The use of curriculum-based projects in a classroom can motivate students to reach their highest potential. This course will explore student and class projects for all grade levels. The projects address character education, community service, and charitable causes. Through this course, K-12 educators will develop a better understanding of ways to incorporate curriculum-based projects into their classrooms. In addition, participants will learn about various educational grants available to teachers for funding projects. This course is suitable for all educators, K-12.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) In-service credit only | ||
It is crucial for teachers to develop educational partnerships with colleagues to lead a successful 21st Century classroom. This course will take an in-depth look at collaboration strategies, interdisciplinary teaching, team teaching, parallel design, and curriculum integration. In addition, the course will look at ways in which educators can make connections with members of the school community and specific organizations (Examples: PTA, SEPTA, Civic Association, Historical Society, Etc.). Finally, the concept of having parents as educational partners will be examined through research and data of what works best on each grade level. This course is suitable for all educators, K-12.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) In-service credit only | ||
Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com
In-Service Course – 3 Credits – 45 Hours
Course Description: Creating a classroom in which collaboration and cooperation is at the forefront is no easy feat. This course will explore all differentiated strategies and enable participants to investigate and fine tune their students’ groupwork. Rigorous assignments will be addressed including critical thinking activities, best practices in one’s discipline, and positive affirmations.
*A Must for K-12 Educators* | ||
*New Course Summer 2025 Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com Course Credits – 3 credits/45 Hours Course Description: Having the means to successfully maintain a positive classroom environment teeming with intrinsic motivation, enthusiastic students, minimal disruptions, and impactful lessons can be achievable via this new course. Participants will be able to identify the modalities in which students learn most efficiently – differentiated instruction, cooperative learning, guided research. Participants will be equipped perfectly and learn to manage and create optimum learning environments. *A Must for K-12 Educators* | ||
Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com
In-Service Course – 3 Credits – 45 Hours
Course Description: Oftentimes as educators, we find ourselves searching for innovative modalities of learning for our students, ones that fully suit our learners’ needs, ones that promote comprehensive improvements and drive our students toward success. This course speaks to educators who desire these interventions, using practical approaches and ways to engage all types of individuals in our sphere. Evidence based methods that promote phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension in all subjects will be discussed as well as a myriad of tools that command student achievement, all of which have immediate classroom implementation.
*A must for K-12 educators* | ||
Teachers typically spend anywhere from 35 – 50 percent of their instructional time asking questions. But are these questions effective in raising student achievement? In this course, participants will learn how to improve their questioning techniques utilizing current educational research informative practices. Types of questions will be discussed, wait time, engagement of students, essential questions, etc. Participants will be able to walk away with a multitude of inquiry based learning that will enhance their classroom environment. A must for all K-12 teachers.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only | ||
With the adoption of the new Common Core Standards, a greater emphasis is being placed on nonfiction and vocabulary instruction. This course will explore the philosophy behind vocabulary instruction as well effective practices. Participants will research dozens of strategies for building vocabulary aligned to meet various learning styles. In addition, this course will explore vocabulary resources including multimedia, interactive websites, educational vocabulary learning games and much more! Participants will have the opportunity to research and evaluate effective vocabulary lessons as well as create dynamic lessons for immediate classroom use. A must for all educators K-12!
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service 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 | ||
Overview: Teachers of other subjects sometimes wonder why certain students remain in ENL programs when they "speak English." However, passing the NYSESLAT involves more than just spoken English proficiency. The test assesses listening, reading, and writing skills, demanding a nuanced understanding of English in various contexts, including cultural nuances. Many students find meeting these criteria challenging, and the pressure of standardized testing often limits their ability to showcase their language skills fully.
Beyond the NYSESLAT, ELL students often face reading and writing challenges stemming from their early education. They initially learned these skills in their native language or in systems different from those in the United States. This transition to a new language and educational structure creates gaps in their foundational literacy. Adapting to a new writing system, grammar, and vocabulary delays their English literacy development, even if their spoken English is proficient. These hurdles persist throughout their academic journey, affecting assessments like the NYSESLAT.
Objective: This course will address how the literacy gap and lack of foundations ELLs face from a young age make it difficult for ELLs to catch up to perform on grade level throughout the rest of their school career, and essentially, pass the NYSELAT. We will explore different strategies to try and meet their literacy needs and support them to reach proficiency on the state exam. | ||
Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com
(3 Credits/45 Hours)
Course Description: Becoming a highly engaging teacher, teeming with innovative ideas and enthralling techniques is what this course is aimed to elaborate. In today’s world of highly engaging technology, kids tend to prioritize the wrong things. This course will instruct educators on the ways in which the adolescent brain functions and the strategies that are required to pave the path for the green light energy. Participants will learn ideas as tapping into students’ emotions, building blocks for effective instruction, making content relevant for students, creating new memory pathways. **A must for K-12 educators!!! | ||
Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com
(3 Credits/45 Hours) – In-Service Credit
Course Description: In order for true learning to occur, safety must be at the forefront. Ensuring an environment that is emotionally manageable for our learners requires a deep investigation of the ways in which students operate on many levels. This course will provide the opportunities for participants to instruct their students on the ways in which to understand and manage their emotions in order to be successful in every class. Participants will learn the seven strategies in which to manage emotions for their learners, including: identifying and reducing triggers, tuning into physical symptoms, relay your own personal story, engage in positive self-talk, make appropriate choices, look for positive emotions, seek out help whenever possible. In the end, our learners will be able to soar to new heights. **A must for K-12 educators in all disciplines!! | ||
Enhancing one’s students to be motivated and to learn is at the forefront of education today. Increasing students’ emotional well-being is tantamount to good teaching. This course will focus on the whole child and the components that make up the learning dynamic. Participants will learn how to utilize their most powerful teaching tool – their vernacular – to bring out the best in their learners. Teachers will be instructed on empathy skills and will be trained in classroom techniques involving empathy as: building positive relationships, strengthening community, fostering classroom connections, preparing for leaders in the classroom environment. Overall, participants will be creating a classroom culture of acceptance and gratitude. A must for all educators in the K-12 classroom!!!!!
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only | ||
Enhancing one’s students to be motivated and think critically about the world around them is tantamount to the Common Core standards of learning in all subject areas. The study of the philosophy behind learning captivates students and infuses morality and integrity into their worlds. In this course, teachers will be exposed to a plethora of ideas that enable them to critically analyze, judge, delineate, and closely comprehend content area ideas and genre in order to create pertinent lessons for their students. Teachers will walk away with a multitude of interdisciplinary lessons for their classrooms. Materials include: picture books, non-fiction articles, creative techniques that enhance any classroom and empower everyone.
• A must for K-12 educators!!!!
ONLINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only | ||
Do our students understand our lessons? All the time and effort and we put into them? There are so days when as educators we look out at our student's faces and are unable to truly gauge how much they understand.
