Michael Thompson
Parenting for Peace - Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Workshop for Educators and Parents, 3:30 - 5:30 pm

Parent-Teacher Communication
Carter Hall @ Friends School of Portland 

This highly interactive workshop facilitated by Michael Thompson, Ph.D, will offer classroom teachers, childcare providers, school administrators, parents and guardians, and community educators the opportunity to learn about the importance of family involvement in school and best practices for enhancing communication between educators and caregivers. Thompson will share some research about what gets in the way of successful communication, but the emphasis of the workshop will be on the skills, habits and practices involved in developing strong relationships and communication within school communities. A resource list and book fair will provide opportunities for continued engagement with this topic. Workshop participants are encouraged to stay for supper and the evening program, below.

Workshop fee is $35 and includes a snack and light dinner. The fee with .5 CEU's is $60 and requires attendance at dinner and the evening program, as well as participation in an online follow-up.

Registration is required.

Evening Lecture, 7:00 pm, Free & Open to the Public

Best Friends/Worst Enemies: Friendship Development, Popularity and Social Cruelty in Childhood
Hannaford Hall @ USM's Abromson Center 

This free evening lecture walks adults through the complex social world of childhood and addresses a number of questions:  What is the normal sequence of child friendships, from the parallel play of the two-year-old to the intimate self-disclosure of the adolescent? How can parents best respond to sticky social situations? How can we help our children become good friends to others, while maintaining their own individuality? When should adults get involved in children’s friendship problems? Please join us for this important discussion with renowned author and psychologist Michael Thompson.

Free and open to the public. No registration required.