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.
Objectives:
- Participants will learn about the science of behavior and the various behavioral functions that motivate students.
- Participants will learn how to chase the “why” behind student behavior.
- Participants will learn to shift from “managing behavior” to “changing behavior.”
Lead Like Lasso: Science-based Leadership Strategies Inspired by America's Favorite Coach
Objectives:
- Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the science behind people-first leadership and why people perform better in a forward state vs. a threat state.
- Participants will gain practical strategies for developing their leadership abilities and becoming leaders who inspire and motivate their teams.
- Participants will learn the importance of empathy, belonging, and optimism in leadership and the workplace.
More Good Days: Brain-based Practices for Trauma Informed Schools
Objectives:
- Participants will understand the impact of trauma on the developing brain and learning
- Participants will identify behaviors and learning challenges that may come as a result of trauma.
- Participants will explore the idea of emotional contagion and how our own presence impacts the rooms we are in.
- Participants will learn how to use focused attention practices and brain breaks to help students self-regulate.
- Participants will learn strategies to build strong relationships and safe environments that support student learning.
Teach Like Lasso: Strategies for Positive Classroom Communities Inspired by America's Favorite Coach
Building Belonging & Cultivating Connections That Empower Staff & Students To Thrive
Objectives:
- Participants will learn simple strategies and structures they can replicate and implement immediately to strengthen their connection with students, colleagues, and leaders.
- Participants will walk away with a deeper understanding of the neuroscience of belonging and the critical role it plays in our engagement with work, our performance, and our physical and psychological well-being. Empowered by this scientific research, participants will feel confident that the work building relationships is not fluff, it’s foundational
- Participants will leave the session inspired and ignited to action—to share their new knowledge, put their learning into practice, and become active champions of belonging.
Taking Time to B.R.E.A.T.H.E.: Research-Based Strategies for Personal and Professional Resilience for Staff
B = Build Belonging & Cultivate Connection
R = Reflect on Purpose
E = Engage in Self-Compassion
A = Amplify Attention, Awareness, & Awe
T = Tap into Thankfulness And Appreciation
H = Harness Your Thoughts
E = Empower Empathy Everyday
Objectives:
- Participants will have a deeper understanding of emotional contagion and why it is so important to be their best possible selves – for their students, their colleagues, their organizations and themselves.
- Participants will have a deeper understanding of the roles that belonging and social connection, a sense of purpose, self-compassion, mindfulness, gratitude and appreciation, the ability to harness our thoughts. and empathy play in our well-being and resilience, as well as our engagement and performance at work.
- Participants will walk away with research-based strategies and practices that they can replicate immediately in their personal and professional lives to boost well-being and resilience as well as engagement and performance.
Mind Matters: Science & Strategies for Strengthening Mindset and Mindfulness in Education
Objectives:
- Participants will learn the research-based reasoning for mindfulness and growth mindset in the classroom.
- Participants will gain tools and strategies for weaving mindfulness and a growth mindset into daily life and academics.
- Participants will receive ready-to-use resources for setting goals and persisting through struggle.
- Participants will learn the four types of mistakes and how to rebound from them.
Emotions, Engagement, Empowerment: Brain-Based Instruction That Makes Learning Stick
Objectives:
- Participants will learn science-based strategies, including retrieval and interleaving practices, to enhance their teaching practices, student engagement, and student outcomes.
- Participants will gain tools for strengthening student belonging and empowerment in the classroom.
- Participants will leave 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
Objectives:
- Participants will learn about the post-traumatic growth process and how it impacts resilience and learning.
- Participants will gain tools for infusing hope and optimism into their classrooms.
- Participants will leave with strategies that fuse SEL and academics to deepen student resilience.
Integrating SEAL to Boost the ABCs: Strengthening Achievement, Behavior, and Culture with Social, Emotional, and Academic Learning
Objectives:
- Participants will learn the importance of belonging and strategies for cultivating connection in the classroom.
- Participants will have a better understanding of the importance of strengthening their own social-emotional competencies and modeling those skills for students.
- Participants will leave the session with strategies for integrating SEL into the content they teach and the ten teaching practices for strengthening students’ SEL.
- Participants will learn how to create space and structures to strengthen student SEL through classroom and schoolwide routines and rituals.
The Classroom Behavior Lab: Strategies and Tools for Managing Classroom Behaviors Effectively
Targeted Interventions at the Tier 2 level: Effective Strategies for Addressing Challenging Behavior.
Objectives:
- Participants will gain a deeper understanding of layered approaches for providing Tier 2 supports that lead to changing student behavior instead of managing student behavior.
- Participants will learn effective strategies that support Tier teams in providing targeted interventions.
- Participants will learn how to leverage behavioral supports that significantly change impulsive behavior and soci competence.
- Participants will learn re-entry strategies to help support students and staff in re-engaging positively after an incide has occurred.
