Special Education for Beginners | Managing Paraprofessionals, Special Education Strategies, First Year Sped Teachers, Special Ed Overwhelm, Paperwork for Special Education Teachers Podcast Por Jennifer Hofferber - Special Education Teacher and Coach arte de portada

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

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

De: Jennifer Hofferber - Special Education Teacher and Coach
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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 instructional coach who has walked in your shoes through each of these challenges.

And yes, I've got the metaphorical blisters to prove it! I’ve cried your tears and felt your pain and now I’m here to support you the way I wish someone would have been there to support me.


Listen in each week as my guests and I dish out practical wisdom to help you handle all the classroom curveballs thrown your way, and learn how to laugh in spite of the chaos to celebrate those small, yet significant victories that only a special educator can understand.

So…Are you ready? Wipe your tears and put on your superhero cape because together we are going to learn how to survive and thrive in the ever crazy, completely overwhelming, laugh so you don’t cry profession of being a special education teacher.


Next Steps:


Visit the Website: https://www.spedprepacademy.com

Join the Free Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SpedPrepAcademy

Email Me: jennifer@spedprepacademy.com

© 2025 Special Education for Beginners | Managing Paraprofessionals, Special Education Strategies, First Year Sped Teachers, Special Ed Overwhelm, Paperwork for Special Education Teachers
Episodios
  • Delegating Tasks to Paraprofessionals with Clarity and Respect
    Jul 9 2025

    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 shares:

    • Why delegation is a skill that builds confidence, not control
    • Her “5W + H” formula for giving clear, respectful directions
    • The glitter door debacle that taught her the power of being specific
    • Real-life examples of how vague vs. clear delegation changes everything
    • A free downloadable toolkit to help you plan and organize delegation tasks

    When done right, delegating doesn’t just free up your time—it builds trust, ownership, and confidence within your classroom team. It turns your paras into true collaborators instead of passive assistants.

    🎤 Don’t forget:
    Jennifer will be presenting at the Autism Little Learners Virtual Summit July 14–16. Her session, The Power of Us: Strengthening Team Dynamics in Special Education, is packed with tools, templates, and strategies to help you become the confident leader your team needs.
    👉 Sign up free at spedprepacademy.com/summit

    Get your free ticket to the Preschool Autism Summit! Walk away with actionable tools and strategies you can immediately implement in any special education setting. Make a difference for your autistic students—no matter the grade level. Secure your spot now


    Sign up to be notified each time a new episode airs and get access to all the discounts!

    Don't forget to leave a review of the show!

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    13 m
  • Summer PD Opportunity: Professional Growth Doesn't Have to Feel Like Work
    Jun 25 2025

    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 professional development can be empowering, not overwhelming.

    🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:

    • Why summer is the ideal time to invest in your own growth
    • How to reframe PD as nourishment—not a task
    • What kind of learning actually fuels you as an educator
    • How to get FREE access to the Preschool Autism Summit (July 14–16)
    • What you’ll gain from my brand-new session: The Power of Us

    📌 Mentioned in this episode:
    Get your FREE ticket to the Preschool Autism Summit: www.spedprepacademy.com/summit

    👥 Whether you're a resource teacher, self-contained teacher, therapist, or paraeducator, there’s something in this summit just for you.

    👉 Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts

    If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a 5-star review? It helps other special educators find this podcast—and it means the world to me!

    Let’s keep learning, growing, and supporting each other.

    Writing individual impact statements based on a student’s unique disability and needs can be a big struggle AND a big time suck.! And in case you haven't noticed...extra time is not something you have a lot of.

    My
    IEP Impact Statements Growing Bundle will give you the resources you need to make writing impact statements a breeze.





    Sign up to be notified each time a new episode airs and get access to all the discounts!

    Don't forget to leave a review of the show!

    Follow Jennifer
    Instagram
    TPT




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    10 m
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