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PODCAST

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

Audra Jensen, Caitlin Beltran, Sami Brown

Are you a teacher looking for support with students with diverse needs or behavior management in the classroom? Tune into The Misfit Behaviorists podcast, hosted by Caitlin Beltran, Audra Jensen, and Sami Brown, three BCBAs (and two special education teachers), as they bring you actionable tips to behavior reduction and skill acquisition. Listen to evidence-based strategies with a student-centered focus as they share practical advice for special education teachers, behavior support teachers, BCBAs,

education how to

All Episodes

4:10

Misfit Minute 24: 5 Things I Wish I Knew as a New...

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for... ·

2026/04/07

In this Misfit Minute, Audra shares five career lessons she wishes she’d learned earlier as an educator: don’t overplan—use one strong activity with built-in extensions instead of many activities that won’t work; don’t skip data collection because “I’ll remember later” leads to missing or skewed data—quick tallies beat perfect data never recorded; don’t try to do everything alone—treat paras, therapists, and gen ed teachers as true collaborators; protect breaks and boundaries early to prevent...

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16:02

Ep. 76: How to Talk to Parents When Behavior Isn’t...

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for... ·

2026/03/24

In this episode, Audra and Caitlin tackle one of the hardest parts of working in special education and behavior support: talking with families when things are not improving yet. When behaviors are escalating or strategies aren’t working, those meetings can feel tense for everyone in the room. The conversation explores how educators and BCBAs can stay transparent, rely on objective data, and keep relationships strong with families even when the news is difficult. Instead of panic, blame, or su...

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2:22

Misfit Minute 23: Quick Tips on How to Run Small...

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for... ·

2026/03/17

Running small groups in an ABA classroom can feel like juggling flaming data sheets. Two learners. Two programs. Two sets of behaviors. In this Misfit Minute, Caitlin shares four practical tips for running dyads and small group instruction without sacrificing instructional quality. 🔑 Key Takeaways • Prep for success — have materials, reinforcers, pencils, and data sheets ready before you start. Less scrambling, more teaching. • Plan the rotation — decide who gets your attention first and

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18:52

Ep. 75: Special Education Burnout, Post-COVID...

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for... ·

2026/03/03

The past few years have reshaped classrooms in ways many educators are still trying to make sense of. In this episode, Audra and Caitlin react to real conversations from teachers and parents about burnout, behavior changes, staffing shortages, placement decisions, and the growing gap between expectations and reality in special education. They share honest reflections, practical perspective, and reassurance for educators wondering if it’s just them… or if things really have changed. 🔑 Key

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6:00

Misfit Minute 22: Passive vs Active Noncompliance in...

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for... ·

2026/02/24

Noncompliance isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s quiet, avoidant, and easy to miss until it grows into something bigger. In this Misfit Minute, we break down the difference between passive vs active noncompliance and why recognizing the difference early helps you respond calmly, support regulation, and prevent escalation into unsafe behaviors. 🔑 Key Takeaways • Not all noncompliance looks the same 👀 — passive noncompliance is quiet avoidance, while active noncompliance is disruptive and

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16:02

Ep. 74: How Teachers Can Set Boundaries and...

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for... ·

2026/02/17

When another professional walks into your classroom, things can get complicated fast. In this episode, Audra and Caitlin answer a listener question about what to do when support staff, behavior consultants, or other specialists aren’t showing up in the way you expected. They share practical, professional ways to navigate power dynamics, clarify roles, and protect your classroom while keeping relationships intact. 🔑 Key Takeaways • Document objectively and consistently 📋 — focus on facts,

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1:58

Misfit Minute 21: Handling Staff Pushback with...

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for... ·

2026/02/10

Staff pushback happens. Eye rolls, sighs, and the dreaded “we already tried that” can make even the calmest team lead feel defensive. In this Misfit Minute, Caitlin talks about shifting from control to curiosity when staff resist new strategies and how asking the right questions builds trust, buy-in, and stronger teams. 🔑 Key Takeaways • Staff pushback often comes from burnout or feeling unheard 😮‍💨—not resistance for the sake of resistance. • Curiosity beats control 🔍—asking “What didn’t

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11:52

Ep. 73: Five Easy Social Games for Preschool and...

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for... ·

2026/02/03

Sometimes you just need five minutes, not a full lesson plan. In this episode, Audra and Caitlin share five simple social games you can pull out during transitions, brain breaks, or those in-between moments when it’s not time for intensive instruction but kids still need structure. These low-prep “pocket-size” games are designed for preschool, kindergarten, and special education classrooms and can be easily adapted for small groups or social skills instruction. 🔑 Key Takeaways • Not every

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3:32

Misfit Minute 20: One Simple Visual Change That Can...

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for... ·

2026/01/27

Small changes can make a big difference. In this Misfit Minute, we’re talking about one simple, actionable challenge you can try this week: update just one classroom visual. Whether it’s a schedule, emotion card, or token board, visuals only work when they’re relevant, motivating, and actually being used. This episode breaks down why visuals stop working over time and how a quick refresh can improve engagement and behavior. 🔑 Key Takeaways • Visuals only work if they’re relevant and used

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14:01

Ep. 72: Center-Based Learning in the ABA Classroom -...

