Course Description:

As educators we see first hand the effects of stress on our students.  We feel the effect it has on us.  This course will explore the consequences and effects of stress.  Stress is a common issue that does affect and will affect all of our students at some time.  Educators will learn how to identify individuals under stress or in stressful situations.  Participants will discuss what are the factors that cause stress most, and the different ways of coping with stress.  Teachers will discuss how to greatly improve your student’s mental and physical well being on a day-to-day basis. Teachers will learn strategies for helping students self-regulate, to manage moving from one class to another (transitional strategies), and reducing outside daily noise.  The importance mindsets will also be discussed.  This course is a must for all educators levels K-12.

The focus of this course will be to provide educators with an overview of the Student Learning Objective process or SLO. According to the NYS Department of Education, a Student Learning Objective is an academic goal for a teacher’s students that is set a the start of a course. SLOs are aligned to Common Core Standards and are used to measure student growth, as well as teacher effectiveness. In this course participants will research the purpose and benefits of the SLO process as well as the required components of SLOs. Participants will learn which educators are responsible for for writing SLOs and how these learning objectives factor into the teacher evaluation system (APPR). In addition, educators will have the opportunity to view and evaluate state provided model SLOs written by NYS educators, across all grade levels/content/specialty areas. Resources will be provided for educators to engage in a “how to” SLO writing process. As a culminating activity participants will write his/her own grade level/content area SLOs. This course will utilize a variety of resources such as videos, webinars, and articles from various websites including: htt:://engageny.org/. Appropriate for all educators K-12, especially specialty area teachers. ON-LINE (3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only

Course Description: This course will focus on how help your students become better problem solvers by using Project-Based Learning. Educators in this course with discuss techniques for success with PBL that will help your students thrive and become more successful individuals. Educators will focus on techniques such as: Collaboration, Student Choice, Role Playing and Real-World Scenarios to name a few. Participants will explore such techniques and learn to empower your students to achieve and become better problem solvers.  This course is a must for all instructors of all levels K-12.

Course #PDLI9150 (45 HOURS/3 GRADUATE CREDITS) ON-LINE Instructor: Kim Kittredge   kkittredgeliips@gmail.com Course Description: This course is designed to provide educators with practical strategies and techniques to teach reading and writing to their students. As educators we know we are all teachers of reading and writing. In this course teachers will explore research-based principles, and engage writing and reading theory to help their students. Participants will learn how to implement these skills into your curriculum no matter what subject you teach. Educators will be empowered through a combination of theoretical frameworks, case studies, and hands-on reading and writing activities. This course aims to empower teachers to thrive both personally and professionally.

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 (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 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.

Kim Kittredge   Kkittredgeliips@gmail.com

Are you a new(ish) or new(er) teacher looking for the tips and tricks to help you teach like a pro?  Well, then this course can help you get started.  This course is designed to provide newer educators with skills and strategies that are practical and useful and will help you do well in your role as a new or new(ish) educator.  You will be given suggestions for effective lesson planning, how to provide differentiated instruction and how to increase student motivation and engagement.  Teachers will be introduced to effective management techniques, growth mindset lessons and how to have effective parent/teacher relationships. Teachers will end this course with a multitude of strategies that create a positive learning environment that enhances student learning overall. This course is a must for educators of all grades and levels 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.

**New Course** 3 Credits In-Service Course (45 Hours) Summer 2026: August 3^rd-7^th 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.

3 credits/45 hours In service only

Bryan Horrmann     Bhorrmannliips@gmail.com

Course Description Teaching personal and social responsibility is about using physical education as a means to teach life skills and discipline to our students. It is the intention that this code becomes integrated and internalized by the students and gives them structure for their lives, values, inner-discipline and that these skills are not only seen in the gym but are transferred to other aspects of their lives.   Goal(s) of the Course: The objective of the TPSR model was to guide athletes learn and practice behaviors and attitudes that will help them taking responsibility for their personal well-being and contributing to the well-being of others.  Students will be able to demonstrate self-advocacy, responsibility to create a safe and positive environment.   Learning Outcomes:

