Autism Academy 360

Understanding Reinforcer Hierarchies:

• After conducting a preference assessment to identify student reinforcers, the next step is ranking these reinforcers to create a hierarchy.
• This hierarchy provides a quick reference to understand which reinforcers students prefer and to what extent.

Importance of Reinforcer Hierarchies:

• Different reinforcers are suitable for various times of the day or activities.
• For challenging tasks or skills that students are less inclined to perform, using highly preferred reinforcers can increase motivation.
• Easier or maintenance tasks can be paired with low to mid-range reinforcers.

Flexibility and Adaptation:

• Students should ideally choose their reinforcers, but the frequency and timing of reinforcement can be adjusted based on the task difficulty.
• Reinforcers may not always be available; limiting access to highly preferred reinforcers can prevent satiation.

Data-Driven Decision Making:

• Reviewing data from preference assessments is crucial for creating a reinforcer hierarchy.
• Data on which items students interact with and for how long can reveal preferences and trends.

Creating the Reinforcer Hierarchy:

• Use preference data to categorize reinforcers into low, mid, and high levels.
• Aim for 3-5 reinforcers at each level and share this information with staff for consistent implementation.

Maintaining the Hierarchy:

• The hierarchy is a dynamic document that should be reviewed and updated 3-4 times a year.
• Changes in student preferences should be reflected to ensure the hierarchy remains effective.

By following these guidelines, teachers can effectively use reinforcer hierarchies to enhance student engagement and success in the classroom.

In this episode we are going to talk about easy behavior trick that costs nothing, takes, minimal time, and anyone can do. Sound too good to be true? Promise its not. We are going to talk all about choice, why it is important and the right and wrong ways to offer choices.

Episode Highlights:

• Kids want control- so give it to them!
• How to offer choices & the wrong way to offer choices
• Benefits of offering choices

Resources Mentioned:

• Behavior Support Hub Membership

Related Blog Posts

•    How Choice Can Prevent Problem Behavior

Connect with Us:

Instagram

• Lisa at @chalkboard_superhero
• Abby at @mrs_moes_modifications 

Join my our Facebook groups

• Abby’s at Mrs. Moes Speducators
• Lisa’s at Special Education Superheroes

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• Join Lisa’s here
• Join Abby’s here

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• Abby’s store
• Lisa’s store

In this episode, we are talking about the concept of errorless learning. Errorless learning is a teaching method used in special education to ensure students always choose the correct response without experiencing errors.

The episode delves into why this method is beneficial for certain learners. Lisa discusses the advantages, how to fade this technique gradually, and suitable activities and settings for implementing errorless learning.

Resources Mentioned:

• Errorless Learning Bundle

In today's episode, we explore effective strategies for managing behaviors when prevention efforts fall short. We discuss five different strategies that you can use when behaviors happen, because we all know they will, These strategies will help you get your student back to baseline and keep everyone safe. By implementing these strategies, we aim to create a supportive and nurturing learning environment while effectively addressing behaviors as they arise. 

Plus a bonus tip- what you can do after to really make a big impact.

Episode Highlights:

• 5 different tips for what to do when a student is escalated
• Bonus tip for what to do once they are calm

Resources Mentioned:

• Thinking Sheets
• Calming Tools freebie   

Connect with Us:

Instagram

• Lisa at @chalkboard_superhero
• Abby at @mrs_moes_modifications 

Join my our Facebook groups

• Abby’s at Mrs. Moes Speducators
• Lisa’s at Special Education Superheroes

Join our Email Lists

• Join Lisa’s here
• Join Abby’s here

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• Abby’s store
• Lisa’s store

In this episode, Lisa discusses 12 tips for first-year special education teachers. Starting your first year as a special education teacher can be daunting, especially when unfamiliar with the students, staff, and school environment. Join us as we share invaluable insights gained from 16 years of experience in self-contained special education classrooms. In this episode, we unveil our top 12 tips to empower new teachers at the beginning of the school year, covering essential strategies from building relationships with support staff to setting up effective schedules and communication systems.

Resources Mentioned:

• Special Education Teacher Binder
• IEP-AT-A-GLANCE FREEBIE
• Para Handbook and brochure
• BLOG POST: 6 Steps to Create an Effective Schedule for Your self Self-Containtained Classroom.
• Adapted Books
• Task Boxes
• File Folder Games
• Life Skills Curriculum

In this episode Abby explores strategies for differentiating for our Autistic learners. She discusses the importance of modification and accommodation, highlighting methods such as using task boxes for hands-on learning experiences, adapting worksheets, and using technology to meet diverse learner needs. She shares implementation tips and emphasizes the positive impact of these strategies on both student learning outcomes and their behaviors. Additionally, we address common challenges and provide solutions for overcoming them.

