Less than 2 weeks until Back to School PD and Stehler and I are deep into the ideation phase of planning our 4-day Back to School PD sequence. We are focused on designing a sequence that meets the needs of our varied staff (from 0 to 9 years experience) and that involves activities and tasks that can effectively launch our student culture and learning at the start of the school year.
We have several tools at our disposal:
- fresh ideas from attending the NTAC conference – see here
- 3 day Think Forward training – proven sequence we’ve both facilitated for training new teachers in PBL
- data gathered from our veteran teachers
- state standards that describe effective teaching
- ideation tools from Think Forward
Application of 1, 2, 3:
We brainstormed possible activities based on what we learned at NTAC in Padlet.
Then, I started informally polling veteran teachers who were Think Forward facilitators to find out which activities were high priority (score = 1) or low priority (score = 3). After polling a handful of veteran teachers, I found out the following:
I was pleasantly surprised to see grade level meetings and Think Forward near the top of their priorities. I’m going to continue to poll teachers who are facilitating the Cotulla Think Forward Training.
Application of 4, 5:
Texas had objectives that describe effective teaching: Chapter 149 AA. We used these standards to develop more specific outcomes that align with teacher standards. We focused on section 4 Learning Environment because strong learning cultures need to be developed at the start of the school year and then maintained year round.
Our unfinished ideation form looks like this. In a couple days, Stehler and I will go into a deep dive and try to hone in on their products and ways to scaffold and assess the product.
Think Forward Ideation Form
How can we, as Educators establish, use and sustain a positive professional culture so that we are providing a mutually respectful, collaborative, and safe community of learners? |
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