S02E03 - From a Rewired Teacher: Simple Classroom Shifts That Help Neurodivergent Kids Thrive

A rewired middle school ELA resource and inclusion teacher, Sally Coates opens up about her own ADHD, years of feeling controlled in school, and the moment she realized the classroom could work differently. The advice most teachers are given about behavior is making classrooms harder, not easier. Sally shares the neuroaffirming shifts that helped her move from survival mode to the kind of classroom where students feel safe, seen, and genuinely capable of learning. Together with the Strong Starts Podcast hosts, she breaks down what actually changes when you stop chasing compliance and start building autonomy, regulation, and trust. You'll discover: Simple sensory shifts that reduce overwhelm fast, including lighting, visual clutter, fidgets, and timers How to give students real choice without creating 20 different lesson plans Why “you don't have control” can be liberating, not discouraging, for teachers Practical tools like 5-4-3-2-1 attention cues, “no vibes,” visual stem videos, and quick regulation resets How a vibe check and support check can reveal what students have likely never been asked before Sally also explains why she doesn't use rewards or token systems, and how that decision reduces shame, increases buy-in, and changes the emotional climate of her room. She shares the moment she stopped class to model her own breathing, then came back and watched students respond with more independence than she thought possible. Choice board link: https://payhip.com/b/ST1qI?utm_source... Link to fill out to get Student Jobs Freebie: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA... Here’s a link to the LNDTA (Let’s Not Do That Again) course: https://www.rewirededucationgroup.com...