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The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals
Audra Jensen, Caitlin Beltran, Sami Brown
79 episodes
4 days ago
This week’s Misfit Minute is all about catching behaviors before they escalate. Caitlin breaks down how to spot the earliest warning signs—like a shift in posture or a sigh—and why waiting until the meltdown starts is already too late. Learn how small, proactive strategies can prevent big challenges in the classroom. 🔑 Key Takeaways Escalation is the “tip of the iceberg” — behaviors begin long before yelling or refusal.Early signs might include subtle changes like silence, avoidance, or body...
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All content for The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals is the property of Audra Jensen, Caitlin Beltran, Sami Brown and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
This week’s Misfit Minute is all about catching behaviors before they escalate. Caitlin breaks down how to spot the earliest warning signs—like a shift in posture or a sigh—and why waiting until the meltdown starts is already too late. Learn how small, proactive strategies can prevent big challenges in the classroom. 🔑 Key Takeaways Escalation is the “tip of the iceberg” — behaviors begin long before yelling or refusal.Early signs might include subtle changes like silence, avoidance, or body...
Show more...
How To
Education,
Courses
Episodes (20/79)
The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals
Misfit Minute 12: Spot Early Warning Signs to Prevent Escalation in the Classroom
This week’s Misfit Minute is all about catching behaviors before they escalate. Caitlin breaks down how to spot the earliest warning signs—like a shift in posture or a sigh—and why waiting until the meltdown starts is already too late. Learn how small, proactive strategies can prevent big challenges in the classroom. 🔑 Key Takeaways Escalation is the “tip of the iceberg” — behaviors begin long before yelling or refusal.Early signs might include subtle changes like silence, avoidance, or body...
Show more...
1 week ago
1 minute

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals
Ep. 65: How to Teach Maintenance and Generalization of Skills in ABA and Special Education
If it’s not generalizing, it’s not functional. In this episode, we break down what true mastery looks like, how to plan for maintenance from the start, and practical ways to “teach loosely” so skills stick across people, places, and materials. 🔑 Key Takeaways Redefine Mastery: Ditch “80% for 3 days” as the finish line—probe across time (weeks), people, places, and materials.Plan for M+G Early: Write IEP goals that embed generalization (different staff, tables, exemplars) and maintenance chec...
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2 weeks ago
14 minutes

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals
Misfit Minute 11: Sticky Note Praise Strategy for Quick Classroom Reinforcement
This week’s Misfit Minute is all about a tiny tool with a big payoff—sticky notes! 📝 Audra shares a quick and easy praise strategy you can implement immediately to boost positive behavior, make students feel seen, and encourage classroom-wide reinforcement. Perfect for preschool, special education, and any classroom that thrives on connection and encouragement. 💛 🔑 Key Takeaways 📝 Use sticky notes as quick, visual praise for behaviors you want to reinforce 👏 Simple compliments like “I love h...
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3 weeks ago
1 minute

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals
Ep. 64: Preschool Circle Time Tips for Engagement, Structure, and Special Education Success
Preschool circle time doesn’t have to be chaos! 🎶 In this episode, we share simple strategies to keep little learners engaged, structured, and having fun—while meeting every student where they are. 🌟 🎧 Key Takeaways • Purpose of Circle Time: Sets the tone for the day, offering structure and fun through songs, weather checks, and IEP skill practice. Adaptations are key to meeting the students where they are! 🌞 • Four Pillars of a Balanced Circle Time: 1. Physical Movement:...
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4 weeks ago
21 minutes

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals
Misfit Minute 10: Reinforcement vs. Bribery – What Teachers and BCBAs Need to Know
Reinforcement isn’t a trick, a loophole, or a bribe—it’s an evidence-based strategy that builds real behavior change. In this quick Misfit Minute, Caitlin shares a practical way to explain the difference between reinforcement and bribery—perfect for staff training or team refreshers. 🧠 Key Takeaways: 🔄 Reinforcement is proactive, planned, and delivered after the desired behavior 🚫 Bribery is reactive, often given during or after problem behavior to stop it 💼 Think of it like a paycheck: you ...
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1 month ago
1 minute

