Engagement
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 | 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 only
Instructor: David Falcone dfalcone@verizon.net
Course Description: In today's educational environment, teachers at all levels are sharing the same difficulties in best meeting the needs of students. A way to improve instruction, increase student engagement, and lead to success for all children is with a Whole Brain Philosophy. The Whole Brain method holds the belief that students learn the most when they are having fun. Classrooms are very organized but humor and learning games are also an integral part of the instructional approach. As part of this course, participants will learn the steps and levels associated with this type of philosophy. In addition, participants will work on specific ways to incorporate classroom strategies as soon as possible. This course is suitable for all educators, K-12. | |
 | Student centered work depends on a high level of student engagement. To achieve this, the final project students create with their researched information should be dynamic, fun, and applied to ensure highest levels of thinking skills. In this course, we will explore how to design and model research projects that will get students excited to delve into their learning. This is applicable for ALL grade levels and each participant will have a culminating project that will serve as a sample for your next student project.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) In-Service Credit only | |
 | In March of 2020, educators entered the “unchartered waters” of remote instruction quickly adapting curriculum and instruction to virtual classrooms and a variety of online platforms. But what about behavior and classroom management systems? How did classroom routines and reinforcement systems work virtually?
As time marched on, educators expressed ongoing challenges with keeping their students actively engaged and behaving appropriately during remote instruction. Educators sought to implement classroom procedures in the virtual classroom and many quickly realized that maintaining attention or compliance remotely is not the same as when you are face to face.
This course will provide participants the opportunity to reflect on their current in school behavior and classroom management practices and learn how to extend them to a virtual learning environment.
Participants will learn what is considered best practice when managing behavior remotely with a focus on creating systems and plans that are consistent in both learning environments.
Participants will plan to pivot seamlessly between in person and remote instruction as needed.
Participants will learn all about digital resources designed for behavior and classroom and will consider and make decisions about what may work best for them
This course is relevant for all who work in schools with children ages 5-21 in both General and Special Education settings including (but not limited to) classroom and resource room teachers, related service providers (Speech/Language therapist, OT, PT), Special area teachers (e.g. Gym, Art, Music, Health) and all members of PPS (School Psychologists, Guidance Counselors, School Social Workers) and School Administrators.
ON-LINE (3 Credits / 45 hours) in-service credit only | |
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3 Credits – In-Service Course (45 Hours)
Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com
Course Description: Keeping students engaged and invigorated in their learning is the task of all educators far and wide. Offering new and innovative material, deepening students’ skills, and involving them in the learning process are the optimum tools for success. In this course, participants will immerse themselves in the learning process- researching their audience, embracing their students’ worlds, altering their mindsets. They will receive a plethora of information on creating unique lessons, ones that traverse learners’ lives and transcend their mindsets. Boredom shall never occur again at the culmination of the course!
**A must for K-12 educators in all disciplines | |
 | *New Course Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com 3 Credits In Service Course (45 Hours) Dates: Summer 2025 - August 4th-8th Course Description: The learning process takes a village. It’s not just important to have the teachers, guidance and administrators on your side, but you must have a supportive family behind you. This course will work with educators and their families to build important relationships. Educators will work on strategies that connect all students to learning and to the learning process. Teachers will be able to share the importance of learning, mindset, communication and more. Educators will work on daily routines to build support with their students. Practices will also be shared that can be brought home and worked on with your family. By the end of this course, educators and families will realize how important it is to make and keep these positive connections for the sake of the students, the family relationships and the learning process. This course is a must for all educators grades K-12. | |
 | In-Service Course
3 Credits; 45 Hours
Instructor: Valerie Gompers
Instructor Email: VGompersLIIPS@Gmail.com
Course Description:
Teaching high school and middle school students can be difficult when they constantly challenge you. They teeter between being children who still need guidance and young adults who want their independence and freedom. By understanding the unique perspectives, interests, and challenges of today's youth, instructors will learn to foster a supportive and engaging learning environment that promotes student success. This course is a must for all 6-12 educators! | |
 | *New Course Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com Summer 2025 Dates – July 7th-11th Course Credits: – 3 credits/45 Hours Course Description: Culturally responsive classroom education is at the forefront of teaching in the 21st Century. Students need to learn how to take educational risks and assume the responsibilities of independent work and collaboration. They need to be able to identify inequities and advocate for diversity within the classroom environment. In this course, participants will be able to learn how to create a classroom environment that represents and values all cultural backgrounds within the confines of their classroom. They will learn how to inculcate various perspectives throughout their respective disciplines and address ways in which empathy, conversations, backgrounds, and perspectives play a part in learning. The class will address the ways that students take ownership in their learning and view mistakes as ways to be constructive. *A Must for K-12 Educators* | |
 | *New Course Spring 2025
Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com
In-Service Class – 3 Credits – 45 Hours
Course Description:
The importance of continual growth in one’s classroom cannot be emphasized enough. Creating expectations for students and creative assignments teeming with energy is the key to their successful mindset. This course will discuss the ways in which learners guide their students’ growth mindset and excitement to grow. Teachers will read a wealth of articles in this course that stress refinement and reflection. They will hone in on student productivity and the ways to create a work environment filled with spice. Technological activities and components of every discipline will be covered. In the end, the learning will never end.
