Breakout Sessions & Speakers 2019

Breakout Sessions & Speakers 2019

This year’s program features breakout sessions with a stellar line-up of education and child behavioral experts speaking on topics related to the teen brain, executive functioning, sleep and teens, improving communication, addressing homework challenges, fostering independence, and more!


10:15 am – 11:30 am Breakout Sessions 1

“Is That Me Yelling?” with Rona Renner, RN

Yelling is a common form of discipline often caused by being stressed, tired, ​overwhelmed, or having a ​spirited ​child.  It’s easy for frustration, anger, or fear ​to trigger irritability or yelling, and many parents report they just don’t know what to do when their children misbehave. Together we’ll find effective ways for you to guide your children, without losing your cool, as you learn to have more harmony at home.

“The Art of Inspiring Students to Study: 10 Ways Parents Can Nag Less and Change the Conversation about Studying, Homework and Grades” with Gretchen Wegner

In middle school the academic rigor bumps up a notch, but students also crave more independence while they simultaneously are more likely have emotional meltdowns when they become overwhelmed by the uptick in teacher expectations. The balancing act for parents is tricky! How do you help students prepare effectively for tests and quizzes (when often they’ve never been taught how to study!) while also nurturing them emotionally but without interfering in their desire for independence? In this interactive workshop we will explore five practical tips for parents to navigate this balancing act.

“3-2-1 LAUNCH: Getting Ready for High School” with Marcia Bedford & Jess Dang

Marcia Bedford

Jess Dang

High school can loom large in the imagination. It’s a period of momentous growth and awakening, when choices can have a lifelong impact. A rising ninth grader will encounter a fundamentally different school structure, heightened performance expectations, and the powerful current of social life, all of which vary greatly from school to school. These changes arrive at the developmental moment when teenagers begin to assert their independence, and as a parent you may wonder, “Will my child succeed high school?” or simply “Will my child be OK?” In answer, Julia Morgan School for Girls offers a student-centered high school support program that aims to cultivate independence and a healthy big picture perspective. Parents are encouraged to step back so their children can step up, taking ownership of the process.

“Field Guide to Executive Functioning: Jumpstarting Your Tween’s Frontal Lobes” with Beth Samuelson

You’ve heard the term and you know it has something to do with why your child’s backpack looks like a disaster zone. Executive functioning is more critical than IQ, literacy, or numeracy on how students perform in school. And it isn’t even fully “functioning” until our late twenties! Wondering what you can do to help a student with jump starting homework, organizing information and materials, and prepare more effectively for tests? This is your workshop if you’d like to better understand . . .

“Translating Sleep Science into Sleep Solutions for Tweens, Teens, and Their Families: Evidence Based and Reality Tested Interventions to Improve Teen Sleep” with Monique Thompson

A growing body of research shows that we are raising a generation of teens who are over-stressed and under-slept. A 2014 report published by the American Academy of Pediatrics called the issue of tired teens a “national epidemic.” The most recent poll on teens from the National Sleep Foundation found that more than 87% of high school students in the US are getting less than the recommended minimum of 8 hours of sleep. More recent studies find that the amount of sleep teens are getting is decreasing rapidly as social media and technology are invading teen’s bedrooms.


11:45 am – 1:00 pm Breakout Sessions 2

“Snaps, Chats & FOMO” with Katie Topper

Take an inside look at your child’s social media experience. We’ll start with some basic skills training then delve into the “behind the scenes” or the subtext of current social media apps. If possible, bring a smartphone and please download Instagram and Snapchat before the workshop.

“Is That Me Yelling?” with Rona Renner, RN

Yelling is a common form of discipline often caused by being stressed, tired, ​overwhelmed, or having a ​spirited ​child.  It’s easy for frustration, anger, or fear ​to trigger irritability or yelling, and many parents report they just don’t know what to do when their children misbehave. Together we’ll find effective ways for you to guide your children, without losing your cool, as you learn to have more harmony at home.

“The Art of Inspiring Students to Study: 10 Ways Parents Can Nag Less and Change the Conversation about Studying, Homework and Grades” with Gretchen Wegner

In middle school the academic rigor bumps up a notch, but students also crave more independence while they simultaneously are more likely have emotional meltdowns when they become overwhelmed by the uptick in teacher expectations. The balancing act for parents is tricky! How do you help students prepare effectively for tests and quizzes (when often they’ve never been taught how to study!) while also nurturing them emotionally but without interfering in their desire for independence? In this interactive workshop we will explore five practical tips for parents to navigate this balancing act.

“Field Guide to Executive Functioning: Jumpstarting Your Tween’s Frontal Lobes” with Beth Samuelson

You’ve heard the term and you know it has something to do with why your child’s backpack looks like a disaster zone. Executive functioning is more critical than IQ, literacy, or numeracy on how students perform in school. And it isn’t even fully “functioning” until our late twenties! Wondering what you can do to help a student with jump starting homework, organizing information and materials, and prepare more effectively for tests? This is your workshop if you’d like to better understand . . .

“Translating Sleep Science into Sleep Solutions for Tweens, Teens, and Their Families: Evidence Based and Reality Tested Interventions to Improve Teen Sleep” with Monique Thompson

A growing body of research shows that we are raising a generation of teens who are over-stressed and under-slept. A 2014 report published by the American Academy of Pediatrics called the issue of tired teens a “national epidemic.” The most recent poll on teens from the National Sleep Foundation found that more than 87% of high school students in the US are getting less than the recommended minimum of 8 hours of sleep. More recent studies find that the amount of sleep teens are getting is decreasing rapidly as social media and technology are invading teen’s bedrooms.