In this episode of Special Education for Beginners, we're continuing our December theme of Survive & Thrive. 

Last week on Episode 289, we kicked things off with a powerful mindset episode that challenged you to let go of perfectionism, release the guilt, and embrace the idea that you are enough. 

Today, we're focusing on THRIVING through the chaos with actionable strategies.

Let’s be real: December is no joke in the world of special education. The behaviors are ramping up, your to-do list is growing by the minute, and that dreaded progress monitoring deadline is looming. But surviving doesn’t mean doing everything perfectly. It means simplifying.

Tune in as I share 7 practical and time-saving strategies that can help you collect meaningful data without losing your mind, or your holiday spirit. From using passive time to pull one-on-one data, to delegating with clarity, to making the most of what you already have in your classroom—this episode is all about making smart, simple choices that support YOU.

🧰 Resources Mentioned:

🎯 Data Collection Help for Paras

• Training Paraprofessionals: Data Collection
  
  Use this editable resource to train your paraprofessionals to confidently and accurately collect IEP data. Includes visuals, checklists, and cheat sheets!

📊 Ready-to-Use Progress Monitoring Tools

• Progress Monitoring Assessments for Special Education
  
  Perfect for academic goal areas like reading, writing, and math, these no-prep assessments are great for quick checks.
• Exit Tickets for Progress Monitoring (Growing Bundle)
  
  These themed and leveled exit tickets are perfect for embedding data collection into daily routines. Great for keeping students engaged while you gather data without extra prep.

🔑 What You’ll Learn:

• Why December is the exact time you need simple systems (not big overhauls)
• How to take advantage of holiday downtime (movies, crafts, rotations) for real data
• Specific ways to involve your paras in meaningful data collection
• How to make academic goals feel festive and fun with seasonal twists
• A reminder that done is better than perfect when it comes to progress reports

🎧 Listen + Subscribe:

Be sure to follow the show so you don’t miss the final episodes of 2025!

And if this episode helped simplify your stress, would you do me a favor and leave a quick review? Your feedback helps more special educators find the show, and THRIVE too.

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