SPED Collaboration (Interview with Erin Castillo): Collaboration Series Part 2 [S4 E103]

Listen to the full episode below:

You are in for a treat today Brave New Teaching friends! I am interviewing my internet friend, Erin Castillo, who you may know better by her Instagram handle @affirmationsandaccessibility. 

Erin is a ninth year teacher in Northern California. She teaches high school special education English classes as well as a leadership peer counseling class. Erin has a very heavy focus on mental health and social emotional learning. She advocates for checking in with students and paying attention to the whole child before trying to access academics.

One of the main topics of our discussion centers around providing accommodations for students.

A big reminder and take away from the episode is that what’s good for some kids is usually going to benefit the masses. Erin describes that when she teaches accommodations that a general ed teacher could use with a special education student, it’s actually something that can help a lot of students. 

Another focus of this conversation is on how to work collaboratively with a co teacher. Erin shares what she wishes general education teachers knew about working with special education teachers, and how both parties can get the most out of their relationship. Other than having solid communication, one more piece of advice she gives is to figure out each other’s zone of genius so that you can play on each other’s strengths and view each other as equals.

Topics Covered:

  • An overview of Erin’s peer counseling class

  • Creative examples of how you can teach affirmations to your students in a fun way

  • The importance of making learning accessible and how it’s ever-changing

  • Good questions to ask your co teacher when you begin working together

  • What true sustainable collaboration looks like

Connect with Erin:

Resources:

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Related Episodes:

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Join hosts Amanda Cardenas (Mud & Ink Teaching) and Marie Morris (The Caffeinated Classroom) in discussions about being brave, trying new things, and all things teaching! As seasoned classroom teachers, Amanda and Marie bring their experience, insight, energy, and oh, so many opinions and ideas... It's time for all teachers to take their classroom and teaching practice into their own hands!

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Amanda Cardenas