About Paul Wright
Paul has developed and written many of our most popular tech courses. Technology is changing the face and direction of education; however, Paul makes it a point in all of his courses to invoke the human side of the classroom. Technology should be a medium to reach students, but the teacher is what drives the learning and engagement. Paul’s work experiences have taken him around the world to a variety of school districts and classrooms. He is eager to hear your experiences and shares his to reflect together on the art of teaching.
In his free time Paul travels around North America watching his son play hockey. His passion for teaching never stops and he even finds time to stop into local schools in the communities he visits to see what they are doing!
Embracing Grit: Teaching Students to More Than Persevere
Participants in this course will take an in-depth look at the research by Angela Duckworth and how “grit” is clearly correlated to student success in the classroom and beyond. Participants will learn about grit and how it differs from resilience. Numerous grit strategies, classroom management practices, and strategic lesson planning development will be explored, discussed, and developed so that the participant will have a working knowledge of how to embed grit into their classroom culture at the conclusion of the course. Participants will learn how grit strategies can increase achievement and improve wellbeing, thus changing their students’ development trajectory when faced with a problem or difficult task.
Additional topics include how grit is related to talent. What is productive struggle? What does a gritty student look like? How to effectively educate parents on bringing grit elements into their children’s lives at home will be explored. The course will allow participants to dive into grit research and learn about online web resources to support their gritty classroom during the school year and develop grit-infused lessons. It will conclude with participants developing an implementation plan or presentation to demonstrate knowledge and application of how grit frameworks/strategies impact their classroom so students can improve education performance and well-being.
Throughout the course, students will participate in interactive dialogue through a variety of mediums to receive valuable feedback to reflect on from their instructor. All formative and summative projects are reviewed, and graded, and feedback from the instructor will be provided allowing the student to enhance their portfolio of educational tools/resources to impact their classroom or school community.
Course #: IMW25008
Dates: 01/27/25 - 02/23/25
Categories:
Dates: 01/27/25 - 02/23/25
Categories:
Positive Classroom Management Content-Area Teaching
Format:Interactive
View CourseEmpowering Educators: Strategies for Motivating "I Won't, I Can't, I Quit" Students
This course is designed to equip educators with the knowledge and skills to effectively motivate students who exhibit resistant attitudes such as "I won't," "I can't," and "I quit." Participants will explore the underlying causes of these attitudes, including lack of confidence, fear of failure, and learned helplessness. The course will provide strategies based on the latest educational psychology research centered around the research of Dr. Eric Thomas, Dr. Carol Dweck, and more to re-engage these students, foster a positive mindset towards challenges and understand the importance of classroom engagement. Participants will learn how to implement motivational strategies, adapt teaching methods, and develop supportive classroom cultures to encourage student perseverance and resilience. The course will conclude with participants developing an implementation plan or presentation to demonstrate knowledge and application of how to empower these students in the classroom so they can improve student well-being and performance.
Throughout the course, participants will engage in interactive dialogue through a variety of mediums to receive valuable feedback to reflect on from their instructor. All formative and summative projects are reviewed and graded, and feedback from the instructor will be provided allowing the participant to enhance their portfolio of educational tools/resources to impact their classroom or school community.
Course #: IMW25007
Dates: 01/27/25 - 02/23/25
Categories:
Dates: 01/27/25 - 02/23/25
Categories:
Social & Emotional Learning Positive Classroom Management Content-Area Teaching Diverse Learners
Format:Interactive
View CourseSupporting Vulnerable Students and Struggling Learners
This course is designed to equip educators with the knowledge and skills to effectively support vulnerable students and struggling learners, ensuring equitable educational opportunities for all. Participants will delve into the complexities faced by students who experience challenges such as socio-economic disadvantages, emotional difficulties, and academic struggles. The course will provide an in-depth exploration of the factors contributing to student vulnerability, drawing on the latest research in education and psychology. The course will examine the research of Dr. Michael Ungar, whose work on resilience among marginalized children and families provides critical insights into supporting vulnerable students. Educators will learn strategies to create supportive and inclusive classroom environments, implement differentiated instruction, and foster social-emotional learning (SEL). The course will highlight the importance of building strong relationships with students, understanding their unique needs, and developing personalized learning plans. Participants will delve into the significance of family and community partnerships. The course will conclude with the creation of a comprehensive support plan or presentation showcasing the participant’s ability to apply these strategies in educational settings.
