“Good Job” Isn’t Good Enough: Real Tools to Replace Praise, Rewards, and Punishment by Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak and Dr. Julie Causton

Praise, rewards, and punishment are everywhere in early education—but are they helping or harming our efforts to create inclusive, connected classrooms?

This insight-building webinar bridges what we know from brain science with what we experience in real-life classrooms. Together with best-selling authors and consultants Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak and Dr. Julie Causton, we’ll explore how co-regulation, awareness, and intention can replace outdated behavior management systems like sticker charts, prize boxes, and empty praise.

You’ll learn how to shift from behavior control to connection using tools such as Positive Descriptive Acknowledgment (PDA), co-regulation routines, and reflective prompts to guide your responses in real time.

Expect plenty of real-world scenarios, try-it-tomorrow scripts, and opportunities to rethink how you support behavior—especially during tricky transitions and emotionally charged moments. You’ll leave with practical tools you can implement immediately to help children (and yourself) feel seen, safe, and supported.

You will learn to:

• Recognize the impact of praise, rewards, and punishment on children’s emotional regulation and inclusion.

• Apply brain-based strategies such as Positive Descriptive Acknowledgment (PDA) and co-regulation techniques to real-life classroom scenarios.

• Compare and contrast control-based vs. connection-based approaches to behavior support.

• Reflect on personal beliefs about behavior, discipline, and support—and how these beliefs influence day-to-day interactions with children.

• Develop a personal plan to replace outdated tools with responsive strategies, co-regulation practices, and intentional language shifts.