Then, we also have those classes in which participation; the mere raising of a hand, seems like a chore. We seem only have those same few students providing answers every day while the others remain silent. While it is nice to know that these students are learning, we also want to be sure we are reaching each student in our classroom. This course offers ideas on how to model your daily instruction with learning opportunities for all students to actively participate and share. Students will find themselves wanting to get up and get involved and respond. Educators will learn a variety of strategies that will not only activate engagement, but also improve student learning overall. These same strategies will also offer you many opportunities to assess what students really know, and adjust your lessons and daily plans accordingly. This course is for educators levels K-12 of all subjects.
Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgelips@gmail.com
3 Credits - In service Course (45 Hours)
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Course Description:
This course is designed to assist educators in getting their students to become engaged and motivated. We will discuss how to get your classroom interested and involved in the learning process. Students who may have become bored or tired of the same day by day learning styles can become engaged again with the right strategies. A variety of practical and simple strategies will be shared. A multitude of materials will be discussed and distributed on how to motivate and engage your students again. Educators will learn to implement creative techniques to get your students to motivate themselves both physically and mentally and get involved once again. Educational articles and research in this area will also be studied. This is a must for all teachers of all disciplines K-12.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only
Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com
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Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com
In-Service Course – 3 Credits – 45 Hours
Course Description: Literacy is incorporated into every discipline. Students must be able to read, comprehend, and analyze both simple and complex texts in order to achieve success. This course will present a plethora of fiction and non-fiction readings that will guide participants and allow them to inculcate a wealth of strategies into their repertoires - including vocabulary strategies, decoding information, metacognition, pedagogical scaffolds, small academic groups, and a wealth of textual graphic organizers in every discipline. An influx of strategies will be brought to the forefront and ready utilize.
*A must for K-12 educators* | ||
Course Description: Global competence is the skills, values, and behaviors that prepare young people to thrive in a more diverse, interconnected world. Embracing a mind-set that translates personal global competence into professional classroom practice is crucial for teachers today. This course will enable participants to engage learners globally via transformative lessons that are relevant to every aspect of the world today – politics, science, culture, cross-cultural communication. Teachers will become familiar with the characteristics of globally competent students, be able to transcend that knowledge into their classrooms via language instruction, best practices of the world, and sensitivity to a wide gamut of issues on a global scale. A must for K-12 educators!!!!
(3 credits/45 hours) – In-Service Credit | ||
This course will provide teachers with an array of activities that connect students intimately with the material at hand. Any subject can be transformed into an intimate connection between learners. Teachers will explore literacy, history, science, mathematics, and culture via deep connections in the classroom setting. A must for K-12 educators!!!!
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) In-service credit only | ||
Course Description:
This course will work with educators to help engage your students in learning. When students tune out, teachers need to be armed with the tools to keep their classes engaged and ready to learn. This course will share techniques and a plethora of strategies to keep your students ready to focus and learn. A must for all educators of all levels grades K-12.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only
Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com
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The ability to engage our learners is a technique all educators must possess. Formulating ideas and strategies to springboard discussions are tantamount for students today. Recognizing the need to enhance the learning environment will lead students towards success. In this course, participants will explore a myriad of strategies to assist them in the questioning process. Text dependent questions will be at the forefront as well as strategies from Fountas & Pinnell, differentiation techniques, student centered lessons, technological ideas, web components, and so much more. Teachers will completely enhance their students’ thinking. A must for all educators in the K-12 Classroom!!!
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in service credit only | ||
Course Description:
This course will focus on how to engage parents and students as your partners in learning. Educators will work to learn the skills that will empower your students to achieve and become successful. This course is a must for all instructors of all levels K-12.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only
Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com
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Course Description – Engaging students in all levels of reading instruction is crucial for all subject matters. Literacy instruction is tantamount as students utilize remote instruction on a daily basis. This course will provide students with authentic tools for selecting books, responding to them, critiquing them, utilizing book clubs, and centers for discussion. A Must for K-12 Educators!!! (3 credits/45 hours) – In-Service Credit | ||
Schools experience a wide variety of crises that have the potential to harm the mental and physical health, learning environment, and safety of students and educators. A school crisis is any traumatic event that seriously disrupts coping and problem-solving abilities of students and school staff. It is typically sudden, unexpected, dramatic and forceful and may even threaten survival. A crisis can cause a drastic and tragic change to the environment. This change is generally overwhelming and uncontrollable as well as unwanted and frightening. It may create a sense of helplessness, hopelessness, and vulnerability combined with a loss of safety.
This course will provide resources, tools, recommendations, and evidence-based practices for incorporating best practices in school mental health into school crisis plans. Different types of crisis will be discussed and strategies will be developed for teachers of all grade levels and subject areas.
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 | ||
Do you view vocabulary instruction as prosaic, humdrum, monotonous, mundane, thread bare? Acquiring vocabulary skills are tantamount to doing well in all aspects of academics. Instructing students on vocabulary usage can be accomplished through many modalities: computers, reading, diagramming, activity based. This course will provide you with effective ways to implement vocabulary instruction with your students. Current research will be examined, as well as specific strategies that enable students to comprehend vocabulary words will be addressed.
A must for all K-12 educators!!!!
On-Line (3 credits/45 hours) In-Service Credit only | ||
*New Course* Fall 2024
Instructor: Kim Kittredge Kkittredgeliips@gmail.com
3 credits/45 hrs in service
As educators we all know we have a 40 minute show to put on every day. But how do we effectively do it? Since we are basically on stage, we must learn how to commanding the room with power and finesse. This course will focus on all aspects of commanding our classrooms. We will not only discuss knowledge of our content area, but how to continually engage our students in the lessons and keep them connected. Educators will learn strategies and principles for modeling effective leadership and entertaining their students daily with their command of the classroom. This course is a must for educators grades K-12. | ||
*New Course* Fall 2024
Instructor: Kim Kittredge Kkittredgeliips@gmail.com
3 credits/45 hrs in service
How do we as educators deal with students that cheat? It’s a difficult problem to solve. In today’s world of cell phones, Chat GBT and classroom laptops, unfortunately access to cheating is right at our students fingertips. Students have also gotten pretty good at it! As teachers, we have to realize that although we don’t want cheating to happen, it is still going to happen and will still go on around us. In this course educators will explore methods on how to recognize and deal with students that cheat, and what punishments should be given for academic dishonestly. This course is a must for educators grades K-12. | ||
*New Course Spring 2025
Instructor: Kim Kittredge Kkittredgeliips@gmail.com
3 credits/45 hrs in service
As educators we are confronted with all different issues with our students. School anxiety is an issue that can affect any child at any age. We may be confronted with school anxiety when our students ask to frequently leave the room to go to the nurse or to go to the bathroom. But in more severe cases, our students may not come to school at all. These students unfortunately just can’t even make it into the building due to their severe school anxiety. In this course educators will receive an overview of what school anxiety is and how to recognize it. Teachers will be armed with theories on how this anxiety manifests itself in general, and will be given strategies on how to deal with their students. Strategies will also be shared for dealing with Absenteeism and how to help catch up your students who may be falling behind due to their anxiety. This course is a must for educators grades K-12. | ||
*New Course* Fall 2024
Instructor: Kim Kittredge Kkittredgeliips@gmail.com
3 credits/45 hrs in service
Finding the right balanced in your classroom can be difficult at times. As an educator we try to be positive with our students. We aim to balance our teaching material, our time management, our organization, differentiation, grading, structure and all while trying keeping a positive attitude. Maintaining balance is an art form for educators. In this course teachers will explore several of the strategies for balancing your teaching every day in order to create a positive classroom. This course is a must for educators grades K-12. | ||
Technological lessons are at the forefront of teaching. Research indicates that students learn more effectively via Internet lessons and hands-on learning opportunities. In this course, teachers will travel through time and enhance their repertoires via engaging web quests. They will connect with their students on all levels via web instruction. Interdisciplinary web quests will be demonstrated in all subject areas. Research into enhancing their own classroom instruction will be addressed as well. A Must for K-12 educators!!!!
