ENCORE BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN SCHOOL AND HOME: ESTABLISHING AND NURTURING PARENT-TEACHER RELATIONSHIPS

Instructors: Heather Catron & Debbie Weinstein    

45 CTLE Hours; 3 in-service credits                                                                                                                         Grades K-12 educators 

Dates:: March 17 - May 9, 2025                                                                                                                                 Fee: $150

Time: Online Asynchronous   * Personal Google accounts will be required to access the course. 

Choose one of two mandatory options:

Option 1- A synchronous Google Meet on Monday, March 17, from 6:30 pm-8:30 pm (Highly recommended for new participants of our courses and people who need assistance with technology)

or

Option 2- A video tutorial to view independently with a Google assessment (Will be posted on Monday, March 17 and must be completed by midnight of Tuesday, March 18)

Fostering positive parent-teacher relationships is essential to the well-being of our students.  Working as a team can help our students succeed academically, provide an emotional support system for them, and diminish unwanted behaviors.  This course will help you to build a foundation for effective and appropriate parental involvement in your classroom community.  

• Participants will explore the following topics.

• Starting off the School Year on the Right Foot

• Parent-Teacher Conferences and Creating a Welcoming Classroom Environment

• Gaining Support at Home for Academic Achievement

• Working Together to Eliminate Behavior Issues

• Handling Conflicts with Parents

• Involving Parents in the Classroom Community

• Communicating with Parents Who Do Not Speak English

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USING INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY  TO BOOST STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

Instructor: Shaina Fischer

45 hours, 3 inservice credits                                                                                                             Grades 

Dates:  March 31, 2025 - May 16, 2025                                                                                                                              Fee: $150

Time: Online Asynchronous 

 * Personal Google accounts will be required to access the course. 

This course will empower participants to effectively integrate instructional technology into their classrooms. Participants will explore and proficiently utilize various instructional technology platforms demonstrating the ability to navigate these platforms and identify key features. Furthermore, participants will understand and clearly explain the importance of instructional technology in boosting student engagement, providing specific examples of how different platforms can motivate and engage students. Finally, participants will create materials, such as interactive lessons, assessments, or projects, for classroom use that effectively integrate a chosen instructional technology platform.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: 

• explore various instructional technology platforms to utilize in their classroom.

• understand the importance of instructional technology to boost student engagement.

• create materials to utilize in their classroom that align with their grade level standards.

*******************************************************************************************************************PICTURE PERFECT: JOURNEYING THROUGH PICTURE BOOKS

Instructor:  Debbie Fitzpatrick

45 CTLE hrs; 3 Ins. Credits                                                                                                                             Grades K-12

Dates:  April 3, 2025-May 29, 2025                                                                                                             Fee: $150

Time: Online Asynchronous 

 * Personal Google accounts will be required to access the course. 

Explore the power of picture books as a tool for engaging learners of all ages! In this course, we’ll dive into the rich storytelling, vivid illustrations, and cross-curricular connections that make picture books an essential resource in any classroom. Discover creative strategies for using picture books to spark curiosity, deepen comprehension, and enhance learning across subjects. Whether you’re teaching young readers or older students, this course will help you bring stories to life in meaningful and impactful ways.

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Analyze the impact of picture books on literacy development, critical thinking and engagement across all grade levels.

• Explore strategies for integrating picture books into various subjects, including STEM, social studies, and writing. 

• Develop creative and interactive lesson ideas that use picture books to foster discussion, comprehension and love of reading. 

• Evaluate and select high quality picture books that support diverse perspectives, themes and learning goals in the classroom. 

***********************************************************************************************************ENCORE RESEARCH SKILLS REVISED ~ TURNING GOOGLERS INTO RESEARCHERS

Instructor: Jennifer Kelly

45 CTLE hours: 3 in-service credits                                                                                                                                        Grades K-12 all areas

Dates: April 10- May 29, 2025                                                                                                                     Fee:  $150

Time: Asynchronous                                             

 * Personal Google accounts will be required to access the course.                                                                                                                              

Conducting research is such a vital skill for young people to learn. Whether or not a student is college bound, it is an important critical thinking skill. Research is far more productive when students are actively engaged. This course will demonstrate how Inquiry-based learning can be a very effective modality for devising research projects, and also focus on how to embed research skills into everyday lessons to encourage learning the skill without the heavy lifting of a research project. Participants will learn the functionality of the modern research databases, as well as explore creative options for projects for students to showcase what they have learned, which embraces the option of student choice.