Throughout the course, participants will engage in interactive dialogue through a variety of mediums to receive valuable feedback to reflect on from their instructor. All formative and summative projects are reviewed and graded, and feedback from the instructor will be provided allowing the participant to enhance their portfolio of educational tools/resources to impact their classroom or school community.
Course #: IMW25016
Dates: 03/17/25 - 04/13/25
Categories:
Dates: 03/17/25 - 04/13/25
Categories:
Equity & Diversity Social & Emotional Learning
Format:Interactive
View CourseDiversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) in Education
Today’s schools are richer in diversity than ever before. This course is designed to provide educators with the resources, tools, and steps necessary to foster a welcoming, safe, and productive learning environment built on respect for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) for all students. Course participants will examine the implications of historical inequities on personal beliefs and practices, as well as modern day school policies and procedures. Educators will be challenged to look at their professional practices and curriculum materials from new perspectives and will be empowered with resources and strategies necessary to advance DEIB initiatives in their classrooms and schools.
Throughout the course, participants will engage in interactive dialogue through a variety of mediums to receive valuable feedback to reflect on from their instructor. All formative and summative projects are reviewed and graded, and feedback from the instructor will be provided allowing the participant to enhance their portfolio of educational tools/resources to impact their classroom or school community.
Course #: IMW25022
Dates: 04/21/25 - 05/18/25
Categories:
Dates: 04/21/25 - 05/18/25
Categories:
Equity & Diversity Social & Emotional Learning Positive Classroom Management
Format:Interactive
View CourseExecutive Function and Creating Effective Learning Assessments
This course is designed to teach participants the importance of metacognition, provide background knowledge of the core executive function processes, and help apply their knowledge of executive function processes to help students better understand themselves as learners. Participants will learn how executive functioning skills are the cognitive powers that help develop good habits which leads to effective school and life management.
The course will also look at the process of how to create effective assessments. Assessments are essential to the learning process, as evidenced in that assessments inform the instructor on the effectiveness of their instruction, as well as they provide a way to measure students' mastery of the course's educational learning targets. The course will explore how to identify course goals for assessment, determine test structure and design, write effective questions, and apply a variety of testing methods to differentiate testing methods.
Course #: IMW25023
Dates: 04/21/25 - 05/18/25
Categories:
Dates: 04/21/25 - 05/18/25
Categories:
Positive Classroom Management 21st-Century Teaching Instructional Strategies
Format:Interactive
View CourseAdvanced iPad Applications: Collaborate, Create, Communicate, and Assess
This course is specifically designed to teach educators how to collaborate with parents and students using the iPad. Learn about tools/apps used to create lessons, books, videos, and more. Educators will learn how to enhance communication with students and parents using the iPad, and how to assess students. Educators will leave the course knowing a wide range of applications to maximize the learning environment.
Course #: SPC17147
Categories:
Categories:
Technology Tools for the Classroom
Format:Online Self-Paced
View CourseAnxiety Awareness: Strategies to Improve Student Well-being and Performance
Participants in this course will examine foundational elements that make up student anxiety. Participants will learn about the signs and symptoms of anxiety in students at various grade levels, maturities, and cultures. Anxiety-reducing strategies and frameworks will be centered around the research of Edmund J. Bourne, Ph.D., and Tom Thelen (founder of Resetschools.org). Participants will explore research studies on the causes of anxiety, learn how it impacts students’ learning and classroom interactions, and how teaching style and classroom structures can increase or decrease anxiety. This knowledge will aid in applying strategies and practices/frameworks to identify, minimize, and address a variety of anxiety factors and disorders. Additional topics include effective lesson planning to combat anxiety, explore online/digital resources to support classroom needs, including students with special needs, and connecting parents/homes to strengthening the support system to reduce anxiety. The course will conclude with participants developing an implementation plan or presentation to demonstrate knowledge and application of how anxiety impacts their classroom so they can improve student well-being and performance.
