STEPPING INTO SPECIAL EDUCATION, Special Education, SPED, Special Ed, Students with Disabilities, Classroom Management

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

Hey Special education Teacher, Are you a new special education teacher excited to jump into your very own classroom next year? Have you found yourself hoping you know everything you need to know to be prepared for whatever the year brings? The truth is, whether you are a new teacher or have been teaching for 15 years like me, you will never know everything and you will always be learning something new. I thought it would be so valuable if some of the veteran teachers in our private Facebook community offered some of their best advice for new teachers, and honestly, they are great reminders for all teachers. These six tips are things I wish my mentor teachers would have told me early in my career so I am so happy to be able to share them with you! Take Care, Michelle Resources mentioned: Get your Spotify ‘Back to School Special’ playlist HERE!  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

Hey Sped Teacher, Have you wondered how to ask your administrators for support? Are you looking for tips on how to build a strong relationship with your admin as a special education teacher? I am so excited to have a very special guest on today’s episode! We are joined by my principal, Dr. Patricia Corral, who is sharing some incredible insight on building a great special education teacher - admin relationship and how special ed teachers can work collaboratively with their administration. If you are looking to have your admin more actively involved in special ed meetings or just looking to improve your working relationship with your admin, this episode is for you! Dr. Patricia Corral has been in education for 25 years, 10 years as an elementary school principal, 15 years teaching in kindergarten, third, and fourth grade. She’s been an English learner resource teacher, reading intervention teacher, and teaching vice principal. She was an adjunct professor for a teacher education program with Claremont Graduate University. Her work in improving the outcomes for students stems from growing up as a first generation Mexican American trying to maneuver through public education. She believes in equity for all students especially in marginalized groups and communities.  She mentors aspiring school administrators who are dedicated to the work in underrepresented communities.  Dr. Corral has a BA in Liberal Studies from Cal Poly Pomona, a Masters in Educational Administration from Cal State San Bernardino, and a Doctorate in Urban Education Leadership from USC. Dr. Corral is a wife and mother of A 29 year old, 21 year old, and 12 year old. She enjoys reading a good book, watching football, cooking, and spending time with her family.  Take Care, Michelle Resources mentioned: Get your Spotify ‘Back to School Special’ playlist HERE!  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

Hey Special Ed Teacher, We made it to 100 episodes of the Stepping Into Special Education podcast. I cannot believe it! I am beyond excited and so grateful for each and every one of you for tuning in each week! When I started this podcast, I knew I wanted to provide a resource for special educators who were looking for support, tips, and community. I have truly been blown away by the incredible support I have received and the amazing community that has been built around this podcast. I am so grateful and truly blessed! Join me today as I look back on the past 100 episodes, reflect on why I started, celebrate big milestones, and what I am grateful for through this journey. I’m so glad I get to celebrate with you! Take Care, Michelle Resources mentioned: Apply for the IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course  Episode 1. My Special Ed Journey and Why I Wanted to Start a Podcast 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

Hey Special Education Teacher, Are your students finding it difficult to comprehend certain math concepts, despite repeated teaching strategies? Want to learn about evidence-based practices that are proven to help students with learning disabilities excel in math? To be completely honest, teaching math is not one of my strengths. But I know how crucial it is to be able to provide effective direct instruction in math to our students in order to help them learn the math concepts they need to. That is where the Concrete-Representational-Abstract (CRA) Method comes in. I absolutely love this method and it is so effective for my students. Tune in to hear more about what it is and how to implement this method into your instruction. Take Care, Michelle Resources mentioned: IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE!  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

Hey Sped Teacher, Are you struggling with behavior strategies for your students with special needs? Have you tried everything you can think of and aren’t sure what to try next? When we are struggling with behavior issues, it can feel like we have to find a solution on our own. But that is absolutely not the truth! We do not need to figure it out alone but we do need to know who to reach out to and where to go for support. In today’s episode, I am sharing my top go-to resources to help with behavior issues from your students with special needs to help you get the behavior support you need! Take Care, Michelle Resources mentioned: www.pbisworld.com IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE!  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

Hey Special Education Teacher, We made it to the end of another school year! But before we head into summer and start enjoying our time off, I’m taking some time to look back and reflect on this school year. I have found that taking this time to reflect has really helped me to grow in my career. One thing I love to do at the end of the school year is to think back over the year and appreciate some of the amazing accomplishments my students and I achieved while also acknowledging some areas I can grow in for the upcoming year. So join me today as I share my top three highlights of this year as well as the three areas I’d like to improve on for next year. I hope this episode inspires you to reflect back on your year and appreciate what you’ve accomplished as well! Take Care, Michelle Resources mentioned: Episode 88. 9 Tips on How to Lessen State Test Anxiety for Students with Special Needs! IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE!  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

