Pineapple PD
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much!
The Why
The goal this year is to provide time for you to find new ideas, teaching strategies, and solutions to problems you may be struggling with in your own classrooms. Sometimes just seeing the other ways teachers manage their classes, organize their stuff, and teach their lessons can open up a whole new world of ideas to take back to your own classroom!
We also want to set up opportunities for you to challenge yourself.
Pineapple charts are a systematic way to organize teacher classroom visits. According to Mark Barnes, the author of Hacking Education, "a pineapple chart...put[s] a 'welcome mat' out for all classrooms...[It] lets other teachers know that you're doing something worth watching today, and if they'd like to come by, your door is open."
The Plan
We will use the padlet chart linked below as our Pineapple chart for the year. It will be updated each week to reflect the awesome stuff happening here in our classrooms. BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP! This won't work without everyone being willing to open up their classrooms for visits.
You don't have to be doing anything earth shattering. It can be as simple as using a couple of Kagan Strategies, Quizizz for homework data, or even a guided reading group. You all have different strengths and weaknesses and this is the way to build each other up!
We will also use this as a MatchMaker strategy for the TEAM. In our walkthrough feedback form, leadership will suggest a Pineapple visit as a follow up to the walkthrough. We will help them connect to other classrooms as well. A way to connect the TEAM and play to our strengths.
A Menu Board
Each quarter you will be given a Menu board filled with different choices of tasks to complete. You will choose at least one appetizer, one side, and one dessert. The main course section is a requirement for everyone - much like you have parts of assignments and choice boards that your students are expected to complete. The main course consists of: trying a new SOS or Kagan Strategy with your students, signing up on the Pineapple Chart to showcase something happening in your room, and visiting a classroom in another grade level.
Images: aliexpress.com, clkr.com, 1.bp.blogspot.com