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only | ||
New Winter 2025
Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia- gaylelumia@yahoo.com
There is no single, correct way for a child’s brain to function. All individuals process information in diverse ways. Someone who is neurotypical develops brain functions, like social and organizational skills at similar rates as others their age. Neurodivergent individuals process information in ways that are not typical for their age, simply meaning that the brain works differently than what is considered typical. About 15% to 20% of the world’s population shows signs of neurodivergence. It is the educator’s responsibility to instruct all individuals in their classes with care and with sensitivity. This course will enable educators to have an awareness of the symptoms of neurodivergence and subsequently find the modalities that make all students successful. Topics covered include anxiety, sensitivity, managing positive outcomes, and problem solving.
*A must for K-12 educators!!! | ||
Aside from teaching, there are many responsibilities that are inherently part of what we do each day. Often, these tasks and obligations can be overwhelming and time-consuming. It has been proven that organization is one way to reduce stress, which is the primary focus of this course. Teachers enrolled will explore various simple ways of using Microsoft Excel for record-keeping. Even if you’re not a proficient computer whiz, Excel makes it easy to customize and maintain spreadsheets. The assignments are designed to help you simplify, minimize, maintain, and track data. Additionally, Annual Professional Performance Reviews (APPRs) now include an evaluative section on maintaining accurate records. Teachers enrolled in this course will learn new ways of improving this particular rating.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only | ||
Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com
In-service Course – 3 Credits / 45 Hours
Course Description: Creating a positive school environment begins with developing and implementing stellar character education, beginning with lessons on morality, responsibility, respect, peer to peer interactions. This course will enable teachers to glean the ways in which to infuse the ideas of moral understanding, psychological literature, and scientific methodology into their everyday encounters with students. Modeling and community outreach suggestions will intertwine with the course material to create a superb character education program for our students.
*A must for K-12 educators* | ||
This course focuses on the use of digital methods to analyze and archive literary texts, emphasizing issues of diversity and inclusion. Covers three main areas: text encoding, textual analysis, and archive construction. Considers literary texts, including works by well-known authors such as Shakespeare, together with collections by marginalized writers, including slave narratives and writings by early modern women. Offers students an opportunity to explore what counts as literature and how computers, databases, and analytical tools give substance to concepts of aesthetic, cultural, and intellectual value as inflected by race and gender.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) In-service credit only | ||
Course Description:
This course will examine the role that homework plays in our school culture. Homework is extremely important to all students in one aspect or another. How do we assign effective and appropriate homework? Ensure students complete it so that coursework can continue in class. Educators will explore what different research and educators’ tell us about homework and its impact on the overall learning process. This course is a must for all educators levels K-12. (updated course to include Post-Covid thinking and concepts)
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only
Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com
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*New Course Summer 2025 Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com 3 Credits In Service Course (45 Hours) Course Description: Connecting literature and reading to the daily lives of our students is a tremendous task. Educators who take this course will work on text connections, human connections and deeply engaging with text. Teachers will work on literary activities such as theme, literary devices, figurative language, plot, quotations and characterization just to name a few. Activities and strategies will be shared on uses of literary symbols and connections to text and our students’ lives. Symbolism through art and literature will also be discussed. Learning how to teach these symbolic and artistic connections and continue to engage our students will lead them to a more effective and positive future. This course is a must for all educators of all grades K-12. | ||
Course Description:
Participants in the course will learn how to implement all facets of effective verbal and nonverbal communication techniques to help your students create an environment of trust and responsibility. Educators will learn how to encourage, redirect, engage, and challenge students in successful discussions that will enhance student learning. Educators will be able to apply these strategies to all grade levels and content areas. Participants will gain a clear understanding of where to begin with discussions in your classroom, and see where it will lead you. This course is designed to enable educators K-12 to understand the relationship that discussion plays in our Next Generation Standards and effectively help your students meet them. Great for all educators K-12!
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only
Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com
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Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com
(3 Credits/45 Hours) – In-Service Credit
Course Description: It is much more difficult for our brains to unlearn something than to learn something new. Having the capacity to train our brains to make deep connections to learning is the purpose of this course. Participants will understand the factors that shape myelination in children and comprehend how it provides the foundation for brain connectivity and support of emergent cognitive and behavioral functioning. Studying the reasoning behind this neurodevelopment will enable teachers to create comprehensive lessons that support and engage learners from all walks of life. *A must for all K-12 educators and disciplines!! | ||
In this course, teachers will learn how to implement the flipped learning model in their classrooms. Teachers will learn how to create a learner-centered classroom by moving instruction to the home. Teachers are provided with tips and strategies on how to find and create engaging instructional videos and develop interactive, collaborative, and hands-on classroom activities. This course provides information on how to flip each of the four main content areas, plan/organize technology into lessons, and assessment strategies. Suitable for ALL educators K-12
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service only | ||
Ranging from preschool to high school, writing is always a challenge for students. This course will provide you with the ingredients necessary to instruct students on how to attack the writing before it attacks them. Addressed will be the different forms of writing to provide students with, the new and innovative techniques by writing gurus, writing formulas, writing templates, journal topics, ELA writing guides,etc.. Students will simply beg for the pen and paper! A must for all K-12 educators!!!