By the end of this course: teachers will be able to:

• explore the ways research conducted as a by-product of student inquiry can enhance and support classroom curriculum.

• develop research projects that increase creativity as well as meet the standards for computer literacy.

• incorporate technology through the advanced features of contemporary research databases which aid in the development of more organized and efficient research skills.

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ANXIETY AWARENESS: EMPOWERING STUDENTS WITH HELP & HOPE

Instructor: Midge Mirabile

45 CTLE Hours; 3 Inservice credits                                                                                                                   Grades: K-12

Dates:  January 27 - March 23, 2025                                                                                                                                Fee: $150

Time: Asynchronous                                                                             

 * Personal Google accounts will be required to access the course. 

Mental health professionals are shining a light on the pervasiveness of anxiety, highlighting the need for increased awareness and attention to this issue. Young people are notably affected: anxiety affects 1 in 5 children, and 70% of teens say that anxiety is a major problem facing their age group. This course will give you the tools you need to support your students who have anxiety, including foundational knowledge about anxiety, its symptoms, and a look at Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Participants will complete the course with ready to implement strategies for teaching coping skills, ideas for accommodations, and considerations for tools and processes to support students who have anxiety.

Connections to Practice

This course provides the following classroom connections:

• Strategies for tools and processes to support students who have anxiety

• Techniques for implementing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in your classroom

• Methods to implement coping skills and ideas for accommodations no matter their needs

• Tips for fostering a positive learning environment that supports meaningful learning

In this course, participants will:

• Use provided prompts specific to anxiety to describe assumptions and insights of practitioners, researchers and self, including how the information relates to professional educational practice.

• Design a method for creating appropriate accommodations for students with anxiety. 

• Prepare a collaborative communication tool to keep colleagues informed about students with anxiety and create a plan for discussing the impact of anxiety with students. 

• Implement Cognitive Behavior Model (CBT) strategies to help students process behaviors related to anxiety. 

• Develop an action plan to challenge the status quo related to safe classroom spaces, supportive relationships with students, and coping strategies for managing anxiety.

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ACADEMIC THERAPY: UNLOCKING YOUR LEARNING JOURNEY TO TRANSFORM YOUR TEACHING

Instructor: Beth Read 

45 CTLE  hrs / 3 inservice credits                                                                                                                                               Grades K-12 All Areas

Dates: April 1 - June 2, 2025                                                                                                                   Fee: $150

Time: Asynchronous

 * Personal Google accounts will be required to access the course. 

Book - Math Therapy.  By: Vanessa Vakharia

Welcome to Academic Therapy, a course designed for educators to explore how their personal learning experiences have influenced their teaching practices. By reflecting on your academic history, you will uncover transformative strategies to help you become the teacher you’ve always aspired to be. Together, we’ll explore how both empowering and traumatic past experiences can shape a future where teaching and learning are guided by empathy, growth, and positive change. This course is built around the book Math Therapy, where we’ll delve into how your personal math experiences can influence your approach to teaching. We’ll also explore how Math Therapy™ can help you create a supportive, growth-focused classroom culture. Whether you currently teach math or your past experiences in a math class have shaped how you teach, this course is for you.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:

• To see that every single child should have the privilege of believing anything is possible. 

• To explore the concept of math trauma and help teachers recognize its effects on students' learning experiences.

• How  Math Therapy™ can be applied to transform all classrooms and help students and teachers overcome academic trauma.

• To identify and challenge the limiting beliefs students have about their ability to do math.

• To learn techniques to help students manage the stress and anxiety that often accompany lessons.

• To explore ways to increase student motivation and engagement with math, making learning enjoyable and relevant.

• To help students redefine their math identity and foster a growth mindset that encourages them to see themselves as capable mathematicians.

