Online Workshops
A Teacher’s Guide to Remote Teaching: Tips and Tricks
This course is designed to offer teacher based methods and strategies to help manage daily remote teaching. Included will be tips for reducing stress, how to manage working from home, and guidelines for working from home.
Follow the sequence of Modules to complete this course. Please participate by watching all videos, review all the information provided, follow any links, submit any assignments, and provide feedback through participation in all discussion boards.
RegisterA Teachers Guide to Remote Teaching: Websites & Strategies for Daily Teaching
This course is designed to offer teacher based methods and websites to daily remote teaching. Included will be tips for video conferencing, teacher-tested websites, and guidelines for stress-free working from home.
Follow the sequence of Modules to complete this course. Please participate by watching all videos, review all the information provided, follow any links, submit any assignments, and provide feedback through participation in all discussion boards.
RegisterAcademic Language Matters: EL-Focused Strategies
Examine and apply evidence-based strategies that support EL students with learning and using academic language across content areas. Educators will identify and plan to apply specific strategies to ensure English learners practice and develop the language needed to communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic, social and emotional success.
RegisterBest Classroom Practices in Reading
This course is intended to help the participant improve their instruction of reading in all content areas. The participant will walk away with new strategies and ideas to implement in their classes immediately.
RegisterBest Classroom Practices in Writing
This course is intended to help educators increase the reading comprehension of students in the 5th through 12th grade through the skill of writing. The intention is to walk away with some of the best practrice strategies, both old and new, to implement into your lessons.
RegisterBest Practices for Differentiated Instruction
This course will take you through the most current practices in differentiated instruction. No matter your content area or grade level, you will end the course with an entire unit of planned differentiated instruction that you can implement in your classroom.
RegisterBuilding a Trauma Sensitive School
Studies now show that nearly every school has children who have been exposed to overwhelming experiences, such as witnessing violence between their caretakers, being the direct targets of abuse, community violence and other kinds of adversity. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study found higher levels of traumatic experiences in the general population than previously imagined. Among the approximately 17,000 adults surveyed, just over 50% reported having experienced at least one form of childhood adversity. A trauma-sensitive school is one where all students feel safe, welcomed, and supported. This school will constantly be addressing trauma’s impact on learning on a school-wide basis. This is at the center of its educational mission. This course is designed to delve into the elements of what is necessary to develop or even enhance a Trauma Sensitive School. Topics include Core Principles, Secondary Traumatic Stress, Secondary Traumatic Stress, Mapping Triggers, Trauma Sensitive Assessment, Multitiered Approach, Collaboration, SEL, and Guiding Questions.
RegisterBuilding Literacy in Science
The new Illinois Learning Standards for Science require students to read challenging, complex texts to gain insights, evaluate information, broaden perspectives and write logical arguments based on substantive claims, sound reasoning, and relevant evidence. This course provides both the rationale for using disciplinary literacy to comprehend the concepts of science as well as effective, research-based, brain compatible strategies that are effective in science classrooms.
RegisterBuilding Literacy in Social Science
The New Illinois Learning Standards require students to read challenging, complex texts to gain insights, evaluate information, broaden their perspectives and be able to write logical arguments based on substantive claims, sound reasoning, and relevant evidence. Learn effective, research-based, brain compatible strategies that are effective in social science classrooms and enable students to read, write, listen, speak, and think like historians.
RegisterCreativity in the Classroom: From Canva to Coding
In this course you will explore a variety of technology tools to boost engagement, promote social emotional learning, and so much more. This course will help you immediately incorporate new ideas into your classroom.
RegisterDitch the Worksheet-Assessment and Management
Hello and welcome to part one of a four part series of "Ditch the Worksheet." This class on "assessment" will provide you with ways to throw out the worksheets you use for reviews, assessments, and daily activities to provide new ways to encourage students to learn with technology.
In 2018, we presented for the first time together “Ditch the Worksheet” at the Raising Student Achievement Conference. Since then, we have encouraged teachers and administrators to get rid of the traditional teaching style of handing out worksheets to check for understanding and completion and switch to a more digital approach with the use of technology tools!
We hope you find many new ideas to be able to immediately incorporate into your classroom.
RegisterEmbracing Social Learning Series- Part 1: Introduction to Social Emotional Learning
This introductory workshop will expose and guide teachers to understand Social Emotional Learning (SEL) definitions, research, and guidelines. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) will be explored and their statistical evolution bringing us to this school year. We will examine research to support SEL through the report-“HOW SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING CAN EMPOWER CHILDREN AND CHANGE SCHOOLS.” We will explore the CASEL website as a jumping-off point for SEL research and guidance. We will also dive into inspirational videos and articles from Edutopia and TED Talks. Examining Why and How SEL can come into your school and classroom is a focal point of this class. Class members will examine the Illinois State Board of Education SEL Curriculum for their grade level. The class will include videos, literature exploration, current research, curricular reflections, and immersive activities.
