MSPA-West MA Workshop III: Tier 2 - Check-In/Check-Out and Small Group Support (Series: Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports and Social Emotional Learning Curricula in Schools)

Four Part Workshop Series: Integrating Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports and Social Emotional Learning Curricula in Schools

This is Workshop III of a four part series of workshops on Integrating Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Curricula in Schools. The series consists of Workshop I: Tier 1 - School Wide Support Overview (completed); Workshop II: Tier 1 - Classroom Support (completed); Workshop III: Tier 2 - Check In/Check Out/Small Group Supports; and Workshop IV: Tier 3 - Supporting Individual Students. Series overview below.

Workshop III: Tier 2 - CICO/Small Group Support

For this workshop, Dr. Whitcomb will review methods to support students who are at-risk for social-emotional or behavioral problems in schools.  She will provide an overview of screening for social-emotional and behavioral concerns to identify students at risk for internalizing and externalizing behaviors, as well as common intervention approaches for these students.  She will emphasize a commonly used and efficient evidence-based approach called Check-In/Check-Out that combines mentoring and explicit skill instruction, as well as small group SEL programs that can be effectively delivered in school contexts.  She will also discuss consultation methods to promote successful partnering with teachers and parents to support student needs.    

Dr. Sara Whitcomb, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the UMASS Amherst School Psychology Program. She received her doctorate from the University of Oregon and her masters from Harvard University. Her dissertation focused on the effect of a social emotional learning curriculum (Strong Start) on the emotional knowledge and skills of first grade students. Dr. Whitcomb's interests include social/emotional evaluation and learning, school counseling and support, home-school collaboration, and resiliency and its impact on school success. Dr. Whitcomb continues to develop the Strong Start SEL series initially developed by her mentor, Kenneth Merrill.  

Series Overview

Drs. Sarah Fefer and Sara Whitcomb from the School Psychology program at UMass Amherst will be presenting a series of workshops related to integrating positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) and social emotional learning (SEL) in schools.  PBIS is a framework for promoting positive behavior and reducing problem behavior for all students in schools through environmental change.  SEL emphasizes promoting student competence by explicitly teaching skills related to self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship development, and responsible decision-making. Integrating these two practices into a comprehensive multi-tiered model of support can promote positive outcomes for all individuals within a school. The purpose of this series is to share specific systems, practices, and data that will allow participants to integrate PBIS and SEL to promote success for all students in their schools.  We will draw upon the strengths and limitations of each of these approaches and will provide specific case examples to exemplify ways in which PBIS and SEL can be used together. These workshops will be appropriate for teachers, adjustment/guidance counselors, nurses, administrators, and other support staff as well as school psychologists.  

IMPORTANT NOTE!

Purchase Orders are accepted but must be submitted prior to the workshop to complete registration and to be processed in a timely fashion.

The Red Barn is handicap accessible and arrangements can be made to provide necessary accommodations. Please indicate any needs during the registration process. 

Each workshop is 3 hours long and a light dinner is served.

Please arrive a bit early so you can complete registration and a pre-test prior to 4 PM so we can start on time. Don't forget to send your purchase order or check to MSPA-West, P.O. Box 259, Hadley, MA 01035. Also, please indicate disability accommodations as necessary. We look forward to your participation in this exciting workshop and series.