MTSS and School Culture
MTSS and SCHOOL CULTURE
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”
– Rumi
Workshops/Keynotes
Get Curious, Not Furious: Tier 1 Strategies for Addressing Challenging Behaviors.
According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, 87% of public schools reported that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted students’ social-emotional development. This lack of social development has increased impulsive behaviors in the classroom. Teachers are desperately seeking continuous support in addressing challenging behaviors. This interactive session will provide teachers with a better understanding of student behavior and simple yet powerful evidence-based strategies that can be replicated in the classroom immediately.
Lead Like Lasso: Science-based Leadership Strategies Inspired by America's Favorite Coach
Lead Like Lasso is a dynamic and engaging professional learning session that draws inspiration from the popular TV show Ted Lasso and its beloved protagonist of the same name. In this transformative session, participants will explore science-based insights that can elevate their leadership abilities. Inspired by the empathetic, optimistic, and authentic qualities of Ted Lasso, attendees will learn practical strategies to become exceptional leaders who inspire and motivate their teams. Through interactive activities, neuroscience research, and discussions, participants will better understand the human mind and how to leverage it for effective leadership.
More Good Days: Brain-based Practices for Trauma Informed Schools
We know that trauma impacts students’ behavior, engagement, and academic readiness. Over the past several years, trauma-responsive practices have offered a way to support our students experiencing adversity. The foundation of trauma-responsive care is built upon safety, connection, and emotional regulation, and these can still be offered in every classroom. Participants will learn about the impact of trauma on the developing brain, identify behaviors and learning challenges that may come as a result of trauma, and leave with strategies to sustain strong relationships, create safe routines, and increase emotional regulation to support students as they learn.
Teach Like Lasso: Strategies for Positive Classroom Communities Inspired by America's Favorite Coach
Step into the world of inspiring education with our workshop, “Teach Like Lasso.” Drawing inspiration from the iconic character of Coach Ted Lasso from the beloved TV series of the same name, this session is designed to equip educators with innovative strategies for cultivating positive classroom communities, nurturing student growth, and optimizing performance. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or just starting your teaching journey, whether you are a fan of the show or have never watched an episode, “Teach Like Lasso” offers valuable insights and practical strategies that will inspire you to lead with passion, purpose, and heart. Join us as we embark on a transformative journey to create classrooms where every student feels seen, heard, and empowered to succeed.
Building Belonging & Cultivating Connections That Empower Staff & Students To Thrive
As humans, we are social animals with a biological need to belong. In our increasingly isolated world, it is more important than ever for staff and students to experience a sense of belonging at school and to feel connected. Research shows that strong social connections and a sense of belonging strengthen our immune system, lower anxiety and depression, and help us live longer. Additionally, a sense of belonging increases student and staff engagement and performance. This session will provide participants with strategies and structures that they can use to cultivate and sustain connections with students and staff.
Taking Time to B.R.E.A.T.H.E.: Research-Based Strategies for Personal and Professional Resilience for Staff
When staff experience chronic stress, it can negatively impact their motivation, performance, and well-being, which can then affect morale, engagement, and performance at work. There couldn’t be a more important time to focus on strengthening our well-being and resilience than right now. Participants in this engaging workshop will walk away with simple yet powerful research-based practices from the fields of Mindfulness, Positive Psychology, Emotional Intelligence, and Social Psychology that they can utilize immediately to reduce stress and anxiety, improve attention and performance, and strengthen overall physical and psychological well-being. B.R.E.A.T.H.E. is an acronym for Building Belonging, Reflecting on your Purpose, Engaging in Self-Compassion, Amplifying Awareness, Attention, and Awe, Tapping in Thankfulness, Harnessing Your Thoughts and Empowering Empathy.
Mind Matters: Science & Strategies for Strengthening Mindset and Mindfulness in Education
Cultivating a growth mindset in the classroom can help students positively navigate complex tasks and experiences and provide them with tools to handle future struggles and stressors. Additionally, research has shown that implementing mindfulness practice in the classroom created a 24% increase in positive social behaviors, a 24% decrease in aggression, a reduction in depression-like symptoms, and an overall improvement in classroom behaviors and test scores. In this interactive and engaging session, participants will learn the research-based reasoning for mindfulness and growth mindset in the classroom and gain tools and strategies for weaving mindfulness and growth mindset into daily life and academics.
Emotions, Engagement, Empowerment: Brain-Based Instruction That Makes Learning Stick
In recent years, there has been an explosion of research on how to cultivate optimal learning environments. Utilizing science-based strategies can enhance teaching practices, lessons, student engagement, and student learning and achievement. In this engaging and interactive session, participants will explore powerful practices connected to how our brains best absorb and retain information and walk away with activities, interventions, and structures that they can use immediately in their classrooms to engage, empower, and enhance student growth and make learning stick.
Raising Resilience: Cultivating Strengths, Optimism, and Hope in the Classroom
Resilience, the process of adapting well to adversity, is key to helping students flourish. Teaching students to develop resilience by tapping into their strengths and abilities and learning strategies to strengthen their optimism and hope can increase their academic success and boost their well-being. In this interactive and engaging session, participants will learn the role of hope and optimism in resilience and academic performance and better understand how to create a strengths-based classroom culture. They will leave the session with tools and strategies they can implement immediately to nurture growth and resilience in their classrooms.