*A Must for K-12 Educators* | |
 | Course Description:
This course is designed to arm educators of all subject areas and levels to bring meaning to your classroom. Meaningful hands-on lessons will be discussed. Interactive conversation topics, brain games, puzzles and comics will also be shared. These types of activities will get the discussions started and your students’ minds working overtime. So, create meaning for your students every day by creating experiences for them.
This course is a must for educators grades K-12.
ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only
Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com
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 | *New Course Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com 3 Credits In Service Course (45 Hours) Dates: Summer 2025 – August 11th-15th Course Description: Using creative writing in all subjects will provide our students with the capacity to better read, research, reflect and more. Educators will discuss interdisciplinary writing rules, the 7 different types of writing, creative writing assignments and how to better reflect as we write. Educators will work on strategies for structuring creative writing no matter what the subject. Activities will also be shared for how to strengthen the writing of all students in all areas. A plethora of creative writing prompts will be shared for all subjects and areas of teaching. By the end of this course students will learn how to open their minds, be imaginative and work towards the goal of clarity, completeness and creativity. This course is a must for all educators grades K-12. | |
 | Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com
In-Service Course – 3 Credits – 45 Hours
Course Description: Classroom dialogue provides a unique opportunity for students to verbalize their understanding, bring their thoughts to the surface and examine mindsets. By engaging in dialogue, students can identify knowledge gaps, challenge assumptions, and solidify their comprehension, all with the assistance of their peers. Participants in this course will learn how to engage their students in effective dialogue through an open exchange of perspectives, all of which deepen students' understanding of topics and encourage reflection. Reflective journals, democratic dialogue, and Socratic seminars will all be included in the course!
*A must for K-12 educators!* | |
 | Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com
In-Service Course – 3 Credits – 45 Hours
Course Description: Creating strategies for and utilizing our gregarious students' sociality within the confines of the classroom is an art form. This course will enable participants to comprehend the behaviors behind their most loquacious individuals and harness their individual strengths. Finding the means to allow learners to enthusiastically express their ideas and feel comfortable in their skin is akin to good teaching. A wealth of ideas and strategies will be presented for teachers to immediately utilize in their classes!
*A must for K-12 educators* | |
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Course Description: Reflecting and analyzing our practices as educators is critical. Creating learners that possess both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation is transformative. This course focuses on a plethora of ways that students and teachers alike can cultivate and systematically address their learners. A myriad of ideas and lessons will be shared that challenge and guide students towards success. Lessons include literary studies, critical thinking exercises, poetry snippets, dramatic dialogues, Sample mini-lessons, activities, and strategies will be provided. A must for all K-12 instructors!!!!!!
(3 credits/45 hours) In-service credit only | |
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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 Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com Summer 2025 Dates – August 25th- August 29th 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* | |
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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* | |
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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!!! | |
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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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| 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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| 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 | |
 | *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: 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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 | Giving Students More Authority – Facilitating Meaningful Classroom Discussions in the K-12 Classroom PDLI 9130 (45 HOURS/3 GRADUATE CREDITS) Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.comCourse 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: • Understand the impact of effective classroom discussions
• Comprehend the respective ways in which teachers can transform their classrooms via classroom dialogues
• Generate meaningful strategies that challenge students
• Develop deep learning outcomes for their classrooms
• Integrate a myriad of learning activities that challenge their learners
• Engage their learners with 21st century tools of instruction | |
| 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 |