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals
Ep. 63: 5 Data Collection Mistakes BCBAs and Special Educators Should Avoid
Are you drowning in data but still missing progress? In this episode, we’re talking about the five most common data collection mistakes we’ve seen (and made!)—and how to fix them. Whether you're a BCBA, teacher, or therapist, these tips will help you streamline your systems, support your staff, and actually use the data you're collecting. 🧠 Key Takeaways: 📊 Too much data = too little connection — Prioritize quality over quantity. 🧍‍♀️ Inconsistent systems can lead to confusing or unusable da...
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1 month ago
14 minutes

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals
Misfit Minute #9: Easy Circle Time Ideas for Joint Attention and Conversation Skills
This week, we’re keeping it super simple—and super effective. Audra shares two of her favorite low-prep activities that boost engagement, joint attention, and early conversation skills using nothing more than a decorated box or bag and a few trinkets from around the room. Perfect for preschool, early intervention, and special education classrooms! 🔑 Key Takeaways 🧠 Use a Surprise Box to build early joint attention and excitement during circle time 💬 Try a Chat Bag for turn-taking, contingent...
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1 month ago
4 minutes

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals
Ep. 62: How to Run Social Skills Groups in Schools and Clinics
Running social skills groups can be tricky—especially when you’re balancing different student needs, group sizes, and settings. In this episode, we unpack how to structure and differentiate social skills groups for learners at every level—whether you’re in a school, clinic, or classroom. From dyads to full-blown community outings, we’re breaking down what works (and what really doesn’t). 👥 Whether you're supporting early learners or advanced social thinkers, you'll walk away with practical s...
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1 month ago
25 minutes

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals
Misfit Minute #8: Redirection Without Power Struggles — Gentle, Positive Behavior Strategies
In 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...
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2 months ago
1 minute

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals
Ep. 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...
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2 months ago
12 minutes

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals
Misfit Minute #7: Pre-Correcting Behavior—3 Easy Steps to Prevent Common Chaos
In 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 i...
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2 months ago
4 minutes

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals
Ep. 60: Is It Positive Reinforcement or Punishment? Let’s Settle the Debate
This 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, n...
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2 months ago
7 minutes

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals
Misfit Minute #6: How to Teach Replacement Behaviors That Actually Work
In 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 behavio...
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3 months ago
1 minute

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals
Ep. 59: Making Your BIP Work: Data Collection and Fidelity in FBAs - Part 13 of the FBA Mini-Series
Part 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 ...
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3 months ago
17 minutes

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals
Misfit 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 ...
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3 months ago
3 minutes

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals
Ep. 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 🧠 ...
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3 months ago
15 minutes

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals
Misfit Minute #4: Power of Praise: Encouraging Positive Actions in Students
🎙️ Misfit Minute #4: POWER Up Your Praise – Praising What You Want Repeated Tired 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 b...
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3 months ago
1 minute

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals
Ep. 57: Creating a Crisis Cycle Plan in Behavior Support - Part 12 of the FBA Mini-Series
Planning 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 mo...
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4 months ago
26 minutes

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals
Misfit Minute #3: REDO Your “No” – Turning Redirection Into a Win
Sick 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 l...
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4 months ago
2 minutes

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals
Ep. 56: How to Prepare for an IEP Meeting: Timeline, Tips, and Parent Collaboration
Planning 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 week...
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4 months ago
16 minutes

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals
This week’s Misfit Minute is all about catching behaviors before they escalate. Caitlin breaks down how to spot the earliest warning signs—like a shift in posture or a sigh—and why waiting until the meltdown starts is already too late. Learn how small, proactive strategies can prevent big challenges in the classroom. 🔑 Key Takeaways Escalation is the “tip of the iceberg” — behaviors begin long before yelling or refusal.Early signs might include subtle changes like silence, avoidance, or body...