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PODCAST

Special Education for Beginners | Managing Paraprofessionals, Special Education Strategies, First Year Sped Teachers, Special Ed Overwhelm, Paperwork for Special Education Teachers

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 list?Wish you had the skills to build a rock-solid team with your paraprofessionals?Do you find yourself scouring the internet for how to meet the diverse needs of each student on your caseload?Hey there friend…I’m Jennifer Hofferber from Sped Prep Academy, an award winning veteran special education teacher and current

education

All Episodes

9:43

Kickstart the School Year With Your Paras: 3 Must-Do...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/07/30

Welcome to the final episode of our July Paraprofessional Series! This month, we’ve talked mindset, delegation, communication, and even heard directly from paras themselves. But today’s episode is all about action—because a strong team doesn’t just happen… it’s built. And it starts with YOU. In this episode, I’m walking you through 3 simple but powerful steps you can take to start the school year off right with your paraprofessionals. These are the exact things I wish I had started doin...

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15:36

Building Stronger Teams: What Paras Wish Teachers Knew

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/07/23

This week’s episode is a little different because it’s not about us as teachers. It’s about the incredible individuals who support us and our students every single day: our paraprofessionals. Throughout July, we've been focusing into how to build strong para-teacher relationships, and in this episode, we’re hearing directly from the voices that matter most. I asked a group of current and former paraprofessionals five powerful questions about their roles, challenges, and what they need from th...

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12:49

How to Support Struggling Paraprofessionals

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/07/16

This is the 3rd installment of the paraprofessional series for July. In this episode of Special Education for Beginners, we’re tackling one of the toughest (but most necessary) parts of leading a team—what to do when a paraprofessional is disengaged, resistant, or just not meeting expectations. If you’ve ever avoided a hard conversation, felt frustrated but unsure how to speak up, or simply wished you had the words and tools to handle tricky para situations… this episode is for you. We’ll cov...

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12:32

Delegating Tasks to Paraprofessionals with Clarity...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/07/09

Welcome back to our July podcast series all about working with paraprofessionals! Last week in Episode 217, we talked about making the mindset shift from boss to leader. And this week, we’re building on that foundation with one of the most practical skills you can master as a special educator: delegating. If you’ve ever thought, “It’s just easier to do it myself,” or if you’ve assigned a task and then felt frustrated when it wasn’t done right—this episode is for you. In this episode, Jennifer...

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12:31

How to Lead Paraprofessionals with Confidence (Even...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/07/02

Welcome to a brand new month on the podcast! July is all about working with one of the most essential (and often most misunderstood) members of your classroom team—your paraprofessionals. In this episode, Jennifer kicks off the series by discussing one of the most important shifts you’ll ever make as a special educator: moving from a boss mentality to a leadership mindset. If you’ve ever struggled with managing adults, felt unsure about how to delegate, or dreaded para drama more than your to...

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9:32

Summer PD Opportunity: Professional Growth Doesn't...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/06/25

In this final episode of our June Summer Strategy series, we’re turning the spotlight back on YOU—your growth, your leadership, and your mindset. Summer isn’t just a time to rest (though that’s definitely important!)—it’s also the perfect opportunity for intentional learning that fills your cup instead of draining it. Whether you want to build stronger systems, lead your para team more effectively, or learn how to better support your autistic learners, this episode reminds you that profession...

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10:28

5 Quick Wins for Back-to-School Prep (That Won’t...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/06/18

Let’s be real — August sneaks up fast. The to-do lists pile up, caseloads change, para schedules shift, and IEP meetings seem to pop up before you’ve even unpacked your room. In today’s episode, I’m sharing 5 simple, actionable prep tasks you can tackle this summer — without spending hours in your classroom or losing your well-deserved rest. These are quick wins that can be done in short bursts of 15–30 minutes to give you a major head start when back-to-school season hits. In This Episode Yo...

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10:58

The ‘Do Less’ Summer Plan: Give Yourself Permission...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/06/11

Summer break is here—but before you fill every day with appointments, activities, and professional development, let’s pause. This episode is all about helping you find a better balance between rest, personal growth, boundaries, and just the right amount of planning. Whether you’re someone who jumps directly into prep mode or someone who needs some solid nap time or lazy mornings (or both!), this episode will help you use your summer with intention—not obligation. In This Episode, You'll Learn...

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12:36

Before You Close the Door: Reflecting on The School Year

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/06/04

In this first episode of our Summer Strategies for Special Educators series, we’re taking a pause before the full summer reset begins. Whether your classroom is already packed up or you're heading into Extended School Year, this is the perfect moment to reflect on the past year. What went well? What could have gone better? And what absolutely crashed and burned?Jennifer walks you through a simple, reflective framework designed just for special educators. You'll review key area...

