Special Education for Beginners | Managing Paraprofessionals, Special Education Strategies, First Year Sped Teachers, Special Ed Overwhelm, Paperwork for Special Education Teachers

Back to School Tips for Special Educators with Angela Rivas

• Jennifer Hofferber - Special Education Teacher and Coach • Episode 178

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Welcome back to another episode of Special Education for Beginners. As we start thinking about the back-to-school season, I thought it would be good to get our mindset right and give you some strategies to get you started off on the right foot! Today’s guest is Angela Rivas from The Sped Tech Teacher and she is here to share some valuable advice to help you thrive in your role as a special educator.

Talking Points:

  1. Building Strong Relationships with Colleagues
    • Strategies for fostering positive relationships with general education teachers and other colleagues.
    • The importance of collaboration and mutual support.
  2. Establishing Effective Practices and Routines
    • Key practices to start the school year off right, including organization tips and proactive communication with parents.
    • Angela’s approach to using tools like a Notion template for staying on top of paperwork and deadlines.
  3. Managing Stress and Avoiding Burnout
    • Angela discusses her methods for managing stress, including the importance of using days off and setting boundaries.
    • The benefits of being transparent with students about stress and modeling healthy stress management techniques.
  4. Advice for New Special Educators
    • Practical tips for new teachers to navigate their first year, including finding supportive colleagues and leveraging social media for professional development.
    • Angela emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and building a strong support network.
  5. Special Resources for Listeners
    • Angela shares information about free resources she has available for special education teachers and how listeners can connect with her for more insights.

This conversation with Angela  has been incredibly enlightening. Her approach to building relationships, managing stress, and staying organized offers a clear path to thriving in the special education field.

Angela has found her passion in finding ways to improve teaching and learning both with and without technology. She has created an AI GPT called MyIEP Buddy, designed to help special education teachers write exceptional IEPs, and she has also created a course specifically for new special education teachers called the Newbie SpEd Teacher Academy, which is designed to help new teachers know where to start, changing their first year from chaos to structure.

Be sure to check out the special resources she mentioned, and as always, thank you for joining us on Special Education for Beginners. We’ll see you next time!

https://thespedtechteacher.com/collections/freebies

Connect with Angela:

Writing individual impact statements based on a student’s unique disability  and needs can be a big struggle AND a big time suck.! And in case you haven't noticed...extra time is not something you have a lot of.

My IEP Impact Statements Growing Bundle will give you  the resources you need to make writing impact statements a breeze.  





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Speaker 1:

Hey there and welcome to Special Education for Beginners. I'm your host, jennifer, and today we're going to discuss a topic that is essential for every special education teacher as we approach the back-to-school season. Joining us today is Angela Rivas, from the SPED Tech Teacher, and Angela brings a wealth of experience and insights into the joys and challenges of special education. Whether you are a seasoned educator or just starting out, today's episode is packed with valuable advice to help you thrive in your role. I'm excited for today's conversation because it touches on the very core of what we do as special education teachers. We are going to explore not just the strategies and the routines, but also the deeper aspects of connection, resilience and personal growth that make our roles so impactful as special educators. Angela brings a unique perspective that is sure to inspire and empower us as we navigate another school year. So let's get started.

Speaker 1:

Hey, special educator, are you overwhelmed by the absurd amount of paperwork on your to-do list? Do you wish you had the skills to build a rock-solid team with your staff? Do you wish you had the skills to build a rock solid team with your staff? Do you find yourself scouring the internet for how to meet the needs of each student on your caseload. Well, hey there, I'm Jennifer Hofferberg, an award-winning veteran special education teacher and current instructional coach, who has walked in your shoes through each of these challenges and, yes, I have the metaphorical blisters to prove it. I have cried your tears and felt your pain, and now I'm here to support you in the way I wish someone would have been there to support me.

