PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2013 - 2014

Objectives

Meet the increased rigor of SOLs Prepare students for new assessments which focus

on application of knowledge

Achieve the School Board goal of 21st Century Skills Connect learning of content and skills in relevant ways

Increase content knowledge and pedagogy of staff to teach higher level skills Build upon existing structure of collaborative learning

teams

Process Used

FCPS Instructional Improvement Focus

Teachers will be able to: Build relationships with students that support effort and self-efficacy in reaching higher standardsRecognize the 21st Century Skills (Critical & Creative Thinking) within our curriculum Plan lessons that teach 21st Century Skills (Critical & Creative Thinking) by designing instructional tasks that require high levels of thinking for the essential skills

Using instructional strategies that support and promote student thinking at high levels

Engaging students in intellectual discourse Raising students’ levels of metacognition Providing students multiple opportunity to problem solve

Choose assessments that allow students to demonstrate 21st Century Skills (Critical & Creative Thinking) at high levels

Focus integrated into the Instructional Cycle

Recognize the 21st Century Skills within our curriculum (CURRICULUM)

Plan lessons that teach 21st Century Skills by (INSTRUCTION)

Choose assessments that allow students to demonstrate the 21st Century Skills at high levels (ASSESSMENT)

Implement a tiered system of support (RI)

Leadership Team Agreements All teachers will engage in professional development

activities focused on FCPS’ instructional improvement priorities and Teacher Effectiveness Standards

Countywide in-services will be offered on Designated Mondays to elementary school teams

Efforts will be made not to schedule conflicting sessions PD will support the FCPS definition (PD-Definition) A Principal PLC will be formed to support principals in

leading the work PD will be a coordinated effort among Departments,

Clusters and Schools.

Elementary PD Content

Teams will plan through the instructional cycle as they receive resources that Highlight the essential questions that will focus teaching and

guide student learning Explain the essential skills students will know and be able to do

as a result of lesson/unit Engage students in activities that will be used to activate prior

knowledge Engage students in activities that will equip students to construct

and develop understanding Allow students to demonstrate their understanding of the

essential questions and essential learning

Elementary PD Logistics

Elementary Designated Mondays dates are set (Designated Monday Calendar)Professional Development will be organized by Clusters (locations being secured)Created by ISD, PLA and DSS with teacher input and data collected from Principals and CASInstructional Coaches/ Classroom teachers will facilitate

Facilitators will be chosen with CAS and Principal input and approval Summer training dates and locations have been secured

PLA/ ISD/ DSS subcommittee are planning these trainings

Logistics (continued)

 Sessions will:Begin with a "Start without a start“Follow a distinct lesson formatLink for 3 daysProvide a structure for CLTs to continue the learning about the “Designated Monday” PD focus in between sessionsOffer OPTIONAL readings and articles, if appropriateProvide Exit Ticket to inform IS content specialists of session feedback (i.e. "Gots and Wants", 3,2,1 structure, etc.)Take place from 2:00 – 3:30Use the same location each time

 

Sessions will provide:Information that will be posted on 24/7 Elementary Curriculum and Instruction CommunityRegistration through MyPLT

Each session will include:Balance of skills and contentConsideration for ALL learnersConnection to what teachers are currently doingExamples of high quality lessons that engage students in intellectual discourse, raise levels of Metacognition, provide multiple opportunities to problem solveExplicitly model strategiesModeled instructional tasks that require high levels of thinkingExamples of different forms of formative assessmentModeled use of existing resourcesPractical applicationConsideration that homework is in the form of practical application Integration of technology as applicable and appropriate

Middle & High Schools

In-services Days Explicit connection to Professional Development focus at all in-services

Cross-curriculum alignment

Department Chair Release Days Build school level instructional leadership capacity

Teacher leaders Shift agenda priorities from logistics to Professional

Development focus

Middle & High Schools

On-going Teachers Support Provide instructional resources to promote intellectual engagement Optimize use of technology Highlight best practices in action

Collaboration Opportunities Offer to assist school leadership in planning Professional Development Partner with instructional coaches to further build capacity at the school

level Work with CAS to support their existing cluster meetings

Communication Principals

Singular Focus Cross departmental and cluster

collaboration Focus connects to

Teacher Effectiveness Instructional Cycle Responsive Instruction

Structure Maximizes Designated Mondays

Support Encourage participation by team Connect to Teacher Effectiveness Reduce number of school

meetings to provide teachers with individual planning time

Teacher Deepens the work of their CLT Provides time to plan with team Access to high quality resources,

instructional strategies and assessments

Connects directly to grade level standards (content/ higher level skills)

Meets several Teacher Effectiveness Standards

Provides opportunity to collaborate with other schools in cluster

Timeline (sample)