Creating and Maintaining a Positive Classroom Environment (ECE-K)

This session will focus on strategies to create a positive classroom environment for all learners. This includes ways to be proactive in establishing and maintaining classroom expectations and in managing challenging behaviors. Children's social-emotional development is key during the early childhood years and can have a big impact on classroom climate and challenging behavior. Strategies will be shared to support children in managing their emotions, learning strategies for children's self-regulation and other ideas for supporting appropriate behaviors within the early childhood classroom. Information to be shared in this presentation is aligned with the Social and Emotional Development domain within the Early Childhood Indicators of Progress: Minnesota's Early Learning Standards.

Katie Gag serves as the Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Coordinator for River Bend Education District. She provides coaching and support to teachers working with children ages birth - 5 with identified special needs. Katie is a former graduate of St. Paul's Lutheran School and Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School in New Ulm. From there she went on to attend the University of Minnesota where she receive her Bachelors in Early Childhood Education as well as her Masters of Education. .