Supporting All Students Returning to In-Person Instruction

Fall 2021 Professional Issues Session

Course Description: Educators throughout the Commonwealth are challenged to serve students returning to in-person instruction following various levels of remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Educators are encouraged to accelerate learning to help combat learning loss; however, issues such as social and emotional needs and staffing shortages create barriers to success. Several programs and funding initiatives are available to assist schools and educators as they support students; however, educators face time and resource limitations when working with students. This session seeks to empower educators to better determine which supports are likely to yield the most benefits to students. PaTTAN’s Gina Spicknall-Cook and Donna Halpin guide educators in this session to fully capitalize on the multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) available in most PA schools so that they can provide efficient and effective supports that meet the unique needs of their student populations.

Course Hours: Members who complete this course receive 1.5 HOURS of Act 48 and/or a certificate that may apply for Chapter 14 hours. Your employer has sole discretion to determine if this course qualifies for Chapter 14 hours.

• 1.5 Hours

Let's Get Digital: Digital Reading Strategies

Course Description: Engage students with digital reading strategies. Differentiate and maximize your plan time with edTech like self-grading Readworks! Customize your lessons quickly with digital sorts and graphic organizers through Google Slides, Google Draw, and Padlet.

Course Hours: Members who complete this course receive 1.5 HOURS of Act 48 and/or a certificate that may apply for Chapter 14 hours. Your employer has sole discretion to determine if this course qualifies for Chapter 14 hours.

• 1.5 Hours

Differentiating and Team Teaching: Distance Learning Edition

Course Description: Tools like Seesaw, Flipgrid and Google Classroom can be used to serve our students with direct, targeted assignments via enrollment in multiple classes or with the use of Co-Teachers. Entire grade levels may benefit from a shared space, and special area teachers and support staff can be linked to their students more easily. Get some strategies to maintain multiple groups of students in classes or getting yourself included in pre-existing ones!

Course Hours: Members who complete this course receive 2 HOURS of Act 48 and/or a certificate that may apply for Chapter 14 hours. Your employer has sole discretion to determine if this course qualifies for Chapter 14 hours.

• 2 Hours

Math at a Distance: Best Practices

Course Description: How can I use common Google and ed-tech tools to support collaborative math practice and discussion at a distance? In this recorded webinar from 2020, participants explore one learning cycle and deeply engage in the design thinking behind the how the ed-tech selected supports student engagement, virtual discourse and opportunities for elaboration and student evaluation.

Course Hours: Members who complete this course receive 2 HOURS of Act 48 and/or a certificate that may apply for Chapter 14 hours. Your employer has sole discretion to determine if this course qualifies for Chapter 14 hours.

• 2 Hours

Phenomena-Centered Science in Your (Virtual) Classroom

Course Description: Centering your K-12 science instruction around phenomena can build student engagement and understanding, even in a virtual or blended classroom environment. In this course participants explore key aspects of science instruction, share NGSS-aligned resources for the new school year, and consider strategies (like Driving Question Boards) that support science in K-12 (possibly virtual) classrooms.

Course Hours: Members who complete this course receive 2 HOURS of Act 48 and/or a certificate that may apply for Chapter 14 hours. Your employer has sole discretion to determine if this course qualifies for Chapter 14 hours.

• 2 Hours

Building Background Knowledge

Course Description: For many students, a lack of experiential learning has an impact that negatively impacts learning.  This course explores strategies to build background knowledge so that new learning can be accelerated.

Course Hours: Members who complete this course receive 2 HOURS of Act 48 and/or a certificate that may apply for Chapter 14 hours. Your employer has sole discretion to determine if this course qualifies for Chapter 14 hours.

• 2 Hours

Facilitating Quality Practice for Remote Learning

Course Description: This session, captured from a live PSEA CPL Webinar Broadcast by NEA's Sarah Van Loo and Kelly Newton focuses on how quality practice looks, sounds and feels different virtually and focuses on tools that teachers and para-educators can use with students for quality practice in remote learning. Participants learn about best practices for online learning, including instructor presence, learning objectives, real world applications, clear expectations, engaging students, prompt feedback, and netiquette, and it incorporates elements from two primary LMS's, Seesaw and Google Classroom, specifically.

Course Hours: Members who complete this course receive 1.5 HOURS of Act 48 and/or a certificate that may apply for Chapter 14 hours. Your employer has sole discretion to determine if this course qualifies for Chapter 14 hours.

