🤝 Join Caitlin and Audra as they dive into the crucial topic of fostering strong working relationships between school-based BCBAs and teachers! Learn from their real-world experiences – both successes and challenges – in building mutual respect and understanding for the benefit of students.

💡 It's all about teamwork! Discover how to move beyond potential roadblocks and create effective partnerships.

🔑 Key Takeaways
✅ Lead with trust—respect teachers’ expertise, time, and lived experience
🧠 Use teacher-friendly language and avoid behavior jargon (save “DRO” for later)
🎯 Ask open-ended questions to understand their struggles before jumping to solutions
💡 Use simple tools like “What’s Working / Not Working” to frame tough conversations
🧍 Mirroring emotions and validating teachers’ experiences builds connection
📉 Even if you don’t become best friends, aim for collaboration over compliance
🪄 Pro tip: Genuine praise in front of others goes a long way in building rapport

📚 Resources and Ideas
🎧 Previous Relevant Episodes:
🔗 Episode 3: 6 Ways to Approach Challenging Behaviors and Trauma-Informed Care
🔗 Episode 10: Navigating Difficult Conversations with ABA Staff

📖 Book Recommendations:
🔗 Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss - Discussed for its insights on communication and building understanding.
🔗 Let Them by Mel Robbins

📝 Freebie:
💡 Caitlin's "What's Working/What's Not Working" visual for facilitating positive meeting starts

Join Us...
🎙 Next Episode: Part 13 of the FBA mini-series, MASTERY!
🌟 Subscribe: Don’t miss upcoming episodes on practical strategies and must-have resources for behavior support!
📢 Share this episode with a teacher, BCBA, or administrator looking for fresh approaches to special education and behavior analysis!
💬 Let us know how YOU connect with staff in our Facebook group @TheMisfitBehaviorists
📚 Connect: Follow us for more tips, tools, and discussions about all things behavior and education.

Join the Facebook group for collaboration and freebies: The Misfit Behaviorists

😍 More, you say? We’re here for you!

• Apple podcast | The Misfit Behaviorists
• Instagram | @‌themisfitbehavioristspodcast
• YouTube | @‌themisfitbehaviorists

👋 Find us!

• Audra | ABA in School
• Caitlin | Beltran’s Behavior Basics
• Sami | B.A.S.S.

🖱️ Rate, Review, Like & Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Showing this love helps us get out to more educators out there!

🎙️ Misfit Minute #4: POWER Up Your Praise – Praising What You Want Repeated

Tired of generic praise that doesn't seem to stick? Caitlin highlights the power of behavior-specific praise – telling students exactly what they did well. Learn why focusing your positive attention can cultivate the behaviors you want to see and shift the tone of your classroom.

💡 Behavior grows where attention flows. Let's make sure it's flowing towards the positive!

🔑 Key Takeaways
✅ Be Behavior-Specific: Move beyond "good job" to praise like "Thanks for using a quiet voice" or "I noticed you cleaned up right away."
✅ Attention Flows Where Behavior Grows: If we only focus on what's wrong, that's what we'll keep seeing.
✅ Targeted Praise Matters: While some students might not need constant praise, those still learning expectations definitely do.
✅ Aim for the 4:1 Ratio: Strive for four positive comments for every correction to build confidence.
✅ Start Small, See Big Shifts: Catch one student doing something right and call it out – it can change the whole classroom dynamic.


📚 Resources & Inspiration
📝 Want to go deeper? Listen to Episode 28: Building Relationships with Students for more ideas!
📌 Follow us on Instagram @MisfitBehaviorists for daily tips and visuals and especially join us on Facebook where we house all the freebies!
🎧 Subscribe so you never miss your weekly quick win and share this with someone you care about!

Join the Facebook group for collaboration and freebies: The Misfit Behaviorists

😍 More, you say? We’re here for you!

• Apple podcast | The Misfit Behaviorists
• Instagram | @‌themisfitbehavioristspodcast
• YouTube | @‌themisfitbehaviorists

👋 Find us!

• Audra | ABA in School
• Caitlin | Beltran’s Behavior Basics
• Sami | B.A.S.S.

🖱️ Rate, Review, Like & Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Showing this love helps us get out to more educators out there!

Planning a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) for high-intensity behaviors? This episode walks you through the 7 stages of the Crisis Cycle—and how to use it as a practical tool in your FBAs and behavior plans.

We’re talking real-world escalation, de-escalation, and everything in between: what the student actually does, how staff should respond, and how to keep your team aligned in high-stress situations.

