Golden Triangle Curriculum Cooperative 2026 Summer Institute
Thank you for joining us this summer!

Course Formats & Attendance

  • All 2‑day courses run from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm with a 1‑hour lunch break.

  • Full attendance is required for both days; no partial credit is awarded.

  • Virtual courses require full and active participation on a computer with working audio and video functions. 

  • NEW: Single‑day August sessions: Details vary by course. Check individual course descriptions.

Registration Requirements

  • Courses with fewer than 10 participants by May 18, 2026, will be canceled and refunded.

  • Purchase orders are accepted when a PO number is provided.

Registration & Payment

  • After submitting your registration, you will be redirected to pay online.

  • Accepted payment methods include PayPal, Venmo, credit card, or personal check.

  • Registration is confirmed only after payment is received.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

  • Cancellations must be submitted before May 15, 2026, by email or phone:

    • brianna@gtccmt.org or (406) 434‑2745

  • Registration transfers may be allowed depending on course availability.

  • No refunds will be issued for no‑shows.

  • No refunds after May 15, 2026.

2-Day Course Registration Fees

  • $45 for GTCC members (Not sure? Reach out to Brianna at brianna@gtccmt.org—she’s happy to help you check.)

  • $110 for non‑members 

  • Fees are paid at the time of registration.

OPI Renewal Professional Development Units (PDUs)

  • Attendees of 2‑day courses will be awarded 15 OPI Renewal PDUs upon full participation and completion of both days.

College Credit Option (MSU‑Northern): Not all courses offer a college credit option. Please check course descriptions for availability.

  • If available, participants may choose to take a course for college credit instead of receiving 15 OPI Renewal PDUs for an additional $200 (payable to MSU‑Northern).

  • In‑person courses: College credit payment and required paperwork are completed at the course.

  • Virtual courses: Participants must contact Brianna before the course begins to request the necessary paperwork.

  • Processing: MSU‑Northern processes all college credit payments after each 2‑day course concludes.

Contact for Support

For registration assistance, contact: Brianna — brianna@gtccmt.org

JUNE & JULY (2-Day Sessions)

Register Here

2601: Teacher Glow-Up: Canva Edition

  • Instructor: Jessica Hanford

Discover how Canva can save you time and boost student engagement. In this hands-on two-day workshop, you will learn how to create polished lessons, worksheets, presentations, and student templates with ease. Participants will explore Canva for Education tools, simple design strategies, and time-saving features while creating resources they can immediately use in their classrooms. No design experience required—just click, create, and teach with confidence.

Register Here

2602: IEFA- Not just a Special Day

This course supports teachers in integrating Indian Education for All and educational perspectives across all subject areas. Led by a fellow educator and Montana Historical Society Teacher Leader, the course offers practical strategies, examples, and collaborative discussions to help teachers meaningfully embed IEFA, cultural contexts, and interdisciplinary connections into mathematics, science, language, social studies, and the arts. Each student will leave the class with real strategies and lessons that can be implemented into the classroom on the first day of school.

Register Here

2603: Electrify Your Summer! Introduction to Residential Wiring and Electricity

  • Instructor: Thad White

This course is designed for beginners. We will discuss basic electrical theory, common electrical tools and devices, and their applications. During this course, a variety of electrical topics will be discussed. This course will be very hands-on and self-paced. Participants will complete a series of common electrical circuits commonly found in a home to increase CTE content knowledge and pedagogical practices while teaching students.

Register Here

2604: Positive Interventions with Art Integration and Special Education

  • Instructor: Melanie Homegun

This course helps K–12 teachers and paraprofessionals use arts integration as a positive intervention for students in special education and those with 504 plans. Participants will explore research‑based strategies and meaningful accommodations that help students access grade‑level curriculum, engage in core subjects, and participate alongside same‑aged peers. Educators will learn how the visual and literary arts can support expression, strengthen academic skills, and build social thinking.

Inspired by the instructor’s dissertation, Aesthetics Thinking, this session highlights how the arts can enrich learning in reading, writing, and behavior support. Designed as a hands‑on, experiential class, participants will create and apply projects that better reach our most fragile learners and promote inclusive education for all.

Guided by a compassionate and deeply knowledgeable instructor, Melanie will help instructors create an encouraging space for learning in their classroom. This workshop offers practical strategies, real‑world examples, and plenty of hands‑on practice.

No art experience is necessary—just a willingness to explore new approaches that make learning more inclusive and accessible for every student.

