Teachscape Higher Education

TEACHER AS LEADER, K–12

This course focuses on the characteristics of successful teacher leaders and ways that all classroom teachers can cultivate these characteristics and improve their leadership skills. The featured experts who provide commentary for this course include Dr. Ann Lieberman, Tom Malarkey, and Dr. Tony Smith.

Identify your personal leadership profile.
Learn and apply leadership strategies for the classroom, school, and community.
Strengthen your commitment to student learning and achievement.

“Before this coursework began, I would have never described myself as a teacher leader. Even though I was in a leadership role at school, I didn’t accept that as my function or main focus. Now I can take a look at my position, see it for what it really is, and change my outlook on my responsibilities and become a true leader in my district.” ~ Diana Hauser, teacher, Warren, OH

INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN, K–12

This course concentrates on an effective and efficient instructional planning process that allows teachers to align their instructional design to state and local standards. The featured experts who provide commentary for this course include authors Jay McTighe and Grant Wiggins.

Learn to use “backward design” to create comprehensive instructional units.
Integrate formal and informal assessment techniques that allow you to monitor student progress, as well as student mastery.
Create logical learning sequences that help students meet required learning goals.

“This course has truly been a challenge for me. It has caused me to think about my unit planning in a whole new way. Breaking old habits and incorporating new ones is always difficult to do, but I think this time it is worth it. I will strive to unpack the standards, develop primary goals, and write overarching questions that inspire my students to think and therefore learn.” ~ Penny Lanning, teacher, Grand Rapids, MI

UNDERSTANDING TEACHING AND LEARNING, K–12

This course examines the intricacies of how people learn and the effect teacher understanding has on making informed instructional decisions. The featured experts who provide commentary for this course include Dr. Paul Eggen, Dr. Donald Kauchak, and Dr. Jeanne Ormrod.

Analyze and understand why some instructional strategies are more effective than others.
Apply proven instructional strategies based on current learning theory.
Increase knowledge of how the brain stores and retrieves information and the role this process plays in students’ ability to learn new academic content.

“Over 21 years ago, when I first read about these theories, it was hard to truly understand them because I didn’t have a classroom of students to make observations about or try what I was learning about on… Now, reading about these theories, it is easier to put them into practice or observe them in my students. The material from the book and watching the expert commentary was more relevant now…” ~ Dina Tadena, teacher, Pandora, OH

RESEARCH-BASED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, K–12

This course explores nine instructional strategies that 30 years of educational research has shown to increase students’ academic achievement. The featured experts who provide commentary for this course include Dr. Ceri Dean and Dr. Jane Doty.

Learn and apply each of the nine research-based strategies.
Identify how and when to use these strategies in ways appropriate to your grade level and content area.
Increase understanding about specific teacher and student behaviors that have a direct impact on student achievement.

“This course has introduced me to strategies I can apply daily in my teaching to help students overcome barriers that they face in learning and retaining what’s been taught. I found this course to be rejuvenating and uplifting.” ~ Steve Rogers, teacher, Garden City, MI

MEETING THE NEEDS OF ALL STUDENTS, K–12

This course provides teachers with proven strategies and classroom management techniques to help them reach all of their students regardless of ability, language development, race, socioeconomic status, gender, and/or learning challenges. The featured expert who provides commentary for this course is Dr. Carol Ann Tomlinson.

Apply strategies to increase student engagement, address students’ individual learning styles, and verify teaching effectiveness.
Strengthen partnerships with parents to facilitate academic achievement of students.
Deepen understanding of student variance, and apply strategies to support: cognitive impairments, difficulties attending to task, learning disabilities, English language learners, above-average abilities, and students who are at risk of failure.

“On a personal note, this class offered me more than I could have ever imagined. Though it was challenging to find time in my busy schedule as full-time teacher, mother, wife, and active member of my church and community, I enjoyed the disciplined time set aside for reading, studying, and reflecting. I have shared many of these strategies with my colleagues and administration, showing the proof of my success through my students’ projects and quality of work.” ~ Ellen Fabry Hoyer, teacher, Plymouth, MI

EFFECTIVE ASSESSMENT, K–12

This course grounds teachers in effective ways to assess their students, and how to use this information to draw conclusions and modify their instructional practices to best meet their students’ needs. The featured experts who provide commentary for this course include authors Dr. Kay Burke, Jay McTighe, and Grant Wiggins.

Identify and define different assessment methods according to three categories: Assessment of Learning, Assessment for Learning, and Assessment as Learning.
Examine different grading systems and apply one that best communicates student progress and achievement to others.
Analyze multiple sources of data to identify patterns in student learning and knowledge.

CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT FOR TODAY’S TEACHER, K–12

This course focuses on three important areas of assessment: grading, authentic assessment techniques, and Response to Intervention (RTI). While studying each of these areas of assessment, participants will identify common problems and obstacles classroom teachers face in each of these categories, and subsequent ways to address or overcome these issues. Participants will also apply research-based grading, authentic assessment, and RTI strategies to their particular teaching situation.

STUDENT-DIRECTED LEARNING TO FOSTER MOTIVATION AND ENGAGEMENT, K–12

This course provides an overview of the theoretical background and practical applications of motivation and engagement. It supports the pursuit of developing true teacher leaders by supplying a framework from which educators can reflect upon their students and devise strategies to increase motivation and learning. Participants will explore project-based and problem-based learning, two student-centered learning structures that require students to engage in high-interest yet challenging tasks.

Reading & Literacy

FOUNDATIONS OF READING AND LITERACY, K–6

This course focuses on sound theories and principles for developing literacy skills in students. It provides participants with a comprehensive knowledge base in the reading process and the most effective instructional techniques for teaching students to read. The featured experts who provide commentary for this course include: Dr. Isabel Beck, Dr. Nell Duke, Dr. Connie Juel, Dr. Louisa Cook Moats, Dr. Michael Pressley, Dr. Timothy Rasinski, Dr. Catherine Snow, and Dr. Dorothy Strickland.

Increase understanding of the five components of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
Apply the most effective instructional strategies to improve students’ skills in the five components of reading.
Adapt instructional strategies to meet the unique needs of English language learners and students who struggle to read.

“Prior to completing this course, I have had previous instruction and seminars in the areas of emergent literacy, phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension… However, I believe this course has been the most comprehensive. It has provided me with many new insights and understandings about the ‘Big Five’ ideas. It has further developed and, in some ways, changed the way I think about teaching reading and literacy.” ~ Barbara Germann, teacher, Celina, OH

ASSESSMENT & INTERVENTION FOR STRUGGLING READERS, K–6

This course helps teachers to better understand students who struggle with reading and gives them the tools to improve their students’ fluency and comprehension in order to meet grade-level standards. The featured experts who provide commentary for this course include Dr. Timothy Rasinski and Dr. Joseph A. Torgesen.

Define and describe the characteristics of a struggling reader; identify a particular student who fits that description and examine his/her needs.
Implement research-based instructional strategies to improve fluency and comprehension in struggling readers.
Develop an intervention plan that aims at increasing the achievement of all students, including struggling readers.

READING IN THE CONTENT AREAS, K–6

This course focuses on ways to integrate effective reading strategies into all subject areas of the curriculum. The featured expert who provides commentary for this course is Dr. Nell Duke.

Employ proven instructional strategies to engage all learners, including struggling readers, in the reading of informational texts.
Develop subject-area vocabulary that aides in the comprehension of content-specific material.
Utilize established techniques to help students make connections to prior learning.

THE READING AND WRITING CONNECTION, K–6

This course focuses on the writing process and its role in literacy development. As they learn how to identify, define, and explain all stages of the writing process, teachers are provided with proven techniques to help their students integrate writing into all subject areas.

Create learning experiences in which students respond to literature throughout reading.
Employ the use of writing portfolios to measure the growth of writing ability over time.
Examine ways (such as mini-lessons, error analysis, and conferencing) to support the independence of reading and writing in the classroom.

Elementary Mathematics

MEASUREMENT AND GEOMETRY FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, K–5

This course allows teachers to develop a profound understanding of key mathematical concepts as outlined in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Principles and Standards for School Mathematics. Participants engage in hands-on problem-solving activities that help them apply new understanding to their instructional planning and decision making. The featured expert who provides commentary for this course is author Dr. John Van de Walle.

Deepen understanding of mathematical concepts such as length, area, volume, angles, and coordinate geometry.
Apply effective problem-solving strategies to real-world problems.
Implement instructional strategies that help develop geometric thinking.

“Many of the ideas discussed through this course are ones that I have been exposed to previously but did not experience with enough depth to truly incorporate them into my thinking the way this course has allowed. The experiences offered in this course though readings, videos, and activities are ones that I will be able to successfully utilize in both my teaching practice and my role as a mathematics coach.” ~ Sara Torpey, teacher and math coach, Garwood, NJ

PROBLEM SOLVING AND NUMBER & OPERATIONS FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, K–5

Based on the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Principles and Standards for School Mathematics, this course establishes a foundation of mathematical content knowledge and problem-solving skills, and provides strategies for developing strong number sense in students. The featured expert who provide commentary for this course is Dr. Marvin Cohen.

Deepen personal understanding of mathematical content found in elementary grades, such as place value, the operations, fractions, decimals, and percents.
Develop strategies to teach in a problem-based classroom.
Engage in and learn ways to lead mathematical discourse.

FUNDAMENTALS OF MATHEMATICS: TEACHING FOR CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING, 2–6

This course helps teachers deepen their understanding of the mathematical concepts they teach in order to develop the mathematical fluency of their students. The featured expert who provides commentary for this course is Dr. Marvin Cohen.

