Course Description: Different types of physical activity trends come in and out of popularity throughout time. Keeping student engagement high is important to student participation in physical education classes. In order to keep engagement high physical education teachers must be on top of the latest fitness and physical activity trends that are popular with our students. Backyard, Lawn and Beach Games are growing quickly in popularity with school age children so how as teachers can we incorporate these popular activities into our physical education curriculum? 

(3 credits/45 hours) In service credit only Instructor: Joanie Deignan    jdeignanliips@gmail.com Summary: Cooperative games in physical education can benefit the comradery of physical education classes. To be able to teach your class how to work together like a team prior to other units can help them reach full potential as a group and make the most out of your physical education class. Cooperative play helps kids hone their social skills as they figure out how to negotiate group dynamics. It helps them learn how to collaborate and compromise with others, recognize and respond to others' feelings, share, show affection, resolve conflicts, and follow and cooperate with gymnasium and game rules.

*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 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.

Instructor: Christina Palmenteri In service only. 3 credits/45 hours Course Description: Provides educators with strategies to seamlessly incorporate physical activity and wellness practices into the classroom and school routines. Participants will explore creative ways to promote healthy habits, boost student engagement, and align physical education with academic goals. This course offers practical tools to enhance student well-being, foster a positive school culture, and meet professional development standards for continued education. * Suitable for all Educators K-12

*New Course* Fall 2024 Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com In-Service Class – 3 Credits – 45 Hours Course Description: Children are natural learners eager to experiment, manipulate their environment, explore, and discover. In contrast, school tends to be a subdued place, not allowing for creativity and freedom. Most decisions are made with unfair regimens for students, ones that do not factor in their curiosity and communication skills. This course will enable educators to engage their learners effectively, to understand the concrete strategies that increase engagement and connection and decrease boredom and disaffection. They will learn to create empathetic learners who place kids in charge and collaborate effectively in imparting information and changing the narrative for all, overall increasing kids’ motivational levels and interests. *A must for K-12 Educators!!

Instructor: Christina Palmenteri In service only. 3 credits/45 hours Course Description: Explores essential strategies for coaches and educators to foster positive mental health and emotional well-being in young athletes. This course delves into recognizing signs of stress, anxiety, and burnout, while providing tools to create supportive environments that promote resilience and confidence. Participants will gain practical insights to help youth athletes build mental toughness, cope with challenges, and thrive both on and off the field. * Suitable for all Educators K-12

All too often, secondary students who participate in sports place athletics ahead of academics. Even parents sometimes over-emphasize the importance of making the varsity team, earning a starting position, or receiving an athletic scholarship. Where does school fit in? Students (and parents) need to recognize that academia is of the utmost importance. Teachers enrolled in this course will explore communicative and pedagogical strategies teachers and coaches can use to positively enforce the idea that “student” comes before “athlete” and to encourage the young men and women we teach and coach to work as hard in the classroom as they do on the field. ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service only

Course Description: All eyes are on you, it’s Field Day. Planning a field day can be extremely stressful and a huge undertaking for physical education teachers, especially if you are the only Physical Education teacher at your building. This course will give you the tools to create a field day that will be engaging, fun and an event that your students will remember for years to come.