🔑 Key Takeaways
• The Crisis Cycle is a predictable escalation pattern—and one of the most useful tools in behavior planning
• Define what each stage looks like for your student, not just in theory
• Staff strategies matter—wrong support at the wrong time can make it worse
• Always include recovery and exhaustion—don’t rush the student back to work
• Use the plan proactively and reflectively (after incidents)
• Invite input from families and staff, and update the plan as the student grows
• Trauma-informed care matters—touch and tone can trigger more than you realize

📚 Resources and Ideas
📝 Free Crisis Cycle Visual: Download here
📌 Related Episodes:
• Ep. 51 – Antecedent Strategies → abainschool.com/ep51
• Ep. 55 – Building Behavior Plans: Behavior Teaching → abainschool.com/ep55

Join Us...
🎙 Next Episode: Bridging the gap between behavior specialists and teachers
🌟 Subscribe: Don’t miss upcoming episodes on practical strategies and must-have resources for behavior support!
📢 Share this episode with a teacher, BCBA, or administrator looking for fresh approaches to special education and behavior analysis!
💬 Let us know how YOU use the crisis cycle in our Facebook group @TheMisfitBehaviorists
📚 Connect: Follow us for more tips, tools, and discussions about all things behavior and education.

Join the Facebook group for collaboration and freebies: The Misfit Behaviorists

😍 More, you say? We’re here for you!

• Apple podcast | The Misfit Behaviorists
• Instagram | @‌themisfitbehavioristspodcast
• YouTube | @‌themisfitbehaviorists

👋 Find us!

• Audra | ABA in School
• Caitlin | Beltran’s Behavior Basics
• Sami | B.A.S.S.

🖱️ Rate, Review, Like & Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Showing this love helps us get out to more educators out there!

Sick of saying “no” and getting big reactions? Audra shares an easy-to-remember acronym—R.E.D.O.—to help reframe your redirections and get more buy-in from students without the meltdown.

💡 Teach them it’s not “No forever,” it’s “Yes, just not yet.”

🔑 Key Takeaways
✅ R – Reframe the No: Say what they can do instead
✅ E – Engage with Warmth: Invite, don’t command
✅ D – Define the Next Step: Be clear about what’s first/next
✅ O – Offer Motivation: Use reinforcers that actually matter to that learner
✅ “Yes… after…” can prevent behavior and build trust

📚 Resources & Inspiration
📝 Pair this with our longer Episode 51 Antecedent Strategies in Behavior Plans and Episode 12 Managing Problem Behaviors Through Replacement Skills
📌 Follow us on Instagram @MisfitBehaviorists for daily tips and visuals and especially join us on Facebook where we house all the freebies!
🎧 Subscribe so you never miss your weekly quick win and share this with someone you care about!

Join the Facebook group for collaboration and freebies: The Misfit Behaviorists

😍 More, you say? We’re here for you!

• Apple podcast | The Misfit Behaviorists
• Instagram | @‌themisfitbehavioristspodcast
• YouTube | @‌themisfitbehaviorists

👋 Find us!

• Audra | ABA in School
• Caitlin | Beltran’s Behavior Basics
• Sami | B.A.S.S.

🖱️ Rate, Review, Like & Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Showing this love helps us get out to more educators out there!

Planning an IEP can feel like a whirlwind—deadlines, data, collaboration, and student needs all rolled into one big meeting. In this episode, Caitlin and Audra walk through a practical timeline for IEP prep, from parent check-ins to drafting goals and reviewing behavior plans.

Whether you’re a teacher, BCBA, or case manager, this one’s packed with real-talk and ready-to-use tips to make your IEPs more effective and less stressful.

🔑 Key Takeaways
📅 Start early—draft a prep timeline 4–6 weeks in advance if possible
📬 Reach out to families before the meeting to check in on their priorities and updates
✏️ Don't blindly carry over goals—use progress data, probe skills, and adjust accordingly
🔄 Always review behavior plans—don’t let them autopilot year to year
🧑‍🎓 Involve students when appropriate—yes, even younger learners!
🗣️ Drafts are okay—just be clear it’s a starting point, not a final plan
💬 No surprises! Build trust with families by keeping communication open and collaborative

📚 Resources and Ideas
📌 Download the free IEP Prep Timeline Visual
📌 Related Episode: Ep. 29 – Functions of Behavior

Join Us...
🎙 Next Episode: Prepping for IEPs!
🌟 Subscribe: Don’t miss upcoming episodes on practical strategies and must-have resources for behavior support!
📢 Share this episode with a teacher, BCBA, or administrator looking for fresh approaches to special education and behavior analysis!
💬 Get Involved: Share your ideas in our Facebook group or tag us on social media. @TheMisfitBehaviorists
📚 Connect: Follow us for more tips, tools, and discussions about all things behavior and education.

Join the Facebook group for collaboration and freebies: The Misfit Behaviorists

😍 More, you say? We’re here for you!

• Apple podcast | The Misfit Behaviorists
• Instagram | @‌themisfitbehavioristspodcast
• YouTube | @‌themisfitbehaviorists

👋 Find us!

• Audra | ABA in School
• Caitlin | Beltran’s Behavior Basics
• Sami | B.A.S.S.