The Antidote to Mean: Connecting Kindness, Empathy, and Gratitude to Student Learning
Objectives:
- Participants will learn the science behind the positive physical, mental, and academic benefits of kindness empathy, and gratitude practices.
- Participants will walk away with tools for strengthening kindness, empathy, and gratitude in themselves and their students.
- 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.
In this session, we will create a safe space to discuss and engage in activities that explore:
B -Beliefs and Brain Patterns
I – Identity
A – Assumptions
S – Stereotypes
Objectives:
- Participants will learn the neuroscience and social science about assumptions, stereotypes, identity, and implicit bias.
- Participants will engage in activities designed to help them recognize how implicit biases shape their interactions and decisions, allowing them to take intentional steps toward creating more inclusive and equitable environments.
- Participants will learn how to apply practices that actively counter bias and stereotypes, promoting equity and fostering meaningful relationships in diverse classroom and workplace settings.
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.
Objectives:
- Participants will explore the causes of student apathy and gain insights into psychological and environmental factors that contribute to disengagement.
- Participants will identify barriers to engagement and learn evidence-based strategies for fostering student involvement, including leveraging technology and active learning.
- Participants will discover practical techniques for building authentic relationships with students, promoting trust and empathy in the classroom.
- Participants will develop actionable strategies to create a positive classroom culture, personalize learning, and empower student voice and choice.
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.
Objectives:
- Participants will learn the science and research behind the importance of developing a workplace culture of belonging and engagement.
- Participants will leave with ready-to-implement strategies to cultivate an environment of belonging and engagement.
- Participants will discover why showing up intentionally as a leader and helping employees unlock their purpose is a key component of creating a positive workplace culture.
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.
B = Building Belonging & Cultivating Connection
R = Reaching toward Purpose
E = Engaging in Self-Compassion
A = Amplifying Attention, Awareness, & Awe
T = Tapping into Thankfulness & Appreciation
H = Harnessing Negative Thoughts
E = Empowering Empathy Everyday
Objectives:
- Participants will have a deeper understanding of post-traumatic growth and the factors that strengthen resilience for our youth.
- Participants will have a deeper understanding of the roles that belonging and social connection, a sense of purpose, self-compassion, mindfulness, gratitude and appreciation, the ability to harness our thoughts, and empathy play in our students’ wellbeing and resilience as well as their engagement and performance at school.
- Participants will walk away with a number of research-based strategies and practices that they can use immediately to explicitly model and teach to students in order to empower youth with tools they can utilize to strengthen their own mental health, well-being, and resilience.
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.
Objectives:
- Participants will explore the importance of fostering a culture of respect, empathy, and collaboration to prevent conflict and promote healthy working relationships.
- Participants will gain an understanding of the causes and various forms of conflict in the workplace, including communication breakdowns, differing personalities, a competing priorities.
- Participants will develop conflict-resolution skills through learning effective communication techniques and active listening strategies for navigating and resolving conflict constructively.
- Participants will explore strategies for rebuilding trust and repairing damaged relationships, including apology techniques, forgiveness, and re-establishing team cohesion.
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.
Objectives:
- Participants will learn the science of forgiveness and why it is crucial to our well-being and resilience.
- Participants will receive strategies to release resentment and give authentic apologies.
- Participants will walk away with tools for implementing transformational discipline in their classrooms and school sites.
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.
Objectives:
- Participants will learn how to create a classroom environment that fosters a sense of belonging and security.
- Participants will receive strategies for empowering students to engage in difficult conversations and guiding them through these conversations openly and respectfully.
- Participants will leave with activities and approaches 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.
Objectives:
- Participants will learn the importance of helping students uncover and nurture their sparks.
- Participants will receive strategies to connect student sparks with academic learning and provide student voice and choice.
- Participants will leave the session with tools for developing and maintaining positive student-teacher and peer-to-peer relationships.
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.
What Students Say About Synergy Day
- “I loved how everyone shared their thoughts, and some shared their story. I loved the feeling of being trusted. One thing I loved about today’s session was the amount of trust and how much closer I feel to my peers.”
- “This was an amazing day and helped me learn so much about those around me and myself.”
- “I learned that you can help people out by just being there, you never know what people are going through and you always want to be supportive and kind even if you don’t know the person.”
Objectives:
- Participants will engage in activities designed to break down social barriers, helping them recognize commonalities and build deeper connections with peers they may not usually interact with.
- Participants will enhance their self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship-building, and decision-making abilities through structured exercises and shared experiences.
- Participants will leave with an increased sense of empathy and compassion, leading to a more inclusive, kind, and supportive school environment while reducing incidents of conflict a violence.
Sessions Parents/Caregivers
More Good Days: Brain-Based Strategies for Parenting in Challenging Times
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
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
