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

Many students could use help with their study skills to help them become better students and test takers. This course provides techniques, ideas, and resources for helping students to develop their study skills. Teachers will be able to develop their students’ study skills and help take the fear out of test-taking through the use of visual aids, innovative strategies, and helpful worksheets. This course is beneficial to educators 1-12, specials teachers, and speech and language teachers

ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service only

Çourse Description:

This course will examine strategies for academic and social success to help your ELL and ESL students feel “at home” in your classroom. With much of this population being integrated into in your classroom, you need to know to support them.  We will discuss techniques for proper instruction, types of learning activities geared toward the ELLs and how to get how to get parents involvement.  Types of testing, communication strategies and language learning will be studied.  We will use a variety of resources and activities. Educators will come away with a thorough understanding of the cultural, emotional, behavioral, social, and linguistic barriers these children face each day, and put these instructional practices to work to help ALL your students achieve success.

This course is for educators grades K-12.

Course Description:

This course will focus on how to support the struggling learners we all have in our classrooms.  Educators will share strategies that work in all areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking to bring those learners up to par with the rest of the class. Strategies will be explored on how to lift up those students who struggle.  Students will feel supported satisfied with their improvements.  Teachers will walk away with a plethora of great lessons and techniques.  This course is a must for all teachers of all disciplines grades K-12.  

Course #PDLI9080

For in person or online or online.

(45 HOURS/3 GRADUATE CREDITS)

ON-LINE

Instructor: Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com

Course Description:

This course will explore how to support our English Language Learners and our English as Second Language Learners in our mainstream classrooms.  We will discuss how to provide daily instruction as an educator to fit the needs of the students in these language categories.  Since many of these students have either come from different countries or have just started to learn the language, it is necessary as teachers to provide them with a strong language background to guide them through their learning process.  Participants will discuss how to get started in your mainstream classroom providing the support needed for the ELL and ESL students, how to differentiate the work for them. Educators will collaborate and work on a multitude of language learning techniques and assessments for all learning styles.  Applicable all educators and staff K-12.

Course Description:

Do you ever want a guide to starting the year off right with parents?  This course will focus on how to build relationships with your students parents from the very beginning of the school year.  Educators will discuss how to properly communication with parents and form a meaningful bond. This course will examine ways to touch base and stay in constant communication with your students’ parents.  Educators will share what parent-teacher communication skills work and what skills have often failed.  Teachers will discuss how these successful relationships leads to success and productivity in your classroom.  This course is a must for all educators levels K-12.

3 Credits In-Service Course (45 Hours)

Instructor: Kim Kittredge, kkittredgeliips@gmail.com

Class Description:

This course discusses anxiety and why it has been rising in students over the past several years.  Educators will explore how student anxiety is increasing due to a shift from play-based to phone-centered activities, creating a landscape of real-world overprotection and virtual underprotection. Teachers will work to address rising levels of anxiety, depression, and social comparison; where they prioritize phone-free learning environments, promote meaningful in-person interaction, and strengthen student resilience. Through guided discussions and collaborative activities, participants will learn how to cultivate learning environments that reduce stressors, foster healthy social connections, and promote meaningful in-person interaction. A major emphasis of the course is on building student resilience—helping learners develop the tools to navigate challenges, manage emotions, and build confidence. Teachers will explore practical approaches such as creating phone-free classroom routines, strengthening classroom communities, and embedding supportive, relationship-centered practices into everyday instruction. By the end of the course, educators will be equipped with a variety of strategies to reduce anxiety, nurture resilience, and create a supportive where every student can thrive. This course is a must for all educators grades K–12.

This course provides an understanding of literacy issues specific to English Language Learners. Participants will learn strategies and tech­niques for teaching reading and writing to ELL students. Key concepts include the relationship between first language liter­acy and further literacy development, along with an extensive review of stan­dards-based reading and writing instruction. Additionally, this course will focus on phonics, struc­tural analysis, sight words, process writing, and the incorporation of technol­ogy.

ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only

Students need to be able to understand themselves and their learning needs and in turn advocate for themselves in the classroom. Teaching students these skills of independence will impact the rest of their educational careers. Great for all Educators K-12.

ON-LINE (3credits/45hours) In-service credit only

Teaching Technology to Teachers: As teachers in the 21st Century, we need to learn 21st Century skills. There are many electronic resources available to teach us these skills. These skills are essential for students learn in order to become successful technology based citizens. Teachers who have a better grasp on how to implement these skills will be better able to boost their students’ creativity, information fluency, and digital citizenship. A must for all instructors, K – 12!

ON-LINE (3 Credits/45 Hours) In-service credit only

Course Description:

How do we teach respect? Respect from our students is one of the greatest issues educators face day to day when trying to educate our students. Has respect been lost, or do children just need to be reminded of it from time to time? This course will look into this phenomenon. As educators we need to work on this generation of students and their idea of respect and the culture behind it. In this course we will discuss how crucial respect is to achieving success in the classroom and in life. In this course, educators will explore the impact of cultural values, work ethic, family life and various other factors that influence students inside and outside of our schools. This course will incorporate the many factors that go into teaching students respect. This course is a must for all educators grades K-12. 

Course Description:

This course is designed to provide the ESL, general education, and all subject area teachers with the skills necessary to teach students al all levels of language acquisition ho to make connections, ask questins, vsualize, infer, determine importace synthesize, monitor meaning and comprehension, and continue learning independently through guided texts and authors. A must for all educators grade K – 12.

