Events

According to the NAEP National Reading Report Card, only 35% of 4th grade public school students can read at or above grade level.  It’s important for educators to not only explore what might be behind this staggering percentage, but also identify what they can do to support and grow the foundational reading skills of their students.No matter how many books we surround children with, they will not master reading without instruction. 

During this self-paced course, participants will listen and reflect on American Public Media’s podcast "Sold a Story" and the existing body of research about how children learn to read. Then, participants will explore strategies from the book Shifting the Balance K-2: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Balanced Literacy Classroom and plan how to implement those practices into their classrooms. 

As part of this workshop, we will assemble a take-away bundle for each participant which includes: a copy of the book, a surprise gift, and information on the course. You will be notified before the course starts when bundles will be available for pickup at our office, 300 Heart Blvd. Loves Park, IL 61111.

Are you a Grade 3-5 teacher? Sign up for this exact course with the NEW Shifting the Balance 3-5 book.

According to the NAEP National Reading Report Card, only 35% of 4th grade public school students can read at or above grade level.  It’s important for educators to not only explore what might be behind this staggering percentage, but also identify what they can do to support and grow the foundational reading skills of their students.No matter how many books we surround children with, they will not master reading without instruction. 

During this self-paced course, participants will listen and reflect on American Public Media’s podcast "Sold a Story" and the existing body of research about how children learn to read. Then, participants will explore strategies from the NEW book Shifting the Balance 3-5: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Upper Elementary Classroom and plan how to implement those practices into their classrooms. 

As part of this workshop, we will assemble a take-away bundle for each participant which includes: a copy of the book, a surprise gift, and information on the course. You will be notified before the course starts when bundles will be available for pickup at our office, 300 Heart Blvd. Loves Park, IL 61111.

Are you a Grade K-2 teacher? Sign up for this exact course with the Shifting the Balance K-2 book.

Participants of this online, self-paced course will learn about the theoretical foundations of restorative justice and understand the value of ritualized relationship building to create a proactive, healthy, and connected culture within their school community. Additionally, explore pratical restorative strategies for classrooms, such as: community building circles, norm-setting circles, restorative conversations, peace circles, and re-entry policies when harm has occurred. If you are new to restorative practices or need additional resources/tools to use with your students, join us!

Materials developed and presented by Kristin McKay from A Just Approach, LLC.

This is a self-paced online course. Participants must complete ALL required coursework within 60 days to receive their PDCs. Partial PDCs will not be awarded. Enrollment registration fee is non-refundable!

$25 discounted course rate provided courtesy of the Area 2 SEL Hub.

Illinois Assessment of Readiness: three words that bring anxiety and stress to many educators. What if you were given the resources to develop formative and summative assessments that mirror IAR? We will discuss how you can incorporate IAR-style assessments into your curriculum throughout the year so you can avoid the IAR prep that is crammed into the months of February and March. We will explore the "big ideas" behind IAR prep, provide you with resources to make assessment creation easier, and, finally, allow you the time to create your own IAR-style assessments. You already have engaging lessons and ongoing assessments in your classroom, so join us as you modify, borrow, and restructure the excellent work you are already doing to help your students prepare for the IAR test!

Presented by Elizabeth Hand.

This is a self-paced online course. Participants must complete ALL required coursework within 60 days to receive their PDCs. Partial PDCs will not be awarded. Enrollment registration fee is non-refundable!

Are you an HR professional or novice with HR duties? Ever want to phone a friend when you don’t know the answer to a complicated HR situation, question, or concern? If the answer is yes, join us! The HR Advisory Council is a resource on current issues, trends, and topics and an opportunity to collaborate as professionals so we are sure to have the right tools and information necessary to support our employees.

If you are interested in attending either in-person (Hononegah Community High School District 307, ROOM 1102, Salem Street, Rockton, IL 61072) or virtually, please register to be added to the email list and to receive the Zoom link. This event is open for HR staff members across all of Illinois and meets the second Tuesday of each month.

Please feel free to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for any additional questions. See you soon!

School Bus Driver 2-Hour Refresher Course

Bus drivers are required to take a 2-hour refresher course each year to keep their permit current. Drivers or their district/company must pre-register here with the Regional Office of Education ($10.00 fee required at time of registration).

Course Information:

Drivers MUST BE REGISTERED TO ATTEND. Please register in groups of 1-10 participants until the class capacity has been reached. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Phone-in or email registrations are no longer accepted for any bus driver training classes held at ROE 4. Once the class size has reached capacity, no further registrations will be accepted - NO EXCEPTIONS!

This course is held in the Regional Office of Education Main Training Room, 300 Heart Blvd, Loves Park, IL 61111. (Addresses of courses held at other locations are as listed in the School Bus Driver Training Schedule). Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Classes start promptly at 6:00 p.m. LATE ARRIVALS AND WALK-INS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED. No refunds will be given for no shows or within seven (7) days of this class. 

