In a world where conflict is usually equated with violence, and therefore, fear is a common reaction, it is essential to underscore the opportunities presented by conflict. When violence emerges as a predominant aspect of conflict, these opportunities are lost. Conflicts emerge constantly from our perceptions of the commonplace events of everyday life, and demonstrate what each individual considers to be important and relevant to them. Thus, the elements for the peaceful settlement of a conflict are to be found in the conflict itself. In this course, teachers will learn how to more effectively express and mange the value differences, tensions, and misunderstandings associated with conflict. At the same time, they will be able to teach their students how to acknowledge one another, and build understanding based on the real needs of those involved in the dispute. Teachers will be guided on how to effectively establish a conflict resolution and peer- mediation program in their classroom as well as in their schools. All of the necessary skill training, practice, and resources will be provided. Course Objectives 1. To help students define conflict and its connotations; identifies common societal messages about conflict; reviews the major kinds of conflicts we encounter. Standard 2: A Safe and Healthy Environment Students will acquire the knowledge and ability necessary to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment 2. To explore three basic approached to conflict, the effectiveness of each, and how they interact with each other. Standard 2: A Safe and Healthy Environment Students will acquire the knowledge and ability necessary to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment 3. To build skills to understand and manage anger and other strong emotions more effectively, exploring the important role emotions play in conflict. Standard 2: A Safe and Healthy Environment Students will acquire the knowledge and ability necessary to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment 4. To describe the communication process and the factors that influences it, and focus on the role of cultural differences in the communication process. Standard 2: A Safe and Healthy Environment Students will acquire the knowledge and ability necessary to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment 5. To help students put together effective listening and speaking skills for better interpersonal understanding; providing practice in a collaborative problem solving process. Standard 2: A Safe and Healthy Environment Students will acquire the knowledge and ability necessary to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) In-serice credit only

Every teacher has become a teacher of literacy. Impacting students’ abilities via journal usage creates learners with exceptional style and fortitude. Journal writing in all subject matters enriches the student and creates a sense of accomplishment and aptitude. In this course, teachers will utilize dialectical journals, reader’s journals, reader’s responses, written conversations. They will integrate aspects of their lives that promote advanced analysis, communication skills, descriptive, narrative, and persuasive writing techniques. *A must for K-12 Educators!!!! ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) In-service credit only

Learning is a lot like bike riding. Once you have the knack, you never really forget the skill. Nor do you forget the thrill of learning a new ability or understanding a complex idea. You are a lifelong learner and you love it. Why have so many students never discovered this thrill? Why are they coasting when they could be racing along in the educational Tour de France with their peers? What can teachers do to engage the disengaged student? This course will help teachers keep students highly engaged throughout an entire lesson and encourage students to contribute their ideas and insights as a way of enhancing their own and other students’ learning. Learning Outcomes At the completion of this course students will be able to: 1. Expect students to help define topics and determine how they can be studied 2. Link content to students’ prior knowledge and experience. 3. Ensure that students are mentally engaged in all activities and assignments 4. Allow students to initiate and adapt learning activities and projects. 5. Form instructional groups that work to achieve learning goals. 6. Choose suitable instructional materials for lessons and encourage students to select resources that will help them learn 7. Teach highly coherent, well-planned, and well-paced lessons that include time for student reflection ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) In-service credit only

The course is designed to enhance the knowledge base for professionals in an era of school restructuring, technological innovation, and social change. Teachers and administrators will learn first-hand about innovative practices and recent research in the field. Topics include: student self-assessment, teacher reflection, cooperative learning, mentoring, the use of technology in schools, home-school communication, inclusion to support learning diversity, and the challenge of school restructuring. Areas covered are: Learning Theory, Curriculum Design, Classroom Atmosphere, and Instructional Strategies among others. This course also covers the dilemma children face who are experiencing difficulty in learning situations because of ethnic group frustrations in the community, problems of social adjustment, socio-economic inequities, and learning gaps. The role of the school in facilitating the program for children of various cultures to become valued members of the community is discussed. Activities, content, and materials are related to current and relevant frameworks and standards. Recommended for all instructors K – 12. Course Purpose: The direct aim of this course is to add to personal professionalism as an educator by becoming more attentive to current issues in schools today and by being informed of some of the choices available to empower teachers in their own classrooms, including theories, methods, strategies, techniques, and ways to differentiate instruction to further aid student achievement. ON-LINE (3 Credits – 45 Hours) In-service Credit only

In a world where conflict is usually equated with violence, and therefore, fear is a common reaction, it is essential to underscore the opportunities presented by conflict. When violence emerges as a predominant aspect of conflict, these opportunities are lost. Conflicts emerge constantly from our perceptions of the commonplace events of everyday life, and demonstrate what each individual considers to be important and relevant to them. Thus, the elements for the peaceful settlement of a conflict are to be found in the conflict itself. In this course, teachers will learn how to more effectively express and mange the value differences, tensions, and misunderstandings associated with conflict. At the same time, they will be able to teach their students how to acknowledge one another, and build understanding based on the real needs of those involved in the dispute. Teachers will be guided on how to effectively establish a conflict resolution and peer- mediation program in their classroom as well as in their schools. All of the necessary skill training, practice, and resources will be provided. Suitable all educators K – 12. COURSE OBJECTIVES AND STANDARDS 1. To help students define conflict and its connotations; identifies common societal messages about conflict; reviews the major kinds of conflicts we encounter. Standard 2: A Safe and Healthy Environment Students will acquire the knowledge and ability necessary to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment 2. To explore three basic approached to conflict, the effectiveness of each, and how they interact with each other. Standard 2: A Safe and Healthy Environment Students will acquire the knowledge and ability necessary to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment 3. To build skills to understand and manage anger and other strong emotions more effectively, exploring the important role emotions play in conflict. Standard 2: A Safe and Healthy Environment Students will acquire the knowledge and ability necessary to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment 4. To describe the communication process and the factors that influences it, and focus on the role of cultural differences in the communication process. Standard 2: A Safe and Healthy Environment Students will acquire the knowledge and ability necessary to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment 5. To help students put together effective listening and speaking skills for better interpersonal understanding; providing practice in a collaborative problem solving process. Standard 2: A Safe and Healthy Environment Students will acquire the knowledge and ability necessary to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment On-Line 3 Credits [45 hours] In-Service Credit only