Chant Thomas

The pandemic has had a significant impact on our educational structure, going from a brick-and-mortar classroom to teach with a drive toward digitization through creating virtual classrooms. Educators were required to adopt a new educational model of teaching and adapt to it quickly, thus creating a new normal, a combination of virtual, hybrid, and brick-and-mortar classrooms. In this exciting course, you will learn from experienced teachers who have developed techniques for coping with the new normal.

With 2020 behind us, we are still faced with the issues of how best to connect, engage, and support our students as we continue to deal with the Pandemic.  In this course, we have gathered together teachers on the front line who make a difference.  Join us as we begin another ten (10) valuable 1-hour sessions on Teaching Tips to assist you in your virtual, hybrid, and brick-and-mortar classroom. 

This course is appropriate for teachers K-12.

Course dates and times:
April 5th – 16th, 2021
One Hour Session each weekday (Monday – Friday)
Starting at 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (PST)

This course meets OSPI's STEM requirements.

Teaching in a virtual, physical, or hybrid environment demands an additional set of skills and strategies for teachers.  

In this course, participants develop the skills needed to build a virtual classroom rich with interactive content while focusing on a positive class culture and community.

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.

Through self-regulation, students of all ages can take charge of their effect and behavior towards their learning. Teaching kids to control themselves involves providing skills and strategies for students to be able to engage in their learning; knowing when and how to take a break, how they feel and think about each activity, and be able to be confident with assignments that they take home. In the assigned text, Dr. Richard Cash has compiled research-based theories and strategies that can easily be implemented in your K-12 classroom. Supporting videos and articles will enable you and your school to be able to foster a culture of self-regulated learners in your classroom.

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.

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?  ...

Enhance your K-12 cultural competence in this course exploring White Privilege and its impact. After choosing a text, such as How to Teach Students who Don’t Look Like You or Every Day Anti-Racism, you will learn to mitigate the negative effects of race and cultural bias.

This transformative course for K-12 educators shows and explains, in concrete terms, winning techniques of master teachers. If you are a teacher who wants to improve your craft, then this course will give you the tools to do that. From field notes and observations of master teachers, Doug Lemov has compiled specific practices in his action packed book, Teach Like a Champion, which comes with a DVD as well.

Learn the causes and misconceptions that surround the development and treatment of oppositional children. Learn how specialists would engineer classroom environments, routines, and tasks to maximize positive results.