Throughout the course, participants will engage in interactive dialogue through a variety of mediums to receive valuable feedback to reflect on from their instructor. All formative and summative projects are reviewed and graded, and feedback from the instructor will be provided allowing the participant to enhance their portfolio of educational tools/resources to impact their classroom or school community.
Course #: SPC23021
Categories:
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Equity & Diversity Social & Emotional Learning Positive Classroom Management
Format:Online Self-Paced
View CourseBuilding an Engaging Collaborative Classroom
Participants in this course will examine collaborative, engaged, cooperative learning—a significant shift away from the typical teacher-centered classroom. Participants will learn how developing a classroom culture of trust, safety, challenge, and joy can foster engaged and effective learning. Research suggests that effective communication and collaboration are essential to becoming a successful learner. Participants will learn how to develop classroom learning experiences around students’ constructing knowledge and engaging in action together. Techniques to develop intrinsic motivation that leads to student engagement and achievement will be researched. Foundational work in this course will include the research and use of collaborative learning, engaged learning, and cooperative learning models. Participants will synthesize these paradigms and create applications for implementation into their own classrooms.
Course #: SPC19154
Categories:
Categories:
Positive Classroom Management Instructional Strategies
Format:Online Self-Paced
View CourseCultivating Curiosity and Creativity in the Classroom
Participants in this course will examine methodologies to facilitate the growth of curiosity and creativity in their students. Participants will learn how developing a classroom culture of curiosity and creativity can foster engaged and effective learning. Research suggests that increasing curiosity and creativity in a classroom can lead to a more student-centered classroom. Techniques to develop curiosity and creativity that leads to student engagement and achievement will be researched and explored. Foundational work in this course will include the research on developing creativity and curiosity strategies from simple to complex, lesson planning, and using project-based learning to enhance the classroom. Participants will synthesize these paradigms and leave the course with a better understanding of how to assess and develop creative and curious thought in their students, improve classroom culture through use of innovative strategies, develop an expertise in their own classroom to foster a creative environment, and foster the growth of curious learners to solve problems creatively.
Course #: SPC18168
Categories:
Categories:
Positive Classroom Management Instructional Strategies
Format:Online Self-Paced
View CourseCultivating Mathematical Mindsets and Reducing Math Anxiety
Participants in this course will examine methodologies to facilitate the development of a mathematical mindset centered around the research of Dr. Carol Dweck’s mindset theory, Dr. Jo Boaler’s classroom approach, and Dr. Susan Johnston-Wilder’s international research in math anxiety components. Participants will reflect on their own teaching practices and explore strategies and frameworks that incorporate a student’s mathematical experience and evolution. The foundations of developing a mathematical mindset will be researched. Strategies for helping students, teachers, and parents understand what a mathematical mindset is and how it is effectively implemented by reducing math anxiety will be explored.
Participants will learn how to create a welcoming, yet challenging mathematic classroom experience, implement strategies/best-practices to foster a mathematical mindset for their students. Participants will learn that math stress/anxiety reducing strategies in one’s classroom and helping students understand their anxieties can improve their internal motivation. Additional topics in the course are effective lesson planning to combat math anxiety to grow mathematical mindsets, explore online/digital resources to support mathematic classroom needs, including students with special needs, and making meaningful connections with parents to strength and preserve the mathematical mindset at home.
Course #: SPC23014
Categories:
Categories:
Instructional Strategies Content-Area Teaching Mathematics
Format:Online Self-Paced
View CourseCulturally Responsive Practices
Participants in this course will examine methodologies to facilitate the development of a culturally relevant classroom centered around research of Gloria Ladson-Billings, Geneva Gay, Django Paris, and H. Samy Alim, among others. Participants will define what is a culturally relevant/responsive classroom. Participants will define what is a culturally relevant/responsive classroom. An exploration on five ways to create a culturally relevant lesson as well as review a variety of culturally responsive frameworks of instruction. Teacher leaders' and administrators will learn how to engage culturally relevant teaching strategies and discuss challenges with staff to foster a more culturally relevant/responsive classroom/school community.
Participants will explore practices that effectively educate parents on the culturally relevant/responsive classroom. Administrators will gain expertise on developing a letter home or presentation that effectively educates parents on the classroom/school community goals as well as how to effectively keep communication open throughout the year while continuing to develop the culturally responsive classroom/school community. Participants will explore organizations that educate and provide resources for teachers/administrators who are developing a culturally relevant classroom. Key areas of concerns from the participants particular school community will be reflected on and resources will be reviewed to enhance their culturally responsive teaching and leading.
