The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals

Ep. 68: From Chaos to Calm — 5 Quick Classroom De-Escalation Strategies

Every teacher knows those days when everything seems to erupt at once. In this episode, Audra and Caitlin share five quick, practical de-escalation strategies that help you shift from chaos to calm—without losing your sanity or your sense of humor. From using proactive visuals to setting the emotional “temperature” of the room, these are tools you can use right away in any classroom or therapy setting.🔑 Key Takeaways• Prevention is your protection: Plan ahead with visuals, pre-corrections, and clear expectations to reduce triggers before they start.• Your calm = their calm: Be the thermostat, not the thermometer—your energy sets the tone. Use a calm voice, slow pacing, and neutral body language.• Give space and choices: Two choices = one win. Allow time and space for students to regulate and make a decision before stepping back in.• Delay, don’t deny: Instead of “no,” try “yes, later” or “no, but you can…” to reduce confrontation and maintain relationships.• Practice before the fire: Role-play refusals and problem moments before they happen to help students (and staff!) respond with calm and confidence.📦 Resources & Links• Free De-Escalation Strategy Visual → https://abainschool.com/deescalate• Related Episode: Ep. 57 The Crisis Cycle → https://abainschool.com/ep57• Related Episode: Ep. 6 6 Ways to Approach Challenging Behaviors and Trauma-Informed Care → https://abainschool.com/ep6🤝 Join Us💬 Share your favorite classroom de-escalation strategies in the Misfit Behaviorists Facebook Group → https://abainschool.com/misfits🎧 Subscribe on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform → https://www.youtube.com/@themisfitbehaviorists📢 Tag us when you try one of these tips in your classroom—we love hearing what works for you!Join the Facebook group for collaboration and freebies: The Misfit Behaviorists😍 More, you say? We’re here for you! Apple podcast | The Misfit Behaviorists Instagram | @‌themisfitbehaviorists YouTube | @‌themisfitbehaviorists 👋 Find us! Audra | ABA in School Caitlin | Beltran’s Behavior Basics Sami | B.A.S.S. 🖱️ Rate, Review, Like & Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Showing this love helps us get out to more educators out there!

Misfit Minute 14: Do You Really Need a New Behavior Plan?

Sometimes the issue isn’t that your behavior plan is “bad”—it’s that it’s not being followed with fidelity. Before you rewrite the whole thing, pause and check: are all staff on the same page, teaching replacement skills, and delivering reinforcement consistently? In this Misfit Minute, Caitlin shares some tough love and practical reminders about when you actually need a new plan versus when you just need to work the one you’ve got.🔑 Key Takeaways⦁        Consistency is critical—most plans fail because they aren’t followed, not because they’re wrong.⦁        Fidelity matters: check if reinforcement, teaching, and responses are happening as written.⦁        Communicate with your team before making major changes.⦁        Small tweaks may help, but give the current plan time to work.⦁        Collect data first, then decide if a new plan is necessary.📦 Resources Mentioned⦁        Related episodes: Start the FBA mini-series here → https://abainschool.com/ep31part1 and FBA Miniseries on Antecedent Strategies → https://abainschool.com/ep51⦁        Do We Need an FBA? blog post → https://abainschool.com/do-we-need-an-fba/⦁        FBA template → https://abainschool.com/mkmg or https://abainschool.com/pmcf 🙌 Join Us & Share⦁        Join the conversation in our Facebook group ⦁        Subscribe so you don’t miss future Misfit Minutes and full-length strategy episodes⦁        Share this episode with a teammate who needs proactive classroom strategies!Join the Facebook group for collaboration and freebies: The Misfit Behaviorists😍 More, you say? We’re here for you! Apple podcast | The Misfit Behaviorists Instagram | @‌themisfitbehaviorists YouTube | @‌themisfitbehaviorists 👋 Find us! Audra | ABA in School Caitlin | Beltran’s Behavior Basics Sami | B.A.S.S. 🖱️ Rate, Review, Like & Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Showing this love helps us get out to more educators out there!

