All Episodes
Episodes
When Students Sabotage Their Own Work
In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education with Nikki, we’re unpacking a behavior pattern that can feel incredibly confusing for educators and parents. Why do some students seem to deliberately mess up...
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The Function of Avoiding Praise
In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education with Nikki, we’re unpacking something that can feel surprisingly personal as educators and parents. Why do some students avoid praise? Why do they shrug off...
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Behavior That Escalates After Success
In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education with Nikki, we’re talking about a behavior pattern that can feel incredibly confusing at first. Why do some students seem to fall apart after they’ve done...
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Why Some Students Only Meltdown with Safe Adults
In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education with Nikki, we’re exploring why some students only meltdown with certain adults and what that actually tells us about safety, trust, and nervous system...
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The Hidden Function of “Silly” Behavior
In this episode, I’m diving into something I see constantly in autism and special education classrooms: “silly” behavior.
The giggling, noises, dramatic movements, baby voices, and chaos energy can often look...
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The Art of the Positive Email: How to Strengthen Family Trust
In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki, we’re talking about something small that makes a huge difference: the positive email.
Not the reminder. Not the concern. Not the “we need to...
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How to Handle Parent Conflict Calmly and Professionally
In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki, we’re talking about something every special education teacher faces at some point: parent conflict.
The difficult email. The tense meeting. The...
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How to Stop Taking Student Behavior Personally
In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki, we’re talking about one of the hardest emotional parts of teaching that nobody really prepares you for: taking student behavior...
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How to Stay Empathetic When You’re Exhausted
In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki, we’re talking about something that so many teachers quietly struggle with, staying empathetic when you’re completely drained.
If you’re tired,...
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Fine Motor Fatigue: Why Some Students Resist Cutting, Writing, and Gluing
In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki, we’re talking about something every SPED teacher has experienced... the student who refuses to cut, write, or glue… and the moment you start...
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How to Create a Communication-Rich Classroom
In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki, we’re talking about how to create a communication-rich classroom - not by pushing students to talk more, but by designing an environment that...
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Building Real Social Connections (Not Forced Friendships)
In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki, we’re talking about social connection, and why it’s time to move away from forced friendships and one-size-fits-all “social skills.”
Because real...
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