In this episode, Dawn shares how to use seasonal adapted units like Fall Leaves and Thanksgiving to hit AAC, core vocabulary, math, and reading goals in special ed classrooms.

Seasonal doesn't mean shallow.

In this episode of BTE, I'm walking you through how I use my Fall Leaves and Thanksgiving-themed adapted units to build communication and core vocabulary—without adding more to my plate.

You'll hear:

• Why seasonal units improve engagement

• How I hit multiple IEP goals with one activity

• Easy ways to incorporate AAC, fine motor, reading, and math

• What's included in the Fall Leaves unit

• How to set up paras to run stations with confidence

Whether you're a new SPED teacher or a seasoned pro, this episode will give you real-life ways to simplify and strengthen your November planning.

🎧 Listen now + grab the Fall Leaves Unit today.

👉 TPT Fall Leaves Unit 👉 Exceptional Collective Link

👉 Fall Fine Motor Freebie + free Digital Slides

November Leaves Blog Post

Thanksgiving Ideas for Special Education Classrooms

Learn three easy, respectful ways to acknowledge Veterans Day in your special education classroom. No complex crafts or prep required—just meaningful, inclusive ideas that build gratitude and community.

Veterans Day is a meaningful opportunity to teach students about respect, service, and gratitude. But in special education, we often need to simplify, scaffold, and reduce prep—without losing the heart behind the lesson.

In this episode of Be The Exception, I'm sharing three low-prep ideas to bring Veterans Day to life in your SPED classroom:

• Visual "Thank You" card activities with sentence starters

• Books and videos paired with simple communication builders

• A collaborative "Wall of Honor" display to include families and staff

Each activity can be adapted for non-verbal learners, AAC users, and mixed ability levels—and they require minimal prep.

🎧 Listen now for ideas you can use this week.

🧡 Grab the full resource inside The Exceptional Collective

Veterans' Day Freebie

Full Veterans' Day Adapted Resource

American Symbols Social Studies

Veterans' Day Blog Post

In this episode of Be The Exception in Special Education, I'm sharing 5 real things I've learned to do differently after the first quarter of the school year. These are the shifts I make when the fall honeymoon fades, behaviors spike, and burnout starts creeping in. If you're nodding "yep" to all of that—this one's for you.

Inside the episode, we'll cover:

• Why I stop reinventing my centers

• The power of reviewing, not re-teaching

• What I always prep before November gets wild

• Why visuals matter more than ever in Q2

• How to weave seasonal fun into academic goals

You'll also get a peek at what's inside The Exceptional Collective this month—including Fall Leaves math + reading, Carrots SEL, Main Idea + Counting to 50 units, and more.

🎧 Listen now—and rethink how you're approaching November.

👉🏼 Join The Exceptional Collective today to get access to all these resources and more. Link in show notes!

Links and Resources

• Fall Leaves Unit

• Carrots SEL

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Leave a Review

If you are loving the podcast, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other teachers find my podcast and I love hearing what you think about the podcast as well. Just click here to review, select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what part of the podcast you found to be the most helpful!

Halloween brings costumes, candy, and plenty of opportunities for communication. By weaving AAC into seasonal lessons, you can boost engagement and make learning stick.

In this episode of Be The Exception, you'll learn:

• How to role-play trick-or-treating with AAC tools.

• Fun ways to label and describe costumes.

• A Halloween SEL activity using spider emotions.

Links and Resources

• Halloween Freebie

Connect with Dawn

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The Exceptional Collective

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Are you subscribed to my podcast? Trust me, you definitely want to do that so you don't miss a thing! Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

Leave a Review

If you are loving the podcast, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other teachers find my podcast and I love hearing what you think about the podcast as well. Just click here to review, select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what part of the podcast you found to be the most helpful!

AAC isn't something you "add on." It's something you embed into the routines you're already doing.

In this episode of Be The Exception, you'll learn:

• How to incorporate AAC into morning meetings, transitions, and centers.

• Real classroom examples of students engaging when AAC became part of routines.

• Tips for keeping paras and related service staff consistent.

Plus, I'll share how my Core Boards and Adapted Books with AAC supports make AAC practical and accessible in every classroom.

👉 Listen now + grab the resources.

Links and Resources

Connect with Dawn

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TpT Store

The Exceptional Collective

Subscribe

Are you subscribed to my podcast? Trust me, you definitely want to do that so you don't miss a thing! Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

Leave a Review

If you are loving the podcast, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other teachers find my podcast and I love hearing what you think about the podcast as well. Just click here to review, select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what part of the podcast you found to be the most helpful!

Non-verbal doesn't mean non-communicative. Every student has a voice — and with the right tools, we can help them use it.

