You have heard it before: building relationships with your students is the best method to help them succeed, handle classroom management difficulties, and establish a healthy classroom environment. Join Naomi Harm as she discusses how children's intellectual and social development can be aided by building good ties with their teachers. You will also learn strategies that will help you communicate during one-to-one meetups, uncover common interests, develop storytelling techniques, gamify the "getting-to-know-you" conversations, and bring humor and laughter back into the classroom.

While the prospect of having a difficult conversation can leave us feeling anxious and unnerved, these dialogues are important for the well-being and success of students, colleagues, and educators. Join Lauren Boucher for this time-saving, to the point session as she shares strategies for planning and navigating challenging verbal communications. You will also walk away with resources that will help reduce anxiety and mitigate confrontation to ensure these crucial conversations lead to positive outcomes for everyone involved.

Are you looking to bridge the gap between school and home to create a more collaborative learning environment for students? Research consistently shows that parental involvement positively impacts student academic achievement, behavior, and overall well-being. Join Reba Gordon Matthews for this timesaving, to the point session as we explore strategies that can improve teacher-parent interactions and increase parental engagement. You will also walk away with a variety of tools to design a communication plan that values diversity, equity, and inclusion and keeps parents and caregivers abreast of their child's progress and challenges. Get ready to transform your school community by fostering stronger connections with parents and caregivers! Reba's expertise in instructional design will equip you with the skills and resources you need to build trusting relationships, provide meaningful opportunities for involvement, and value diverse perspectives and contributions.

Do you ever wish that there were easier and less time-consuming ways to communicate with parents so that they could be more informed and involved? Communication can be a huge challenge for both parents and teachers in the fast-paced society in which we live. What resources can teachers use to help bridge the communication gap between home and school? Join Matt Bergman as he shares several free tools teachers can use to creatively communicate with and engage busy parents. You will also walk away with strategies for providing equitable communication through a variety of channels that best fits parents' needs.

Recognizing that a student may be struggling with their mental or behavioral health requires that staff, teachers, and even the school counselor get involved in contacting the family to discuss concerns and suggest outside services. However, discussions around mental and behavioral health can be difficult for a variety of reasons such as the family's receptivity of the concern, the parenting style and involvement of the parent, and the parent's own mental health. Join Támara Hill as she discusses strategies for navigating difficult conversations with students and parents. You will also learn techniques for starting and ending these discussions that will reduce your stress level and keep your relationships with families intact.

"It's impossible to pour from an empty cup." As educators, we've all heard this phrase, but sometimes it's easier said than done. Join Lauren Boucher as she shares practical tips to help you build your educator resiliency, and thrive rather than survive this school year. You will also walk away with strategies that you can use throughout your day, from the morning scramble to the final dismissal bell, and beyond!

How often do you pause to consider what balance truly looks like in your day-to-day teaching? And how might prioritizing your own wellness transform the emotional climate of your classroom? Educators are navigating constant demands, and without intentional self-care strategies, stress can easily impact both teaching and learning. Research consistently shows that educator well-being is directly linked to student emotional health, and simple, sustainable wellness practices can significantly improve the overall classroom environment. In this supportive and practical session, Naomi Louise shares realistic self-care routines that respect your time while enhancing both your personal wellness and your students' social and emotional growth. You'll explore strategies that promote calm, connection, and emotional regulation, as well as ready-to-use gratitude practices and SEL activities that strengthen your classroom community. Whether you're looking to refresh your mindset, elevate student engagement, or cultivate a more grounded teaching approach, you'll leave with actionable tools you can implement immediately.

What is a personal or professional goal you have that you've never accomplished? What goals did you have for 2020? Were you successful? Join Tiffany Thompson as she shares how using SMART goals can help clarify your ideas, focus your efforts, and use your time more productively. You will also learn how to use SMART goals to increase your chances of achieving what you want in life, positively impact your students, and improve your career as an educator.

How can collaborative teachers balance rigorous grade-level standards with the diverse needs of students with exceptionalities? What strategies ensure that every learner—regardless of ability—can meaningfully engage in writing, math, speaking, and listening? The essential standards are complex and rigorous for most students, but this is especially true for those receiving special education services. Collaborative teachers play a critical role in ensuring these students are not left behind. In this session, Melissa Mann will share practical strategies for increasing rigor while providing the right supports so students can meet grade-level expectations. You'll also explore best practices for special education teachers within the PLC process, equipping you with tools to collaborate effectively, raise expectations, and ensure student growth.

This special webinar is designed specifically for pre-service teachers! Digital connections through a professional learning network (PLN) can enrich your experience as an educator. Join Dr. Samantha Fecich as she shares tips and tricks to help you get connected through social media and build you PLN. You will learn the importance of making these connections early, as well as some ideas for collaborating with fellow educators by using Twitter and Instagram.