Course #: SPC22320
Categories:
Categories:
Equity & Diversity Positive Classroom Management 15-hour PD courses
Format:Online Self-Paced
View CourseCulturally Responsive Teaching and Leading
Participants in this course will examine methodologies to facilitate the development of a culturally relevant classroom centered around research of Gloria Ladson-Billings, Geneva Gay, Django Paris, and H. Samy Alim, among others. Participants will reflect on their own teaching practices and explore strategies and frameworks that incorporate a student’s and school community’s cultural heritage and experiences; fostering a much more wholistic educational experience for all children. The foundations of culturally responsive teaching will be researched. Strategies for helping students, teachers, and parents understand what culturally relevant teaching is and how it is effectively implemented will be explored. Participants will learn how to create a culturally welcoming classroom, development and implement strategies for fostering relationships between different cultures in one’s classroom, and how to help students understand differences between cultures in a respectful manner. Additional topics include culturally responsive classroom management and discipline, including students with special needs in the culturally responsive classroom, and connecting parents/home to the culturally relevant classroom.
Course #: SPC22006
Categories:
Categories:
Equity & Diversity Positive Classroom Management
Format:Online Self-Paced
View CourseEmbracing Grit: Teaching Students to More Than Persevere
Participants in this course will take an in-depth look at the research by Angela Duckworth and how “grit” is clearly correlated to student success in the classroom and beyond. Participants will learn about grit and how it differs from resilience. Numerous grit strategies, classroom management practices, and strategic lesson planning development will be explored, discussed, and developed so that the participant will have a working knowledge of how to embed grit into their classroom culture at the conclusion of the course. Participants will learn how grit strategies can increase achievement and improve wellbeing, thus changing their students’ development trajectory when faced with a problem or difficult task.
Additional topics include how grit is related to talent. What is productive struggle? What does a gritty student look like? How to effectively educate parents on bringing grit elements into their children’s lives at home will be explored. The course will allow participants to dive into grit research and learn about online web resources to support their gritty classroom during the school year and develop grit-infused lessons. It will conclude with participants developing an implementation plan or presentation to demonstrate knowledge and application of how grit frameworks/strategies impact their classroom so students can improve education performance and well-being.
Throughout the course, students will participate in interactive dialogue through a variety of mediums to receive valuable feedback to reflect on from their instructor. All formative and summative projects are reviewed, and graded, and feedback from the instructor will be provided allowing the student to enhance their portfolio of educational tools/resources to impact their classroom or school community.
Course #: SPC23023
Categories:
Categories:
Positive Classroom Management Content-Area Teaching
Format:Online Self-Paced
View CourseFormative, Interim, and Summative Assessments: Increase Engagement, Guide Instruction, Measure Learning
This course is designed to enhance a participant’s knowledge of assessment and grading practices. Participants will review formative, interim, and summative assessment types, as well as the grading practices within them (traditional vs. standards-based grading), assessment design, implementation strategies, and how to interpret data results to define mastery. Participants will leave the course knowing how to identify course goals for assessments, effectively construct a variety of assessments based on content, understand how assessment can increase learning, use a variety of assessment mediums, and provide measurable data to students, parents, and other educators that demonstrate growth in learning.
Course #: SPC18165
Categories:
Categories:
Positive Classroom Management Instructional Strategies
Format:Online Self-Paced
View CourseIntegrating STEAM into your Curriculum
Participants will learn to develop, create, implement, and assess a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) program, lessons and units. A variety of frameworks will be reviewed and discussed to allow for easy replication of STEAM units and activities. Inquiry-based lessons for instruction and assessment will be explored to help gain a better understanding of possible classroom applications and projects. Educators will leave the course with a roadmap to better implement STEAM into their classroom, promote STEAM questioning, and develop STEAM PBL (Project-Based Learning) units.