Hey Special Ed Teacher, You know that having students in the least restrictive environment is the law but have you found yourself wondering what it really means?  If you’re like me, you probably learned about LRE in college but by the time you were in the classroom, you found it hard to remember all the details of the continuum of services. In today’s episode, I am sharing an overview of the ten different levels of supports a student with an eligibility can be placed on so you can be prepared when determining a student’s LRE. Take Care, Michelle Resources mentioned: IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE!  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

Hey Sped Teacher, Have you found yourself scrambling at the end of summer to get everything ready for the new school year? Are you ready to get a head start on the next school year so you don’t end up stressed again? We are all looking forward to resting and relaxing this summer! We definitely deserve it! But I’ve learned my lesson about waiting until the last minute to prepare for next school year. After a few years of waiting until the last minute to get things ready for the new school year, I decided I needed a new system that didn’t leave me scrambling. So although it seems far away, I am sharing the 4 things I’m doing to get ready for next school year to hopefully give you a head start on the new year as well! Take Care, Michelle Resources mentioned: The Power of Our Words By Paula Denton, EdD Check out Plum Paper planners IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE!  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    

Hey Special Education Teacher, Are you looking to find a better work and home life balance? Are you convinced that staying late and taking work home is just the way it is for teachers? I spent several years staying after school for hours. I had no idea how to turn off work mode and felt like I had to do all the things! A few years down the road, I realized that I was not giving my family the attention they deserved and I needed to figure out how to get my work done at school and prioritize my life outside of school. If you find yourself struggling to find work-life balance, tune in as I share my tips for getting work done and turning off work mode once your work day is done! Take Care, Michelle Resources mentioned: Episode 11. Set up These 4 Simple Organizational Tools as a Special Education Teacher! Episode 56. Plan the Year with Me! How to Set-up Your Planner as a Special Education Teacher Check out Plum Paper planners IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE!  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

Hey Sped Teacher, Curious about what a veteran special education teacher wishes she knew before beginning her special education teaching journey? Do you wish you had insider knowledge before beginning your own journey as a special ed teacher? I’m sure I am not alone when I say that after getting some experience as a new special education teacher, I found myself thinking about all the things I wished I had known before because I guarantee I am not the only one who felt thrown right into it all feeling completely unprepared. So to help out all the new (and even veteran!) special education teachers, I am sharing the one thing I wish I knew before becoming a special education teacher. Take Care, Michelle Resources mentioned: IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE!  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

Hey Special Education Teacher, Feeling the pressure of the last month of the school year? Wondering how to keep students engaged during the last month of the school year? We are entering the final stretch of the school year! But this last month of school always seems challenging. Between all the end of year tasks, maintaining student engagement, meetings, and feeling burnt out, the end of the year can be incredibly overwhelming! The good news is that it doesn’t need to be! In this episode, I am sharing 5 tips to help you not only survive, but thrive, during the last month of school! Take Care, Michelle Resources mentioned: IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE!  Connect with Michelle Vazquez: Leave a 5 star review Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY! Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE! Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE! Follow on INSTAGRAM! Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com

Hey Sped Teacher, Are you struggling to connect with your gen ed colleagues as a special education teacher? Do you want to collaborate with general ed teachers to better serve your students but aren’t sure where to start? As our students’ case manager, we are to provide our students with the least restrictive environment. This means that we should be working closely with our general ed teachers to ensure our students with an IEP are getting the opportunity to be in their least restrictive environment. Unfortunately, I know I am not alone when I say I have experienced a fair amount of pushback from general ed teachers. If you’ve been there, be sure to tune in to this episode to hear seven ideas for collaborating with general ed teachers for our students with disabilities.  Take Care, Michelle Resources mentioned: Episode 54.  Co-teaching Models: 6 Methods Used for Students With or Without Special Needs Episode 33. 4 Time-Saving Email Hacks You Need NOW as a Busy Special Ed Teacher! IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE!  Connect with Michelle Vazquez: Leave a 5 star review Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY! Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE! Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE! Follow on INSTAGRAM! Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com

Hey Special education Teacher, Are you considering making a transition from SDC to RSP, or RSP to SDC? Have you wondered what the differences are between these positions? In my 15 years of experience, I’ve spent 10 years as an SDC teacher before transitioning into my current role as an RSP teacher. I know that knowing and understanding the differences between these roles can be helpful when deciding which position is the best fit for you! So today, I am sharing the 7 biggest differences between the two positions as well as what I personally find to be the pros and cons for each. If you are considering making the transition from one position to the other, this episode is for you!  Take Care, Michelle Resources mentioned: Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE! Connect with Michelle Vazquez: Leave a 5 star review Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY! IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE! Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE! Follow on INSTAGRAM! Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com

Hey Sped Teacher, Do you have elementary or middle school students transitioning on to their next school? Are you unsure how to prepare for a transitional IEP meeting? When students are moving from an elementary school to a middle school or a middle school to high school, it is crucial to have transitional IEPs to help with facilitating a smooth transition for your students with special needs. These transitional IEPs don’t need to be overwhelming, though! Whether you will be preparing your first transitional IEPs this year or have done them in the past and are looking for tips, tune in to hear how I ensure my transitional IEPs go smoothly! Take Care, Michelle Resources mentioned: Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE! Connect with Michelle Vazquez: Leave a 5 star review Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY! IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE! Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE! Follow on INSTAGRAM! Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com

