This 2-day workshop focuses on behavior of students - and teachers.  By understanding the essence of motivation - why a person does what he/she does - a teacher can redirect inappropriate behavior and, more powerfully, direct behavior in a manner that promotes growth.  Based on years of research and professional development workshops, this first session provides educators with the tools and understanding necessary to not only change behavior but to enhance the classroom experience for everybody.  This leads into the Safe, Fun, Comfortable Learning Environment which gives educators the elements that create a classroom that promotes student growth, emphasizing teacher mindset and actions. This 2-day workshop has literally changed the way teachers teach and how students learn.

Participants will learn:

All Students Are Motivated - Just Wait for the Bell! 18 Keys to Redirecting Students' Motivation

based on Kjell Fenn's book All Students Are Motivated - Just Wait for the Bell!  18 Keys to Redirecting Students' Motivation

I wrote this book after years of research and providing professional development to educators throughout Connecticut and at national and statewide conferences, and even internationally.  It is a topic of extreme interest and fascination to me. Four theories form the foundation of my research: expectancy theory, self-efficacy theory, self-worth, and achievement goal theory as well as hope theory, growth mindset, and qualitative research such as student panels, student surveys, and personal experience.  This is all within a framework of self-determination theory (see Table of Contents and Introduction) . 

What makes this workshop very different from others of similar topic, is that I believe wholeheartedly in practical approaches and "Monday morning" application, meaning that after this professional development, participants will be able to apply what they have learned with real-world strategies, techniques, tips, and ideas.

Available at Amazon.com

The Safe, Fun, Comfortable Learning Environment: Creating Exponential Student Growth

This is a session based on years of classroom experience and learning from many other teachers - both good and bad.  It focuses on how the teacher can create an atmosphere in the classroom that promotes student growth.  By having certain attitudes and beliefs, which are the basis for actions and behaviors, our students will learn more (than without these attitudes and beliefs) and will enjoy it along the way. 

As you can imagine, this session and the Student Motivation session go hand-in-hand, building each other up.  There are seven elements (have high expectations, be responsive to students, create situations win which students gain success, be enthusiastic, show you care about students, provide praise and recognition regularly, and promote collaboration) which create an environment in the classroom that makes teaching fun for both student and teacher.  More importantly, it produces an emotional and psychological appeal to learning.