Name: Under Construction™: Adolescent Brain Development in Real Classrooms
Start: 2026-09-10T10:30:00-0700
End: 2026-09-10T11:30:00-0700

Under Construction™: Adolescent Brain Development in Real Classrooms

Thursday September 10, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am PDT

32 A-B

Under Construction™: Adolescent Brain Development in Real Classrooms is a highly interactive session translating adolescent brain science into practical, educator‑ready strategies that improve behavior, engagement, and learning. The session begins by addressing a common challenge in middle and high schools: adolescent behavior is often misunderstood and punished rather than interpreted through a developmental lens shaped by brain maturation, stress sensitivity, and evolving executive functioning.

Participants are introduced to the BUILD™ Model—Belonging, Understanding risk‑reward systems, Impulse buffering, Learning through errors, and Dignity‑preserving accountability—as a framework for aligning instruction, discipline, and MTSS supports with how the adolescent brain develops. Brain myth‑versus‑fact polls engage participants in debunking common misconceptions and building shared understanding of impulse control, decision‑making, and emotional regulation.
Using real‑world school scenarios, participants engage in facilitated, small‑group problem solving to apply the BUILD™ framework to classroom responses, discipline decisions, and policy alignment while maintaining accountability and safety. Structured discussions explore how misaligned policies can unintentionally escalate adolescent behavior.

The session concludes with guided application and reflection, ensuring participants leave with ready‑to‑use tools, including a Decision‑Making Delay Tool, Risk‑vs‑Reward Interview Guide, and a Brain‑Aligned Discipline Planning Sheet. Grounded in evidence that brain‑aligned approaches improve self‑regulation and decision‑making, this session equips educators to respond to behavior with clarity and purpose while supporting mental well‑being as a foundation for learning.

Continuing Education Information

Course Syllabus | Speaker Resume | Session Flyer | Course Attendance | Course Evaluation

Upon completion of the course, attendance form, and evaluation, you will receive a Confirmation of Attendance Certificate through email. If you do not receive your Confirmation of Attendance Certificate within ten business days, please contact [email protected]

This course meets the qualifications for 1.0 hours of Continuing Education Credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Wellness Together, Inc., Provider #141369, is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor Continuing Education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs. Wellness Together maintains responsibility for this course and its content.

Speakers

Dr. Tiffany Chaney

LPC S, PSC, Climate & Culture Specialist, Harris County Department of Education

At the heart of everything I do is a deep commitment to children. I believe every child deserves champions who see their strengths, nurture their potential, and help them navigate life's challenges. As a School Climate and Culture Specialist, I work to build school communities where... Read More →