Getting the Most Out of Professional Development

You hear it announced at the beginning of the school day and you dread it ALL. DAY. LONG! Or, you are happily enjoying your summer break and you get an email or text that makes your heart drop... PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSION- attendance "optional", but not really, if you know what I mean.

Yup, we have all been there before. I will admit that in my 15 years of being in the world of education, I have sat through some pretty crumby professional development sessions/classes where I felt I knew more about the topic being presented than the presenter. I was grouchy and didn't want to listen or hear what was being discussed!

On the flip-side of that, I too, have sat through many AMAZING sessions of professional development where I left inspired, invigorated, and ready to get the proverbial party started!

I have spent the past couple of weeks reflecting on this topic. I am now an administrator who will be giving these professional development opportunities to my staff. What made some sessions so amazing, and others so lame?

I realized it was ME! It dawned on me that I played a HUGE role in the value I got out of those professional development sessions. I also realized that there were some key components to getting the most out of each and every session- regardless of the topic, the presenter, or the time of day!

So, read on, dear PD'er! I am excited to share a few of these tips with you!

1) Have A Positive Attitude
No I am not just saying this because I am a new principal. I have been a negative Ned most of my life. I tend to be very pessimistic about many things.  However, I found that when I had a positive attitude, even if I had to "pretend" I was glad about the PD session, that I was more attentive and willing to listen to what was being shared. I tried to smile more in the session and remind myself that something in this presentation WILL make me a better teacher!

Also, be sure to avoid or shut down negative talk about professional development. A simple, "Really? I am looking forward to our meeting today!" is usually enough to get the negative Nellys and Neds to zip it!

2) Get AND Use A PD Notebook/Journal
I learned the value of this from my second principal- Jane Friel. She was a ROCK STAR at modeling for us as teachers things to do and try in our classrooms during PD sessions and Faculty meetings. Each year we would get a new composition notebook that had our name, grade, and year on it. Sometimes were "required" to take notes or reflect on the the learning of the meeting, but mostly it was a place to write down key ideas and take-away points from articles/presentations that were part of the on-going PD at that school. I still have all THREE of the ones I received while working in her school. Even better, I still flip through them from time to time and find the learning still relevant to me today!

I found that when I listened with the foreknowledge of wanting to write down the key ideas, I was able to focus and truly listen. It made a HUGE difference in my learning and understanding.

3) Have A Discussion ASAP!
I have found that when I sit down, whether it is later that day or the next, with a colleague that also attended (or even one that didn't) and discuss key points, that I am able to better retain the information, get new insights from the person I am sharing with, and have a more positive experience overall. In fact, knowing that I will be sharing with someone else, makes me take better notes and ponder about ideas.

However, note that sitting next to your besties and talking off-topic the whole time will NOT be a helpful activity. Side-conversation is distracting to others around you and a real downer for the person presenting. To top it all off, it makes you look unprofessional as well- something we ALL want to avoid!

If no one wants to listen to you when it is all said and done, then write a Facebook post, blog post, share your ideas on Instagram, or even do a quick Periscope video- someone out there will listen and respond! I know I would!


GET REAL MR. HUGHES....
So, I want to make it clear that I understand that some professional development will just suck eggs. That's all there is to it! Sometimes the required topics are annoying- or "just another thing" we have to do. But, if we refer to Tip #1, we will find that regardless of the topic- something useful, positive, and constructive can truly come from ANY training, in-service, or session you are required to attend.

And, if the offering is optional- make it a point to go. Knowing you are there because you CAN be and not because you HAVE to be, will also make a huge difference in your attitude and learning.

Now that I have shared my TOP 3 TIPS for GETTING THE MOST OUT OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT with you- it's YOUR turn! I would love to hear what tips you have to offer about how to get the most out of professional development! Leave your thoughts in the comment section below! I can't wait to hear from you! SCORE!

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful WEEK! WAHOO!

YOU ROCK-
John, Created by MrHughes

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Don't miss the other AWESOME posts from this month. 

Click on the picture to learn and read more! WAHOO!

Getting To Know Your Students

Hi everyone,

Valerie here from All Students Can SHINE! I'm only a few weeks into my summer break and I'm already planning my first week back! Today, I'm here to share some ideas for getting to know your students on that very busy first week of school. Starting over with a brand new group can be quite overwhelming because we don't know much about our students yet and that makes everything a little tricky. I have a few tips for you that I hope will help!