🖱️ Rate, Review, Like & Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Showing this love helps us get out to more educators out there!

🎙️ Misfit Minute #2: W.A.I.T. – Why Am I Talking?

Sometimes, the most powerful support you can offer during a student’s escalation… is silence. Caitlin introduces the W.A.I.T. strategy ("Why Am I Talking?")—a simple but transformative tool for de-escalation and emotional regulation.

🔑 Key Takeaways
✅ Silence can be a strategy—not avoidance
✅ Extra words = extra demands during escalation
✅ Give students space to feel, process, and reset
✅ Speak with purpose: clear, calm, and kind
✅ “I’m here when you’re ready” can be magic

📚 Resources & Inspiration
📝 Pair this with our longer episode 6 Ways to Approach Challenging Behaviors with Trauma-Informed Care and Building Relationships with Students
📌 Follow us on Instagram @MisfitBehaviorists for daily tips and visuals and especially join us on Facebook where we house all the freebies!
🎧 Subscribe so you never miss your weekly quick win and share this with someone you care about!

Join the Facebook group for collaboration and freebies: The Misfit Behaviorists

😍 More, you say? We’re here for you!

• Apple podcast | The Misfit Behaviorists
• Instagram | @‌themisfitbehavioristspodcast
• YouTube | @‌themisfitbehaviorists

👋 Find us!

• Audra | ABA in School
• Caitlin | Beltran’s Behavior Basics
• Sami | B.A.S.S.

🖱️ Rate, Review, Like & Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Showing this love helps us get out to more educators out there!

Continuing on in our FBA-BIP mini-series, we're at Step 11. This week, we’re diving into the consequence side of behavior plans—what to do after students engage in either the challenging behavior or the replacement behavior. It’s not just about preventing problem behavior… it’s about teaching, reinforcing, and responding with consistency and care.

🔑 Key Takeaways
🧠 Reinforce replacement behaviors immediately and consistently—across staff, settings, and time
🎯 Match the function with the reinforcement (e.g., escape behavior = give a break)
💬 Avoid reinforcing the problem behavior, even accidentally (yep, we’ve all done it!)
🧍‍♀️ Use neutral responses when addressing challenging behavior—no power struggles, just calm presence
🛠️ Make the plan simple, visible, and actionable for all team members
📉 Use data to drive decisions, not just feelings or assumptions

📚 Resources and Ideas
📌 Check out Episode 29 on Functions of Behavior!
📌 Consequence Strategies FREE visuals
📌 These Functions of Behaviors social stories might be helpful for your young learners!

Join Us...
🎙 Next Episode: Prepping for IEPs!
🌟 Subscribe: Don’t miss upcoming episodes on practical strategies and must-have resources for behavior support!
📢 Share this episode with a teacher, BCBA, or administrator looking for fresh approaches to special education and behavior analysis!
💬 Get Involved: Share your ideas in our Facebook group or tag us on social media. @TheMisfitBehaviorists
📚 Connect: Follow us for more tips, tools, and discussions about all things behavior and education.

Join the Facebook group for collaboration and freebies: The Misfit Behaviorists

😍 More, you say? We’re here for you!

• Apple podcast | The Misfit Behaviorists
• Instagram | @‌themisfitbehavioristspodcast
• YouTube | @‌themisfitbehaviorists

👋 Find us!

• Audra | ABA in School
• Caitlin | Beltran’s Behavior Basics
• Sami | B.A.S.S.

🖱️ Rate, Review, Like & Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Showing this love helps us get out to more educators out there!

🎙️ The Misfit Minute #1: 5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Teaching

Welcome to the very first episode of The Misfit Minute — your quick wins podcast series packed with fast, practical tips for educators, BCBAs, and therapists. In this debut episode, Audra shares 5 honest, heartfelt lessons learned the hard way — so you don’t have to.

✨ If you're in the messy middle of teaching, this one's for you.

🔑 Key Takeaways
✅ Set boundaries early — your time matters
✅ Saying “no” is a professional skill
✅ Not everyone will like you, and that’s okay
✅ Ask for support (and keep asking if you need to)
✅ The work is hard, but the wins are magic

📚 Resources & Inspiration
📝 Pair this with our longer episode #9 Battle Burnout
📌 Follow us on Instagram @MisfitBehaviorists for daily tips and visuals and especially join us on Facebook where we house all the freebies!
🎧 Subscribe so you never miss your weekly quick win and share this with someone you care about!

Join the Facebook group for collaboration and freebies: The Misfit Behaviorists

😍 More, you say? We’re here for you!

• Apple podcast | The Misfit Behaviorists
• Instagram | @‌themisfitbehavioristspodcast
• YouTube | @‌themisfitbehaviorists

👋 Find us!

• Audra | ABA in School
• Caitlin | Beltran’s Behavior Basics
• Sami | B.A.S.S.

🖱️ Rate, Review, Like & Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Showing this love helps us get out to more educators out there!