Communication

Course #L987 Course Description: First impressions are, as they say, everything. And you don’t get a second chance at making a good one. For many teachers – even those with decades of experience – the mere thought of parents entering their classroom for an evening of explanatory dialogue is enough to make them sick to the stomach. Open School Night is a parent’s way of meeting the teachers who interact with and affect their children on a daily basis, and a teacher’s way of establishing guidelines, expectations, means of communication, and areas of focus. Teachers enrolled in this course will explore tangible tools and effective strategies to creating a positive first impression and a successful Back-to-School evening. Applicable to teachers of any subject/grade level. ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) In-Service Credit only

Course #L962 Course Description: “Did I miss anything?” We’ve all heard that question from a student who returns after an absence (or many absences). And we’ve all felt the frustration from not knowing what to say, of wishing our students and their parents remained informed when out of school. Teachers enrolled in this course will explore proven communicative tools as well as “distance learning” strategies in order to provide absent students with the resources they need and the education they deserve. Applicable to teachers of all subjects and grade levels. (3 credits/45 hours) In-Service Credit only

Course #L968 Course Description: Application: All subjects/grade levels When their books are out, their smiles are wide, and their minds are open, all is well in the world of the classroom. Unfortunately, however, this is not always the case. Even in a class of “good” students, there may exist that one, two, or small handful of pupils who try your patience and leave you exhausted and drained. These students can disrupt even the most well-planned lesson and can infect the experience for those who are interested and engaged. Teachers enrolled in this course will explore proven pedagogical strategies for effectively dealing with disruptive, disengaged, and/or disrespectful students. (3 credits/45 hours) In-Service Credit only

Course #L978 Course Description: Even the most seasoned teachers can experience a degree of anxiety when it comes to communicating with parents, especially if not-so-good news has to be delivered. While we can all agree that consistent, informative teacher-parent communication is essential for student success, there are plenty of teachers who feel uncomfortable about the process. Teachers enrolled in this course will explore proven and effective methods to ensure communicative, productive parent-teacher conferences. (3 credits/45 hours) In-Service Credit only

Course Description: The Covid-19 Pandemic changed the world of education.  Yes, it brought unprecedented challenges, but it also revealed the importance of quality classroom instruction and illuminated the limitless efforts of teachers.  We had to adapt, we had to learn new teaching methods, we had to reconstruct our classrooms while, at the same time, care for our loved ones and fear for our safety and that of our students.  Fully remote learning, hybrid instruction, Google’s stamp on academia, heightened sensitivity to germs and coughs and sneezes and unwashed hands were some of the challenges we faced.  Through all of this and more, we prevailed because it’s our job.  We are educators, we are role models, and we are leaders.  And so, as the demands and expectations of education have changed, so have our teaching methods. Teachers enrolled in this course will explore various post-pandemic educational changes and proven strategies and techniques aimed at providing a safe, productive, enriching classroom experience for the students we teach. Applicable to teachers of all subjects/grade levels. ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) In-Service Credit only

Course #L985 Course Description: Application: All subjects/grade levels While none of us could have predicted the circumstances of the Coronavirus, we, as educators are forced into the unchartered waters of distance learning. With that, comes the challenges of staying connected to our students, not only to continue their education, but to let them know they’re not alone. Our students depend on us. And no matter the situation, we can’t let them down. Teachers enrolled in this course will explore tactics and strategies for providing optimum educational opportunities and, more importantly, facilitated methods of staying connected with students for as long as distance learning is reality. (3 credits/45 hours) In-Service Credit only

Course #L992 Course Description: Adapt and Overcome. It’s the mantra of the Marines, and the life of teachers. In this new day and age, educators must be flexible, willing to change and modify their instruction to meet the needs of their students. The hybrid teaching model presents new challenges we must rise to meet. Teachers enrolled in this course will explore various methods and practices aimed at making the most of a hybrid schedule and providing the best possible instruction for students. Applicable to teachers of all subjects/grade levels. ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) In-Service Credit only

Course #L996 Course Description: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a research based intervention that has been proven to improve the mental health of individuals. Mental health is increasingly becoming a crucial component of school systems, as children who are suffering emotionally are not available to learn. Additionally, teachers who are overly stressed, anxious and unhappy will not be effective educators. It is therefore extremely important for educators, therapists, administrators, and all school employees to become better advocates of mental health and to learn some basic techniques. In this course, we will learn about some of those techniques. These important concepts will prove not only relevant for your work with your students but also your general mindset and functioning as an educator. This course is relevant to all who work in schools and with children of all ages in all settings. This course was developed for school administrators, regular and special education teachers (grades K-12 and ages 5 to 21), special area teachers, school psychologists, school counselors, guidance counselors, social workers, speech and language therapists and occupational and physical therapists. Course Objectives Participants will learn about and research various concepts in Acceptance and Commitment therapy and how they can be applied to the school setting. ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) In-Service Credit only

