Learn with the MTA and Earn PDPs

Format: Asynchronous Course from February 18 to 21. Must participate in activities each day. 

This introductory training is designed to foster a deep understanding of neurodiversity and equip participants with practical strategies for promoting inclusivity and advocating for the rights of neurodiverse individuals. The training will cover the diverse spectrum of neurodiverse conditions, their impact on various environments, and the importance of creating accommodating spaces that celebrate differences. Through interactive sessions, case studies, and practical exercises, participants will gain valuable insights and tools to create an inclusive and supportive environment for neurodiverse individuals in their communities, workplaces, and educational institutions. The material will be delivered through a PowerPoint presentation, short video clips, group discussions, breakout discussions, and a participant workbook.

This program meets DESE requirements for 15 PDPs in Special Education during each 5-year Professional License Renewal cycle.

Format: Asynchronous Course from February 24 to April 18. Must participate in activities each week. 

DESE has created a document that defines dyslexia and best practices for working with students with dyslexia, including English Language Learners.  This course will take a look at each chapter and provide an opportunity to understand each section along with supplemental resources.

This program meets DESE requirements for 15 PDPs in Special Education during each 5-year Professional License Renewal cycle.

Format: Zoom meetings on Wednesdays, February 26, March 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 4:00 to 5:30 PM. Completion of additional work.

This professional development course is designed to empower educators with the tools to enhance their robust practice by creating cohesive and inclusive learning environments through the strategic use of language. Participants will explore a variety of differentiated vocabulary strategies to deepen all students' connections with words, including those with diverse learning needs, enhance vocabulary acquisition and retention, and strengthen their ability to engage with texts. 

The course will emphasize the importance of classroom culture, focusing on methods that seamlessly scaffold learning to ensure content accessibility for all students. Educators will be introduced to multi-sensory approaches, visual supports, and assistive technology to make vocabulary and reading strategies more accessible to students with learning differences.

Additionally, educators will bolster their existing management techniques, fostering strong relationships while maintaining clear and firm classroom expectations, with an emphasis on positive behavior supports and social-emotional learning strategies that promote an inclusive atmosphere. 

Through this course, teachers will develop modified documents to use for current and future students. Participants will gain practical skills to enhance writing instruction and conferencing, incorporating individualized learning plans and modifications for students who need additional support.

This program meets DESE requirements for 15 PDPs in Special Education during each 5-year Professional License Renewal cycle.

Format: Zoom meetings on Tuesdays, March 4, 11, 18 and 25 from 4 PM to 7 PM. Completion of additional work.

This dynamic, interactive class equips educators with the skills and strategies needed to manage challenging behaviors, support students in crisis, and create a thriving learning environment. Dive into the "why" behind behavior to effectively address its root causes and foster a positive learning environment for students with diverse needs.

Participants will explore the science behind behavior through a Special Education lens, learning how to recognize and address the root causes of behaviors commonly seen in students with disabilities. This course emphasizes proactive approaches to support students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) while providing strategies to manage tier 1 and tier 2 behaviors in both self-contained and inclusive settings.

Key takeaways include:

• De-escalation techniques tailored for students with behavioral and emotional challenges.
• Proactive intervention strategies to address potential issues before they escalate.
• How to differentiate behavior plans to meet the unique needs of students with intellectual, emotional, and developmental disabilities.
• Tools for fostering a calm, supportive classroom environment that encourages student success.

Participants will leave with a comprehensive behavior management toolkit packed with practical, ready-to-use resources, including visual aids, behavior-tracking templates, and intervention guides.

Ideal for teachers of all grade levels, special educators and paraprofessionals, this class ensures you're prepared to navigate both everyday challenges and crisis moments, leaving you with ready-to-use strategies for immediate implementation. Empower yourself to foster student well-being and create a calmer, more effective learning space for all.

This program meets DESE requirements for 15 PDPs in Special Education during each 5-year Professional License Renewal cycle.

Format: Zoom meetings on Wednesdays, February 26, March 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 4:00 to 5:30 PM. Completion of additional work.

