In this episode, Heather is joined by guest Cass to explore High-Leverage Practice #22: providing positive and constructive feedback to guide student learning. The conversation highlights how effective feedback goes beyond verbal praise and must be tailored to each learner’s communication style, motivation, and stage of learning. Cass shares practical examples from both clinical and classroom settings, demonstrating how teachers can reinforce progress through multiple forms of feedback, including gestures, sensory rewards, and quiet acknowledgment. The discussion also emphasizes the importance of shaping skills through small, achievable steps, helping students build confidence and persistence as they move toward larger learning goals. Together, they reflect on how thoughtful feedback can increase motivation, instructional stamina, and independence—especially for students with diverse communication and learning needs. The episode ultimately underscores the power of recognizing incremental progress and maintaining high expectations while honoring each student’s unique learning timeline.Explore More with Us inside The TLC Network!Learn more in this episode’s show notes and join a vibrant community of behavior-focused school professionals committed to their professional growth.Join Our NewsletterStay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!Follow Us on Social MediaConnect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for weekly updates and behind-the-scenes content. Tag us @thresholdlearningtlc to engage with us across all platforms!Subscribe to Our PodcastEnjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!Support Our MissionLove what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.Send Us Your FeedbackHave questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!

In this episode, we explore High-Leverage practices for teaching students to maintain and generalize new learning across time and settings, with a focus on preparing students for independence beyond the classroom. Lyndsay shares insights from her extensive experience in transition programs, highlighting the importance of applying skills in real-world contexts like community activities, employment, and daily routines. The conversation emphasizes the role of thoughtful planning, collaboration among educators, and the use of reinforcement and data to ensure skills are retained and transferred across environments. Listeners learn how practitioners can move beyond structured classroom tasks to create meaningful opportunities that support long-term independence and functional outcomes. The episode also addresses challenges such as ensuring quality job coach training, adapting instruction to family perspectives, and fostering authentic student engagement. Ultimately, the discussion underscores that effective teaching is about preparing students for life, not just school, and making learning applicable, sustainable, and impactful for the long term.Explore More with Us inside The TLC Network!Learn more in this episode’s show notes and join a vibrant community of behavior-focused school professionals committed to their professional growth.Join Our NewsletterStay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!Follow Us on Social MediaConnect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for weekly updates and behind-the-scenes content. Tag us @thresholdlearningtlc to engage with us across all platforms!Subscribe to Our PodcastEnjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!Support Our MissionLove what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.Send Us Your FeedbackHave questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!

In this episode, Heather converses with Marla about High-Leverage Practice number 20, focusing on providing intensive instruction for students who exhibit significant needs beyond the capacity of typical educational settings. In her dynamic role as a behavior consultant, Marla shares insightful narratives and strategies about adapting individual education plans (IEPs) to better service students through Data-Based Individualization (DBI). This episode is a must-listen for educators who are dedicated to refining their approach to intensive student support.The episode explores how educational settings can adapt to the diverse needs of students using a tiered approach. Marla gives an in-depth look at how Tier 3 interventions are crucially different from those at the Tier 2 level, explaining how DBI serves as a framework for decision-making. With experience spanning various interdisciplinary measures, Marla highlights the importance of collaboration among educators, behavioral specialists, and healthcare professionals like occupational and speech therapists. She shares anecdotal evidence and quantitative data that solidify the necessity for intensified, data-driven instruction for students requiring additional support.Explore More with Us inside The TLC Network!Learn more in this episode’s show notes and join a vibrant community of behavior-focused school professionals committed to their professional growth.Join Our NewsletterStay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!Follow Us on Social MediaConnect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for weekly updates and behind-the-scenes content. Tag us @thresholdlearningtlc to engage with us across all platforms!Subscribe to Our PodcastEnjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!Support Our MissionLove what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.Send Us Your FeedbackHave questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!

In this episode, Heather talks with guest Alex about High-Leverage Practice #19: using assistive and instructional technologies to support students with disabilities. They explore how tools like AAC devices can give nonverbal or minimally verbal students a voice, reduce frustration, and even improve skills like articulation when used intentionally. Beyond communication, technology can serve as a learning aid, a motivator, and a supplement to instruction, helping students engage meaningfully with academic tasks. Alex shares practical strategies for integrating technology in both clinic and classroom settings, including teaching device navigation, balancing reinforcement, and leveraging Universal Design for Learning principles. They emphasize individualized decision-making, baseline assessment, and ongoing feedback to ensure technology enhances skill development rather than replacing it. The episode highlights the importance of collaboration, professional development, and reflective practice in selecting, implementing, and evaluating technology to support student independence and learning outcomes.Explore More with Us inside The TLC Network!Learn more in this episode’s show notes and join a vibrant community of behavior-focused school professionals committed to their professional growth.Join Our NewsletterStay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!Follow Us on Social MediaConnect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for weekly updates and behind-the-scenes content. Tag us @thresholdlearningtlc to engage with us across all platforms!Subscribe to Our PodcastEnjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!Support Our MissionLove what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.Send Us Your FeedbackHave questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!

