Education Policies & Trends

*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* 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.

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

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

  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!!

  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!!!!

*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*

PDLI 9130 

(45 HOURS/3 GRADUATE CREDITS)

Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com

Course Description:

Providing students with high quality discussions that promote learning and engagement is tantamount to teaching. High quality discussions include content-specific ideas that spark students to express different points of view, reflect on their own opinions, varying perspectives, and engage in democratic dialogues. Education that develops deep reasoning, critical thinking, and conceptual and practical tools for inculcating knowledge is tantamount for students today. Teaching in this modality empowers our learners and enables them to recognize that proactive engagement is the key to their success. 

In this course, participants will be instructed on the pedagogical principles that promote student learning and democratic engagement. They will learn the ways in which students themselves facilitate learning and streamline their own thinking. Teachers will be instructed on ways in which to act as mediators and not sages, including the ins and outs of effective questioning. Rich discussion tactics will be integrated as fishbowl techniques, Socratic Seminars, Jigsaws, formative assessments, graphic organizers, gallery walks – all of which engage the learner and provide for optimum efficacy.

Goals and Objectives: Upon completion of the course, participants will be better prepared to:

Course #PDLI9040 (45 HOURS/3 GRADUATE CREDITS) ON-LINE Instructor:  Rose Marino Foster rosemarino5@gmail.com Course Description: “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. 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.  Applicable all Educators and staff K-12.

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:

• Media Literacy and Critical Thinking
• Historical and Cultural Context
• Emotional Resilience and Empathy
• Civic Engagement and Advocacy

1. Assignments: Participants are responsible for submitting 10 written assignments that connect the course content, professional experiences, and personal views.
2. Required Reading and Videos: Various professional articles and videos are embedded in the course.

* Participants will need to create a free "student" account with CANVAS to begin the course. The link to sign up for the course in CANVAS will be emailed to course participants once they are signed up and paid through LIIPS. This engaging course is appropriate for general and special education teachers, school psychologists, occupational therapists, speech therapists/ teachers, physical therapists, social workers, guidance counselors, and any other professionals who interact with children regularly. This course will fulfill CTLE requirements.

PDLI 9140

Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com

(45 HOURS/3 GRADUATE CREDITS)

Course Description:

Education that incorporates a multiethnic perspective recognizes children’s own frames of reference, ones that utilize ideas formed through the traditions of the students’ families and communities. It is a way of teaching that addresses issues of equity and commitment to social action. Teaching in a multiculturalism fashion promotes academic excellence and social justice for all children. Helping children become critical thinkers and make connections in their learning is the essence of multicultural instruction, one that promotes democracy and recognizes that proactive engagement in students of all ages is the key to their success. 

In this course, participants will be instructed on the ways in which to infuse multiethnic strategies into students’ repertoires. Teachers will be able to create a successful classroom environment where culture is at the forefront, developing and maximizing responsibility, diversity, and cognitive growth in students throughout this course. They will explore various resources such as articles, interviews, readings, differentiated learning sites, lesson plans, and links to literary sites.  Additionally, they will research a variety of sources and decide which ones are engaging and fit into their curriculum.  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!

Goals and Objectives: Upon completion of the course, participants will be better prepared to:

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.

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.

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. 

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.