This class is appropriate for anyone in the education field looking to learn about the latest information in Social Emotional Learning. Each class can be completed at your own pace over a 60-day period. The instructor will respond to your posts within 48 hours and all posts are complete or incomplete. Participants will complete an evaluation at the end of the course and receive their PD credit within 2 weeks.
RegisterEmbracing Social Learning Series- Part 2: Self Awareness- Designing Activities for Your Classroom
Workshops #2- #6 will each dive into the separate components of Social Emotional Learning and can be taken in any order. This workshop will provide an opportunity to learn about the Self-Awareness component of SEL and to develop both implicit and explicit programs for your grade-level classrooms based on the Illinois State Standards. This workshop will lead teachers through the standards to help identify what areas you already fulfilled and where your deficits are currently. Numerous examples and opportunities to participate in appropriate activities will inspire participants to start developing their own curriculum and activities. Participants will discover through a myriad of media including educational articles, website exploration, videos, book excerpts, current events, and social media groups. The goal is to walk away with a firm foundation and a myriad of activities provided and developed during each session both for teacher planning and student learning.
This class is appropriate for anyone in the education field looking to learn about the latest information in Social Emotional Learning. Each class can be completed at your own pace over a 60-day period. The instructor will respond to your posts within 48 hours and all posts are complete or incomplete. Participants will complete an evaluation at the end of the course and receive their PD credit within 2 weeks.
RegisterEmbracing Social Learning Series- Part 3 Self Management- Designing Activities for Your Classroom
Workshops #2- #6 will each dive into the separate components of Social Emotional Learning and can be taken in any order. This workshop will provide an opportunity to learn about the Self-Management component of SEL and to develop both implicit and explicit programs for your grade level classrooms based on the Illinois State Standards. This workshop will lead teachers through the standards to help identify what areas you already fulfilled and where your deficits are currently. Examples and opportunities to participate in appropriate activities will inspire participants to start developing their own curriculum and activities. Participants will discover through a myriad of media including educational articles, website exploration, videos, book excerpts, current events, and social media groups. The goal is to walk away with a firm foundation, and a myriad of activities provided and developed during each session both for teacher planning and student learning.
This class is appropriate for anyone in the education field looking to learn about the latest information in Social Emotional Learning. Each class can be completed at your own pace over a 60-day period. The instructor will respond to your posts within 48 hours and all posts are complete or incomplete. Participants will complete an evaluation at the end of the course and receive their PD credit within 2 weeks.
RegisterEmbracing Social Learning Series- Part 4: Social Awareness- Designing Activities for Your Classroom
Workshops #2- #6 will each dive into the separate components of Social Emotional Learning and can be taken in any order. This workshop will provide an opportunity to learn about the Social-Awareness component of SEL and to develop both implicit and explicit programs for your grade level classrooms based on the Illinois State Standards. This workshop will lead teachers through the standards to help identify what areas you already fulfilled and where your deficits are currently. Examples and opportunities to participate in appropriate activities will inspire participants to start developing their own curriculum and activities. Participants will discover through a myriad of media including educational articles, website exploration, videos, book excerpts, current events, and social media groups. The goal is to walk away with a firm foundation and a myriad of activities provided and developed during each session both for teacher planning and student learning.
This class is appropriate for anyone in the education field looking to learn about the latest information in Social Emotional Learning. Each class can be completed at your own pace over a 60-day period. The instructor will respond to your posts within 48 hours and all posts are complete or incomplete. Participants will complete an evaluation at the end of the course and receive their PD credit within 2 weeks.
RegisterEmbracing Social Learning Series- Part 5 Relationship Skills: - Designing Activities for Your Classroom
Workshops #2- #6 will each dive into the separate components of Social Emotional Learning and can be taken in any order. This workshop will provide an opportunity to learn about the Social-Awareness component of SEL and to develop both implicit and explicit programs for your grade level classrooms based on the Illinois State Standards. This workshop will lead teachers through the standards to help identify what areas you already fulfilled and where your deficits are currently. Examples and opportunities to participate in appropriate activities will inspire participants to start developing their own curriculum and activities. Participants will discover through a myriad of media including educational articles, website exploration, videos, book excerpts, current events, and social media groups. The goal is to walk away with a firm foundation and a myriad of activities provided and developed during each session both for teacher planning and student learning.