• To equip teachers with the tools to measure student progress in a supportive and non-judgmental way.

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ENHANCING THE 4CS WITH CANVA: EMPOWERING STUDENTS THROUGH COMMUNICATION, COLLABORATION, CRITICAL THINKING & CREATIVITY

Instructor: Kim Turri

45 CTLE Hrs.; 3 inservice credits                                                                                                       Grades K-12  All Areas

Dates: April 2, 2025 - May 28, 2025                                                                                                       Fee: $150

Time:  Asynchronous

This course is all about helping you bring communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity—the 4Cs—into your classroom with ease and impact using Canva for Education. You'll explore practical strategies, tools, and techniques to foster these essential skills in your students while discovering how Canva can simplify and enhance your teaching practice.

Starting with a basic introduction to Canva, you'll learn how to create eye-catching and interactive visual aids that make lessons more engaging and promote deeper learning. Through a mix of hands-on activities, discussions, and practical examples, you'll uncover ways to seamlessly integrate the 4Cs into your teaching and create a dynamic, student-centered learning environment.

By the end of this course, you'll have a deeper understanding of the 4Cs and a toolkit of Canva resources to empower your students and elevate your classroom experience.

Participants will:

• Gain a clear understanding of the 4Cs—communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and

creativity—and explore practical strategies to promote these essential skills in the classroom.

• Develop proficiency in using Canva for Education’s features, including templates, AI tools, and design elements, to create visually engaging and interactive teaching materials.

• Create classroom resources such as presentations, graphic organizers, and collaborative activities that align with learning goals and foster student engagement.

• Use Canva tools to design activities and projects that encourage students to think critically, solve problems, and express creativity across various subject areas.

• Utilize Canva’s collaborative tools to design group activities and interactive lessons that enhance teamwork and improve communication skills among students.

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INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY: KNOWING WHEN TO USE WHAT

Instructor: Christine Sanfratello

• This is a 3 part course.  Each part is 15 hours in length and is independent of the other two parts, so you may register for Part 1, 2, 3, or any combination of parts.  

• Participants must have a personal Google account to access ALL PARTS of these courses and materials.

Part 1: Creating Interactive Lessons for All

15 CTLE hours/1 inservice credit                                                                                                         Grades K-12

Dates: March 20-April 9, 2025                                                                                                                 Fee: $50

Time: Hybrid format

Synchronous meetings will be held every Thursday at 5:30 pm (3/20, 3/27, 4/3)

This course is designed to be a meaningful interactive course that helps educators of any grade or subject explore and integrate technology into their teaching. Through collaborative discussions and hands-on tutorials, participants will share experiences, brainstorm ideas, and discover practical ways to use digital tools in the classroom. Each week, we’ll explore different technologies, discuss their benefits, and develop lesson ideas that enhance student learning. By the end of the course, educators will gain valuable strategies to engage students and make learning more interactive and effective. 

This course will examine Jennifer Freedman’s “Technology: When to Use What: Utilizing District Approved Applications” guide.

Objectives:

• Enhance teacher awareness of the many educational technological resources that are available.

• Promote greater application and incorporation of educational technologies into the classroom.

• Engage participants in meaningful dialog to inspire innovative uses of technology in the classroom.

Part 2: Promoting Student Collaboration

15 CTLE hours/1 inservice credit                                                                                           Grades K-12

Dates: April 10 - May 7, 2025                                                                                                   Fee: $50

Time: Hybrid format

Synchronous meetings will be held each Thursday at 5:30 pm (4/10, 4/24, 5/1)

This course is designed to be a meaningful interactive course that helps educators, of any grade or subject, explore and integrate technology into their teaching. Through collaborative discussions and hands-on tutorials, participants will share experiences, brainstorm ideas, and discover practical ways to use digital tools in the classroom. Each week, we’ll explore different technologies, discuss their benefits, and develop lesson ideas that enhance student learning. By the end of the course, educators will gain valuable strategies to engage students and make learning more interactive and effective. This course will examine Jennifer Freedman’s “Technology: When to Use What: Utilizing District Approved Applications” guide.

