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Professional Development Tools

Whether you’re looking for something as simple as the perfect icebreaker, or a plan for a full-day in-service session for 100 teachers at many grade levels, this is where we share our tried and trusted tips for successful professional development sessions.

Latest Content
Purposefully Plan PD to Support Transformational Change

Ruth Ayres thinks about intentionally designing professional learning experiences to support transformational change by recognizing and lifting the heavy load many educators carry.

Coaching Minute: Encouraging Teacher Leaders

Instructional coach Jonathan Winslow shares how he intentionally creates leadership opportunities for the teachers he works alongside.

A PLC Planning Template to Help Focus Work with Teachers

Tara Barnett and Kate Mills share a PLC planning template they created to help focus their meetings to be relevant and clear. Included are links to download the template plus two completed templates to see how they worked in action.

Stay Sharp with Professional Reading

Kate Mills and Tara Barnett share ways to stay sharp with professional reading.

Books for Literacy Leaders

Jen Schwanke suggests five books that will enrich a leader’s skills by solidifying their approach to the important work of evolving our instructional practices.

Professional Books that Make an Impact

Stella Villalba shares her top professional book recommendations. These titles will make an impact and widen your lens for meeting the needs of students.

A PLC Idea: Planning Scaffolds for Upcoming Units of Study 

Tara Barnett and Kate Mills create space for teachers to think about charts more strategically in a PLC meeting. The reality is that thinking about charts can feel like one more thing, especially when premade charts feel like they get the job done. Kate and Tara make chart-making valuable and collaborative.

Professional Learning Accountability Partners

Jen Court offers a strategic way to create and support professional learning accountability partners in schools.

Five Books to End the Year Coaching Strong

Stephanie Affinito offers five picture books to end the year coaching strong. Each offers an opportunity for teachers to enjoy a book together, reflect on the year, and walk away with a book to share with their students. 

Mini (But Mighty) Ways to Connect with Teachers

Gigi McAllister gives tips to help maintain consistent communication and connections with teachers in a way that respects their time when sharing information.

 

It’s Time to Pause: A PD Session to Reconnect with Core Values

Heather Fisher guides a reflective practice exercise to begin a professional meeting that gives space for participants to pause and consider their core values. This simple experience has the potential to powerfully energize educators.

Coaching Minute: Be Aware of How Your Presence Affects the Room

Ruth Ayres shares the importance of being aware of how your presence affects the room. This is part of a series about the importance of norms.

Coaching Minute: Expect and Accept a Lack of Closure

Ruth Ayres shares why it is important to expect and accept a lack of closure. This is part of a series about the importance of norms.

Aiming for a 5 on a Scale of 1–10

Gwen Blumberg adjusts her expectations to a 5, rather than a 10, as she sets a big assessment project in motion. This small shift in mindset allows the team to expect and embrace bumps and shifts along the way.

Coaching Minute: What’s Said Here Stays Here; What’s Learned Here Leaves Here

Ruth Ayres shares the importance of having a place for instructional coaches to learn, as well as process their own situations. This is part of a series about the importance of norms.

Coaching Minute: Be Wholly Present

Ruth Ayres shares the the importance of setting a norm about presence. This is part of a series about the importance of norms.

Coaching Minute: The Importance of Norms

Ruth Ayres shares the reason why norms are important for professional learning sessions. This is the first installment in a series about the importance of norms.

Bite-Sized PD

Jen Court shares a “sweet” idea for practical and meaningful professional learning. Download a template to tailor professional learning for your school.

Three Books that Changed How I Teach and Think About Reading

Matt Renwick reflects on three essential professional books for understanding how to teach and think about reading instruction.

One Powerful Way to Improve Your Strategic Plan

Matt Renwick offers one powerful strategy to improve your strategic plan by considering the obstacles and how to overcome them.

Five Business Books Every Leader Should Read

Matt Renwick shares five business books every school leader should read.

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