Summer Courses for Current Teachers
Explore new ideas, sharpen your practice, and connect with fellow educators this summer. Designed for current teachers, these courses help you deepen your expertise, expand your instructional toolkit, and stay inspired in a rapidly evolving field.
Whether you’re looking to strengthen your classroom strategies, support diverse learners, explore new technologies like AI, or grow as a leader, our flexible offerings make it easy to learn on your schedule. Join a community of educators committed to continuous growth, and bring fresh energy and ideas back to your classroom this fall.
These courses are open to degree-seeking AND non-degree-seeking students at George Mason University.
Apply here as a non-degree graduate student.
| Course |
Description |
Dates |
Contact |
|
Examines the historical development of literary works written for and about young adults. Considers critical issues surrounding the use and teaching of young adult literature in today’s culturally diverse public schools. Requires the reading and review of young adult literature in a variety of genres. |
- May 18 - June 26
- summer A
- hybrid (M/W in person, F synchronous)
|
Madelyn Wells |
|
Incorporates understanding about teaching science and engineering practices in K-12 classrooms. Builds fundamental knowledge of science and engineering disciplinary practices and skills to weave this knowledge explicitly in curriculum. Focuses on developing researched-based lessons for students to investigate science phenomenon and engineering problems. |
- May 18 - June 26
- summer A
- asynchronous online
|
Dr. Erin Peters-Burton |
|
Provides study of the issues, concepts, and problems of secondary education practice related to difficult history, including traumatic historical events and moments. Enables students to create culturally responsive, student-centered secondary education lesson plans focused on difficult history topics. |
- May 26 - July 25
- summer B
- in person
|
Dr. Lynda Herrera |
|
Explores the use of a variety of texts in K-8 settings with a focus on format, genre, curricular connections, and overall utility in broadly diverse classrooms. |
- May 26 - July 25
- summer B
- asynchronous online
|
Dr. Jennifer Hathaway |
|
Examines language and literacy processes of adolescent learners. Builds understanding of reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing, and visually representing in content areas. Evaluates disciplinary instructional strategies to support students’ development of academic language and comprehension, including adaptations for diverse learners’ needs. Fosters an awareness of the role of multiple texts and independent reading in adolescent learners’ literacy practices. |
- May 26 - July 25
- summer B
- asynchronous online
|
Dr. Jennifer Hathaway |
| Course |
Description |
Dates |
Contact |
|
Examines needs of gifted and talented learners by exploring their varied characteristics. Analyzes the role of culture, language, income, dis/ability, and ethnicity in the manifestation and identification of gifts and talents. Prepares teachers to examine issues in gifted education, and recognize and advocate for underrepresented student groups in gifted programs.
|
- May 26 - July 25
- summer B
- asynchronous online
|
Shannon King |
|
Provides new knowledge for classroom teachers who wish to know more about second language acquisition and how to effectively serve English Learners in their classrooms and schools. Examines research in first and second language acquisition, bilingualism, and includes teachers’ application of new knowledge for culturally responsive curriculum development and student assessment. |
- May 18 - July 14
- summer E
- asynchronous online
|
Dr. Nancy Holincheck |
|
Develops personal and professional rationale for differentiating instruction in mixed-ability classrooms. Explores the principles of effective differentiation and translates those principles to classroom actions. Expands knowledge and skills with assessment data and strategies to plan and implement differentiated instruction for diverse gifted learners. |
- May 26 - July 25
- summer B
- asynchronous online
|
Shannon King |
|
Examines child and adolescent development from diverse perspectives. Addresses typical and atypical physical, social and emotional, language, and intellectual development. Explores role of individual differences and culture in understanding and interpreting child and adolescent development. |
- May 26 - July 25
- summer B
- asynchronous online
|
Dr. Daniel Ferguson |
|
Focuses on strategies for developing culturally appropriate family professional engagement to benefit children, including children from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and children with special needs. Explores theories and research supporting a family-centered approach, including family and professional rights and responsibilities, especially in the special education process. |
- May 18 - July 14
- summer E
- synchronous online
|
Dr. Colleen Vesely |
|
Surveys current knowledge about young children with disabilities within the context of human growth and development and learning expectations in the preschool years. Includes historical factors and legislation affecting service delivery. Notes: Field experience required. |
- May 18 - July 14
- summer E
- synchronous online
|
Dr. Samita Arora |
|
Provides a survey of current knowledge on individuals with disabilities within the context of human growth and development across the lifespan. Includes historical factors, legal aspects, etiology, characteristics, assessment, evidence-based practices, and support services for individuals having needs for intervention ranging from mild to severe. Includes the impact of disabilities on academic, social, and emotional performances framed within the teaching profession as a whole. Meets VDOE course requirement for provisional licensure in K12 Special Education-General, K12 Adapted, or PK12 Blindness & Visual Impairments. |
