Instructor: Mike O'Flaherty

The implementation of diversity in classrooms not just schools, is critical for teachers as "diverse learning environments promote development of analytical skills, dismantle stereotypes, and prepare students to succeed in an increasingly interconnected world" - United States Attorney General 2011

Education is all about broadening our personal horizons, cultivating new experiences and learning how to see the world from multiple viewpoints. This highlights why diversity in our schools is so critical. Schools today must respond to an ever- increasing diverse student population. Our hallways are places of racial, ethnic, linguistic, economic and academic diversity where it is possible at least to rub shoulders with those who are different from us.

Teachers must create a classroom culture where all students regardless of their cultural background are welcomed and supported, and provided with the best opportunity to learn.

This class will highlight and examine opportunities that exist for educators to create an atmosphere of inclusion and appreciation. We will focus our attention and efforts on the acquisition of sound educational skills and strategies to make culture more explicit, affirm identity, and create a context for understanding.

Diversity is everyone's concern and in everyone's best interest. Respecting diversity is fundamental. Celebrating it takes us all further - together!

Promoting diversity in schools is pivotal to teach "that our strength comes from people of different races, creeds, cultures uniting in commitment to the freedom of all" - United States Department Of Education 2011

Course Number: FALL20-ON-009 | 3 Credits/45 Hours

Instructor: Mike O'Flaherty

"Healthy Relationships Will Always Add More To Your Life Than They Take"

Relationships can be complicated. They can also be wonderful. They can be our greatest joy and our greatest despair.

The major focus of this class will be to provide teachers with the tools necessary to help their students prepare for optimum success in relationships that are central to life. This class will provide lessons, information and skills that will foster individual student wellness, self -esteem and the ability to relate to others in healthy ways.

The content of this class will provide teachers with tools to effectively introduce students to the foundations of strong satisfying relationships. We will examine expectations, potential problems and explore the nature of mature interpersonal behavior. We will practice decision making and problem solving while learning relevant life skills necessary for overall wellness.

Some specific topics include:
1.Evaluating influences impacting life expectations.
2.Understanding important developmental differences between the adolescent brains of boys and girls.
3.Identifying socially acceptable and positive dating behaviors.
4.Showing caring and consideration to others.
5.Improving decision-making and stress management skills.
6.Setting personal short-term and long-term relationship goals.

A recurring theme will be the importance for students to make informed choices about their relationships, their goals and how they live their lives. Throughout the class teachers learn current and relevant techniques/strategies enabling them to effectively encourage students to self-regulate emotions and take responsibility for behavior choices - particularly those that impact others.

Course Number: FALL20-ON-031 | 3 Credits/45 Hours

Instructor: Mike O'Flaherty

As an educator, your role is complex, challenging, and always changing. Leadership studies are crucial if we are to embrace the concept of teachers as change agents. Quality educational leadership is vital to the overall success of your school, your school district and your community.

Teachers are leaders. They lead students every day. In order to better serve our students and have a lasting impact on student achievement, the obligation of leadership needs to be addressed.

This class will guide educators to develop an operational definition of leadership, to identify the essential qualities and characteristics of leadership and the specific skills necessary for educators to realize their unique potential as leaders. You will learn how to translate your expertise in teaching and learning to effect positive change for your students, colleagues, and profession. You will learn to identify and overcome common leadership roadblocks, and examine and strengthen your own leadership style. A primary emphasis of this class will be on teacher's self-examination and self-perceptions with regard to teacher leadership.

Educators are devoted to improving the effectiveness of their teaching. This class includes strategies and activities that will facilitate and enhance leadership abilities. Teachers will discover the leader within them and learn to communicate more effectively and persuasively with confidence and authenticity.

(Course Number: FALL20-ON-035)

Instructor: Mike O'Flaherty

The overall health of Americans is suffering. Some of the causes of this are preventable while others are not. While there is still much we do not know about how to avoid disease and maintain health, there is a wealth of information, knowledge and practices that CAN and DO address these issues. The sad news is that we currently do not give necessary consideration to something so crucial. Truth be told" the onset of some of these health issues has gotten younger and younger" affecting more and more of your students.

As an educator, we have the responsibility of teaching our students more than just an area of content. We are, in essence, teaching them about life. What kind of life will our students experience if they do not have the information and tools required to ensure the proper "quality of life"! We should help them learn about the aspects of their lives they have control over, as well as some best practices proven to accomplish this task.

This class will address the development of good personal habits, stress management techniques, avoidance of health risks, increased exposure to physical activity, assessment of nutritional guidelines while highlighting the importance of minimizing the risk involved in cyberspace. You will be asked to research current information as well as plan how to incorporate your findings into your field of study in the hopes of having a positive impact on the health of your students. You will be asked to evaluate your own habits to better prepare you to encourage your students to do the same.