Register Here

2605: Art as a Bridge to Literacy

  • Instructor: Dawn Sievers

Let’s energize your teaching with the power of art! If you’re ready to infuse your lessons with creativity and fun, this course is your perfect launch point. Your instructor will guide you through a series of accessible, engaging art projects designed to enrich reading and writing comprehension. You’ll discover how simple creative techniques can make a meaningful difference in reaching your students. As you learn, you’ll also create your own examples, experiencing each project just as your students would. No need to be “artistic”—we’ll explore, experiment, and learn together in a supportive environment.

Building on the spirit of last year’s session, this follow‑up course introduces art techniques we didn’t have time to explore previously, along with new approaches crafted to engage students with diverse learning styles. Participants will create hands-on projects that bridge creative expression and literacy skills, deepening reading comprehension and enriching writing instruction.

Join Dawn for a friendly, inspiring session that celebrates the powerful connection between art and literacy!

Register Here

2606: Teaching Smarter with AI: Learning, Literacy, and Time-Saving Tools

  • Instructors: Traci Piltz

This course empowers educators to confidently and responsibly integrate AI into their classrooms by focusing on both student learning and teacher productivity. Participants will explore practical, classroom-ready ways to use AI to personalize instruction, support diverse learners, streamline planning and feedback, and reduce everyday workload—without sacrificing instructional quality. The course also emphasizes AI literacy, helping educators and students understand how AI works, recognize its limitations, and consider ethical and responsible use in educational settings. Throughout the course, educators will explore and apply well-known AI tools such as SchoolAI, MagicSchool AI, Brisk Teaching, and Diffit, leaving with concrete strategies, time-saving workflows, and a shared language for using AI thoughtfully and effectively in teaching and learning.

Register Here

2607: Drawn to the Wild: An Art/STEAM Environmental Sculpture and Drawing Course

  • Instructor: Megan Genthner

Join this educational Art/STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) course designed to connect students with the natural environment. We will enjoy a field experience dedicated trip to Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in the Wild, to explore world-class, site-specific installations. The course is heavily influenced by this location, a 26-acre outdoor gallery in Lincoln that uses natural and industrial materials to tell the story of the Blackfoot Valley's cultural and environmental heritage. Participants will use this local landmark as a reference point for the creation of three-dimensional mock-ups of environmental art sculptures. This course will also explore essential art-making practices of design and composition with both 3-dimensional forms and 2-dimensional drawing. Each student will learn basic drawing skills through the practical application of graphite and charcoal, with the goal of accurately capturing the architectural design and aesthetic of the sculptures. As well as the true beauty of the wilderness. Participants will develop foundational drawing techniques as well as have the opportunity to bridge the gap between craft and medium by manufacturing their own willow vine charcoal utilizing the scientific method. Participants will collaborate in the development of a scientific procedure outline to make quality willow vine charcoal and data collection tables over a campfire lunch.

register here

2608: The Flourishing Classroom: Growing Happiness in Education

  • Instructor: Heidi Hooker

As educators, it's not unusual to feel stressed and underappreciated. Since it's nearly impossible to change the systemic issues we face daily, the alternative is to figure out how to flourish despite these challenging circumstances. Over the course of two days, we will discuss evidence-based practices that have been shown to improve well-being and happiness. Evidence-based happiness interventions (EBHI), while not magical techniques that instantly transform lives, are research-based and have been shown to increase positive emotions, hope, physical health, and emotional well-being. The best part is that many of these practices can be implemented in the classroom and taught directly to students, who we know are struggling now more than ever with negative emotions and declining well-being. The hope is that you leave this class with tools and strategies to improve your own well-being, as well as that of the students you teach.

Register Here

2609: Designing for Engagement: Simple Moves That Change Everything

  • Instructors: Brian Miller & Kasey Schurtz

This course introduces educators to the 6+1 Types of Engagement, a practical framework for creating classrooms where students are actively invested in learning. Participants will explore six key dimensions of engagement—academic, behavioral, cognitive, emotional, social, and creative—plus the “+1” of teacher engagement that drives and sustains all others. Through interactive activities, collaboration, and real classroom examples, teachers will learn how to recognize different forms of engagement and intentionally design lessons that increase participation, rigor, motivation, and student ownership. Educators will analyze current practices, redesign learning experiences using the 6+1 lens, and develop concrete strategies that can be implemented immediately. This course is designed for educators of all grade levels and content areas, providing universally applicable tools to strengthen engagement and improve learning outcomes for every student.