Course Description: Do you think about or are concerned with respect or lack of it in your school or classroom?  For many different reasons, our classrooms, hallways, and cafeterias are not as happy and respectful as they used to be.  This course is designed for teachers who are looking to rediscover strategies and initiatives for addressing behaviors in their classrooms and schools.  This course begins by delving into different types of respect where teachers will learn how to proactively approach a variety of behaviors.  Educators will learn how to address bullying, so that students’ social and emotional needs are addressed.  Teachers will research ways of regulating and resolving a variety of intense and heavy emotions in their students and classrooms.  This course will specifically address research-based approaches to tolerance and respect, bullying prevention, including the establishment of classroom rules and expectations, teaching communication skills and tolerance recognition strategies.  By the end of this course educators will help students understand the importance of respect and tolerance overall.  This course is a must for all educators levels K-12.   Instructor:  Kim Kittredge kkittredgeliips@gmail.com 3 credits – In service Course (45 Hours)

Course Description: This course is designed to equip educators with proper tools to help your students develop great study habits.  You will be able to arm your students with organizational skills, ideas that work, tools for them to memorize text and concepts, and lots more.  This course will explore how to help your classes with note-taking techniques and/or merely developing good study habits in general.  Your students will learn to utilize these study habits and will benefit from them daily.  Participants will share their own techniques as well as developing new ones.  This course is a must for educators K-12.

Many local districts are dealing with poverty and multi cultural differences in the classroom. It is important to learn and understand these differences and find a way to relate to your students in ways that are meaningful to them. One major challenge is how to design a learning experience with your curriculum that that is reflective of the multicultural, economical and learning differences in each classroom. Teachers will explore and create lessons that are driven to meet the multitude of needs in each classroom. Suitable all Educators K – 12. ON-LINE (3credits/45hours) In-service credit only

By Janna Florio jflorioliips@gmail.com 3 credits / 45 hours – In-Service Credit Description: In New York State, in addition to their coursework, students must pass five Regents Examinations to fulfill graduation requirements. These standardized tests are meant to measure a students’ successful acquisition of skills and knowledge in specific subject areas, and include assessments in mathematics, science, history, and English Language Arts. Though accommodations are provided to students with unique needs and circumstances, including those with IEPs and English Language Learners, the students in the latter group may find these supports do little to bridge the gap when it comes to one exam in particular: the ELA. Educators feel equal frustrations when charged with the task of preparing ELLs for this test. This course is designed to provide instructors with strategies, tools, and resources that may assist them in supporting ENL students in their ELA classrooms, and, more specifically, help them guide these ELLs to be successful on the ELA Regents Exam. Applicable to High School ELA Teachers/ENL Teachers & Department Coordinators/Chairs

In this course, participants will learn how to best address the variety of student needs they face in the classroom and learn how to implement technology as a vehicle to unlock students’ potential across multiple disciplines and grade levels.  Teachers will use technology to differentiate instruction, motivate student interest, address challenges and roadblocks, and support students in their quest to achieve their full potential.  While exploring modern pedagogical skills, participants will gain the tools necessary to better connect curriculum to the students they teach.

Applicable to teachers of any subject/grade level.

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  

Course Description: All eyes are on you, it’s Field Day. Planning a field day can be extremely stressful and a huge undertaking for physical education teachers, especially if you are the only Physical Education teacher at your building. This course will give you the tools to create a field day that will be engaging, fun and an event that your students will remember for years to come. 

*New Course Summer 2025

Instructor:  Kim Kittredge  kkittredgeliips@gmail.com

3 Credits In Service Course (45 Hours)

Course Description:

A creative teacher is a teacher that students remember.  This type of teacher is a pleasure to be around, makes you laugh and makes you want to come to class every day.  This course will arm educators with the positive and fun strategies they will need to be the creative teacher they want to be.  Strategies such as games in the classroom, exciting cooperative learning activities, and how to build positive and strong relationships that inspire your students will be discussed.  By the end of this course educators will feel that they have enough strategies to inspire their students for free exploration and an open atmosphere in the classroom.  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