Supporting Student Behavior at School: Strategies that Work

In the morning, there will be a keynote presentation by Dr. Laura Riffle.  Everyone will attend this session.

AM Session: Positive Interventions and Effective Strategies in the Classroom Level with Dr. Laura Riffle

Classroom teachers come to the school psychologist looking for answers to help students be successful in the classroom. This morning presentation will focus on simple evidence based strategies that will help learners of differing abilities be successful in the classroom. Focus will be on strategies for ADHD, LD, ODD, and ASD. All of the strategies are from personal stories which will show the value of engaging in a few environmental changes to set the students up for success.

In the afternoon, you must select one of the following workshops to attend.  Please note that if one workshop is not selected, the default option will be attendance at Dr. Laura Riffle’s afternoon session.

1) The Road from Functional Behavior Assessment to Behavioral Intervention Planning with Dr. Laura Riffle

Using a competing pathway chart with classroom teachers, many times will help them see the trigger, the target, and the treat the student is trying to access or escape. This presentation will focus on using a free tool that graphs Antecedent, Behavior, and Consequence (ABC) data and show school psychologists how to teach classroom teachers how to plug this graph into a competing pathway chart. Dr. Riffel has successfully used this tool to train thousands of teachers, who have little behavioral training, how to conduct their own functional behavior assessment.

2) Using Daily Report Cards in an Integrated Model of Screening and Intervention with Dr. Robert J. Volpe

As a result of attending this workshop, participants will:

• 1.      Understand the barriers to universal screening and intervention for student social-emotional problems.
• 2.      Understand how to efficiently identify students in need of classroom-based interventions to support student social behavior.
• 3.      Become familiar with the utility of daily report cards as a method of assessment and intervention.
• 4.      Know how to efficiently design and employ daily report cards as an evidence-based intervention
• 5.      Know how to use daily report card data to monitor student progress

3) Integrating Mindfulness into Schools with Dr. Christopher Willard

Join bestselling author, psychologist and consultant Dr. Christopher Willard in this half-day workshop on bringing mindfulness to kids in schools. Dr. Willard will be sharing proven practices that can be used by therapists and other professional looking for practical and creative ways to sharing mindfulness and contemplative practices with students and staff alike. Mindfulness is more than just breathing, and so is this workshop. Participants should be prepared for an interactive learning experience practicing mindfulness through awareness, movement, games, play, and creative activities for all ages.

Learning differences, cultural differences, developmental differences, not to mention settings like classrooms or offices all affect how children learn best, and this workshop explores ways to adapt mindfulness, rather than approach with a one-size fits all approach. We will discuss workshop with cover tailoring techniques to a range of presenting issues, including depression, anxiety, ADHD, executive function challenges, addiction, impulse control difficulties, trauma and stress.  Different practices will engage different learning styles through arts, sports, games, music, technology and more, for attention spans ranging from 30 seconds to 30 minutes. 

Annual Business Meeting

Please note that during lunch, the Massachusetts School Psychologists Association will conduct its annual business meeting.

Payment Information

Members: $150; Nonmembers: $235

Students: $45; Student Nonmembers: $65

For those wishing to pay by purchase order, please complete registration, print the invoice, and mail invoice and district purchase order PRIOR to the event to:

Kristine Camacho

65. St. John St.

Palmer, MA 01069

For those wishing to pay by check, please complete the registration form, print the invoice, and mail check to:

Kristine Camacho

65 St. John St.

Palmer, MA 01069

*Please note that MSPA charges a $75 cancellation fee for cancellations received prior to the conference. *

Continuing Education Policy

The Massachusetts School Psychologists Association is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to offer contact hours. The DESE requires the completion of a pre-test, which is to be completed prior to the workshop start time. A post-test is also required and will be given at the end of the conference. Participants must attend the ENTIRE CONFERENCE and satisfy state regulations in order to receive 6 contact hours. Each participant is responsible for knowing and meeting the DESE licensure requirements.

CE HOURS: The Massachusetts School Psychologists Association is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists to sponsor continuing education (CE) for psychologists. In keeping with NASP requirements, these are awarded in contact hours only. CE hours will be awarded at the close of the conference.  MSPA maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Arriving more than 15 minutes late or failing to stay for the entire program will result in the inability to obtain a PD certificate.  Certificates will only be distributed at the conclusion of the program.

General Directions to the Hotel

From East

• Follow the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) West to Exit 12
• Bear Left after the toll (turns into Route 9 West towards Framingham)
• Stay in the right lane. The hotel is the first building on the right

From North 

• Take Interstate 93 South to Exit 37B (Interstate 95 South/Route 128 South towards Waltham)
• Follow I-95/Rte. 128 South to Exit 25 (Interstate 90 West/Massachusetts Turnpike)
• From the Massachusetts Turnpike take Exit 12 and bear left after the toll (turns into Route 9 West towards Framingham)
• Stay in the right lane. The hotel is the first building on the right

From West 

• Follow the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90) East to Exit 12
• Bear left after the toll (turns into Route 9 West towards Framingham
• Stay in the right lane. The hotel is the first building on the right

From South 

• Take Interstate 95 North to Exit 6B (Interstate 495 North towards Worcester)
• Continue on I-495 North for about 25 miles. Take Exit 22 (Massachusetts Turnpike/Interstate 90 East) towards Boston
• Follow the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) East to Exit 12
• Bear left after the toll (turns into Route 9 West towards Framingham)
• Stay in the right lane. The hotel is the first building on the right

From Boston Logan International Airport

• Follow signs to Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) West
• Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) to Exit 12, Framingham
• Bear left after the toll booths, following signs to Marlborough, Route 9 West
• Stay in right lane as you merge onto Route 9 westbound
• Hotel entrance is on your right