Objectives:

• Enhance teacher awareness of the many educational technological resources that are available.

• Promote greater application and incorporation of educational technologies into the classroom.

• Engage participants in meaningful dialog to inspire innovative uses of technology in the classroom.

Part 3: Formative Assessment

15 CTLE hours/1 inservice credit                                                                                               Grades K-12

Dates: May 8 - May 30, 2025                                                                                                       Fee: $50

Time: Hybrid format

Synchronous meetings will be held each Thursday at 5:30 pm (5/8, 5/15, & 5/22)

This course is designed to be a meaningful interactive course that helps educators, of any grade or subject, explore and integrate technology into their teaching. Through collaborative discussions and hands-on tutorials, participants will share experiences, brainstorm ideas, and discover practical ways to use digital tools in the classroom. Each week, we’ll explore different technologies, discuss their benefits, and develop lesson ideas that enhance student learning. By the end of the course, educators will gain valuable strategies to

engage students and make learning more interactive and effective. This course will examine Jennifer

Freedman’s “Technology When to Use What: Utilizing District Approved Applications” guide.

This course is part 3 of a 3-part series. Each part focuses on a different category of technology. Part 1

or 2 is not a mandatory prerequisite of Part 3, but it is recommended. Participants may choose to take all, one

or two of the courses in this series.

Participants must have a personal Google account to access the course and materials.

Objectives:

• Enhance teacher awareness of the many educational technological resources that are available.

• Promote greater application and incorporation of educational technologies into the classroom.

• Engage participants in meaningful dialog to inspire innovative uses of technology in the Classroom.

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OVERCOMING DYSLEXIA: A BOOK STUDY for K-12 Educator

Instructor: Jeannette Walsh

45  CTLE hrs.; 3 inservice credits                                                                                                             Grades K-12

Dates: April 6, 2025 - May 18, 2025                                                                                                             Fee: $150

Time: Asynchronous

Required Materials: Overcoming Dyslexia -Second Edition (Available on Amazon for $13)

Did you know that 1 in 5 students struggles with dyslexia, a learning difference that affects reading?  Many educators feel unprepared to address it, but Overcoming Dyslexia by Dr. Sally Shaywitz makes it simple. This course will equip you with the knowledge and actionable, science-based strategies to identify and support students with dyslexia while recognizing their unique strengths. Regardless of the subject you teach, understanding dyslexia is crucial for creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Explain the neurobiological basis of dyslexia and its impact on reading development.

• Analyze and apply effective methods for screening, diagnosing, and assessing dyslexia.

• Evaluate and implement evidence-based intervention strategies for students with dyslexia.

• Develop strategies to support early language and literacy development in children at risk for dyslexia.

• Apply methods to support struggling readers into becoming proficient readers.

• Understand and address the social-emotional impacts of dyslexia on students.

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NATURE’S CLASSROOM: INSPIRING LEARNING INDOORS AND OUT

Instructor: Denise Baldini 

15 CTLE Hours; 1 inservice credit                               K-8 Classroom, ENL, Bilingual Teachers, Interventionists, and Support Staff.

Dates: April 1- April 29, 2025                                                   Fee: $50                              

Asynchronous Learning via Google Classroom  (12 hours)

Mandatory Synchronous Learning Date via Google Meet (3 hours): Tuesday, April 8, 2025 6:00-9:00 P.M.

Transform your classroom and your teaching with the power of nature! This course provides you with the tools and inspiration to bring the beauty and wonder of nature into your lessons, whether you're exploring the schoolyard or bringing natural elements indoors. Get ready to learn  engaging activities, practical strategies, and a renewed sense of connection to the natural world that you can share with your students.

By the end of this course, teachers will have learned:  

• Social and emotional benefits of learning outside

• Quick and easy ideas for bringing a class outside

• Where to go and what to do on a nature walk

• Ideas and strategies for nature journaling

• Overcoming obstacles

• Resources and inspiration

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WEARING THE MANY HATS OF AN EDUCATOR

Instructors: Heather Catron & Debbie Weinstein  

45 CTLE Hours; 3 in-service credits                                                                                                                   Grades K-12 educators 

Dates: May 29- June 24, 2025                                                                                                                                       Fee: $150

Time: Online Hybrid

 * Personal Google accounts will be required to access the course. 

