CTED 570 - Developing Character Education in Your Classroom and School.

The course introduces participants to character education topics, the importance of character curriculum, and ways to implement them in the classroom. Some topics introduced include, but are not limited to, virtues, tests of good decision-making, school programs for implementation, parent involvement and support ideas, ethical tests for student actions, manners, and sexual education. The participants will evaluate their current views on character education and develop outcomes that they would like to achieve by taking this course. In an effort to have the participant demonstrate an understanding of the concepts introduced, they will be asked to conduct lessons in the classroom and write lessons that they deem valuable as it pertains to this course. Participants will be able to use their finished assignments/lesson plans in the classroom.

CTED 617 - Educating Students on Character

Course participants will read the text Life's Greatest Lessons: 20 Things That Matter by Hal Urban. Participants are then asked to evaluate their school's current curriculum and resources in the area of character education. Some topics in the text include humor in life, choices, attitude, success, fairness, honesty, positive habits, motivation, and goal setting. Through the evaluation process participants will create age appropriate lesson plans for the topics addressed in the text. These lessons will be ready to use in the classroom and a great start to a character education program. Participants will be asked to conduct interviews with colleagues, write reflections journals articles, and respond to activities and their effectiveness with their students.

CTED 686 - Teachers Understanding Student Poverty

Course participants will read the text A Framework for Understanding Student Poverty by Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D. This course is designed for teachers and staff working with children in preschool through high school. Course participants will become aware of poverty definitions, issues, and appropriate interventions as addressed in the text. Assignments will include interviews, journal reviews, related lesson plan development, critical thinking, evaluations of community resources, goal setting, and website evaluation. This course will challenge educators to look seriously at their students, schools, and resources for servicing children of poverty.

CTED 912 - Positive Teen Habits

This course will allow participants to gain knowledge of core habits that teens can use to become successfull in life. Examples of topics include being proactive, perceptions, mission statements, goal setting, and organizational skills. The book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey is used with this course.

CTED 882 - Writing for Life

Course participants will read the text Writing for Real by Ross Burkhardt, read journals from Eric Search, and complete related assignments after each chapter. Participants will explore the use of journals, writing rubrics, poetry, letter writing, character topics in writing, and assessments. Promoting good writing requires practice in a variety of forms and this course presents ways to accomplish this practice. The course discusses ways to make classrooms safe and friendly in an effort to encourage young writers. The course text provides terrific lesson samples that are ready to use in the classroom.

CTED 878 - Bullies Beware 2 Semester Credits

Course participants will read the text The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander by international speaker and author Barbara Coloroso. This course will provide the participant with background information on bullying issues and violence prevention. Although prevention of violence in schools is difficult to measure, becoming aware of the mechanics of violent students and those he/she may affect is worth the effort. This course will help teachers identify kinds of bullies, ways to heal the bullied, address discipline issues, and develop awareness of bullying taking place in schools around our nation.

Classroom Courses:

CTED 519 - Enhancing Learning Lessons Using PowerPoint

This hands-on course is designed for teachers of all levels who are interested in enhancing teaching techniques using Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 (or 2007 version). Teachers will look at existing teaching topics adapted to PowerPoint and discuss how the topics were presented on PowerPoint slides. Teachers will brainstorm topics to adapt for the classroom using PowerPoint. Using features of PowerPoint such as making buttons, adding sound, using transitions, if-then choices for students, and more, teachers will gain confidence in integrating learning and technology.

$195.00 - 1 semester graduate level continuing education credit and materials.

CTED 934 - Handmade Books: Creating Wonderful Worlds

Using single sheets of paper and the concertina fold, explore the book arts and spirit your students into the wonderful world of making books. Windows, pop-ups, simple folds, cut-outs, along with simple classroom tools like crayons, markers, and scissors, will allow your students to create a world based on imagination, or math, or science, and hold it securely within a book of their own making. Making books uses many multidisciplinary skills; writing, drawing, planning, sequencing, working within a specific space, using memory, imagination, observation, research and reporting skills, and much more. This course will provide teachers with ideas to implement a variety of book forms in the classroom. Teachers are encouraged to come with curriculum topics they would like to introduce or further integrate into their classrooms. Participants will take home book models and instruction sheets for all book structures taught.

$195.00 - 1 semester graduate level continuing education credit and materials.

CTED 976 - Learning Math and More Through Literature

This course is intended for teachers, home schooling parents, and early childhood instructors. Explore the use of children’s books to enhance your curriculum in U.S. History, Science, and Mathematics. Other games/activities in the areas of language arts, character educations, and classroom management tools will also be provided. Participants will create games and activities that can be utilized as fun teaching tools. Since educators are being asked to integrate reading into all subject areas, this is an ideal course for you. Leave with laminated, ready to use materials.

$195.00 - 1 semester graduate level continuing education credit, book, and materials.

CTED 994 - Utilizing Game Boards in the Classroom 2008

This fun hands-on course is designed for teachers, parents, home-school families, and day care providers. Teachers will be given a wealth of ideas for making learning fun and motivating. Each participant will design games in the areas of language arts, math, social studies, and science. Participants will be encouraged to identify individual areas of need and create projects based on that need. State testing results can direct the areas of need chosen by each teacher. Instructions will be provided for the games, and the games will be laminated. Each participant will leave with ready to use materials. Some examples of projects include fraction practice, number sense review, parts of speech, vocabulary review, literature connections, literary techniques, word families, inventors and many more!

$195.00 - 1 semester graduate level continuing education credit and materials.