Speaker 1:

Listen in each week as my guests and I dish out practical wisdom to help you handle all the classroom curveballs that are thrown at you and learn how to laugh in spite of the chaos, to celebrate those small yet significant victories that only a special educator can understand. So are you ready? Wipe your tears and put on your superhero cape, because together we are going to learn how to survive and thrive in the ever crazy, completely overwhelming laugh. So you don't cry. Profession of being a special education teacher. Well, hello, angela, welcome to Special Education for Beginners and thank you for joining me. Thank you so much for having me. I'm happy to be here. Before we get started, I'd love for you to introduce yourself and tell us about your journey within the field of special education. Yeah, so.

Speaker 2:

I'm going into my 16th year of teaching and all those years have been in special education. I started off in a public school system in Michigan and did that for four years. I taught eighth grade special ed and seventh grade special ed, so resource classes with some push-in, some co-teaching, and then, after those four years, I switched to an online school. So I taught special education at the high school level for about three-ish years and that was a completely new experience, you know, trying to do special education online. And then after that, I decided to go back to a brick-and-mortar building and I taught special education online. And then after that, I decided to go back to a brick and mortar building and I taught special education at the high school level grades 9 through 12 at a charter school. And now I am back in a public school district and this year I am starting eighth grade special ed.

Speaker 1:

So yeah, it's been a journey, for sure it's been a journey. I would think that teaching online would be so difficult. I know that there's several of the teachers that I've talked to have done that, but I feel like that would be so hard.

Speaker 2:

It is. It is challenging because there's so many factors that can prevent students from attending and you know you still have to be compliant, so it's a lot of creativity and hard work that goes into it. So I have a lot of respect for teachers who are doing that online. It's not easy, for sure.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I do too. Well, I'm excited for today's conversation because there are so many special educators out there who are either just starting out or who have been in the field for a little bit, but they're still feeling overwhelmed and they are seeking guidance. I had someone reach out to me the other day and she asked where do I even begin? So I feel like your experiences and your insights are going to be incredibly valuable in helping the listeners find their footing and build confidence in their new role. So let's just jump right in Today. We're going to give them some actionable advice. So when we think about being a special educator, we typically think about the students, but in addition to working with the students, we are also expected to work with adults. So what are strategies that you have found to be effective for building strong relationships with general education teachers and other colleagues?

Speaker 2:

Yeah. So I think one of the first things before you get into curriculum or anything like that is just establishing a relationship. Go into their classrooms, talk to them in the lounge, let them know what kind of person you are, get to know them, because that's going to be the You're a person same thing and I think that's where we have to start is just getting to know each other. And then I want my gen ed teachers or other college to know hey, I'm here to help you. We're in this together. Let me get some things off your plate. Let me run some strategies. Let's talk about some small groups I could pull.

Speaker 2:

Or let's discuss some students that I could work with on, you know, more on a one-on-one level to help us all out, because it is both of our jobs to make sure that these students succeed, and I want to get away from the view that we're adding more to their plate. Instead, we're trying to take things off and let's work together to do that. So I think, if we go into that with that mindset that this is, you know, this is something that we can do together and help each other out. I think that's a good way to approach it. I also think it's important to discuss what your strengths are and what their strengths are, so then you can work with that. You know, I don't think anybody goes into being a teacher wanting to step on other teachers toes or things like that. So having that mutual respect also, and listening to what they're comfortable with and discussing what you're comfortable with, I think that's really important so that the expectations are clear and that there is no confusion confusion.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I think that's important. I've worked with many, many different teachers and they feel like you know some of them are, they want us in there, they want that help. And there's some that are a little bit timid. They're a little bit scared that you are going to come in and try to change what they're doing. So that's important to let them know that, hey, I have my strengths, I have my weaknesses, you have your strengths, you have your weaknesses. Let's work together as a team.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely, and I think you know that comes. Part of that comes with the job is being flexible and what I tend to do is I tend to gauge the teacher, ok, what is their style, and then work with that. You know, and I think that's worked for me very well in my, you know, 15 years of teaching is kind of seeing what their vibe is, seeing what they're comfortable with and, you know, offering your help but understanding where those strengths are and allowing them to show their strengths, and then there's also time for you to show your strengths.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and then do you meet with the teachers, like at the beginning of the year. That's a good question.