Develop understanding of key ideas in Number & Operations, Measurement & Geometry, and Algebra.
Learn to model ways of thinking aloud and sharing efficient problem-solving strategies.
Apply proven strategies that lead to continued student improvement.

“I believe this course has been one of the most influential graduate courses I’ve taken in regards to my desire to incorporate all of the strategies I’ve read about, discussed, and written about into my everyday teaching.” ~ Dianne Byers, teacher, Sparta, NJ

ALGEBRA FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, K–5

This course focuses on developing basic algebraic thinking for elementary school students. The featured experts who provide commentary for this course includeDr. Maria Blanton, Dr. James Kaput, and Dr. Judah L. Schwartz.

Deepen understanding of patterns, functions, and algebraic symbols.
Analyze repeating and growing patterns and represent these patterns in words, pictures, and numbers.
Express mathematical relationships using equations.

DATA ANALYSIS AND PROBABILITY FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, K–5

Design an investigation to address a question and consider how data-collection methods affect the nature of the data set.
Use measures of center, especially the median, and understand what each does and does not indicate about a data set.
Propose and justify conclusions and predictions that are based on data.

Middle Level Mathematics

PROPORTIONAL REASONING IN THE MIDDLE GRADES, 6–8

This course examines key mathematical ideas related to helping middle school students develop proportional reasoning. The featured expert who provides commentary for this course is Dr. John Van de Walle.

Deepen understanding of ratio and proportion and how they are applied in Measurement & Geometry.
Discover ways to improve instructional planning before, during, and after mathematics lessons.
Learn ways to model proportional thinking and apply concepts to real-world problems.

PROBLEM SOLVING AND NUMBER & OPERATIONS FOR MIDDLE LEVEL STUDENTS, 6–8

Based on the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Principles and Standards for School Mathematics, this course focuses on ways to deepen mathematical content knowledge through problem solving and mathematical discourse. The featured experts who provide commentary for this course include Dr. Diane Briars, Dr. Marvin Cohen, Dr. Susan B. Empson, and Dr. Richard J. Schaar.

Deepen personal understanding of mathematical content found in middle school mathematics, such as fractions, decimals, percents, ratios, proportions, and developing proportional reasoning.
Develop strategies to teach in a problem-based classroom.
Engage in and learn to lead mathematical discourse.

MEASUREMENT AND GEOMETRY FOR MIDDLE LEVEL STUDENTS, 6–8

This course covers the Van Hiele levels of geometric thought—focusing on shapes and properties, transformations, location, and visualization, as well as measurement concepts and skills—and allows teachers to develop a profound understanding of key mathematical concepts as outlined in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Principles and Standards for School Mathematics. The featured expert who provides commentary for this course is Dr. Richard J. Schaar.

Apply effective problem-solving strategies to real-world problems.
Deepen understanding of mathematical concepts such as volume and capacity, similarity and congruence, and solving problems with ratios and proportions.
Apply instructional strategies that help develop geometric thinking.

“While reflecting on this course, I can certainly say that my depth of understanding geometry has grown more than I thought it would. There were so many sample lessons and activities that I picked up on in the reading and videos. It was neat to see the thought process of the students as they were learning about measurement, angles, degrees, translations, and several other mathematical concepts related to geometry.” ~ Talisha Bailey, teacher, Coopersville, MI

ALGEBRA FOR MIDDLE LEVEL STUDENTS, 6–8

This course focuses on developing advanced algebraic thinking, including studying patterns and functions, understanding the structure of the number system, using symbolism meaningfully, and employing mathematical modeling to solve problems. The featured experts who provide commentary for this course includeDr. James Kaput and Dr. Richard J. Schaar.

Examine common misconceptions about learning algebra in order to better understand gaps in student comprehension.
Identify functions as linear or nonlinear and contrast their properties using tables, graphs, and equations.
Model and solve contextualized problems using graphs, tables, and equations.

DATA ANALYSIS AND PROBABILITY FOR MIDDLE LEVEL STUDENTS, 6–8

This course is structured around the creation and completion of a real-life data analysis project that allows teachers to apply knowledge and skills from other mathematical strands. Key concepts such as data collection, graphical representations of data, and measures of center are highlighted. The featured expert who provides commentary for this course is Dr. Richard J. Schaar.

Design an investigation that includes data collection and data analysis.
Select, create, and use appropriate graphical representations of data.
Find, use, and interpret measures of center and spread.

A Special Offer from CESA #12. Save $100!

About CESA #12 (Cooperative Educational Service Agency #12)

Earn Graduate Credit from Cardinal Stritch University

How to Register for the Course

Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment

Reading & Literacy

Elementary Mathematics

Middle Level Mathematics

How It Works