Professional Development Program
I've gotten some feedback about my preliminary PD ideas, and as of tonight, I'm about halfway through writing up my actual plan for the program. Each of the parts of our program is supposed to have about 1-2 paragraphs of general description, correct? I feel like I'm making fairly good progress. I still haven't decided which one to do in more detail yet. I've got the whole-group session, the small-group break-out sessions, the lesson workshops, and the follow-up PD. Which do you all think might be easiest to plan in detail? I think one reason I'm having trouble narrowing it down is that I'm not
sure which ones could contribute ideas for my grant proposal. What do
you think?
Whole group session topics: writing overview, academic vocabulary overview
Small-group break-out session topics: Classroom Structures for Facilitating Writing Development, Types of Academic Writing, Evaluating Writing, Introducing Vocabulary, Exploring Vocabulary in Context, Continued Use of Academic Vocabulary
Lesson workshop topics: Writing Lesson Planning, Academic Vocabulary Lesson Planning, Writing Lesson Plan Analysis, Academic Vocabulary Lesson Plan Analysis, Writing Lesson Model Analysis, Academic Vocabulary Lesson Model Analysis
Follow-up Options: Article Study, Literacy Coaching, Action Research
Coaching Practice
I've finished the observation portion, and I've written some questions and observations that I can share in the post-observation meeting. We were supposed to have our meeting this morning, but my partner teacher had something come up, so we're doing it next week. I've been doing reflections with every step of the way, and they've really helped me gain a sense of how I think I'm doing with the different aspects of the coaching process.
I'm a little nervous about the post-observation conference. I'm trying to prepare, with the readings we've done and the coaching stances in mind, but I'm nervous that I will be too evaluative or not facilitative enough. I suppose it does take practice, though. How are you all doing with those issues?
I really like the plans you have for your PD program. It is difficult to narrow one idea down to elaborate! I think that focusing on the whole group session or the follow-up option would be most beneficial. A great, engaging opening will get people to buy in to the program, and a reflective, applicable follow-up will ensure that people use the strategies they learned in your PD.
ReplyDeleteI have completed my observation as well, but I am nervous about the post-observation conference too! It's intimidating to be on camera. I think I'd like to run through the questions with my co-teacher so that we both are a little more comfortable. Good luck!
You make a good point about the ones to elaborate. I think I might do the whole group session, now that I think about it. It would probably be easier to go into more detail. I might also be able to do that for my grant proposal, since it would require hiring an expert, and I could possibly get a hold of some literature/resources to help develop common references and language.
DeleteI'm so nervous! I'm not as nervous about the camera part as I am about the actual conference. I love your suggestion about running through the questions ahead of time, though!
You may want to hold off a bit on deciding about grant proposal as I"ll help you think that one through. I hope by now you have successfully had your post observation conference and that it went well..
DeleteI have also completed my observation. I am also nervous for a number of reasons. For me it is not so much the camera, but actually coaching a peer makes me nervous. I like Melissa's idea of running through the questions. That way it will help everyone feel more comfortable.
ReplyDeleteAngela, I had the same problem. Trying to figure out which activity to submit for a grant proposal. I am not very familiar with grant writing and what it entails or expectations, so this to me was a challenge. I personally think detailing a small group session would be the easiest to detail, but that is just me.
I'm definitely worried about the coaching aspect too. It helps me to know that I'm not the only nervous one, and you guys won't judge me if I totally screw it up, haha.
DeleteI'm also confused about the grant. I guess I don't know a whole lot about grants or what we could use them for. I think I'm actually going to do the whole group session for the detailed one, especially since I feel like it might be most likely to work for the grant? The small group sessions are more "fun," though. I'll update you guys when I decide for sure!