Teacher professional development refers to specialized training, education, and advanced professional learning intended to help teachers and other educators improve their knowledge, skills, competence, and effectiveness. It can be delivered in person or online, through one-on-one interactions or in group situations, during the school day or beyond normal school hours. Professional development may be funded by schools, districts, or state programs, and are conducted by highly experienced educational consultants.
Topics Covered by Professional Development for Teachers
PBIS – What is PBIS? Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports is an evidence-based, data driven framework used to promote school safety, reduce disciplinary incidents, and improve academic outcomes for students. Implementing PBIS can save instructional hours lost due to disruptions. It is a multi-tiered approach using principles of behavior analysis and disciplinary data to develop school-wide, targeted, or individualized interventions and supports to improve the school climate for all students.
RTI – Response to Intervention is an approach to the early identification and support of students with behavior and learning needs. RTI aims to stop academic and behavioral failure through universal screening, early intervention, progress monitoring, and increasingly intensive research-based instruction for students who are struggling. RTI is a multi-tier approach that is adjusted and modified as needed.
Classroom Management – Classroom management is the series of actions teachers do to establish a successful learning environment. It is the process of ensuring that lessons run smoothly despite disruptive behavior by students. For many, it’s one of the most difficult aspects of teaching. It can be so challenging, that some leave the teaching profession because they find it hard to manage classrooms.
Curriculum Mapping – Curriculum mapping is a process for collecting and recording curriculum related data that identifies content and skills taught, processes and assessments used for each subject area and grade level. It refers to the mapping and alignment of all the elements that are involved in educating students, including assessments, lessons, textbooks, assignments, and instructional techniques.
Instructional Coaching – Instructional coaching is a form of high-quality professional development for teachers. Its goals are to improve instructional practice, build teacher capacity, and enhance student achievement. An instructional coach is an experienced professional who brings evidence-based practices into classrooms by working with school leaders and teachers. He/she provides training, guidance, resources, and other professional development activities to help educators overcome issues and challenges.
Alternative Education – Alternative education refers to approaches to learning and teaching aside from mainstream pedagogy. Approaches may include different structures, teacher-student relationships, curriculum, and teaching methods. It emphasizes small class sizes, close relationships between teachers and students, and a sense of community.
School Turnaround – School turnaround is a thorough intervention directed towards a low-performing school which produces significant gains in achievement, preparing the school for the process of transformation into a high-performing organization. It refers to efforts being made by districts or states to boost student outcomes, build capacity, and sustain reforms.
Conclusion
Teacher professional development equips educators with best practices, curriculum resources, technologies, and new techniques to help students learn. It will help them become more effective at teaching, increasing student learning and achievement.
INcompassing Education provides high-quality professional development for educators through on-site PD, off-site PD, and online PD. If you have questions, you can get in touch with us by visiting our contact page.
