Special Educators Resource Room Podcast: Real Talk for Special Education Teachers

Episódios

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  187. If Your Small Groups Keep Getting Interrupted, Listen to This 24.07.2026 14min

  Do your small groups keep getting interrupted by students who won't get started, stop working halfway through, or constantly ask for help? Those interruptions aren't random—they're giving you valuable information about what's working (and what's not) in your classroom routines. In this episode, I'll walk you through the five most common student behaviors I look for while teaching a small group and explain what each one tells me about what to adjust before back-to-school. Instead of trying t...
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  186. The Small Group Test: Is Your Independent Work System Really Ready? 17.07.2026 13min

  Can your classroom keep learning while you're teaching a small group? In this episode, we're putting your independent work system to the test. I'll share why independent work was never about keeping students busy in my resource room—it was about making every learning minute count. Then we'll walk through a simple five-minute "Small Group Test" to help you identify exactly where your system is strong and where it still needs support before back-to-school. In this episode, you'll learn: Why i...
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  185. Teach Routines That Last (Special Educators Summer Series Week 6) 10.07.2026 11min

  Build Your Independent Work System - Week 6 of Special Educators Summer Series Setting up an independent work system is only half the job—students need to be taught how to use it. In this episode, Jennifer shares a simple four-step teaching sequence that helps students build independence, reduces prompt dependence, and creates consistent routines for both students and paraprofessionals. Learn how slowing down at the beginning of the year can save time all year long. Important Links: Spe...
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  184. Why Your Students (and Your Para) Shouldn't Have to Guess 03.07.2026 13min

  If your students are constantly asking, "What's next?" or support staff isn't sure how independent work should flow, this episode is for you. This is Week 5 of the Special Educators Summer Series and we're covering the K in the TASKS Framework: Keep It Consistent. You'll learn the five simple components that help students move through independent work with confidence while giving paraprofessionals, substitutes, and student teachers a routine that's easy to follow. Links & Resources ...
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  183. Clear Start. Clear Work. Clear Finish. | The Secret to Independent Work 26.06.2026 10min

  There is a difference between a task a student can do and a task a student can do independently. Most classroom activities are designed for the first. Independent work requires the second. In this episode, we're talking about one of the most important parts of building an independent work system: setting up the task itself. Every independent task needs three things: • A clear start • A clear work signal • A clear finish This week's challenge is simple: choose one task, find one gap, and make ...
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  182. Teacher Prep - Why You May Already Have Everything You Need 19.06.2026 11min

  Special Educators Summer Series Week 3 - What You Actually Need to Build the Tasks. We're in the TASKS Framework. Last week was the T — Think it through — and your homework was three priority skills written down before you searched for a single material. Today is the A. Access your materials. Be sure to follow along the teacher summer series at Positively Learning on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FR0bpZ27pNw If you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to sav...
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  181. Teacher Planning Made Easy: Start With the Skill, Not the Activity 12.06.2026 11min

  Most teachers build independent work by finding things that look good. This episode is about doing it the other way around — starting with the skills your students actually need, before you open TPT or search for a single material. This is the T in the TASKS Framework: Think it through. In this episode: Why starting with activities instead of skills is what keeps independent work from ever really stickingFive questions to ask before you download anythingHow to write down three priority skills...
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  180. Special Educators Summer Series Week One! 05.06.2026 13min

  If independent work keeps falling apart in your classroom, this episode is for you. Many special educators assume they need better activities, more task boxes, or more resources. But most independent work problems aren't actually material problems. They're system problems. In this episode, we're kicking off the Special Educators Summer Series by looking at where independent work usually breaks down and how to identify the first leak in your current system. 📺 Subscribe on YouTube to catch new ...
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  179. Special Education Classroom This or That (End-of-Year Edition) 29.05.2026 7min

  End-of-Year Classroom This or That Today’s episode is a lighter end-of-year conversation all about classroom “this or that” choices in special education classrooms. We’re walking through a few end-of-year teacher opinions, routines, and classroom decisions that can either make this season feel calmer… or accidentally make it harder. Inside this episode: 🟡 Teacher-led classroom pack-up vs. students helping 🟡 Brand-new activities vs. familiar favorites 🟡 Overpacked spirit weeks vs. predictable ...
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  178. What Is Your Classroom Telling You Before Summer? 22.05.2026 9min

  The end of the school year reveals a lot about how a classroom is really functioning. In this episode, we’re talking about what late May behavior, routines, and classroom energy might actually be telling you — especially in special education classrooms where so much depends on structure and predictability. Inside this episode: 🟡 Why some routines are still working (even when everyone is tired) 🟡 What end-of-year exhaustion reveals about classroom systems 🟡 How to notice which routines truly s...
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  177. What 4 Years of Task Box Club Taught Me (+ a BIG giveaway!) 13.05.2026 12min

