Instructor: Silvia Araoz

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Classes by this instructor


Adapted PE

This course is one of four designed for Utah K-12 educators seeking a PE Endorsement. This online course will introduce you to basic teaching practices for adapted PE instruction. Students will identify techniques to provide competitive and cooperative sport experiences for students with disabilities consistent with their needs, interests, and abilities. Attendees will demonstrate competency in understanding the IEP procedure protocol.
March 16, 2026 to May 4, 2026, Online

Classroom Climate that Promotes Student Learning

This course is designed for Utah state educators who are seeking a professional educator license through an Alternative Pathway to Professional Educator Licensing (APPEL). This course will equip APPEL candidates with the skills and strategies necessary to cultivate a classroom climate that honors and leverages the diverse experiences and backgrounds of all students. Emphasizing trauma-informed and restorative practices, participants will learn how to design and maintain a learning environment that prioritizes physical and emotional safety, respects and values differences, and fosters a sense of belonging.
March 17, 2026 to April 14, 2026, Online
May 21, 2026 to June 18, 2026, Online

Elementary Methods of Teaching Fine Arts

This course is designed for Utah state educators who are seeking a professional educator license through an Alternative Pathway to Professional Educator Licensing (APPEL). This course focuses on the principles and practices of arts integration, emphasizing the use of various art forms to enhance teaching and learning in the elementary classroom. Participants will explore how to effectively apply an arts integration approach, allowing students to construct and demonstrate understanding through creative processes that connect art with other subject areas to achieve balanced educational objectives. Additionally, participants will gain insight into the artistic development stages of elementary students, enabling them to provide appropriate motivation and instruction tailored to each stage.
March 17, 2026 to April 14, 2026, Online

Elementary Methods of Teaching Literacy #1

This 30-hour course meets 1 day a week for 8 weeks. As a result of this training educators will be able to design a unit of instruction that integrates writing aligned to Utah Core Standards; integrate speaking/listening direct instruction and assessment that engages students in active, authentic communication and supports cultural variations; differentiate writing instruction according to Multi-Tiered System of Support; practice and demonstrate grade level writing genres, processes, and assessment; integrate expository text structures to design writing instruction for various content areas; and evaluate evidence-based vocabulary instructional approaches for word-level, text-level, and word-learning strategies aligned to various learner development levels.
June 1-29, 2026, Online

Elementary Methods of Teaching Literacy #2

This 45-hour course meets 1 day a week for 8 weeks. As a result of this training participants will be able to differentiate reading instruction and assessment according to Multi-Tiered System of Support; explain the importance of literacy acquisition and the science of reading instruction and its alignment to federal, state, and local policies; create a positive, literacy-rich learning environment anchored in digital and print literacies that address cultural and linguistic diversity as well as social inequities; design a unit of reading instruction that highlights the elements of explicit instruction and feedback for oral language, phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency; evaluate evidence-based vocabulary instructional approaches for word-level, text-level, and word-learning strategies aligned to various learner development levels; and evaluate evidence-based, comprehension instructional approaches including modeling metacognitive strategies, and choosing appropriate texts for instruction.
March 17, 2026 to April 28, 2026, Online
July 6, 2026 to August 17, 2026, Online

Elementary Methods of Teaching PE

This course is designed for Utah state educators who are seeking a professional educator license through an Alternative Pathway to Professional Educator Licensing (APPEL). This course provides a comprehensive overview of the essential components for delivering an effective elementary physical education program. Educators will focus on the scientific and theoretical foundations that underpin physical literacy and enhance their understanding of health-related fitness, nutrition, and hydration. By the end of the course, educators will be equipped with the pedagogical and assessment skills and knowledge necessary to create inclusive and impactful physical education programs that promote lifelong healthy habits.
March 16, 2026 to April 19, 2026, Online

Elementary Methods of Teaching Science

This course is designed for Utah state educators who are seeking a professional educator license through an Alternative Pathway to Professional Educator Licensing (APPEL). This course provides educators with a comprehensive framework for understanding and implementing the three dimensions of science instruction: Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs), Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs), and Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs). Participants will explore how these dimensions facilitate students' understanding of authentic phenomena, allowing them to connect scientific concepts to real-world situations. The course will also focus on developing pedagogical practices informed by current research that fosters disciplinary literacy, enabling students to articulate, read, and write about science confidently. Educators will model effective instructional practices and reflect on their teaching in the context of authentic student learning, promoting equitable access to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education.
March 17, 2026 to April 28, 2026, Online

Elementary Methods of Teaching Social Studies

This course is designed for Utah state educators who are seeking a professional educator license through an Alternative Pathway to Professional Educator Licensing (APPEL). This course offers an in-depth exploration of the role of social studies in elementary education, emphasizing its relevance and purpose in shaping informed and engaged citizens. Participants will identify and implement disciplinary literacy practices, tools, and concepts essential for effective social studies instruction. Through collaborative discussions and practical activities, educators will evaluate strategies to engage students using various disciplinary resources, fostering critical thinking and inquiry. Participants will also identify valuable resources and strategies to support planning, teaching, and assessing social studies literacy; and develop pedagogical strategies and practices that promote civic preparation and responsible citizenship.
March 18, 2026 to April 29, 2026, Online

Empowering Learners

This course is designed for Utah state educators who are seeking a professional educator license through an Alternative Pathway to Professional Educator Licensing (APPEL). This course focuses on deepening educators' understanding of student learning and development by integrating effective strategies for supporting diverse learners and fostering positive educational environments. Participants will explore how to create and implement learning experiences that are responsive to students' individual needs and backgrounds while promoting engagement and ownership of learning.
May 19, 2026 to June 16, 2026, Online