ON-LINE (3 Credits / 45 hours) in-service credit only | ||
Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – (gaylelumia@yahoo.com)
Tackling controversial topics and embracing cultural differences can be challenging for teachers and students alike. This course will provide teachers with ways in which to apply cultural understanding to their pedagogy as well as empower students with courageous discussions about tough topics as poverty, racism, LGBTQ+ issues, violence, bullying, etc. A myriad of ideas and activities will be utilized including evidence-based writing assignments, civic learning activities, project-based learning, as well as essential communication tactics. All disciplines are welcome! A must for all K-12 Teachers!!!! | ||
3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only
Instructor: Dr. Christopher Korolczuk
Email: DrK.lips@gmail.com
Course Description: This course offers a comprehensive view on tackling the mental health crisis in public schools, highlighting the importance of balancing emotional safety with resilience, addressing digital distractions, and navigating the complexities of social media and self-perception. It underscores the effects of COVID-19 on students, emphasizing the need for reconnection and support post-isolation. Further, it delves into the rise of medication for mental health issues among children, advocating for mindfulness and alternative strategies. The analysis of increasing anxiety and depression, the rethinking of ADHD approaches, and the role of parental boundaries in child development are crucial for understanding the multifaceted nature of students' mental health challenges. Lastly, the discussion on engaging yet rigorous education offers insights into maintaining students' interest without compromising academic standards.
For school personnel, learning about these topics is vital post-COVID-19, as it equips them with the tools to support students' mental well-being and adapt to the changing educational landscape, ensuring a holistic approach to student development and learning.
NEW! This self-paced course uses an online learning platform called Canvas. All videos, reading materials, and assignments can be found in one online location. Also, you can simply type your assignments into the website and hit the "submit." button. This new feature makes the course easier to navigate and more user-friendly than other courses. | ||
This course will provide a foundation for understanding the history and development of Bilingual Education. The overall social and philosophical foundations of Bilingual Education will be reviewed in detail. Additionally, legislative changes throughout history for students of limited English proficiency will be examined by participants. By understanding the development of Bilingual Education over time, educators will be better prepared to meet the needs of English Language Learners (ELL).
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only | ||
Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com
3 Credits (45 hours) In-Service Credit Only
Course Description: In a world of constant change, a unified vision of learning is essential, in order to ensure that our students are successful and prepared for the world ahead. Defining and Illustrating the depth of 21st century learning is the crux of this course which deeply delves into 21st century student outcomes and successes. Participants will learn to build on this critical foundation of learning via standards, assessments, curriculum, and instruction, and learn to engage their students more critically and profoundly. A wealth of literacies will be focused on including informational, global, civic, and problem solving, all of which guides our learners and fully prepares them for their future. *A must for all K-12 educators in all disciplines!!! | ||
*New Course* Fall 2024
Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com
In-Service Class – 3 Credits – 45 Hours
Course Description: Since the onset of the pandemic, so many students and families have become disconnected from school and absenteeism has skyrocketed. Re-engaging our students is essential for their success. Teachers have tremendous power to influence student attendance. In this course teachers will learn about the importance of using supportive rather than punitive language surrounding absenteeism, building meaningful relationships with families to support student attendance, engaging learners utilizing curiosity and wonder, and working strategically to bridge the gap between home and school.
*A must for K-12 Educators* | ||
Course Description:
This course will explore the world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mechanics) and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Mechanics). We will define how you can begin a STEM or STEAM program, and how you could enrich your classroom with activities and hands-on learning. In this course you will create your own lessons as well as discover new ways to add knowledge and fun to your classroom.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only
Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com
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Course Description:
This course will explain the process of Gestalt Language acquisition and how we may see it in our students. We will also discuss the process of teaching this type of language learning. Suitable all Educators and Staff K-12.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only
Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com
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Initiating an on-line instructional platform can be difficult for teachers and students alike. Assisting our students with achieving their maximum potential, discovering the wonder of learning, and immersing themselves in creative activities will be at the forefront of the course. Strategies for reluctant learners will be focused on as well as lesson creations that are relevant to students’ cultures. A variety of ideas for multiple subject matters will be taught, including award winning books, mathematical strategies, and historical games. Teachers will emerge with lessons that show how to value quality over quantity and teach effectively.. All grade levels and subjects welcome.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only | ||
Giving Students Voice: Teaching them to Debate, Discuss and Argue with Authority and Power *New Course Spring 2025 In our society today student need to be taught how to use their voice more than ever. This course will provide educators with ways to add more discussion and debating in the classroom. Teachers will also work on creating better opportunities for students to converse and discuss. Students will also be exposed to written arguments, as well as evaluating the debate skills of others. Students will eventually learn how to teach debate, discussion, and argumentative skills. Educators will emerge from this course with a plethora of skills on all aspects of voice, debate and discussion in their classrooms. Once students feel the power of their voice, they will realize the authority it gives them. This course is a must for educators K-12. Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com 3 Credits In Service Course (45 Hours) | ||
How often do we have unruly children in our classrooms who defy the rules, resist authority, and cause a general disruption? While it is easy to dismiss these students, perhaps there is a way to get through to them. That process begins by understanding them. Who/What are they going home to? What is going on in their lives outside of their academic responsibilities? Teachers enrolled in this course will explore practical methods of breaking down walls and communicating with those tough students as a means of facilitating a more comfortable, productive classroom.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only | ||
Instructor: Kim Kittredge Kkittredgeliips@gmail.com
3 credits/45 hrs in service
Course Description: No matter what level you teach making sure you have a strict yet semi-flexible grading policy in place is paramount. Grading is one of the most important aspects of teaching and having practices that work is essential. Educators will discuss all aspects of grading from dropping the lowest grade, to weighing, to extra points to curving just to name a few. Participants will share techniques and understandable grading system for students and parents that will lead to success. This course is a must for educators grades K-12. | ||
Embedding a multitude of learning experiences for students is critical. The ability to enhance their learning and growth is developed strategically via the usage of graphic organizers that stimulate learning and instruction. Students will be captivated by rich material that strategically inculcates all aspects of subject matter. A plethora of common core graphic organizers will be included and students’ worlds will be enriched.
*A must for K-12 educators!!!!!
ONLINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only | ||
Each and every day in the teaching profession, we are knee deep in adolescence. Teachers wear a multitude of hats as they are faced with creating an atmosphere of challenges, choices, and meaningful experiences for students. The very vulnerability of adolescence makes it a time of tremendous opportunity for emotional, intellectual, and social growth. We can either make or break situations as they arise.
Within this course, participants will complete a myriad of tasks:
• Complete an introspection of themselves and their teaching styles
• Complete research on adolescent growth (social and emotional)
• Share relevant teaching stories that assist everyone in the teaching process
• Cultivate student interest by creating exciting opportunities for growth
• Master different approaches to prepare students for higher thinking
• Execute lessons that enrich student learning
• Walk in someone else’s shoes in terms of learning and comprehending.
Overall, participants will be refreshed as they enhance their classrooms by learning more about themselves!