Join us for an open discussion on current educational technology topics and trends. This networking meeting is open to all educational technology positions including technology directors, instructional technology coaches, and any other positions interested in discussing the current state of technology in our schools. While a short presentation may lead off our time together, the majority of the meeting will be open for participants to share their experiences and challenges with the group.

This online, self-paced course is intended for ANYONE who works with students of any age and wants to develop strategies to understand behavior, proactively work through behavior and learn to self-regulate above all else. Bring an open mind to learning about human behavior and see behavior through a new persepctive!

Materials developed and presented by Heidy LaFleur.

This is a self-paced online course. Participants must complete ALL required coursework within 60 days to receive 12 PDCs. Partial PDCs will not be awarded. Enrollment registration fee is non-refundable! Participants can also elect to receive 1 graduate credit from the University of St. Francis. Note that participants will need to apply and meet the requirements through the University of St. Francis independently.

$50 discounted course rate provided courtesy of the Area 2 SEL Hub.

In this self-paced course, participants new to mindfulness will investigate and engage with its pillars, and walk away with focused mindfulness practices that will help manage stress & physical/emotional pain as well as improve attention and communication. After all, in order for us to model mindfulness for our students, we must first practice it ourselves.  This workshop is for K-12.

Presented by Casey Veitch, GroundED Learning, LLC.

This is a self-paced online course. Participants must complete ALL required coursework within 60 days to receive 7 PDCs. Partial PDCs will not be awarded. Enrollment registration fee is non-refundable!

We are excited to bring a new edition of our online course, Tech Takeout, to the world of library science! Learn about educational technology applications that will help your students and staff collaborate in effective and creative ways. Participants will have access to training videos, practice samples, and additional resources for Jamboard, Dotstorming, Padlet, and Flip. Join us for this unique and fun professional learning, including a takeout bundle with two surprise gifts inside -- one courtesy of Nunzio's, Loves Park, IL!

Materials developed and presented by Holly Kelly of the Learning Technology Center of Illinois.

This is a self-paced online course. Participants must complete ALL required coursework within 60 days to receive their PDCs. Partial PDCs will not be awarded. Enrollment registration fee is non-refundable!

The Google Suite of tools opens up so many possibilities for our students beyond word processing and creating slide shows. During this workshop, participants will look at new strategies for leveraging the full capacity of the Google Suite and other amazing digital tools, all while learning how to effectively distribute and manage these activities through Google Classroom. From creating hyperdocs to creating video with Adobe Creative Cloud Express, we will explore how to leverage Chrome and the Google tools effectively in your classroom. Join us for this unique and fun professional learning, including a takeout bundle with two surprise gifts inside -- one courtesy of Nunzio's, Loves Park, IL!

Materials developed and presented by Ben Sondgeroth of LTC Illinois.

This is a self-paced online course. Participants must complete ALL required coursework within 60 days to receive their PDCs. Partial PDCs will not be awarded. Enrollment registration fee is non-refundable!

This online, self-paced class features the basics of how trauma impacts the body, brain and behavior. It offers not only an understanding of trauma and what trauma-informed teaching looks like in practice, but over 20 practical strategies to help our traumatized and misunderstood students thrive.

Materials developed and presented by Heidy LaFleur.

This is a self-paced online course. Participants must complete ALL required coursework within 60 days to receive 12 PDCs. Partial PDCs will not be awarded. Enrollment registration fee is non-refundable! Participants can also elect to receive 1 graduate credit from the University of St. Francis. Note that participants will need to apply and meet the requirements through the University of St. Francis independently.

$50 discounted course rate provided courtesy of the Area 2 SEL Hub.

The Fine Arts play a vital role in our students’ education and our schools. This online course will help ensure your fine arts programs and students thrive by helping you break down the Illinois Arts Standards and implement authentic and effective assessment strategies. The art and science of a balanced assessment plan will help enhance your daily practices and further support your students’ artistic expression and creative growth!

Materials presented by Jonathan Grice, director of Fine Arts at Adlai E. Stevenson High School.

This is a self-paced online course. Participants must complete ALL required coursework within 60 days to receive their PDCs. Partial PDCs will not be awarded. Enrollment registration fee is non-refundable! Participants can also elect to receive 1 graduate credit from the University of St. Francis. Note that participants will need to apply and meet the requirements through the University of St. Francis independently.

This self-paced, online course offers support and guidance in the Educator’s journey of well-being through SEL and Mindfulness.  Included are a variety of tips and interactive activities to help you identify your own needs and implement helpful practices to improve your well-being. You will leave with a toolbox of information and simple practices to effectively advocate for your well-being in educational spaces and beyond.

This course is being brought to you in partnership with Mindful Practices, LLC.

This is a self-paced online course. Participants must complete ALL required coursework within 60 days to receive their PDCs. Partial PDCs will not be awarded. Enrollment registration fee is non-refundable!

Participants will learn about the CASEL 5 and how each component relates to secondary mathematics. Aspects of self-awareness, self management, responsible decision-making, relationship skills and social awareness will be explored using over 20 helpful resources. Instructional shifts like group work, problem-based lessons, choice boards, goal setting, and feedback in the secondary mathematics classroom will be explored and connected to each of the components.

