Programs for Educators

The educational climate is changing. Test scores, standards, and site/teacher responsibility are the focus. With this comes an increase in student drop outs, apathy, and a love of learning disconnect. Closing the gap and educational excellence will be achieved when we hold students responsible for their success and restore the love of learning in education.

Our workshops focus on creating a climate where students are responsible and self-reliant. The school sites/ classrooms are the focus (not the students) and learn to give to improve (not take). We train staff in the development and use of processes (not programs) as a method of changing the climate. We don't believe in giving staff another thing to do but rather present a series of little habits that cumulatively produces change. It works!


How to Develop Self-Reliant and Responsible Students

School Site Staff: Grade levels K - 12
Workshop: Full day or two half days

This training provides teachers with the philosophies, skills, planning, and practice needed to encourage development of responsibility and self-reliance in their students. This up-to-date, research-based, interactive series will make you think, and challenge the way you work with your students. Most teachers' actions stop or slow the learning process.

Teachers will learn how to:

 Stop rescuing and directing students in the classroom

 Reduce nagging, arguments, fighting, and emotional outbreaks

 Teach students to solve their own problems

 Reduce the discipline workload, improve academics, and increase the enjoyment of teaching

 Encourage task completion and set effective consequences

 Dialogue, collaborate, cooperate, and negotiate with your students

 Establish respect, manners, and caring among your students

 Create a giving classroom

 Develop perceptions of capability, significance, influence 


What Every Teacher Should Know About Youth Substance Abuse Presentation for school site staff- elementary, middle, or high school grade level
Time: 1 to 2 hours

Drugs are a problem on our school campuses. Decreasing the risk of students using drugs is the job of every staff member. Uninformed and action less staff allows the problem to escalate.

This education focused presentation provides the latest information on youth drug trends, what could be happening in your classroom, how to recognize if a student is involved or under the influence of drugs, what the education code says you must do and strategies for classroom/school intervention.


How to Deal With Violence, Disrespect, and Aggression in the Classroom

Presentation for Site Staff
Time: 1 to 2 hours

This research-based presentation provides school staff with skills to deal with disrespect and aggression in the classroom or school site. Teachers learn how to stay out of power struggles, stay in emotional control, keep students from acting out, and teach students to learn how to solve their own problems. 

Student Interviewing and Interrogation

Workshop for Site Administrators
Time: full day training

This workshop provides administrators with skills, strategies, and techniques to effectively deal with discipline problems resulting in suspension or expulsion. Administrators will learn education and penal code, how and when to work with law enforcement, interviewing techniques, policy development, and how to handle special situations of abuse, hate crimes, gangs and more. Learn how to be more effective in dealing with discipline problems and decrease the time spent on task. 

Stress in Education

Workshop for School Staff
Time: 2 hours

This interactive workshop looks at stress issues with teachers, support staff, and students. Staff will learn the causes of their stress, warning signs and symptoms, long and short-term health effects of stress, and how to reduce and manage stress through social emotional skill development. The workshop will also teach staff how to help and support each other, including development of stress management skills for their students.


Other Educational Consulting Services

Becker Institute additionally provides consultation to school districts in the following areas:

 Developing a Safe School Climate
 Safe School Plan Development
 Developing a Comprehensive Drug Prevention / Intervention Program Assessment and Evaluation
 Developing a Comprehensive Violence Prevention / Intervention Program Assessments and Evaluation

Developing a Comprehensive Life Skills Program Addressing Risk and Protective Factors Programs for Students

"As a high school senior I already knew a lot about drugs, but Mr. Becker raised my level of knowledge and I now understand the importance of not using drugs. "Just say no" does not work for me. This approach does! Thank you Mr. Becker, I'll share this information with my friends."
- Beth



Power, Control and Trust:
Getting What You Want in an Adult World

Grade level: 6-12
Student Assembly: 55 minutes

In this eye-opening presentation, students learn how to use five positive manipulators to get what they want in an adult world without the destructive residue left when using negative manipulators. Students will learn the importance of:

 Giving information
Telling the truth
 Solving one's own problems
 Staying in control
 Positive affirmation 


*Recommended reading for student home use is the book of the same name: Power, Control and Trust: Getting What You Want in an Adult World.
Click here to buy it now


What Your Friends Haven't Told You about Alcohol

Grade Level: 7-12
Student Assembly: 55 minutes

One drink can kill. This interactive presentation helps students understand the physical effects of one drink of alcohol, binge drinking, why youth have problems controlling their usage, and how to stay out of the drinking scene. Students will also learn prevention life skills to help them deal with other drug use.

What Your Friends Haven't Told You about Marijuana

Grade Level: 7-12
Student Assembly: 55 minutes

Get past the hype about marijuana being "natural". This interactive presentation provides students with information about the dangers of marijuana usage. The physical, social, and emotional problems associated with marijuana use, including the effects on the brain and its pleasure centers are addressed in plain language. Students will also learn prevention life skills to help them deal with other drug use.

What Your Friends Haven't Told You about Designer Drugs

Grade Level: 10-12
Student Assembly: 55 minutes

Ecstasy, GHB, Special K and more. This interactive presentation provides students with information about the dangers of designer drug use. The issues of drug impurity, strength, and effects to the body will be presented. The students will also learn prevention life skills to help them deal with other drug use.

How Many Pizzas Can You Eat?

Grade Level: 5th - 10th
Student Assembly 55 minutes

This interactive presentation provides students with life skills necessary to understand limits and how to be responsible for the limits set by themselves and others. The students will learn three types of limits (natural, social, personal) and how to use them. Program comes with a teacher component.

The Black Box

Grade Level: 5th - 10th
Student Assembly 55 minutes

The black box is an interactive presentation dealing with youth/adult communication skills. Students will learn the importance of giving adults accurate information, and how to develop active listening, and problem solving skills. Program comes with teacher component.

Note: This is an expanded component discussed in the Power, Control, and Trust presentation. Recommended reading for student home use is the book of the same name: Power, Control and Trust: Getting What You Want in an Adult World.
Click here to buy it now

Special Names (Bullying Prevention)

Grade Level: K-2
Small group Assembly (40-50 students) 20 -30 minutes

This interactive presentation teaches young children what to do when called names or bullied. The skill teaches children to use a standard assertive mantra and walk away. Program comes with teacher component. 

The Game (Bullying and Violence Prevention)

Grade Level: 3rd - 12th
Student Assembly 55 minutes

This interactive presentation teaches students what to do when being bullied or harassed by other student or adults. Victims learn how not to become victims, how their brain works, how to maintain emotional control and change the rules of a game so they stay in control, and how to walk away and save face. Spectators will learn what they can do to help others. Program comes with teacher component.



Click me for more information, to schedule one or more of these workshops at your school, or to register.