The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals
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, and ABA professionals.
Whether you're seeking advice or just want to laugh, new to the field or a veteran looking for a fresh perspective, tune in for this unique blend of professional expertise and real-life experience. Weekly episodes will be concise, because we know your time is limited! Don’t miss it!
Join the Facebook group for collaboration and freebies: https://abainschool.com/misfits
😍 More, you say? We’re here for you!
- Apple podcast | abainschool.com/misfitsonapple
- Instagram | @themisfitbehaviorists
- YouTube | @themisfitbehaviorists
👋 Find us!
- Audra | abainschool.com
- Caitlin | beltransbehaviorbasics.com
- Sami | behavioranalyticsupport.com
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Episodes
103 episodes
Misfit Minute 25: Paraprofessional Not Keeping Up? Coaching & Support Strategies for ABA Classrooms
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, impro...
Misfit Minute 24: 5 Things I Wish I Knew as a New Special Education Teacher
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 beca...
Ep. 76: How to Talk to Parents When Behavior Isn’t Improving (Data-Driven IEP Conversations)
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 ...
Misfit Minute 23: Quick Tips on How to Run Small Group & Dyad Instruction in ABA Classrooms
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 with...
Ep. 75: Special Education Burnout, Post-COVID Behavior Changes & Classroom Realities
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, ...
Misfit Minute 22: Passive vs Active Noncompliance in the Classroom
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 differen...
Ep. 74: How Teachers Can Set Boundaries and Collaborate with School Support Staff
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 u...
Misfit Minute 21: Handling Staff Pushback with Curiosity Instead of Control
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...
Ep. 73: Five Easy Social Games for Preschool and Special Education Classrooms
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 inst...
Misfit Minute 20: One Simple Visual Change That Can Improve Student Behavior
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 wo...
Ep. 72: Center-Based Learning in the ABA Classroom - Practical Tips for Staffing, Data, and Differentiation
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 ...
Misfit Minute 19: How to Share Difficult Behavior Updates with Families
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, o...
Ep. 71: Time Management & Supervision Strategies for Busy BCBAs
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.
Misfit Minute 18: Stop Comparing Your Classroom — Focus on What Your Students Need
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...
Ep. 70: Modernizing ABA Assessment – Flexibility, Self-Awareness, and Real-Life Skills
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—...
Misfit Minute 17: How to Make Transitions Easier for Students with Autism
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...
Ep. 69: Catch Them First — 3 Proven Ways to Prevent Misbehavior Before It Starts
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 ...
Misfit Minute 16: When Writing Tasks Cause Behaviors: Helping Students Stay Focused
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 ...
Misfit Minute 15: Can’t or Won’t? How to Tell If It’s a Skill or Motivation Issue
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 ...
Ep. 68: From Chaos to Calm — 5 Quick Classroom De-Escalation Strategies
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 yo...
Misfit Minute 14: Do You Really Need a New Behavior Plan?
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 reinfor...
Ep. 67: The Role of a BCBA on RTI & MTSS Teams in Schools
Being a BCBA in a public school means more than behavior plans—it’s about collaboration, data, and supporting teachers on RTI and MTSS teams. In this episode, we share tips for building relationships, starting with Tier 1 strategies, and making...
Misfit Minute 13: Reduce Student Pushback with Simple Choice Strategies in Special Education
Offering students simple choices can reduce pushback and boost cooperation. In this Misfit Minute, we break down how to turn everyday directives into opportunities for autonomy and engagement.🔑 Key Takeaways...
Ep. 66: Behavior Management for Early Learners - 5 Preschool Classroom Strategies
Teaching little ones with big feelings can be equal parts joyful and challenging. In this episode, we share five simple, effective strategies for supporting early learners in preschool and special education settings. From using visuals t...
Misfit Minute 12: Spot Early Warning Signs to Prevent Escalation in the Classroom
This week’s Misfit Minute is all about catching behaviors before they escalate. Caitlin breaks down how to spot the earliest warning signs—like a shift in posture or a sigh—and why waiting until the meltdown starts is already too ...