- May 18 - June 26
- summer A
- asynchronous online
|
Dr. Kristen O'Brien |
|
Provides a survey of current knowledge on individuals with disabilities within the context of human growth and development across the lifespan. Includes historical factors, legal aspects, etiology, characteristics, assessment, evidence-based practices, and support services for individuals having needs for intervention ranging from mild to severe. Includes the impact of disabilities on academic, social, and emotional performances framed within the teaching profession as a whole. Meets VDOE course requirement for provisional licensure in K12 Special Education-General, K12 Adapted, or PK12 Blindness & Visual Impairments. |
- June 28 - August 5
- summer C
- asynchronous online
|
Dr. Peggy Weiss |
|
Provides a survey of current knowledge on individuals with disabilities within the context of human growth and development across the lifespan. Includes historical factors, legal aspects, etiology, characteristics, assessment, evidence-based practices, and support services for individuals having needs for intervention ranging from mild to severe. Includes the impact of disabilities on academic, social, and emotional performances framed within the teaching profession as a whole. Meets VDOE course requirement for provisional licensure in K12 Special Education-General, K12 Adapted, or PK12 Blindness & Visual Impairments. |
- May 18 - August 17
- summer S4
- asynchronous online
|
Dr. Grace Francis |
|
Explores the applications of computer technology for instructional programs and computer skills used by teachers of special populations. Provides experience with computer technology designed for special populations |
- May 18 - July 25
- summer D
- asynchronous online
|
Dr. Yoosun Chung |
| Course |
Description |
Dates |
Contact |
|
Focuses on program development, health content, methodology, and resources for teaching preK-12 health education. Open to health and physical education teachers, as well as all educators who wish to learn more about teaching health.
|
- May 18 - June 23
- summer A
- asynchronous online
|
Risto Marttinen |
|
Explores the foundations of informal measurement and geometry in one, two, and three dimensions across the K-8 curriculum. Open to all practicing K-8 teachers who wish to deepen their spatial reasoning and pedagogical approach to geometric concepts. |
- May 18 - June 23
- summer A
- synchronous online
|
Theresa Wills |
|
Explores social studies content, assessment, curriculum development, planning, and instructional practices. Examines strategies for guiding children’s behavior, integrating social studies instruction across content areas, and planning and implementing community of learners inclusive of children with diverse abilities and cultural, linguistic, and socio-economic backgrounds. |
- May 18-July 25
- summer D
- synchronous online
|
Dr. Bweikia Steen |
|
Examines ways to foster development of mathematics in preschool to third-grade children. Covers construction of mathematics lessons and hands-on experiences that promote learning in children with diverse abilities and cultural and linguistic backgrounds. |
- May 18-July 14
- summer E
- synchronous online
|
Dr. Carley Fisher-Maltese |
| Course |
Description |
Dates |
Contact |
|
Explores the integration and application of generative AI technologies in educational settings. Examines AI's potential to enhance teaching and learning through personalized instruction, automated feedback, and innovative content creation. Investigates ethical considerations, data privacy, and the impact on educational equity. Engages students in developing and implementing AI-driven educational tools. |
- May 26 - July 25
- summer B
- asynchronous online
|
Dr. Jered Borup |
|
Get hands on practice creating accessible MS Word, MS PPT, Adobe PDFs, and basic websites. |
- May 18 - July 10
- summer SE
- asynchronous online
|
Dr. Lisa Giacumo |
|
Get hands on practice using learning analytics to inform decisions or influence leaders, given LMS content delivery to teachers, or parents, or even K12 online courses. |
- June 25 - August 20
- summer S2
- asynchronous online
|
Dr. Lisa Giacumo |
|
Explores the impact of social media, globalization, collaboration, and diversity as they enable and challenge learners' ability to participate in a variety of community settings. Emphasizes design strategies to prepare PreK-12 learners to use technology for learning and participating in diverse communities. Email dhathawa@gmu.edu for more information. |
- May 18 - August 8
- full summer semester
- asynchronous online
|
Dr. Dawn Hathaway |
| Course |
Description |
Dates |
Contact |
|
Examines teacher leadership as a vehicle for professional growth and change. Focuses on the role of teacher learning in strengthening school capacity and offers teachers a foundation for enacting teacher leadership in their own school contexts via mentoring, collaboration, and related professional development endeavors. |
- May 18 - June 23
- summer A
- asynchronous online
|
Dr. Stephanie Dodman |
| |
Explores developmental issues associated with middle and high school students, and theories that provide basis for understanding learning process. Addresses implications for designing instruction and curriculum. |
- June 28 - August 3
- summer C
- hybrid
|
Dr. Andrew Porter |
|
Analyzes foundational frameworks for developing perspectives for working with culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse young learners, birth to age 8, and their families. Examines foundational work from fields of early childhood education, early childhood special education, multicultural education, and second language acquisition. Notes: Must be taken as final course or with final courses of the program. |
- May 18 - July 14
- summer E
- synchronous online
|
Dr. Leslie La Croix |
