The R.T. Garcia Early Childhood Winter Conference is Saturday, Jan. 27. Get a glimpse of the valuable resources you’ll receive by attending through our series of featured teacher tips from our superb presenters. This year, we supplement our grades pre-k through 2 curricula with optional sessions for educators who teach children ages birth-3. #ECWC18

Dan St. Romain is a national educational consultant who is passionate about helping individuals shift their perspective on behavior. He regularly presents on topics impacting school climate, brain-based instruction, developmentally appropriate educational practices and presentation skills.

Lesson: Many teachers spend a great deal of time rewarding behavior. Stickers, tokens and behavior bucks are all used to reinforce positive behaviors. If the goal is to create internal motivation for behavior change, teachers must guard against over-emphasizing external means to do so.

To really create long-term behavior change, target one goal (that is easiest to accomplish) and have ongoing discussions of progress. Skill development, in the form of teaching, with continuous feedback on progress will be more effective in creating long-term behavior change than any item chosen from a prize box.

To learn more, attend Romain’s sessions at the Early Childhood Winter Conference Saturday, Jan. 27 at the Kingdom Builder’s Center, 6011 West Orem.

Session descriptions:

Systems Failure: Moving Beyond the One-Size-Fits-All Approach to Behavior Management
Join Dan to learn about the downfall of behavior tracking systems and why time out, clips systems, behavior folders and office referrals don’t work. You will also discuss specific ways to support behavior with regards to prevention and intervention efforts in the classroom.

It’s Just a Stage: A Guide to Developmentally Appropriate Behavior
Wondering if a student’s behavior is typical? Join Dan to examine typical behaviors associated with young children in all areas of development. Gain new insight that will help you work with parents, encourage independence, make retention decisions and design appropriate interventions.

Literature, Language and Life-Skills: Oh My!
Although our inclination is to teach the way we were once taught, as times change, so must our strategies. In this fast-paced session, participants will have fun examining how social, emotional, ethical and cognitive skills can be taught through the use of literature and interactive reading strategies.

Learn more about the conference and register at www.hcde-texas.org/ECWC.