This professional development course is designed to empower educators with the tools to enhance their robust practice by creating cohesive and inclusive learning environments through the strategic use of language. Participants will explore a variety of differentiated vocabulary strategies to deepen all students' connections with words, including those with diverse learning needs, enhance vocabulary acquisition and retention, and strengthen their ability to engage with texts.

The course will emphasize the importance of classroom culture, focusing on methods that seamlessly scaffold learning to ensure content accessibility for all students. Educators will be introduced to multi-sensory approaches, visual supports, and assistive technology to make vocabulary and reading strategies more accessible to students with learning differences.

Additionally, educators will bolster their existing management techniques, fostering strong relationships while maintaining clear and firm classroom expectations, with an emphasis on positive behavior supports and social-emotional learning strategies that promote an inclusive atmosphere.

Through this course, teachers will develop modified documents to use for current and future students. Participants will gain practical skills to enhance writing instruction and conferencing, incorporating individualized learning plans and modifications for students who need additional support.

This program meets DESE requirements for 15 PDPs in Special Education during each 5-year Professional License Renewal cycle.

Format: Zoom meetings on Tuesdays, March 4, 11, 18 and 25 from 4 PM to 7 PM. Completion of additional work.

This dynamic, interactive class equips educators with the skills and strategies needed to manage challenging behaviors, support students in crisis, and create a thriving learning environment. Dive into the "why" behind behavior to effectively address its root causes and foster a positive learning environment for students with diverse needs.

Participants will explore the science behind behavior through a Special Education lens, learning how to recognize and address the root causes of behaviors commonly seen in students with disabilities. This course emphasizes proactive approaches to support students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) while providing strategies to manage tier 1 and tier 2 behaviors in both self-contained and inclusive settings.

Key takeaways include:

• De-escalation techniques tailored for students with behavioral and emotional challenges.
• Proactive intervention strategies to address potential issues before they escalate.
• How to differentiate behavior plans to meet the unique needs of students with intellectual, emotional, and developmental disabilities.
• Tools for fostering a calm, supportive classroom environment that encourages student success.

Participants will leave with a comprehensive behavior management toolkit packed with practical, ready-to-use resources, including visual aids, behavior-tracking templates, and intervention guides.

Ideal for teachers of all grade levels, special educators and paraprofessionals, this class ensures you're prepared to navigate both everyday challenges and crisis moments, leaving you with ready-to-use strategies for immediate implementation. Empower yourself to foster student well-being and create a calmer, more effective learning space for all.

This program meets DESE requirements for 15 PDPs in Special Education during each 5-year Professional License Renewal cycle.

Format: Zoom meetings on Wednesdays, February 26, March 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 4:00 to 5:30 PM. Completion of additional work.

This professional development course is designed to empower educators with the tools to enhance their robust practice by creating cohesive and inclusive learning environments through the strategic use of language. Participants will explore a variety of differentiated vocabulary strategies to deepen all students' connections with words, including those with diverse learning needs, enhance vocabulary acquisition and retention, and strengthen their ability to engage with texts.

The course will emphasize the importance of classroom culture, focusing on methods that seamlessly scaffold learning to ensure content accessibility for all students. Educators will be introduced to multi-sensory approaches, visual supports, and assistive technology to make vocabulary and reading strategies more accessible to students with learning differences.

Additionally, educators will bolster their existing management techniques, fostering strong relationships while maintaining clear and firm classroom expectations, with an emphasis on positive behavior supports and social-emotional learning strategies that promote an inclusive atmosphere.

Through this course, teachers will develop modified documents to use for current and future students. Participants will gain practical skills to enhance writing instruction and conferencing, incorporating individualized learning plans and modifications for students who need additional support.

This program meets DESE requirements for 15 PDPs in Special Education during each 5-year Professional License Renewal cycle.

Format: Zoom meetings on Tuesdays, March 4, 11, 18 and 25 from 4 PM to 7 PM. Completion of additional work.

