By Jennifer Hofferber - Special Education Teacher and Coach
The Go-To Podcast for Special Educators who want to reduce their stress and begin to feel success.
Hey special educator…
Overwhelmed by the absurd amount of paperwork on your to-do
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The podcast currently has 190 episodes available.
In this episode of Special Education for Beginners, we continue our three-part series on administering achievement tests by focusing on how to write professional, comprehensive reports based on the data you’ve collected. Writing a well-organized report isn’t just a formality—it’s a critical step in the evaluation process that guides decision-making and sets the foundation for collaboration with your IEP team.
You’ll learn:
If you’re looking for ways to simplify the report-writing process, I’ll also introduce you to a helpful resource that includes templates for crafting polished reports without starting from scratch.
Key Takeaways:
Resource mentioned in the show:
Achievement Testing Kit
If summarizing results feels overwhelming, don’t worry—I’ve got you covered! I’ve created a resource that includes report templates, tips for organizing your results, and example summaries you can use as a guide. You can download it at www.spedprepacademy.com/templates to make your report writing process smoother and more efficient.
Free Resource:
Don’t forget to get access to a FREE helpful testing checklist that includes two different “quiet” posters to use on your door and a complete checklist of everything you’ll need to gather before the test. You can download it at www.spedprepacademy.com/checklist
Next Week:
In the final part of this series, we’ll dive into presenting achievement test results confidently in IEP meetings. I’ll share strategies for clear communication, answering questions, and building trust with your team. Make sure to tune in!
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In this episode, we kick off a 3-part series on how to administer, report on and present achievement tests professionally.
Today, we focus on setting up for test administration. I’ll walk you through the specific steps to create a structured, distraction-free environment that allows students to focus and perform at their best.
I’ll also share practical advice on monitoring student behavior during the test—like fatigue or distraction—that can impact results and provide valuable context when interpreting data.
Even if you aren’t the one administering tests, understanding these steps strengthens your role as an advocate and collaborator. Knowing the testing process can help you support both students and team members, allowing you to contribute valuable insights at IEP meetings and more effectively interpret test results.
Today's quick action steps:
To make this process as easy as possible, I’ve created a free Testing Checklist available at www.spedprepacademy.com/checklist. This checklist includes two “quiet” posters to place on the door and a comprehensive list of everything you need before the test, so you can feel prepared, professional, and organized every step of the way.
Resources Mentioned:
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In this episode of Special Education for Beginners Jennifer is joined by her co-host Paul to discuss the essential topics of de-escalation in the special education classroom and incorporating assistive technology into IEPs. Learn about how to handle extreme challenges educators face when students become overwhelmed and practical de-escalation strategies that you can implement today.
"How do you handle very challenging behaviors in the classroom?" - Amber
"What is your experience with using assistive technology to support students with disabilities?" - Hannah
Conclusion
Thank you for joining us for this insightful discussion on de-escalation and assistive technology in special education! Remember, tools like the De-Escalation Strategy Cards for Special Education are excellent resources to help you calmly navigate challenging moments with confidence. Special educators, you’re not alone—lean on each other and these strategies to create a supportive classroom environment.
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In this episode, Caroline Koehler from Celavora Education and Sped Up Paperwork joins me to discuss the ever-pressing issue of paperwork in special education. Listen in as we share effective strategies and tools designed to help special educators manage your documentation more efficiently. This discussion is essential for anyone looking to reduce the administrative burden and focus more on teaching.
Key Talking Points:
Implementing the right tools like Sped Up Paperwork can significantly ease the paperwork load for special educators, allowing you more time to dedicate to your students. Join Caroline’s upcoming webinar to learn more about these strategies and follow Calabora Education on social media for continuous support and resources.
Sped Up Paperwork
TikTok
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YouTube
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In today’s episode of Special Education for Beginners, I share an inspiring conversation I recently had with a new special education teacher, Emily, who demonstrated an incredible capacity for resilience and optimism in the face of a challenging situation. When Emily was unexpectedly assigned a new student with complex needs, she chose to embrace the challenge with positivity and grace rather than frustration or overwhelm.
As special educators, we often find ourselves in situations that test our patience and resilience. This episode is a reminder that, while we can’t control the challenges we face, we can always control how we respond to them. Emily’s approach teaches us the importance of adopting a positive mindset, focusing on solutions, and fostering a supportive community for both staff and students.
Tune in to hear how Emily turned a potential burden into a learning opportunity, and how her proactive and compassionate attitude helped build a positive environment where her students can thrive.
