The Inclusion Podcast

Ep. 64 A Para Is Not an Environment: Clearing Up the LRE Confusion

There’s a lot of confusion around what Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) really means—especially when paraprofessional support is part of the plan. In this episode, Julie and Kristie clarify how LRE works under IDEA, why needing support doesn’t mean a student should be removed, and how we can shift from gatekeeping to problem-solving. You’ll walk away with language, mindset shifts, and team questions that build a stronger culture of inclusion. Download the free resource: A Para Is Not an Environment at inclusiveschooling.com/download64.

Ep. 63 Giving Breaks Isn’t the Problem—It’s How We’re Using Them!

When students are dysregulated, offering a break can feel like the right move—but is it always helpful? In this episode, Kristie and Julie unpack how well-meaning adult-led breaks can unintentionally reinforce escape patterns or erode access to learning. You’ll learn how to offer breaks with purpose, equity, and intention—so students stay connected, not sent away. Download the free resource: The Stay-Put Toolbox at inclusiveschooling.com/download63. 

Ep. 62 Design Before Discipline: How to Prevent Behavior with Simple Shifts

Before behavior escalates, the classroom environment can do the heavy lifting. In this episode, Julie and Kristie share 16 proactive tweaks that help prevent challenging behavior by reducing stress and increasing connection. From visual supports to relationship rituals, these simple shifts make classrooms calmer and more inclusive for everyone. Download the free resource: Classroom Tweaks That Prevent Challenging Behavior at inclusiveschooling.com/download62. 

Ep. 61 F%$# you! Now what?

When a student swears at you or lashes out, it’s easy to react. In this powerful episode, Julie and Kristie help you build a personalized response plan that prioritizes connection, not punishment—even in moments of shock or hurt. Discover mantras, phrases, and actions to keep dignity and trust at the center. Download the free worksheet: Build Your Own Response Plan at inclusiveschooling.com/download61. 

Ep. 60 Non-Verbal Ways to Support Behavior in the Moment

What your body says in the classroom matters just as much as your words—sometimes more. In this episode, Julie and Kristie break down how your posture, pace, tone, and eye contact can either regulate or escalate behavior. Learn to scan your body and send signals of safety and calm. Download the free tool: Nonverbal Body Scan at inclusiveschooling.com/download60.

Ep. 59 Mini-Moments that Matter: Building Trust Without Tons of Time

Building trust with students doesn’t require big gestures—it’s about intentional mini moments woven into everyday interactions. Julie and Kristie share 23 simple ways to connect with students while teaching, even in packed classrooms. Learn how quick check-ins can boost regulation, trust, and inclusion. Download the free handout: 23 Connection Starters at inclusiveschooling.com/download59.

Ep. 58 Why Running and Refusing Aren’t the Real Problem

What if a student runs? Or refuses to participate? In this episode, Julie and Kristie go beyond labels to focus on nervous system states, explaining why behaviors like eloping or shutting down are signs of dysregulation—not defiance. Download the free resource: Human Ways of Being at inclusiveschooling.com/download58.

Ep. 57 Stop Looking for a Trigger: What Behavior is Really Communicating

Sometimes behavior isn’t about a trigger—it’s about what’s happening beneath the surface. In this episode, Julie and Kristie unpack why searching for a single cause of behavior often leads us in the wrong direction, and how we can shift to listening beneath behavior instead. Learn how to identify the real messages behind actions like yelling out or withdrawing, and respond with empathy and clarity. Download the free resource: Listening Beneath the Behavior at inclusiveschooling.com/download57. 

Ep. 56 Inclusion and Safety Can Coexist

This courageous and nuanced conversation dives into one of the biggest fears around inclusion: safety. Julie and Kristie name the fear, challenge ableist assumptions, and provide seven steps to help educators feel equipped, empowered, and proactive when facing concerns about safety in inclusive settings. With humor and honesty, they tackle myths, share research-backed practices, and guide listeners through a shift from exclusion-based thinking to supportive, inclusive responses. Bonus: the handout at inclusiveschooling.com/download56 includes de-escalation techniques, student support plan templates, and strategies to track “success minutes.”

Special Episode of The Inclusion Podcast: The Behavior Reset Every School Leader Needs

Tired of behavior challenges draining your team’s energy and stalling learning? In this special episode, we reveal why outdated approaches keep failing, what actually works, and how to shift mindsets across your staff—without adding another initiative to your plate. Walk away with clarity, strategies you can use tomorrow, and access to our free Behavior 360 Bonus Dashboard—packed with ready-to-use tools, mindset shifts, and practical solutions you can share with your team today. Get instant access at inclusiveschooling.com/360-podcast.