“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”—Benjamin Franklin
As I created a Professional Learning Plan for my Innovative Idea I had to keep in mind that teachers do not need, nor want, another Professional Development that is a “sit and get” that they can not use in their classroom. When I began my journey in this program, I designed my Innovation plan using the social studies curriculum in elementary. As my plan evolved, I changed it to a math curriculum because my district is implementing blended learning into the math Kindergarten, first, and second grade curriculum this year.
5 Key Principles of Professional Development
As stated in my Call to Action, Professional Learning must be ongoing, active, engaging, content specific, and provide modeling in order for it to be successful. Using the 3 Column Table, I have created a Professional Learning Outline to implement to teach Kindergarten through 2nd grade teachers how to use Blended Learning in the Math Classroom. The outline incorporates the 5 strategies of successful professional learning.
Collaboration
Within the modules, teachers will be given the opportunity to create lesson plans, stations, and rubrics that they can use in their classroom. Teachers will have the opportunity to complete a feedback form at the close of the professional learning, however, collaboration between the teachers will be ongoing throughout the school year.
Leading the PD
When creating this professional learning plan, I wanted the campus administrators to show involvement. I also included the instructional math specialists from the campus and the district to facilitate the learning. On the modules for the Growth Mindset, I utilized veteran teachers to share their experiences in the classroom so that teachers can feel a connection by having other teachers to mentor them through adopting a growth mindset.
Resources
The resources needed for this professional development are iPads, laptops, computers, TEKS (state standards and objectives) for each grade level, a campus copy of Carol Dweck’s, Mindset. Most, if not all, of the resources necessary can be obtained online. Active links are provided for the facilitators and teachers to easily access the materials.
Professional Learning Outline
References
Dweck, C. S. (2016). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Random House.
Fink, L. D. (2013). Creating significant learning experiences: An integrated approach to designing college courses. John Wiley & Sons.
Blended Elementary 