In this episode of Be The Exception, you'll learn:

• ✅ Why aided language input is a game-changer

• ✅ How to use partner-assisted scanning for students with limited motor skills

• ✅ Ways to build consistency with visuals across your classroom

• ✅ How to train your team with the Para Handbook so communication doesn't fall apart when you're not in the room

🎓 Ready to go deeper?

Join me for the AAC Workshop — where I'll walk you through how to implement communication systems in a way that works for your classroom. 🎉 Free for Exceptional Collective members 📩 Replays available 🧾 PD Certificate included

🔗 Sign up here

Links and Resources

• Halloween Resources for the Special Education Classroom

Connect with Dawn

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TpT Store

The Exceptional Collective

Subscribe

Are you subscribed to my podcast? Trust me, you definitely want to do that so you don't miss a thing! Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

Leave a Review

If you are loving the podcast, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other teachers find my podcast and I love hearing what you think about the podcast as well. Just click here to review, select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what part of the podcast you found to be the most helpful!

AAC isn't just for non-verbal students. It's a powerful tool that supports communication for all students in special education classrooms.

In this episode of Be The Exception, you'll learn:

• Why AAC matters for every student — not just those without verbal speech.

• Easy ways to start modeling core words every day.

• How to make AAC feel doable, not overwhelming.

Plus, I'll share how our membership training, Say It Without Speaking, gives you practical, low-stress strategies and ready-to-use visuals to bring AAC into your daily routines.

👉 Join The Exceptional Collective today to access the training, visuals, and a community of teachers making communication a priority.

Connect with Dawn

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Etsy Shop

TpT Store

The Exceptional Collective

Subscribe

Are you subscribed to my podcast? Trust me, you definitely want to do that so you don't miss a thing! Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

Leave a Review

If you are loving the podcast, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other teachers find my podcast and I love hearing what you think about the podcast as well. Just click here to review, select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what part of the podcast you found to be the most helpful!

You can't be everywhere in your classroom — but your paras can help you capture the data you need to make smart instructional decisions.

In this episode of Be The Exception, you'll learn:

• How to train paras in data collection without overwhelming them.

• Simple systems that make data logging easy and consistent.

• How to use tools like my Para Handbook to set expectations from day one.

🎯 Links & Resources:

• Blog: Training New Paraprofessionals in Special Education

• Paraprofessional Training Manual

• Exceptional Data Simplified Course

Connect with Dawn

Find me on IG

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Etsy Shop

TpT Store

The Exceptional Collective

Subscribe

Are you subscribed to my podcast? Trust me, you definitely want to do that so you don't miss a thing! Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

Leave a Review

If you are loving the podcast, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other teachers find my podcast and I love hearing what you think about the podcast as well. Just click here to review, select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what part of the podcast you found to be the most helpful!

Ever feel like you're teaching on autopilot because you've been working on the same IEP goal for months? Here's the truth: data — not instinct — should guide your next move. In this episode of Be The Exception in Special Education, I'm sharing what it really means to be data-driven, how to track and use academic, behavior, and functional skill data, and when it's time to adjust IEP goals.

I'll also walk you through real classroom examples and show you how built-in progress monitoring sheets (included in my academic bundles) can simplify the process so you spend less time on paperwork and more time on meaningful instruction.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• What "data-driven" means in special education beyond compliance

• How to collect and interpret academic, behavior, and functional skills data

• Practical examples of data tracking you can use right away

• When and how to adjust IEP goals for student success

• Simple tools to make data collection seamless during instruction

Links and Resources

• Science Units for Self-Contained Special Ed

• Social Studies Units for Self-Contained Special Ed

Connect with Dawn

Find me on IG

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Etsy Shop

TpT Store

The Exceptional Collective

Subscribe

Are you subscribed to my podcast? Trust me, you definitely want to do that so you don't miss a thing! Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

Leave a Review

If you are loving the podcast, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other teachers find my podcast and I love hearing what you think about the podcast as well. Just click here to review, select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what part of the podcast you found to be the most helpful!

Most progress notes are too vague to be useful. But when you write them with clarity and intention, they become powerful tools for instruction and advocacy.

In this episode of Be The Exception, you'll learn:

• The 4-part formula for writing progress notes that tell a story.

• How to connect your data directly to your instructional decisions.

• Real examples of vague vs. meaningful notes.

Plus, I'm sharing my free guide to help you Tackle Progress Reports Like a Pro so you can save time and stress less.

🎯 Links & Resources:

• Free Guide: Tackle Progress Reports Like a Pro

• Exceptional Data Simplified Course

Connect with Dawn

Find me on IG

Find me on Tik Tok

Etsy Shop

TpT Store

The Exceptional Collective

Subscribe

Are you subscribed to my podcast? Trust me, you definitely want to do that so you don't miss a thing! Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

Leave a Review

If you are loving the podcast, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other teachers find my podcast and I love hearing what you think about the podcast as well. Just click here to review, select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what part of the podcast you found to be the most helpful!