MOST POPULAR TOPICS

POSITIVE IDENTITY & SELF-ESTEEM

Imagine holding the key that unlocks the door to self-esteem, character development, conscience formation, academic achievement and self-discipline. Parents are the primary agents of that formation. Teachers are the professionals who maintain, strengthen or recognize identity elements that are in need of remediation.  Positive identity formation is the key.
     What is identity formation?  What kinds of practices nurture the development of security, autonomy, initiative, and industry?  How can parents know for which identity element their child needs more intentional exercise? What advice can a teacher give to a parent when a child needs development in an element of identity formation?
     This presentation responds to each of these questions with practical advice and offers a user-friendly blueprint to nurture positive identity formation.

          

SOULFUL FORMATION
Providing foundation for the lifelong process of soul formation is the responsibility of parents and the mission of the Catholic School.  Parents and teachers contribute vitally to the soul formation of a child when they communicate genuine affection and foster development of security, autonomy, initiative, and industry.  This presentation focuses on (1) the elements of soul formation, (2) behaviors that cultivate the essential elements of soul, and (3) practices that foster positive identity and self-esteem development within children.

SELF-DISCIPLINE, SELF-CONTROL, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Self-control or self-discipline are by-products of being a disciple, that is, a person who has cultivated the ability to listen to the voice of another, understand the message, and act upon it appropriately. Multiple ingredients combine to foster self-discipline: effective communication, authority style, connecting needs with behavior, applying consequences rather than punishment and expressing encouragement rather than praise.  All are learnable skills.  Children who experience positive discipline grow into self-disciplined, responsible, self-respecting individuals.
     This presentation will aid participants to identify the basic emotional needs of children that affect behavior choices.  Practical suggestions will be offered for proactive practices that redirect tendencies to mis-behavior, motivate positive behavior and foster accountability within children.

          
CHARACTER EDUCATION & CONSCIENCE FORMATION
(General Audience)  CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
(Faith-Based Audience) CONSCIENCE FORMATION
                        
     Reasoning skills, emotional skills and decision-making skills are the core elements of character development.  When cultivated within a faith context they form the foundation of conscience. The home is the loom on which the foundation for character and conscience is woven, and parents are the primary, indispensable weavers. Children develop character when parents, teachers, and significant adults model the skills with consistency, intentionality, and emotional responsiveness.

This presentation will focus on the skills and virtues that form the foundation of character; suggest parent or teacher practices that contribute to the character development of children; and explore strategies to foster moral development in age/stage-appropriate ways.

            
MORAL GROWTH

     The ability to identify stages of moral development and understand the motivational mentality of each stage is vital to soul formation or character development.  This presentation translates theory into practice, suggests ways to challenge moral reasoning, and explores ways to foster moral development in age/stage-appropriate ways for children from birth through high school.

FAMILY LIFE
     What makes the difference between a HOUSE and a HOME?  Relationships  characterized by respect, reverence and openness; communication; and family rituals.  The following presentations address aspects of living that are building blocks of a family home.

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