Posted inClassroom Management, From the Front Lines, How to Fix Education, Instruction & Curriculum, New Teacher Bootcamp, The New Teacher Chronicles, Uncategorized

No “Over” Needed in Whelmed New Teachers

My school district completed four days of first class professional development that began with a visit from Dave Burgess, the author of Teach Like a Pirate and ended with faculty-led collaborative committees organizing for an accreditation visit from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).  In four short days, the veteran teachers adjusted, organized classrooms, and prepared […]

Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, From the Front Lines

Building A Learning Culture Within Your School

Professionalism to educators is about creating and enhancing a culture of learning.  This culture develops out of diversity. I believe that if you visited any school in the United States you would find a very diverse staff.  Diversity can actually be something other and more than ethnicity.  Many people in today’s society tend to equate […]

Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines

Professional Development: Teacher Leadership

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] In my last article I discussed the first steps teachers would benefit taking when in the process of designing a professional development activity.  After those two steps, the project will take […]

Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines, School Improvement

Professional Development: One Step at a Time

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] In schools across the United States, teachers have a wealth of knowledge.  But that knowledge is not always employed to our benefit as teachers.  There are many veteran master teachers in […]

Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines

Part 4: How I Created a Professional Development Program and Lived to Tell About It

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] My own experiences have taught me that follow-up and follow through on professional development is lacking.  I have witnessed numerous programs, initiatives, projects that were implemented and “died on the vine” […]

Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines, Middle School

Part 3: How I Created a Professional Development Program and Lived to Tell About It

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] I have previously shared how I had developed an action plan and emphasized using volunteers for the professional development.  Because I have worked in this district for my entire teaching career […]

Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Middle School

Part 2: How I Created a Professional Development Program and Lived to Tell About It

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] Many schools experience a gap in the scores of state assessments between regular education students and special education students.  The “gap” is the spread in scores of regular education students compared […]