Course #: SPC17149
Categories:
Categories:
21st-Century Teaching Content-Area Teaching
Format:Online Self-Paced
View CourseIntegrating STEM/STEAM into your Curriculum
Participants will learn to develop, create, implement, and assess a STEM/STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) program, lessons and units. A variety of frameworks will be reviewed and discussed to allow for easy replication of /STEAM units and activities. A variety of STEM/STEAM careers will be explored and highlighted in resources. Educators will leave the course with a roadmap to better implement STEM/STEAM into their classroom, promote STEM/STEAM questioning, and develop STEM/STEAM PBL (Project Based Learning) units.
Course #: SPC18314
Categories:
Categories:
15-hour PD courses 21st-Century Teaching
Format:Online Self-Paced
View CourseIntroduction to the Differentiated Classroom
This course is designed to help educators build a classroom structure where differentiated instruction can occur on a daily basis to create high expectations for student achievement for varying abilities. Through the use of videos, readings, personal reflection, and online forum questions, participants will experience differentiated instruction as well as learn methods to implement strategies in their own classroom. Participants will learn to shape and maintain learning conditions that facilitate differentiated instruction, including how to identify learning styles, create tiered activities, differentiation strategies, and effective classroom management. Participants will leave the course with resources and strategies to reach students of varying abilities, grades, and learning styles and help them take ownership of their education.
Course #: SPC22317
Categories:
Categories:
1-Credit Courses Positive Classroom Management 15-hour PD courses Instructional Strategies
Format:Online Self-Paced
View CourseLeveraging Teachable Moments to Develop Soft Skills for K-12 Students
Participants in this course will learn how to build academic success by exploring and developing tools to increase K-12 students’ soft skills (communication, work ethic, leadership, personal responsibility, and listening.) They will recognize and prioritize their students’ soft skills that will be valuable in reaching future goals, remaining optimistic, and dealing with conflict in their schooling. Participants will explore a series of strategies for reaching and helping students learn appropriate behaviors, strategies for the future, and ways to help prepare them for college and career readiness. Research is based on the works of Robert W. Gaines, II, Ph.D., Meca B. Mohammed, Ph.D., Cheryl Talley, Ph.D., and Marcheta Evans, Ph.D., among others. Foundational work in this course will include the research on understanding soft skills, strategies to develop soft skills, bringing students' soft skills to reach within the classroom, and the different types of soft skills: communication, work ethic, leadership, personal responsibility, and listening. Participants will synthesize these paradigms and develop a new understanding of the role that soft skills can play in student learning, along with new tools and techniques for cultivating students’ soft skills.
Course #: SPC22015
Categories:
Categories:
Positive Classroom Management Content-Area Teaching
Format:Online Self-Paced
View CourseNavigating Anxiety: Recognizing Symptoms and Crafting Solutions
In this course, participants will delve into the essential components underlying student anxiety. They will gain insights into recognizing anxiety's indicators and manifestations across different ages, developmental stages, and cultural backgrounds. The course will highlight anxiety alleviation methods and models based on the work of Edmund J. Bourne, Ph.D., and other various researchers. Participants will investigate research on anxiety triggers and understand its effect on students' educational experiences and classroom dynamics. Through various interactive channels, participants will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful reflection and receive constructive feedback from their instructor to reflect upon.
Course #: SPC24321
Categories:
Categories:
1-Credit Courses Equity & Diversity Social & Emotional Learning Positive Classroom Management 15-hour PD courses
Format:Online Self-Paced
View CoursePositive Discipline: A Guide to Restorative Practices
Participants in this course will examine research-based proactive practices and best practices of the alternative discipline. Strategies for improving classroom and school culture through the use of alternative discipline will be explored. Participants will reflect on their discipline philosophy to establish a framework for growth to effectively implement positive alternative discipline interventions and strategies. Participants will learn about alternatives to school discipline and the most effective ways to reach students and to reward positive behaviors. When students do misbehave participants will learn ways that students can still receive appropriate instructional time and be part of the classroom community. Participants will leave the course with a toolkit of resources to impact their classroom and school community through alternative discipline.
