December Countdown – 3 Ways to Connect with Your Paras Before the Break

In the final episode of 2025, we are shifting the spotlight from survival mode to connection by focusing on the heart of your classroom—the paraprofessionals who support students and teachers every day. 

With winter break fast approaching, this episode includes 3 simple but meaningful ways to strengthen team culture, boost morale, and create a sense of appreciation and belonging before you all head out for a much-needed break.

Jennifer shares three low-lift but high-impact strategies that can help you refocus your team and end the semester on a high note. Whether you’re managing stress, juggling responsibilities, or just trying to make it to the break with a smile intact, these ideas are practical, do-able, and rooted in gratitude.

📝 What You’ll Learn

• Why December is a critical time for team dynamics in special education
• How a handwritten note can restore morale and remind paras they’re valued
• The benefits of conducting light and supportive mid-year check-ins
• Easy ways to add warmth and connection through simple treats or shared moments
• How building connection now sets the tone for a stronger spring semester

🎁 Free Resource

To support your mid-year para check-ins, Jennifer is gifting newsletter subscribers with Paraprofessional Feedback & Reflection Forms—a tool designed to make one-on-one conversations feel intentional, positive, and stress-free. These forms include easy prompts and reflection questions to guide a quick but meaningful conversation with your staff.

✨ Already a subscriber? Check your inbox on Wednesday, December 18 for your free download.

Not on the list yet? No worries! You can join the community and grab your freebie at
 👉 spedprepacademy.com/podcast

🌟 Final Thought

You’ve survived the semester. Now it’s time to thrive—by lifting up the people who’ve been beside you through the chaos. Collaboration starts with connection, and small gestures now can create big shifts in team culture when you return in January.

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Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome And Series Context
• 0:17 Why Team Culture Matters Now
• 3:02 Strategy One: Handwritten Appreciation
• 5:11 Strategy Two: Supportive Mid‑Year Check‑Ins
• 6:29 Strategy Three: Create A Fun Moment
• 7:50 Recap And Mindset Reset
• 8:22 Break Announcement And Closing Gratitude

