Gateway to online professional learning
Spring 2020 Courses Available January 6, 2020 - April 24, 2020
REGISTRATION for the SPRING SEMESTER will open January 2nd
Please Note: Grades will not be submitted to MNU for college credit until payment to SWPRSC has been verified.
Books can be purchased through the Southwest Plains Amazon affiliate store
by clicking the link included with the course description.
by clicking the link included with the course description.
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for the
OWNING IT book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit. Help for Billy:
A Beyond Consequences Approach to Helping Challenging Children in the Classroom by Heather T. Forbes "Help for Billy" is a pragmatic manual to help guide families and educators who are struggling with traumatized children. Based on the concept of the neuroscience of emotions and behavior, Heather Forbes provides detailed, comprehensive, and logical strategies for teachers and parents. This easy to read book, with tables, outlines and lists, clears the way for a better understanding of the true nature regarding traumatic experiences affecting the brain and learning. It is a must read for anyone working with a child in the classroom.
for the
HELP WITH BILLY book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit. |
Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
affiliate store. |
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Conscious Discipline:
Building Resilient Classrooms by Dr. Becky A. Bailey Conscious Discipline is a leader in brain-based social-emotional learning that builds resilience in children, families, educators and schools. Within these pages you will find skills and strategies that are both scientifically backed and practically applied in daily classroom life. Empower yourself to shift from "Do as I Say" to "Be the change!"
for the
CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE: BUILDING RESILIENT CLASSROOMS book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit. |
Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
affiliate store. |
COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit. Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit. 
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The New School Rules:
6 Vital Practices for Thriving and Responsive Schools by Anthony Kim & Alexis Gonzales-Black Actions to increase effectiveness of schools in a rapidly changing world
Schools, in order to be nimble and stay relevant and impactful, need to abandon the rigid structures designed for less dynamic times. The NEW School Rules expands cutting-edge organizational design and modern management techniques into an operating system for empowering schools with the same agility and responsiveness so vital in the business world.
for the
THE NEW SCHOOL RULES: 6 VITAL PRACTICES FOR THRIVING AND RESPONSIVE SCHOOLS book study. Techniques & Principles
in Language Teaching by Diane Larsen-Freeman & Marti Anderson This is an updated third edition of the popular introduction to language teaching methodology, which describes different methods and approaches in language teaching. Clear and jargon-free, it provides practical step-by-step guidance for new teachers, and introduces more experienced teachers to new approaches and teaching ideas, Includes a new chapter on the use of digital technology.
for the
TECHNIQUES & PRINCIPLES IN LANGUAGE TEACHING book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit. |
Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
affiliate store. Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
affiliate store. |
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The New Art and Science of Teaching
by Robert Marzano In this expanded volume, Marzano identifies ten design areas with three categories of teaching:
for the
THE NEW ART AND SCIENCE OF TEACHING book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit. |
Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
affiliate store. |
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Crossing the Vocabulary Bridge
by Dr. Socorro Herrera Crossing the Vocabulary Bridge is a teacher's how-to guide to build language acquisition in English Language Learners. Dr. Socorro Herrera is a leading expert in language acquisition and this book is full of ready-to-implement activities that will not only increase language learning in ELL students, but will also build on vocabulary development for the rest of your class.
for the
CROSSING THE VOCABULARY BRIDGE book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit. |
Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
affiliate store. |
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Instructional Coaching: A Partnership Approach to Improving Instruction
by Jim Knight The result of 10 years of systematic study of professional development, the text includes scientifically proven practices and directives, personal coaching accounts, user-friendly checklists, logs, suggestions for deeper reading, and other valuable tools that respond to teachers' current instructional needs. This text is recommended for coaches, aspiring coaches, principals, and educators interested in peer partnerships and coaching.
