If student behavior has been leaving you feeling stuck, this episode is one to lean into. This conversation challenges the way we’ve been taught to think about discipline and offers a shift that actually supports long-term change, not just quick fixes.

In this episode, Stephanie is joined by Nathan Maynard to break down what it really means to be trauma-informed and how moving from control to connection can completely change how we respond to behavior.

• Why fear-based discipline often escalates behavior and what to do instead
• How to tell the difference between a student who won’t comply and one who can’t regulate
• What it looks like to build proactive systems and move from power struggles to collaborative problem-solving

If you’ve been looking for a more effective, realistic way to support behavior, this episode will give you a strong place to start.

LRE conversations can feel heavy, especially when you’re trying to figure out if a student’s current placement is actually working. This episode walks through how to approach those decisions with clarity and confidence so they’re based on what the student truly needs.

In this episode, Stephanie breaks down what Least Restrictive Environment really means and how to know when a change might be necessary. She walks through the LRE continuum, the data you actually need, and how to have these conversations with your team in a way that feels proactive, not reactive.

• The key signs a student may need a different LRE, from lack of progress to behavioral data and regulation
• What data to gather before making any placement decisions so you’re not relying on opinion
• How to approach LRE conversations with families and teams using clarity, support, and flexibility

Changing a student’s placement isn’t a step backward. It’s a response to what they need right now and a chance to create a setting where they can actually grow.

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For more information, check out more of Stephanie's resources:

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-intentional-iep-book/

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/

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If you’ve ever walked out of an LRE meeting knowing the decision didn’t fully make sense, this episode is for you.

Whitney and Stephanie get into the side of placement conversations people don’t always say out loud. A diagnosis should never be the reason a student ends up in a certain setting, but it happens all the time. And so does the “we’ve always done it this way” thinking.

They talk through what it actually looks like to adjust minutes, why data and the IEP should be leading the conversation, and how quickly things fall apart when decisions stop being individualized. What worked for one student does not automatically work for another.

This is the kind of conversation that challenges how these decisions are being made and what needs to change.

Follow Whitney: @rootedinresource

Purchase her Book: Everyone Learns Differently

Not a member? Join Today — you can get 50% off your first month of membership https://products.theintentionaliep.com/tii-membership-50off1stmonth-podcast/

For more information, check out more of Stephanie's resources:

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-intentional-iep-book/

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/

https://www.facebook.com/theintentionaliep

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IEP amendments are one of the most effective ways to make timely changes to a student’s plan without waiting for the annual meeting. In this episode, Stephanie breaks down how to use amendments to keep IEPs accurate, responsive, and aligned with what students actually need.

In this episode, Stephanie covers:

• what an IEP amendment is and how it works
• when an amendment should be used instead of waiting for a full meeting
• six common scenarios where amendments are appropriate
• what can and cannot be amended
• best practices for documentation, communication, and compliance

If you’ve ever questioned whether to wait or make a change now, this episode will give you the clarity to move forward. Save it for your next IEP review or share it with your team, and explore The Intentional IEP Membership for more support and resources.

Not a member? Join Today — you can get 50% off your first month of membership https://products.theintentionaliep.com/tii-membership-50off1stmonth-podcast/

For more information, check out more of Stephanie's resources:

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-intentional-iep-book/

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/

https://www.facebook.com/theintentionaliep

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If your IEPs feel rushed, inconsistent, or harder than they should be to write, you’re not the only one. A lot of what shows up in IEPs comes down to habits that were never clearly taught. In this episode, Stephanie breaks down the patterns she sees most often and shows you how to clean them up so your IEPs are clearer, stronger, and easier to implement.

In this episode, Stephanie covers:

• 11 common IEP writing mistakes that show up across teams and caseloads
• Why these mistakes happen in the first place
• Simple shifts you can make to start writing clearer, more effective IEPs

You don’t have to fix everything at once. Start with one shift and build from there. Strong IEPs come from being intentional, not perfect. If this episode resonated, share it with your team or save it for your next writing day.

And if you want more support, explore The Intentional IEP Membership, including tools like the Goal Bank, Data Screeners, and Training Vault to make IEP writing simpler and more effective.

Watch the Free 80% Accuracy Video here

Not a member? Join Today — you can get 50% off your first month of membership https://products.theintentionaliep.com/tii-membership-50off1stmonth-podcast/

For more information, check out more of Stephanie's resources:

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-intentional-iep-book/

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/

https://www.facebook.com/theintentionaliep

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Test taking accommodations can feel confusing for many special education teachers, especially during testing season. Questions often come up about what is allowed, what is not, and how to make sure students are properly supported during assessments.

In this episode, Stephanie breaks down what test taking accommodations actually are and how they should be used to support students with disabilities. She also explains the important difference between accommodations and modifications, and why that distinction matters during benchmark and state testing.

Stephanie covers

• What test taking accommodations are and how they help remove barriers without lowering expectations

• The difference between accommodations and modifications and why modifications are not allowed on benchmark or state assessments

• The benefits of accommodations for access, equity, and more accurate student data

• Five commonly permitted accommodations teachers should understand and begin teaching students to use

• Why accommodations should be practiced throughout the year, not introduced only during testing

This episode helps special education teachers better understand how accommodations support students in demonstrating what they know while still maintaining grade level expectations.

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For more information, check out more of Stephanie's resources:

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-intentional-iep-book/

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/

https://www.facebook.com/theintentionaliep

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Disagreements in IEP meetings can feel uncomfortable, especially when emotions are high and everyone in the room is trying to advocate for what they believe is best for the student. But these moments are not unusual. In fact, they are a natural part of the collaborative process.

In this episode, Stephanie walks through how special education teachers can navigate parent disagreements with clarity, professionalism, and confidence. She also explains why having strong systems in place throughout the year can make these conversations much easier when they do arise.

Stephanie covers

• The most common areas where parents and IEP teams tend to disagree

• Why emotions often run high during IEP meetings

• How data can help guide conversations back to student need

• Strategies for building strong relationships with families before disagreements happen

• Ways to help parents understand and advocate within the IEP process

This episode offers practical insight to help teachers approach difficult conversations with empathy, preparation, and a focus on collaboration.

Not a member? Join Today — you can get 50% off your first month of membership https://products.theintentionaliep.com/tii-membership-50off1stmonth-podcast/

For more information, check out more of Stephanie's resources:

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-intentional-iep-book/

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/

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Paperwork is one of the biggest sources of stress for special education teachers. It’s not just writing IEPs. It’s data logs, service minutes, progress reports, behavior documentation, meeting notes, emails, and reevaluation timelines. Without a clear system, it can quickly start to feel like you’re always behind.

In this episode, Stephanie shares a training pulled directly from The Intentional IEP Membership video vault. Instead of constantly reacting to deadlines and documentation demands, this training focuses on building systems that make paperwork more manageable and predictable.

Stephanie covers

• Why paperwork starts to feel overwhelming when there is no system supporting it

• Anchoring your timelines so important deadlines and reevaluations do not catch you off guard

• Identifying your true priorities instead of constantly reacting to incoming tasks

• Creating connected systems so paperwork moves forward instead of piling up

When paperwork is organized, everything changes. You spend less time scrambling to catch up and more time focusing on your students.

Not a member? Join Today — you can get 50% off your first month of membership https://products.theintentionaliep.com/tii-membership-50off1stmonth-podcast/

For more information, check out more of Stephanie's resources:

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-intentional-iep-book/

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/

https://www.facebook.com/theintentionaliep

https://www.instagram.com/theintentionaliep