BLT Bits
CRCSD School Improvement
Schools take different approaches to Professional Learning Time
CRCSD believes in providing relevant professional learning opportunities for teachers, and they come in various forms: professional learning "events", PLC, peer coaching, model classrooms, and one-on-one coaching with a principal or IDS.
Just like planning for a lesson in the classroom, schools must make many decisions when planning effective professional learning "events." Audience, content, pacing, materials, and collaboration are considered... just to name a few. In this issue of BLT Bits, several schools share one specific professional learning "event." Each school worked to make the day personalized, applicable, and connected to the work done in classrooms the very next day.
Take a few minutes to read their stories! Great things are happening in CRCSD!
Coolidge and Nixon Come Together to Learn
Coolidge and Nixon have been exploring blended learning. They teamed up for a day of learning this fall. The IDS, principals, and district PL facilitators worked together to plan a day focused on learning more about Phase 1 of blended learning.
During this session teachers experienced learning as their students would via station rotation.
1. Mini Lesson
2. Digital Content
3. 4Cs (Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Creativity, Communication)
4. Independent Practice
For the remainder of the day, grade level teams from both schools worked together to plan their next steps of blended learning within ELA. This time allowed teachers to dig into their new Units of Study, materials, and share ideas with one another about how station rotations work or might work with their studnets.
Jefferson High School
Last year, the Jefferson team worked to develop professional learning that included choice and was relevant and applicable so that implementation could occur the next day. Not easy to do for over 100 diverse educators!
Here is one example from September 16, 2015. They organized the building with giant boards depicting different instructional strategies. Teachers were exposed to over 50 strategies and determined which one they would try in their classrooms. Teachers included examples of how they had used these strategies in their own classrooms.
This day focused on strategies in these areas:
- Vocabulary
- Classroom Management
- Small Group Collaboration
- Whole Class Discussion
- Formative Assessment
- Inquiry Learning
- Independent learning
Teachers then took the strategies, implemented them, and worked with an IDS to refine practice over time. On a subsequent professional learning day, PLCs shared out how they had used the strategies to improve learning in the form of a gallery walk.
What did teachers say about the day?
"Probably one of the best I have had since I started teaching 30 years ago!"
"Fun way to review or learn new tools and interact with other staff. Professional development with staff culture building."
".. very beneficial to me, and will be helpful to my teaching."
" Can we do more of this type of thing?"
"Can we do this again?"
Johnson STEAM Acadamy
Johnson STEAM Academy offered "ED Camp JSA" to all certified staff during a full-day professional learning last year. Staff suggested a variety of topics they wanted to dig deeper into and learn more about prior to the day. A schedule was developed around all topics with 30 minute sessions, with some sessions being offered more than once. A few of the topics included Defined STEM, How to use ST Math as an Instructional Tool, iMovies, STEAM Lab Usage and Procedures, and Creating Meaningful Science and Engineering Lessons- Moving Beyond the Fluff". Staff interacted, had open conversations and explored the topics, which were facilitated or co-facilitated by a number of JSA staff members. Following all the sessions staff reconvened for a "smack down", which is time for staff to reflect and share a celebration of new learning and share how they will implement their learning into future planning. All staff displayed a lot of enthusiasm around this style of professional learning and were thrilled to have choice in their learning options.
"One of the most amazing PD's we've had."
"This was the BEST PD that I have ever been a part of!!! The fact that we were able to be in the drivers seat and choose our learning was amazing! I learned so much from my peers and was able to be apart of meaningful conversations and discussions."
"I loved our EdCamp JSA! It was great to have choice in my learning! I was finally ready to take a risk at learning how to make an iMovie and had the opportunity to dabble with the process while having somebody at my fingertips to confer with. I loved having the opportunity to facilitate a session and not only was I able to help other co-workers but I also learned additional, valuable information! Today's EdCamp was amazing and should be done again!"
" It allowed the staff to choose what they were ready for and gave people chances to collaborate with individuals they do not normally work with!"
"Loved the whole day! #happyteacher"
Grantwood Elementary
On February 8th, 2015 Grant Wood staff dedicated the last portion of our afternoon PD to implementing our first Edcamp. Following an introduction of the concept (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7DwCI7j0Bg) to the staff from Jillian Schulte, we dove in and got started. Teachers wrote down topics they were interested in learning more about like Genius Hour, Mindset, Empowering Students and Family Communication with Social Media. These post-its were then grouped by like-ideas and worked into a schedule where teachers could rotate between 15 minute discussions.
Feedback data from the day indicated:
- 100% of teachers indicated alignment to IA Teaching standards and SIP
- 100% of teachers agreed or strongly agreed that what they learned that day would be used in ongoing practice AND positively impact student learning
And teachers stated, "Today we had choices + differentiation = best practice for all" and "More PD that we want- EdCamp was perfect!!!"