Subject-Based PLA Courses
Business
Advanced Marketing Principles: Participants will learn advanced marketing principles and practices specifically as they relate to entrepreneurs. Potential entrepreneurs will better understand how to develop and plan their venture in an advanced marketing context. Educators will be able to take these skills and teach marketing and business plans to the classroom.
Basics of Marketing Principles: Participants will learn introductory marketing principles and practices specifically as they relate to entrepreneurs. Potential entrepreneurs will better understand how to develop and plan their venture in a marketing context from the very beginning. More experienced entrepreneurs will be refreshed in the areas of the marketing mix, consumer behavior, promotions, public relations, leadership, and branding. Educators will be able to take these skills and teach marketing and business plans in the classroom.
Creating a Business Plan: This course will provide the learner with information on how to create and market a business plan. Educators will be able to take these skills and teach business plans in the classroom.
Introduction to Entrepreneurship: This course familiarizes the learner with the concepts of entrepreneurship in the start-up phase. Educators will be able to take these skills and teach entrepreneurship in the classroom.
ELA/Reading
Daily 5: A Management System for Literacy Instruction: Participants will engage in the process of successfully implement the Daily 5 management system into their classrooms, which will foster literacy independence in the elementary grades.
Differentiating Instruction for Reading: Develop a variety of activities to differentiate instruction in reading.
Math
Globalizing the Mathematics Classroom: We live in a global society. It is never too early to help students begin to think globally. This course will outline what it means to think globally, and highlight many global issues that affect all of us. While exploring these global issues, teachers will see the mathematics that is involved and learn ways to incorporate these broader lessons into their own classroom.
Understanding Mathematics Anxiety: The Understanding Mathematics Anxiety Professional Learning Academy (PLA) is designed to equip teachers with a thorough knowledge of Mathematics Anxiety and develop invaluable strategies to help their students defeat math anxiety and ultimately excel in mathematics.
Science
OutScience: Teaching Outside: In this course, participants will focus on understanding the value in regular, outdoor education and how to incorporate this invaluable approach to teaching and learning using one of the only natural settings available to teachers on a regular basis: the school grounds.
Teaching the Scientific Method: In this course, participants will focus on understanding the power of the scientific method in your learners by developing strategies to foster curiosity and empower them through answering questions.
Sexual Health Education
Common Issues Associated with Teaching Sexual Education: Participants will explore the common issues impacting sexual education. Sexuality Education has been around for decades, however, there are many implications/issues affecting the content of what needs are to be addressed in sexuality educational programs.
Faith-Based Sexuality Education: The inclusion and the exclusion of faith in sexuality education within the public schools is often a difficult area for teachers to navigate. This course aims to help resolve some of the grey areas associated with sexual health education in the public school and religion. In order to this it is important for teachers to spend time exploring their own personal values and beliefs.
Introduction to Sexual Health Education in Mississippi: Public Schools in Mississippi are required to teach sexual health education within secondary education. An introduction to the overall goals and objectives of sexual health education, as well as, an understanding of the different types of sexual health education allowed within the state of Mississippi helps educators become more prepared to teach a course in sexual health education. Participants will develop an understanding of the goal and objectives of sexual health education within secondary schools, the different types of sexual health education in Mississippi and the current terminology associated with sexual health education.
Introduction to Sexual Orientation, Identity, and Expression: Teachers, in all classrooms, have students of different sexual orientation, identity, and expression. Therefore, it is important for teachers to have a basic understanding of the terminology relating to these topics. Sexual health education teachers are faced with additional challenges regarding the inclusion of sexual orientation, identity, and expression within sexual health education. This courses will explore the current terminology and how best to include all students in your sexual health course regardless of sexual orientation, identity, and expression.
Multi-Cultural Aspects of Sexual Health Education: Various cultures throughout the world view the teachings of sexual health education as informative, preventative, or even taboo. Teachers have students from all racial, cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds, therefore, approaching the topics within sexual health education can become a difficult task. This course will explore the various cultural aspects of sexual health education that teachers will encounter with their culturally diverse students. They will also be able to learn ways in which they can address obstacles and concerns from varying cultural diversities. Participants will learn how to address cultural aspects of sexual health education and varying issues of concern that are most common when teaching sexual health education to diverse groups of students.
Sexual Health Education: Reproductive Anatomy: A general understanding of the reproductive anatomy is required to accurately teach sexual health education. This course provides an overview of the human reproductive anatomy and provide tips on how teachers can teach reproductive anatomy within a sexual health course.
Small Business Methods & Strategies: This course provides various facets of small business methods. Educators will be able to take these skills and teach small business methods in the classroom.
STIs, HIV, and AIDS: With millions of new cases of STIs, HIV, and AIDs annually in the US, it is important for teachers to provide medically accurate information to students regarding STIs, HIV, and AIDS. Students often have questions regarding specific STIs and how they are treated. This course will help provide teachers with the information and resources to answer the difficult questions regarding STIs, HIV, and AIDs.
Teaching Safe Sex Practices in the Classroom: Numerous forms of contraceptives are available to reduce unplanned pregnancy. Additional barrier methods are available to prevent the transmission of STI’s through sexual behavior. Teaching contraceptives and barrier methods in Mississippi can be difficult given the laws preventing demonstration. Learning skills to properly educate students on these topics is key to reducing unplanned pregnancy and STI rates. Participants will be able to identify different forms of contraceptives used for both STI preventing and pregnancy prevention and learn skills needed to properly educate students on using contraceptives to reduce unplanned pregnancy and STI transmission.
Teaching Methods of Sexual Health Education: To implement a successful Sexual Health Education program, educators need to know how to properly set the learning climate, and also understand how to utilize resources (Including the National Teacher Preparation Standards for Sexuality Education), proper research materials, and support services to create effective learning strategies for sexual health education programs. A well-planned sexuality education program is considerate of the culture within the classroom, sequential, and educationally sound. Participants will learn about the numerous sexuality education programs that are available to be taught as part of school districts’ curriculum, and how to effectively implementing these programs.
Professional Learning Academy Application