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Gateway to online professional learning 

Summer 2020 Courses Available May 1st - July 31st
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.  

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​Owning It: Proven Strategies to Ace and Embrace Teaching
​by Alex Kajitani
This text is a game-changer for teachers, veteran or novice or somewhere in between.  It is organized in four interactive parts for easy reader access:
  1. Owning It in Youir Classroom
  2. Owning It With Your Most Challenging Student
  3. Owning It at Your School and District
  4. Owning It in Your Community
Kajitani writes "I divided this book into four parts, each one focusing on one of these roles.  Excelling in all of these roles is critical in our profession."
This text is a perfect match for both group and individual study.

Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
affiliate store.
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Click here to register
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.
Click here to register
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!"
Click here to register
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.

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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. 
  1. 6 simple rules create a unified vision of responsiveness among educators
  2. Real life case studies illustrate responsive techniques implemented in a variety of educational demographics
  3. 15 experiments guide school and district leaders toward increased responsiveness in their faculty and staff
Click here to register
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.
Click here to register
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:
  1. feedback
  2. content and
  3. context
that form a road map for K-12 teachers' lesson and unit planning.
Click here to register
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.
Click here to register
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.
click here to register
​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.
click here to register
​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.
Click here to register
​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. 
CLICK here to register
​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.
Click here to register
​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.
click here to register
​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."
Click here to register
​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.

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Successful completion of this book study
​will earn
0.5 college credit
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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.
Click here to register
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.
Click here to register
​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.
Click here to register

​
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.
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.
click here to register
​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.
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.
click here to register
​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.
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.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
​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.

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Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit.
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.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
​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.

CLICK ON the WEB-BASED COURSES tab for more Kokopelli U options

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Successful completion of this book study will earn 1.0 college credit.
#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.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
 ​for the ​
#eWalkThrough
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.
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.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
​for the
VISUALIZATION: USING MENTAL IMAGES
book study.
COST:  $150 (payable to SWPRSC) + optional $90
(payable to MNU) for one hour of college credit 
CLICK HERE
to purchase the book   from KendallHunt HE
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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.
Click here to register
​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!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
​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.
CLICK ON the WEB-BASED COURSES tab for more Kokopelli U options

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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)
click here to register
​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.

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Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
​affiliate store.

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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.
click here to register
  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.
click here to register
  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.
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Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
​affiliate store.


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​Click the book cover below to purchase the book from our Amazon
​affiliate store.

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.
click here to register
  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. 
click here to register
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.

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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. 
click here to register
  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.

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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.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
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.

CLICK ON the WEB-BASED COURSES tab for more Kokopelli U options

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