Do you talk with kids at school? If you answered yes, this course is for you! We developed this course for all educators - and everyone who talks with kids is an educator. This course is designed for teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, educational and instructional assistants, bus drivers, office staff, after school providers, camp counselors, and the list goes on!

The virtual course consists of nearly two-hours of lessons, approximately 5 -15 minutes in length. The course can be taken at your own pace.

The course provides a certificate of completion for two hours of professional development. Many districts have approved this for professional development for their educators. Please check with your individual district to ensure approval.

Yes! Once you complete all the lessons in the course, you will be prompted to download a certificate of completion for two hours of professional development.

Yes, we do! Please reach out to us directly to inquire about discounts for bulk licenses. When all the educators in your organization learn these strategies, you will build capacity and a common language. It is a powerful way to build a culture of connection in your school community!

Absolutely not. We believe strongly that students need to be held accountable for their behavior as this is part of the learning process. What we describe in our work are techniques and strategies that will reduce unexpected (challenging) student behavior in the first place and provide productive ways to respond to student behavior when it does occur. It is in the conversation with students, along with outlining the consequences to their actions, that the learning occurs. 

No. This set of strategies works with any behavioral framework that already exists in your school, so long as it is trauma-informed and culturally responsive. These are techniques, conversational approaches, and mind frames designed to enhance the system that already exists. 

Share your successes! Give them the playbook! We love the fact that this is an approach that you can begin using on your own. Other educators will notice, and want to learn your tricks. Individual educators doing this work is awesome, and when a whole school community becomes Connected Communicators, it is transformative! Consider engaging in a staff-wide book study utilizing the book and the free study guide. Better yet, invite Erika and Tiffany to come lead the work at your school. They provide a variety of professional development options that can be tailored to your school or district’s needs. 

When a student is continually showing the same behavior, we recommend planning a Connected Conversation with them utilizing compassionate communication. Carefully complete the Connected Communicator Planning Guide described in Chapter 4 of our book, Connecting Through Conversation: A Playbook for Talking with Students , and then follow the steps within Compassionate Communication described in Chapter 14. If this conversation does not eliminate the behavior, consider completing the Connected Communicator Behavior Planning Guide found here and described in Chapter 2. 

We never give up on trying to connect with a student’s caregiver, and yet there are times when we are unable to partner as we would like. Continue to send communication to them electronically, if phone calls are not possible. Hold compassion, as we often do not know the challenges that the caregiver faces. In extreme cases, we may need to consider outside resources and agencies to help advocate on the student’s behalf. When this is necessary, work with your school team to coordinate services. Although there is much outside of our control as educators, we know we can control the 6 - 7 hours a day they are with us. Focus on what we can control and provide the best possible support during the school day. 

Start by going back through the Connected Communicator Behavior Planning Guide. Maybe you need to rethink the function of the behavior, or perhaps reconsider how the consequences were impacting the student. Sometimes we have to try this a few times before we get it right! Run your thoughts by a team of educators who are also familiar with the student and see what their thoughts are. If the situation is extreme, enlist the help of specialists in your building or district who can support. If the team is stuck, invite Erika or Tiffany to consult and provide some new ideas! 

Continue to Care Out Loud. Remind them that you care about them no matter what, and there is nothing they can do about it. Let them know that you are here when they are ready, and continue to reach out. The key is not to give up. When a student appears not to care this is often a cover for something else. We suggest planning a Connected Conversation utilizing the framework in chapter 4. Ask them to partner with you in finding a connection to the content or school in general. What ideas do they have to increase their engagement? Their success is important to you - make sure they know that by telling them explicitly.