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Sometimes our students giggle, get wiggly, or completely check out when it’s time to write. Is it task avoidance? A skills gap? Sensory overload? In this Misfit Minute, Audra walks through 5 quick questions to help you figure out what’s really going on—and what to do about it—when pencil-and-paper tasks go sideways.
🔑 Key Takeaways
• Start with: Is it a can’t or a won’t? Skill deficits and motivation issues need different responses.
• If it’s a can’t, reduce the demand—use scribes, stamps, typing, or tracing to build participation.
• Use shaping to gradually increase writing tolerance—think small steps with strong reinforcement.
• If it’s a won’t, reassess the reinforcement—maybe the “then” isn’t strong or fast enough.
• Try shared turns—write together, take turns, and make it social and fun to build engagement.
📦 Resources Mentioned
• “Can’t Do vs Won’t Do” visual (in the Misfit Behaviorists FB group and linked in show notes) or here → https://abainschool.com/mm2w
• Related episode: 5 Preschool Behavior Strategies → https://abainschool.com/ep66 • Crisis Cycle Creation → https://abainschool.com/ep57 • FBA process starts here! → https://abainschool.com/ep31
• ABA in School blog → https://abainschool.com
• Free token boards → https://abainschool.com/ymnr
🙌 Join Us & Share
• Keep the conversation going in our Facebook group → https://abainschool.com/misfits
• Subscribe for more short tips + full-length strategy episodes
• Share this with a teammate who works with reluctant writers or early learners
Join the Facebook group for collaboration and freebies: The Misfit Behaviorists
😍 More, you say? We’re here for you!
👋 Find us!
🖱️ Rate, Review, Like & Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Showing this love helps us get out to more educators out there!
By Audra Jensen, Caitlin Beltran, Sami Brown5
2828 ratings
Sometimes our students giggle, get wiggly, or completely check out when it’s time to write. Is it task avoidance? A skills gap? Sensory overload? In this Misfit Minute, Audra walks through 5 quick questions to help you figure out what’s really going on—and what to do about it—when pencil-and-paper tasks go sideways.
🔑 Key Takeaways
• Start with: Is it a can’t or a won’t? Skill deficits and motivation issues need different responses.
• If it’s a can’t, reduce the demand—use scribes, stamps, typing, or tracing to build participation.
• Use shaping to gradually increase writing tolerance—think small steps with strong reinforcement.
• If it’s a won’t, reassess the reinforcement—maybe the “then” isn’t strong or fast enough.
• Try shared turns—write together, take turns, and make it social and fun to build engagement.
📦 Resources Mentioned
• “Can’t Do vs Won’t Do” visual (in the Misfit Behaviorists FB group and linked in show notes) or here → https://abainschool.com/mm2w
• Related episode: 5 Preschool Behavior Strategies → https://abainschool.com/ep66 • Crisis Cycle Creation → https://abainschool.com/ep57 • FBA process starts here! → https://abainschool.com/ep31
• ABA in School blog → https://abainschool.com
• Free token boards → https://abainschool.com/ymnr
🙌 Join Us & Share
• Keep the conversation going in our Facebook group → https://abainschool.com/misfits
• Subscribe for more short tips + full-length strategy episodes
• Share this with a teammate who works with reluctant writers or early learners
Join the Facebook group for collaboration and freebies: The Misfit Behaviorists
😍 More, you say? We’re here for you!
👋 Find us!
🖱️ Rate, Review, Like & Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Showing this love helps us get out to more educators out there!

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