Professional Development

Miriam Empowers through Education Seminars

Miriam, a premier provider of special education services in the St. Louis area, offers in-person professional seminars to schools and parent groups within the St. Louis, Missouri metro area. Seminars are available Monday through Friday, during daytime hours. Some seminars are also available in the evening.

For over 67 years, Miriam has provided special education to thousands of unique learners age 2-18. Through our K-12 independent school and community-based Learning Center, Miriam reaches over 1700 students annually to help children learn and grow. The Miriam Empowers through Education program trains professionals and parents in topics that help improve outcomes for children and adolescents who learn differently.

Call 314-961-1500 for seminar pricing and availability.

PUBLIC EDUCATOR LEARNING

Running an Effective Eligibility Meeting (2 hours)

Public educators will learn effective ways to present testing information to parents to engage them as a partner in education. Participants will learn strategies to present information in a non-clinical way. They will also learn how to use charts and visuals to help with explanations. Testers will learn to write eligibility statements that meet DESE standards.

Response to Intervention (2 hours)

DESE requires that public schools try different interventions before they test a child for IDEA services. This seminar will talk about different interventions schools can use to help students and the required RTI documentation.

Running an Effective RED Meeting (1 hour)

Public educators will learn effective ways to run a Review of Existing Data (RED) meeting.

LEARNING FOR ALL EDUCATORS

Accommodations and Modifications in the Classroom (2-3 hours)

General education teachers can flounder when determining what accommodations or modifications help unique learner in their classroom. Knowing tools that they can try empowers teachers to effectively work with students who are struggling to learn.

Co-Teaching Arrangements (3-6 hours)

Co-teaching occurs when a general education teacher collaborates with a specialist who works with English Language Learners, students with disabilities, or other special populations. Professionals will learn co-teaching methods, effective co-planning strategies, administrative responsibilities, and ways to foster co-teacher relationships.

Identifying Dyslexia and Other Learning Disabilities within the School Setting (1.5-2 hours)

Educators will learn to identify symptoms in their students that may indicate a child has Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, or Dysgraphia. Teachers will understand the difference between an educational and medical diagnosis for a learning disability.

Thinking Routines: Helping Students Become Good Thinkers (3-6 hours)

Based upon Harvard University’s Project Zero, classroom routines can significantly deepen student’s critical thinking skills to help guide them through thought processes. This seminar explores Project Zero’s Thinking Routines that can aid teachers in scaffolding learning. Teachers will learn to encourage students to take others’ perspectives and to dive deeper into ideas by fostering creative and inclusive classroom discussions.

Classroom Interventions for the Child with Executive Function Difficulties (2-4 hours)

Children with executive function difficulties often struggle to get work completed, can appear disinterested in learning, and often can become disruptive. Educators will learn how executive function issues affect learning and they will receive strategies to improve learning.

Improving Classroom Management in the Early Childhood Setting (2-3 hours)

Educators will learn new tools to address the social and emotional issues of their young students so they can become more self-regulated. Professionals will learn to identify the functions of dysregulated behavior. The instructor will explore ways to increase student compliance through positive behavior supports and other empirically proven interventions.

SENSORY INTEGRATION/OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY STRATEGIES

Self-Regulation Using Occupational Therapy in the Classroom (1 hour)

Educational professionals will learn occupational therapy (OT) strategies to help students with self- regulation within the classroom. Teachers and other professionals will take away OT tips to support students who have trauma, ADHD, Autism, and other conditions that may interfere with focus and learning.

LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

How to Differentiate a Disability in an English Language Learner Student (2 hours)

Working with students who have limited English proficiency can be confusing when they show weaknesses in speaking, writing, and reading English. Professionals can learn ways to differentiate learning differences from a disability in English Language Learners.

MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

School Crisis Response; Is Your School Prepared? (2-3 hours)

Suicide, school shootings, and other crises are happening more often and schools must be prepared to deal with all types of situations. Learn what your school can do to prepare for and handle a mental health crisis such as a suicide and other traumatic events. This seminar will begin the process of schools starting a crisis response plan.

Supporting Anxious or Depressed Students in the Classroom (2 hours)

Teachers and other educators will better identify and understand the symptoms of anxiety and depression in students and will learn tools they can use to help students who are experiencing mental health symptoms.

Navigating Challenging Relationships in Schools (1-2 hours)

Educators will learn effective communication and conflict resolution skills that will improve team functioning within the school environment. Professionals will explore ways to deal effectively with people who come from different backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives.

Stress Management and Self-Care for the Educator (1-2 hours)

Teaching in our current educational climate can be stressful. Often professionals focus on the students and not on their own needs. Learn ways to manage stress through self-care, so you can be the best educator and avoid burnout.

Technology Addiction (1 hour)

Is technology addiction real? This seminar will answer this question and will help educators and parents understand how technology affects the developing brain.

Regulation Strategies to Calm Overwhelming Emotions in the Classroom (1.5 hours)

Professionals will learn basic neurobiological concepts about regulation and dysregulation, including overwhelming emotions, which can cause classroom disruptions. Participants will learn teacher, student, and caregiver strategies and resources for building skills to increase emotional regulation within the classroom.

The Basics: What I Need to Know about Suicide (1-2 hours)

Educators will learn to talk openly about suicide, suicidal thoughts and self-harm and address these issues with a child and family if the child discloses thoughts or intention. They will understand how to assess a child to see if they need to get a professional involved to do a full assessment. Teachers and other educators will learn how staff can implement a safety plan within the school.

Breaking the Stigma on Suicide (2-4 hours)

Educators will receive all of the basics indicated in the seminar above and will be provided a more in- depth look at suicide research and how this affects students. Participants will learn to implement systematic interventions (ASIS and PALS) when a student discloses and through role-playing, activities, and games, will become more confident to handle situations.

Grief Support in the School Setting (1 hour)

The death of a parent, grandparent, or animal, or loss of home or parental divorce can all trigger a grief response in children. Educators will learn the stages of grief and strategies to help children who are experiencing loss.

Implementing Behavior Plans with Fidelity (1-2 hours)

Behavior modification can produce positive behavioral results in the classroom when teachers are reinforcing the correct behaviors. Educators will learn fundamentals of behavior modification. They will get an overview of writing behavior plans, data collection, and implementing plans with fidelity.

The Trauma Sensitive Classroom (1-2 hours)

We are now aware that trauma affects children in different ways and that these experiences can influence learning. Educators will learn symptoms of trauma. They will learn to help students who have experienced trauma by creating a trauma sensitive classroom.

Living with Anxiety (1.5 hours)

This seminar will help teachers, students, and parents understand anxiety and its effect on learning and everyday life. Participants will learn coping strategies to address symptoms and achieve a more stress- free life.

FOR PARENTS

Mental Health Warning Signs in Children and Adolescents (1.5 hours)

Every parent needs to know the warning signs that their child is not mentally in a great place. Knowing the signs of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other mental health issues is empowering. Parents will have time for questions and they will receive community resources.

Parenting Children with Mental Health Issues (1.5 hours)

Parents will learn parenting tips based upon empirically based interventions, to help children who have anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Parents will have time for questions and the presenter will provide community resources.

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