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Explore the characteristics and learning needs of students with disabilities. Identify appropriate instructional strategies. Review the legal requirements for providing services and supports. Examine accommodations and modifications provided during instruction and assessment. This module addresses the needs of Students with Disabilities (SWD).

Compare students with identified emotional disabilities to those with acting-out behaviors. Review instructional and behavioral strategies for managing difficult classroom behaviors within the RtI/MtSS framework. Develop an awareness level knowledge of psychotropic medications and accompanying side effects. This is the second module in the Beacon Educator series that addresses the needs of Students with Disabilities (SWD).

Develop classroom techniques for using applied behavior analysis principles and behavioral strategies for students with autism. Investigate data collection, functions of behavior, preventing challenging behaviors, and ethics in applying behavioral techniques. This is the first course in the series.

Develop a working knowledge of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with emphasis on a historical perspective, the impact of the disability, environmental impact, planning, goal setting, and strategies for working with individuals with ASD. This is the second course in a series.

Evaluate and plan for the language and communication needs of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) using augmentative and alternative communication systems as determined by individual student need. This is the third course in the series.

Learn to build relationships with parents in order to enhance students' academic growth. Explore a variety of techniques to increase parent involvement. Create a classroom Website with the potential to increase communication with parents.

Explore the need for a proactive management system and design management tools for the classroom. Learn management strategies, explore a maintenance program, and develop routines for the beginning and ending of class.

Learn ways to proactively manage students and resources for the classroom. Identify what should be accomplished before students arrive, during student contact time, and after students leave.

Learn how and why the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) were developed. Compare the CCSS and current Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS). Investigate how the CCSS will affect classroom instruction and consider the effects of CCSS for students and parents.

Investigate the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects. Explore text complexity and close reading. Examine instructional and assessment practices. Understand the impact of the CCSS on struggling students, ELLs, and students with disabilities.

Explore the CCSS ELA (6-12), including the College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards. Investigate classroom implementation of the standards. Learn about the consortia developing assessments for the CCSS.

Explore the CCSS Math (6-8), including the College and Career Ready Mathematical Practice Standards. Investigate classroom implementation of the standards.

Explore the CCSS Math (9-12), including the College and Career Ready Mathematical Practice Standards. Investigate classroom implementation of the standards.

Explore the CCSS ELA (K-5), including the College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards. Investigate classroom implementation of the standards. Learn about the consortia developing assessments for the CCSS.

Explore the CCSS Math (K-5), including the College and Career Ready Mathematical Practice Standards. Investigate classroom implementation of the standards.

Learn practical skills for understanding and resolving conflict in today’s changing workplace. Become familiar with how conflicts emerge and learn how to use proven conflict management techniques and styles. Discover strategies for handling difficult people and alternative dispute methods.

Use a standards-based lesson planning process to guide your instructional planning. Design a unit plan and lesson plan that align assessment and instruction to selected standards. Access to students is required to complete this course. This course replaces Standards-Based Lesson Planning. It is the final course in the Professional Development Certification Program.

Investigate teacher tools, resources, and ideas for integrating educational technology (EdTech) into the classroom that align with International Society of Technology in Education (ISTE) standards and Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Examine how to use technology as a tool to improve both instruction and student learning.

Explore concepts and principles of applied linguistics such as phonology, principles of English, sociolinguistics, language acquisition, and second language acquisition. Identify how these concepts and principles relate to English language learners (ELLs) as they progress through ESOL programs and mainstream classrooms.

Gain awareness of various cultures to promote intercultural communication and enhance instruction and learning for diverse populations. Learn about cultural orientations of various groups and use your knowledge to enhance instruction for ELLs and other students.

Learn to understand and apply concepts, research, best practices, and evidenced-based strategies to plan classroom instruction in a supportive learning environment for ELLs. Learn to select and adapt standards-based materials, resources, and technologies.

Apply principles of differentiated instruction. Explore methods and strategies for identifying the needs of individual students who are in the process of acquiring English. Learn about differentiating content, process, and/or product in order to address and accommodate the different needs of students.

Identify factors that affect assessment of English language learners (ELLs) including linguistic bias, test adaptations, and accommodations. Additionally, explore federal assessment policies and interpretation of assessment data.

Investigate instructional leadership skills necessary to help teachers meet the needs of English language learners. Gain an understanding of the background and legal requirements for ELL programming, learn how culture affects communication, and develop the knowledge to evaluate teachers who are using appropriate ESOL/ESL instructional strategies.

Gain an understanding of the background and legal requirements for ESOL. Learn how to promote development and achievement of English Language Learners (ELLs). Enhance your ability as a guidance counselor to provide post-secondary and career development guidance.

Engage in an overview of how to meet the educational needs of students for whom English is not their native language. This course meets Florida's ESOL requirements for Category 3 (elective) teachers.

