Creating a positive classroom culture is essential for student engagement and achievement. In this session, educators will explore practical strategies to build a classroom environment grounded in respect, safety, affirmation, and academic excellence. Participants will reflect on current practices, analyze real-world scenarios, and walk away with actionable tools and a personalized culture action plan. Join us to strengthen the foundation that makes rigorous and joyful learning possible.
Dr. Terry L. Buxton, Sr. is a veteran educator, pastor, and speaker with over 18 years of experience in K–12 and higher education in Oklahoma. He has taught middle and high school English, served as a Dean of Students, ELA Department Chair, and has led district professional development... Read More →
Join me to learn about or get new ideas for your Brain Smart Start! It's expected in all EPS classrooms, so what is it and how do I make them engaging? No slidedeck needed! Conscious Discipline's Brain Smart Start is where classroom connections begin and classroom management is maintained. Let's talk about the who, what, when, where, and why of it!
Imagine a classroom where conflicts become opportunities, emotions are tools for connection, and discipline is rooted in compassion rather than control. Conscious Discipline isn’t just a behavior management strategy—it’s a transformational approach to teaching and leading with intention. In this workshop, you’ll discover how to create a safe, connected environment where both adults and children thrive.
Are you starting your first (or second… or third) year of teaching and looking for ways to get your classroom running smoothly while staying calm and confident? Join the Secondary Early Career Coaches for a session on seven classroom management basics as well as key questions every classroom needs answered before day one. With these tools, you’ll create an environment where everyone feels supported, engaged, and ready to succeed. Come connect, reflect, and leave with a few solid strategies to start the year strong.
Jordan is an Early Career Coach at EPS and a former Psychology teacher and History teacher of 16 years. He currently works mostly with first-year secondary teachers in the district helping them develop classroom management and instructional skills.
Today’s students are juggling distractions and limited attention spans—and so are we. This session dives into the power of “chunking” instruction to match how the brain learns best. By breaking content into manageable segments and using intentional transitions, teachers can boost student focus, improve behavior, and create smoother lesson flow. We’ll explore brain-based research, practical examples, and classroom-tested techniques that help students stay attentive, engaged, and on track. Walk away with tools to plan lessons that feel lighter, flow better, and work harder—bit by bit.
Tired of classroom behavior struggles? Are you feeling like you're not reaching every student? This session is for you! We'll spill the tea on research-based strategies, uncover ways to respond professional, and gain a deeper understanding of why some students act out. You'll leave inspired, more confident, and equipped with a bag full of tricks.
I have had the honor of teaching in Edmond Public Schools for 6 years now. I am LETRS trained, as well as a teacher consultant through the Oklahoma Writing Project, an affiliate of the National Writing Project. I have taught Kindergarten, 1st grade and am currently going into my 4th... Read More →
Get ready for a deep dive into the Feeling Buddies Self-Regulation Curriculum! In this session, you’ll gain a clear understanding of how to teach children to identify, manage, and respond to big emotions through Conscious Discipline’s powerful framework. We’ll explore each Feeling Buddy, uncover the important “whisper messages” behind every emotion, and practice strategies to notice and respond to emotional cues in children. You’ll also learn how to create and implement a Safe Place that truly supports emotional regulation in meaningful, lasting ways. Whether you’re new to Feeling Buddies or ready to deepen your skills, this hands-on training will equip you with practical tools to build a calmer, more connected classroom.
When teachers respond to challenging behavior with trauma-informed practices, we shift from control and punishment to connection and support. We will start by diving into trauma-informed foundations - impact of trauma on brain development and behavior, building emotional safety, trust, and relationships with students, what trauma-informed classrooms look like. Overview of the brain and behavior - how trauma keeps students in a reactive state and the behavior is communication, not necessarily a choice in the moment a trigger happens. Understanding power struggles and triggers - common triggers for students, how teachers may unintentionally escalate the problem behavior, shifting the perspective from compliance to cooperation, teaching students the skills to de-escalate, and trauma-informed alternatives to engaging in a power struggle. Practical strategies for being proactive as well as during and after escalation, followed by a period of building a toolbox together.
This will be a lecture and interactive type workshop including visual aids, scenarios/role playing, discussion, action plan template, strategy tool-kit creating, and handouts for teachers to take with them. There will be a middle school focus, however, the information and strategies shared could be applied across all grade levels.