On the very first day of school, I like to ask my students lots of questions. Kids LOVE to talk about themselves so I use this to my advantage. Those little learners can come to you very nervous and shy but you can turn that around really quickly by asking them to chat about themselves. 

We usually go around the room, giving everyone a chance to share a small personal fact. I use this wheel and give each student a chance to spin it. It gets kids moving (which can be very helpful for those little guys who don't like sitting for too long) and makes it fun because we get a different question every time a student spins!

We also fill out an "all about me" page. This is an easy way to assess my students' coloring and printing skills, which will help me quickly get to know them as learners in my classroom. 

Finally, we play a scavenger hunt game. Students walk around the classroom to chat with their new friends and to fill out their "find a friend" page. 

By the end of the day, everyone has had the opportunity to share a few things about themselves and learn about their new peers. It's a great way to break the ice and start the new school year on the right foot. It isn't stressful and helps everyone feel welcome!

Don't forget to grab yourself a FREEBIE before you go. 

(You will need to download the preview file to get it)

If you are looking for more tips for the first week of school,
check out my post at All Students Can SHINE.

You can also check out more posts from our fabulous authors here at the Primary Chalkboard. 

We have loads of tips and tricks for K-6!

I hope some of these tips will help you and I wish you a great first day of school,

Valerie

Helping students keep track of their pencils!

I don’t know about you, but kids not having the supplies they need to do their work drives me CRAZY! Crazy, I tell you.  The problem is that I GIVE them everything they need. EVERYTHING and they lose it, eat it, leave it on the floor, claim, “It’s not mine!” and let their neighbor take it. So one kid has 6 pencils and another has none.

Enter Vodka.

Actually enter this brilliant idea! I flag my pencils with masking tape, write the child’s name on the pencil flag,  and reward the child for keeping track of their pencils until they are all used up.

So what are you waiting for? Grab some masking tape and let’s do this. Simply wrap tape around the pencil and fold the tape back in on itself. Trim the edge for a nice clean finish.  This is a great job for a parent volunteer. I have used many kinds of tape to make the flags. I have found that masking tape works best. It’s easy to work with, write on, and though it can rip, it is pretty durable! I keep about 100 at the ready all the time.

You can hand out the awards in many ways. I like to give a child an award when they use up a pencil. You can also surprise the class with a pencil check. Anyone who still has their pencil gets a responsibility award.

First Days of School Ideas & a * FREEBIE *

Hi friends!  It's Vicky here from Teaching and Much Moore!  I'm so excited to share some fun back to school ideas with you.  I know, I know don't say it right?!?

But whether we are ready or not here it comes!  So, I thought I would take some of the pain away.  Here are some ideas/do's and dont's for you:

It's always fun to have a photo op/backdrop or sign on the first day and capture a picture.  Even if you don't make a memory book for your kids it's great to put on a magnet for the parents for back to school night or have on the desks for back to school night.  

Making sure the newer kids have buddies is a BIG one for me.  I was never the new kids but can imagine how overwhelming it might be.  Giving them a buddy to hang out with at recess can easily be forgotten but it's very important.  Also the school tour is another big one especially for those new kids.  It really eases any anxiety they might have.

Things WON'T go perfect I can tell you that!  Someone will show up that wasn't on your list that was added at the last minute, someone might be will be crying if you teach the lower grades.  There's a lot going on the first day - just roll with it, be flexible for those things and from the start be consistent with your expectations.  Don't forget to SMILE!!!!

Thanks for sticking with me on the do's and don'ts now:  if you teach the little guys I have a great freebie for you!

I hope you got some new ideas and enjoy the freebie!  Happy first day to all of you whether it's coming up or not until September! xox

Vicky

Behavior Management Idea

 Hi Friends… Anna here from Simply Skilled in Second!  I wanted to share with you my classroom management procedures that I have set in place within my 2nd grade classroom.   A few years ago, I felt that my classroom management techniques were a bit antiquated and I wanted to spice things up a little bit within my classroom and I am 100% sure I figured it out!  

I don't know about you, but I love shopping around the dollar store and the $5 or Less stores around the neighboring towns...so I figured...If I enjoyed that so much maybe my students would to.

In came....

The DiGilio Dollar Store!

I purchased a small pocketchart and got right to work.  This is what my pocketchart looks like...

I downloaded an image of a dollar bill and added my face to the center of it!  The kids think they are GOLD!  It is so funny!