• 1.5 Hours

Building Routines for Student Success in a Virtual Space

Course Description: How can physical classroom routines (submitting work and getting help) be transformed for effective use in virtual spaces? This webinar discusses how to teach students necessary skills to confidently navigate virtual learning communities and also help students transition to virtual/remote learning that seems familiar to face-to-face instruction.

Course Hours:  Members who complete this course receive 2 HOURS of Act 48 and/or a certificate that may apply for Chapter 14 hours. Your employer has sole discretion to determine if this course qualifies for Chapter 14 hours.

• 2 Hours

Best Practices for Effective Distance Learning and Instruction

Course Description: This session by PSEA's Dr. Christopher M. Clayton helps educators think through shifting their instructional practices to more effectively align with current research and best practices for creating more engaging distance-learning experiences for students. Delivering effective remote instruction for educators and distance learning for students and families present different challenges from face-to-face instruction, and drawing on the work of experts such as Jennifer Gonzalez, AJ Juliani, Caitlyn Tucker, and many more, this session helps members learn about and explore these shifting educational paradigms of instruction and presents attendees with immediately actionable information, tips, strategies, and “take-away” tools and resources that educators can immediately use in their practice, including an introduction to the powerful DAT (Device Agnostic Technology) resource, NearPod.

Course Hours: Members who complete this course receive 2 HOURS of Act 48 and/or a certificate that may apply for Chapter 14 hours. Your employer has sole discretion to determine if this course qualifies for Chapter 14 hours.

• 2 Hours

Distance Learning Pro Tips

Course Description: This professional learning session, presented by NEA members and current Michigan classroom teachers Chris Thomas and Ellen Brooks, was captured from a live PSEA CPL webinar broadcast May 26, 2020 and provides tips and strategies to up your remote instruction game and allow you to reflect on your distance learning experiences. Participants learn about identifying key tech tools and tips for planning and delivering more effective remote instruction and distance learning experience for students.

Course Hours: Members who complete this course receive 2 HOURS of Act 48 and/or a certificate that may apply for Chapter 14 hours. Your employer has sole discretion to determine if this course qualifies for Chapter 14 hours.

• 2 Hours

Continuous Improvement: Using the Observation Frameworks to Up Your Ed Skills!

Course Description: Explore the PDE Frameworks for Observation and Practice as updated in Summer 2021 as tools for continuous improvement in this informative and interactive workshop. Educators will begin by learning about the Continuous Self-Improvement process and related tools followed by and introduction to the Frameworks. Then, educators will dive into a role-specific exploration of the frameworks with a focus on self-evaluation and then self-reflection. These processes will be focused on elements to inform pre-conferences for and to allow educators to engage in a self improvement process using the continuous improvement tools discussed in the first half of the class. Together, each element empowers educators to elevate their skills and better serve students. 

Course Hours: Members who complete this course receive 2 HOURS of Act 48 and a certificate.

• 2 Hours

Mandatory Reporting Obligations of School Employees under the Child Protective Services Law and the Educator Discipline Act

Course Description: This course reviews the mandatory reporting obligations that school employees have under the Child Protective Services Law and the Educator Discipline Act. Learners will also learn about the procedure for filing reports and will consider various hypothetical scenarios in determining whether a report would be required.

Course Hours: Members who complete this course receive 1 HOUR of Act 48 and/or a certificate that may apply for Chapter 14 hours.

• 1 Hour

Educator Evaluation: Navigating the Policy

This course is temporarily inactivated for updating and will be relaunched in September 2024.

Fall 2021 Professional Issues Session
Former title: Educator Evaluation in 2021 and Beyond

Course Description: This course reviews updates to the Educator Effectiveness System that began at the start of the 2021-22 school year through Act 13 of 2020 and the Chapter 19 regulations. All PSEA members are welcome to attend this webinar; however, only EA members who have not previously taken this course are eligible for Act 48 credit. 

Course Hours: Members who complete this course will be eligible to recieve 1.5 HOURS of Act 48 credit and/or a certificate for Chapter 14 hours. Chapter 14 acceptance is at the full discretion of your employer.

• 1.5 Hours

Touching on the Tools of Act 13 - SPM Templates and Revised Frameworks

Course Description: In this online course, participants will gain a surface level understanding of the tools for use with Act 13’s revised Educator Effectiveness Evaluation System. The first part of the course explores the Student Performance Measures templates, which PDE issued as optional tools to assist LEAs for the documentation of LEA-Selected Measures and IEP Goals Progress data. The second part of the course reviews the revised Danielson Frameworks as issued by PDE in Summer 2021. The third and final part of the course engages participants in a self-led reflection on how each new tool can help them inform their professional practice in the coming school year.

