Fortunately, I work in a high school district that is already addressing teachers' professional learning and implementing many of the suggestions that I've read in our required reading for the week. As a teacher, most of the time when I'm being shown something new to implement in my classroom, it's taught by my peers, it's active and hands-on, several examples are provided which cover the different subjects we teach in our respective areas, and we have coaches available to help us when needed. Also, on our campuses, we have PLCs that meet and support one another.
Last year, I transitioned to an alternative high school; before that, I spent ten years teaching English at a comprehensive site. At about year six in my teaching, I changed my classroom pedagogy. Once I attended a PL meeting, I met with coaches and had them come in and observe me using what I was taught and they gave me feedback. Whenever I was stuck, I had a coach available via email or in-person to help me out. This support from my peers made all the difference. Without easily available support, collaboration, and feedback, I wouldn't have grown into the teacher I am today. That year, I won our school's "Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) Award" for pushing myself and building my skills. The following year, I became a member of the ILT and started to help teachers as a teacher leader.
Each summer our district has "Summer Institute" where volunteer teachers present a new skill, something that works for them. The teachers who present are given a stipend and the teachers who choose to attend are as well. It's set up like a CUE conference where there are sessions and you choose what you'd like to attend. These are a handful of the sessions that were available this summer: Flexible Seating: What, Why How, Public Speaking and Flipgrid, Increasing Engagement with Peardeck, Pocket Points (cell phones in pockets AP program), Advanced Search and Locating Resources for UDL lessons, Infographics in Action, Using Green Screen to Engage All Students, Student-Centered Strategies for Infinite Learning Opportunities.
While these volunteer trainings are great, I think my district is missing the boat here in follow-through and support for teachers who want to incorporate what they've learned from their peers during the institute. It would be easy enough for a PLC to be formed for each of these sessions where the presenting teacher is the lead coach and teachers could support each other as they incorporate what they learned into their classrooms, leaning on each other through the year as they implement. Having on-going and easily accessible support as we incorporate the new strategies is a must, just as the required readings this week point out. Its true teachers in my district have coaches at their sites they can contact; however, PLCs that are formed from the sessions' attendees would be highly beneficial in seeing real change occurring with students in the classroom.
I'm very thankful that my district hardly ever sets up a teacher training in a "workshop" style from years ago and provides a lot of professional learning opportunities and support staff for teachers.
Comments