Human Development/Sexuality

This course is one of four designed for Utah K-12 educators seeking a Health Endorsement. This course focuses on adolescent sexuality/behavior, age and topic-appropriate instruction, state law, and effective curriculum/strategies for human sexuality education within secondary schools including maturation, parenthood, interpersonal skills, and related pedagogy issues. Overview of biological, psychological, and sociological aspects of sexuality education.
March 16, 2026 to May 4, 2026, Online

Instructional Clarity for Effective Teaching

This course is designed for Utah state educators who are seeking a professional educator license through an Alternative Pathway to Professional Educator Licensing (APPEL). This course will train APPEL candidates how to align assessment and instructional practices with Utah Core Standards and how to effectively integrate these standards into their curriculum design to maximize student learning outcomes. Through practical applications and reflective practices, educators will be prepared to create vibrant and responsive learning progressions that support all students in reaching their full potential.
March 16, 2026 to May 4, 2026, Online
May 18, 2026 to July 5, 2026, Online

Instructional Practices that Promote Student Learning

This course is designed for Utah state educators who are seeking a professional educator license through an Alternative Pathway to Professional Educator Licensing (APPEL). This course is tailored for educators seeking to refine their instructional practices to enhance student learning and engagement. The focus is on employing diverse strategies and tools to meet the varied needs of students while promoting a dynamic learning environment. By the end of this course, participants will be equipped with a comprehensive toolkit of instructional practices designed to promote meaningful learning experiences. Educators will be prepared to address diverse student needs, foster critical thinking, and leverage technology to create a vibrant and inclusive classroom environment.
May 21, 2026 to June 18, 2026, Online

Kinesiology for Activity

This course is one of four designed for Utah K-12 educators seeking a PE Endorsement. This online course will introduce you to fundamental principles of youth physical development. Students will develop and implement strategies for motor skill progression, physiology of activity, and biomechanical observation focused on Utah State Core Standards.
May 18, 2026 to July 6, 2026, Online

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention

This course is one of four designed for Utah K-12 educators seeking a Health Endorsement that includes the components of emotional intelligence, mental health disorders, stress management, and suicide, self-harm, and resources for help. Teachers will explore the physical, social, and legal implications of substance abuse and addictive behaviors emphasizing prevention.
May 18, 2026 to July 6, 2026, Online

Methods of Teaching Fitness for Life

This course is one of four designed for Utah K-12 educators seeking a PE Endorsement. This online course will introduce you to basic teaching practices for Fitness for Life instruction. Students will develop and implement strategies for teaching motor skill progression using the health-related components of fitness. Students will learn how to develop plans for instructing safe and effective personal fitness plans. This course will include in-depth instruction in the fitness for life curriculum.
May 18, 2026 to July 6, 2026, Online

Methods of Teaching Health

This course is one of four designed for Utah K-12 educators seeking a Health Endorsement. Students will develop lesson plans and present them in secondary education settings. Health educators will have a complete understanding of the Utah Core Standards for Health Education and recognize high-quality curricular materials that are aligned with the standards. Health educators will be able to design proper assessments for students to measure mastery of the standards as well as practice instructional strategies, skills, and methods for diverse learner styles, including trauma-informed instruction.
May 18, 2026 to July 6, 2026, Online

Methods of Teaching Secondary Special Education Mathematics

This 45-hour, 3-credit course is for special education teachers seeking a Secondary Special Education Mathematics Endorsement or the Alternate Pathway to Professional Educator License-Special Education (APPEL-SPED). This course provides educators with the foundational skills and knowledge necessary to effectively teach mathematics at the secondary level. Emphasizing alignment with grade-level standards, the course focuses on systematically designing instruction toward a specific learning goal by integrating cross-disciplinary skills, a variety of instructional strategies, and the application of mathematical concepts in real-world contexts.
March 18, 2026 to April 29, 2026, Online

Nutrition, Safety, & Disease Prevention

This course is one of four designed for Utah K-12 educators seeking a Health Endorsement. In this course, students will explore the relationship between nutrition to the maintenance of health and the prevention of disease. Principles of disease and major diseases of body systems and organs will be examined.
March 16, 2026 to May 4, 2026, Online

Post Traumatic Growth and Resilience

In this course, students will learn about topics surrounding the "Positive Psychology of Trauma". This will include the post-traumatic growth (PTG) and emotional resilience that can help individuals move forward from tragic circumstances to become successful in their lives. Psychotraumatology, the study of psychological trauma, is relatively new to the field of psychology. In this class, students will explore the positive spectrum of the posttraumatic experience in context of human strength and resilience through engaging in a series of exercises used to promote growth after traumatic life events.
March 16, 2026 to May 7, 2026, Online

Substitute Teacher Workshop

This workshop will focus on general guidelines and best practices for classroom substitute teachers. The workshop will cover developmental ages and stages as it pertains to classroom instruction, professional ethics and practices, classroom management strategies, and tools to help substitute teachers sustain learning in the classrooms to which they are assigned.
Monday, February 23, 2026, Online

Understanding and Supporting Everyday Addictions

This course dives into the nature of addiction, with a specific focus on everyday addictions that have become prevalent in recent years. Students will explore the psychological, social, and cultural factors contributing to addictive behaviors and thoughts: including how modern technology and social media influence addiction patterns; and how to support individuals struggling with addictive thoughts and behaviors.
March 16, 2026 to May 7, 2026, Online