for the
INSTRUCTIONAL COACHING book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit. |
Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
affiliate store. |
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Mathematical Mindsets:
Unleashing Student's Potential Through Creative Math, Inspiring Messages and INNOVATIVE TEACHING by Jossey-Bass "That single belief - that math is a 'gift' that some people have and others don't - is responsible for much of the widespread math failure in the world," states the author. This book uses brain science to support the power of mistakes and the creativity in true mathematical thinking. But more than that, it introduces new ways of thinking about math and specific strategies for helping students build their own growth mindset when it comes to math. The KSDE math consultant is recommending this book for all math teachers, but it is an excellent read for all teachers and anyone interested in improving mathematics instruction in this nation.
for the
MATHEMATICAL MINDSETS book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit. |
Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
affiliate store. |
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Bringing Joy Back into the Classroom
by Danny Brassell Bringing Joy Back into the Classroom is a motivating book for teachers. The author, Danny Brassell, uses stories and humor to inspire teachers to create a warm, welcoming classroom environment. Effective instructional strategies are integrated throughout the book in an appealing manner. Drawing from Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and self-actualization Danny helps teachers to understand what makes them happy and how to stay positive. This book brings into focus what teachers do, why they do it, and the positive results they get from it.
for the
BRING JOY BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit. |
Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
affiliate store. |
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Total Participation Techniques: Making Every Student an Active Learner
by Persida & William Himmele This book was written to provide educators with tools and techniques to keep students cognitively and actively engaged in the learning process. It is an alternative to the “stand and deliver” teaching practice. Included in this book are 51 field tested classroom activities . The authors describe the activities or the Total Participation Techniques (TPT) with step by step instructions. Many real-life examples from authentic classrooms are used to illustrate how the activities can be integrated into learning activities. TPT's can be adapted and personalized to fit any teacher’s context and content. This book is for teachers and administrators. Adult learners also benefit from these techniques because they enhance the delivery and increase the understanding of the concept being taught.
for the
TOTAL PARTICIPATION TECHNIQUES book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit. |
Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
affiliate store. |
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Leading With the Heart
by Mike Krzyzewski Leading With The Heart extends the basketball metaphor to business and life in general. Through the perspective of preseason, regular season, post season, and than all seasons, Coach K reminds readers of what it takes to lead on and off the court: to communicate effectively with teammates, to gain the trust of those teammates, and to learn from both success and failure. Participants in this book study will build/enhance a leadership plan to succeed in today's competitive society.
for the
LEADING WITH THE HEART book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit. |
Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
affiliate store. |
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Metaphors & Analogies:
Power Tools for Teaching Any Subject by Rick Wormeli By participating in this book study, educators learn the benefits of equipping students with skills and tools to think metaphorically. Participants will also gain practical tips to support a variety of students from all grade levels through improved instruction, an understanding of symbolic sensing, and meaningful assessment. Wormeli provides a balance of vignettes, pedagogy, and procedures to showcase the strategic tools educators need to enhance their differentiation practices in any classroom. This book is a "must read" for teachers who wish to coach deeper thinkers. for the
METAPHORS & ANALOGIES book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit. |
Click the book cover
below to purchase the book from our Amazon affiliate store. |
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The Politics of Coaching: A Survival Guide to Keep Coaches from Getting Burned
by Carl J. Pierson Whether you are a novice coach or a seasoned veteran, you need this book. Throughout your career, you will be faced with the politics that accompany your decisions. Pierson offers suggestions and solutions to guide participants through the process, from making decisions to dealing with the aftermath. "The Politics of Coaching is nothing short of a playbook to help coaches navigate their way through the perilous, stressful, cutthroat world that has become coaching."
for the
POLITICS OF COACHING book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit. |
Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
affiliate store. |
Successful completion of this book study
will earn 0.5 college credit 
Successful completion of this book study
will earn 0.5 college credit 
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FISH! A Proven Way to Boost
Morale & Improve Results by Stephen C. Lundin, Ph.D. Addressing todays work issues (including employee retention and burnout) with an engaging metaphor and an appealing message that applies to any sector of any organization, Fish! offers wisdom that is easy to grasp, instantly applicable, and profound--the hallmarks of a true business classic. Based on a bestselling ChartHouse training video which has been adopted by corporations including Southwest Airlines, Sprint, and Nordstrom.