This dynamic, interactive class equips educators with the skills and strategies needed to manage challenging behaviors, support students in crisis, and create a thriving learning environment. Dive into the "why" behind behavior to effectively address its root causes and foster a positive learning environment for students with diverse needs.

Participants will explore the science behind behavior through a Special Education lens, learning how to recognize and address the root causes of behaviors commonly seen in students with disabilities. This course emphasizes proactive approaches to support students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) while providing strategies to manage tier 1 and tier 2 behaviors in both self-contained and inclusive settings.

Key takeaways include:

• De-escalation techniques tailored for students with behavioral and emotional challenges.
• Proactive intervention strategies to address potential issues before they escalate.
• How to differentiate behavior plans to meet the unique needs of students with intellectual, emotional, and developmental disabilities.
• Tools for fostering a calm, supportive classroom environment that encourages student success.

Participants will leave with a comprehensive behavior management toolkit packed with practical, ready-to-use resources, including visual aids, behavior-tracking templates, and intervention guides.

Ideal for teachers of all grade levels, special educators and paraprofessionals, this class ensures you're prepared to navigate both everyday challenges and crisis moments, leaving you with ready-to-use strategies for immediate implementation. Empower yourself to foster student well-being and create a calmer, more effective learning space for all.

This program meets DESE requirements for 15 PDPs in Special Education during each 5-year Professional License Renewal cycle.

Format: Zoom meetings on Wednesdays, February 26, March 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 4:00 to 5:30 PM. Completion of additional work.

This professional development course is designed to empower educators with the tools to enhance their robust practice by creating cohesive and inclusive learning environments through the strategic use of language. Participants will explore a variety of differentiated vocabulary strategies to deepen all students' connections with words, including those with diverse learning needs, enhance vocabulary acquisition and retention, and strengthen their ability to engage with texts.

The course will emphasize the importance of classroom culture, focusing on methods that seamlessly scaffold learning to ensure content accessibility for all students. Educators will be introduced to multi-sensory approaches, visual supports, and assistive technology to make vocabulary and reading strategies more accessible to students with learning differences.

Additionally, educators will bolster their existing management techniques, fostering strong relationships while maintaining clear and firm classroom expectations, with an emphasis on positive behavior supports and social-emotional learning strategies that promote an inclusive atmosphere.

Through this course, teachers will develop modified documents to use for current and future students. Participants will gain practical skills to enhance writing instruction and conferencing, incorporating individualized learning plans and modifications for students who need additional support.

This program meets DESE requirements for 15 PDPs in Special Education during each 5-year Professional License Renewal cycle.

Format: Zoom meetings on Tuesdays, March 4, 11, 18 and 25 from 4 PM to 7 PM. Completion of additional work.

This dynamic, interactive class equips educators with the skills and strategies needed to manage challenging behaviors, support students in crisis, and create a thriving learning environment. Dive into the "why" behind behavior to effectively address its root causes and foster a positive learning environment for students with diverse needs.

Participants will explore the science behind behavior through a Special Education lens, learning how to recognize and address the root causes of behaviors commonly seen in students with disabilities. This course emphasizes proactive approaches to support students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) while providing strategies to manage tier 1 and tier 2 behaviors in both self-contained and inclusive settings.

Key takeaways include:

• De-escalation techniques tailored for students with behavioral and emotional challenges.
• Proactive intervention strategies to address potential issues before they escalate.
• How to differentiate behavior plans to meet the unique needs of students with intellectual, emotional, and developmental disabilities.
• Tools for fostering a calm, supportive classroom environment that encourages student success.

Participants will leave with a comprehensive behavior management toolkit packed with practical, ready-to-use resources, including visual aids, behavior-tracking templates, and intervention guides.

Ideal for teachers of all grade levels, special educators and paraprofessionals, this class ensures you're prepared to navigate both everyday challenges and crisis moments, leaving you with ready-to-use strategies for immediate implementation. Empower yourself to foster student well-being and create a calmer, more effective learning space for all.