Hey Special Ed Teacher, Are you looking for ways to help your students with special needs manage test anxiety? Do you want your students to be as relaxed and prepared as possible for state testing? We all have students who overthink and stress out before tests. This can come out in a variety of ways including crying, attitudes, dropping to the floor, etc. This can be gut wrenching to see and seeing them look to you with overwhelm in their eyes when the tests begins is even worse! The good news is there are some proactive ways we can help our students feel less stress and anxiety when it’s time for state testing. Tune in to hear my top 9 tips for effectively helping students reduce state testing anxiety so they can feel more comfortable and at ease when testing time comes. Take Care, Michelle Resources mentioned: Episode 84. State Testing Is Coming! How to Prep Now for the State Assessment Episode 68. Power Struggles with Your Student with Special Needs Jumbo Spiral Glitter Wand - 12.5" Wonder Glitter Tube Connect with Michelle Vazquez: Leave a 5 star review Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY! Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE! IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE! Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE! Follow on INSTAGRAM! Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com

Hey Special Education Teacher, April is Autism Acceptance Month! Do you have a favorite way to celebrate Autism Acceptance Month?  Working in the education field, there is an extremely high chance that you have already worked with or will work with a student with Autism. That is one reason I feel it is so important to celebrate Autism Acceptance Month. We are striving to be more inclusive and promote education, understanding, and respect for the differences of people with autism. In this episode, I'm sharing some ideas on how you can help celebrate our individuals with autism both inside the classroom and out.  Take Care, Michelle Resources mentioned: Masterpiece: an inclusive kids' book celebrating a child on the autism spectrum (The Incredible Kids) All My Stripes: A Story for Children With Autism The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin  Uniquely Wired: A Story About Autism and Its Gifts   Autism Society of America Autistic Self-Advocacy Network FREE LESSONS! Autism Society Inland Empire: ‘Autism Acceptance in the Schools’ Lessons Connect with Michelle Vazquez: Leave a 5 star review Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY! Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE! IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE! Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE! Follow on INSTAGRAM! Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com

Hey Sped Teacher, Are you nervous about an upcoming observation? Do you tend to stress yourself out by overdoing it on your observation lesson plans? For many teachers (me included!), pressure and nerves come along with knowing you have an observation coming up. I would try to come up with some new and exciting lesson that covered every aspect of a standard. I was a nervous wreck! After a few years, I realized that I didn’t need to be doing this elaborate prep or creating brand new activities and lessons just because I was being observed. I was able to narrow it down to the 8 things that I knew I needed to include in my lessons in order for me to have a successful observation. Tune in to hear what I include in observation lessons and real life examples so you can put them into practice in time for your next observation! Take Care, Michelle Resources mentioned: Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE! Readworks Connect with Michelle Vazquez: Leave a 5 star review Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY! IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE! Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE! Follow on INSTAGRAM! Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com

Hey Special Ed Teacher, Do you struggle with managing behavior in your special ed classroom? Are you ready to create a better learning environment for your students with disabilities? When I was in my first couple years of teaching, I was so excited about decorating my classroom, getting my students into the classroom, and teaching them all the exciting lessons I had planned. And then the first days of school came and I had students crying, running out the classroom, flipping desks, etc. I knew I NEEDED to figure out my classroom management before I could effectively teach my students. I don’t want you to take as long as it took for me to get your class to the point they are ready to learn. In this episode, I am sharing the top 3 reasons to focus on behavior before academics and 6 ideas for how to actually implement focusing on behavior first. Take Care, Michelle Resources mentioned: Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE! EP 27: Need a RESET in Managing Classroom Behavior? 7 Ideas to Get Your Special Ed Classroom Back in Order Again!  EP 50: How to Handle Challenging Behavior from Students with Special Needs with Dr. Christine Reeve Connect with Michelle Vazquez: Leave a 5 star review Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY! IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE! Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE! Follow on INSTAGRAM! Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com

Hey Sped Teacher! State testing is quickly approaching! Are you starting to prep for the assessments? Does prepping for state testing make you feel stressed out?  As a new special education teacher, I had no idea how to help my students prepare for the state assessments. Every year, I felt so stressed trying to figure out what to do beforehand so my students would feel prepared instead of confused when they got to the test. After a few years of taking more trainings, making myself familiar with the assessments, and collaborating with the test coordinator, I finally found a flow that is effective and efficient for prepping for the state assessments. In this episode, I am breaking down the 6 steps I take to preparing myself and my students for state testing. Take Care, Michelle Resources mentioned: Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE! California Department of Ed CAASPP state test videos Connect with Michelle Vazquez: Leave a 5 star review Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY! IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE! Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE! Follow on INSTAGRAM! Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com