*A must for all educators!
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only | ||
*New Course Summer 2025 Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia- gaylelumia@yahoo.com Course Credits- 3 Credits/45 Hours Course Description: The hallmark of high achieving students is the power of grit. Possessing this ability to persevere despite any adversity is something that needs to be instructed to our learners. Participants will learn how to recharge their students through commitment, long-term goal reaching, cultivation of ideas, passion for the disciplines they study, and inner dedication to themselves. A myriad of strategies will be discussed to unlock the mindset of their students, including small passages from historical freedom fighters, analysis of the grit characteristics, and remedies for facing challenges and obstacles. *A Must for K-12 Educators* | ||
Course Description:
This course will explore the difference between having your students learn independently and having them learn in groups. Educators will discuss which way is more effective; or is a combination of both? Teachers will discuss strategies for effective cooperative learning, student centered learning and Reciprocal learning, as well as individual task learning such as reading comprehension, silent reading or vocabulary analysis. A series of Pair/Share lessons will be discussed as well as student-centered lessons. Educators will share lessons to facilitate in their own classrooms. A plethora of activities will be discussed for teachers to bring back and utilize. This course is a must for teacher of grades K-12.
*Also offered as an online course
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only
Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com
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“Guided reading is a teaching approach used with all readers, struggling or independent, that has three fundamental purposes: to meet the varying instructional needs of all the students in the classroom, enabling them to greatly expand their reading powers; to teach students to read increasingly difficult texts with understanding and fluency; to construct meaning while using problem solving strategies to figure out unfamiliar words that deal with complex sentence structures, and understand concepts or ideas not previously encountered. Guided reading is the place where every child, every day, has the opportunity to learn by reading a book that is just right.”
– Fountas & Pinnell, 2001
This course will provide a detailed explanation of the philosophy of guided reading. Various components of guided reading will be explored including: management, teacher and student roles, assessment, flexible grouping, strategy and skill lessons, etc. Participants in the course will research the history of small group instruction and compare/contrast guided reading with more traditional instructional approaches. In addition, participants will learn the benefits of guided reading and be given the resources and information to implement guided reading within his/her own classroom.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only | ||
*New Course Summer 2025 Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia- gaylelumia@yahoo.com Course Credits- 3 Credits/45 Hours Course Description: High academic achievement can create more opportunities for students indefinitely. The study skills, social skills, knowledge, and problem-solving abilities that students learn at school will support them throughout their entire lives. This course will cover the practical and effective ways to boost students’ academic achievement, as well as the ways in which to develop students’ missions, goals, and core strategies of learning. Participants will delve into the most efficacious ways to instruct their students, including problem-based instruction, differentiated modalities, technological sources, as well as many other creative modalities. *A Must for K-12 Educators* | ||
New Course Fall 2025
Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com
Our students come to us with a plethora of energy each day. Unlocking the ways in which to convert this restlessness into productive learning is essential. This course will instruct educators on how to tame students’ fervor and channel their energies into something of substance. Topics of discussion include movement-based learning, maintaining structure, brain breaks, mindfulness exercises, communication, digital platforms, recharging students’ batteries, gamifying material, warm-up exercises, and weaving learning into everyday routines.
*A must for K-12 educators!!! | ||
Course Description:
Writing can be complex and difficult activity for students of all ages. Writing is more than just a skill or taleant, it is a means of investigation and expression for learning. This course explores writing for learning in all grades and disciplines. In this course we will expose educators to effective approaches and best practices for helping students learn to write. Educators will discuss how ideas about how and wh to teach writing have progressed dramatically in recent years. Then teachers can work towads providiing the appropriate writiing activities for their students. A must for all educators grades K – 12.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only
Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com
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Course Description:
This course will discuss what mindfulness is and what it is not. Teachers will focus on how to help your students address stress and anxiety and achieve a calm stress-free classroom. Educators will share the benefits of de-stressing and how well it works in school communities and classrooms. This course is a must for all instructors of all levels K-12.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only
Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com
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Credits: (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only
Instructor: Dr. Christopher Korolczuk Email: DrK.liips@gmail.com
Course Description:
Do you find it challenging to help students navigate the complex, volatile, and emotionally charged events of our world? Are you unsure how to guide them in understanding the truth, processing their emotions, and responding thoughtfully to global issues?
This professional development course is designed to equip educators with the tools and strategies needed to support students in analyzing current events critically and empathetically. Participants will explore topics such as media literacy, historical context, emotional resilience, cultural perspectives, and civic engagement. The asynchronous format allows teachers to learn at their own pace, making it a practical option for their busy schedules. Topics include identifying credible sources, managing classroom discussions, addressing bias, fostering hope, and promoting advocacy.
By the end of this course, educators will be prepared to create safe, thoughtful, and engaging learning environments where students can explore challenging topics with confidence and empathy, developing skills that will serve them throughout their lives.
NEW! This self-paced course uses an online learning platform called Canvas. All videos, reading materials, and assignments can be found in one online location. Also, you can simply type your assignments into the website and hit the "submit." button. This new feature makes the course easier to navigate and more user-friendly than other courses.
The course consists of three main components:
1. Asynchronous Learning: Navigate through the course's content at your own pace on the online platform. The main topics for this engaging course include:
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Course Description:
Educators will learn through this course effective teaching methods, Next Generation teaching strategies, and much more. Teachers will examine best practices for instruction to hone your skills on highly effective teaching. Participants will see how to transform your students into becoming more college and career ready individuals. Teachers will study methods on how to create high performing classrooms. In this course educators will “learn from doing” in the same manner to be expected of your own students. This course shows educators how to create innovative but easy to implement, project-based learning units that work. This course is a must for teachers of grades K-12.
*Also offered as an online class.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only
Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com
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Homework plays a major role in the learning process. Often enough, if homework is not complete, classroom objectives cannot be met. What is the role of homework in the learning process? How do economic diversity and parenting style affect homework? What does the research on homework reveal? Let’s explore these questions and get specific strategies for customizing homework tasks, enhancing student ownership, and providing feedback about homework. Effects of social class differences and school-family relationships. Suitable for all educators K – 12.
