Teaching tip #17

Pick Interesting Professional Development Seminars

Classes, meetings, whatever the group is calling it.

I know you sometimes can't choose, like in-house PDs.  And yes, sometimes those are boring - especially when they go on for hours and hours and it feels like repetition.

But there are ones you can choose, and choose well.  These are ones you shouldn't be complaining about - and ones you shouldn't skip out on.  PD is meant to help you further your classroom/teaching goals, to enhance your abilities as a teacher, and creates way for you to be exposed to new ideas (like the technology and manipulatives I mentioned in the past two posts).

Will you incorporate everything?  no, that's implausible.  But you can do one or two different things, modify your plans to do something else, or you can come up with ideas to help form better curricula guidelines.

So choose ones that interest you, that pertain to you.  There are some I want to do but won't help me be a math teacher or my current situation.  If I teach high school I shouldn't go to a seminar meant for K-5 teachers.  You don't want to waste the money (especially if your district can't fund it) for something you really can't incorporate.

The days are also great networking tools and provide an outlet to vent/ get tips.