Course Hours: Members who complete this course will be eligible to recieve 1.5 HOURS of Act 48 credit and/or a certificate for Chapter 14 hours. Chapter 14 acceptance is at the full discretion of your employer.

• 1.5 Hours

The Science of Concussions in the Classroom

Course Description: Information regarding the implementation of programs for students who experience brain trauma and concussion is by presenter, Roni Robinson, MSN, RN, CRNP  (coordinator of the Trauma/Concussion program at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)).  Strategies for school staff as well as Concussion Management Teams are shared in order to support students and families to achieve the best possible outcomes for recovery.

Course Hours: Members who complete this course receive 1.5 HOURS of Act 48 and/or a certificate that may apply for Chapter 14 hours. Your employer has sole discretion to determine if this course qualifies for Chapter 14 hours.

• 1.5 Hours

Tobacco, Nicotine, and Vaping: Prevention and Treatment

Course Description: Nicotine products have changed, but many of the industry tactics to encourage new tobacco users to start have not. Participants learn about the different tobacco and nicotine products, health impacts, and how the vaping epidemic transpired. Participants also learn about programs, resources, and strategies to prevent vaping and help young people and adults to quit. Presented by Sean McCormick, PhD, MS, Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist-Master. Sean McCormick is a public health practitioner and researcher with expertise in tobacco dependence treatment, behavioral sciences, and chronic disease management. Dr. McCormick has designed, implemented, and evaluated public health programs in government, hospitals, research clinics, community sites, and advocacy settings. Dr. McCormick held positions at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Temple University, Drexel University, East Stroudsburg University, Pennsylvania’s Clean Air Council, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He is currently the Assistant Director for Health Promotion Council’s Tobacco Control and Prevention Services where he oversees the Southeastern Pennsylvania Tobacco Control Project and statewide improvements in tobacco control.

Course Hours: Members who complete this course receive 2 hours of Act 48 and/or a certificate that may apply for Chapter 14 hours. Your employer has sole discretion to determine if this course qualifies for Chapter 14 hours.

• 2 Hours

Be Prepared: Effective and Efficient IEPs

Course Description: This course provides regular and special educators information on creating Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) that consider student needs using effective and efficient strategies to create a beneficial plan.

Course Hours: Members who complete this course receive 1 HOUR of Act 48 and/or a certificate that may apply for Chapter 14 hours. Your employer has sole discretion to determine if this course qualifies for Chapter 14 hours.

• 1 Hour

"Crip Camp": A Netflix Documentary by High Ground Productions

Course Description: Crip Camp  is a documentary film that depicts the disability revolution of the 1970's.  This film won the audience award at the Sundance Film Festival upon its release in January of 2020. Crip Camp shares the journey of teenagers that attended Camp Jened and shares their story, both as teenagers with diabilities as well as their unending work toward disability right's advocacy.  The goal of the film's directors is to make the audience a camp participant and share the "experience and joy" that changed their lives.

Course Hours: Members who complete this course receive 2.5 HOURS of Act 48 and/or a certificate that may apply for Chapter 14 hours. Your employer has sole discretion to determine if this course qualifies for Chapter 14 hours.

• 2.5 Hours

Connect, Collaborate, Create with School-based Occupational Therapy

Course Description: In this course, Dr. Jennifer Washko, OTD-OTR/L, and Dr. Katie Landsiedel, OTD-OTR/L, share information on the role of Occupational Therapy in a school-based setting.  Learn strategies for your students and tips on communication and collaboration to enhance student learning and achievement.

Course Hours: Members who complete this course receive 2 HOURS of Act 48 and/or a certificate that may apply for Chapter 14 hours. Your employer has sole discretion to determine if this course qualifies for Chapter 14 hours.

• 2 Hours

Managing Behaviors in Children with Autism and Developmental Disabilities

Course Description: This course is designed for special education paraprofessionals. It introduces concepts of applied behavior analysis and describes key strategies for implementation. Common behaviors associated with Autism and developmental disabilities include tantrums, noncompliance, aggression, and self-injury. These behaviors can interfere with everyday activities and learning. This course introduces several strategies to help students alter behaviors that are based on concepts related to Applied Behavior Analysis. 

Course Hours: Participants who complete this course will receive a certificate that can be submitted to their employer for 1 hour of Chapter 14 learning. Please note that employers have sole authority to determine what qualifies for Chapter 14 hours.

• 1 Hour