This program meets DESE requirements for 15 PDPs in Special Education during each 5-year Professional License Renewal cycle.

Format: Zoom meetings on Wednesdays, February 26, March 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 4:00 to 5:30 PM. Completion of additional work.

This professional development course is designed to empower educators with the tools to enhance their robust practice by creating cohesive and inclusive learning environments through the strategic use of language. Participants will explore a variety of differentiated vocabulary strategies to deepen all students' connections with words, including those with diverse learning needs, enhance vocabulary acquisition and retention, and strengthen their ability to engage with texts.

The course will emphasize the importance of classroom culture, focusing on methods that seamlessly scaffold learning to ensure content accessibility for all students. Educators will be introduced to multi-sensory approaches, visual supports, and assistive technology to make vocabulary and reading strategies more accessible to students with learning differences.

Additionally, educators will bolster their existing management techniques, fostering strong relationships while maintaining clear and firm classroom expectations, with an emphasis on positive behavior supports and social-emotional learning strategies that promote an inclusive atmosphere.

Through this course, teachers will develop modified documents to use for current and future students. Participants will gain practical skills to enhance writing instruction and conferencing, incorporating individualized learning plans and modifications for students who need additional support.

This program meets DESE requirements for 15 PDPs in Special Education during each 5-year Professional License Renewal cycle.

Format: Asynchronous course from April 7 to May 12. Must participate in activities each week. Participants must procure their own copy of "Inclusive Learning 365" before the course begins.

This asynchronous book study will consist of reading the exceptionally organized and resource-packed text Inclusive Learning 365: EdTech Strategies for Every Day of The Year by Christopher Bugaj, Karen Janowski, Mike Marotta and Beth Poss.

As we explore the text, we will develop an inclusive learning mindset and replace traditional instructional methods with strategies that engage all learners in your classroom. We will also discover and explore educational technology strategies to support foundations, as multiple components of the curriculum will follow. 

Using Google Classroom, participants will complete weekly reading assignments, participate in discussion boards and complete the culminating final project to demonstrate key take-aways and ideas for implementing the course’s learning into your classroom.  The final project may be a reflection essay/blog/journal, video, interactive slideshow, or curated collection of resources for embedding UDL and educational technology strategies throughout the learning experiences of your classroom.

This program meets DESE requirements for 15 PDPs in Special Education during each 5-year Professional License Renewal cycle.

Format: In-person in the Worcester area on April 22 and on Zoom April 23 from 9 AM to 4 PM. Completion of additional work.

Do you work with any students who are labeled as “difficult”, “challenging” “unpredictable” or “unmotivated”? Whether it is a result of trauma, depression, anxiety, lack of motivation or other issues, those labeled as the most challenging are full of promise, inner strength and resilience. Each day we are presented with various behaviors from our students that can be difficult to understand and to accept.

In this workshop, we will become behavioral detectives and look for the real messages and hidden needs beneath human behaviors. We will also explore current research in helping students to manage and overcome these patterns. With that understanding, together we will develop behavioral intervention plans and techniques for your classroom to bring our the best in all of your students.

This program meets DESE requirements for 15 PDPs in Special Education during each 5-year Professional License Renewal cycle.

Format: In-person in the Worcester area on April 22 and on Zoom April 23 from 9 AM to 4 PM. Completion of additional work.

Do you work with any students who are labeled as “difficult”, “challenging” “unpredictable” or “unmotivated”? Whether it is a result of trauma, depression, anxiety, lack of motivation or other issues, those labeled as the most challenging are full of promise, inner strength and resilience. Each day we are presented with various behaviors from our students that can be difficult to understand and to accept.

In this workshop, we will become behavioral detectives and look for the real messages and hidden needs beneath human behaviors. We will also explore current research in helping students to manage and overcome these patterns. With that understanding, together we will develop behavioral intervention plans and techniques for your classroom to bring our the best in all of your students.

This program meets DESE requirements for 15 PDPs in Special Education during each 5-year Professional License Renewal cycle.