Speaker 2:

I think it depends, because the beginning of the year can be very chaotic, right, we all know it. If you're a teacher, there's trainings, you're trying to set up your classroom, but I do think there is time to set aside to discuss with a teacher. You know, hey, this is who I am. I do like to establish that conversation before school starts, because once you know the first day of school starts, everything is just running at 100 miles an hour. So, yes, I try to meet with the gen ed teachers ahead of time, introduce myself, you know, talk to them, but also, especially for the teachers that I'm going to be working more closely with, discussing okay, so you know. What units are we starting on? What have you done in the past with this?

Speaker 2:

A lot of times at the beginning of the year there's pre-tests let's work on. Are we going to pull small groups for that, and would you prefer I take them to my room or would you want me to take a small group to the side? So having those conversations ahead of time really does avoid some of that last minute panic when that time comes and you're on edge. They're on edge when everything starts. So I think that's important to have those conversations before school starts, but then again, as the year progresses, just finding that time. If you have a common planning time, that's great. Otherwise, as long as you're both communicating via email, there are different ways that are convenient that you can agree upon to keep those lines open, no-transcript other.

Speaker 1:

that's not going to help the kids at all.

Speaker 2:

Oh, and they can sense it too. You know they're in the classroom and they can sense that if there is, you know, any sort of negative feelings, or if there's a positive rapport, they can totally sense it and they feed off of it. So the kids are smart in that regard. So it's just better for everybody.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I agree. Okay, so we have the colleague situation addressed. Another stressor for special education teachers is the unique pressures and demands that they have on them. So what are some key practices or routines that special educators can establish early in the year to maintain well-being and effectiveness throughout the whole school year?

Speaker 2:

Yeah. So special education teachers, we have a lot to juggle. You know we're helping Gen Ed teachers, but we have our own things that we have to meet. You know our jobs based on compliance. So I would say the most, one of the most important things, is staying organized, specifically with any deadlines, because that those are the deadlines, those are the dates that we have to meet. You know we're meeting these expectations.

Speaker 2:

The state monitors all this, so that, by far, I feel like, hands down, you have to get down early on into the school year. So what I like to do is, if I have my caseload and when their most recent IEP was, you know when their most recent three-year reavail was, I immediately go into my own system, which we can talk about in a little bit, but, like you'll figure out whether you prefer a paper system, digital system, but whatever you choose, going into your system and writing down those dates. So, if a student has an IEP they had their IEP September 18th of 2023, I would go in. Okay, this is due by September, you know 17th of this year, which means I got to get on it. As soon as school starts, I need to be making phone calls, and that's why it's so important to be cognizant of those deadlines because there's a whole system that you have to do before you do that meeting. So we have to communicate with you know related services, we have to get you know a hold of admin, we have to plan the meeting. So in order to do that well and not stress yourself out, you really do have to take some time and plan all this ahead of time. Even if your IEPs or re-avals aren't going to happen until the end of the year, you still should, in my opinion, note it in your system, your calendar, whatever, so that you are not having to remember constantly. And I also put in reminders like two weeks before that double check with the parent can they attend? So I think if you get in the habit of doing that early on, that will help tremendously. And I would say for sure that's the biggest piece of advice I would give all of you special education teachers, and also it just it shows you know your supervisors, your colleagues, that you know what you're doing. If you are, you know running behind or if you are rushed, people can sense that too. So you just want to do everything you can ahead of time so you're not stressing yourself out, because it will come quick and you, you know you're teaching also, so I think organization is important.

Speaker 2:

I also think that having communication with parents is absolutely vital. I always say kids come first, parents come second, and I stand by that 100%. At the beginning of the year I will reach out to the parent. If I don't meet them at the open house that schools usually have, I'll call them. Hey, I'm Ms Rivas. I'm going to be your student's special education teacher this year. Here is my email.

