Course curriculum

  • 1

    ⛈️Welcome

    • Overview

    • Learning Objectives
  • 2

    ⛈️ Understanding Challenging Behaviors

    • Behavior is Communication

    • Core Premise: Behavior Is Communication

    • Influences & Factors That Shape Behavior

    • Differentiating Typical vs. Challenging Behavior

    • From Behavior to Function / Purpose

    • Strengths Lens & Relationship Focus

    • “Understanding Challenging Behavior in Young Children”
  • 3

    ⛈️ The Science of Stress and Regulation

    • You Can't Teach Calm from Chaos

    • Why Science Matters for Calm

    • The Brain Under Stress

    • Toxic Stress Derails Healthy Development

    • The Stress Response Cycle

    • The Nervous System: Your Inner Regulator

    • The Connection Between Adult and Child Regulation

    • How Stress Shows Up for Educators

    • Regulation Tools That Rebalance the Brain

    • Why This Matters for Children
  • 4

    ⛈️ Regulating Yourself in the Moment

    • Quote

    • Why Self-Regulation Matters in the Heat of the Moment

    • The Regulation Gap: The Seconds That Matter Most

    • The CALM Framework for In-the-Moment Regulation

    • Step 1: Center Yourself — Ground the Body First

    • Step 2: Acknowledge Your Feelings — Name It to Tame It

    • Step 3: Let Go of Control — Focus on What You Can Influence

    • Step 4: Model Calm — Be the Anchor

    • Micro-Resets: Tiny Acts of Calm

    • Co-Teacher Support: Tag Out, Don’t Tap Out

    • After the Moment: Reflect and Restore

    • Practical Classroom Example

    • Mantras for In-the-Moment Calm

    • Dr. Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model: Regulate, Relate, Reason

    • Feeling Triggered? Practice These Steps To Calm Yourself So You Can Respond Instead of React
  • 5

    ⛈️ Co-Regulating with Children

    • What Is Co-Regulation?

    • The Science Behind Co-Regulation

    • The 3 Pillars of Co-Regulation

    • How It Works in Practice

    • Scripts for Co-Regulation

    • Co-Regulation Example

    • Common Educator Challenges (and How to Respond)

    • Tools and Environments That Support Co-Regulation

    • Co-Regulation as a Teaching Tool

    • The Long-Term Impact

    • The Way We Respond to Children's Distress Will Either Strengthen or Weaken Our Bond With Them

    • Key Takeaway
  • 6

    ⛈️ Positive Support Strategies for Challenging Behaviors

    • Quote

    • The Purpose of Positive Behavior Support

    • Understanding the “Why” Behind Behavior

    • The Pyramid of Positive Support

    • Where Do I Start? Responding to Challenging Behavior through Responsive Relationships

    • Why Isn't It Getting Better Yet? Behavior Intervention using Targeted Social Emotional Supports

    • When It's Still Not Enough: Intensive Behavior Intervention

    • Proactive Classroom Strategies

    • Responsive Strategies When Behaviors Happen

    • Teacher Language That Builds Safety

    • Restorative Teaching Moments

    • Positive Reinforcement That Feels Genuine

    • Connection Before Correction

    • Team Support and Reflective Practice
  • 7

    ⛈️ Bringing It All Together

    • Calm isn’t a destination — it’s a daily practice.”

    • Why This Matters

    • The Ripple Effect of Calm

    • The Educator’s Regulation Cycle

    • How to stay calm when you know you'll be stressed | Daniel Levitin | TED

    • Team Calm: A Shared Culture

    • Key Takeaways Summary