tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516000.post6462542925951369179..comments2023-10-19T08:18:37.317-07:00Comments on Mildly Melancholy: The Tenets of Good Professional DevelopmentNacho Loverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11370735026568009605noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516000.post-18203517480120923902012-04-17T19:43:01.582-07:002012-04-17T19:43:01.582-07:00In addition Professional Development courses are e...In addition <a href="http://www.empoweronline.com.au/" rel="nofollow">Professional Development</a> courses are either general, or skill- based. General professional development caters to general skills, through basic personal education. Skilled development on the other hand, deals with the current profession, leadership qualities, managerial skills and enhancing a person's productivity.Jeremiahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08307506198132216848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516000.post-77367489272856814472012-03-01T18:53:30.277-08:002012-03-01T18:53:30.277-08:00This capacity to fit, align, and design is a requi...This capacity to fit, align, and design is a required skill; it is an art; it is the capacity to change teaching. Teachers with this skill set look at new objectives and new strategies through the lens of a designer, fully capable planning, teaching, and revising daily instruction.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.empoweronline.com.au/empower-life/" rel="nofollow">Life Coaching</a>Jeremiahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08307506198132216848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516000.post-4269606549323247622009-09-03T15:15:35.048-07:002009-09-03T15:15:35.048-07:00We're having a PD day at my school tomorrow, a...We're having a PD day at my school tomorrow, and I have to tell you I'm NOT looking forward to it. I'll let you know how it squares up with your list of what REAL PD should look like!Magical Mystical Teacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01853272111925075994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516000.post-72091185437446671912009-08-31T08:59:54.377-07:002009-08-31T08:59:54.377-07:00PDs at my school last year were full of read-aloud...PDs at my school last year were full of read-alouds and role playing, I can only hope someone in charge of them stumbles across this list. Walking away from a PD with something concrete you can use in your classroom should be one of the presenters objectives without a doubt.SeƱorita Rubiihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05399630941906169000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516000.post-35633758901516251432009-08-31T07:36:12.784-07:002009-08-31T07:36:12.784-07:00Don't badger veteran teachers with information...Don't badger veteran teachers with information that they've heard a thousand times already. We don't do it to the kids- don't do it to us. <br /><br />If differentiation is the gospel, have me bring a lesson plan, along with data about my students. Show me how I can REASONABLY differentiate that lesson plan in a MEANINGFUL way- stop telling me "you must differentiate instruction" and not be able to show me how. If YOU can't do it, there is a damn good chance that I can't, either.12 more yearshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02878737352203605003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516000.post-75172624748591543032009-08-30T12:04:56.345-07:002009-08-30T12:04:56.345-07:00I agree with rabi - don't just say it's re...I agree with rabi - don't just say it's research-based, give me a little background on the research so I can judge how valid and reliable the data is (and I'm a Language Arts person, so it goes beyond science desires). <br /><br />Also, differentiate PD based on needs/desires, but make it meaningful for all content areas. At my school, we often focus on math and Language Arts because those are our state tested areas. While I understand that, the ways they try to differentiate for the other areas seem fairly meaningless. They already feel like the red-headed stepchildren since their contents keep getting cut for ours; demonstrate that they still matter with meaningful PD.teachin'https://www.blogger.com/profile/01780582962091700533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516000.post-75454217891282254562009-08-29T17:38:47.866-07:002009-08-29T17:38:47.866-07:00I think the first rule should be to gear PD to wha...I think the first rule should be to gear PD to what teachers want instead of the powers that be. My former principal loved to pick the topics that put us all to sleep.<br /><br />Have examples of children's work to present, and provide as much hands-on as possible.<br /><br />Limit the time to 1 hour.<br /><br />And most importantly, tell teachers that what is presented is not the Gospel and can be tweaked to meet the needs of their students. Too many admins want whatever was presented to be taught as presented. Teachers and their students are not Stepford Wives. <br /><br />SchoolgalSchoolgalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02327692336247705060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516000.post-91982573180616100262009-08-29T14:54:01.553-07:002009-08-29T14:54:01.553-07:00when responding to audience comments, be encouragi...when responding to audience comments, be encouraging and constructive, not rude. <br /><br />actual exchange from my technology-centered PD yesterday:<br /><br />presenter: who here uses skype in their classroom?<br /><br />[several raised hands - presenter picks one]<br /><br />presenter: why do you use skype?<br /><br />teacher: because it's fun for the kids.<br /><br />presenter: what do you teach?<br /><br />teacher: i'm an ed tech in instructional support.<br /><br />presenter: well, "it's fun" isn't a reason to skype with kids. you should use technology in a meaningful way.<br /><br />and after that, very few hands were raised. who would want to participate with that kind of feedback?erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10207487789972284764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516000.post-77916651600618256642009-08-29T14:07:43.165-07:002009-08-29T14:07:43.165-07:00Works for hs/ms math, don't know about other s...Works for hs/ms math, don't know about other stuff:<br /><br />teach something short, modeling a technique, a style, a piece of technology, or even just the approach to a variety of content.<br /><br />Discuss for reaction (everyone)<br /><br />Present (what you were going for, and how you hit it. Or why it didn't work)<br /><br />Discuss how the idea, style, technique, content, whatever - could be adapted for different classrooms.<br /><br />Give teachers time to plan a little using it.<br /><br />Share out.<br /><br />1. Learning from each other.<br />2. Best practices, from a peer.<br />3. A direct taste of what it's like in the students' seats.<br />4. Broken up. Teachers play roles of students, teacher as audience, and teacher as planners<br />5. Walk away with partial product (ha ha if there are any math teachers reading)<br /><br />This approach to PD also models<br />1. self-directed PD; and <br />2. in a way, reflective teaching.<br /><br />What do you think? Viable for elementary? Do you guys already do it? Or are you addicted to paid, outside presenters?<br /><br />JonathanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516000.post-24502263813694137992009-08-29T13:57:03.138-07:002009-08-29T13:57:03.138-07:00I agree!! Thanks, right now I am putting finishing...I agree!! Thanks, right now I am putting finishing touches on my presentation for PD for next week. (I'm presenting.) Good reminders and suggestions. <br /><br />Hope your PD this year is a positive experience!Michelle Haseltinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00616389589179983330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516000.post-34482769565629253522009-08-29T13:55:11.315-07:002009-08-29T13:55:11.315-07:00this might be just me and my science brain talking...this might be just me and my science brain talking, but don't tell me something is a best practice and expect me to accept it at face value. either tell me why & how we know, or give me the information I need to go and find out more for myself. in short: I need evidence. <br /><br />my other rule is: provide free food. as often as possible. ;)rabihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09736458516241967354noreply@blogger.com