Care,
Michelle
Resources mentioned:
Get your Spotify ‘Back to School Special’ playlist HERE!
Episode 99. Concrete-Representational-Abstract (CRA) Method in Math for Special Education Teachers an Overview
Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY!
Connect with Michelle Vazquez:
Leave a 5 star review
Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE!
Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE!
Follow on INSTAGRAM!
Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com103. Top 10 Most Downloaded Episodes: 2nd Birthday Celebration for the Podcast!
23/07/2024 | 14 mins.Hey Special ed Teacher,
Happy 2nd birthday to the Stepping into Special Education Podcast! I can’t believe it’s been 2 years since the first episode was released. Thank you so much for being part of the show for the past 2 years!
Today we are looking back through the second year of the Stepping into Special Education Podcast. I am sharing the top episodes from the past year and giving you an overview of each of the episodes so you can find the ones you want to go back and listen to. Whether you’re looking for which episodes you should check out or need a refresher on a certain topic, tune in to find the top episodes from year two!
Take Care,
Michelle
Resources mentioned:
EP 58: Paraprofessional Training 101: 4 Main Areas You Need to Train Classroom Support Staff, Special Ed Assistants, One-on-One Aides
EP 50: How to Handle Challenging Behavior from Students with Dr. Christine Reeve
EP 57: Back to School Special: Best Episodes to Start Up Your Special Education Classroom
EP 54: Co-teaching Models: 6 Methods Used for Students with or without Special Needs
EP 53: How to Write Meaningful Impact Statements / Present Levels for IEPs with Jennifer Hofferber
EP 64: My 8 Favorite Special Ed Teaching Strategies That I Use for My Students with Learning Disabilities
EP 55: Top 10 Most Downloaded Episodes: 1st Birthday Celebration for the Podcast!
EP 59: Student Relationships: 4 Reasons Why Connecting with Your Students with Special Needs Are Necessary
EP 52: 5 Things You Can Do NOW to Get Your SPED Class Ready for the New School Year!
EP 56: Plan the Year with Me! How to Set up Your Planner as a Special Education Teacher
Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY!
Connect with Michelle Vazquez:
Leave a 5 star review
Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE!
Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE!
Follow on INSTAGRAM!
Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com
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About STEPPING INTO SPECIAL EDUCATION, Special Education, SPED, Special Ed, Students with Disabilities, Classroom Management
Confused with how to write IEPs (Individualized Education Plans)? Not sure how to keep track of all the data? Tired of searching for the right behavior strategies to manage your special ed. classroom?
In this podcast, you will find methods to create IEP goals that students can reach, a system to collect data with your team, & know which behavior strategies will work best for your classroom. My mission is to help new sped teachers write IEPs with confidence, share ideas for classroom management, & know how to communicate to get the support you need.
If you are ready to finally walk into that IEP meeting feeling ready & know how to support your students to help them reach their full potential, you are in the right place!
Hey, I’m Michelle. A wife, mommy, and special education teacher. For years I struggled with doubting myself with writing IEPs, felt completely scattered with not knowing the right data to collect, & tried so many different behavior strategies that didn’t work for my students; which left me exhausted and no time for my own personal life.
I finally understood how to create IEPs for my student’s individual needs and learned how to collaborate with my paraprofessional, administrators, school psychologists, & parents! If I wanted to help reach my students’ full potential, I needed to equip myself with tools & strategies that will make the biggest impact on student success. And now I am ready to share that with you!
If you are ready to help make a difference with your students, to build a solid relationship & connection with them, & finally get the support and resources you need - this podcast is for you!
So grab that iced coffee, clipboard, and your favorite pen, it is time to get it started!
Become an INSIDER! Join the email list! https://mailchi.mp/a7b98ae89995/stepping-into-special-education
Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/steppingintospecialed
Instagram: www.instagram.com/steppingintospecialed
Connect: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com
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