Epidemic: Rot of American Culture: Absentee & Permissive Parenting

- 3 Graduate Credits -

Course Objectives

1. Educators will review the historical progression and decline of marriages and family system dysfunction and the impact they have on society, values and raising children.
2. Participants will be presented with a model for teaching children to love and respect other people and numerous positive strategies to utilize when teaching children.
3. Educators will examine early childhood education and the affects of day care on children and families as well as the social and economic issues families struggle with.
4. Participants will review the impact of media violence, blatant sexuality and other negative social behaviors that the media presents and how to instill morality and values in an indifferent world.
5. Educators will look at the issue of students growing up in an adult world of sex and violence without enjoying the innocence of childhood experiences and how that affects their development and ability to be successful in schools.

Dealing with Difficult Parents

- 3 Graduate Credits -

Course Objectives

1. Educators will review the historical dynamics of today’s parent and their relationship to schools, how that has changed and how to handle parenting situations that may arise.
2. Teachers will be presented with a variety of strategies to communication and cultivating relationships with parents as well as being proactive to avoid potential problems that may arise in difficult situations.
3. Educators will examine ways of presenting bad news or other student deficiencies to parents in a manner that is none threatening and yet is consistent with school policy.
4. Teachers will explore the curriculum's focus and how teachers, principal, students, and parents all contribute to the harmony of a positive school experience for students.
5. Educators will then research this topic and parent involvement in monitoring student responsibilities such as homework as well as parent involvement in school activities.

A Nation Of Wimps The High Cost of Invasive Parenting

- 3 Graduate Credits -

Course Objectives

1. Educators will review the historical progression of rules and unrealistic expectations that have been implemented in society to protect children from themselves.
2. Teachers will look at how schools have been blamed for all of society problems and how schools have taken on the responsibility of addressing all potential situations.
3. Educators will examine social change that have taken place and that shifts have placed the burden of responsibility from individuals or parents onto other institutions, teachers, social support staff and school systems.
4. Teaches will explore ways to discern problem situations and then place the burden of responsibility where it belongs and to address overly protective parents.
5. Educators will then research this topic as it relates to their society, personal lives as well as its impact on schools, classrooms, students and apply solutions to these issues.

Ennegram of Parenting

- 1 Graduate Credit -

Course Objectives

1. Teachers will study the historical background of the Enneagram and how it describes children in K-8 classrooms.
2. Participants will read and analyze the perfectionist, helper, and achiever personality styles in order to understanding those personality types.
3. Students will review the personality quizzes on the achiever, romantic, and observer's styles. They will study the questioner, asserter and peacemaker and their 10 common behavior problems and approaches to working with them.
4. Educators taking this course will find their own Enneagram personality style and participate in peer and teacher colleague discussions to share perspectives.
5. Teachers will develop a written paper that utilizes the content of the book as it applies to their classroom settings, students, and how to share the Enneagram styles with parents.

Bullying and Harassment: A Legal Guide for Educators

- 1 Graduate Credit -

Course Objectives

1. Educators will learn about the legal background associated with school bullying or harassment and their responsibility and authority to address these issues.
2. Teachers will explore other areas of concern, such as sexual or gender-based bullying and other forms that may considered as student harassment in schools.
3. Participants will evaluate how their school and district policies address these problems and what procedures they should and must follow in the reporting process.
4. Participants will examine student threats and violence in schools, and analyze ways to address those issues. They will also look at harassment by adult staff personnel in schools.
5. Educators will learn about the new internet forms of bullying, harassment, and threats that have developed with the use of "Face Book" and other internet forums.

School Law: What Every Educator Should Know

- 2 Graduate Credits -

Course Objectives

1. Educators will have a working knowledge of basic legal issues that affect the teachers and the public schools system.
2. Teachers will examine collective bargaining contracts, tenure and freedom of expression, association representation for educators and school environments.
3. Educators will be able to discern the legal dynamics related to religion, prayer, and expression issues in schools as well as free of the press and speech.
4. Teachers will study the legal issues related to due process, personnel management decisions as well as the legal concept of governmental immunity.
5. Educators will write about legal issues relating to students, teachers, parents and administrators as they may apply to their school and personal experience.

Grandparents Raising Grandkids

- 3 Graduate Credits -

Course Objectives

1. Educators will learn about the theories of how and what goes on in the minds of children with Aspergers syndrome and develop an understanding of how they think.
2. Teachers will research the generational issues, beliefs and values of our technology and media culture as they impact the parenting relationships of the generational divide.
3. Educators will examine the difficult issues regarding why the biological parent/s is not raising the child as well as the other family and social dynamics that arise.
4. Teachers will review the physical and emotional issues that aging grandparents have and how it affects their ability to provide for, nurture and educate their grandchild.
5. Teachers will develop writings, research this topic and develop lessons or activities that utilize the course content to improve the learning and school experience of everyone.

Evaluating Teachers

- 2 Graduate Credits -

Course Objectives

1. Educators will review the standard "Clinical Supervision" models historically developed by most school districts and how they are utilized in teacher evaluations.
2. Teachers will test themselves and explore their preferred teaching style and then evaluate how they must also incorporate other teaching styles into their classroom.
3. Educators will be presented with the characteristics of the Knowing, Inventing, Caring, and Inspiring teacher for a broader understanding of other teaching styles. Educators will learn about the characteristics of generational poverty and how the patters of behavior, problems and world views are passed to future generations.
4. Supervising educators will examine their own preferences in light of objectivity when evaluating other teaching styles in order to strengthen instructional practices.
5. Educators will examine their school districts teacher evaluation policy manual in order to develop an action plan to prepare for the teacher evaluation process.