Participants will examine newer electronic technologies/media for integration in the classroom with the goal of increasing student engagement and achievement. Course topics will include integration of technology in educational settings for the enhancement of teaching and learning, design and development of digital-age learning experiences and assessments, digital citizenship and responsibility, and recognition of the importance of continued professional growth and leadership in achieving and maintaining expertise in the use of educational technology.

Teachers across grade levels are encountering increasing numbers of students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and related executive functioning challenges. This course examines ADHD through an educational lens, focusing on how attention, impulse control, working memory, and self-regulation impact academic performance and behavior in school settings. Participants will analyze evidence-based instructional and behavioral strategies designed to support students with ADHD within general and special education classrooms. Emphasis is placed on executive functioning supports, classroom organization, behavior regulation, and collaboration with families and support staff. Educators will explore how ADHD intersects with IEPs, 504 Plans, and inclusive practices while developing practical tools that can be immediately implemented in schools.

This course will teach participants to employ multiple measures for assessing reading difficulties in students and write an evaluation report analyzing the results. Participants will explore the Cognitive Processes in Learning to Read. Special attention will be paid to Dyslexia Definitions and Implications. The Components of a Comprehensive Reading Assessments will be examined. Participants will analyze Case Studies and learn to Write an Evaluation Report, including specific Interventions and Recommendations in response to student outcomes.

This course will introduce participants to best practical and applicable instructional strategies for all classroom settings to raise student achievement and motivation. Participants will learn to design a cognitive context for learning, including methods of differentiation and project-based learning design. In addition, the course will discuss best instructional practices for classroom management, productive classroom discussions, classroom probes to inform instruction, working effectively with families, and development of higher order thinking skills.

This course is designed to provide educators with an overview of special education accommodations. Participants will learn a structured approach to assess students’ needs, provide appropriate modifications and accommodations as needed, and obtain the suitable support services if needed. Strategies for implementing accommodations will be studied. Sources of accommodations will be examined. Participants will explore accommodations for instruction, assessment, behavior, and more!

This course is designed to provide educators with an overview of student support services. Participants will learn a structured approach to assess students’ needs, provide appropriate modifications and accommodations, and obtain the suitable support services for best student progress. Referral strategies for students’ areas of concern will be studied. Sources of support services will be examined. Participants will explore Student Teacher Assistance Teams, Title One, 504s, IEPs, and more.

This course will explore the current A Social Emotional Society of Students in schools. Participants will explore the facets of The Organic School and how to implement its components to embed social emotional skills across the school structures. Special attention will be paid to Holistic Learning, Classroom Community, Communication, and Consequences in a social emotional responsive school. Participants will learn to design and implement Emotionally Responsive Curriculum. Evaluation of future trends in social emotional learning, including the Facilitator.

The course, Teaching Oral Reading Fluency, explores effective strategies for enhancing oral reading fluency. It provides a comprehensive understanding of fluency, its importance, fluency assessments, and factors influencing student fluency. The course addresses challenges related to fluency, including Rapid Automatized Naming (RAN) and processing speed. A scope and sequence is presented, covering the progression of fluency skills from letter naming to connected text. Strategies for teaching letter naming, letter-sound fluency, words, word parts, phrases, sentences, and connected text are taught. Clear goals for fluency instruction are established, aligned with research-based approaches.

This comprehensive course explores various aspects of reading comprehension, including its definition, role in the Simple View of Reading, and potential causes of poor comprehension. Participants will explore effective assessments to gauge students' comprehension abilities and develop a scope and sequence for teaching reading comprehension. The course aims to establish clear goals for reading comprehension instruction and equip educators with research-based approaches.

Participants will examine the cognitive processes involved in spelling and learn evidence-based instructional approaches, such as explicit instruction and word study. The role of orthographic mapping on the acquisition of spelling skills will be explored. Participants will gain proficiency in administering and interpreting spelling assessments, including screeners and diagnostic tests. A comprehensive spelling scope and sequence will be developed, considering the developmental progression of spelling skills and English language intricacies. Participants will explore spelling rules, patterns, and generalizations and learn to integrate them into instruction. Practical activities and discussions will help participants develop lesson planning skills for effective spelling instruction.

This course is designed to provide participants with an overview of the basic components of teaching writing to make better readers! Current research and best strategies for teaching writing for better reading to all students will be discussed. Participants will learn about child development in writing and reading, the writing process, and the four types of writing - shared, interactive, guided, and independent. Strategies for teaching writing to special education and English language learner students will also be covered.

This course is designed to provide educators with evidence-based best practices for developing and implementing tiered interventions for struggling learners across grade levels and academic settings. An overview of the typical profile struggling learners will be reviewed and analyzed. Participants will study tiered interventions and strategies for supporting struggling learners including those placed in Special Education. Current issues with struggling learners will be covered, including socioeconomic, social emotional, and behavioral concerns.

When Poverty Comes to the Classroom will introduce participants to the latest research on poverty and how it affects students' cognitive development, engagement, and academic performance. In this course, participants will learn how to differentiate among various types of poverty and understand the unique aspects and effects of each upon today’s learner and its impact upon the developing brain. Participants will learn schoolwide and classroom-level strategies for alleviating the lagging skills demonstrated by students battling poverty.

Navigating Massachusetts' Updated IEP Form offers educators a comprehensive exploration of the recent changes to the Individualized Education Program (IEP). This course equips participants with essential knowledge and tools to effectively understand and implement the revised Massachusetts IEP form.

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