ON-LINE (3 Credits / 45 hours) in-service credit only
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Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia - gaylelumia@yahoo.com
Students who enter the Long Island Public School system from foreign countries need to learn to assimilate into a very different culture. What do we as educations need to know about language, education, foods, customs, and discipline of the students entering our school system in order to promote success? A must for all educators K-12. (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only | ||
How Proficient Readers Think: Utilizing Fiction and Non-fiction Sources to Master Cognitive Thinking How do skillful readers think when they are reading subject-matter text? How do they formulate connections and interactions with texts? As teachers, we have these strategies in our own brains; they were never explicitly taught to us. Instead, during our mostly fortunate lives as children, students, and teachers to be, we gradually cobbled together this repertoire of cognitive thinking through our reading, story-telling, family literacy, school, and books. Unfortunately, many of our students do not come from these literate backgrounds. We need to demonstrate the strategies to them, explicit instruct them, and become more aware of what is occurring in their minds. This course will guide you through the seven core reading strategies that will assist students in developing their own internal cognitive repertoire. You will be provided with articles and activities that will assist your students in progressing further and succeeding in life. A must for all K-12 educators.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only | ||
3 Credits – In service Course (45 Hours)
Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com
Course Description: As educators, joy is something we strive to have in our classrooms daily. When we feel happiness, we must embrace it and welcome it. When we lose that feeling we yearn to have it back. This course will help educators grasp on to those joyful moments with students and continue to keep our classroom positive all year long. Teachers will delve into joyful lessons, fun-filled activities and hands-on experiences that will keep that feeling of comfort in our classroom positive and satisfying. This course will delve deep into how to rebuild relationships with students, brush off unhelpful criticism, and how to recharge for health and wellness. Educators will build lessons on how to get your students outside more in nature and for daily exercise boosts. Participants will also learn techniques for incorporating art, music, and journaling in creative and positive ways. All with the common goal of resetting and reigniting joy and happiness and bringing it back to your classroom. This course is a must for all educators of all grade levels and subjects K-12. | ||
Kim Kittredge Kkittredgeliips@gmail.com The challenging student will always be in your classroom, and teachers will always be looking for a way to deal with them. In this course educators will be given strategies on how to deal with their most challenging students on a day-to-day basis. Educators will be taught various skills on conquering behavioral challenges in and out of their classrooms. Skills such as behavior interventions and management, behavior support, how to properly implement an IEP will be discussed. Teachers will also learn the importance of social skills, modeling techniques, effective praise in the classroom and the importance of developing proper daily routines. Educators will also work on how to support and sustain proper relationships with parents of behavioral students. This course is a must for all educators of all grades K-12. | ||
This course will focus on how to handle the disruptive student in your classroom from day one. Educators will discuss proper skills, techniques and strategies to work with students that act out and disrupt the classroom environment. Educators will share personal experience and strategies they use. Disruptive students are not just looking to misbehave, but may just need some extra attention. Teachers will discuss how giving these students some extra attention may lead to succeed and a calm classroom. This course is a must for all educators levels K-12.
Instructor: Kim Kittredge
kkittredgelips@gmail.com
3 credits in service (45 hours)
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Course Description:
With all the virtual learning going on, how do we as educators help students learn independently? This course will focus on how to facilitate lessons instead of teaching them as we have always done in the past. With the world changing, we must too. Students must independently create their own learning experiences, and become more active learners. It is our responsibility to teach them the skills to guide them through it. Educators will learn how to encourage students to think creatively and take an independent and active role in their own learning. Teachers will discuss how to first identify what it is to be an active learner, and then how to go beyond that. Teachers will learn how to work with students to stretch their minds to the limits, help students manage time constraints, take effective notes and annotate, and be creative and organize their roles as learners on a daily basis. This is a must for all educators of all disciplines K-12.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only
Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com
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Course Description:
Do your students feel or become disconnected? Do they often lose the purpose of your lessons due to distractions? Have they zoned out? With all the time and effort you put into your lessons, it often seems that there are so many days we look out at our students’ faces only to see that they are somewhere else. The connection has been lost. This course offers ideas on how to reconnect your disconnected students and bring them back again. Educators will learn a variety of exciting strategies that will “connect” your students to your classroom lessons. These strategies will not only activate engagement, but improve student learning all together. This course is for educators levels K-12 of all subjects.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only
Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com
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All teachers have become ELA instructors. What are we to do? We need a way to stay calm and incorporate refreshing ideas into our classroom. Participants will learn how to maintain a semblance of creativity in a test driven world, while still raising our scores. All disciplines are welcome. K-12 course.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only | ||
This course will provide vast knowledge on utilizing Google Sites in your classroom! Activities will include creating a fully functional website. Copyright and fair use laws will be examined as well as how to use copyright-friendly images and other tools available to ensure the creation of a class specific and highly functional website! Websites increase parent and student communication and are vital for productive instruction! We recommend this course for all staff and educators alike across all content areas and grade levels K-12.
ON-LINE (3 Credits / 45 hours) in-service credit only | ||
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours)
In-Service Credit only
Instructor: Jessica Armbruster jarmbrusterliips@gmail.com
Course Description: When students are stuck with a math problem what do you want them to do? Students need exposure to multiple math problem solving solving strategies if we want them to utilize a variety of them when they are stuck. This course will explore different problem solving strategies that students in all age groups can utilize, including mental math and critical thinking approaches to problem solving. Teachers will be able to engage their students in all aspects of the problem solving process. Topics covered include categories of Problem Solving Strategies, Matching the strategy to the learner, and benefits of multiple strategy usage in the classroom. This course welcomes educators of grades K-12! | ||
3 Credits – In service Course (45 Hours)
Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com
Course Description: Icebreakers, Do-Now and Wrap Ups are the heart of a great lesson. As educators, we strive to bring the lesson in with a bang, get the kids thinking and focusing, and then, if successful, wrap it all up. Participants in this course will explore strategies and techniques for fabulous brain games and icebreakers that can be used for any subject and grade level. Educators will work on building do nows with purpose and power to get lessons going. Teachers will also learn the art of wrapping up any lesson with such strategies as creative closures, exit tickets, summaries and reflections. As teachers we are always trying to find the best way to get our students in and out of lessons with ease, and this course will be a toolbox of activities to guide you along the way. This course is a must for all educators of all grade levels and subjects K-12. | ||
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire” – William Butler Yeats
A teacher that ignites the fire in his/her students and fuels their thirst for knowledge and curiosity is the key to success. In this course, teachers will learn to inspire students, motivate them, impact their learning. They will be able to fuel the passion and engage their students through creative activities and ideas. A myriad of techniques and strategies will be explored as well as collaborative means and activities to fully engage learners. A conflagration of ideas shall ignite within all! A must for K-12 Educators!!!!!