This course provides an overview of ethics in government, public records, and public meetings. It meets Florida’s requirement that elected officials and certain other employees complete this annual training.

Explore the code of ethics for educators recommended by the National Education Association (NEA) and the Association of American Educators (AAE). Learn the basic principles of ethical expectations and potential consequences for not following them. This module provides an overview of the Florida Code of Ethics for Educators and the Principles of Professional Conduct. THIS MODULE WAS CUSTOMIZED TO SERVE EDUCATORS FROM MIAMI-DADE SCHOOLS.

Investigate Florida's Code of Ethics, Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession, and the Florida Principal Leadership Standards. Effective school leaders demonstrate personal and professional behaviors that adhere to these expectations. This course meets Florida’s requirement for annual training in ethics and related topics.   

Learn to use classroom assessments to shape teaching and learning. Explore assessments that address the intent of a targeted standard.

Learn to organize, operate, sustain, and evaluate teaching teams. Explore team building strategies that are critical as educators confront the struggles and triumphs that accompany the team teaching endeavor. Note: This course addresses the team-teaching training requirement of Florida’s Class Size Reduction Amendment. A Follow-Up course is available.

Investigate research-based practices, models, and strategies designed to meet the needs of gifted learners. Discover resources for aligning state standards and the gifted curriculum. Become an advocate for gifted students and programs.

Gain an understanding of the unique needs of gifted students from special populations. Learn to identify and serve these groups of gifted students.

Explore socio-emotional needs and issues related to gifted learners, and discover guidance and counseling strategies that can be used to address these issues. Develop an understanding of developmental characteristics as well as the unique strengths and vulnerabilities of the gifted learner.

Investigate the nature and needs of gifted learners, including traditional and alternative tools for identifying giftedness, curriculum and instruction services, program models, and advocacy. Examine cognitive, social, and emotional characteristics. Understand the history and current research concerning gifted education.

Explore creativity as it pertains to giftedness. Investigate methods for teaching creative attitudes and encouraging creative thinking across various disciplines.

Learn practical skills for understanding and resolving conflict in today’s changing workplace. Discover strategies for handling difficult people and alternative dispute methods.

Review legal and ethical issues involving stereotyping, racism, prejudice, and discrimination. Explore and apply methods for improving cross-cultural communication and enhance cultural diversity in the workplace.

Learn strategies to anticipate and provide effective customer service that meet the needs of all stakeholders in the educational environment. Explore the principles of effective communication to work effectively with others and prevent conflicts.

Investigate and implement a variety of teaching strategies that make the processes of reading, writing, and math computations visible to the learner. Note: Access to students is required to complete this course.

Identify the role of argumentation in using evidence to evaluate and substantiate assertions Learn the core components of argumentation. Explore strategies for teaching argumentation in a variety of classroom environments.

Explore management strategies that lead to improved student motivation and achievement across all content areas and grade levels. Identify methods for creating a positive collaborative learning environment.

Acquire an understanding of differentiated instruction within the K-12 environment. Recognize the purpose of differentiated instruction as it relates to content mastery. Identify strategies included in the planning and instructional processes.

Explore how students can use questioning techniques as a learning tool to become better problem solvers and critical thinkers. Explore strategies for teaching students to create effective questions, to use a range of question types, and to improve question quality.

Recognize the importance of using questioning techniques to assess student understanding and drive instruction. Gain an understanding of how to develop questions that vary in complexity and align to the content. Identify strategies for using questioning techniques in the classroom.

Student engagement is a necessary component of academic success and classroom management. This module provides teachers with tools to increase and maintain student engagement.

Investigate how we learn, remember, and recall information. Examine characteristics of learners at different stages of development. Evaluate instructional practices that support learners' various needs.

Recognize that learning to read complex text closely prepares students for college and careers. Explore the process of conducting close readings with students. Identify strategies for scaffolding close reading instruction.

Examine the unique ways each discipline requires students to think about the subject area. Explore the role of collaboration and various literacy strategies to increase student achievement across the content areas.

Recognize the need for complex text in preparing students to be college and career ready. Explore the components of text complexity used to identify appropriate texts for readers. Identify strategies for using complex texts in the classroom.

Make connections between patterns and functions. Explore mathematical models and strategies to increase understanding of quantitative and qualitative relationships, including problem solving using the analysis of change.

Learn strategies for teaching whole numbers, place value, fractions and decimals, and estimation and problem solving. Investigate and practice multiple strategies for problem solving.

Investigate strategies for proficiency in number operations, computing fluency, computing with fractions, and computing with decimals. Practice problem solving using number operations to make real-world connections.

Explore problem solving using two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes. Identify strategies for teaching accurate measurement, estimation of measurement, and real-world problem solving.