Integrating SEAL to Boost the ABCs: Strengthening Achievement, Behavior, and Culture with Social, Emotional, and Academic Learning
Research shows that social and emotional skills are foundational for success in school, the workplace, and life. If we want SEL to be successful and sustainable with students, it must start with the adults. In this session, participants will explore the research supporting SEAL (Social, Emotional, and Academic Learning) and participate in self-reflection, discussions, and activities that they can immediately replicate with their students and colleagues. This session is designed to help participants have a deeper understanding of SEAL to strengthen their own social-emotional competencies, boost their efficacy in modeling and teaching these skills to students, and build the capacity to infuse this mindset into site and classroom practices.
Targeted Interventions at the Tier 2 level: Effective Strategies for Addressing Challenging Behavior.
School Districts have adopted equity-based models using the multi-tiered systems of support approach. In navigating Tier 2 structures, we have learned that the ultimate goal is to change behavior, not manage it. In this interactive session, participants will learn about the functions of behavior and how, using that knowledge, we can develop appropriate assessments of student behavior and match them with the interventions that will be most effective for students.
The Antidote to Mean: Connecting Kindness, Empathy, and Gratitude to Student Learning
A recent poll showed that 80% of parents and teachers worry that the world is becoming too unkind for their children. Approximately 20% of students between the ages of 12 and 18 report being bullied at some point in school. Now, more than ever, we must weave kindness, empathy, and gratitude into our everyday instruction. We can help prevent bullying by cultivating classroom and school cultures that foster communication and where all students feel safe, respected, and supported. Participants will return to their classrooms/schools with ready-to-use, real-world strategies that fuse kindness, empathy, gratitude, and academics to help students and educators thrive.
Exploring and Understanding B.I.A.S.- Beliefs, Identity, Assumptions, and Stereotypes
Our brains are biased. Researchers estimate that we may be exposed to 11 million pieces of information per second. If our conscious brains tried to filter and process all of that information, they would overload! Instead, our brains create shortcuts by making connections between things, pairing concepts, and grouping things together. These quick shortcuts in the form of assumptions, stereotypes, and implicit bias about others can lead to misjudgments about people that cause hurt, pain, discrimination, injustice, and inequities in our classrooms, workplaces, and the community at large. In this informative and engaging session,, participants will explore the neuroscience and social science about assumptions, stereotypes, identity, and implicit bias and learn research-based strategies designed to interrupt and disrupt those biases in order to cultivate a climate of belonging, acceptance, psychological safety, and equity in the classroom, workplace, and world around them.
The Apathy Antidote: Cultivating Positive Student Motivation in the Classroom
In a world inundated with distractions and disinterest, the call for educators to ignite the spark of engagement within their students has never been more critical. Enter “The Apathy Antidote: Empowering Positive Student Engagement in the Classroom” workshop, a dynamic and transformative session designed to equip educators with the tools and strategies to combat apathy and foster a culture of active participation and enthusiasm in the classroom.
A Great Leader L.E.A.D.S. with Courage, Connection & Compassion
According to Gallup, only 32% of the workforce is engaged in their work. Disengaged employees negatively impact workplace morale and productivity, but when employees have a sense of connection, they collaborate and perform better. Educational organizations that foster an environment of belonging and engagement are more likely to meet demanding challenges in positive and productive ways. This session focuses on the L.E.A.D.S. framework: Leans Into Belonging & Trust, Engages Employee Purpose, Appreciates & Acknowledges, Develops Empathy & Compassion, and Sets Intentional Presence. Participants learn the fundamentals of leading with courage, connection, and compassion and leave with researched-based strategies to help cultivate an environment that empowers individuals and the organization to thrive.
Taking Time to B.R.E.A.T.H.E.: Strategies for Strengthening Student Well-being and Resilience
When students experience chronic stress, it can negatively impact their motivation and physical and emotional health, which can then affect their behavior, engagement, and performance in school. There couldn’t be a more important time to focus on strengthening student well-being and resilience than right now. Participants in this engaging series will walk away with research-based practices that they can use immediately to empower students with skills that reduce stress and anxiety, improve attention and performance, and strengthen overall physical and psychological well-being.
Building Bridges: Resolving Staff Conflict and Restoring Workplace Relationships
Conflicts among staff members are inevitable in today’s dynamic workplace environments. How these conflicts are managed can significantly impact team morale, productivity, and overall organizational culture. Our session, “Building Bridges,” offers a comprehensive approach to addressing conflicts among individuals and groups, repairing the harm, and fostering the restoration of relationships within the workplace.
