x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

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

30:42

Beyond the Basics: Reimagining Assistive Tech with...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/03/12

Today we're going beyond the basics of Assistive Technology and exploring its expansive potential to transform educational experiences for students with special needs. Joining us today is Brian, CEO of RoboKind, who brings a wealth of experience with over 15 years in educational technology leadership. We'll be discussing: The challenges teachers face with understanding and implementing AT.How RoboKind's innovative technologies are providing real solutions that align with educational standards...

en-us

13:16

Basics of Assistive Technology

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/03/05

🎉Today we're celebrating a big milestone—it's our 200th episode! 🎉 This March, we're exploring the important, but sometimes confusing, topic of Assistive Technology in education. Today we cover the basics of assistive technology—what it is, why it can seem confusing, who’s responsible for it and how we can better address it in our IEPs. Listen in as we: Breakdown the definition of AT to more easily understand itDiscuss examples in our own everyday livesClarify why AT can seem confusing and

en-us

14:32

7 Easy-to-Implement Strategies for Your Dual Language...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/02/26

In this episode of Special Education for Beginners, we’re wrapping up our ESL series with practical, easy-to-implement strategies for supporting Dual Language Learners (DLLs) who also have IEPs. Throughout February, we’ve explored the challenges and best practices for working with the multilingual learners on our caseloads. This week, I’m sharing 7 actionable strategies to help your students access content, develop language skills, and build confidence. 📌 7 Strategies to Support ELLs 1️⃣

en-us

33:36

Enhancing Learning Environments for Dual Identified...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/02/19

This month on Special Education for Beginners we are discussing the essentials of supporting multilingual learners in special education settings. Today, we are joined by Katherine Hamilton, Vice President of Programs at Ensemble Learning, to discuss creating inclusive environments that not only meet the educational needs of multilingual students but also celebrate their diverse cultural identities. Talking Points: Supporting Multilingual and Dual Identified Students: Effective instructional p...

en-us

12:32

How to Support English Language Learners in Special...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/02/05

Welcome to a new month here at Special Education for Beginners! All February long we will be discussing a topic that many special educators encounter but don’t always feel fully prepared to support—English Language Learners. In this introductory episode, we’re breaking down the basics of English as a Second Language (ESL) and how it intersects with special education. Many special educators encounter English Language Learners (ELLs) but often struggle to distinguish between language barriers a...

en-us

15:09

Student Led IEPs in Action: A Special Educator's...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/01/29

The theme for January 2025 has been all about learning how to implement student-led IEPs. To wrap up this series of episodes, I'm joined by a teacher who works within my district and who has been implementing student-led IEPs for the last 2 years. Listen in as Bristol Bale and I discuss the real-life application of this transformative practice. Key Discussion Points:Why Student-Led IEPs?Bristol shares her initial motivations for shifting to student-led IEPs, highlighting the lack of stud...

en-us

12:43

4 Steps Toward Implementing Student-Led IEP Meetings

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/01/22

Welcome back to Special Education for Beginners! Over the last two episodes, we’ve been diving into the important topic of student-led Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). In the first episode, we explored what student-led IEPs are, who they’re for, and why they matter. Last week, I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Daniel Biegun, who shared some incredible insights about the life skills students develop through this process—skills like communication, self-advocacy, and collaboratio...

en-us

20:37

Empowering Students Through Student-Led IEPs:...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/01/15

Last week, we kicked off our first theme of the year with a broad look at student-led IEPs. We discussed who student-led IEPs are for and provided a a brief overview of what the process looks like before, during, and after the meeting. If you missed episode 193, go back and catch up...it’s a great foundation for today’s discussion, so be sure to check it out! This week, I’m excited to continue the discussion of student-led IEPs with a conversation with Dr. Daniel Biegun who is here to bu...

en-us

12:29

An Introduction to Student-Led IEP Meetings

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2025/01/08

Welcome to the first episode of 2025! As we start the new year, it's the perfect time to explore new and empowering approaches to special education. This episode unpacks the essentials of Student-Led IEPs, their importance, and how they vary across different educational stages. Join us as we outline actionable strategies for implementing these meetings and discuss the tremendous impact they can have on students' educational experiences.What We Cover in This Episode:Overview of Student-Led IEP...

en-us

11:42

15 Budget-Friendly Gift Ideas for Your Paras This...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2024/12/11

In this episode of Special Education for Beginners, Jennifer shares 15 gift ideas to help you show appreciation to your paraprofessionals and support staff this holiday season. From completely free options to more personalized gifts, this episode has something for every budget. Tune in to discover thoughtful and practical ways to make your team feel valued and supported.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why showing appreciation to your staff is essential for building a cohesive and positive t...

en-us

29:22

Ask Us Anything Part 12: A Rapid-Fire Farewell with Paul

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2024/12/05

Welcome back to Special Education for Beginners! Today’s episode is a special one as we close out our beloved "Ask Us Anything" series with my incredible co-host, Paul. After two amazing years of working together, including 11 months of answering your burning questions about special education, Paul and I are wrapping up this chapter of the podcast.We’ve tackled everything from scheduling nightmares and behavior strategies to managing paraprofessionals and navigating IEPs. Through it all, we’v...

en-us

14:50

Administer Achievement Tests with Success: Part...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2024/11/27

In the final part of our three-part series on administering achievement tests, we’re focusing on how to present results confidently in IEP meetings. Sharing test results can feel intimidating, but with the right strategies, you can turn these meetings into meaningful, collaborative discussions.In this episode, you’ll learn:How to present your report as a conversation rather than simply reading the data.The importance of using parent-friendly language and providing clear, actionable explanatio...

en-us

14:39

Administer Achievement Tests with Success: Part...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2024/11/20

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:Why writing a clear, professional report is essential for documenting th...

en-us

12:11

Administer Achievement Tests with Success: Part...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2024/11/13

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 int...

en-us

24:55

Ask Us Anything Part 11: Challenging Behaviors +...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2024/11/06

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 Consistent routines Ide...

en-us

23:14

Streamline Paperwork Using Templates with Caroline...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2024/10/23

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:Caroline’s Professional Background: From kindergarten to special education, ...

en-us

7:38

Handling the Unexpected: Emily's Story of Embracing...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2024/10/16

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 o...

en-us

22:50

Ask Us Anything Part 10: Difficult Parents + Progress...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2024/10/02

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 ...

en-us

12:17

3 Strategies to Manage Conflicts More Effectively

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2024/09/26

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:Embrace Conflict as an Opportunity:Understand conflict as a chance to improve systems and relationships.Example of resolving scheduling conflicts b...

en-us

9:43

Solving the IEP Mystery: How to Connect the Dots for...

Special Education for Beginners | Managing... ·

2024/09/18

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 p...

en-us

242 results

Similar Podcasts

Science Talk

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

五分钟心理学

柠檬心理

Daily Facts

Amalia Dupray and Montgomery Jones.

Les dents et dodo

BFMTV

Veterinary Clinical Podcasts

The Royal Veterinary College