Solutions For Today's Parents and Teachers
Catherine W. Mallam, M.S.Ed.
Professional Development for Educators
Fast-paced workshops offering practical strategies for teachers
"Put Your Feet on the Floor:" Strategies to Support Executive Functioning Skills
Well into the school year, some students cannot get started on even routine assignments. Others have emotional reactions that consume their day. Still others cannot stop one activity and start another. What is going on? This workshop examines eight sub-domains of executive functioning skills, their impact on classroom performance and behavior, and strategies to support children with executive functioning weaknesses.
Understanding and Supporting Anxious Children
A first grader clings to their parent at the start of the school day. A fourth grader constantly asks to use the restroom because of compulsive hand washing. A seventh grader panics before tests and grades are suffering. Anxiety is the most common mental health problem in childhood and adolescence, and the emotional and behavioral symptoms are usually present at school. This workshop examines the causes, symptoms, and treatments for childhood anxiety as well as helpful strategies and reasonable accommodations to support anxious students in the classroom.
Beyond "Mean Girls:" Understanding Girls' Friendships and Conflicts
"BFF's" and "frenemies." These terms have crept into the vocabulary of even our youngest girls and educators are often confronted with the unique challenges of supporting girls' friendships. This presentation examines the nature of girls' play and interaction patterns; cliques, conflicts, and conflict resolution strategies; and the impact of media messaging and technology on girls' friendships. Rather than merely labeling girls as "mean," this workshop also celebrates the strengths girls bring to their friendships and provides educators with the tools to help girls have healthy relationships, become more assertive, and learn positive conflict resolution strategies.