Explore the Critical Foundations of Algebra - whole numbers, fractions, and geometry & measurement. Investigate specific key concepts using activities that highlight major themes. Learn to use scaffolding techniques to build student learning through algebraic thinking.

Acquire strategies for embedding the eight mathematical practices into everyday instruction. Identify changes in instructional practice necessary to engage students in mathematical thinking and understanding.

This course helps prepare the veteran teacher to become a mentor by sharing the basic concepts and models that make mentoring a successful strategy for new teacher induction. These basic concepts can be adapted for use by reading coaches and mentors for struggling teachers.

Learn to build relationships with parents to enhance students' academic growth. Explore a variety of techniques to increase parent involvement.

Learn strategies for co-teaching and cooperative planning that impact academic achievement.

Examine the role of an instructional paraprofessional in creating a positive classroom learning environment. Learn basic instructional strategies and classroom management techniques to assist the classroom teacher.

Learn about the features of a Beacon Educator course. This module will explain the differences between a Beacon Educator module and course. There is an overview of the Reading Endorsement Program along with information about how to successfully complete a Beacon Educator course.

Practice decision making skills on issues such as school safety and security procedures, educational liability, professional responsibilities, and ethics in this video-based course.

Gain an awareness of school safety and security procedures, educational liability, professional responsibilities, and ethics. The video-based module uses scenarios to provoke consideration of five topics: creating a positive learning environment, eliminating harassing behaviors, promoting safety and classroom order, maintaining professional distance, and practicing professionalism with colleagues and community.

Explore reading as a process of student engagement in construction of meaning. Gain substantive understanding of six components of reading as a process: comprehension, oral language, phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, and vocabulary.

Discover how to scaffold student learning by applying the principles of research-based reading instruction and integrating the six components of reading. Engage in the systematic problem-solving process. This course meets Florida’s requirement for Reading 2: Research-based Practice.

Examine the concepts and characteristics of different types of assessment. Gain the knowledge and skills necessary to administer, interpret, and use formal and informal reading assessments for diverse students. Open new pathways for possible prevention, identification, and remediation of reading difficulties.

Understand cognitive, language, and reading development, including difficulties in six major reading components. Explore the foundations and principles of differentiated instruction and strategies for implementation to enrich and extend student learning.

Through a culminating practicum, teachers demonstrate knowledge of the reading components, assessment, and data analysis by creating and implementing comprehensive, research-based instructional plans.Participants must have completed Reading Competencies 1-4 and have access to students. Verify district acceptance of course prior to registration.

Explore the teacher's role as student advocate. Examine the ethical expectations and obligations. Investigate the legal issues of district policies, state statutes, and federal guidelines.

Learn several ways to proactively manage the students and important resources for the classroom. Identify what can be accomplished before students arrive, during student contact time, and after students leave to make your substitute teaching assignment productive and enjoyable.

Learn to maintain academic focus in the absence of the regular classroom teacher. Develop knowledge of instructional strategies and techniques to facilitate student engagement and achievement.

Gain an awareness of school safety and security procedures, educational liability, professional responsibilities, and ethics. The video-based content utilizes scenarios to provoke consideration of five topics: creating a positive learning environment, eliminating harassing behaviors, promoting safety and classroom order, maintaining professional distance, and practicing professionalism with colleagues and community.

Explore the use of formative and summative assessments. Develop an understanding of using assessment data to measure achievement and drive student learning.

Explore the use of formative and summative assessments. Develop an understanding of using assessment data to measure achievement and drive student learning. Review the six principles of the Assessment Practices and Principles (APSS) for Bay District schools. THIS MODULE WAS CUSTOMIZED TO SERVE EDUCATORS FROM BAY DISTRICT SCHOOLS.

Learn about teachers' obligation to maintain confidentiality of student information as specified in the Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida (Florida Code of Ethics).

Explore strategies to individualize instruction to meet each student's needs.

Learn the recognized categories of disabilities included in Exceptional Student Education (ESE) program. Examine the general characteristics of each exceptionality and implications for addressing the students’ needs.

Become familiar with state and federal laws that govern ESOL programs and your school district's ELL Plan. Identify ESOL teacher performance standards, timelines, ELL standards, and ESOL teacher strategies.

Learn about teachers' obligation to the student, the public, and the profession of education. Understand that teachers are held to a higher moral standard.

Explore how teachers can help homeless students. Get ideas, learn the law, and understand rights of homeless students.

Learn to identify typical indicators of child abuse.

Recognize signs of stress and depression in students. Identify how to help students deal with these issues.

Investigate the Response to Intervention (RtI) model along with its stages. Identify how to identify the problem and options for intervention.

Acquire an understanding of an inclusive workplace and its advantages and disadvantages. Learn about laws that protect classes of workers. Understand the actions that employers and employees can undertake to effect inclusive workplaces.