for the
FISH! book study. COST: $75 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $45
(payable to MNU) for college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 0.5 college credit. The Energy Bus
by Jon Gordon In the mode of other best selling business fables, the Energy Bus by Jon Gordon takes readers on an enlightening and inspiring ride that reveals 10 secrets for approaching life and work with the kind of positive, forward thinking that leads to true accomplishment - at work and at home. Everyone faces challenges.
for
THE ENERGY BUS book study. COST: $75 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $45
(payable to MNU) for college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 0.5 college credit. What Connected Educators Do Differently
by Todd Whitaker, Jeffery Zoul & Jimmy Casas In this text, education professionals Whitaker, Casas, and Zoul, "use their combined 90 years of educational experience to present their solution: personalized professional development through networking with educators using social media."
The text consists of eights key factors that require the reader to take its contents from declarative knowledge to application. for the WHAT CONNECTED EDUCATORS DO DIFFERENTLY book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit.
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Click the book cover
below to purchase the book from our Amazon affiliate store. Click the book cover
below to purchase the book from our Amazon affiliate store. Click the book cover
below to purchase the book from our Amazon affiliate store. |
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Trauma-Sensitive Schools: Learning Communities Transforming Children's Lives, K-5
by Susan E. Craig This course will explain ways for all educators to better understand students and what their behavior tells us. A quote from the foreword states, "...punishment doesn't change behavior; it just drops hundreds of thousands of kids into the school to prison pipeline."
Reading and studying this book will begin educators' thinking about how to stop traumatizing already traumatized students and how to create a socially and emotionally safe environments in their classrooms and schools. for the
TRAUMA-SENSITIVE SCHOOLS book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit.
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Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon affiliate store.
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Fair Isn't Always Equal
by Rick Wormeli A guide for teachers and administrators who would like to be "sensitive to students' varied readiness levels and learning styles while successfully navigating through a high stakes, standardized-testing world."
Wormeli is a National Board Certified Teacher, a winner of Disney's American Teacher Award for English, and a 20-year teaching veteran. for the
FAIR ISN'T ALWAYS EQUAL book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit.
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Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon affiliate store.
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What Great Teachers Do Differently:
17 Things That Matter Most by Todd Whitaker "Describes the beliefs, behaviors, attitudes, and interactions" that great teachers embed in the learning lifestyles of their classrooms.
Whitaker, a professor at Indiana State University, shares both his own experiences and the research he has gathered from other great teachers in this teacher-friendly guide to great teaching. for the
WHAT GREAT TEACHERS DO DIFFERENTLY book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit |
Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
affiliate store. |
Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit.
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CHAMPS: A Proactive & Positive Approach
to Classroom Management by Dr. Randy Sprick "Shows teachers how to develop and/or fine tune an effective classroom management plan that is proactive, positive, and instructional - one designed to stop behavior problems before they start."
Dr. Sprick, the director of Safe & Civil Schools, trains and supports over 20,000 teachers and administrators every year through his workshops and projects. for the
CHAMPS: A Proactive & Positive Approach to Classroom Management book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit |
Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon affiliate store.
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Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit.
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#eWalkThrough: Digital System
for Instructional Leadership by Dr.Kelly Gillespie This book explores the digital classroom observation system created by Dr. Kelly Gillespie and her team at Southwest Plains Regional Service Center. The power of the data collected through digital classroom observations provides instructional leaders with the data to motivate, nurture, and support both self-reflection and instructional conversations.
COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit |
Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon affiliate store.
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Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit.
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Visualization: Using Mental Images
to Strengthen Comprehension by Linda Zeigler This book is intended to help classroom teachers, reading specialists, and other professionals who are involved in creating and delivering high-quality reading instruction to students. The book's 57 lessons are presented within 13 goals and address: the digital age & intentional instruction, minds-on strategy, using higher-order thinking skills to attack complex text, and more.
for the
VISUALIZATION: USING MENTAL IMAGES book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit |
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Engaging Students With Poverty in Mind
by Eric Jensen Moving from Teaching with Poverty in Mind to the engagement of students is where this book study will lead your classroom. Jensen uses research, real school stories, and experiences to give practical application to the classroom.
for the
ENGAGING STUDENTS WITH POVERTY IN MIND book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit |
Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
affiliate store. |
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Learn Like A Pirate
by Paul Solarz Along with Dave's Teach Like A Pirate, this book allows you to look at the learner and empower them to "collaborate, lead and succeed!"
