Stop calling them “SPED kids.” Students are students first. Having an IEP doesn’t change that. It doesn’t lower expectations, and it doesn’t mean we stop problem solving at Tier 1 and Tier 2. Strong core instruction still matters every single day. The goal is always growth and independence. That only happens when students are supported across all tiers, not separated by a label. And language matters. They are not “SPED kids.” They are students first, each with unique needs we’re responsible for meeting. That difference matters. It shows up in how we teach, how we support, and how we see them.