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PODCAST

Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki

Teaching Autism

Hi, I’m Nikki —a passionate special educator, autism specialist, and founder of Teaching Autism. With over a decade of experience creating hands-on, engaging resources for educators worldwide, I’m here to make your teaching journey easier, more effective, and a lot more fun! With each episode, I’ll bring you practical tips, creative strategies, and inspiring insights to help you thrive in your autism and special education classroom. From tackling behavior challenges to creating meaningful

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All Episodes

13:46

What to Do When Your Students “Lose Skills” Over the...

Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki ·

2025/12/05

Hey teacher friend, picture the scene.. it’s January, the laminator’s jammed, and your students suddenly seem to haveforgotten everything.Coats that used to be zipped? Now open.Requests that used to be independent? Gone.Routines that finally flowed? Out the window.Before you panic, take a breath.In this episode, we’re talking about why this happens, why it’scompletely normal, and what you can do to help your students bounce back - calmly and confidently. What You’ll Learn Why “skill

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8:46

Errorless Learning and Low-Pressure Activities for...

Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki ·

2025/11/28

Hey teacher friend, the holidays are here! 🎄 The tree’s up, the glitter’s flying, and your classroom smells like glue sticks and cocoa. But between concerts, dress-up days, and schedule changes, things can start to feel a little chaotic.In this episode, we’re talking about how to bring calm back into your classroom with errorless learning and low-pressure activities,because your students (and you!) deserve success and peace during these busy weeks. What You’ll Learn What errorless

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8:36

Handling Parent Pressure and Classroom Expectations...

Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki ·

2025/11/21

Hey teacher friend, it’s that time of year when the real holiday stress hits. Not from the students. Not even from admin. From parents… and from ourselves.Between “Will there be a Christmas concert?” emails and “Can you send one more progress update?” requests, it can feel impossible to keep up. In this episode, we’re talking about how to handle parent pressure and classroom expectations before the holidays, with grace, clear boundaries, and a bit of humor. What You’ll Learn Why parent

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9:11

Teacher Guilt and Boundaries Before the Holidays

Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki ·

2025/11/14

Hey teacher friend, let’s get real for a minute. The holidays are coming, your classroom smells like candy canes and chaos, and somewhere between the glitter and the Christmas concerts… the teacher guilt starts creeping in.That little voice that says: “I should be doing more.” “I feel bad saying no.” “Maybe I can squeeze in just one more thing.” In this episode, we’re talking about teacher guilt and boundaries before the holidays..why guilt shows up, what it’s really trying to tell

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10:05

Why Consistency Matters More Than Consequences

Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki ·

2025/11/07

Hey teacher friend, it’s that time of year again! The classroom is buzzing with pre-holiday excitement, glitter is everywhere, and students seem to have collectively decided that rules are optional.When chaos hits, it’s easy to reach for more consequences...more visuals, more reminders, more “If you don’t do this, you’ll lose that.” But here’s the truth: our neurodivergent students don’t need more consequences… they need more consistency. In this episode, I’m sharing why consistency builds

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10:38

Sensory Overload or Tantrum? Understanding the...

Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki ·

2025/10/31

Hey teacher friend, it’s Halloween season! 🎃 The lights are flashing, the sugar rush is real, and your classroom suddenly looks like a superhero convention. But amidst all the fun, you might start to notice some big reactions... crying, covering ears, running off, or meltdowns that seem to appear out of nowhere.So today, we’re diving into how to tell the difference between a sensory overload and a tantrum,because while they might look similar, they come from completely different

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9:44

Why We Should Stop Calling It “Challenging Behavior”

Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki ·

2025/10/23

Hey teacher friend, today we’re talking about a phrase we’ve all used: “challenging behavior.” You know those moments when a student shouts out, refuses to transition, or throws their work on the floor… and we sigh, “They’re having some challenging behavior today.”But here’s the truth: the behavior isn’t what’s challenging, the situation is challenging for the student. In this episode, I’m unpacking why that phrase doesn’t sit right anymore, what it really communicates, and how shifting

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9:14

Visual Supports Beyond the Schedule - How to Use Them...

Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki ·

2025/10/17

Visual supports aren’t just for daily schedules or First-Then boards, they’re powerful tools that can transform every part of your classroom. From communication and regulation to academics and behavior, visuals help make learning accessible, predictable, and safe for all students.In this episode, I’m sharing why visuals work, how to adapt them for different ages, and practical ways to use them beyond the schedule, so your students gain more independence, clarity, and confidence. What

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9:13

Handling Peer Conflict in a Neuro-Affirming Way

Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki ·

2025/10/10

Peer conflict is part of every classroom, especially in SPED. But how we respond to hitting, shouting, pushing, or grabbing makes all the difference. Instead of punishment and shame, we can use these moments to teach regulation, communication, and repair.In this episode, I’m breaking down why conflict happens, how to respond in a neuro-affirming way, and practical strategies for turning tough moments into powerful learning opportunities for both students involved. What You’ll Learn in This

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8:41

Why I Don’t Agree with Taking Away Recess - And What...

Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki ·

2025/10/03

Taking away recess as a punishment is still happening in far too many classrooms, but does it actually work? Spoiler: it doesn’t. In fact, it often makes the problem worse, especially for our neurodivergent students who need recess the most.In this episode, I’m breaking down why I don’t agree with using recess as a consequence, what the research says about its importance, the harm this practice causes, and practical alternatives you can use instead to support student behavior and

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9:07

Supporting Autistic Students with Transitions and Change

Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki ·

2025/09/26

Transitions don’t have to be chaotic or meltdown-inducing. For autistic students, change can feel overwhelming, but with the right tools, structure, and empathy, transitions can actually become opportunities to build trust, confidence, and independence.In this episode, I’m diving into why transitions are so tough for autistic students, the brain science behind it, and practical strategies you can use to support smoother, safer changes, whether it’s moving from snack to circle or adjusting

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11:24

How to Set Up a Visual Schedule That Actually Gets Used

Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki ·

2025/09/19

Visual schedules are one of the most powerful tools in a SPED teacher’s toolkit, but only if students actually use them. In this episode, I’m walking you through how to create a visual schedule that’s meaningful, accessible, and part of your students’ daily rhythm (instead of just decoration on the wall).We’ll cover the “why” behind visual schedules, how to match them to your students’ developmental level, and step-by-step tips to make them stick. Whether your learners are working with

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9:43

Using Scripts and Echolalia to Build Language Naturally

Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki ·

2025/09/12

Echolalia and scripting are often misunderstood as “parroting” or “meaningless talk.” But the truth? They’re powerful communication tools and an important stage of language development, especially for autistic and neurodivergent students.In this episode, I’m breaking down what echolalia and scripting really are, why they matter, and how you can embrace them as stepping stones to authentic, spontaneous communication. What You’ll Learn in This Episode ✨ What echolalia and scripting are

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8:49

Building Communication Skills Through Play

Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki ·

2025/09/05

Play isn’t “just play” - it’s one of the most powerful ways to support communication growth. In this episode, we’re diving into how to turn everyday play moments into opportunities for language, connection, and confidence. Whether you’ve wondered how to support non-speaking students, embed speech goals into centers, or make playtime truly meaningful, this episode will give you strategies that are simple, fun, and effective. What You’ll Learn in This Episode ✨ Why play is a natural

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9:06

How to Incorporate Core Vocabulary into Everyday...

Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki ·

2025/08/29

Core vocabulary isn’t just a buzzword, it’s one of the most powerful tools we can use to help our students communicate, connect, and grow. But here’s the problem: too often, AAC and core boards end up sitting on a shelf instead of being embedded into daily routines.In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly what core vocabulary is, why it matters, and how to naturally weave it into your everyday classroom routines, without needing an extra hour in your day or a degree in speech therapy

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10:20

Why Sensory Breaks Aren’t “Breaks” - They’re...

Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki ·

2025/08/22

Ever been told your students are “just getting out of work” when they take a sensory break? Or that they “need to learn to sit still”? In today’s episode, I’m breaking down why sensory breaks aren’t luxuries or rewards, they’re essential regulation tools that help students access learning.We’ll dig into what regulation really means, why breaks aren’t the same as time-outs, how the research backs this up, and practical ways you can weave regulation tools into your day, without needing a

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10:01

Sensory 101 – Understanding Your Students' Sensory...

Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki ·

2025/08/14

👋 Episode SummaryHey friends! In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education, we’re diving into one of the most misunderstood (but hugely important) parts of student behavior: sensory processing. From toe-walking to meltdowns to zoning out, so many behaviors in our classrooms are not “bad behavior.” They’re sensory systems saying, “I’m overwhelmed and I need support.” Together, we’re unpacking: What sensory processing actually is The 8 sensory systems (yes, there are

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9:12

What to Do When Nothing Seems to Work: Behavior...

Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki ·

2025/08/07

👋 Episode SummaryHey lovely humans! Ever had one of those “I’ve tried everything and NOTHING is working” moments? Yeah… same. In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education, I’m breaking down what to do when you hit that wall. Because behavior isn’t always straightforward. And when strategies flop, it’s not because you’re failing, it’s because this work is hard, layered, and human. Today I’m giving you a step-by-step troubleshooting checklist I personally use when things go

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8:51

Supporting Students with Aggression or Meltdowns -...

Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki ·

2025/07/31

👋 Episode SummaryHey hey, welcome back to Teaching Autism and Special Education! Today, we’re talking about one of the toughest (and most misunderstood) parts of our job, supporting students through aggression and meltdowns without resorting to punishment. Because here’s the truth: Punishment doesn’t teach regulation. It teaches fear. And our students deserve better than that. In this episode, I’m breaking down: The real difference between meltdowns and tantrums Why traditional

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9:35

Creating Behavior Plans That Actually Work in SPED

Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki ·

2025/07/24

👋 Episode SummaryHey friends! Today we’re getting into the real stuff, behavior plans that actually work. Not just the ones that check a box or look good at a meeting, but plans that truly support our students (and us!) in the day-to-day chaos of special education life. I’m sharing exactly how to build behavior plans that are neuro-affirming, doable, and focused on connection over compliance. If you've ever stared at a blank behavior form thinking, "How do I even start?"this episode is

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