Our district tried a fresh approach to professional development this summer.We knew we had a lot of teachers doing great things in their classrooms, but all teachers are so busy, that sharing these great strategies and ideas is difficult to do.
So the Instructional Partners, the EdTechs, and our Curriculum Administrators came up with the idea of tapping into the talent we have right here in our district to provide Summer Professional Development. We have been using teachers for several years on special topics. But this year we decided to showcase the everyday awesome things many teachers do that make their programs so engaging and effective.
Using a Google form sent out by email, the teachers were surveyed for their interest in presenting and their presentation ideas.
Once the presenters were collected, the days were divided into primary and intermediate level presentations called Content-Linked Instruction K-1 or 3-5.
The Instructional Partners formatted the days into a Summer Camp theme, with a set of sessions in the morning and a different set in the afternoons.
Teachers attended all of the sessions according to the rotation schedule in the Camp Survival Kit they picked up when they signed in.
In the morning the teachers gathered in the library to sign in and to learn about the structure of the day
Then they started their rotations.
Here’s a sample of the offerings:
Interactive Science Journals
The Power PLCs and Data
Engaging Writing Ideas
Let’s Blog in Kindergarten
Primary Poets
Phit Phonics
Daily 5 Math
Edmodo in the Classroom Depth & Complexity
1-1 iPad Initiative
Get Moving!
iMath
At the end of the day they regrouped in the library for reflection and feedback.
We used Today’s Meet for feedback.
The creativity, and detailed planning and set up by our Instructional Partners resulted in 100% positive feedback, reminding us that some of our very own professionals are the best providers for Professional Development.
Post by Margie Brown, Eanes ISD EdTech @mbrowneisd
Elementary Ed Tech! 