Course #: SPC18171
Categories:
Categories:
Positive Classroom Management Instructional Strategies
Format:Online Self-Paced
View CourseRefocusing Attention: Tackling Student Distractions by Gaining Their Attention
Participants in this course will learn how to build academic success by exploring and developing tools for cultivating their students’ attention and designing active learning experiences for all learners. Participants will explore creative strategies for reaching students from distractions to regaining and focusing their attention for learning. Research is based on Caitrin Blake, Neil Bradbury and Jaren Cooney Horvath, among others. Foundational work in this course will include the research on understanding distraction, strategies to decrease distractions, bringing students' attention within the classroom, and the different types of attention: curious, divided, structured, sustaining, mindful. Participants will synthesize these paradigms and develop a new understanding of the role that attention can play in student learning along with new tools, strategies and techniques for cultivating students’ attention along with a state-of-the-art approach in learning to meet their educational goals.
Course #: SPC22013
Categories:
Categories:
Social & Emotional Learning Positive Classroom Management
Format:Online Self-Paced
View CourseSocial Media and Digital Citizenship in Education
Participants in this course will examine how social media is an integral part of the school community. The positive and negative impact of social media on the school community will be discussed and explored. Participants will learn strategies to navigate social media concerns and issues. The course will help educators learn about norms in digital citizenship and how to plan and integrate social media tools in their classroom and school community. Social media frameworks for projects, lesson plans, and school functions will be reviewed. Participants will leave the course with social media tools to engage their students in new learning mediums and improve the classroom and school community environment.
Teaching in a Multicultural Classroom
This course is designed to help educators build a classroom structure where all students feel empowered and included in the classroom environment. Through the use of videos, readings, personal reflection, and online forum questions, participants will experience the multicultural classroom, as well as learn methods to implement strategies in their own classroom. Participants will learn to shape and maintain learning conditions that facilitate a multicultural perspective during instruction, including how to identify and promote diversity, confront stereo-types, and be introduced to how to create culturally aware lesson plans and activities.
Course #: SPC22319
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Categories:
1-Credit Courses Equity & Diversity 15-hour PD courses
Format:Online Self-Paced
View CourseThe Blended Flipped Learning Classroom
Participants in this course will examine methodologies to facilitate the use of virtual teaching mediums and for how to effectively blend them together with the traditional classroom. Participants will learn what a “flipped classroom” means, looks like, and what the benefits include. They will gain effective lesson planning skills to flip their classroom for a lesson, weekend, week, or more. Common pitfalls of the flipped classroom will be discussed, and resources on how to prepare students for the flipped classroom model will be examined and viewed. Techniques to motivate students and how to deal with unprepared students will be navigated through a variety of pathways. Participants will explore, examine and evaluate numerous platforms to flip their classrooms. A plethora of assessment strategies and models will be researched that use the flipped classroom. Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to create and effectively implement a flipped classroom lesson for a variety of time periods and understand how to blend both methodologies together to create an optimal learning environment for all learners from K to 12.
Course #: SPC21008
Categories:
Categories:
Technology Tools for the Classroom Instructional Strategies
Format:Online Self-Paced
View CourseThe Differentiated Classroom: Creating Pathways for All Learners to Succeed
This course is designed to help educators build a classroom structure where differentiated instruction can occur on a daily basis for varying abilities. Through the use of videos, readings, personal reflection, and online forum questions, participants will experience differentiated instruction as well as learn methods to implement strategies in their own classroom. Participants will learn to shape and maintain learning conditions that facilitate differentiated instruction, including how to identify learning styles, create tiered activities, differentiation strategies, effective classroom management, and design the physical space for classroom differentiation scenarios. Participants will leave the course with resources and strategies to reach students of varying abilities, grades, and learning styles and help them take ownership of their education.
Course #: SPC18178
Categories:
Categories:
Equity & Diversity Instructional Strategies
Format:Online Self-Paced
View CourseWorking with Challenging Parents: How to Connect and Create a Team Approach
Participants in this course will examine methodologies to facilitate the growth of a positive relationship with the most challenging of parents in a variety of school settings.
Participants will focus on effective parent communication and engagement for K-12 education. Participants will explore methods to improve communication and collaboration that will focus on parent engagement and, in turn, will create a positive learning environment for every student. Emphasis is on exploring and learning ways to connect with parents and families. Participants will synthesize paradigms and leave the course with a better understanding of developing parent communication techniques leading towards sharing responsibility to help children learn and meet their educational goals.
Course #: SPC21018
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