Jill Rockwell | Online Learning for Teachers pursuing Continuing Education and Professional Development | The Connecting Link

 

Jill Rockwell

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Jill’s career began in 2002 as a licensed teacher in the areas of special education, reading, and health. She embraces diversity and has worked with students in grades K-12 in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and California. Jill completed her Master of Science degree at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls while teaching full time. While her role in education has recently shifted to curriculum and instruction, she fully understands the soaring demands of today’s teachers. Her courses are designed to maximize the time of educators by providing meaningful, applicable, and research-based activities and resources to enhance professional practices. Jill lives in Wisconsin and enjoys traveling and exploring the great outdoors with her husband and two young sons. 

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) has been recognized as a critical factor in students' success in school and beyond. SEL involves five essential components including: self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, social awareness, and relationship skills. Through readings, videos, personal reflection, and online forum questions, participants will explore each of these components and learn how SEL and academics go hand-in-hand. Participants will leave the course with resources and strategies designed to support the social and emotional learning needs of students.
The research is clear - phonics is a critical component of effectively teaching students how to read and write. This course is designed to give participants a deep understanding of the key characteristics of, and the essential steps involved with phonics instruction. Course participants will be prepared to put the elements of effective literacy instruction - including phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension - into practice to help students across grade levels develop and strengthen their literacy skills. 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.
This course is designed to help educators provide a high-quality and equitable educational experience for English learners (ELs) that values and nurtures cultural diversity. Whether in-person or virtually, course participants will discover how to provide meaningful and rigorous lessons and assessments while facilitating an environment in which the social and emotional needs of ELs are nurtured. Course participants will explore research-based effective educational practices based on ten guiding principles or language development to maximize the potential of Els in schools and beyond graduation.
With the soaring concerns of mental health issues, students need to be supported more than ever with their social and emotional development. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) involves teaching and modeling five lifelong skills: self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, social awareness, and relationship skills. In this course, participants will learn how to weave SEL into the curriculum, which has been shown to increase academic outcomes and promote overall positive mental health among students. Participants will also explore strategies to support and enhance their own mental health and well-being.
This course provides participants with a deep understanding of the value and benefits involved with incorporating a comprehensive approach to school health and wellness. With an emphasis on physical health, physical activity, nutrition, mental health, and social/emotional learning, this course is designed to help educators implement wellness practices and policies to make schools healthier places where both students and staff thrive. Participants in this course will also focus on the value of partnerships with fellow educators, school leaders, families/caregivers, and community leaders to provide consistent messaging and meaningful learning experiences intended to build a foundation for lifelong health and wellness.
This course is designed to give educators an overview of the impact attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has on the performance of students in the classroom. Research-based instructional approaches and behavior management strategies will be explored, along with methods to enhance executive function skills. The implementation of appropriate accommodations, modifications, and interventions will also be highlighted. This course engages participants with meaningful, applicable, and practical activities with a focus on success for students with ADHD.