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20:21

Real Talk, Real Tools – Burnout Prevention from the...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/05/28

This week’s episode wraps up our teacher burnout series with a powerful collection of real-world advice from real special educators. In Episode 212, we hear from 14 special educators from the special education community who share their own burnout prevention strategies—no fluff, no theory, just real talk and real tools. From setting boundaries and saying no, to reclaiming your time, creating meaningful routines, and finding ways to recharge with movement, mindset, and joy—this episode is fill...

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12:45

5 Boundaries Every Special Educator Needs to Prevent...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/05/21

In this episode of Special Education for Beginners, we’re continuing our focus on teacher burnout—and today’s topic might be the most practical yet. As special educators, we often pour from an empty cup. We overcommit, stay late, skip lunch, and carry the emotional weight of the work home with us. But burnout doesn’t just happen because of how much we’re doing—it happens when we don’t have boundaries in place to protect our time, energy, and mental health. In this episode, I’m sharing 5 reali...

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22:23

How to Retain Great Educators by Addressing Burnout...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/05/14

Hey there, special educators! This week on Special Education for Beginners, we’re continuing our month-long series on teacher burnout with a powerful, honest, and deeply important conversation. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jessica Werner, founder of Northshore Learning and a passionate advocate for teacher wellness. Dr. Werner works with schools across the globe to help retain great educators by addressing the real causes of burnout—especially those tied to student needs and behavior—...

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19:27

How to Stop Teacher Burnout Before It Stops You

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/05/07

Burnout isn’t just being tired—it’s about feeling empty. And most likely, it's something we all face at some point in our career. In this episode, we discuss the emotional, physical, and mental weight of teacher burnout—especially in the world of special education. From the never-ending paperwork to the emotional energy required just to make it through the day, it’s no wonder so many educators are running on empty. In this episode, Jennifer shares 5 key “buckets” of real, restorative strategi...

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13:40

Simple, Effective Tips to Make Inclusion Happen

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/04/30

Surprise! April had five Wednesdays, so you're getting a bonus episode to wrap up our Inclusion Series—and this one is all about action. Throughout the month, we’ve broken down the barriers to inclusion, defined what inclusion really means, explored reverse inclusion, and shared how to build strong inclusive teams. But there’s one piece we haven’t covered yet: how to actually implement inclusion successfully. In this episode, I’m sharing practical, realistic tips to help you support students ...

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19:33

Breaking Down Barriers to Inclusion

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/04/23

Inclusion sounds amazing in theory—but in practice? It can feel scary, complicated, and even a little overwhelming. In today’s episode, I’m addressing into the real-world barriers that can stand in the way of building inclusive classrooms… and sharing what we can do to push past them. From time constraints and unclear roles to limited resources and resistance from staff, we’re talking about the tough stuff—and how to respond with creativity, teamwork, and intention. You’ll walk away from this...

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16:15

5 Steps to Build Inclusive Teams

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/04/16

This third segment in our April inclusion series discusses the crucial aspect of building successful inclusion teams. If you missed the earlier discussions on the core principles of inclusion and reverse inclusion strategies, be sure to check out the previous episodes. Today, we focus on the importance of teamwork in providing inclusive classrooms for our students because true inclusivity cannot be achieved single-handedly. Key Insights: The Power of Teamwork:Effective inclusion require...

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25:47

The Reverse Inclusion Strategy: A Conversation with...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/04/09

We are continuing the theme of Inclusion during the month of April. In my opinion, inclusion is one of the most important things that we can do for our students, but finding ways to do that can be challenging, especially when your program is self-contained and when your students are with you, the majority, if not all, of the school day. You're going to have to get creative in finding those opportunities. And that's where today's guests come in. Megan and Jen from Moms Managi...

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13:19

Beyond the Buzzword: 5 Inclusive Practices Special...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/04/02

Inclusion is a word we hear constantly—in IEP meetings, PD sessions, and school mission statements. But for many special educators, inclusion still feels more like a buzzword than a practical reality. In this episode of Special Education for Beginners, I discuss what inclusion really means—and why it’s more than just placing a student in a general education seat. I share my personal perspective on the true purpose of special education, offer real-life stories that bring inclusion to life, and...

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14:14

A Guide to Implementing Assistive Technology Practices

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/03/26

In this final installment of our series on assistive technology (AT), I want to provide you with a way to effectively plan and implement AT within your IEPs. This episode provides educators with a comprehensive toolkit designed to ensure that all students have the tools they need to succeed and gain independence in their learning environments. What You'll Learn: How to effectively integrate assistive technology into IEPs.Strategies for involving all stakeholders in the AT planning process.An ...

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23:11

How IEP Teams Can Build Sustaining Assistive...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/03/19

Welcome to this episode of Special Education for Beginners, where we are continuing the discussion on assistive technology in special education. As we continue this series, today's episode focuses on how to build sustainable systems that endure and evolve with our educational needs and changes. Joining us is Paige Buckingham, the Assistive Technology Lead Facilitator for Kansas Infinitec, who has been instrumental in training districts, including mine, to integrate and sustain assistive techn...

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242 results

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