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only | ||
Forty (or so) minutes go by quite quickly. By the time we get our students seated, take attendance, check homework, explain the objective, and start the lesson, our allotment of time has dwindled considerably. Also considering how often our students are taken out of our classes because of field trips, visits to the nurse, or other various reasons, the clock often seems to be on fast forward. Essentially, we want to get the most out of our class periods. Teachers enrolled in this course will explore the possibilities, variations, and applications of the infamous “Do Now” as a means of engaging students immediately and getting the most out our (and their) time.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) In-Service Credit only | ||
Course Description: Implicit bias refers to unconscious attitudes, reactions, stereotypes, and categories that affect behavior and understanding. In education, implicit bias often refers to unconscious racial and socioeconomic bias toward students. This course will explore what implicit bias is, and how we as educators can reduce the effects of it in our schools. We will discuss the consequences of implicit bias and how it affects individuals in different ways. Educators will discover the roots of implicit bias and participants will discuss how to move away from theses attitudes and stereotypes. Teachers will also discuss that with understanding and attitude change comes improved behaviors. Implicit bias scenarios will be posed for deep discussion. This course is a must for all educators levels K-12. Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com 3 credits – In service Course (45 Hours); online or in-person | ||
According to recent reports from the National Council of Teachers of English, approximately half of high school graduates lack the reading skills needed to pass first-year college courses, and only 59 percent of the students tested were considered ready for college level work. Equally alarming, the National Assessment of Educational Progress reported that 70 percent of middle and high school students score below the proficiency level in reading achievement. The lack of improvement in literacy achievement has many negative implications for the nation’s economy and ability to compete globally. To be competitive in the current job market, American youth have to possess far more advanced literacy skills than those required of any previous generation.
The first portion of this course will examine the recent studies and statistics of current trends regarding adolescent literacy. Participants will research federal policy for improving the performance of adolescents. The second part of this class will focus on reading interventions for adolescent learners. Participants will study the philosophy, implementation, and effectiveness of various reading intervention programs including: Reciprocal Teaching, Strategic Instruction Model, Accelerated Reader, Corrective Reading , Fast ForWord, Read 180, etc. In addition, this course will provide numerous reading strategies and interventions to use with adolescent students before, during, and after reading. Some of the strategies/interventions featured in this course include: anticipation guides, the Frayer Model, Directed Reading Thinking Activity (DRTA), Selective Highlighting, Survey-Question-Read-Recite-Review (SQ3R), Exit Slips, Question-Answer Relationship (QAR) and many more! With the resources and information provided in this course, teachers will be able to create dynamic lessons which help foster student success.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only | ||
Students will learn various methods to increase and improve communication with families and students by multiple means of technology. These methods will increase communication and decrease the stressors related to the lack of time and resources to always make phone calls. Improving communication is not only necessary but required as a part of teachers’ annual performance reviews which culminate each year. The applications and websites we will explore and implement will increase communication as well as improve student productivity with a strong student-parent-teacher connection. Recommended for all Educators K – 12.
ON-LINE (3credits/45hours) In-service credit only | ||
Academic Competitions can help motivate students to follow their passions and achieve success. Local, national, and international competitions related to English-Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies provide effective opportunities for student recognition. Participants in this course will learn about different competitions, contests, and programs that celebrate academic accomplishments. Connections will be made to the standards and curriculum. This course is suitable for all educators, K-12.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) In-service credit only | ||
Current Events can be integrated into all subject-areas and within all grade levels. This course will take an in-depth look into how current events can be a part of English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Special Areas. Specifically, course participants will learn about instructional resources such as NewseumEd and a Journalist’s Resource, along with the importance of news literacy. Participants will discover ways to integrate Current Events into their curriculums on a daily basis, while continuing to meet the educational standards set forth. This course is suitable for all educators, K-12.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only | ||
Setting up a classroom that has an atmosphere of cooperation and consideration is crucial for students today. Effective communication is necessary for both teachers and students to be successful. In this course, teachers will:
• Study effective test-taking strategies
• Comprehend the ways to improve standardized test scores
• Learn the ways to creatively implement activities into the classroom
• Understand how to motivate students intrinsically
• Help students recognize their inner potential
• Address a myriad of student needs and perspectives
• Connect the impact of reading and writing across the content areas
• Complete research on academic success in the classroom
• Envision alternatives for their students
Overall, teachers will emerge with a plethora of insight and information that will increase their students’ love of the subject matter!
***A must for all K-12 teachers!
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) In-Service Credit only | ||
Kim Kittredge Kkittredgeliips@gmail.com How can teachers increase rigor and productivity in the classroom? This course is designed to arm educators with a multitude of skills to increase rigor and make your students become the motivated individuals you wish them to be. Participants in the course will be given a multitude of materials and strategies to help their students become more productive. Through hands-on activities, group work, SEL learning, computer-based games and technology and differentiated instruction to name a few, your students will thrive. Students who didn't think they had it in them will break the barriers and understand that rigor is not “hard” it’s just a tiny bit uncomfortable; but the benefits are powerful! This course is a must for all educators of all grades K-12. | ||
This course equips educators with practical strategies to deepen student thinking and foster a classroom culture of inquiry and problem-solving. Participants will explore research-based approaches to increase students’ critical thinking time during math instruction, including the use of open-ended questions, rich tasks, error analysis, and collaborative learning structures. Teachers will leave with ready-to-implement tools and techniques to transform their math classrooms into spaces where critical thinking thrives. | ||
Achieving the optimum level of student productivity is at the core of one’s teaching. Providing students with assessments, choices in their curriculum, and differentiation is the key to their success. Adding rigor to students’ curriculum is essential in the common core era. In this course, participants will learn how to develop target -centered homework, prepare students for the mandates of the standards, advance students’ vocabularies, produce lessons and implement strategies for our learners. The rigor will be increased dramatically! A must for K-12 educators!!!!
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 | ||
Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com
In-Service Course – 3 Credits – 45 Hours
Course Description: Hands-on, experimental learning is the wave of the future for educators, coaches, directors, and administrators alike. Developing driving questions for students enables them to utilize critical thinking skills and enhance their learning tremendously. The course will center around summative and formative assessments for learning, showcase lessons for discussion, PBL techniques, inquiry-based analysis and many more innovative concepts. Participants will be able to guide their learners perfectly. All disciplines and grade levels welcome.