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for... ·

2026/01/20

Center-based learning can feel overwhelming in ABA and self-contained classrooms—especially when staffing is tight, learner needs vary widely, and data collection feels nonstop. In this episode, Caitlin and Audra break down how to actually run centers in an ABA classroom without burning out your staff or your students. From staffing rotations to flexible grouping, this conversation focuses on practical, realistic ways to make center-based learning work in real classrooms. 🔑 Key Takeaways •

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1:54

Misfit Minute 19: How to Share Difficult Behavior...

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for... ·

2026/01/13

Talking with families about hard things is part of the job—but it doesn’t have to feel awkward, cold, or overly clinical. In this Misfit Minute, Caitlin shares four practical tips for sharing difficult behavior updates, regressions, or service concerns with families in a way that builds trust and keeps the relationship collaborative. The goal isn’t to deliver “bad news.” It’s to partner with families and open the door to problem-solving together. 🔑 Key Takeaways • Start with a strength or

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18:12

Ep. 71: Time Management & Supervision Strategies for...

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for... ·

2026/01/06

Ever feel like your BCBA schedule is just one long game of “calendar Tetris”? Between driving to in-home sessions, juggling billable hours, supervising staff, and trying to have a life outside of work, it can feel impossible to fit it all in. In this episode, Audra and Caitlin break down 10 practical, doable strategies to help you build a sustainable schedule—whether you’re clinic-based, school-based, or driving from house to house—without sacrificing supervision quality or your own sanity. ...

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3:51

Misfit Minute 18: Stop Comparing Your Classroom —...

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for... ·

2025/12/16

Some days it feels like every classroom around you is perfectly color-coded, freshly laminated, and Instagram-ready… and yours is, well, real life. In this Misfit Minute, Audra shares a mindset reset for teachers who feel stuck in the comparison spiral. Your classroom doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s—your heart work is what changes lives. These five quick tips help you shift from comparing to caring so you can focus on what truly matters: your students. 🔑 Key Takeaways • Celebrate

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26:29

Ep. 70: Modernizing ABA Assessment – Flexibility,...

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for... ·

2025/12/09

Every BCBA and teacher has lived the moment: you pour months into an intervention… only to open an assessment and think, “Wait. Where did all that progress go?” In this episode, Caitlin sits down with Casey Barron and Dr. Anika Hoybjerg—creators of the Meaningful Outcomes Treatment and Assessment Scale (MOTAS)—to talk about why so many traditional tools miss the skills that matter most, and how the MOTAS fills those gaps with flexible, functional, and family-aligned assessment practices. 🔑

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1:55

Misfit Minute 17: How to Make Transitions Easier for...

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for... ·

2025/11/25

Transitions can be tough—especially when students move from a preferred activity to something less exciting. In this quick Misfit Minute, Audra shares practical ways to make transitions smoother and reduce challenging behaviors before they even start. Whether it’s adding countdowns, visuals, or empathy, these small tweaks can make a big difference in your day (and theirs). 🔑 Key Takeaways • Predictability is prevention: Use visual cues, countdowns, or consistent verbal prompts to prepare

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7:07

Ep. 69: Catch Them First — 3 Proven Ways to Prevent...

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for... ·

2025/11/18

Every teacher has that moment when they realize—“ugh, I missed it.” The chance to redirect before things spiraled. In this week’s episode, Audra and Caitlin flip the classic “Catch Them Being Good” idea into something even more powerful: Catch Them First. They share three simple, proactive strategies you can use to prevent behavior issues before they happen—so you spend less time reacting and more time connecting. 🔑 Key Takeaways • Catch Them First: Don’t wait for misbehavior—frontload

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3:03

Misfit Minute 16: When Writing Tasks Cause Behaviors:...

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for... ·

2025/11/11

Sometimes our students giggle, get wiggly, or completely check out when it’s time to write. Is it task avoidance? A skills gap? Sensory overload? In this Misfit Minute, Audra walks through 5 quick questions to help you figure out what’s really going on—and what to do about it—when pencil-and-paper tasks go sideways. 🔑 Key Takeaways • Start with: Is it a can’t or a won’t? Skill deficits and motivation issues need different responses. • If it’s a can’t, reduce the demand—use scribes, stamps,

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7:32

Misfit Minute 15: Can’t or Won’t? How to Tell If It’s...

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for... ·

2025/11/04

Sometimes behavior looks like defiance—but what if it's actually a missing skill? In this episode, Audra walks you through a simple visual tool to help determine whether a student’s challenging behavior is due to a skill deficit (“can’t”) or a motivation issue (“won’t”). Using her quadrant graphic, she explains the four learner profiles (Engaged, Frustrated, Avoidant, Resistant) and gives practical strategies for supporting each one. Whether you're a teacher, para, or BCBA, this is a must-li...

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12:35

Ep. 68: From Chaos to Calm — 5 Quick Classroom...

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for... ·

2025/10/28

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,

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1:44

Misfit Minute 14: Do You Really Need a New Behavior...

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for... ·

2025/10/14

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...

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