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

A quick story from an ABA clinic about a student checking the floor to see if the “down” internet had literally fallen down. This Misfit Minute is a reminder that language is not always interpreted the way we expect, especially for students who process communication very literally. Key Takeaways • Literal language can create confusion—Common phrases may not mean what we think they mean to every learner • Everyday expressions are learned skills—Sarcasm, metaphors, and slang often need direct ...

A quick story from early in my autism journey that completely shifted how I understand sensory overload. One small moment in a speech therapy room turned into a lifelong reminder: we may be in the same space, but experiencing it in very different ways. Key Takeaways • Sensory overload isn’t always visible—A child may be overwhelmed even when the environment feels “normal” to us • Not all brains filter the same way—Some learners hear, see, and feel everything at once • Small...

What do you do when a paraprofessional just can’t keep up with the pace, data, or demands of your classroom? Before jumping to frustration, this Misfit Minute walks you through a practical, compassionate approach to coaching staff, improving systems, and making data-based decisions that keep your students first. 🔑 Key Takeaways • Check the system, not just the person • Define what “keeping up” actually means • Simplify and prioritize tasks • Model + narrate your thinking • Pract...

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...

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 Tak...

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, pat...

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 mo...

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 • C...

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. ...

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. 🔑 ...

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 suppo...

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...

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...