Episode 374: Paraprofessionals Are the Most Underutilized Resource in Your Classroom

Most paras spend their days doing proximity support - hovering at a student's elbow - and research is pretty clear that this actually works against independence and peer connection. But here's the thing: it's not the para's fault. In this episode, we talk about why paras default to hovering, what a well-utilized para actually looks like, and practical ways to redistribute support so your whole classroom benefits - not just one student.

Giangreco et al. (1997). You're welcome: Problematic paraprofessional supports in inclusive schools. Journal of Special Education.

Giangreco, M.F. (2010). Utilization of teacher assistants in inclusive schools. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

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Episode 376: Most Classroom Reward Systems Accidentally Teach the Wrong Things

What happens to behavior in your classroom when you forget the reinforcers? If the answer is 'everything falls apart' - that tells you something important about your system. In this episode, we're tal...

17 Elo 8min

Episode 375: Generalization Is the Real Goal — And We Almost Never Plan for It

If a student can label colors at your table but not point to one at snack - did they really learn colors? Generalization is the actual destination of all our instruction, and most of us plan for skill...

10 Elo 7min

Episode 373: IEP Goals Are Often Written to Be Achieved, Not to Be Meaningful

If your student hit every IEP goal this year but still can't ask for help, order food, or navigate a transition independently - did the goals do their job? In this episode, we're getting into the comp...

27 Heinä 5min

Episode 372: Sensory Bins and Sensory Diets Are Wildly Misunderstood

Sensory break has become a catch-all phrase we use when we're not sure what else to do - and that's a problem. In this episode, we're separating sensory-seeking behavior from escape behavior, talking ...

20 Heinä 5min

Episode 371: Parent Communication is Broken in Most Special Ed Programs

Think about the last five things you communicated to a parent. Were any of them good news? In this episode, we're talking about why home-school communication in special ed defaults to problems, incide...

13 Heinä 7min

Episode 370: We Spend Too Much Time on Behavior Plans and Not Enough on Skill Building

A behavior plan without a strong skill-building component isn't a plan - it's a patch. In this episode, we talk about why so many BIPs are heavy on consequences and light on replacement skills, and wh...

6 Heinä 5min

Episode 369: Inclusion Isn't Always the Most Appropriate Placement - And That's Okay

Inclusion is one of the most important values in special education - and one of the most misunderstood placement decisions. In this episode, we're unpacking the difference between inclusion as a philo...

29 Kesä 7min