Charity Staudenraus

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.

In the original Google Classroom course, we were introduced to the basic features of Google Classroom and put them to use with students. In the second Google Classroom course, we took our practices to the next level by building a simple website, upping our communication with parents/guardians, and rocking some rubrics. In this course, we will explore features that are desperately needed in today's learning environments. We will explore grading and returning question answers, attach videos we've made ourselves, as well as an individual assignment where you explore the EDU 90 series to find what works best for you.

Anxiety, stress, depression, and suicide are on the rise. Is it any wonder that the rise in these afflictions has happened lockstep with the rise in screen time among people of all ages? As educators, we increasingly need to become aware of this growing epidemic whether it is impacting us, our students, or those around us. Together we will explore the impact of screens on our population from birth through adulthood. We will explore the work of Thomas Kersting, Cal Newport, and Simon Sinek. You will learn strategies to optimize technology use both for yourself and those around you. Join us as we disconnect from technology and reconnect with each other. 

Climate change, school shootings and political gridlock are indicators of world change. It is good teaching to involve ourselves and our grade 5-12 classrooms in being aware, caring and making a difference. You will explore a variety of critical issues and a variety of web sites including Facing the Future, Awakening the Dreamer and more. Your students will learn that it brings heart and meaning to their lives when they advocate for positive change in their community and in the world.

Brain research reveals how Happiness Skills positively affect our state of mind. A conscious choice of attitudes, beliefs, intentions, personal philosophy, precepts, and daily practices are under your control and teachable. All the learning in the world is worthless without happiness. For K-12 youth to be successful and motivated, they need the skills and knowledge necessary to create happy lives. Learn how to shift perspective about difficult situations, and more, through readings and discussions.

This course meets OSPI's STEM requirements.

Explore how you can use the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) to engage your students and expand learning across the curriculum. NGSS is a new way of looking at science instruction. With the Disciplinary Core Ideas, Science Practices, and Cross Cutting Concepts, focus is no longer on rote memorization, but on helping students understand the phenomena that are at the core of science teaching and learning. Applicable for K-12 teachers and/or administrators. Course materials and references are located on-line

Use of Google Classroom to create a more organized, coherent classroom feed geared toward student success. You will maximize communication with guardians. Discussions, Rubrics, and Grading will also be explored. You will experiment with add-on functions to tailor the learning experience to individual needs. For K-12 educators proficient in Google Classroom who want to go to the next level. Collaboration is possible. No required text for this class, all materials are free online.

Unlocking the Power of Google Classroom: A Guide for K-12 Educators

Are you ready to elevate your students' classroom experience and empower your students with innovative teaching techniques? Welcome to "Unlocking the Power of Google Classroom," a transformative course designed to unleash the full potential of this dynamic educational platform.

Google Classroom is not just a tool; it's a game-changer that redefines the way teachers and students interact in the digital age. This course is your gateway to mastering its capabilities, enabling you to create a more engaging, organized, and efficient virtual learning environment.

Course Highlights:

Streamlined Teaching: Discover how to effortlessly create assignments, share announcements, and initiate class discussions. Google Classroom is your key to saving time and keeping your classes beautifully organized.

Enhanced Communication: Effective communication is at the heart of successful teaching. Explore how Google Classroom improves communication with your students, whether through attaching documents from Google Drive, sharing educational videos, or linking to relevant websites. Set due dates for assignments, conduct seamless grading, and foster real-time interactions through class announcements and discussions.

Empowered Engagement: Ignite student engagement with dynamic, interactive lessons. Learn to create a virtual classroom where learning is a vibrant and collaborative experience. This course equips you with the tools and strategies to make every class period count, even in the digital realm.

Hands-On Practice: Practical experience is essential. In this course, K-12 educators will not only learn the ins and outs of Google Classroom but will also create their very own Google Classroom and implement one or more lessons with their students.

Community of Educators: Collaboration is at the core of our course. Connect with fellow educators, share ideas, and expand your network. Collaborate, learn, and grow together in our supportive learning community.

Join us on this transformative journey and become a Google Classroom expert, poised to elevate your teaching to new heights. Prepare to redefine the future of education by enrolling in "Unlocking the Power of Google Classroom" today. Your students are waiting for you to lead the way.

Let's embark on this educational adventure together!

This course meets OSPI’s STEM requirements

Climate change poses the single largest, global threat to life on Earth, and yet the United States and our schools lag far behind the international community in educating and acting responsibly to mitigate the causes and effects of a warming planet. This online course for grades K-12 teachers uses excellent platforms developed by NASA and the EPA to educate about the science of climate change in kid-friendly, interdisciplinary ways. Youthful graphics, games, lesson samples that cut across science, social studies and math, virtual expeditions to places where climate change is visible, CO2 footprint calculators and more make this a rich learning environment from which grades K-12 teachers will develop their own units and themes—whether that’s oceans, birds, butterflies, fish, trees, fresh water supplies.  Many of your common science units can be modified with a climate change perspective (ie ocean life, plants and animals).