Each of the clear pockets has one of my student's name on it.  Every Monday, my students start their week with $3.00.  If they make good choices and work hard throughout the week, they will get their payday on Friday.  I also hand out DiGilio Dollars for doing something nice for a friend, when I hear a nice comment made to another child, and I pick Mystery Walkers in the hallway.  If my Mystery Walkers walk through the hallway nicely without talking, they also get a DiGilio Dollar!  About every 6 weeks, the DiGilio Dollar Store opens its doors!  My little kiddos get to go shopping in our store.  I have fun pencils, cool sharpeners and erasers, bookmarks, extra recess time, computer time, lunch with the teacher {that's me..this is probably the most popular choice}...well let me just show you....this is my DiGilio Dollar Store Choice Board.  I buy all of my fun little prizes at the Dollar Store ;)  My kiddos LOVE when my store is open for business!

I started this behavior management plan a few years ago and I have seen a VAST improvement in the overall behavior in my classroom.  I love my new plan and I am sure you will too if you give it a try!

  

Organizing Digital Files

Hey y'all! Casey here from The Original Math Maniac. Several years ago I made the switch from toting multiple flash drives to saving all of my school files digitally on Google Drive.

If you already have a google e-mail account then you already have google drive. It is SUPER easy to use. 

I made files for my "big" categories (just right click and create a "New Folder" like you would on your computer) but usually I use the search feature to find what I'm looking for.

To save documents quickly you can skip the "upload" feature and simply drag a document from your computer to your Google Drive.

Google Drive works just like the folders on your computer, the advantage is that you can login on any computer and instantly access all of your files. No more hauling around flash drives or saving everything to your computer and then dying slowly inside when you lose everything from a virus. 

Thanks for reading. Tune in tomorrow to learn some tips on Behavior Management from Anna from Simply Skilled in Second. :)

TOP 10 TIPS FOR TEACHERS TAKING ON A NEW ROLE

Hello Friends!!! 

It's Jen from Out of This World Literacy!  I hope everyone is having a fabulous summer relaxing and sleeping in.

I know many of my friends are moving roles in this upcoming school year.  Some are switching grades while others are stepping out of the classroom to fill specific leadership positions.

As a Literacy Coach, I know what it's like to take that leap out of the classroom and into a specialist position.  It. is. scary!

Teachers who shift into a leadership role often leave the comfort and support of a grade-level team.  They can sometimes feel like they are out there on their own island.

Other teachers suddenly look at them differently...even though these teachers don't see themselves as a superior.  They are not administrators, nor is their pay any different than when they were in the classroom.

But, because of their new 'specialist' title, they are now looked at differently.

I have some advice and tips for anyone who is stepping bravely out of the classroom and into a leadership role.  Whether your new title is Reading Coach, Literacy Specialist, Interventionist, RTI Coordinator, or so on, I hope this list of advice can help you!

TOP 10 TIPS FOR TEACHER SPECIALIST:

1. LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN!

2. Don't fall into the gossip traps

3. Think about the effects of your words before you speak

4. Ways to get on the teachers' good sides right away...
          a. Give stuff away at staff meetings!  Don't hold on to all your classroom goodies!  You don't
              have a classroom anymore!  Make a FREE box and put it at the front door at the first staff
              meeting!

          b. Offer to come into classrooms, read a story, and introduce yourself to all the kids!  Make a
              sign-up sheet for teachers so you can visit.  It gives teachers a 20 minute break and it gets
              your foot in the door of all the classrooms!

          c.  This last one is cheesy I know...but...SMILE!  Be positive!  A great attitude is contagious!
               And a smile can literally make someone's day.  Whatever you're dealing with, smile, be
              positive, and that will go such a long way!

5. Be Patient!

6. Never trust teachers to read all their emails!  If you have something important to share, chances are     they will not read all their emails.  You will likely need to send reminders.  We all know how busy     teachers are.  Friendly reminders for meetings and so on are a must! :)

7. Always carry a calendar or ipad in the halls!  Teachers will stop you and ask about things.  They
    will ask you to come into the classroom, or send them something.  It's hard to remember
    everything.  Have something to write your quick hallway conversations down with!  Otherwise,
    you will likely forget and unintentionally upset a teacher!

8.It's OK to say no!

9. Never act like you know everything!

10. Build yourself a layer of seriously thick skin!

If you want to read more about what I have to say for each of these 10 tips, you can download this FREE resource!

I wish everyone a fantastic start to a new year, whether it's back in your old classroom or taking on a new role!

Jen Bengel
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