Course #L998 Course Description: Application: All subjects/grade levels It isn’t until we dive into the world of teaching when we realize the true importance of effective questioning. It seems like a simple concept: Pose a question, wait for a hand to go up, call on the student, and hope the answer fulfils your expectations. There is, however, a science behind the art of questioning. Teachers must consider question types, variations in difficulty, appropriate wait time, and what to do with received responses (or lack thereof). Teachers enrolled in this course will explore the possibilities, variations, and applications of Bloom’s Taxonomy as well as the varied tactics of operative questioning. Suitable all K-12! ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) In-Service Credit only

PDLI9070 (45 HOURS/3 GRADUATE CREDITS) ON-LINE Course Instructor:  Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com Course Description  From the very moment that we enter the classroom, we create a definitive image of ourselves. First impressions are everything and encapsulate who we are and what students will glean from the course. Our body language, behavior, and diction are indicative of our teaching styles and our expectations of our learners. Educators are actors, putting on five shows a day, 900 shows a year, all which produce transformative learning from students.  Delving deeply into the students’ psyche and learning styles is tantamount for both educators and students today and provides everyone with the opportunity to enhance their learning and make personal connections between their own experiences and those of the curriculum. Successfully incorporating a wealth of social emotional resources as well as delving into the science of learning is crucial and invaluable. In the end, all aspects of learning will be covered. In this course, participants will learn everything there is to know about creating a successful environment that motivates students.  They will explore various resources such as articles, interviews, readings, differentiated learning sites, lesson plans, and links to literary sites.  They will research a variety of sources and decide which ones are engaging and fit into their curriculum.  In addition, teachers will gain student centered ideas, lessons that differentiate, challenging ways to motivate students, current research on pedagogy, various interdisciplinary websites and Socratic seminars and philosophical rounds that take literacy and learning to a new level!  Applicable all Educators and staff K-12.

ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) In-service credit only Instructor: Tara McCarney TaraMcCarneyLIIPS@gmail.com Course Description:  The relationship between educators and parents is crucial in a student’s academic success.  It is imperative that educators form a healthy positive form of communication between a child’s home and school environment.  This not only ensures their academic success but also allows both the educator and parent to evaluate the child’s social-emotional well-being as well.  With all of the changes over the years in what the typical American family structure looks like, it is important to obtain a strong level of parental involvement and support. Educators in this course will examine styles of methods for communicating with families.  This class will help educators examine the different types of communication platforms educators can use to engage parents to achieve their support in the education process.  Suitable for all Educator or Service Provider, K - 12

Course #L1021 Most students feel stressed at times in class, but some might be more vulnerable to stress than others. When stress builds up to severe levels for a child, they may be at risk to develop toxic stress—which can have lasting effects on their social-emotional, behavioral, and physical health. If you can recognize signs of stress in your students, you can provide them with support to help them manage it before it overwhelms them. It will cover an array of topics such as recognizing symptoms of stress, possible reasons for school related stress, stress management techniques, meditation, truancy/suspensions, trauma, and also distinguishing between good vs. bad stress. This class is created for any educator or service provider. Suggested for all Educators K-12. ON-LINE (3 Credits / 45 hours) In-service Credit only  

Course #L1027 The educational field has changed tremendously over the years. In order to keep up with the complex challenges we face in education you may need to tweak your style to become more versed in the field of education. We will cover a broad range of topics such as time management, classroom management, APPR, data collecting, record keeping, observations, administrative personnel, volunteering time, professional presentation and language, professional development, creating “lifelong learners”, adaptive learning, digital literacy, and project based learning. This class will help you “rise to the top” and prove to other teachers, students, parents, and administrators that you have what it takes to make the cut! A must for all educators K – 12! ON-LINE (3credits/45hours) In-service credit only  

Course #L1030 Over the next three years, a majority of K-12 educators expect online learning and digital curriculum to become ever more-important. New remote learning formats require new thinking to create compelling, engaging, and inclusive content. To ensure strong student engagement during digital classrooms, educators are turning to various technological tools for remote learning. There’s so much information available online that the challenge becomes sorting through it to find accurate, objective materials. This course will train teachers to become confident and comfortable in incorporating various tools within their online classroom. They will become proficient using Edpuzzle, Padlet, Kami, Flipgrid, Peardeck, Nearpod, and much more! We will also focus on various assessment tools as well. This course is suited for any educator or service provider K-12. ON-LINE (3 Credits / 45 hours) in-service credit only