December

=Session Descriptors= 1. **Re-teaching and Reinforcing Positive Expectations:** School-wide expectations are the cornerstone of PBIS in the district. Discover simple and effective ways to positively affect student behavior throughout the school day.

Participants will take away: Be prepared for movement and jocularity!
 * quick and fun strategies for addressing behavior
 * plans for integrating the teaching of SW Expectations
 * answers to questions about problems which frequently arise

2**. **** Story Telling-Using L****akota storytelling to create positive learning environment:**  Lakota stories can be used in the classroom to teach our students about their cultural values as well as appropriate behavior. A knowledgeable and respected teacher will share how Lakota stories from the past can connect with our students in the present to affect their lives in the future.

Participants will take away:
 * a deeper understanding of how to use story telling within their classroom
 * examples of how to connect the past with students present lives

3. **Music and the Brain:** Research continues to support and provide guidelines for intentional use of music in the classroom. With the intentional use of music in the classroom teachers can set the scene and learning atmosphere to enhance teaching and learning activities.

Participates will take away:
 * when and how to use music in their teaching
 * match music to learning outcomes
 * CD


 * For more information on Music and the Brain, click here.**

4. **Extreme Makeover:** //**This room was made for you and me!**// Have you ever crossed the threshold of your classroom and thought, "I wish I could start over..." (Not in life - but with the arrangement of your room!!!) If you have, then this session is for you! If you haven't, maybe you //should// have, and then this session is for you! Classroom environment is an extension of how we teach. Supports our teaching and student learning. **Bring a cereal box (empty of course).**

Participants will:
 * examine the characteristics of a nurturing learning environment
 * envision and construct a model of their ideal classroom

5. **Enlightened Technology Use**: Strategies and activities for using technology to develop students who are thinking critically, analyzing information, communicating, collaborating and problem solving in today's rapidly changing world.

Participants will:
 * examine how to integrate technology with a purpose
 * explore best practice for technology integration
 * share ideas to effectively integrate technology in the classroom

6. **Engaging Students Through Rich Problems:** Changing the typical math-classroom culture to a sense-making culture can be achieved focusing on, engaging in, and experiencing rich learning tasks. Participants will take away:
 * experience in what learning looks and feels like when engaged in rich mathematical tasks
 * experience the kind of interaction involved when solving rich problems

7. **Sun Salutations:** Experience how two schools' use of song, movement, and celebration promotes community, fellowship, and healthy practices among its students.

Participants will take away:
 * great ideas for beginning the day!

8. **Writing Effective Behavior Intervention Plans:** An overview of the components that should be included in effective behavior intervention plans. This will include looking at the function (trigger) of the behavior and implementing strategies to be used with specific behaviors. Emphasis will be put on positive behavior supports (what to do to prevent the behavior from occurring) and interventions (what to do after the behavior has occurred).

Participants will take away:
 * a better understanding of how to utilize behavior plans
 * how to develop effective plans

9. **PBIS-What It’s All About:** PBIS is a data-driven system that uses teaching and positive feedback to proactively deal with problem behaviors. This school-wide system is a team process that increases positive behavior and decreases negative behavior by directly teaching social skills/expectations and implementing targeted interventions based on the function of problem behavior.

Participants will: • Develop a better understanding of the principles behind PBIS • Receive answers to questions about PBIS

10. **Rewards:** This session will review the research behind effectively using rewards with students to promote positive behavior.

Participants will: • Develop an understanding of why reward systems are used to teach new behaviors • Learn how to use reward systems effectively

11. **Kids Do Well if They Can:** What do you believe about kids? Do you find yourself thinking, “He just wants attention,” or, do you suspect that many kids who misbehave may lack some important problem-solving skills?

In this text-based discussion session, participants will:
 * be asked to pre-read the article, Kids do Well if They Can, by Ross Greene
 * develop a deeper understanding of their personal beliefs about student motivation
 * share reactions and experiences
 * identify pro-active strategies to help students do well

12. **Creating a Safe Classroom Environment and Personal Safety**: This session focuses on creating a safe classroom environment and practicing ways to keep yourself and the students in your care safe in any environment. Reviewing of crisis management plans and problem solving will also be covered in this session.

Participants will:
 * review crisis plans
 * develop problem solving strategies to cover classroom situations

13. **Class Meetings that Matter and Effective Individual Interventions**: This session will give information on how to facilitate an effective class meeting. The goal of class meetings is to create a sense of community within the classroom and the school building. Effective class meetings teach not only the student but also staff about what is REALLY going on in school and helps to build better relationships between students and staff. This session will also address the art of doing an effective intervention that facilitates “teachable moments”.

Participants will take away:
 * strategies to use to help facilitate an effective classroom meeting
 * strategies to assist in developing positive relationships within the classroom and school settings
 * an understanding of how to facilitate effective interventions