🤝 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!