Register Here

2610: Regulate to Educate: Self‑Regulation and Student Regulation Strategies for a Successful School Year

  • Instructor: Roxie Benjamin

This course is a two-day immersive professional learning experience designed to equip educators with the personal and practical tools needed to create thriving classroom environments. Each day begins with intentional time dedicated to teacher regulation through guided yoga movement, breathwork, reflective practice, and a restorative sound bowl experience—a regulated classroom has to start with a regulated and supported educator first! This experience will allow educators to reset, refocus, and reconnect with their purpose. Building from this foundation of personal regulation, we will then move to exploring what a regulated classroom looks like- exploring research-based classroom management, classroom design, and ways to incorporate different engagement and regulation strategies to foster student engagement and consistent routines. We want to give educators a voice in this class, so please expect to receive an email before the course asking for feedback on any “hot topics” that cause dysregulation among teachers, paraprofessionals, and staff. Participants will also engage in collaborative planning on how to obtain any extra resources needed for a great year, and also explore how AI can help add to the overwhelming teacher workload.

Put on some comfy clothes and come on over to the Fort for some rest, regulation, and positive learning!

Register Here

2600-G: Golf: The Intersection of Human Connection and Scientific Principles

  • Instructor: Tom Reynolds & Wendy Reynolds

Discover how easy and enjoyable it can be to bring golf into your program, classroom, or personal skill set. This hands‑on course is designed to help you introduce the game with confidence and enthusiasm. You’ll explore essential skills—grip, stance, etiquette, and core techniques—through practical strategies that make golf accessible for beginners of all ages.

This course is led by a seasoned educator and coach with 26 years of golf‑coaching experience and a proven track record of building a successful middle school golf program. With expert guidance and engaging activities, you’ll gain the tools to teach, inspire, and help new players fall in love with the game.

Perfect for teachers, coaches, and anyone ready to share the lifelong joy of golf.

Register Here

2611: Teachers as Writers: Improving Composition Instruction Through Authentic Writing and a Supportive Learning Community

  • Instructor: Ashley Pankratz

Join me, a teacher-consultant for The Yellowstone Writing Project, and fellow teacher-writers (all experience levels welcome) as we re-energize our love of writing in this workshop-style PD. We will gather to rekindle the fire of authorship as we write and share in a supportive community of teachers of all grades and teachers just looking to grow in their composition instruction. Together, we’ll read and write as a community of learners and like-minded educators. In addition, we’ll share some of our favorite, classroom-tested lessons.  Join the camaraderie and share as we build an outstanding professional learning community of writing instructors.

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2612: All Hands on Deck: The Science of Reading and Literacy Interventions for All Content Areas

  • Instructors: Kristi Calvery & Heidi Hooker

The Science of Reading helps teachers understand how students learn to read—and why some struggle. Through this course, participants will explore comprehensive research drawn from cognitive psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, and educational practice. This knowledge will support teachers in rethinking and refining their approach to literacy instruction to ensure all students have the tools they need to thrive in every classroom.

Participants will also learn practical, classroom-ready activities and collaborate to workshop a literacy intervention plan that can be implemented in their classrooms in the coming year.

Register Here

2613: Suite Success: Google Tools for Educators

  • Instructor: Courtney Prosenick

This is a hands-on workshop designed to empower teachers with practical strategies for integrating Google Workspace into their classrooms. Led by an enthusiastic, approachable instructor, this session creates a supportive environment where educators—especially novice users—can feel comfortable exploring new tools! 

This course provides educators with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to streamline everyday tasks, enhance collaboration, and engage students through digital tools that are both accessible and impactful. Participants will explore the full suite of Google applications, including Docs, Slides, Sheets, Forms, Drive, Classroom, and Gemini (Google’s AI) through guided demonstrations, interactive practice, and real-world teaching scenarios. 

You’ll leave with practical tips, time‑saving tricks, and plenty of opportunities to build confidence with tools you can immediately apply in your classroom!

Register Here

2614: MAST Mysteries and Assessment Auditing Unlocked!

  • Instructor: Nichole Pieper 

This course strengthens educators’ assessment literacy by focusing on the design of high-quality, standards-aligned assessments that accurately measure student learning. Participants will examine formative, interim, and summative assessments; analyze rigor and depth of knowledge; and develop assessment tasks aligned to Montana Content Standards. A key component of the course is building understanding of the Montana Aligned Summative Testing (MAST) system, including test structure, sample question types, and how classroom assessments can support and complement MAST expectations. Educators will learn how to access, interpret, and apply MAST reports to identify instructional strengths, address learning gaps, and plan targeted re-teaching and instructional adjustments that support improved student achievement.

