Mind Design Tools for Educators

3 In-service Credits/ 45 hours
Instructor: Janice McLachlan

Would you like to learn new ways to teach your students how to understand their thought process? This course will help you to instruct your students on how to make sense out of their thoughts with clear and concise precision through the use of mapping tools and Inquiry-based Learning. Educators will learn various ways to scaffold their curriculum, help students build a foundation for critical thinking skills and connect concepts through mapping design. Participants will learn the difference between, concept mapping, mind mapping and thinking maps. Teachers will learn creative ways to facilitate these methods in their individual classroom to align with Common Core Learning Standards. The brain retains information for a longer period of time when it makes connections and creates thought patterns. Teachers can learn how to give students the concrete skills and knowledge to build these visual and literal connections. Various models, online technology tools and philosophies of mapping will be the focus of this course. Educators will create many relevant mind design tools to use in their everyday classroom. This course is appropriate for all educators grades P-12 including: ELA, Mathematics, S.S., Science, Physical Education. LOTE, the Arts, Special Education Guidance Counselors, Social Workers, School Psychologists.

http://www.creativeteachered.org

25 Students, 25 Lessons? Is this the case? Differentiated Instruction for Today’s Diverse Learner

All of our students are different, it is obvious, everyone learns differently.  Educators cannot expect a one size fits all approach to learning. This course teaches practical solutions to a frustrating problem, how can I provide the best instruction to all of my students? Straightforward strategies can be used to enhance your everyday instruction and create meaningful experiences for all of your learners.   Teachers will learn concrete ways to identify learning styles and strategies to adapt lessons that meet the different types of learners, according to grouping patterns for instruction.  Different types of grouping create an environment conducive for successful lesson differentiating, station learning, rubrics and grading policies. It is important for all areas of instruction meet the needs of your diverse student population such as ELA, Social Studies, Math, Science, LOTE, ESL, Special Education, the Arts, and Physical Education, N-12 are appropriate for this course.


3 In-service Credits/ 45 hours Instructor: Melissa Stone-Nill

March 1-30, 2012

Website:
http://www.creativeteachered.org/Spring_Courses.html