Professional Development
Our approach to professional development (PD) delivery is grounded in research-based principles of adult learning, ensuring that professional development is relevant, usable, and engaging. We intentionally design materials using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) so they are adaptable and responsive to the varied needs of educators and paraprofessionals.​ Educators are treated as skilled professionals, and every component of our sessions is designed with clear intent and direct application. We emphasize interactive learning experiences that honor participants’ expertise, maximize engagement, and provide tools that can be implemented right away.
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Browse our list of common sessions below, or reach out to discuss a custom PD topic to support your school's unique needs. ​​​These trainings and workshops can be offered in person (Illinois or nearby areas) or virtually!
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To request a PD, contact us below.
Applicable to all Tiers
Defining and Understanding Challenging Behavior
Have you ever worked with a student and wondered, "WHY does she keep doing that?" Collecting antecedent-behavior-consequence (ABC) data will help you find the answer! This PD will teach you how to objectively define behavior and collect meaningful ABC data to help get to the root of the purpose (function) of students' challenging behaviors. 1-3 hours based on preference
Beyond Stickers & Candy: Finding Natural, Practical, Motivating Reinforcers
Whether looking for class-wide or individual motivators for behavior, preference assessments can help! This PD will cover tips for how to choose effective, inexpensive (or free!), naturalistic rewards to use as motivators for desired behavior. 1-2 hours based on preference
Simple Behavior Data Collection in the Classroom
Progress monitoring on behavior is imperative for students receiving, or at-risk for being referred for, tiered or special education behavior support. This PD provides easy, simple methods for teachers to collect objective, quantitative data on behavior to measure progress. 1-3 hours based on preference
Tier 1 Behavioral Interventions
From Chaos to Community: Class-wide Behavior Supports
This training describes low-intensity, high-impact Tier I behavior practices that should be implemented in every classroom. Practical examples for how to explicitly teach desired behaviors, increase opportunities-to-respond within instruction, improve rates of behavior-specific praise, and an introduction to class-wide reinforcement systems will be discussed. 1-3 hours based on preference
Class-wide Function-Related Intervention Teams (CW-FIT)
CW-FIT is an evidence-based class-wide behavior management procedure that includes four main components: 1) explicit instruction of desired behaviors that address common functions of disruptive behavior in the classroom; 2) dividing the class into teams of 4-6 students; 3) delivering points and behavior-specific praise to groups where all students were on-task at the time the teacher checks; and 4) delivery of a brief reward to teams who met a pre-determined point goal.
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Note: Amanda is a certified district coach in CW-FIT. Training is a mandatory 3 hours and includes access to resources for implementation, video exemplars, and role-play. Training must occur in groups of 10 or fewer.
Tier 2 Behavioral Interventions
Teaching Students to Self-Monitor Behavior
Self-monitoring is research-supported Tier 2 behavior intervention to support students who struggle with remaining on-task during instruction. Self-monitoring involves teaching students to identify their own behavior and self-record their performance. First, students are taught to record accurately, then teacher co-monitoring is slowly faded until the student is recording their behavior independently. A review of available self-monitoring applications will also be provided. 2-3 hours based on preference
Making the Most of Check-in/Check-Out (CICO)
Check-In Check-Out is a common Tier 2 intervention used in schools, but is it being used effectively? This PD will cover what research says about how to implement CICO to fidelity to create real change in students' behavior. We will cover what behaviors CICO is appropriate for, and how to structure CICO so that it is objective and meaningful. 1-2 hours based on preference.
Incorporating Tier 2 into CW-FIT
While CW-FIT is primarily a Tier I intervention, it does include two options for Tier 2 components as needed. This session will describe how to use self-management and help cards within CW-FIT. 1-2 hours based on preference
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NOTE: Tier I CW-FIT training is a mandatory pre-requisite
Tier 3 Assessment & Intervention
Functional Behavior Assessment-informed Behavior Intervention Planning
Students with persistent and/or dangerous challenging behavior that have not been responsive to Tiers I and 2 supports may benefit from function-based individualized Tier 3 behavior interventions. These sessions are a deep-dive into conducting functional assessment, developing behavior intervention plans, and training, implementing, progress monitoring, and maintaining fidelity of the plans.
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This can be offered as a series covering all 7 topics or some topics can be chosen as stand-alone trainings, however all sessions have a prerequisite of Session 2, Defining Behavior & Identifying the Purpose (Function).
1. Overview of FBAs/BIPs
Introduces learners to functional behavior assessment (FBA) and development of function-based, evidence-based behavior intervention plans (BIPs). We will cover optional and mandatory components of FBAs and will review the basic components of function-based BIPs. 1.5 hours
2. Defining Behavior & Identifying the Purpose (Function)
This session describes how to operationally define behavior and collect antecedent-behavior-consequence data to hypothesize the purpose (function) of challenging behavior. 2 hours
3. Quantitative Data Collection & Graphing
This session reviews different types of quantitative data collection (frequency, duration, interval recording) and how to use and graph these data to make decisions. 2 hours
4. Function-based Preventative Strategies
Using information from ABC data, learners will identify and describe preventative strategies to decrease the likelihood of the challenging behavior occurring. 1.5 hours
5. Function-based Replacement Behaviors
This session will describe how to identify and teach function-based replacement behaviors for challenging behavior. 2 hours
6. Function-based Responses/Consequences to Behavior
This session will put it all together and describe how to develop effective reinforcement systems to improve desired and replacement behaviors, and how to respond to challenging behavior to help reduce the likelihood of reoccurrence in the future. NOTE: It is highly recommended that sessions 4 & 5 also be presented prior to this session (in addition to the required pre-requisite of session 2). 2 hours
7. Teaching Others to Implement BIPs and Monitoring Fidelity
Whether you are a consultant supporting teachers, or a teacher supporting a paraeducator, this session will teach you how to support others to implement BIPs to fidelity, and methods for monitoring fidelity of implementation. 2 hours
Special Education Focused
Collaborating, Supervising, and Coaching Paraeducators
Overseeing paraeducators is an important and challenging role for special educators. This session covers up-to-date research and best practices for special education teachers in their collaboration, supervising, and coaching of paraeducators to support students with disabilities. 1-3 hours based on preference
Supporting Autistic Students
This training will describe common characteristics of autism and review frequent misconceptions and non-evidence-based fads. We will then cover what research actually says about autism and evidence-based practices to support students with ASD. Using videos and blogs from autistic adults, we will briefly cover the neurodiversity movement and how to approach supporting students with ASD from a disability-justice lens. 1-3 hours based on preference
Functional Communication Training for Students with Extensive Support Needs
This training will teach learners how to use functional communication training (FCT) to support students with significant disabilities who engage in challenging behavior in the classroom. This session is specifically geared towards supporting students who have limited communication abilities. 2-3 hours based on preference
Professional Development Interest Form
Interested in talking further about one or more of these workshops? Send us a message with the titles and any other details, and we will get back to you soon!