Bouncing Back with Karen Brisport

When the Class Clown Went Quiet

As graduation approached, one of the most recognizable students in the building suddenly became quiet. What initially looked like a change in participation turned out to be a conversation about identity, connection, and what happens when students leave familiar spaces behind. This week, we explore how one teacher's observation opened the door to collaboration, support, and preparation for a new chapter.

When the Presentation Kept Getting Delayed

She finished her project before everyone else, yet somehow her presentation never seemed to happen. What initially looked like a delay revealed something different once a teacher asked a simple question. This week's story explores a classroom moment where the goal stayed the same, but the path forward changed. Sometimes participation begins with understanding what is standing in the way.

When the IEP Arrived Late

The school year was nearly over when a teacher received a document that changed everything. A student who had quietly attended class for two months should have been receiving support services the entire time. What happened next became a reminder that student success often depends on how quickly information moves between adults. This week's episode explores what happens when support arrives late, and how a team responded.

When Exclusion Happens in Plain Sight

He was physically in the classroom, but emotionally outside the moment. A conversation that looked harmless to most students became something much heavier for one preteen who realized he had been left out. This week on Bouncing Back with Karen Brisport, we look at what adults noticed next and how one difficult classroom moment became a coordinated support plan.

When Exhaustion Looks Like Defiance

Some classroom behaviors feel easy to name too quickly. A student falling asleep in class can look like disengagement, defiance, or refusal to participate. But sometimes the visible behavior is only the final signal adults notice after a longer pattern has already been unfolding. In this week’s episode of Bouncing Back with Karen Brisport, we explore what changed when one teacher looked beyond the moment and a team built support around what they could actually observe.