Ep. 67: The Role of a BCBA on RTI & MTSS Teams in Schools

Being a BCBA in a public school means more than behavior plans—it’s about collaboration, data, and supporting teachers on RTI and MTSS teams. In this episode, we share tips for building relationships, starting with Tier 1 strategies, and making sure your role feels valuable (not overwhelming!) to your general education colleagues.🔑 Key Takeaways• Start simple: Review Tier 1 supports before jumping to FBAs or complex plans.• Bring tools: Have ready-to-use data sheets and low-prep interventions for teachers.• Collaborate first: Ask teachers what’s already working and build from there.• Show, don’t tell: Bring visual examples like token boards or contracts to spark ideas.• Build trust: Celebrate teacher wins and keep follow-ups short, consistent, and encouraging.📦 Resources & Links• Free Tier 1 Interventions Checklist → https://abainschool.com/tier1• Related Episodes: Ep. 58 Bridging the Gap → https://abainschool.com/ep58 and Ep. 14 Life as a School Based BCBA guest → https://abainschool.com/ep14🤝 Join Us💬 Share how you support RTI/MTSS teams in the Misfit Behaviors Facebook Group → https://abainschool.com/misfits🌟 Subscribe: Don’t miss future episodes with practical BCBA strategies → https://www.youtube.com/@themisfitbehaviorists📢 Share this episode with your RTI team, BCBA colleagues, or administrators to spark collaboration and support!Join the Facebook group for collaboration and freebies: The Misfit Behaviorists😍 More, you say? We’re here for you! Apple podcast | The Misfit Behaviorists Instagram | @‌themisfitbehaviorists YouTube | @‌themisfitbehaviorists 👋 Find us! Audra | ABA in School Caitlin | Beltran’s Behavior Basics Sami | B.A.S.S. 🖱️ Rate, Review, Like & Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Showing this love helps us get out to more educators out there!

Misfit Minute 13: Reduce Student Pushback with Simple Choice Strategies in Special Education

Offering students simple choices can reduce pushback and boost cooperation. In this Misfit Minute, we break down how to turn everyday directives into opportunities for autonomy and engagement.🔑 Key TakeawaysChoice = Power: Even small choices give students autonomy and reduce resistanceCircle Time Example: Let students choose where or how they sit instead of forcing one optionDirective Reframe: Switch “Put your things away and line up” to “Do you want to line up first or pack up first?”Weekly Challenge: Rewrite one classroom directive as a choice that works for you and your students📦 Resources MentionedRelated episodes: Pre-Correcting Behavior → http://abainschool.com/mm7 and FBA Miniseries on Antecedent Strategies → https://abainschool.com/ep51Free classroom tools & resources inside the Misfit Behaviors Facebook Group → https://abainschool.com/misfits🙌 Join Us & ShareJoin the conversation in our Facebook group → https://abainschool.com/misfitsSubscribe so you don’t miss future Misfit Minutes and full-length strategy episodesShare this episode with a teammate who needs proactive classroom strategies!Join the Facebook group for collaboration and freebies: The Misfit Behaviorists😍 More, you say? We’re here for you! Apple podcast | The Misfit Behaviorists Instagram | @‌themisfitbehaviorists YouTube | @‌themisfitbehaviorists 👋 Find us! Audra | ABA in School Caitlin | Beltran’s Behavior Basics Sami | B.A.S.S. 🖱️ Rate, Review, Like & Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Showing this love helps us get out to more educators out there!

Ep. 66: Behavior Management for Early Learners - 5 Preschool Classroom Strategies

Teaching little ones with big feelings can be equal parts joyful and challenging. In this episode, we share five simple, effective strategies for supporting early learners in preschool and special education settings. From using visuals to keeping it playful, you’ll walk away with practical tools you can try tomorrow.🔑 Key Takeaways•  Keep it visual: Use simple schedules, choice boards, and social stories to support communication and independence.•  Narrate everything: Model positive language with calm, playful tones (think Mr. Rogers or Miss Rachel style).•  Prevention matters: Catch behaviors early with pre-corrections, sensory breaks, and proactive supports.•  Repetition is key: Expect to teach skills 50+ times—consistency builds mastery.•  Play is better than lecture: Embed learning into games, role play, and parallel play for lasting impact.📦 Resources & Links•  Related Episodes: Episode #64 Preschool Circle Time     Episode #18 Behavior Management Basics •  If you need some preschool circle time ideas, check these out! 🤝 Join Us      💬 Let us know your favorite data collection tip in the Misfit Behaviors Facebook Group      🌟 Subscribe: Don’t miss upcoming episodes on practical strategies and must-have resources for behavior support!       📢 Share this episode with a teacher, BCBA, or administrator looking for fresh approaches to special education and behavior analysis!      💬 Let us know what YOU wanna talk about in our Facebook group  Join the Facebook group for collaboration and freebies: The Misfit Behaviorists😍 More, you say? We’re here for you! Apple podcast | The Misfit Behaviorists Instagram | @‌themisfitbehaviorists YouTube | @‌themisfitbehaviorists 👋 Find us! Audra | ABA in School Caitlin | Beltran’s Behavior Basics Sami | B.A.S.S. 🖱️ Rate, Review, Like & Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Showing this love helps us get out to more educators out there!