All Episodes
Episodes
Why Students Fixate on One Staff Member
In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education with Nikki, we’re unpacking why some students become strongly attached to one specific staff member and what is often happening underneath that behavior....
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When Students Control the Environment Through Chaos
In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education with Nikki, we’re unpacking a behavior pattern that can feel incredibly intense in the classroom: when students seem to control the environment through chaos....
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Behavior After Trauma Triggers
In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education with Nikki, we’re exploring what can happen when trauma triggers show up in the classroom and why some student reactions can seem much bigger than the moment...
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Why Some Students Apologize Excessively
In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education with Nikki, we’re exploring why some students apologize constantly, even when they haven’t done anything wrong. We unpack how excessive apologizing is often not...
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Masking in the Classroom
In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education with Nikki, we’re exploring masking in the classroom and why a student looking “fine” on the surface does not always mean they feel safe, regulated, or...
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Why Compliance Isn’t the Goal
In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education with Nikki, we’re exploring a question that sits right at the heart of education and behavior support: should compliance really be the goal? For years, many of...
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The Role of Shame in Behavior
In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education with Nikki, we’re exploring one of the most misunderstood drivers of behavior in children and teens: shame. We unpack the important difference between guilt and...
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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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