Key Takeaways:
A Quote to stick with you
"Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it." -Charles R. Swindoll
Join the Conversation:
Have you faced a similar challenge? How did you handle it? Let’s chat about mindset, resilience, and adapting to the unexpected in our Facebook community or on Instagram.
Be a guest on the show Click the link and let's chat!
Rate & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the show. Your support helps other special educators find the podcast and learn alongside us!
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On today's segment of Ask Us Anything with my co-host, Paul Hubbard we answer two common challenges faced by special education teachers: handling difficult parents and figuring out how often to progress monitor students.
How do you deal with difficult parents?
Jennifer and Paul both emphasize the importance of building strong relationships with parents and maintaining professionalism during tough conversations. Jennifer recommends practicing what you want to say ahead of time, paying attention to body language and tone, and ensuring that communication is consistent and clear to build trust before conflicts arise. Paul highlights the need to reflect on the energy you project, suggesting teachers categorize parents into Advocate, Behavioral, and Combative types, and use different strategies for each. He recommends involving Advocate Parents as valuable members of the IEP team by assigning them specific roles, helping to create a more collaborative relationship.
How often should teachers progress monitor students?
Both Jennifer and Paul agree that while daily data collection can be overwhelming, leaving progress monitoring until right before a report is due isn’t effective either. They suggest finding a balance, such as weekly or bi-weekly data collection, depending on the student's needs. Paul explains how assigning different students to specific days for monitoring can help teachers stay consistent. They also recommend using digital tools like Google Forms to streamline data collection, especially with the help of paraprofessionals, ensuring that accurate data is readily available for IEP meetings and decisions.
Highlights:
If you found this episode helpful, subscribe, leave us a review, and keep sending in your questions.
Resources Mentioned:
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As special educators, we often find ourselves navigating challenging interactions. Whether with colleagues, parents, or administrators, conflict is bound to rear its ugly head at some point. In this episode, we explore 3 practical strategies to handle these situations constructively, fostering an environment of collaboration and respect.
Discussion:
Resource Mention:
Remember that the way we handle conflicts can significantly impact our professional environment and the outcomes for our students. By using these 3 strategies, we are not only able to resolve issues more effectively but also build a stronger, more cohesive team dynamic.
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Welcome back to Special Education for Beginners! In today’s episode, Jennifer draws a fun and insightful parallel between writing an Individualized Education Plan and solving a detective case. Just like detectives use boards with pushpins and strings to connect clues and evidence, special education teachers need to ensure that every part of an IEP is linked seamlessly to the next. From present levels of academic and functional performance (PLAAFP) to services, goals, and accommodations—each piece must flow together to create a solid plan for student success.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Plus, Jennifer introduces her resource, Write Better PLAAF Statements, which offers 179 professionally written examples across 20 areas of need to help you craft clear, professional PLAAF statements. You can grab it by clicking the link in the show notes.
Resource Mentioned:
Tune in and discover how connecting all the dots in your IEP will ensure your students get the most from their plans.
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Today we're talking about a crucial element that can really make or break the success of our students—supporting their parents. These parents are juggling so much—all while trying to figure out how to best support their child at home.
In this episode, I’ll be sharing practical tips on how to foster better relationships with your parents. Plus, I’ll introduce a powerful resource I’ve created to streamline the whole process for you: the Parent Handbook for Special Education.
Highlights from the episode:
Conclusion: By following these tips—establishing regular communication, empowering parents with information, being culturally responsive, and creating real opportunities for their input—you’ll build stronger partnerships with the families you work with, ultimately creating the best environment for your students to succeed.
Links from the episode:
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Welcome back, special educators! Are you feeling the pressure of scheduling chaos as the school year kicks off? Or perhaps you're facing challenges with paraprofessionals not following their schedules? We've got you covered in this Ask Us Anything episode!
In this episode, my co-host, Paul Hubbard, and I dive into two common back-to-school struggles:
Whether you're a seasoned veteran or new to the field, this episode offers valuable advice to help you survive and thrive in the ever-challenging world of special education. Tune in to learn how to handle these back-to-school curveballs and set your year up for success!
Highlights:
Resources Mentioned:
Join the Conversation: Do you have a question you'd like us to answer in our next Ask Us Anything episode? Drop us a message on social media or send us an email. We’d love to hear from you!
Send in your questions for the next Ask Us Anything
Subscribe and Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review. Your feedback helps us reach more special educators who need support.
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