Training for Teachers

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Description:

A DYNAMIC WORKSHOP: Disruptive behavior and lack of discipline are the most serious problems facing teachers today. These problems waste valuable instructional time and compromise the quality of your classroom as a place for learning. In this seminar, you'll learn how to gain the cooperation and the respect you want from your students by being firm and respectful, while avoiding the traps of permissiveness and autocratic over control.

Say good-bye to all the ineffective methods that wear you down and get you nowhere! No more reasoning, explaining, lectures or threats--and no more power struggles! In one idea charged day, Dr. MacKenzie will provide you with concepts and methods that will improve the way you communicate and set limits with children. You'll learn proven techniques for teaching classroom rules and procedures, defining basic student responsibilities, enlisting parent support and cooperation, stopping power struggles before they begin, teaching responsibility and problem solving skills, and supporting your rules with natural and logical consequences. Dr. MacKenzie's approach is clear, easy-to-use, and effective with children of all ages and temperaments.

Recognized for his lively and humorous presentations, Dr. MacKenzie’s workshops are loaded with dozens of practical skills and strategies you can put to use immediately in your classroom. More importantly, you’ll learn an approach that works with all of your students…including the “strong-willed” 10% who cause 90% of your classroom discipline problems. You’ll learn the tools you need to stop disruptive behavior when it happens and gain the cooperation you expect, without giving in or exhausting yourself with coercive power struggles. Join us for a motivating and inspiring day!

Dr. Robert MacKenzie is a highly sought-after teacher trainer with more than 25 years of experience helping teachers and parents solve children’s learning and behavior problems. The author of three best selling books: Setting Limits, Setting Limits with Your Strong-willed Child, and Setting Limits in the Classroom: How to Move Beyond the Classroom Dance of Discipline. Dr. MacKenzie consults nationally in schools, parent/teacher organizations, and community service agencies.

A copy of Dr. MacKenzie's popular book, Setting Limits in the Classroom: How to Move Beyond the Classroom Dance of Discipline, will be available for each participant, as well as a full set of guidance posters for your classroom. Books and posters are also available in Spanish.

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Testimonials:

What People Say About the Workshops:

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Program Highlights:

You Will Learn How To:

• Set clear, firm limits in your classroom
• Eliminate testing and power struggles
• Manage disruptions quickly and easily
• Establish a climate of cooperation and respect
• Support classroom rules with effective consequences
• Teach Responsibility and problem-solving skills
• End problems with homework
• Increase on-task time with PAT 
• Use parents and the office for back-up support
• Create a quality environment for learning

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Syllabus:

A Full-Day Workshop Includes:

Create Structure that Works Throughout the Year

• Who really has the power and control? Some surprising mistakes!
• Introduce classroom rules, expectations, and accountability procedures on Day #1 
• Learn how to teach procedures to eliminate repetitive problems (e.g., entering and exiting)
• Tips for team building
• Keys to enlisting parent support and cooperation

Setting Limits in Your Classroom

• Discover your limit-setting style: The Permissive Approach, Punitive or Autocratic Approach, Mixed Approach, or Democratic Approach
• Learn how kids do "research" and test limits
• Discover how children really learn classroom rules
• Soft Limits- When "No" really means "yes," "sometimes," or "maybe"
• Firm Limits- When "No" really means "No!"
• Classroom dances- how they start and what keeps them going
• How to stop power struggles before they begin: The Check-In, Cut-Off, and Cool Down

Supporting Classroom Rules with Natural and Logical Consequences

• Why consequences are important in the teaching-and-learning process 
• How to use consequences effectively
• Natural Consequences or "learning the hard way," natural learning opportunities
• Logical Consequences, structured learning opportunities
• How to stop disruption with the Two-Stage Time-Out Procedure
• How to use parents and the office for back-up support
• Recess academy for students who need time to practice cooperating
• How and when to use on-campus and off-campus suspension
• Logical consequences for the playground, cafeteria, media center
• How to manage extreme behavior

Teaching Responsibility and Problem-Solving Skills

• Helping kids master skills, instruction and practice
• See why "showing them what to do" is more powerful than "explaining"
• Use "Try-it-again" to help kids make better choices and try out new skills
• Use Recess Academy for repeat offenders who need more practice
• Role Modeling is experiential teaching
• Head off power struggles by giving "limited choices"
• How to teach good work habits and organizational skills

What's Your Approach to Motivation?

• Two important models for motivating children
• What behavior are you inspiring?
• Why discouraging messages backfire more than they succeed
• Encouraging messages are the language of support and cooperation
• How to use encouraging messages in the classroom
• How to increase cooperation and on-task time with PAT (Preferred Activity Time)
• How to build positive relationships with encouragement

Meets in-service Requirements - Verification of hours of participation will be provided which may be used to meet individual continuing education or recertification requirements.

ON-SITE TRAINING AVAILABLE - Most programs are available on-site in your school or district.

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