Available Services and Workshops

Dr. Tanner’s research and experience have shown that when culturally responsive strategies are used, student achievement increases and with it, parental involvement. This workshop takes participants through an overview of research-based theories which explain many of the causes behind low achievement in historically underserved populations. With each theory, participants will be invited to connect the information to their own current experience and apply adjustments to their approach, incorporating strategies to reach students and their parents.  

Establishing, nurturing and maintaining interpersonal relationships with students and parents is an essential part of effectively reaching and teaching underserved populations. This workshop will explore the influences of researched based theories such as Cultural Ecology, Deficit Theory, and Critical Race Theory. These theories and many others provide a basis for understanding the lack of trust that many students and parents have with the educational system. Participants will learn the reasons behind this distrust and will walk away armed with strategies to build effective trusting relationships with all stakeholders. 

As teachers of diverse populations, it is essential that we are equipped with strategies to help us effectively reach the various cultures we encounter. This workshop walks the participants through many different culturally responsive educational theories and explains the connection each of these theories has with effective classroom management. Participants will come away armed with a new set of tools with which to create culturally responsive lessons that will, in turn, create well managed, effective classrooms. 

Culturally responsive teaching is rarely taught as part of teacher preparation coursework. As a result, many teachers feel under-prepared to meet the needs of the wide variety of students they encounter in their classrooms. Through an exploration of research-based theories regarding learning styles, locus of control, and culturally responsive theories, participants will gain a new understanding of the children they teach and how to effectively instruct each and every one of them. This workshop helps teachers to understand that it is indeed true that “all children can learn,” if you are equipped with the proper tools to effectively reach them. If you have felt underprepared to reach your diverse classroom needs, this workshop is the perfect place for you to start. 

Recognizing the importance of parental involvement, Dr. Tanner has written a powerful parenting guide, Parents Need Help Too! A guide for parents of school-age children. Among countless other parenting concerns, the presentation and book includes strategies for motivating an unmotivated child academically. Most importantly, this presentation and book addresses all the major areas of raising a healthy child (physical, intellectual, psychological, environmental, and social). This presentation and book is also available in Spanish.

There are a wide variety of culturally based reasons that parents are not actively involved in their students’ education and/or school. This workshop will explore, in detail, many of those reasons, providing explanations and strategies for increasing the involvement of parents.  

Knowing your students’ learning styles is essential to increasing their achievement and engagement in the material of your class. This workshop will explore the research behind Global and Analytical learning styles. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of these two learning styles and will have practical ideas for applying this knowledge to their teaching.