When reading and writing feel overwhelming, many students respond by shutting down or avoiding the task. In this session, we explore how brain-based regulation strategies and foundational literacy supports can help struggling readers and writers re-engage in learning. Participants will leave with practical classroom strategies—such as movement, flexible seating, and emotional regulation tools—that reduce overwhelm and increase student confidence.
Students are more likely to engage, regulate, and learn when they feel safe, seen, and connected. This session explores the importance of building strong relationships with students before placing academic or behavioral demands. Participants will learn how connection serves as the foundation for regulation and positive behavior, and why correction without connection often leads to resistance, escalation, or shutdown.
Through real-world classroom examples, this presentation will highlight practical strategies for establishing trust, using co-regulation, and responding to challenging behavior with empathy and consistency. Educators will leave with tools they can immediately apply to reduce power struggles, support emotional regulation, and create environments where students are ready to learn.
Go behind the scenes of a special education classroom to explore the exact policies, schedules, and daily routines that turn a teacher-para relationship into a powerhouse team. Learn how to align your duties and plans to create a seamless environment where both staff and students thrive.
In this interactive session, we’ll share how we cultivate independent, confident leaders in elementary classrooms through purposeful structures, debate, student voice, and our Junior Teacher Cohort model. You’ll leave with actionable ideas to create meaningful leadership opportunities in your own classroom!
I have been in the classroom, both as a general education and inclusion teacher, for the past 19 years. I love bringing learning to life through engaging lessons that keep the kids guessing as to what is coming next.
