HELPING ANXIOUS STUDENTS

Social Media and our students - it connects them, yet also divides them. Many questions surround the use of social media in terms of our students:

• How much time on social media is too much?
• What are the effects of social media on students – their brain development, identity, possible addiction, and well-being? 
• Is there a positive side to social media in terms of student use?
• How can we keep our students safe from the negatives of social media, such as cyber-bullying?
• What advice can we share with our students and their parents to make the most of social media?

This class will delve into these questions (and more). You will learned about the positives and negatives about social media, form your own answers to some of these questions, and come away with ways to advise students and parents about the best way to use social media and the best ways to safe safe on social media.

Vibrant societies need people who can think for themselves, but too many Americans don’t, and our democracy, as well as societal health, suffers as a result. In this course for teachers in grades 4-12, we will cover a wide variety of teaching strategies that provide incentives and opportunities for young minds to develop the courage, skills, and intellectual acumen for robust thinking.

When instruction moves online teachers need to prepare a digital space for learning, just like the physical classroom.  Designing online math instruction requires a blended approach of synchronous and asynchronous instruction coupled with distance learning activities to support exploration of concepts and development of procedural skills.  Technology tools to build students’ efficacy in math must be developmentally appropriate and aligned with student’s ability and interest.  This means online instruction must be highly personalized and accessible to all learners.   Delivering digital math instruction can be powerful with virtual manipulatives at your fingertips for teachers to model and students to demonstrate.

Generation Z comprises students born since 1995 into a digital world made up of the Internet and cell phones. They are enmeshed in social media and criticized for lacking social skills. However, they are the future and we need to teach them in a manner that will lead to their success. To do that, learn how to best meet the unique needs of Generation Z and how to engage them in the K-12 classroom. Learn about what they think, where they are going and how they may change the world.

This course meets OSPI’s STEM requirements

S.T.E.A.M. is an educational approach to learning that integrates two or more key K-12 subject areas: Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Math. This course will help you blend these content areas to enhance learning across the curriculum. Your students will begin to take thoughtful risks, engage in experiential learning, problem solve, collaborate, and explore the creative process.

This course meets OSPI's STEM requirements.
In this exciting preschool math course, you will learn how to teach activity centered, basic math concepts that meet national standards for early childhood students. Your students will find that math is fun through engaging activities in the areas of numbers and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis and probability. You will walk away with classroom tools and resources that will keep your students absorbed.

Broaden your use of instructional tools through your virtual classroom—Google Classroom. Google Classroom works by letting teachers create assignments, make announcements, and start class discussions with students. Google Classroom saves time, keeps classes organized, and improves communication with students. Teachers can attach documents from Google Drive, share videos, or send links to websites; they can set due dates for assignments and do assignment grading. Class announcements and discussions allow for direct communication in real-time so teachers can pose questions, or share anything else that is important to the class without waiting for the next class period. This course will help teachers K-12 learn how to use Google Classroom to improve instruction and student engagement. Teachers in this course will create their own Google Classroom and implement one or more lessons with students. Collaboration with other teachers is also possible.

Educators of English language learners (ELLs) are important advocates for their students. Whether you are a regular classroom teacher with ELL students in your class, or an ELL specialist, you have an important role in understanding the needs of English language learners and in helping to create a school environment that supports their academic and social success. This course will illustrate the unique needs and common challenges for ELL’s and offer concise strategies for becoming an advocate for ELL’s at both the classroom and school building level. This course is appropriate for personnel at all grades, K-12 including teachers, paraeducators, counselors, and other support people.

There are many students who appear to lack social understanding, have difficulties with communication and with basic learning skills.  The general term of “Autism” is often thrown about and quickly attached to these types of children.  What is Autism? What are the causes?  ...

Research has shown that art education provides challenges for students on all levels. This course is designed for teachers of all grades, K-12, with little to no art experience.

This course provides authoritative and reality-based best practices in classroom management from some of our best educational researchers, including Robert Marzano, Jana Marzano and Debra Pickering. It clarifies both what to do, and how to do it, with ample examples and action steps.

Support kindness, respect for others, an attitude for service and a variety of other positive character traits by learning how to incorporate the literature and themes found in Dr. Seuss books, one of the most beloved of children's authors.