Life Skills
 | Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com
In-Service Course – 3 Credits – 45 Hours
Course Description: Activating social awareness in students is tantamount. Encouraging exploration of varying perspectives and creating an atmosphere of critical thinking paves the path for student success. This course will instruct participants on the ways in which engagement can enhance their already existing curriculum. The course will focus on student needs, meaningful discussions, exploration of viewpoints, dialectic journals, critical analysis, visionary components, etc..
*A must for K-12 educators* | |
 | *New Course
Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com
In-Service Class – 3 Credits – 45 Hours
Dates: June 2,3,4,5,6,9,10,11,12,13th (2025)
East Meadow Location – 4:15 - 8:15 pm
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* | |
 | *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!* | |
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Instructor – Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com
3 credits (45 hours) – In-service course
Course Description: The compounding ramifications of stress in students’ lives can be overwhelming and insurmountable. Instructing students on the ways in which to manage and cope with difficulties is crucial to their well-being. This course will enlighten participants on the ways in which students can handle stress in their daily lives, including coping mechanisms, proactive thinking, positive relationship building, and the exploration of lifetime practices.
A must for all 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 | |
 | Instructor: Christina Palmenteri
In service only. 3 credits/45 hours
Course Description:
A comprehensive online course designed to equip educators and coaches with the tools to create positive, inclusive, and skill-building sports environments for young athletes. Participants will explore key strategies in developing age-appropriate training, fostering teamwork, enhancing communication, and addressing the unique needs of youth players. This course provides practical insights and strategies to promote physical, social, and emotional growth in young athletes while meeting educational standards for continued professional development.
* Suitable for all Educators K-12 | |
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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!! | |
 | Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia – gaylelumia@yahoo.com
In-Service Course – 3 Credits – 45 Hours
Course Description: Facilitating the means for students to become leaders and succeed significantly in any classroom must be the role of all teachers. Acknowledging student strengths, providing ownership, encouraging their potentialities, all falls within the confines of the course. Participants will learn to create a vision for their students, empower them through effective coaching and feedback, and guide them with training, tools, and time. A wealth of strategies will be rendered and the means for implementing them full addressed.
*A must for K-12 educators* | |
 | *New Course*
Instructor: Kim Kittredge Kkittredgeliips@gmail.com
3 credits/45 hrs in service
Dates: February Break (2025) - Feb. 17th-21st
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. | |
 | As we all know, some of the brightest minds can have an executive functioning disability. We will explore the various ways that this appears in students and how to help them learn how to compensate and work through their difficulties in order to be college and career ready. Teachers will explore the components of Executive Functions as well as the impairments that are associated with it. Teachers will learn how to assess, improve, and treat this disorder through a multitude of strategies and goals. Suitable for all Educators K – 12.
ON-LINE (3credits/45hours) 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* | |
 | *New Course Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com 3 Credits In Service Course (45 Hours) Dates: Summer 2025 - August 18th – 22nd 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. | |
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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!! | |
 | 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. | |
 | 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 | |
 | Giving Students Voice: Teaching them to Debate, Discuss and Argue with Authority and Power *New Course* Dates: Spring 2025 – March 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19.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) | |
 | *New Course Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia- gaylelumia@yahoo.com Summer 2025 Dates – July 14th-July 18th 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* | |
| *New Course Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia- gaylelumia@yahoo.com Summer 2025 Dates – August 4th-August 8th 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* | |
 | 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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 | 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. | |
| 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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| 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. | |
| 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. | |
 | 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 | |
| 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 Instructor: Gayle Meinkes-Lumia- gaylelumia@yahoo.com Summer 2025 Dates – July 28th-August 1st 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* | |
 | 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. |