Speaker 2:

I use Google Voice, which is an app that is on your phone where you can receive phone calls and texts, but it doesn't show your actual number. So I use Google Voice to communicate with parents, and some parents like that, and I will also ask them how do you prefer to receive communications? You prefer email, phone call, text, and that way I know, okay, if I text them they're not going to read it, or if they're preferring phone calls. So letting them know hey, it's nice to meet you. And then, oh, you know, your son did great this week. But by doing that they know, okay, this adult is invested in my child, it is their baby. You know, every student you get is somebody's baby and they want to know that their baby is being taken care of.

Speaker 2:

So if you're showing that you're putting forth the effort, and not only if there's a problem at school with that student, but just keeping them updated, I think that goes a long way. That way, if something bad happens during the year, happens with their student, there are no surprises there. You've been communicating, you've been letting them know. You know those lines of communication have been open because you've been brainstorming with them. Let's try this, or have we done this before? So they will already know and I think that is huge for new teachers to understand is that you have to include parents. The more you do, the less they will feel left out and the less defensive they could be in the future. So I think that's also huge.

Speaker 2:

And then I also think, as a third big piece of advice is to advocate for yourself as well. We, as teachers, we advocate for our students. That's our job, right, and we love to do it. But a lot of times we tend to put our own needs on the back burner and that is a habit I think a lot of teachers get into, myself included. I am definitely a people pleaser and I will, you know, help other teachers or put other things first before my own.

Speaker 2:

So even if you're working with a colleague who maybe you're not seeing eye to eye with, I think it's important to know you know your role, know what you're doing and stand true to that and let them know that you're here to help. But you are here to also look out for yourself, you know. And if you feel that things are mounting up or that you're being treated unfairly, you think something isn't fair, I always say speak up, even if it's to a colleague first. But I think it's important to not bottle that in, because that is where burnout can happen. Teachers feel like, oh, I'm being treated unfairly or oh, I'm feeling some sort of way. Speak up for yourself too. You know, have somebody else involved. If you have a union, talk to your union rep. But it's just important to not keep that to yourself, because that will eat you alive, I feel. Yeah.

Speaker 1:

And you mentioned earlier about getting your paperwork done and being professional, I think, advocating for yourself, I think you always need to remember to do it professionally and not to sound like you're complaining all the time. You need to make sure that principals and other teachers know that you are doing this respectfully and that you're you're trying to be a team player, but you've got to stand up for yourself as well. I know in my first couple of years of teaching, I had an assistant principal who was pulling the paraprofessionals to substitute in other classrooms and she was doing it almost every day, and so I was like I'm a reigning teacher, I don't know what to say, and so I had to. I didn't know to go to her or go to the head principal. I went to the director and it just became this big issue and I kind of jumped the chain of command and didn't do it correctly. And so I feel like, make sure you're always following those chain of command and talking to people, and then, if you have to go above them, that's fine. But, yes, definitely advocate for yourself, and I wholeheartedly agree with you on that.

Speaker 1:

Staying organized, it's a major key to our success and then keeping those lines of communication open with parents. Very good points, because we have to build trust with them. We want to have a successful year. You might have those parents for several years. Sometimes I had kids from kindergarten all the way through fifth grade. So I had them for six years and you really want to have that strong relationship with them. You don't want to have six miserable years.

Speaker 2:

And they could have siblings. They could have siblings as well. That come in. So we all know that's a thing.

Speaker 1:

So definitely use those proactive approaches and work smarter and not harder. But I think, as we all know, there will be times that there will be stress. No matter how prepared we are, no matter how good we are having conversations, you're going to have stress. No matter how much you try to avoid it, it's going to happen. So what strategies do you use to manage that stress and avoid burnout, especially during the more challenging times of a school year?