Materials developed and presented by Sarah Watson.

This is a self-paced online course. Participants must complete ALL required coursework within 60 days to receive their PDCs. Partial PDCs will not be awarded. Enrollment registration fee is non-refundable!

Registration fee has been discounted to $25, courtesy of the Area 2 SEL Hub.

School Bus Driver 2-Hour Refresher Course

Bus drivers are required to take a 2-hour refresher course each year to keep their permit current. Drivers or their district/company must pre-register here with the Regional Office of Education ($10.00 fee required at time of registration).

Course Information:

Drivers MUST BE REGISTERED TO ATTEND. Please register in groups of 1-10 participants until the class capacity has been reached. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Phone-in or email registrations are no longer accepted for any bus driver training classes held at ROE 4. Once the class size has reached capacity, no further registrations will be accepted - NO EXCEPTIONS!

This course is held in the Regional Office of Education Main Training Room, 300 Heart Blvd, Loves Park, IL 61111. (Addresses of courses held at other locations are as listed in the School Bus Driver Training Schedule). Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Classes start promptly at 6:00 p.m. LATE ARRIVALS AND WALK-INS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED. No refunds will be given for no shows or within seven (7) days of this class. 

School Bus Driver 8-Hour Initial Course

New Bus Drivers are required to attend an 8-hour training course. Pre-register for this course with the Regional Office of Education ($10.00 fee required) at the orange REGISTRATION (GROUP) button below. You must be currently employed by a bus company or school district.

Illinois Professional School Bus Driver Training Curriculum: https://www.isbe.net/Documents/busdriver_trainmanual.pdf

Course Information:

Drivers MUST BE REGISTERED TO ATTEND. Please register in groups of 1-10 participants until the class capacity has been reached. Note: Even if you are only registering one school bus driver, please select REGISTRATION (GROUP). Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Phone-in or email registrations are no longer accepted for any school bus driver training classes held at ROE 4. Once the class size has reached capacity, no further registrations will be accepted - NO EXCEPTIONS!

This course is held in the Regional Office of Education Main Training Room, 300 Heart Blvd, Loves Park, IL 61111. (Addresses of courses held at other locations are as listed in the School Bus Driver Training Schedule). Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Classes start promptly at 6:00 p.m. LATE ARRIVALS AND WALK-INS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED. No refunds will be given for no shows or within seven (7) days of this class. 

K-12 teachers, administrators, counselors, social workers, SEL Teams! Let's examine the critical relationship between Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and student success within the context of your school's Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS). This informational session will outline tools for strengthening that relationship through a live demonstration of the cutting-edge Class Catalyst solution from Mindful Practices. Practical examples and case studies illustrating the positive impact of SEL and MTSS integration on student engagement, behavior management, and academic performance will be showcased. Attendees will also experience a demonstration of Class Catalyst's user-friendly interface that empowers educators to track student progress, identify patterns, and intervene proactively. 

Meeting Focus:

• Briefly examine how SEL strategies can seamlessly integrate into a school's existing MTSS framework, creating a comprehensive support system for students at all levels of need.
• Discover the innovative features of Class Catalyst and how, in three minutes or less, teachers and school-based mental health professionals can seamlessly bring the best evidence-based SEL practices into their classrooms, while connecting discreetly with each student in a safe, private, and non-confrontational way.

JOIN US, and let's pave the way for a more holistic approach to nurturing student success and well-being!

Registration Deadline is January 16 at 3:00 p.m.

Invite your coworkers and friends on the registration page!

This is one of the Teacher Evaluator Professional Practice academies that needs to be taken for Retraining of Teacher Evaluators. This AA must be paired with AA 3000 to fulfill the entire retraining requirement. Course credit = 1 AA or 6 PDCs.

Focusing on Domains 2 and 3 of the Charlotte Danielson 2013 Framework for Teaching, this academy allows participants to learn effective skills and strategies for using framework in a summative setting. 

Presenter: Shay McCorkle

Registration Deadline: 1/16/24 at 12pm!

Are you feeling overwhelmed with the sheer amount of information related to literacy instruction? Embark on a comprehensive journey into the heart of literacy instruction with our foundational event—a gateway to a series of comprehensive workshops designed exclusively for PreK-12 educators. Participants will delve into the evolution of literacy education, gaining crucial insights into its historical context. From the roots of literacy to the branches of modern methodologies, this event will equip educators with a holistic understanding of the field of literacy, as well as prepare them for our upcoming series of literacy workshops. Join us at the starting line of this immersive literacy journey, where the pages of the past and the future converge to illuminate the path towards elevating literacy instruction in your classroom.

This is a two-day event held on January 22 & January 29, 2024 from 8:30am to 3:30pm.  We highly encourage those interested in any of our literacy events to attend this first, comprehensive overview session. You must attend the first date to attend the second; attendance will be recorded.