When a student swears at you or lashes out, it’s easy to react. In this powerful episode, Julie and Kristie help you build a personalized response plan that prioritizes connection, not punishment—even in moments of shock or hurt. Discover mantras, phrases, and actions to keep dignity and trust at the center.

What your body says in the classroom matters just as much as your words—sometimes more. In this episode, Julie and Kristie break down how your posture, pace, tone, and eye contact can either regulate or escalate behavior. Learn to scan your body and send signals of safety and calm.

Building trust with students doesn’t require big gestures—it’s about intentional mini moments woven into everyday interactions. Julie and Kristie share 23 simple ways to connect with students while teaching, even in packed classrooms. Learn how quick check-ins can boost regulation, trust, and inclusion.

What if a student runs? Or refuses to participate? In this episode, Julie and Kristie go beyond labels to focus on nervous system states, explaining why behaviors like eloping or shutting down are signs of dysregulation—not defiance.

Sometimes behavior isn’t about a trigger—it’s about what’s happening beneath the surface. In this episode, Julie and Kristie unpack why searching for a single cause of behavior often leads us in the wrong direction, and how we can shift to listening beneath behavior instead. Learn how to identify the real messages behind actions like yelling out or withdrawing, and respond with empathy and clarity.

This courageous and nuanced conversation dives into one of the biggest fears around inclusion: safety. Julie and Kristie name the fear, challenge ableist assumptions, and provide seven steps to help educators feel equipped, empowered, and proactive when facing concerns about safety in inclusive settings. With humor and honesty, they tackle myths, share research-backed practices, and guide listeners through a shift from exclusion-based thinking to supportive, inclusive responses.

Julie and Kristie explore how paraprofessional support can be both effective and unobtrusive. With humor, heart, and powerful metaphors (yes, including Harry Potter's invisibility cloak!), they unpack what it means for paraprofessionals to “hide in plain sight.” The episode offers strategies to increase student independence, dignity, and social connection by camouflaging support and avoiding over-reliance. With resources like “20 Ways to Provide Invisible Support” and “110 Ways Paras Can Help,” this episode is full of practical tools and radical shifts in mindset.

In this episode, Julie and Kristie invite listeners to put on their creativity hats and explore five small yet powerful shifts that can profoundly improve school culture. They focus on the “feel” of a school—how it welcomes students, families, and educators—and how small tweaks, like changing a sign from “You are late” to “We’re glad you’re here,” can radically shift emotional tone and engagement. From morning greetings to creative cafeteria strategies, this episode empowers listeners to build inclusive culture through intentional micro-moves

Feeling like your inclusive practices need a boost? You're not alone—and you're in the right place. In this energizing episode, Julie and Kristie share 10 quick inclusion wins that can help you reset, refresh, and re-engage at any point in the school year. Whether it’s the start of a new term or you’re navigating a mid-year slump, these simple but powerful strategies are designed to rebuild relationships with students and staff, add novelty and choice to assignments, rethink participation beyond “raise and respond,” realign and clarify roles with paraprofessionals, and celebrate the progress you’ve already made. Each idea comes with practical tools and bonus resources, including a jam-packed downloadable guide full of embedded supports and strategies. It’s like hitting a reset button for your inclusive classroom or school.

In this episode, we dive into an easy, fun, and highly inclusive co-teaching move: One Teach, One Make Multisensory. Sharing real-world examples and practical tips, we show how pairing direct instruction with multisensory experiences can transform engagement and access for all learners. Whether it’s adding props, movement, music, or visuals, this is how a low-prep strategy brings novelty, creativity, and deeper connection into any lesson—on the fly or with a little planning.

Ever wish you could shift the emotional climate in your classroom? In this episode, we explore co-regulation—and how educators act like thermostats, adjusting conditions so every student can learn and connect. Small shifts can create big changes. The download offers simple, brain-based strategies that show you how to act as a thermostat — adjusting the emotional environment with intention, not reacting to behaviors alone.

Today we’re questioning everything we thought we knew about praise, rewards, and punishment. Are these tools really helping—or are they hurting our efforts to build safe, inclusive classrooms? Let’s dig into what connection-centered support can look like instead.

When most people hear the word inclusion… they immediately say-- “then we need more support”. And what they mean is more paraprofessionals. In this podcast, we will explore this big idea… support isn’t a person—it’s what we do to help students access learning. In this episode, we rethink support as a dynamic, flexible action that starts before, during, and after a lesson. Join us to discover simple ways to make support smarter, without hiring more people.

In this episode, Julie and Kristie take on a question that educators are often asked to justify excluding students with disabilities: “But what will they get out of this class?” Through real-life stories—including a powerful example of Stephanie's success with Romeo and Juliet—they reveal why this question is misguided and provide 20 practical responses to advocate for inclusion

In this episode, Julie and Kristie break down two landmark court cases that have shaped inclusive education: Roncker v. Walter and Endrew F. You'll learn how the Roncker portability test supports bringing services directly into general education settings and how Endrew F. raised the standard for meaningful educational progress. Discover how these legal principles can empower you to advocate for students with disabilities and strengthen inclusive practices in your school.

In this episode, Julie and Kristie take a critical look at resource rooms and why they often fall short of supporting students with disabilities. From social isolation to lowered expectations, they discuss the real-world challenges and myths surrounding these segregated supports. You’ll also learn actionable strategies for providing portable, inclusive supports within general education classrooms, promoting both academic success and belonging for all students.

In this episode, Julie and Kristie take on a question that educators are often asked to justify excluding students with disabilities: “But what will they get out of this class?” Through real-life stories—including a powerful example of Stephanie's success with Romeo and Juliet—they reveal why this question is misguided and provide 20 practical responses to advocate for inclusion.

Overloading students with verbal directions can hold them back. This episode shares a simple formula to reduce auditory overload, foster critical thinking, and encourage autonomy. Learn strategies to lower stress, strengthen relationships, and improve engagement, backed by real-life examples.

Writing IEPs can feel overwhelming, but focusing on quality over quantity makes all the difference. This episode introduces the Four Filters framework to identify meaningful, impactful goals that drive progress for students. Avoid common pitfalls, use our litmus test for IEP-worthy goals, and transform your approach to writing IEPs.

Discover how differentiation transforms classrooms into spaces where all students thrive. This episode dives into strategies to meet diverse needs, build equity, and foster inclusion, including an unforgettable activity to explain fairness. Whether you’re new to teaching or experienced, these tips will help you create a dynamic, equitable classroom.

The words we use about students shape their futures. This episode explores how to shift from deficit-based language to strength-focused narratives in IEPs and educational reports, empowering students and inspiring possibility. Learn practical strategies like the "Language That Lifts" approach, reframing lead words into gold statements, and why focusing on strengths matters.

Grading can either create barriers or build equity. Julie and Kristie share 32 inclusive grading strategies to ensure fairness for all learners, covering rubrics, assessments, and aligning practices with IDEA requirements.