In this episode, Heather and Lathryelle explore High Leverage Practice #18, focusing on strategies to promote active student engagement. They emphasize the importance of building genuine connections with students by understanding their personalities, preferences, and interests, and meeting them where they are. Engagement is framed as a reciprocal relationship rooted in trust, respect, and fun, which supports both academic and social development. The conversation highlights how practitioners can creatively adapt lessons, incorporate play, and balance challenging tasks with enjoyable activities to maintain motivation. Lathryelle also discusses guiding fellow educators to recognize student cues, adjust strategies, and foster a dynamic classroom environment. The episode underscores that meaningful engagement goes beyond task completion—it’s about connection, observation, and cultivating an enjoyable, inclusive learning experience for every student. Listeners will gain practical insights for creating classrooms where students feel seen, valued, and motivated to participate.Explore More with Us inside The TLC Network!Learn more in this episode’s show notes and join a vibrant community of behavior-focused school professionals committed to their professional growth.Join Our NewsletterStay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!Follow Us on Social MediaConnect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for weekly updates and behind-the-scenes content. Tag us @thresholdlearningtlc to engage with us across all platforms!Subscribe to Our PodcastEnjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!Support Our MissionLove what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.Send Us Your FeedbackHave questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!

In this episode, we explore High-Leverage Practice #17: using flexible grouping in special education classrooms. Chris shares practical strategies for organizing students into both homogeneous and heterogeneous groups based on learning goals, data, and individual needs, emphasizing the importance of intentionality alongside flexibility. The conversation highlights how thoughtful groupings can support skill development, social interactions, and collaborative learning while managing diverse needs across multiple instructional settings. Chris also discusses how teachers can structure classroom environments, schedules, and staff roles to maintain effective and efficient group instruction without feeling overwhelmed. Explore More with Us inside The TLC Network!Learn more in this episode’s show notes and join a vibrant community of behavior-focused school professionals committed to their professional growth.Join Our NewsletterStay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!Follow Us on Social MediaConnect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for weekly updates and behind-the-scenes content. Tag us @thresholdlearningtlc to engage with us across all platforms!Subscribe to Our PodcastEnjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!Support Our MissionLove what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.Send Us Your FeedbackHave questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!

In this episode, Heather and guest Veroncia explore High-Leverage Practice #16: using explicit instruction to support student learning, especially in low-incidence classrooms. They discuss how clear, systematic, and structured teaching helps students build foundational skills, gain confidence, and eventually develop creativity. Veronica highlights strategies like modeling, guided practice, scaffolding, and progress monitoring, showing how they make complex skills attainable for students with additional needs or limited background knowledge. They also address common misconceptions, emphasizing that explicit instruction is not boring and can include flexibility and personalization. The conversation extends to coaching teachers and instructional assistants, demonstrating how modeling and feedback help educators implement these practices effectively. Throughout, the episode underscores the power of explicit instruction to increase student engagement, reduce frustration, and ensure meaningful learning outcomes for all students.Explore More with Us inside The TLC Network!Learn more in this episode’s show notes and join a vibrant community of behavior-focused school professionals committed to their professional growth.Join Our NewsletterStay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!Follow Us on Social MediaConnect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for weekly updates and behind-the-scenes content. Tag us @thresholdlearningtlc to engage with us across all platforms!Subscribe to Our PodcastEnjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!Support Our MissionLove what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.Send Us Your FeedbackHave questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!

Heather and Marla explore the power of scaffolded supports in education, emphasizing their role in helping students achieve independence. They discuss strategies like errorless learning and task analysis, highlighting how tailored scaffolding fosters skill acquisition for students with disabilities. Through real-world examples and collaborative insights, they reveal the delicate balance between offering support and cultivating autonomy. Whether in academic settings or life skills contexts, Heather and Marla underscore the importance of responsive and data-driven approaches to crafting effective scaffolding that supports both immediate and long-term student success.Explore More with Us inside The TLC Network!Learn more in this episode’s show notes and join a vibrant community of behavior-focused school professionals committed to their professional growth.Join Our NewsletterStay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!Follow Us on Social MediaConnect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for weekly updates and behind-the-scenes content. Tag us @thresholdlearningtlc to engage with us across all platforms!Subscribe to Our PodcastEnjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!Support Our MissionLove what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.Send Us Your FeedbackHave questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!

In this insightful episode, we delve into high-leverage practices in teaching cognitive and metacognitive strategies, emphasizing their importance in promoting student independence and self-regulation. With Alex, a seasoned BCBA, as our guide, we explore how these strategies transform learning for students with disabilities, turning abstract concepts into concrete skills that enhance educational success.Throughout the conversation, Alex shares expertise in implementing cognitive strategies like self-management and metacognitive approaches, such as think-alouds and task analysis. These strategies are critical for students, particularly those with disabilities, who often require direct, explicit instruction.Explore More with Us inside The TLC Network!Learn more in this episode’s show notes and join a vibrant community of behavior-focused school professionals committed to their professional growth.Join Our NewsletterStay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!Follow Us on Social MediaConnect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for weekly updates and behind-the-scenes content. Tag us @thresholdlearningtlc to engage with us across all platforms!Subscribe to Our PodcastEnjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!Support Our MissionLove what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.Send Us Your FeedbackHave questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!

In this enlightening episode, Cass and Heather dive deep into the world of special education, specifically focusing on High Leverage Practice Number 13: Adapting Curriculum Tasks and Materials. The conversation unveils the nuanced and strategic approaches employed by educators to ensure that every student, regardless of their abilities, can achieve their learning goals. Heather, an experienced educator, shares her journey and methodologies, emphasizing the importance of creativity, collaboration, and continuous learning.Explore More with Us inside The TLC Network!Learn more in this episode’s show notes and join a vibrant community of behavior-focused school professionals committed to their professional growth.Join Our NewsletterStay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!Follow Us on Social MediaConnect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for weekly updates and behind-the-scenes content. Tag us @thresholdlearningtlc to engage with us across all platforms!Subscribe to Our PodcastEnjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!Support Our MissionLove what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.Send Us Your FeedbackHave questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!