Speaker 2:

Yes, I think. Number one I try to be cognizant of, like what I'm feeling. Like I can feel it physically in my body that I just feel off. So I think is you know, being able to recognize when you're starting to be, become overwhelmed, feel not quite like yourself. For me, personally, I will take a day off and I do not feel guilty about it at all, and this is one thing I would love to drive home to new teachers everywhere Take your days off, please take your days off.

Speaker 2:

That's what they're there for, and I think a lot of teachers feel guilty on leaving my students or this might look bad to admin. You need to take care of yourself because if you keep, like we said before, bottling that, it's going to come out in some way. That is not good for all parties. So sometimes it's just taking a day off. That might be what you need. I know that's what I do is I'll take one day, I'll come back, I'm like okay, perfect. You know I'm feeling better, I've removed myself from the stressors for a little bit, taking some time to breathe and do things for myself at home, and then come back with a fresh mind. I think that's something that might take some people time, but I can't stress enough. Use your days when you feel like you need them. I also feel like when I'm feeling stressed, the kids can see it and obviously most teachers don't have unlimited days off. So if I'm having an off day or an off hour at school, I'll be very transparent with my students. I'll let them know like this is who I am as a person.

Speaker 2:

Hey, you guys, ms Rivas, I'm feeling a little off today. Can you just do me a favor? And you know, try to not be too crazy. Today I'm having a tough day. Or, you know, as the school year progresses and we're more comfortable with each other, with each other, you know, I feel more comfortable saying you guys, I just need to take a minute and I'll take. I'll do breathing exercises right there at my desk and they'll see me and some of them will just kind of watch. Some of them will not be paying attention at all, but some of them will be like Srivastav, what are you doing? I'm like, oh, I'm just breathing. This kind of calms me. This is some of the things I do. Or sometimes I'll do like I'll tap my legs or, you know, try to do some grounding techniques and that will kind of open a conversation, if not at that point later on Like why is Ms Rita doing this? Yes, I'm a person too and I get anxious and stressed and sometimes we have to deal with it. I could get mad and you guys would not like it at all, I could yell. That doesn't help anybody. But instead I'm trying to feel better and trying to change my mindset so that I can move forward in a better way.

Speaker 2:

And I think that's so important for our students to learn, because they're kids, even if they're 17, they're still kids and they're learning how to life, how to human, and it's important to have those examples, those real world examples. Oh, ms Rivas, she gets stressed out too. She's not perfect because she's a teacher. No, absolutely not. And I'll be very open with them about it and like I'll have my, we'll make jokes about it later.

Speaker 2:

And they're like Ms Rivas, do you have your vapor rub? Because they know I have vapor rub to kind of help. The scent helps me with grounding, and so they know these things and they're learning them and I guess what my goal is is to show them these are some things you can do too, and when I've had students who have had stressful moments. They're on the verge of having a crisis moment. I'd be like breathe with me and they'll breathe with me. So using that in real time is the ultimate goal is when those situations do come up, you're able to utilize it. So I think it's super important to be transparent with your students and communicate that with them and that way they can learn from you as well?

Speaker 1:

Yeah, those are good tips. Do you have that one student that's always like, okay, she's getting stressed out, we all need this.

Speaker 2:

You guys. She's stressed Like keep it quiet. Yes, God bless them.

Speaker 1:

I feel like that's a really good approach letting kids know that it's okay to have stressful moments and how to handle it, and giving them you know, those natural cues of how to handle stress. That's really important. And it's not just you know, you're setting boundaries for self-care and that's important, but it's not just for wellbeing, but it's also for sustaining the energy to be an effective teacher. You know, if you're not taking care of yourself, you're not going to be effective for the kids, and so I really appreciate your honesty about sharing your feelings with your students, and it teaches them valuable lessons about emotional regulation and self-care. And it sounds like you're not only taking care of yourself, but you are modeling healthy ways to handle stress, and I think that's incredibly important, right, right? So for new special educators who are just starting out.