Reflect, Repair, Restore: The Science of Forgiveness and Restorative Conversations
Managing relationships on a school campus or in the classroom can be tricky. Inevitably, there will be moments of hurt feelings, undesirable behavior, and resentment. When these moments occur, it is essential to recognize them and repair relationships as soon as possible. We deepen community connections and improve school/classroom culture when we give effective– and genuine– apologies, learn the science behind forgiveness and develop strategies to move forward from the hurt. Of equal importance is implementing discipline that focuses on changing behavior and helping students learn and grow, rather than more punitive approaches that aren’t effective in changing behavior. In this interactive and engaging session, participants will learn the science of forgiveness and develop skills to help release resentment. Participants will leave with strategies for teaching and giving authentic apologies, and implementing transformational discipline.
Difficult Discussions: Creating Safe Spaces for Challenging Conversations
Our students have access to more information than any generation before them. This means that educators sometimes find themselves faced with navigating difficult conversations around issues such as current events, politics, race, identity, and religion.
This session aims to provide educators with the tools they need to navigate tough conversations in the classroom– from establishing a classroom climate of respect and belonging to sentence frames for respectful dialog. We will examine ways to structure classrooms for optimal connection and student empowerment, discuss the importance of knowing our implicit biases, and share activities and approaches designed to help develop students’ listening and speaking skills.
This session aims to provide educators with the tools they need to navigate tough conversations in the classroom– from establishing a classroom climate of respect and belonging to sentence frames for respectful dialog. We will examine ways to structure classrooms for optimal connection and student empowerment, discuss the importance of knowing our implicit biases, and share activities and approaches designed to help develop students’ listening and speaking skills.
Igniting Sparks: Prioritizing Meaning and Purpose in the Classroom
In a nationwide survey, 75% of high school students reported negative feelings related to school, with “bored” topping the list of feelings. This boredom is not because students are unaware of the importance of their education but because the traditional model of schooling often leaves little room for connecting learning to students’ passions and interests. In this interactive session, participants will learn how to foster student sparks, offer students voice and choice in the classroom, and create student opportunities to engage in self-reflection and self-assessment. Participants will leave with strategies for forming and developing student relationships with each other and with adult mentors/teachers on campus.
Sessions for Students
SYNERGY DAY for Students: An Experiential Learning Experience to Boost School Climate
SYNERGY DAY puts a diverse group of students through a full-day experience that will change their paradigm and their lives. This incredibly powerful full-day event builds relationships and breaks down barriers. Participants share that it creates a climate change on campus, boosting acts of kindness and compassion and lowering incidents of violence. Facilitators also tie in connections to Social Emotional and Academic Learning… intentionally and explicitly having students participate in activities that give them the opportunity to boost their self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationships, and decision-making skills.
Sessions Parents/Caregivers
More Good Days: Brain-Based Strategies for Parenting in Challenging Times
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated three things that the brain hates: chronic unpredictability, social isolation, and physical and emotional restraint, and we see the impact of this stress and trauma on our kids’ interactions and behavior both at home and at school. In this experiential learning session, facilitators will focus on how to meet their child’s need for predictability, belonging and connection, and voice and choice. This informative, engaging, and experiential learning opportunity explores the neuroscience around stress and trauma and provides parents with simple yet powerful research-based strategies that they can use immediately to support their children and empower them to thrive.
The ABCs of S.E.A.L. (Social Emotional and Academic Learning) for Parents Strengthening Academics, Behavior, and Culture Through Social, Emotional, and Academic Learning
This informative, interactive, and highly engaging introductory session explores the research that supports the importance of S.E.A.L. practices for both youth and adults. Parents will learn strategies that they can engage in with their kids in order to build important skills that have been shown to strengthen resilience and the capacity to be happier and more successful in school, college, career, and life. The facilitator will lead parents in discussions and activities that they can replicate at home in order to strengthen relationships and social-emotional competencies of themselves and the whole family
Educational Programs
Bite-Sized SEL Toolkit (Elementary, Middle, & High School)
Harvard and CASEL research has determined that the most effective way to teach SEL is in “kernels,” or small bite-sized pieces that are manageable and easy to facilitate. Research also shows that creating a sense of belonging and connection in the classroom can decrease behavioral challenges and increase academic outcomes.
The Bite-Sized SEL Toolkit addresses these goals and allows teachers to promote SEL in a way that is easy to facilitate and flexible. It comes in the form of a Google slide deck and contains 180 slides. Each slide has five activities: a weekly check-in, a This or That activity, a drawing or writing activity, an SEL lesson, and an optimistic closure or circle question. A specific character trait intertwines into each of the monthly lessons. The values covered are compassion, dignity, empathy, forgiveness, gratitude, humility, Integrity, justice, kindness, and love.
The Bite-Sized SEL Toolkit is available at elementary, middle, and high school levels and sells as a license per teacher. The license does not expire. School site licenses are available for sites with more than 14 users. Go to the SHOP and check out the demo.
Social Skills Toolkit (k-8)
This research-based, teacher-designed Social Skills Toolkit is a Google slide deck containing tools to empower positive behavior. The toolkit is the perfect instrument to meet the needs of your MTSS Tier 1 universal program and is an excellent way to address Tier 2 students who need more support.
Based on 8 teacher-recommended skills, this toolkit’s key advantage is the minimal number of skills and steps the teacher and student need to remember. Reteaching is easily facilitated. Visit the SHOP page to learn more.
joelle@thrivingYOUniversity.com
