STEPPING INTO SPECIAL EDUCATION, Special Education, SPED, Special Ed, Students with Disabilities, Classroom Management – Details, episodes & analysis

Hey Special Ed Teacher,

*Special Announcement at the end of the episode!*

Do you know what to prep your educational aides before the beginning of the school year? What do they need to know before your students step into your classroom? How do you create an inclusive classroom so your staff feels part of the team?

Today I’ll be sharing steps to ensure your Paraprofessionals feel like team members of the classroom community. We need to acknowledge their contributions, involve them in decision-making processes, and provide opportunities for professional growth. When paraprofessionals feel respected and included, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated. By investing time and effort into these areas, we can help our paraprofessionals feel confident and capable in their roles, ultimately leading to better outcomes for our students.

Take Care,

Michelle

Resources mentioned:

• EP 3: 5 Tips to Work Best with Your Paraprofessional

• Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY!

Connect with Michelle Vazquez:

• Leave a 5 star review
• Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE!
• Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE!
• Follow on INSTAGRAM!
• Contact: [email protected]

Hey Special Ed Teacher,

In today’s episode, we have special guest Melanie Brethour. Melanie Brethour is a resource teacher from Montreal, Quebec, dedicated to dyslexia awareness and the science of reading. Her commitment was sparked by her son Benjamin's dyslexia diagnosis at age 9. To better support him and her students, she earned Orton-Gillingham associate-level certification and became a CERI structured literacy teacher.

Melanie founded Decoding Dyslexia Quebec and Soar With Dyslexia on social media to provide resources and support. She also volunteers for Dyslexia Canada, helping parents navigate dyslexia. Guided by the motto "when you know better, you do better," Melanie continues to advocate for dyslexia understanding and support for struggling students and their families.

In this interview, Melanie and I discuss the challenges and potential solutions for identifying and supporting students with dyslexia. Melanie shared her personal experiences and recommended structured literacy approaches for teaching reading skills to dyslexic students. They also discussed the importance of transparency in parent communication and the role of special education teachers in identifying learning difficulties. This is a very insightful conversation you don’t want to miss!

Take Care,

Michelle

Resources mentioned:

• Scholastic Science of Reading Teacher Resources
• Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY!
• Get your Spotify ‘Back to School Special’ playlist HERE! 

Connect with Melanie Brethour:

• Soar with Dyslexia Resources
• Instagram: @soarwithdyslexia
• Facebook: Soar with Dyslexia
• Linkedin: Melanie Brethour

Connect with Michelle Vazquez:

• Leave a 5 star review
• Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE!
• Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE!
• Follow on INSTAGRAM!
• Contact: [email protected]

Hey Special Education Teacher,

We made it to the end of another school year! But before we head into summer and start enjoying our time off, I’m taking some time to look back and reflect on this school year. I have found that taking this time to reflect has really helped me to grow in my career.

One thing I love to do at the end of the school year is to think back over the year and appreciate some of the amazing accomplishments my students and I achieved while also acknowledging some areas I can grow in for the upcoming year. So join me today as I share my top three highlights of this year as well as the three areas I’d like to improve on for next year. I hope this episode inspires you to reflect back on your year and appreciate what you’ve accomplished as well!

Take Care,

Michelle

Resources mentioned:

• Episode 88. 9 Tips on How to Lessen State Test Anxiety for Students with Special Needs!
• IEP Success Method: IEP 101 Course Waitlist - Get on the list HERE! 
• Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY!

Connect with Michelle Vazquez:

• Leave a 5 star review
• Download your FREE IEP Meeting Checklist HERE!
• Become an INSIDER & join the email list HERE!
• Follow on INSTAGRAM!
• Contact: [email protected]

Hi Friend,

Are you struggling with connecting with your special needs parents? Have you wondered what experiences they go through? Want to support your student’s parents, but don’t know how? 

In today’s episode I have one my most favorite people in the world as my guest, Lorena Diaz! Lorena is a business owner, wife, mother of 4 and about to adopt 2 more children! But most importantly, she is a special needs parent. Today she will be sharing her amazing story of what it was like as a parent, to have her son with Autism begin his school journey 13 years ago. We will also be highlighting 4 points of her story that special education teachers can use to support their special needs parents.

Take Care,

Michelle

In this episode you will learn:

• A parent’s perspective of their personal experience  
• Empathy towards our student’s parents
• Ways to approach parents to create a great support system for their child

Connect with Michelle Vazquez:

• Join the Facebook Community, www.facebook.com/groups/steppingintospecialed
• Follow on Instagram www.instagram.com/steppingintospecialed
• Contact: [email protected]

Hey Friend,

How do you connect with your student’s parents? Do you know where to start? You’ll be teaching their children for years to come, how do you make that good first impression that’ll last?

