Program Overview

The "Behavior is Language" program is an interactive distance learning course designed to provide participants with a new perspective on student behavior and effective tools for facilitating positive student change.

Program Details

• Instructor: Karen Lea, Ph.D.
• Grading Method: Letter (Letter)
• Credits: 3
• Department: EDUC (2000)
• Academic Level: K-12 Professionals
• Start/End Dates: 01/12/2026 - 05/08/2026
• Register By: 04/17/2026
• Term: Spring 2026
• Location: Online
• Instruction Mode: Internet Asynchronous (online class)
• Cost: $300

Description

This program helps participants understand what students are trying to tell them through the "language" of their behavior. It provides a developmental framework for understanding student behavior and offers creative, effective solutions to behavioral problems.

Objectives

Participants will:

• Review and discuss how students communicate thoughts, feelings, emotions, issues, and fears through their behavior when they cannot communicate verbally and learn to effectively interpret student behavior.
• Understand and explain how a child's World View develops and factors that may cause this view to negatively impact student behavior both in and out of the classroom.
• Articulate a child's Inner World development and factors that may cause this development to negatively impact student behavior both in and out of the classroom.
• Discuss how students attempt to script teachers into familiar authority roles that may be counterproductive to the student's education and behavioral adaptation.
• Learn, discuss, and do further research on the effects of safety, consistency, and trust on the classroom environment, student behavior, and learning outcomes.
• Describe how to recognize when students are setting up potential power struggles that can negatively impact classroom safety, control, behavior, and learning.
• List and discuss general rules about student-to-student and student-to-staff personal space issues and how to set guidelines and policies around personal space that are effective for all students.
• Recognize family issues and dynamics that may strongly influence a student's behavior, causing social, emotional, and behavioral issues in the school setting.
• Review and describe how some parents may become enmeshed with their child and be unable to separate parent needs from the child's needs and how, in or out of their awareness, parents may actually sabotage the student's educational experience.
• Learn how students with siblings may be involved in sibling rivalry issues and how those issues could negatively impact the student's relationships with peers and disrupt the learning process.
• Understand and explain how educators may have negative thoughts and feelings about certain students and/or may counter-transfer negative thoughts and feelings onto their students.
• Use effective and efficient methods to gather information on family dynamics and structure that may be used to plan an effective behavioral intervention plan for the student.
• Discuss how educators' own issues and Ego Tortures can influence and impact how they work with certain students and groups.
• Employ a behavioral intervention system that is individualized; is sensitive to each student's social, emotional, and behavioral issues; and maximizes each student's chances of correcting and/or effectively monitoring their own behavior to achieve positive academic learning outcomes.
• Practice the most effective methods for giving verbal and non-verbal behavioral reminders to students.
• Learn and practice the most effective methods for assigning students interruptive time-outs and methods for verbally debriefing students off of these time-outs.
• Learn and practice the most effective methods for assigning written debriefs to students needing to discuss their behavior and come up with acceptable behavioral alternatives.
• Learn and practice the use of a quiet area, which students may be assigned to when behavioral intervention is required.
• Learn and practice when and how to assign In-School-Suspensions to students who exhibit out-of-control behavior that is threatening, unsafe, and/or damages property.
• Learn and practice when and how to assign Out-of-School-Suspensions, which align with state and district policies, to students who exhibit out-of-control behavior that is threatening, unsafe, and/or damages property.

Materials

Course materials are available online as part of the course. The title of the course material is "Behavior is Language: Strategies for Managing Disruptive Behavior" by Dr. Karen Lea/Mick Jackson.

Testimonials

• "THE OBJECTIVES WERE CLEAR AND LAID OUT WELL. I KNEW WHAT EACH CHAPTER WAS ABOUT."
• "VERY WORTHWHILE COURSE. I UNDERSTAND HOW BEHAVIOR IS SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST HOW YOU ACT, BUT THERE ARE MANY COMPONENTS THAT GO INTO IT."
• "IT WAS VALUABLE BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW AND WHY STUDENTS BEHAVE IN CERTAIN WAYS, AND HOW TO BEST HELP THEM SUCCEED."
• "THERE WERE MANY RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR ME TO USE IN MY TEACHING, BUT MORE WOULD ALWAYS BE BETTER."
• "VALUABLE INFORMATION, A LOT OF IDEAS TO TAKE TO MY CLASSROOM."
• "THIS WAS A GREAT COURSE TO HELP ME LEARN HOW TO BE A BETTER TEACHER FOR MY STUDENTS AND UNDERSTAND THEM MORE. IT WAS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO WORK AT MY OWN PACE TO COMPLETE THE ONLINE COURSE."

North Dakota State University

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Overview:

North Dakota State University (NDSU) is a public, land-grant, research university located in Fargo, North Dakota. It is a top-ranked R1 institution, known for its commitment to student-focused learning and its dedication to research. NDSU provides affordable access to an excellent education that combines teaching and research in a rich learning environment.

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Services Offered:

The university offers a wide range of services to its students, including:

Admission:

NDSU provides comprehensive admission services, including application assistance, financial aid information, and campus visits.

Academic Programs:

NDSU offers a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines.

Campus Life:

NDSU provides a vibrant campus life with various co-curricular activities, dining services, residence life options, and athletic events.

Student Support:

NDSU offers support services such as career advising, counseling, and wellness resources.

Research Opportunities:

NDSU provides ample research opportunities for students to engage in cutting-edge research projects.

Online Programs:

NDSU offers a variety of online degree programs for students seeking flexible learning options.

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Student Life and Campus Experience:

NDSU offers a vibrant campus experience with a strong sense of community. Students can participate in various co-curricular activities, including clubs, organizations, and sports. The university also provides a variety of dining options, residence halls, and recreational facilities.

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Key Reasons to Study There:

Affordable Education:

NDSU offers an excellent education at an affordable price.

Research Opportunities:

NDSU is a research-intensive university, providing students with opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research.

Hands-on Learning:

NDSU emphasizes hands-on learning, providing students with practical experience in their chosen fields.

Strong Faculty:

NDSU has a strong faculty committed to teaching and mentoring students.

Vibrant Campus Life:

NDSU offers a vibrant campus life with a strong sense of community.

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Academic Programs:

NDSU offers a wide range of academic programs, including:

Agriculture and Biological Systems:

NDSU is a leading institution in agriculture and biological systems, with strong programs in areas such as animal science, plant science, and biotechnology.

Engineering and Architecture:

NDSU offers a variety of engineering and architecture programs, including civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and architecture.

Health Sciences:

NDSU has a strong presence in health sciences, with programs in areas such as nursing, pharmacy, and public health.

Humanities and Social Sciences:

NDSU offers a variety of humanities and social sciences programs, including English, history, and political science.

Business and Economics:

NDSU has a strong business and economics program, with programs in areas such as accounting, finance, and marketing.

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Other:

NDSU is committed to diversity and inclusion, and it offers a variety of resources and programs to support students from diverse backgrounds. The university also has a strong commitment to sustainability and has implemented a number of initiatives to reduce its environmental impact.