The Research Ready Educator—with Dr. Nancy

I’m proud to be presenting some of these sessions! Join us at Educator U if you need some PD hours!

“This is my one thing…that’s the one thing I do!” I feel you, Taylor. Same.

Sometimes it gets spicy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way! Sometimes the students with the biggest behaviors need the most love!

Im looking forward to presenting this webinar with some of my fabulous colleagues!
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During this webinar, participants will learn how to create and use dynamic community resource maps to enhance transition planning for students with disabilities, promoting stronger school-community partnerships and more personalized, meaningful post-school outcomes.

Register now! https://bit.ly/4kMQjlD

Week 3 of my 12-week newsletter series is out now! Check it out on my Substack, here:

Week 3: Rethinking Recess: What if Behavior Support Looked Like Play? Why having students walk laps doesn't work and what to try instead.

✋ Tired of recess problems becoming discipline issues?

👟 Walking laps isn’t a behavior intervention.
Recess isn’t just a break—it’s a chance to practice the social skills our students are still learning.

That’s why I created the Research Ready Recess Kit 🎉
A free toolkit of play-based activities that teach cooperation, communication, and conflict resolution through games.

Perfect for:
✅ Para training
✅ Tier 1 behavior support
✅ Recess duty staff

👇 Grab your free copy at the link in bio
Or drop a RECESS in the comments and I’ll DM it to you!



⸻

Research Ready Educator
Dr. Nancy Welsh-Young, PhD
🧠 Bridging research and real life in special education

I have quite a few new followers lately so wanted to introduce myself. Welcome to my little corner of the internet. I’m so glad you’re here! Hi! I’m Dr. Nancy—wife, mom, education specialist, PhD researcher, and school leader.
And everything I teach is rooted in real life, not just theory.

Before I entered the classroom in 2009, I was a parent raising a child with complex behavioral needs—often as the only adult in a single-parent household.
So when I talk about supporting kids and partnering with families, I’ve lived both sides.Since then, I’ve taught nearly every grade K–12, including special education and alternative learning settings. I’ve coached teachers across multiple states and trained on behavior support and classroom management at national conferences.

With a PhD in Curriculum & Instruction (special education focus), my mission is simple:
🎯 Help teachers and families implement evidence-based practices that actually work.

Because when we’re all research ready, students can thrive. 💡

If you are in Arkansas and work in education, message me about how you can join our work on the board of Arkansas’ Council for Exceptional Children.

Are you passionate about special education and ready to make a statewide impact? We are now accepting nominations for four leadership positions on our state Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) board. Each position is a one-year term beginning this fall.

Join us in shaping the future of special education policy, practice, and professional development in our state! Message us or drop a comment below so we connect.

What's been going on at the Department of Education?

Group Contingencies — The Classroom Game-Changer You Need

Week 2 in my 12-week newsletter series on Classroom Management That Works: Research to Reality

Have you ever tried rewarding your entire class based on how well everyone behaves?
That’s called a group contingency — and it’s one of the easiest, most effective ways to build teamwork, reduce disruptive behavior, and create a strong classroom culture.

The 3 Types of Group Contingencies

✅ Independent: Each student earns the reward individually.
✅ Dependent: The group earns a reward based on one person’s behavior.
🌟 Interdependent: The group earns a reward if all (or a target percentage) reach the behavioral goal.
(This one’s the best for promoting collaboration!)

Why Interdependent Group Contingencies Work

Research shows that when used well, group contingencies:
✅ Reduce behavior problems across the group
✅ Require less time and effort to monitor
✅ Build peer connections & teamwork
✅ Promote internalization of expectations
✅ Shift focus from “me” to “we”

Try This Tomorrow

1️⃣ Set a Goal — Choose one behavior (e.g., quiet transitions).
2️⃣ Teach the Rules — “If everyone meets the goal, the class earns a point!”
3️⃣ Involve Students — Let them pick or vote on the reward.
4️⃣ Make It Visual — Keep a chart or counter where students can track points.
5️⃣ Reinforce Frequently — Point out behavior you want to continue:
“Thank you, Group B, for transitioning quietly!”
6️⃣ Reward Together — When the goal is met, the whole class wins!

🔐 Want to Dig Deeper?
Paid subscribers get access to:
🔥An editable Interdependent Group Contingency Tip-Sheet
🔥An easy-to-use Point Tracker
🔥A printable Implementation Guide
🔥Rewards Menu example

👉 [Comment: BEHAVE and I'll send you the link to subscribe to my Substack where you can read my full newsletter for free and also upgrade to paid for all the bonus materials!]
💬 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

Have you tried using group contingencies in your classroom? What worked? What didn’t?
Share your experience — I might feature it in an upcoming post!

– Dr. Nancy
📬 Because when teachers are research ready, students can thrive.

Hi there, Research Ready Educator!

Welcome to Classroom Management That Works: Research to Reality — your 12-week series to master evidence-based behavior strategies and actually make them work in your classroom.

Every week, you’ll get:

✅ A bite-sized breakdown of a proven behavior strategy

✅ Real-life examples from classrooms like yours

✅ Optional tools + templates to make it stick

✅ Sneak peeks into how you can go deeper with personalized support

Because when teachers are research ready, students can thrive.

What to Expect:

Starting this Friday morning (June 13, 2025), we’ll kick things off with “The Real Discipline Problem (and What to Do About It)” — where I’ll help you shift from reactive discipline to proactive support (based in science, not stress 😅). Make you are subscribed so you’ll get emailed when my post drops!

👀 Paid subscribers also get bonus resources, downloadable templates, and invites to exclusive coaching sessions. You can upgrade any time if you're ready to take the strategies further!

Until then, thanks for being part of this community.

Let’s make research work for real classrooms 💪 – Dr. Nancy

Make sure to subscribe to my Substack and upgrade to get all the resources! https://tinyurl.com/ResearchReadyWelcome