Today you will learn 6 ways to create a great parent-teacher relationship from the BEGINNING! Developing that relationship with our student’s parents is vital for student success in their educational journey. It makes a huge difference with everyone involved: you the teacher, the parent, but especially the student.

Take Care,

Michelle

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Creative ways to connect with parents
• How to overcome language barriers
• Positive contact
• How to communicate for IEP meetings

Connect with Michelle Vazquez:

• Join the Facebook Community, www.facebook.com/groups/steppingintospecialed
• Follow on Instagram www.instagram.com/steppingintospecialed
• Contact: [email protected]

Hey Friend,

Now you’re finally in your brand new special ed classroom, do you know where to start? What do you add to your classroom walls? What kind of decoration do you put up?

Today you will learn 6 essential items that you need to put up on your classroom walls NOW! All items are a must-have to create a calm learning environment. Not only will your decor be pretty, but functional to your student's learning that you’ll be able to use every day.

Take Care,

Michelle

In this episode you’ll learn:

• The best decor that will benefit the students
• Strategies with setting up classroom rules
• A structured classroom schedule
• Features of a small group schedule and more!

Connect with Michelle Vazquez:

• Join the Facebook Community, www.facebook.com/groups/steppingintospecialed
• Follow on Instagram www.instagram.com/steppingintospecialed
• Contact: [email protected]

Hi Friend,

Did you know that learning goes on after earning your teaching credential, Masters degree, and Doctorate degree? When becoming an educator in special education or any teaching field you are now a life-long learner? 

In today’s episode you will learn 3 reasons for expanding your self-growth and why you should never stop learning. Some learning we have no control over and others, we can see as an added benefit for yourself and all students.

Take Care,

Michelle

In this episode I share:

• As educators  we do not have control over what we learn and teach
• How learning can benefit you as an educator
• Growing our own learning can help grow others

Resource Mentioned:

Episode 2: 6 Tips to Set Up Your Special Education Classroom Environment

Connect with Michelle Vazquez:

• Join the Facebook Community, www.facebook.com/groups/steppingintospecialed
• Follow on Instagram www.instagram.com/steppingintospecialed
• Contact: [email protected]

Hi Friend,

Are you not sure how to work with your paraprofessional? Do you want to work better as a team? Feeling overwhelmed and don’t know how your paraprofessional can help?

In today’s episode, I have my very first guest, Jackie Rodriguez! Jackie worked with me as a paraprofessional about 4 years ago, and today we will be sharing our 5 tips to work best with your paraprofessional! We will share our experience together when we first met and what worked between us for the next two years after that. I am so excited because Jackie will be giving us her perspective that will benefit special education teachers. I hope you will share what resonated with you or tips you can share in my Facebook community.

www.facebook.com/groups/steppingintospecialed

Take Care,

Michelle

In this episode we share:

• How creating a relationship with your paraprofessional will make a difference
• The importance of communication 
• How to work as a team
• Benefits of asking for input from the team
• Finding the gifts and strengths of your paraprofessional

Resource Mentioned:

• Pinterest: www.pinterest.com

Connect with Michelle Vazquez:

• Join the Facebook Community, www.facebook.com/groups/steppingintospecialed
• Follow on Instagram www.instagram.com/steppingintospecialed
• Contact: [email protected]

Hey Friend,

Are you moving into your new special ed classroom? Or moved into a new classroom? Overwhelmed and not sure what to do first?

Today you will learn 6 tips to get your special education classroom environment set up quickly. Just simply adding certain areas and the placement of furniture will make the biggest difference in the flow and structure of your class. These tips will help make the school year run smoother.

Take Care,

Michelle

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How to quickly set up your special ed classroom environment
• What designated areas are important to have in your class
• What to consider when putting up decorations and posters on your classroom walls in a special education class

Connect with Michelle Vazquez:

• Join the Facebook Community, www.facebook.com/groups/steppingintospecialed
• Follow on Instagram www.instagram.com/steppingintospecialed
• Contact: [email protected]

Hey Friend,

Are you searching for someone that knows exactly what you’re going through? Someone that has been in your shoes and understands how overwhelming it is with becoming a new special education teacher? 

Today in this podcast, I share with you my own personal journey and experience getting into the world of special education. A glimpse of the different experiences I’ve been through, how I knew special education was for me, the realization I went through being a new teacher, my plan for this podcast, and the episodes to look forward to. 

This episode will show you that I know what you’re going through friend because I’ve been there before. 

Take Care,

Michelle

Connect with Michelle Vazquez:

• Join the Facebook Community, www.facebook.com/groups/steppingintospecialed
• Follow on Instagram www.instagram.com/steppingintospecialed
• Contact: [email protected]