P(eer collaboration), I(mprovement), R(esponsibility), A(ctive learning), T(wenty-first century skills), and E(mpowerment) are the keys with practical applications to have a student-led, engaged classroom! for the
LEARN LIKE A PIRATE book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit. |
Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
affiliate store. |
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Teach Like A Pirate
by Dave Burgess Teaching like a pirate has nothing to do with the dictionary definition and everything to do with the spirit. Pirates are daring, adventurous, and willing to set forth into uncharted territories with no guarantee of success. They reject the status quo and refuse to conform to any society that stifles creativity and independence.
Dave Burgess will tap into your inner PIRATE of teaching: P(assion) I(mmersion) R(apport) A(sk and analyze) T(ransformation) E(nthusiasm) for the
TEACH LIKE A PIRATE book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit. |
Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
affiliate store. |
Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
affiliate store. 
Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
affiliate store. |
Differentiation:
From Planning to Practice by Rick Wormeli In this book, Rick Wormeli takes readers step-by-step from the blank page to a fully crafted differentiation lesson. Along the way he shows middle and high school teachers the behind-the-scenes planning that goes into effective lesson design for diverse classrooms.
A thorough and practice guide, Differentiation: From Planning to Practice also provides an overview of the cognitive science behind differentiation as well as a more than two-dozen tools that make differentiation doable in the classroom. for the
DIFFERENTIATION book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90 (payable to MNU)
for college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit.
Explicit Instruction:
Effective & Efficient Teaching by Anita Archer & Charles A. Hughes The first four chapters of this book focus on the foundations of explicit instruction and the design of lessons using this model. The second four chapters address the organization and delivery of instruction, as well as the process of independent practice.
for the
ANITA ARCHER: EXPLICIT INSTRUCTION book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90 (payable to MNU)
for college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit. |
Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
affiliate store. 
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The Bully, the Bullied, and
the Bystander by Barbara Coloroso It’s the deadliest combination going: bullies who terrorize, bullied kids who are afraid to tell, bystanders who watch, and adults who see the incidents as a normal part of childhood. All it takes to understand that this is a recipe for tragedy is a glance at headlines across the country. In this updated edition of The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander, which includes a new section on cyberbullying, Barbara Coloroso, one of the world’s most trusted parenting educators, gives parents, caregivers, educators—and most of all, kids—the tools to break the cycle of violence.
for the
BULLY, BULLIED, BYSTANDER book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90 (payable to MNU)
for college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit. Readicide
by Kelly Gallagher "The systematic killing of the love of reading, often exacerbated by the inane, mind-numbing practices found in schools."
This book investigates possible explanations of why many students go through school with a strong dislike for reading and what we can do to turn that around. Kelly Gallagher is a teacher in California and shares strategies he uses in his classroom. for the
READICIDE book study COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90 (payable to MNU)
for college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit. |
Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
affiliate store. |
Shouting Won't
Grow Dendrites by Marcia Tate This online book study expands the brain research of Dr. Marcia Tate's initial book, Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites. Her twenty activities designed to involve students in the learning process are further expanded and encourage teachers to explore new ways to provide brain-based learning opportunities for their students.
For this course you will need to purchase Shouting Won't Grow Dendrites (Second edition) by Marcia Tate. for the
SHOUTING WON'T GROW DENDRITES book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90 (payable to MNU)
for college credit Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit. |
Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
affiliate store. |
Teaching With Poverty in Mind
by Eric Jensen This course studies the effects of living in poverty and how it affects children, families and the community.
We will learn what teachers can do to help students living in poverty reach true academic success. for the
TEACHING WITH POVERTY IN MIND book study. COST: $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90 (payable to MNU)
for one hour college credit Successful completion of this book study allows you to earn 1.0 college credit hour. |