*A must for K-12 educators* | ||
This course is designed to provide educators with instructional strategies and apply it to meet the needs of all students grades K-12. Emphasis will be placed on how to effectively design your lessons, how to evaluate your curriculum, distinguish between learning styles, and how to provide instruction that enhances and improves academic performance for all students. This course examines how all these concepts combined serve as the basic design of curriculum and instruction overall. Educators will discuss proper planning of the core concepts, essential questions, how to use metacognitive reading strategies, background knowledge, and scaffolding, in order to lead to a successful classroom environment. Additional applications introduced in this course include rubrics, graphic organizers, vocabulary strategies, peer tutoring, note-taking, paraphrasing, summarizing (with the use of 10% summary), reciprocal teaching, and questioning. Educators will learn practices in this course that relate to district-wide teacher evaluations, the New York State Teaching Standards, and the Common Core Standards. Participants will also discover how to engage students, deepen their understanding of context, and prepare them for success beyond the classroom.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only | ||
(3 credits/45 hours) In service credit only
Instructor: Grace Rossetti gracerossettiliips@gmail.com
Course Description: What is integrated co-teaching (ICT) and how can it be successful? As an ICT teacher for the last 5 years, I can't wait to share my success with other educators! In this course, participants will learn different models that co-teachers can use: station teaching, parallel teaching, one teach/one observe and one teach/one assist. The goal is for participants to learn the difference between the models, how they can all be used to reach the needs of all your learners, and how you can begin using them right away. This course suits all educators K-12. | ||
Students of all ages look at sports as a main hobby and source of entertainment outside of school. This course focuses on learning in relation to youth, amateur, and professional athletics. Participants will create projects, lessons, and activities that will tie sporting events to English-Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Participants will develop curriculum-based assignments for their classroom, with a special emphasis on sports leagues, teams, and athletes. Students will make connections between what is happening in and outside of the classroom. This course is suitable for all educators, K-12.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) In-service only | ||
*New Course Spring 2026
Integrated Health and Wellness for Every Learner is a dynamic, engaging course designed to empower educators with practical strategies that support the whole child - mind, body, and emotional well being. Through a blend of clear, direct instruction and high impact video based learning, participants gain ready to use tools that seamlessly fit into any classroom. Walk away, inspired, equipped, and confident in creating healthier, more balanced learning environment for student. | ||
Taken from www.responsiveclassroom.org, “Interactive Modeling is a straightforward, quickly paced process that’s effective for teaching children any academic or social skill, routine, or procedure that you want them to do in a specific way (whether for safety, efficiency, or other reasons). One of the essential practices of the Responsive Classroom approach to teaching elementary school children, Interactive Modeling can be used by any adult anywhere in school at any time of year.” Teachers will learn the steps for Interactive Modeling, strategies for success, ideas for where to use in your lessons and routines. Applicable for teachers K-12.
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*New Course Summer 2025 Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia- gaylelumia@yahoo.com Course Credits- 3 Credits/45 Hours Course Description: Instructing all students to lead others, become independent thinkers, and take ownership in their learning is key to their success. This course will provide participants with the practices it takes to train their students to be at the top of their game including being proactive in their learning, finding their inner voice, and creating opportunities for themselves. Many tools will be provided that enable them to engage their students and direct them towards creating alternatives and goals in their lives, ones that cause them to be highly effective in all they do. *A Must for all K-12 Educators* | ||
Course Description – Revitalizing our classrooms is the ticket to students’ success. Having the skills necessary to invigorate our learners and capture their learning styles is tantamount. In this course, teachers will have the opportunity to glean a depth of understanding regarding the nature of the adolescent and the ways in which their learning is impacted by many factors. Teachers will be instructed on a plethora of learning styles and models that gear instruction to individuals perfectly. A must for all K-12 educators!!!! (3 credits/45 hours) – In-Service Credit | ||
Janna Florio Online Course - 3 credits / 45 hours - In-Service Credit Only Applicable to High School Teachers & Department Coordinators/Chairs Description: Being a student in high school is tough; being a teacher of high school students is tough; however, surviving high school as a newcomer to the country could feel almost impossible. Combined with the harrowing experiences they suffer during their immigration journeys, adolescent ELLs are also faced with the stresses that plague the majority of all other high-schoolers. From high-stakes testing to mental health concerns, students within this age bracket hold a lot of weight on their shoulders. Past trauma, feelings of isolation, displacement from family, and the challenges of learning a new culture and language only exacerbate these issues for immigrant and migrant students. In this course, you will learn about the struggles these students face, the challenges they must overcome, and what schools might be able to do to support them. | ||
Having students become knowledgeable citizens of the world through cultural experiences enables them to become reflective thinkers and critical learners. Viewing one’s culture as tantamount to the learning experience is critical for both students and teachers alike. Kaleidoscope is the process of putting into place a multicultural way of thinking and teaching that can be implemented by all teachers. Teachers will be provided with a theoretical framework, bridging theory and practices via exercises, discussion, scenarios, teaching materials, and language acquisition. In the end, a recipe for engagement will occur.
*A must for K-12 Educators!!!!!
ONLINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only | ||
School violence can be prevented. Research shows that prevention efforts – by teachers, administrators, parents, community members, and even students – can reduce violence and improve the overall school environment. No one factor in isolation causes school violence, so stopping school violence involves using multiple prevention strategies that address the many individual, relationship, community, and societal factors that influence the likelihood of violence. Prevention efforts should ultimately reduce risk factors and promote protective factors at these multiple levels of influence.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the conclusion of the class students will be able to:
● Create school wide prevention and intervention strategies.
● Develop emergency response planning.
● Develop school policies and understanding legal considerations.
● Create a positive school climate and culture.
● Implement ongoing staff development.
● Ensuring quality facilities and technology.
● Foster school/law enforcement partnerships.
● Institute links with mental health/social services.
● Foster family and community involvement.
ON-LINE (3 Credits – 45 Hours) In-service Credit only | ||
Course Description
Are you looking for ways to improve reading comprehension, writing skills, and a deeper understanding of content area material? Science of Reading (SOR) has identified vocabulary acquisition as a key component for students' success in reading. This course will guide you through research based data and strategies to help you get to the “root” of effective vocabulary instruction for all students. Topics included: 3 Tiers of Vocabulary, Academic Vocabulary, Memory (how the brain works), Importance of Background Knowledge (critical for ENL and below grade level readers), Reinforcement through games, centers & technology. (Grades k-12 General Education, Special Education, ELL) | ||
Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia - gaylelumia@yahoo.com
In-service Course - 3 Credits / 45 Hours
Course Description: Educating today's students in a tactile, active fashion improves a wealth of critical and analytical thinking skills. Kinesthetic learners retain information more effectively, become active rather than passive participants in learning, and are able to acquire a wealth of information more expeditiously than their peers. This course will train teachers to find ways to assist students in their work ethic and their problem-solving techniques. Topics being addressed include hands-on simulations, animations, role-playing exercises, micro-learning lessons. A multitude of benefits arise when kinesthetic learning is at the forefront!
*A must for K-12 educators!!!! | ||
(45 hours/3 credits) In service course only
Instructor: Jessica Uebel Juebelliops@gmail.com
Course Description: “Reading Comprehension Revisited” is a podcast by Natalie Wexler. This podcast dives into the history of how teachers taught reading comprehension. It shares the research that shows how students comprehend. Similar to “Sold a Story”, this is an expose that brings awareness to the importance of how children learn to read-how they comprehend what they are reading. In this course teachers of all grades (K-12) will learn the history of how and why schools chose the programs and methods they did to teach reading comprehension. We will explore the current practice that is on trend-The Knowledge Matters Campaign. Teachers will explore and engage in discovering the role of knowledge-building in the classroom. Teachers will share and reflect on their own methodologies, research programs,and design lessons and activities.
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3 credits online course
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