When another professional walks into your classroom, things can get complicated fast. In this episode, Audra and Caitlin answer a listener question about what to do when support staff, behavior consultants, or other specialists aren’t showing up in the way you expected. They share practical, professional ways to navigate power dynamics, clarify roles, and protect your classroom while keeping relationships intact.

🔑 Key Takeaways
• Document objectively and consistently 📋 — focus on facts, patterns, and student impact, not emotions.
• Start with direct communication 🤝 — go to the source before escalating to admin or supervisors.
• Frame concerns around student safety and learning 🧠 — this keeps conversations professional and grounded.
• Ask clarifying questions instead of making accusations ❓ — misunderstandings about roles happen more than you think.
• Protect your classroom systems 🏫 — keep running behavior plans, data collection, and instruction regardless of who enters the room.
• Give clear, specific tasks when possible 🧩 — structure can help overwhelmed or unclear support staff succeed.
• Sometimes you can only control your response 🔄 — do your best, stay professional, and focus on student outcomes.

📦 Resources Mentioned
• Join the Misfit Behaviorists Facebook Group → https://abainschool.com/misfits
• Submit future episode topics in the group 💬

🙌 Join Us & Share
• Have you ever had to navigate tricky staff dynamics in your classroom?
• What strategies helped you keep things professional and student-focused?
• Share your experiences in the Misfit Behaviorists Facebook Group 📸
• Know a teacher or BCBA who needs this conversation? Send them this episode 💙

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 | @‌themisfitbehaviorists
• 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!

Staff pushback happens. Eye rolls, sighs, and the dreaded “we already tried that” can make even the calmest team lead feel defensive. In this Misfit Minute, Caitlin talks about shifting from control to curiosity when staff resist new strategies and how asking the right questions builds trust, buy-in, and stronger teams.

🔑 Key Takeaways
• Staff pushback often comes from burnout or feeling unheard 😮‍💨—not resistance for the sake of resistance.
• Curiosity beats control 🔍—asking “What didn’t work last time?” opens the door to real insight.
• You don’t lose authority by asking questions 💬—you gain collaboration.
• Empathy creates buy-in 🤍—acknowledging that new strategies feel hard reduces defensiveness.
• Modeling flexibility invites flexibility 🔄—your tone sets the tone.
• “We’re in this together” builds teams that grow with you, not against you 🤝

📦 Resources to check out
• Join the Misfit Behaviorists Facebook Group → https://abainschool.com/misfits

🙌 Join Us & Share
• How do you respond when staff push back?
• What questions have helped you build buy-in?
• Share your experiences in the Misfit Behaviorists Facebook Group 💬
• Know a BCBA or teacher navigating staff resistance? Send them this Misfit Minute 💙

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 | @‌themisfitbehaviorists
• 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!

Sometimes you just need five minutes, not a full lesson plan. In this episode, Audra and Caitlin share five simple social games you can pull out during transitions, brain breaks, or those in-between moments when it’s not time for intensive instruction but kids still need structure. These low-prep “pocket-size” games are designed for preschool, kindergarten, and special education classrooms and can be easily adapted for small groups or social skills instruction.

🔑 Key Takeaways
• Not every moment needs intensive teaching ⏱️—quick social games can reconnect and regulate learners.
• Keep games flexible 🧩—adjust group size, prompts, and structure based on your students.
• Emotions games build more than feelings vocabulary 😊—they support imitation, perspective-taking, and joint attention.
• Partner games encourage natural peer interaction 🤝—without over-prompting or pressure.
• Structured silliness matters 🎲—play with clear expectations supports engagement and cooperation.
• Filler time doesn’t have to feel chaotic 🔄—having go-to games reduces stress for students and staff.

📦 Resources Mentioned
• Simple Social Games ideas FREEBIE → https://abainschool.com/urve
• Related Episodes: How to Run Social Groups → https://abainschool.com/ep62
• Misfit Behaviorists Facebook Group → https://abainschool.com/misfits

🙌 Join Us & Share
• What are your go-to quick social games or brain breaks?
• Which of these would your students love most?
• Share your ideas or photos in the Misfit Behaviorists Facebook Group 📸
• Know a teacher or BCBA who needs easy social games? Send them this episode 💙

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 | @‌themisfitbehaviorists
• 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!