This class is appropriate for anyone in the education field looking to learn about the latest information in Social Emotional Learning. Each class can be completed at your own pace over a 60-day period. The instructor will respond to your posts within 48 hours and all posts are complete or incomplete. Participants will complete an evaluation at the end of the course and receive their PD credit within 2 weeks.
RegisterEmbracing Social Learning Series- Part 6 Responsible Decision-Making Skills: Designing Activities for Your Classroom
Workshops #2- #6 will each dive into the separate components of Social Emotional Learning and can be taken in any order. This workshop will provide an opportunity to learn about the Social-Awareness component of SEL and to develop both implicit and explicit programs for your grade level classrooms based on the Illinois State Standards. This workshop will lead teachers through the standards to help identify what areas you already fulfilled and where your deficits are currently. Examples and opportunities to participate in appropriate activities will inspire participants to start developing their own curriculum and activities. Participants will discover through a myriad of media including educational articles, website exploration, videos, book excerpts, current events, and social media groups. The goal is to walk away with a firm foundation and a myriad of activities provided and developed during each session both for teacher planning and student learning.
This class is appropriate for anyone in the education field looking to learn about the latest information in Social Emotional Learning. Each class can be completed at your own pace over a 60-day period. The instructor will respond to your posts within 48 hours and all posts are complete or incomplete. Participants will complete an evaluation at the end of the course and receive their PD credit within 2 weeks.
RegisterFlipping Your Classroom
This is an introductory course for participants who wish to explore the instructional methods related to the Flipped Classroom. Included will be examples and models for both flipping your entire classroom, and/or just flipping a lesson. Activities are intended to develop a clearer understanding of the concepts surrounding The Flipped Classroom.
This introductory course will cover the basics for the Flipped Classroom method of instruction. Provided will be an introduction of online video resources that can be easily utilized by educators.
RegisterGlobal Learning! Global Teaching! Global Mindset!
Learn about the tools that will help elevate your teaching pedagogy to be inclusive and build students skills for the 21st century. In this course you will learn about the 4 Domains Global Competency and the characteristics of a globally competent student.
RegisterHighly Effective Strategies for Student of Poverty: What REALLY works?
Welcome to our Professional Development where we will take a closer look at high impact researched based strategies that will support teaching and learning of all students, including students of poverty, in our own schools.
RegisterIncreasing Student Engagement through Technology
Hello and welcome to part one of a four part series of "Ditch the Worksheet." This class on "engagement" will provide you with ways to throw out the worksheets you use for reviews, assessments, and daily activities to provide new ways
to encourage students to learn with technology.
In 2018, we presented for the first time together “Ditch the Worksheet” at the Raising Student Achievement Conference. Since then, we have encouraged teachers and administrators to get rid of the traditional teaching style of handing out worksheets to check for understanding and completion and switch to a more digital approach with the use of technology tools!
We hope you find many new ideas to be able to immediately incorporate into your classroom.
Project Based Teaching and Learning
This is an introductory course that will explore the various facets of teaching and learning through a Project-Based Approach. Included will be examples and models. Activities are intended to develop more real world situations and to enhance student learning.
RegisterSocial and Emotional Learning integrated in Successful Classroom Management
This course is designed to demonstrate how the two topics (Social and Emotional Learning & Classroom Management) can meld into one. If you succeed in understanding and implementing SEL, many classroom management problems can take care of themselves. This growth will allow you to focus on the even more challenging task of developing social and emotional maturity in each student. The classroom atmosphere techniques included in this course are formulated to provide a community in your classroom. Although it may take a change in some of your teaching, it is well worth the effort to create an atmosphere of community in your classroom. I hope you enjoys the journey!
RegisterTeaching in Trauma Informed School
The four R’s for a trauma informed school according to experts include Realize The widespread impact of trauma and understand potential paths for recovery. Recognize The signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, families, staff and others involved with the system. Respond By fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices Resist Retraumatization. This course will focus on the knowledge that teachers need to have in addressing these four R’s. The topics that we will address include Basic Strategies, Basic Psychological Needs, Social and Emotional Learning, Your Attitude and Mindfulness, Implementing Trauma Informed Learning, Teaching Emotion, DNA Dreams Needs Attitude, Schools becoming Trauma Sensitive and more.
RegisterUnpacking the Standards for Mathematical Practices
In an evolving world, it is important we give our students the tools to discover and practice math concepts off of the paper, and learn imperative social skills that will help them navigate college, careers, and citizenship. After taking this course, you will have a complete understanding of the Common Core standards for mathematical practice, and how to best incorporate those into your math lessons daily.
Register