Episode Highlights:

• How to use task boxes
• Easy ways to differentiate worksheets
• An easy app to help differentiate
• Using Boom Cards

Resources Mentioned:

• Math Task Boxes
• Boom Cards

Connect with Us:

Instagram

• Lisa at @chalkboard_superhero
• Abby at @mrs_moes_modifications 

Join my our Facebook groups

• Abby’s at Mrs. Moes Speducators
• Lisa’s at Special Education Superheroes

Join our Email Lists

• Join Lisa’s here
• Join Abby’s here

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• Abby’s store
• Lisa’s store

In this episode, Lisa discusses common mistakes educators make when using visual schedules in autism classrooms. Visual schedules are essential tools for supporting individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by providing structure, promoting independence, and enhancing predictability. However, several mistakes can diminish their effectiveness. Lisa explores these mistakes and offers practical solutions to optimize visual schedules for students with ASD.

Episode Highlights:

• Individualization is Key: Personalize visual schedules according to each student's unique needs, communication abilities, and learning styles. Customize using personalized visual supports like photographs, icons, or written words that resonate with each student.
• Simplicity is Effective: Avoid overcomplicated schedules that can overwhelm students. Keep schedules clear, concise, and easy to understand by using simple language and uncluttered visuals. Break down tasks into manageable steps.
• Consistency is Crucial: Establish a consistent schedule routine and ensure easy accessibility to visual schedules throughout the day. Regularly review and update schedules to reflect changes in routines or upcoming events.
• Support Transitions: Integrate transition supports directly into visual schedules using countdown timers, transition warnings, or visual cues. Prepare students in advance for transitions by reviewing the schedule and providing clear expectations.

Resources Mentioned:

• Color Coded Visual Schedules

In this episode Abby talks about how to collect behavioral data- which isn’t always easy to do! We will talk about how data collection provides objective insights into behavior and supports the individualization of interventions. We discuss the types of data to collect and why the need for consistency is so important across the entire team. Additionally, we chat about how  data collection can be collaborative and talk about just how to get the entire team on board. We touch on ways to use technology to streamline data collection and offer solutions to common challenges.

Episode Highlights:

• how you can collect it
• different ways to collect it
• what to do with it once you have it

Resources Mentioned:

• ABC Data Sheet
• QR Code Generator

Connect with Us:

Instagram

• Lisa at @chalkboard_superhero
• Abby at @mrs_moes_modifications 

Join my our Facebook groups

• Abby’s at Mrs. Moes Speducators
• Lisa’s at Special Education Superheroes

Join our Email Lists

• Join Lisa’s here
• Join Abby’s here

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• Abby’s store
• Lisa’s store

In this episode, Lisa goes in-depth about her favorite sensory tools to use for students on the Autism spectrum.  She talks about the importance of ensuring that you are hitting all of the sensory needs of your students, including vestibular input, proprioceptive input, and oral seeking input.  Take a listen to hear about all the different tools that she uses in her classroom.

Episode 12 will give you so many great ideas for sensory tools used for students and children with autism, make sure you're tuning in to this one!

Episode Highlights:

• Gross Motor Tools
• Fine Motor Tools
• Proprioceptive Tools
• Vestibular Tools
• Tactile Tools
• Visual Tools
• Auditory Tools
• Oral Seeking Tools

Resources Mentioned:

• Blog post: The ultimate checklist of sensory tools

In this episode, Abby dives into the reasons why behavior happens. Behavior never happens out of the blue or in isolation, but for one of four reasons: attention, escape, sensory, or gaining access. In addition to talking about these she also provides some interventions you can do.

Episode Highlights:

• Why figuring out the function is essential to stopping behaviors
• The two most prevalent functions we see
• Interventions for each

Resources Mentioned:

• Real life visual Schedules
• Relationship Skills Task Boxes

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Contingency Maps
• Visual Schedules
• Mini Schedules

Connect with Us:

Instagram

• Lisa at @chalkboard_superhero
• Abby at @mrs_moes_modifications 

Join my our Facebook groups

• Abby’s at Mrs. Moes Speducators
• Lisa’s at Special Education Superheroes

Join our Email Lists

• Join Lisa’s here
• Join Abby’s here

Shop on TPT

• Abby’s store
• Lisa’s store