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Special Educators Resource Room Podcast: Real Talk for Special Education Teachers
Special Educators Resource Room with Jennifer DeBrosse is the podcast for busy special education teachers. Whether you’re brand new to the world of special education or an experienced teacher, this podcast will provide time-saving solutions for any busy special educator.
Get ready to move things off your special educator plate without feeling like you have to live at school.
I’m your host, Jennifer DeBrosse. I’m dual-certified, have been in education for over 25 years, and spent time in both the inclusion classroom and the resource room setting. I was also a special education instructional coach and mentor to hard-working educators just like you.
Tune in each week for quick action-packed episodes. They will be short, sweet, and to the point because I know how busy you are. I’m on a mission to help you get your time back!
Let’s connect! You can find more special education support at: Positively Learning Blog (PS: while you’re there, be sure to grab the free Special Educators Cheat Sheets!)
Episodes
180 episodes
177. What 4 Years of Task Box Club Taught Me (+ a BIG giveaway!)
This month, Task Box Club turns 4 years old 🎂In this episode, I’m reflecting on:how the club startedwhat independent work looked like in my classroom years agothe evolution of the club over the last 4 years<...
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176. When Teaching Feels Unsustainable: Should You Stay or Go?
This time of year, a lot of educators quietly start asking themselves:👉 Can I do this again next year? 👉 And do I want to do it here?In this episode, we’re talking about the difference between teaching being ...
175. What I’d Buy for a Special Ed Classroom With $100, $250, $500, or $1000
If you had end-of-year budget money for your classroom… what would actually be worth buying?In this episode, I’m sharing: ✔ what I’d prioritize at different budget levels ✔ what purchases truly support independence&...
174. Free Task Box Ideas to Help Students Work Independently
Planning independent work doesn’t have to feel like starting from scratch every week.In this episode, I’m sharing how to actually use a bank of task box ideas so planning feels faster and students can work more independently.
173. Is Task Completion Actually a Problem?
Is task completion actually hurting student learning?In this episode, we’re clearing up a common misunderstanding: 🟡 what “task completion” really means 🟡 why it’s not the same as compliance 🟡 and how independe...
172. AI and IEPs: Let’s Talk About What’s Actually Happening
AI is helping teachers write IEPs faster than ever.But… are we still fully behind what we’re writing?In this episode, we’re unpacking: ✔ where AI helps ✔ where to pause ✔ and how to stay grounded in your...
171. IEP Goals That Look Good on Paper, But Aren't Actually Useful
Ever feel like some IEP goals look good on paper… but don’t actually get used?You’re not alone.In this episode, we’re talking about why that happens, how it shows up, and what it looks like to write goals that actually connect to ...
170. Why Nothing You Try Is Fully Working in Your Classroom (Yet)
If you feel like you’ve tried everything—different activities, centers, task boxes—but your classroom still isn’t running smoothly, you’re not alone.The issue usually isn’t the materials.It’s that everything is working in pieces, ...
169. How I Plan a Week of Independent Work in 30 Minutes (Yes, Really)
How long should independent work planning take?For many special educators, it can easily take 2–3 hours every week. But with the right system, it doesn’t have to.In this episode, I share the simple routine I use to plan an ...
168. Real Stories from the Parts of Teaching We Don’t Talk About
Teaching isn’t just lesson plans and instruction.In this episode, you’ll hear several real classroom stories about the moments when advocating for students meant speaking up, pushing back, and navigating decisions that weren’t always eas...
167. Stop Repeating Yourself All Day | Independent Work for Special Education
If you feel like you’re powering your entire classroom all day, this episode is for you.We’re building on last week’s bottleneck conversation and focusing on something even more practical: reducing the number of moments your students nee...
166. The Hidden Bottlenecks in Special Education Classrooms
If your classroom feels harder than it should, it might not be behavior — it might be a bottleneck.In this episode of Special Educators Resource Room, we’re uncovering the hidden slow-downs that quietly drain your time, en...
165. Your Caseload Grew. Your Data Plan Didn’t.
Your caseload increased… but your data system stayed the same.In this episode of Special Educators Resource Room, we’re talking about the silent mismatch that leads to data overwhelm — and how to recalibrate your plan without wo...
164. Feeling the Midyear Slide? Here’s Your Special Educator Reset
Is your classroom system suddenly… not working? You’re not alone.In this episode of Special Educators Resource Room, we’re talking about the midyear mess—why it happens, how it sneaks up on even the most organized teacher...
163. AI for Special Educators: What’s Helping in 2026
Wondering if AI can actually lighten your load this school year?In this episode of Special Educators Resource Room, we’re skipping the buzzwords and talking real strategies:🟡 Where AI actually helps in special education🟡 What to...
162. The Big Task Box Party Dream (Yes, I'm Serious)
Ever wish you could gather with other teachers, fire up the laminators, and walk away with a fully prepped task box system? In this episode, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes dream I can’t shake—and what it says about how much support we real...
161. When You’re Overstimulated and Out of Energy: A Survival Guide for Teachers
Some days, teaching feels like too much—too loud, too fast, and too demanding. And when you’re overstimulated and out of energy, you don’t need another “do more” solution… you need something that helps you get through the day.In this epi...
160. Special Educator POV: You Just Inherited a Stack of IEPs
Stepping into a new classroom or absorbing a fresh batch of students midyear? If your caseload feels more like chaos—overdue IEPs, missing data, and a sea of goals you didn’t write—you’re not alone.In this episode of the Special Educa...
159. The Real Reason Independent Work Feels So Hard (and What to Do Instead)
If independent work feels like more work—you’re not alone. In this episode, we're breaking down the real reasons why independent work systems often fall apart (especially in self-contained classrooms)... and what to do instead...
158. Top 3 Tasks? Teachers Spilled the Tea 🍵
Welcome to the first episode of 2026—and a gentle nudge into the new year.This isn’t a list of flashy favorites. It’s a conversation about what’s actually helping students build independence—and how you’re making it happen, one small wi...
Task Box Giveaway! Pick Your 3 + Win Your Starter Kit 🎁
Want to finally start your task box system—without the stress? This giveaway is for YOU.In this quick episode, I’m sharing how to enter the Task Box Starter Kit Giveaway—and what you’ll win if your name g...
157. Looking Back to Move Forward: A Year of Systems, Surprises, and Survival for Special Educators
Ready to reset for the new year—but feeling like the last one ran you over?In this special end-of-year episode of the Special Educators Resource Room podcast, I’m sharing a personal behind-the-scenes look at what really...
156. Inbox Boundaries Every Special Educator Deserves
Is your inbox starting to feel like a stress trap? 😬 You’re not alone—and you’re not doing anything wrong.In this episode, I’m sharing a personal story about how I started to dread my own inbox (even while running a membership I...
155. Why I Stopped Doing Themes (and what you can do instead)
Theme weeks can be fun—but what if they’re also burning you out? In this episode, I’m walking you through the moment I decided to stop planning my entire week around pumpkins, apples, or snowflakes… and what I did instead to keep students progr...