Course Number: FALL20-ON-036 | 3 Credits/45 Hours

Instructor: Mike O'Flaherty

There are few people who would argue about the importance of excellence in education. Our educational systems have come under intense scrutiny and I think we can all agree that the state of our education system has plenty of room for improvement.

Sometimes it seems that teachers have to deal with more than is humanly possible. Not only do they have to teach and try to meet the needs of so many different students, but they are also expected to keep up with the latest educational reforms. The truth is that many educational issues face teachers each and every day.

As professionals, educators must be informed and be knowledgeable of issues that are critical to the overall functioning of our schools. Our first challenge lies in identifying issues impacting our students and schools. This course will identify, explore and analyze these contemporary issues. As we examine with a critical eye, we are better equipped to become informed professional decision makers.

Current, critical and contemporary issues studied in this class include, but are not limited to:

1.High Stakes Assessment
2.Standards based Reform
3.Classroom Size
4.Year Round Education-Is More School The Answer?
5.Common Core Standards
6.Teacher Effectiveness Initiatives
7.Integrating Technology
8.Charter And Public School Debate
9.School Failure And Dropping Out
10.The Homework Debate

This class will allow us to examine relevant pro and con viewpoints and provide us with positive solutions. This class approaches all issues remembering it is our duty as educators to try our very best to work through these challenges, solve them if at all possible, and still provide our students with the best possible education!

Course Number: FALL20-ON-029 | 3 Credits/45 Hours

Instructor: Mike O'Flaherty

Compelled Educator Part II picks up where Compelled Educator Part I left off. Part I took us on a guided tour searching for and learning about what it is that our best teachers DO! It provided practical tips and strategies for teachers to connect with their students in a meaningful and powerful way.

All teachers have high expectations for students. Great teachers also have high expectations for themselves. Part II builds and adds to those skills, tools and insights acquired in the previous class.

The main variable in any classroom is not the students, but the teacher! Productive student behavior and smooth day- to- day operation of the classroom does not happen by accident. Our best teachers help their students meet rigorous course standards by establishing and maintaining a learning environment that supports and motivates students to do their personal best.

Part II will supply simple suggestions that you will be able to integrate into your current daily routines. This class is not about what we know - it is about who we are and what we do! It directs us to accurately self-reflect and truly understand what it is that separates good from great!

Course Number: FALL20-ON-043| 3 Credits/45 Hours

Instructor: Mike O'Flaherty

Sport psychology is the study of the psychological factors that affect participation and performance in sports. Athletic performance has three parts: physical preparation, technical skill and psychological readiness. If any of these areas are neglected, athletic performance will decline. Psychological preparation, often neglected, involves preparing the mind of an athlete just as thoroughly as one prepares the body. The sport community has recognized that mental factors such as confidence, composure, focus and motivation are highly significant to athletic performance. As sports continue to evolve at a rapid rate, thanks to constant technological advances and sports medicine studies, more athletes are becoming aware of the mental game.

Necessary skills include, but are not limited to, visualization, imagery, relaxation, centering, positive self-talk, motivation, leadership and goal setting. Whether you are interested in sport psychology from a coaching, athletic, or parental perspective - this class will help us investigate this fascinating field in depth. Sport psychology can help in so many ways, and it makes sense to get every advantage you can get!

Course Number: FALL20-ON-007 | 3 Credits/45 Hours

Instructor: Mike O'Flaherty

You have chosen a profession where you have opportunities to change lives. Our role in assisting student's to discover their talents, interests, resources and opportunities for gaining an education is critical.

More than 15%.....,more than 44 million Americans live in poverty. As poverty continues to increase in our communities, it is important for educators to understand the effects poverty can have on their students, and their student's school success. Poverty damages. It damages childhoods; it damages life chances; and it damages us all in society.

Poverty remains a stubborn fact of life and has serious implications for the nation's educational sector. Many educators are frustrated with the mindset, behavior and learning challenges that students from poverty often bring to school. A deeper understanding of poverty and the barriers it presents is highly needed. Poverty is a complex phenomenon. This class will arm you with relevant facts and enhance your knowledge about the debilitating and cumulative effects poverty has on student's.

You will be introduced to the latest research and how it affects student's cognitive development and academic performance. You will learn how to differentiate among different types of poverty and examine the unique aspects and effects of each. This class will relevantly present classroom level strategies and tools for countering poverty's negative effects and help you to create an educational framework to meet the needs of these students and help them succeed in school.

We must challenge the barriers of poverty and help all of our student's to grow, thrive and achieve academic success!

