STEPPING INTO SPECIAL EDUCATION, Special Education, SPED, Special Ed, Students with Disabilities, Classroom Management
Confused with how to write IEPs (Individualized Education Plans)? Not sure how to keep track of all the data? Tired of searching for the right behavior strategies to manage your special ed. classroom? In this podcast, you will find methods to create IEP goals that students can reach, a system to collect data with your team, & know which behavior strategies will work best for your classroom. My mission is to help new sped teachers write IEPs with confidence, share ideas for classroom management, & know how to communicate to get the support you need. If you are ready to finally walk into that IEP meeting feeling ready & know how to support your students to help them reach their full potential, you are in the right place! Hey, I’m Michelle. A wife, mommy, and special education teacher. For years I struggled with doubting myself with writing IEPs, felt completely scattered with not knowing the right data to collect, & tried so many different behavior strategies that didn’t work for my students; which left me exhausted and no time for my own personal life. I finally understood how to create IEPs for my student’s individual needs and learned how to collaborate with my paraprofessional, administrators, school psychologists, & parents! If I wanted to help reach my students’ full potential, I needed to equip myself with tools & strategies that will make the biggest impact on student success. And now I am ready to share that with you! If you are ready to help make a difference with your students, to build a solid relationship & connection with them, & finally get the support and resources you need - this podcast is for you! So grab that iced coffee, clipboard, and your favorite pen, it is time to get it started! Become an INSIDER! Join the email list! https://mailchi.mp/a7b98ae89995/stepping-into-special-education Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/steppingintospecialed Instagram: www.instagram.com/steppingintospecialed Connect: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com
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Episodes
Tuesday Jan 23, 2024
Tuesday Jan 23, 2024
Hey Special Ed Teacher,
IEP season is here! How do you like to prepare for IEP meetings? What do you do to ensure you have all the documents needed before it’s meeting time? Are you looking for a better system so you aren’t scrambling at the last minute to get everything ready?
Today, I’m breaking down the 5 steps I take to ensure I am ready to step into my IEP meetings prepared and confident. Having everything collected and ready ahead of time helps the meeting go smoothly and takes away the stress of gathering things last minute. I’ve made my fair share of mistakes when it comes to preparing for IEP meetings but I want you to avoid making those same mistakes so tune in to hear about my 5 step system for gathering IEP meeting documents!
Take Care,
Michelle
Resources mentioned:
Episode 11. Set up These 4 Simple Organizational Tools as a Special Education Teacher!
Episode 12. Student Paperwork Stressing You Out? 4 Easy Classroom Systems to Organize All That Paperwork and Data for Your Students with Special Needs!
Episode 19. 4 Steps to Collect Data and Organize It for an IEP Meeting
Connect with Michelle Vazquez:
IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE!
Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY!
Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE!
Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE!
Follow on INSTAGRAM!
Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com
Tuesday Jan 16, 2024
Tuesday Jan 16, 2024
Hey Sped Teacher,
How do you use token boards in the special ed classroom? How do you use token boards effectively? How can it be used to promote positive behavior?
In today’s episode, I’ll share 7 steps to replace behaviors you want to change with your students with special needs! Sometimes, our whole classroom behavior system does not work for every student. This is when extra behavioral support is needed to help our students with disabilities. The faster we set these strategies, the sooner we can start seeing the positive behaviors we’d like to see!
Take Care,
Michelle
Resources mentioned:
Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY!
Connect with Michelle Vazquez:
Leave a 5-star written review HERE!
IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE!
Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE!
Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE!
Follow on INSTAGRAM!
Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com
Tuesday Jan 09, 2024
Tuesday Jan 09, 2024
Hey Special Education Teacher,
How do you work with parents of your students with special needs? What do you say when you first introduce yourself? How do you keep your special needs parents' relationship going strong?
In today’s episode, I’ll share how I collaborate and keep a good relationship with my special needs parents! That first impression is crucial in building a relationship with them. I’ve learned a lot of lessons along the way to make it a better supportive experience for the person it benefits the most….the child.
Take Care,
Michelle
Resources mentioned:
Leave a 5-star written review HERE!
Connect with Michelle Vazquez:
IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE!
Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY!
Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE!
Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE!
Follow on INSTAGRAM!
Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com
Tuesday Jan 02, 2024
Tuesday Jan 02, 2024
Hey Special Ed Teacher,
How do you structure your special education classroom? How do you manage your special ed class? What do you do to keep it organized?
In today’s episode, I’ll share my top, tried, and true organization tips that I use in my own sped classroom! After going to two different districts, two different positions, three different schools, and moving into seven different classrooms (yes, SEVEN!)...I’ve made many organizational decisions throughout my 15 years of teaching! These top 6 tips have proven to help with my classroom environment, and I hope they can help you, too!