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:00

Hey there, welcome back to Special Education for Beginners Podcast and the third episode in our December series Survive and Thrive. If you have missed the past couple of weeks, we've covered mindset shifts and simplified systems for progress monitoring, all in the name of saving our sanity during this crazy time of year with ITASC. Now, in the last stretch before winter break, I want to shift the focus outward, specifically towards your team. This time of year is tough on everyone. Emotions are high, energy is low, and sometimes tensions rise when structure fades. But it's also the perfect opportunity to reconnect and appreciate the people who work alongside you every day. Your paras. Today's episode is all about wrapping up the semester together. Let's talk about three simple but powerful ways you can strengthen your team before heading into the holidays. Let's get to it. 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 find yourself scouring the internet for how to meet the needs of each student on your caseload? Well, hey there, I'm Jennifer Hockaber, 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. 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. So before we dive into the three ways to strengthen your team this month, I want to take a moment to speak to the why behind this episode. December is a weird time in special education. You are exhausted, your paras are stretched thin, the kids are bouncing off the walls, and on top of that, you're still expected to functionally run a program. And that means meetings, service minutes, progress reports, and maybe even prepping for new students or schedule shifts after the break. And when stress is high, team dynamics can easily unravel, even when you have good people, even when you have good intentions. Misunderstandings happen more easily, patients wear thin and everyone starts to pull away into their own bubble or just get through it. But when your team is working with you, even the toughest days feel a little more manageable. And while you can't fix every problem or eliminate all stress, you can create intentional moments that bring people together, that reinforce a sense of belonging and remind your staff why the work they do matters. So today is all about helping you survive and thrive this month by focusing on what you can control, your team culture. Let's talk about three simple ways to make your team feel seen, supported, and connected. The first is to write a handwritten note to each para. A heartfelt note can go a long way, and it doesn't have to be fancy, just like a sticky note or a note card or a folded piece of notebook paper will do. What matters most is the thought behind it. Take a moment to write something personal and genuine. Mention something specific you've noticed about how they support students, or how they show up for the team. You might thank them for the way they de-escalated a situation last week, how they always have materials prepped without being asked, or simply for their consistent presence and patience. It's easy to get caught up in the chaos of December and only focus on what's wrong, especially when behaviors are spiking, routines are off, and everyone's stress levels are running high. And when things are hectic, your paraprofessionals often feel that pressure as well. They are right there in the trenches with you, giving their all, and often without the recognition they deserve. Some of my favorite mementos from when I was a teacher are still little notes that my principals wrote to me. In fact, they are still pinned up on my bulletin board in my office. So from a paraperspective, they need to hear that good stuff too. They need to know that you notice the little things, that their work matters, that their presence makes your job easier and your classroom stronger. A handwritten note becomes more than just words on a page. It becomes a reminder that they are seen, appreciated, and respected. And here's the secret bonus. When you sit down to write these notes, you will feel the impact too. Gratitude has a powerful way of shifting your mindset. Taking a few minutes to reflect on what each person brings to your classroom can help you recenter, reconnect, and even restore some joy during what can feel like an overwhelming time of year. The second way is to give mid-year parafeedback supportively, of course. This is a great time to pause and give your paraprofessionals some encouraging feedback. Mid-year check-ins can help us refocus roles, clear up any confusions, and set the tone for the second semester. I highly recommend keeping this light and informal and doing it one-on-one if you have multiple pairs. Highlight what's going well, ask how they are doing, and if there's anything they need more clarity or support with. These check-ins don't need to feel formal or high pressure. They are just opportunities to reconnect and regroup. Sometimes just asking, hey, how's it going for you this year can open up a meaningful conversation. Use this time to affirm their strengths and celebrate the growth that you've seen since August. It also gives you a chance to gently realign expectations if routines have started to slide or roles have blurred a little. It's easier to course correct now than it is to let issues fester into spring. I have a set of paraprofessional feedback and reflection forums that will help you facilitate these conversations. They will help guide a positive tone and they include prompts that won't feel overwhelming. If you are on the Speed Prep Academy newsletter list, you will receive a free copy of these as a gift from me to you. So be sure to check your inbox tomorrow, December 18th. If you do not receive my newsletter, well I'd love for you to join us. Simply go to SPED Prep Academy.com slash podcast and sign up. That's SPEPACADemy.com slash podcast. The third way is to make time for a fun moment or a small treat. Sometimes the best way to show appreciation is to stop and laugh together. Order in pizza or donuts. Have a spontaneous hot chocolate bar in the back of the room. Play a holiday song while the kids are working or decorate the room together. Take a group photo in your ugly sweaters and print out a copy for each team member. You don't have to plan this big elaborate party. No one has time or energy for that. But creating a warm moment can be the reset everyone needs right now. These lighthearted touches help release tension and remind your team that you see them, not just as employees, but as humans navigating a very demanding time of year. These moments don't just boost morale, they also build connection. And connection is what gets you through the hard days. So there you have it. Three simple but meaningful ways to strengthen your team before heading into the holidays. Let's recap. Write a handwritten note, letting your parents know that they are seen, valued, and appreciated with heartfelt words. Hold a mid-year check-in. Use this time to reflect, reconnect, and offer supportive feedback as you transition into second semester and create a fun moment together. Whether it's a sweet treat, a silly photo, or just a warm conversation, intentional connection can re-energize the whole team. We spend so much time focusing on structure, roles, and behavior management. But as the semester ends, remember that collaboration starts with connection. Thanks for listening. Today I hope you take action. Strengthening your relationships now can set you up for a stronger, smoother spring semester. You've made it this far, you have survived, but before you check out completely, take one moment to thrive by lifting up the people who walk beside you every day. And then just so you know, this will be the last episode for 2025. I will be taking a little break to spend some time with my loved ones, soak in the season, and give myself the gift of rest, something we all deserve from time to time, and I hope you'll find the time to do the same. Whether that means staying in your pajamas a little longer, reading a book that has nothing to do with teaching, or simply breathing a little deeper without the daily school chaos, I hope you give yourself permission to slow down. Thank you for showing up each week for the work that you do for your students and for being a part of this little community we've created. I'll be back in January with brand new episodes to support, empower, and encourage you through the second half of the school year. Until then, take care, Merry Christmas, and I'll see you in 2026.