Course Schedule:

THURSDAY, MAY 29: Choose one of two MANDATORY options

Option 1- A synchronous Google Meet on Thursday, May 29, from 6:30 pm- 8:30 pm

Option 2- A video tutorial to view independently with a Google assessment 

WEEKS OF THURSDAY, MAY 29- TUESDAY, JUNE 24: Log in for 6 hours per unit for asynchronous learning and assignments. 

TUESDAY, JUNE 24: Mandatory sign in on Frontline at any time between from 4:00 pm- 7:00pm

Throughout your career, you will wear the metaphorical hats of an educator, a therapist, a nurse, a comedian, a disciplinarian, a parent, etc.  This course will touch upon some of the many roles you have taken and will take in the future, while offering strategies and advice to best support your students. 

Topics to be addressed: 

• The Motivator, Inspirer, and Entertainer: Fostering an Optimal Learning Environment

• The Organizer and Role Model: Organization for Teachers and Students

• The Disciplinarian and Mediator: Classroom Management

• The Designer of Learning: Lesson Planning to Cater to All Diverse Learners

• The Technology Guru: Applications for Learning

• The Advocate, Nurse, and Therapist: Accommodations, Modifications, and Life Skills

• The Lifelong Learner: Professional Development

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NEVER FINISHED: UNSHACKLE YOUR MIND AND WIN THE WAR WITHIN

Instructor: Doug Read   

45 CTLE Hours; 3 in-service credits                                                                                                                         Grades K-12 educators 

Dates: April 1 - May 30, 2025                                                                                                                                        Fee: $150

Time: Online Hybrid

 * Personal Google accounts will be required to access the course. 

Can’t Hurt Me, David Goggins’ smash hit memoir, demonstrated how much untapped ability we all have but was merely an introduction to the power of the mind. In Never Finished, Goggins takes you inside his Mental Lab, where he developed the philosophy, psychology, and strategies that enabled him to learn that what he thought was his limit was only his beginning and that the quest for greatness is unending.

The stories and lessons in this raw, revealing, unflinching memoir offer the listener a blueprint they can use to climb from the bottom of the barrel into a whole new stratosphere that once seemed unattainable. Whether you feel off-course in life, are looking to maximize your potential or drain your soul to break through your so-called glass ceiling, this is the only book you will ever need.”

The world needs our students to evolve into the best versions of themselves. The purpose of this book study is to test our own philosophy, psychology, and strategies for evolving into the best version of ourselves in order to develop strategies to help our students pursue positive change.

Required: Audible-Book Study:  Never Finished, Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within, by David Goggins.

The Audible Version is Highly Recommended by the instructor for the author annotations and podcasts between chapters.

“This is not a self-help book. It’s a wake-up call!”

Course Objectives:

• The purpose of this book study is to test our own philosophy, psychology, and strategies for evolving into the best version of ourselves in order to develop strategies to help our students pursue positive change. 

• Identify obstacles in the students' lives that they must overcome in order to be the best versions of themselves.  

• Reflect on how we overcome obstacles in our personal and professional lives.

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MENTORING 2.0 THE TRAINING CONTINUES (MENTOR REFRESHER COURSE)

Instructor: Jeanette Wolters-Lennon

3 CTLE hrs.                                                                                                                                 Grades K-12

Hybrid                                                                                                                                 No fee for OWL Consortium

This workshop  is for those teachers who are CURRENTLY mentors. We will  review the content of the Foundations of Mentoring workshop as well as looking into additional areas and concerns that may impact the new mentee.  

• In this workshop the following topics will be explored:

• Imposter Syndrome

• Class Management vs Behavioral Management

• Co-Teaching

• Accountability and Responsibilities

This workshop will include Google Slide presentations, required and suggested readings, and short quizzes.  This a self paced workshop and concludes with a personal debriefing with the instructor. Total hours 2.5 hours for modules and .5 hour for the debriefing.