Take Care,
Michelle
Resources mentioned:
IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE!
Connect with Michelle Vazquez:
Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY!
Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE!
Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE!
Follow on INSTAGRAM!
Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com
Wednesday Dec 27, 2023
Wednesday Dec 27, 2023
Hey Sped Teacher,
How was your 2023 year? Did you learn any new lessons personally and/or professionally? Any upcoming goals you’d like to accomplish for the next 2024 year?
In today’s episode, I’ll be getting personal and sharing the hard lessons I learned in 2023 and some new goals I foresee this upcoming year! Reflecting on a not-easy year can be difficult, but it’s freeing to be open and honest and understand how to better ourselves so it doesn’t happen again. We can all start this new year with more experience and know how to protect ourselves better so we are ready for 2024!
Take Care,
Michelle
Resources mentioned:
IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE!
Connect with Michelle Vazquez:
Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY!
Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE!
Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE!
Follow on INSTAGRAM!
Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com
Tuesday Dec 19, 2023
Tuesday Dec 19, 2023
Hey Special Ed Teacher,
It’s almost time for winter break! Do you have a plan for how you are spending your vacation? Will it be all about rest time? Or will you be catching up on work?
Today, I share the pros and cons of working during your break and what I do during my vacation time! When our winter break finally arrives, all we want to do is….NOTHING!! But before you know it, it’s the day before returning, and we’re in panic mode, scrambling to finish work tasks! It’s time to plan your vacation NOW so you’re not overwhelmed as soon as you return to your classroom!
Take Care,
Michelle
Connect with Michelle Vazquez:
Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE!
Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY!
IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE!
Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE!
Follow on INSTAGRAM!
Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
Hey Sped Teacher,
Is your classroom environment feeling overwhelming? Want to feel more organized after winter break? Don’t know what areas to start clearing?
Today, I share 7 areas to begin decluttering your special education classroom! We are so busy teaching and writing IEPs that we sometimes let our classrooms go. Let’s start the new year with a clear classroom and a refreshed mind!
Take Care,
Michelle
Connect with Michelle Vazquez:
Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE!
Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY!
IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE!
Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE!
Follow on INSTAGRAM!
Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com
Tuesday Nov 28, 2023
Tuesday Nov 28, 2023
Hey Special Education Teacher,
Struggling with lesson planning? How do you begin teaching your students with special needs? What does your aide do during instruction?
Today, I share 5 must-haves when planning lessons for your special ed classroom! As special education teachers, unfortunately, we do not get the training and support we need right away. This episode gives you a head start to structure your lesson plans quickly!
Take Care,
Michelle
Resources mentioned:
Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE!
EP 31: Confused with Starting Small Groups? 4 Types of Assessments You Need to Do FIRST with Your Students with Disabilities!
Connect with Michelle Vazquez:
Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY!
IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE!
Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE!
Follow on INSTAGRAM!
Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com
Tuesday Nov 21, 2023
Tuesday Nov 21, 2023
Hey Special Ed Teacher,
Today’s episode is a re-release of episode 20!
Are you up late, worried? Thinking if you’re doing a good job? Are you wondering what qualities make a good special ed teacher?
You just heard that ONE negative comment or critique about your teaching. Now you’re up late at night, thinking if you have what it takes to be a sped teacher. Today I share 4 questions to ask yourself to get that validation you need as a special education teacher! These questions will help you look more at the positive side of education but also humble yourself to know when you need to change.
Take Care,
Michelle
Resources mentioned:
EP 4 - Top 3 Reasons for Self-Growth: Why Special Education Teachers Should Never Stop Learning!
EP 3 - 5 Tips to Work Best with Your Paraprofessional, Special Ed Aide
Connect with Michelle Vazquez:
Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY!
Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE!
IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE!
Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE!
Follow on INSTAGRAM!
Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com
Tuesday Nov 14, 2023
Tuesday Nov 14, 2023
Hey Sped Teacher,
How do you deal with a power struggle with your students with special needs? Can you prevent these power struggles from happening in the first place? How do we change the dynamics and not engage in negative conflict with our students?
In today’s episode, I will share the ONE thing we can do to stop these power struggles from beginning in the first place! Also, I'll explain what steps to take to get there. This will motivate your students to try their best and build their self-esteem. And it all comes down to US!
Take Care,
Michelle
Resources mentioned:
EP 59 - Student Relationships: 4 Reasons Why Connecting with Your Students with Special Needs Are Necessary!
EP 43 - Struggling to Connect with Your Diverse Students? 3 Ways to Create Community in Your Special Education Classroom with Jocelynn Hubbard
Connect with Michelle Vazquez:
Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY!
Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE!
IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE!
Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE!
Follow on INSTAGRAM!
Contact: steppingintospecialed@gmail.com