The Hard-to-Engage Student: Strategies to Minimize Work Avoidance, Increase Connectedness, and Enhance Academic Success for Struggling Students

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Handouts/Brochure

Speaker

Savanna S. Flakes, EdS, CAS Related seminars and products

Inclusion for a Better Future, LLC

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Savanna Flakes, EdS, CAS, is an award-winning teacher, experienced instructional leader, and educational consultant who has taught a variety of subjects and led professional development for multiple school levels on a range of topics such as differentiation, literacy interventions, inclusion, co-teaching, and specially designed instruction. Educators who have worked with Savanna have often commented on her experience and knowledge of differentiated instructional strategies to ensure every learner has access to the curriculum and is ready for 21st century success. She is an engaging and enthusiastic international presenter who believes that every child has talents to offer and can be a contributing member in our classroom, school, and society. Savanna holds an education specialist degree in administration leadership, a post masters certificate in education leadership, and curriculum and instruction: literacy, and special education. She is a national board-certified teacher (NBPTS), an international education technology standards certified teacher (ISTE), Google Certified Educator, and the author of a best-selling education book, Shaking Up Special Education: Instructional Moves to Increase Achievement.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Savanna Flakes is the CEO for Inclusion for a Better Future, LLC. She is an adjunct professor at the American University in Washington DC. Savanna Flakes receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Savanna Flakes is a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the Learning Forward, TASH, and the Council for Exceptional Children.

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Outline

Activities & Instructional Practices To… 

Build A Connected Classroom Community 

• The neuroscience behind school classroom connectedness: Ideas for working with student diversity 
• Cooperative learning structures to promote teamwork: Experiential activities 
• Components of building positive and effective relationships with teacher/peers 
• 10 Strategies to Reduce classroom anxiety and increase student belonging  

Principles of Engagement  

• Five important “Principles of Engagement” 
• High-leverage inclusive practices 
• Equitable brain-based instructional opportunities  
• Lesson plan ideas and templates 

Differentiated Instruction 

• Effective, cutting-edge, research-based instructional strategies  
• Key components of exemplary programs 
• Dynamic assessment strategies to inform instruction 
• Flexible grouping practices to remediate and accelerate learning 
• Co-teaching success strategies 
• OT, SW, SLP, teacher: Collaboration at its finest 

Supporting Academic Success 

• Technology tools and resources to support engagement and completion 
• The power of visuals and video for task initiation, working memory, and sequential thought 
• Scaffolds and supports to engage students with special needs in writing opportunities 
• Proven strategies to increase sustained attention 
• Resources, resources, resources! 
• Video demonstrations of students demonstrating mental flexibility in rigorous problem- solving activities 

Brain-Based Engagement Strategies 

• Innovative strategies to reduce classroom anxiety and increase student connection 
• Powerful instructional moves to increase achievement 
• Trauma-informed grounding strategies  

Rethinking Behavior 

• The power of Social Emotional Learning 
• Quick on-the-spot behavior interventions that get big results 
• Growth vs fixed mindset: Research-based case studies 
• Build perseverance: Video demonstrations 
• Develop resilience toward rigorous and complex tasks 
• Mistakes as opportunities and prevent fear of failure 

Objectives

1. Implement structures to provide positive learning environments and effective teamwork structures to support students with positive social behaviors and relationships with peers and adults. 
2. Apply instructional strategies to support students with working memory, organization, and language across the academic curriculum. 
3. Evaluate differentiated instructional strategies to accommodate children’s areas of instructional need in writing, reading, and math. 
4. Assess various grouping strategies in academic content to match various student learning profiles.  
5. Analyze common barriers to engagement and incorporate appropriate strategies to accelerate learning progress.  
6. Differentiate an upcoming lesson activity using the resources and brain-research to increase student motivation. 

Target Audience

• Educators 
• School Administration 
• Counselors 
• Social Workers 
• General Education Teachers 
• Special Education Teachers 
• School Social Workers 
• School Occupational Therapists 
• School Paraprofessionals