Event Description
Are you tired of constantly reacting to challenging behaviors in your classroom? Do you find yourself caught in cycles of frustration, punishment, and limited results? Join us for an intensive 4-hour workshop that will revolutionize how you understand and respond to student behavior.
In this transformative session, you'll discover how to shift from the traditional DRAIN model (Deficit-based, Reactive, Alienating, Individual-blaming, Negative) to the powerful ASCEND approach (Anticipatory, Strength-based, Context-dependent, Environmentally conducive, Needs-driven, Dynamic).
What You'll Experience:
Hour 1: Reframing Behavior as Communication We'll begin by examining how behavior serves as communication for unmet needs. Through engaging case studies and guided reflection, you'll learn to decode the messages behind disruptive behaviors and recognize patterns that traditional approaches often miss.
Hour 2: From DRAIN to ASCEND - The Practical Shift Dive deep into each component of the ASCEND framework through hands-on activities that demonstrate how to:
Anticipate challenges before they arise
Identify and leverage student strengths
Recognize contextual factors influencing behavior
Design supportive classroom environments
Address core needs driving behaviors
Implement dynamic, responsive strategies
Hour 3: Toolkit Development Roll up your sleeves and create your personalized behavior support toolkit with:
Planning templates for proactive behavior support
Documentation tools for tracking patterns and progress
Environmental assessment checklists
Strategies for sensory-friendly classroom adaptations
Scripts for strength-based student conversations
Hour 4: Implementation Planning & Collaborative Support Leave with a concrete action plan and support system:
Develop your 30-day implementation roadmap
Practice difficult conversations using provided scripts
Establish protocols for parent and colleague collaboration
Create feedback loops to measure progress
Connect to ongoing support resources
What Makes This Workshop Different:
This isn't just another theory-heavy presentation. You'll engage in practical exercises using real classroom scenarios, walk away with ready-to-use tools, and join a community of educators committed to transforming their approach to student behavior.
Your Presenter(s)
Greg Wolcott
Greg Wolcott currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning at Woodridge School District 68 in Woodridge, Illinois, a suburb 30 miles west of Chicago. As an educator in the Chicagoland area for over 20 years, Greg is passionate about developing opportunities for all students to succeed as well as finding ways for all teachers and staff members to utilize their strengths to maximize the learning of each and every child whom they interact with on a daily basis.Greg consults throughout the United States on a variety of subjects including adult learning, developing innovative practices in the classroom to engage all learners, formative assessment to drive instruction, response to instruction/intervention, and data usage for school improvement.