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2615: Integrating Native Stories, Art, Culture, and Games Into K–5 Learning

  • Instructor: Mona Shortman

Did you know that OPI sends high‑quality Native American literature directly to your school library? Many teachers aren’t aware these resources are already on their shelves — and this workshop is designed to help you make the most of them! This two‑day, hands‑on class will show you how to use the literature you already have, along with other free resources, use the GTCC curriculum for grades K–5, while honoring the intent of Indian Education for All (IEFA).

Participants will:

  • Explore the OPI‑provided literature already available in their libraries

  • Connect Native American texts to Math, Art, Social Studies, Language Arts, and more

  • Access free, classroom‑ready resources from OPI and other trusted sources

  • Build lessons that integrate into existing units

  • Learn and play traditional Native American games

  • Create culturally respectful art projects

  • Leave with practical tools, strategies, and confidence to teach Native content accurately and meaningfully

This isn’t a sit‑and‑get workshop! You’ll be moving, creating, and collaborating. From art make‑and‑takes to interactive games, you’ll gather a collection of ready‑to‑use materials that bring Native perspectives to life in authentic, respectful ways.

Register Here

2616: Think It! Read It! Build It!

  • Instructors: Michelle Lindbloom

Think It. Read It. Build It. is a two-day, interactive professional learning experience designed to help educators intentionally integrate critical thinking, literacy, and STREAM instruction through project-based learning. Participants will engage in hands-on, collaborative activities that model how reading, thinking, and creating can work together to deepen student understanding across content areas. 

Grounded in the Science of Reading, this course demonstrates how explicit reading practices—such as decoding, language comprehension, and knowledge-building—can be embedded naturally within STREAM projects. Educators will explore how purposeful text selection, structured discussion, and problem-solving tasks support students in making meaning from text while applying their learning through design and creation.  

Over two days, participants will collaborate with peers to experience a complete STREAM project from the learner’s perspective, analyze instructional moves, and reflect on how these strategies transfer to their own classrooms. Time is intentionally built in for collaboration, planning, and discussion, allowing educators to adapt activities for different grade levels and learning needs. 

By the end of the course, participants will leave with practical strategies, adaptable project ideas, and a clear framework for designing STREAM experiences that grow confident readers and critical thinkers.

Register Here

2617: Teach Smarter, Not Harder: Research to Practice

  • Instructor: Rachel Christensen

This course connects educational research to effective classroom practice by examining high-impact research-based instructional strategies. Participants will explore key research findings related to student engagement, clarity, feedback, and academic achievement, and learn how to apply these practices in real classroom settings. The session moves beyond theory to provide practical, classroom-ready strategies, examples, and tools teachers can use immediately. Educators will leave with a flexible toolbox of research-based tips and techniques designed to improve student engagement and learning outcomes across grade levels and content areas.

REGISTER HERE

2618: Springtime Spark: Planting Engagement Through Play and Books

  • Instructors: Wendy Reynolds & Kris Paro

Beat the spring slump with a high‑energy workshop packed with centers, games, and book‑inspired activities. You’ll build multiple make‑and‑take projects for math, language arts, and science topics tied to spring themes—gardening, insects, farming, and more. Kris brings brand-new games, and Wendy shares exciting book‑based ideas—giving you everything you need to keep students motivated from March through June.

REGISTER HERE

2619: Build, Launch, Create! Hands-On Collaborative STEAM Challenges for Meaningful Learning

  • Instructors: Amanda Blair & Amanda Tramill

This interactive two-day course transforms everyday materials into powerful learning experiences. Through hands-on STEAM challenges—such as rocket launches, piñata construction, mask design, and skyscraper building—participants will explore how to integrate creativity, engineering, and problem-solving into the classroom. The course emphasizes executive functioning skills, collaboration, and inclusive practices, with a focus on supporting students with IEPs and 504 plans. Educators will learn how to intentionally align STEAM activities with curriculum standards while creating accessible, engaging learning environments for all students.

AUGUST (Single-Day Sessions)

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26-M: Emergency Medical Response Training: CPR/AED/First Aid

  • Instructor: Kia Mathews

This interactive course teaches the essential skills to respond safely and confidently during emergencies. Participants will learn High‑Performance CPR. They will also be trained in the proper use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), a device commonly found in schools and public spaces. In addition, participants will gain practical experience in basic First Aid. Certification available.

register here

26-L: Level Up Your Library: Mastering Your Follett Library System

  • Instructor: Wendy Reynolds

Do you feel you are utilizing your Follett system to the fullest? Do you have questions about inventory, copy categories, setting up students so they can see what they have checked out, or more? This workshop is designed for you to delve into Follett so that you may get more out of your library system.