Speaker 2:

What advice would you give them to help them navigate that first year effectively? I would say number one find a support system. Colleagues in your school. A lot of times you'll have a mentor, but just finding other teachers in the building who you have a connection with. I think it's important to find those people so that you can feel heard, you can bounce ideas off of, but also go to when you need to talk about something that didn't go so great. We all do it as teachers. We all you know might step into another class and you know, when there are no students, obviously. But talking to the like, oh my gosh, my fourth hour did not go well at all. And to get that reassurance and to get that support is so important. And so I feel like finding those people early on is a big help. But also realize you're not being a burden, especially as a new teacher.

Speaker 2:

A lot of times teachers might feel I don't want to ask questions, I don't want to bother anybody. They've got a lot on their plate. I just don't want to burden anybody with my own problems. Do not feel that way. It's natural to. But understand that we know your other colleagues know you're going to have questions, you're going to feel overwhelmed. So we want those questions. We want to be able to help you navigate because we've all been first-year teachers. We know what it's like. So we're there to kind of help you out and figure things out. And nobody is an expert by any means. Me, going into my 16th year, do you think I have classroom management down to the T? No, it's. Every new class that comes in is a new class. We're always learning. So I want them to understand that. Keep the questions coming. Don't feel like a burden.

Speaker 2:

And then also, on top of looking and seeking support groups at your building, don't underestimate the power of social media. I have found so much support and ideas from groups online, so you know Facebook groups that are dedicated to a certain content area or subject area and just learning a lot from teachers out there. You'll see that they have a lot of questions, they're venting and you can really gain a lot from that. I've always said some of the best PD I've gotten in my life has been from social media. Some of the best PD I've gotten in my life has been from social media. It's incredible how supportive you can find people that are online. And lastly, I would say that just keep in mind, your first year is your first year. Everybody has their first year. It's never ideal. It's a learning year. You're going to be trying things out for the first time.

Speaker 1:

There's going to be some trial and error no-transcript, a negative Nancy and you're venting to her or him and he's like sucking you into this black hole. You want to find somebody that's going to be positive and help you through things and not just be this negative vacuum. I think that's important, and that can go for online too. You can get in groups that are just kind of gritchy. You know where people are complaining all the time. You want to find a supportive environment, absolutely. It's encouraging to hear that there are things out there.

Speaker 1:

When I first started teaching, we didn't have social media and I didn't have anywhere to go, so I had a co-teacher. My best ended up being my best friend. We had each other and that's important to have somebody that's going to be in your corner that you can talk with and work things out with. So I think that's a very important point that you made. So, yes, like you said, you're going to have bumps in the road. I always call them curveballs. You're going to have curveballs thrown at you all the time, every day, and it's important that new teachers and ones who have been in the field for a while you remember that growth often comes from those challenges, and having that supportive community and having people around you can make all the difference in how you navigate those challenges.

Speaker 1:

Well, angela, this has been an incredibly enlightening conversation. Your insights and practical tips are invaluable, not only for new teachers, but for those of us looking to improve our practices. You know, I've been in this job I'm going on my 30th year and so, like you said, I still learn things every year. So thank you so much for sharing your experiences and your strategies with us today. It's clear to me that your approach not only enhances teaching and learning, but it also supports personal and professional well-being. And, before I forget, I understand that you have some special resources to offer our listeners.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so I am on social media. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. My handle is the same for all of them it's TheSpedTechTeacher, and if you go to my website, which is wwwthespedtechteachercom, I have a tab on there that is freebies. So it's an ongoing list, but there are all sorts of freebies on there help with organization, to help with positive phone calls home. So if you are interested, you can take a look and, like I said, I'll be adding stuff throughout the year, but hopefully you can find something on there to help you out in your teaching journey. That's great.

Speaker 1:

I will leave those links in the show notes and thank you again for joining me. I've enjoyed it and I know that this conversation will be beneficial to the listeners. Thank you so much for having me. I had a great time.