Course Number: FALL20-ON-040 | 3 Credits/45 Hours

Instructor: Mike O'Flaherty

The media play a huge part in sport. We find out what's happening, how our team is doing and it creates great sporting moments and sports celebrities and stars. On any given Sunday, sports enthusiasts all over the world can "tune in" to the lives of their favorite stars. This course will examine the full breath and impact of sports representation in the media. We will study both the prominent and subtle roles that media plays. We will take an in-depth look at the links between mass media and sport. From the printed word, to radio, to television and now the internet - we will explore the influence and impact of sport as it is communicated through the various forms of media presentation.

Course Number: FALL20-ON-004B | 3 Credits/45 Hours

Instructor: Mary Caffrey, L.M.S.W.
This course will focus on understanding the culture of boys and how it can negatively impact on their abilities to learn, socialize and reach out for help. We will explore issues that affect boys from the struggle to adjust in the primary grades to bullying in the middle school years, to conduct disorders that present themselves in high school. Statistically, boys are overwhelmingly diagnosed and medicated for A.D.H.D., behavior problems, and are at risk for school failure . They make up the majority of students in special education classes. Minority youth interface with the juvenile justice system at alarming rates. Boys face unique challenges and this class will explore ways for teachers to develop what author Dan Kindlon coined "emotional literacy" so they can find productive places in school and in the community.NOTE-course is in google docs and can be accessed through google by having a gmail account or through google classroom (password access through most school districts)
(Grade Level K-12)

Course Number: FALL20-ON-038 | 3 Credits/45 Hours

Instructor: Evan Moston

The "Creative Classroom" promotes a hands-on investigative approach to teaching and learning. Textbooks may have a place but this course is designed for teachers of all subjects and special areas, k-12, to discover ways to help their students make real-world connections helping them to better digest what is being taught. This course encourages a project based learning environment that will help students solve real-world problems by incorporating critical thinking into their schoolwork.

Please Note! ACTUAL DATES & TIMES TBD - All participants please contact instructor at emoston@optonline.net in order to discuss specific grade level/special area you teach as my courses are individualized, (for ex: kindergarten is very different than 12th grade phys. ed. resulting in differentiated coursework) and designed to meet specific needs. I would also like to to speak prior to start date as times/location can be adjusted in order to better meet individual needs. Thank you!!

(Grade Level K-12)
Course Number: FALL20-ON-080 | 3 Credits/45 Hours

Instructor: Michael Jannace

The course will cover various lesson activities that can be adapted for any content area or grade level. Lesson activities include pod-casting, simulations, carousels, cooperate learning, Smart Board interactive activities, paired activities, jigsaws, project-based learning, presentations, direct instruction, individual learning, reading comprehension, vocabulary enhancement, debates, fish-bowls, essay grading, group testing and literature/film analysis.

Course Number: FALL20-015 | 3 Credits/45 Hours

Instructor: Danielle Gagnon

This course will encourage teachers to use yoga and mindfulness to enhance their curriculum. Using yoga and mindfulness in the classroom can help meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. More students than we know come to our classrooms with social and emotional deficits, trauma and behaviors that can get in the way of learning. Yoga and mindfulness enhances learning, helps students to better understand themselves, improves their social behavior, promotes healthy development and helps them function more effectively as individuals. If we teach children how to become aware of their feelings, minds and bodies, we will lay the foundation for a better way to learn.

The major focus of this class will be to provide teachers with the tools necessary to include yoga and mindfulness into their classroom. Some topics will include:
1. Breathing techniques for students
2. Meditation and journaling for students
3. Chair yoga
4. Creating "Peaceful Place" in the classroom
5. Using picture books to increase awareness of mental and physical health
6. Finding your personal practice

*No previous yoga experience is necessary! This will be an informative and interactive class that will allow you to bring the yoga/mindfulness experience back to your classroom.

(Grade Level K-12)
Course Number: FALL20-ON-052B | 3 Credits/45 Hours

Instructor: Evan Moston

"So much to do, so little time to do it in". How do we teach ELA (+ writing), Math, Science and Social-Studies effectively ALL in one day? We can't. Often Science and Social-Studies take a back seat because in reality, many of us have long ELA blocks (which does not include writing) and certain Math lessons can go well passed the allotted time period, so what gets left out? Science/S.S. are important subjects too, so teach during your ELA period. This course will offer several strategies (Guided Reading for example) to make it simple to incorporate Science and Social-Studies into our everyday teaching.

Please Note! My courses are individualized and made to be convenient to fit your schedule. Please do not be dissuaded from taking any of my courses due to conflicts with dates/times/location. Simply contract me at emoston@optonline.net and we can work something out that fits your needs. Thank you for your consideration!

(Grade Level K-12)
Course Number: FALL20-051 | 3 Credits/45 Hours