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Keeping the Wonder: An Educator’s Guide to Magical, Engaging, and Joyful Learning

Class Details

  • Class Type: Online
  • Date: 9/21/2026 - 11/15/2026
  • Adams State Credit: 3
  • Nonmember Price: $235
  • CEA Member Price: $135

  • Registration for the optional graduate credits ($55 per credit) is a separate transaction through Adams State. Registration information will be available after you enroll and once the course is listed on the graduate credit portal.

  • Currently Enrolled: 1 of 30
  • Class Type: Online
  • Date: 1/26/2026 - 3/22/2026
  • Adams State Credit: 3
  • Nonmember Price: $235
  • CEA Member Price: $135

  • Registration for the optional graduate credits ($55 per credit) is a separate transaction through Adams State. Registration information will be available after you enroll and once the course is listed on the graduate credit portal.

  • Currently Enrolled: 11 of 30
  • Class Type: Online
  • Date: 6/8/2026 - 8/2/2026
  • Adams State Credit: 3
  • Nonmember Price: $235
  • CEA Member Price: $135

  • Registration for the optional graduate credits ($55 per credit) is a separate transaction through Adams State. Registration information will be available after you enroll and once the course is listed on the graduate credit portal.

  • Currently Enrolled: 12 of 30

About the Course

What if your classroom became a place where students couldn't wait to learn? Keeping the Wonder is a book study designed to help educators reignite curiosity, foster creativity, and create learning experiences that students will remember long after the lesson ends.

Based on the powerful book Keeping the Wonder, this course explores four essential elements that transform student engagement: surprise, curiosity, freedom, and inspiration. Through research-based practices, meaningful reflection, and practical classroom applications, you'll discover how to design lessons that capture students' attention, encourage deeper thinking, and inspire a genuine love of learning.

Throughout this online course, you'll reflect on your own teaching practices and leave with ready-to-use strategies that can be implemented immediately in your classroom. Whether you're looking to increase student engagement, boost motivation, or simply bring more joy back into teaching, this book study will equip you with practical tools to make learning more meaningful for every student.

If you're ready to move beyond compliance and cultivate a classroom where curiosity thrives, creativity flourishes, and students are excited to learn, this course is for you. Join other educators who want to keep wonder at the heart of teaching and discover how small shifts in your practice can lead to lasting impact for both you and your students.

Required Text:

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • Understand and explain the importance of keeping wonder alive in the classroom.
  • Create and design engaging ways to capture students’ interest.
  • Develop ways to incorporate surprise, curiosity, freedom, and inspiration into their classrooms. 
  • Implement practical strategies to ignite students’ creativity and imagination.
  • Reflect on the power of cultivating wonder and the love of learning in their classroom.
  • Grade(s): Pre-K Kindergarten 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade 9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade Elementary K-5 Secondary 6-12
  • Subject(s): Art/Music Career And Technical Comprehensive Health Dance Drama/Theater Arts Education Support Professionals English Language Arts Math Music Physical Education Science Social Studies Specialized Service Providers Technology Visual Arts World Languages
  • Teacher Quality Standard(s): QS 1.C QS 2.A QS 2.B QS 2.C QS 3.A QS 3.D QS 3.E QS 4.C

Facilitator

Michelle Hagerman

Michelle Hagerman is currently an elementary school teacher in Mesa County, Grand Junction. She has taught 5th grade and 3rd grade at the same school in Mesa County. She has 10 years of education under her belt. However, her journey of helping kids began as she learned alongside her mother, who ran a summer school in Hawai'i, where Michelle was born and raised. At an early age, she was supporting students inside and outside the classroom. She has forever had a passion for helping students succeed academically as well as socially and emotionally. 

Michelle has developed CO Pilot classes around the demands of being a teacher nowadays, with the heart of focusing on students' and teachers' emotional well-being. She recognizes the impact as well as the workload teachers as asked to do day-in-and-day-out. Her why for being a facilitator for CO Pilot is around the essence that teachers need to know their work matters, they are changing lives, and that they feel seen. She is constantly in the know about new websites, book studies, and techniques to help support students and teachers inside and outside of the classroom. 

Michelle holds a BA in Elementary Education from Colorado Mesa University and an M.A. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Northern Colorado. 

Facilitator

Michelle Hagerman

Michelle Hagerman is currently an elementary school teacher in Mesa County, Grand Junction. She has taught 5th grade and 3rd grade at the same school in Mesa County. She has 10 years of education under her belt. However, her journey of helping kids began as she learned alongside her mother, who ran a summer school in Hawai'i, where Michelle was born and raised. At an early age, she was supporting students inside and outside the classroom. She has forever had a passion for helping students succeed academically as well as socially and emotionally. 

Michelle has developed CO Pilot classes around the demands of being a teacher nowadays, with the heart of focusing on students' and teachers' emotional well-being. She recognizes the impact as well as the workload teachers as asked to do day-in-and-day-out. Her why for being a facilitator for CO Pilot is around the essence that teachers need to know their work matters, they are changing lives, and that they feel seen. She is constantly in the know about new websites, book studies, and techniques to help support students and teachers inside and outside of the classroom. 

Michelle holds a BA in Elementary Education from Colorado Mesa University and an M.A. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Northern Colorado. 

Reviews

Whitney Bernhardt
Such a great course! This is my third class with Michelle, and I can't recommend her enough! Meaningful assignments at a manageable pace and ideas/strategies that I can immediately use in my classroom. Michelle always provides quick and thoughtful feedback. I’m leaving this course feeling inspired!
Kim DuBose
This was a great class to take with Michelle. The assignments were structured in a way to remind everyone that we need to keep bringing that joy into the classroom. The reading and videos allow for some great reflection so that teachers can strengthen their teaching. I would highly recommend this course.
Christopher Lambrecht
Awesome class! I have taken classes with Michelle before and I find here classes very useful. The assignments are well thought out and help me to be a better teacher. I would definitely recommend taking this class!

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