  This month, Task Box Club turns 4 years old 🎂 In this episode, I’m reflecting on: how the club startedwhat independent work looked like in my classroom years agothe evolution of the club over the last 4 yearsfunny and nostalgic moments along the wayand the biggest lessons teachers have taught me about building more independent classrooms.We’re also celebrating all week long inside Task Box Club with: ✔ 100+ new task releases ✔ 4 themed days focused on independent work systems ✔ and a HUGE giv...
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  176. When Teaching Feels Unsustainable: Should You Stay or Go? 08.05.2026 11min

  This time of year, a lot of educators quietly start asking themselves: 👉 Can I do this again next year? 👉 And do I want to do it here? In this episode, we’re talking about the difference between teaching being hard (because it is) and a school environment being unhealthy. We cover: ✔ what healthy schools actually prioritize ✔ why constant blame changes everything ✔ the difference between hard work and unsupported work ✔ and questions to ask yourself if you’re reflecti...
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  175. What I’d Buy for a Special Ed Classroom With $100, $250, $500, or $1000 01.05.2026 11min

  If you had end-of-year budget money for your classroom… what would actually be worth buying? In this episode, I’m sharing: ✔ what I’d prioritize at different budget levels ✔ what purchases truly support independence ✔ and the systems that save the most teacher energy long-term. Because the best classroom purchases aren’t always the cutest — they’re the ones that make your entire year easier. 📦 Explore the Task Box Club + Independent Work Club here: https://positivelyle...
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  174. Free Task Box Ideas to Help Students Work Independently 24.04.2026 7min

  Planning independent work doesn’t have to feel like starting from scratch every week. In this episode, I’m sharing how to actually use a bank of task box ideas so planning feels faster and students can work more independently. We’ll talk about: ✔ what makes a task truly “independent” ✔ how to choose tasks that actually work ✔ and how to stop overthinking your weekly planning 👉 Grab the 101 Task Box Ideas here 👉 Explore the Task Box Club If you're a busy special education tea...
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  173. Is Task Completion Actually a Problem? 17.04.2026 8min

  Is task completion actually hurting student learning? In this episode, we’re clearing up a common misunderstanding: 🟡 what “task completion” really means 🟡 why it’s not the same as compliance 🟡 and how independent work builds real-life skills Because when students can start, stay, and finish a task on their own… that’s not busy work — that’s independence. If you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've go...
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  172. AI and IEPs: Let’s Talk About What’s Actually Happening 10.04.2026 8min

  AI is helping teachers write IEPs faster than ever. But… are we still fully behind what we’re writing? In this episode, we’re unpacking: ✔ where AI helps ✔ where to pause ✔ and how to stay grounded in your professional judgment Because faster isn’t always the same as better. If you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've got you covered! I'm here to help you regain your confidence in the classroom and fe...
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  171. IEP Goals That Look Good on Paper, But Aren't Actually Useful 03.04.2026 9min

  Ever feel like some IEP goals look good on paper… but don’t actually get used? You’re not alone. In this episode, we’re talking about why that happens, how it shows up, and what it looks like to write goals that actually connect to your day-to-day teaching. Because IEP goals should support your students — not just check a box. If you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've got you covered! I'm here to help you regain your...
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  170. Why Nothing You Try Is Fully Working in Your Classroom (Yet) 27.03.2026 10min

  If you feel like you’ve tried everything—different activities, centers, task boxes—but your classroom still isn’t running smoothly, you’re not alone. The issue usually isn’t the materials. It’s that everything is working in pieces, but not as a complete system. When independent work isn’t built on a consistent structure, students rely on the teacher to explain, restart, and guide every step. That’s why it feels like nothing is fully working—because the system isn’t holding on its own yet. In ...
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  169. How I Plan a Week of Independent Work in 30 Minutes (Yes, Really) 20.03.2026 8min

  How long should independent work planning take? For many special educators, it can easily take 2–3 hours every week. But with the right system, it doesn’t have to. In this episode, I share the simple routine I use to plan an entire week of independent work in about 30 minutes using task boxes. You'll learn: • how to align independent work with IEP goals • why predictable task systems increase independence • how to keep mastered skills sharp • a repeatable planning routine th...
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  168. Real Stories from the Parts of Teaching We Don’t Talk About 13.03.2026 10min

  Teaching isn’t just lesson plans and instruction. In this episode, you’ll hear several real classroom stories about the moments when advocating for students meant speaking up, pushing back, and navigating decisions that weren’t always easy. From curriculum expectations to IEP decisions, this conversation explores a side of teaching that many educators weren’t prepared for—but know all too well. If you’ve ever had a moment where something didn’t feel right for a student, this episode is for yo...