This course explores the broad applications and utility of the iPad as a classroom teaching device and technology use within the classroom. Practical instruction provides strategies and skills for effective classroom integration. Learn how to successfully integrate the iPad and other programs into the K-12 classroom with this course.

ON-LINE (3credits/45hours) In-service credit only

This class focuses on the identification of students in regular/special education education classrooms that may have ADD/ADHD, the difference between the two disorders, and how to structure the classroom environment to allow these students to reach their maximum potential. Identification of the most commonly used medical interventions and the impact they may have in the school setting, how to help build-up self-esteem and peer relationships, practical classroom interventions aimed at helping these students to access the curriculum, behavior modification strategies that promote success, and Creating a classroom environment that teaches to all learning styles. Suitable for all educators K-12.

ON-LINE (3 Credits / 45 hours) in-service credit only

**New Course**  Available In-Person or Online

Fall 2026: October: 5,6,7,13,14,15,20,21,22,23

Course Description:

A creative classroom will help to develop a creative student.  This course will explore how educators can work towards turning their classroom into a room where students want to learn.  Students will thrive and learn with fun, exciting and higher thinking skills and lessons.  Educators will share creative techniques while working towards fostering student success.  This course is a must for all educators grades K-12.

In a world where conflict is usually equated with violence, and therefore, fear is a common reaction, it is essential to underscore the opportunities presented by conflict. When violence emerges as a predominant aspect of conflict, these opportunities are lost. Conflicts emerge constantly from our perceptions of the commonplace events of everyday life, and demonstrate what each individual considers to be important and relevant to them. Thus, the elements for the peaceful settlement of a conflict are to be found in the conflict itself.
In this course, teachers will learn how to more effectively express and mange the value differences, tensions, and misunderstandings associated with conflict. At the same time, they will be able to teach their students how to acknowledge one another, and build understanding based on the real needs of those involved in the dispute.
Teachers will be guided on how to effectively establish a conflict resolution and peer- mediation program in their classroom as well as in their schools. All of the necessary skill training, practice, and resources will be provided.
Course Objectives
1. To help students define conflict and its connotations; identifies common societal messages about conflict; reviews the major kinds of conflicts we encounter.
Standard 2: A Safe and Healthy Environment
Students will acquire the knowledge and ability necessary to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment
2. To explore three basic approached to conflict, the effectiveness of each, and how they interact with each other.
Standard 2: A Safe and Healthy Environment
Students will acquire the knowledge and ability necessary to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment
3. To build skills to understand and manage anger and other strong emotions more effectively, exploring the important role emotions play in conflict.
Standard 2: A Safe and Healthy Environment
Students will acquire the knowledge and ability necessary to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment
4. To describe the communication process and the factors that influences it, and focus on the role of cultural differences in the communication process.
Standard 2: A Safe and Healthy Environment
Students will acquire the knowledge and ability necessary to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment
5. To help students put together effective listening and speaking skills for better interpersonal understanding; providing practice in a collaborative problem solving process.
Standard 2: A Safe and Healthy Environment
Students will acquire the knowledge and ability necessary to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment

ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) In-serice credit only

3 Credits – In service Course (45 Hours)

Instructor:  Denise J. Ribarich OTR/L   dribarichliips@gmail.com

This course is designed for professionals/educators/therapists working directly with elementary, middle/high schoolers and young adults.  In this online course you will learn the multiple benefits that can be achieved during the process of cultivating and beautifying a small garden space in and around your school or community. These include academic improvement as well as social, psychological, emotional, as well as improved verbal expression and essential  life skills. You will learn skills developed such as responsibility, self-confidence, decision making, teamwork, organization and working together towards an ultimate goal. Besides the educational improvement in math and science , many students have improved sensory processing capabilities which frees these students to more easily learn and integrate new skills that they were unable to do before.

Working together with your students on designing a simple garden will provide enjoyment and satisfaction and will have long-lasting memories with development of meaningful vocational applications for the future.

 This course is important for all educators  including School Psychologists, Guidance Counselors, Social Workers, Speech/Language teachers and Occupational and Physical Therapists.  The knowledge you will learn will have a direct impact on your students and will affect  all aspects of their lives as well as yours.

Course Description: This course will focus on the geography of education and how to teach your students; no matter who they are or where they come from.  Geography by definition is to study the physical features and activity of a society, and how this affects and is affected by those around it.  So, why not apply it to education! This course will examine the features of education and how we use it to teach our students better on a daily basis.  Teachers will discuss our learning activities and atmospheres.  We will discuss our populations in our schools, they areas in which we teach, and the resources we receive to benefit these populations.  Educators will work on techniques and strategies for the ultimate goal of success with the geography of learning and educating all students no matter the area they live or how they learn.  This course is a must for all educators levels K-12.

**New Course**   Available In-Person or Online

December Break: 2026- December 28th-January 1st

Instructor: Kim Kittredge  kkittredgeliips@gmail.com

Art therapy is a creative and impactful practice that enriches the lives of students, families, and communities through its creativity. By active art-making and applied theories art theory can be used in schools as a successful tool for assessment, creative expression, healing and personal growth. In this course educators will discuss methods for using art therapy as form of expression; going beyond words or language. Educators will discuss the healing aspects and psychological theories of art and how to help students integrate personal growth through this creative process. Art therapy can be used with individuals of all ages and abilities, including children who are experiencing behavioral challenges or those with Autism Spectrum Disorder. They also assist student with mindfulness, self-esteem, self awareness and basic calming techniques in the classroom. This course is a must for educators grades K-12.