Summer Institutes

This institute will expand on the institutes from the last two summers to better attend to the rapid development of AI in education. The course will be available for students who want to seek the AI endorsement and will be offered as a substitution for ANY of the courses in the endorsement to provide greater curricular flexibility for students.

 

Writing is such an important skill which can reinforce foundational literacy, critical thinking, and reading skills. This summer institute will focus on a plethora of ways to organize, plan, and implement writing time with your students. Our diverse array of speakers will focus on how to begin writing instruction, how to reach resistant writers, how to support students develop better vocabulary and word choice, how to help students write complete and more interesting sentences, how to help students organize their writing, how to navigate revisions and editing, how to manage writing conference, how to assess student writing, how to intentional use of technology (including AI) in the writing workshop, and how to plan for writing instruction.

Enjoy engaging speakers, hands-on activities, and relevant assignments to help you incorporate the concepts covered into your teaching (K-12).

 INSTITUTE FLYER

Sports betting and online gambling are causing serious challenges for students and communities. This Summer Institute brings together educators, coaches, athletic directors, school counselors, nurses, social workers, and others to find practical solutions for this growing problem. We will examine how sports betting apps are designed to make users feel in control and knowledgeable, when in fact they encourage compulsive behaviors, stress, and financial loss. Participants will recognize the warning signs of problem gambling, understand why young people and athletes are at greater risk, and explore effective ways to prevent and address gambling addiction through hands-on workshops, expert speakers, and the latest research. 

 

Join us for a weeklong professional learning experience at LancasterHistory, designed for educators of grades 3–12 who want to deepen their use of primary sources, inquiry-based instruction, and local history. Grounded in the compelling question “What does freedom mean to you?”, this institute immerses participants in problem-based learning as they explore how themes of freedom, agency, and democracy have shaped Lancaster’s past and continue to inform its present. 

Participants will engage with historians, archivists, and fellow educators to analyze local primary sources, participate in site-based learning at the new Stevens & Smith Center for History and Democracy, and collaborate with LancasterHistory librarians to uncover meaningful resources connected to their grade level and subject area. By the end of the institute, each participant will design a classroom-ready inquiry unit that integrates local history, authentic primary sources, inclusive practices, and student-centered learning around the enduring question of freedom.

 *Will spend some of the days at the President Ave location (especially when are doing research) and will have some days downtown

This week-long institute engages educators in an in-depth exploration of restorative practices as a framework for fostering inclusive, equitable, and relational learning environments. Participants will: 1) examine the theoretical foundations and evidence-based strategies for restorative approaches, 2) participated in circle processes, and 3) develop restorative communication skills. Through guided reflection and collaborative planning, participants will develop a restorative practices philosophy, design strategies for applying restorative methods in their classrooms and schools to enhance both academic and social-emotional learning outcomes.

 

In an increasingly standardized system of public education, it may seem difficult, if not impossible, to engage students in real and meaningful teaching and learning. Problem-based learning (PBL) is one strategy that teachers can use to meet both the Pennsylvania Core Standards and the goals of a constructivist educator. This institute will help all types of teachers learn how to put PBL to use as an important tool in their teaching toolbox. Institute participants will get to spend a week working with fellow teachers immersed in hands-on activities learning how to solve real world problems using their creative abilities and engage in critical thinking.

 

Micro-Residency for Art Educators is a week-long intensive studio experience for art educators. Participants will have 24/7 studio access, participate in daily group critiques, and be inspired by a series of artist talks. Each participant will have access to Millersville University's studio facilities. The following studios will be available for participants to use: drawing, painting, fine art metals, sculpture, printmaking, computer/design lab, and photography. Participants will draft proposals prior to the residency that outline what they hope to work on and accomplish. Each participant will be assigned to a small group and a studio mentor for the purpose of group and individual critiques