Join the Collaborative Professional Development movement! Every month, Jennifer Williams and Participate invite you to share how you are incorporating blended learning tools and ideas derived from other educators into your instruction and professional development. This chat is great if you are new to Twitter, or a seasoned social media maven. Ultimately, it’s about empowerment and self-discovery through the expansion of personal learning networks, and the ability to blend in voices, concepts and tools from all over the world.
Hi I'm Lauren and I work at the National Speech and Debate Association! My mom was an awesome teacher, @DCHS_Sheaff taught me how to survive coaching speech and debate, and lately @JenWilliamsEdu has done a great job keeping me inspired by new projects! #CollaborativePD
Q1/A1: There needs to be a relationship built upon trust where vulnerabilities can be explored openly and without fear of judgement (well unless it's illegal/unethical) #CollaborativePD
A1: Choice, Choice, Choice! Forced mentorships are awkward and unproductive. Find someone who "speaks your language" but isn't afraid to tell you the truth even when you might not want to hear it! Plus lots of topic options. #CollaborativePD
A1 what ever you are demoing, you have to do it. You have to be a model. You also have to be honest. If you have trouble with something say it #CollaborativePD
A1 Key components of mentorship and support include trust, availability, modeling, and a willingness to enter into critical conversations in the service of student learning. #CollaborativePD
You are my mentor in understanding the power of PLCs in education, connecting educators with empathetic edtech developers via #edtechbridge and noodling round and round over GD quotes #CollaborativePD
Sue here from NJ. Currently a school board member, but teaching and learning have been the themes in my life. My best three mentors were actually my high school math teacher, social studies teacher and chem teachers.
#CollaborativePD
A1: Building relationships, helps to build trust & listening. Problem Solving collaboratively & having #perseverance just like we ask our students! #CollaborativePD
Q1/A1: Mentorship is not just an assignment - many of my best mentors were individuals who modeled excellence and inspired me to be better! #CollaborativePD
A1: trust and investment are the two biggest components of any mentoring program. It has to be equal on both sides and once implemented can leave a lasting impression and make real change. #CollaborativePD
A1: CJ here from Raleigh! The best metaphor for effective mentorship is an open door. An open door elicits trust, availability, and openness. All great qualities of a mentor relationship. #CollaborativePD
A2: Provide space to experiment and iterate, but direction when an approach or process needs to be improved. Don't be afraid to call BS on laziness and lack of focus as well... #CollaborativePD
A2: A mentor supports best when they guide a newbie teacher rather than overwhelm. A mentor isn't there to create a clone but to help a teacher discover their own path and their own way of "doing it right." Ideally, a mentor also learns from the mentee!!! #CollaborativePD
A2: Allowing them to make mistakes and reminding them that it does get easier with time. Also, reminding them that you need to take time for yourself. #CollaborativePD
A2 A mentor can best support a new educator (new to career or the school) by making themselves available. In class observations and out of class conversations. Adm can support with release time. #CollaborativePD
CJ! Pumped to have you here joining us! Love this metaphor! #OpenDoor Creating safe spaces for learning and growing! #CollaborativePD (PS...also LOVE your handle) #goteamParticipate
A2. Listening first. This helps to deepen and develop relationships. Also, approach mentorship with a coaching mindset - instead of “fixing” problems, help him/her discover their own answers, empower and inspire. #CollaborativePD
A2: observe them in action - both scheduled and unscheduled (though do the unscheduled once trust has been built up) -- invite them to observe and provide you feedback #collaborativePD
A2 A positive first step is for the mentor to ask for specific goals. These could be used to frame observations or to spark conversation. Small focused bites help a great deal! #collaborativePD
Yes! Work together toward a set of goals. That way it doesn't get to be too much! So many newbie teachers are overly critical of themselves already! Don't add to their frustration! #CollaborativePD
A2: Schools have unique factors that can make or break a new teacher - administrators can have quirks - be open and honest about the unwritten rules with specific advice on how to navigate the obstacles #CollaborativePD
A1: Be a good listener! Listen to understand, not just to reply. Sure, a mentor is there to give advice, model, etc, but sometimes a non-judgemental ear is appreciated too #collaborativePD
A2: New teachers or those developing new skills need mentors who work alongside of them. They don’t want to be told how you do things. Instead, they want you to guide them in their thinking so they can strengthen their own skills. #CollaborativePD
A2: one of my biggest gifts? My mentor hooking me up with a peer coach within my building. Builds teacher leadership and you get a new friend #CollaborativePD
A2. I’d also add designing with and not for. Visit his/her classroom in a participatory way. Engage in co-teaching experiences if possible. And celebrate success, even the smallest wins! #CollaborativePD
A2: Guiding, listening. Yet sometimes the new Tt does not know what they don’t know...it has to be experienced which is another Mentoring Opportunity! #CollaborativePD
A2: Allowing them to make mistakes and reminding them that it does get easier with time. Also, reminding them that you need to take time for yourself. #CollaborativePD
A1 Reflection, flexibility, availability, blended learning and a connected network of mentors and mentees are key components of an effective mentoring program. #collaborativepd
A2 Show them the ways of the Twitterverse, support them in finding their own PD and how to choose what and how to learn, allow them to vent, model turning failures into growth #CollaborativePD
Q2/A2: Provide them with constructive yet effective feedback. Set SMART goals so they know specifics he or she needs to work on as they grow in the profession.
#CollaborativePD
A2 Mentoring and coaching are different roles. Mentors are there to support, encourage, guide, find strengths, build up, listen... (I'm still thinking.) #collaborativepd
A2: be honest and truly care. Be there when needed but do@not be an enabler. A great mentor l ya you explore and then helps you pick up the pieces and reflect when needed. #CollaborativePD
A2: be there partner in crime through their professional development. They will receive things better if they know two or more are working with them to make the classroom a better place #CollaborativePD
A2 the problem is that at that point teachers have already been implanted with certain mental notes on things. Takes time to change and break meantal chains #CollaborativePD
Our professional support models would take on a new light if we framed professional growth in the same way we frame student growth. We are all growing. Having each T name individual goals and grouping colleagues together around goals has been so powerful for us. #CollaborativePD
A2 Mentoring and coaching are different roles. Mentors are there to support, encourage, guide, find strengths, build up, listen... (I'm still thinking.) #collaborativepd
A3: I enjoy using Google Sites for my students, I am also interested in @Flipgrid. I have used Google Classroom to have students put their responses on and get feedback to improve their writing. #CollaborativePD
A3: In Chicago, we call this one a 16-inch softball down the middle. Totally biased, but @Participate is the pioneer in creating collaborative/certified peer review systems for educators. @sararileyhowell is doing an incredible job building that. We love demos! #CollaborativePD
A3-a stream of consciousness google doc obs-literally sitting, watching, & typing every thought that comes to your mind-the teacher can then go back and review it and see real time, unedited feedback-they can then engage & follow-up, etc. #CollaborativePD#techcanbeeasy
I tried it but had some issues - was a while ago, maybe their product has been updated. Like the concept. Use @Voicethread currently as well as other "rooms" #CollaborativePD
In reply to
@SensAbleLrning, @Flipgrid, @voicethread
I've learned a little about @Flipgrid from the Course stacks but would love to learn more about it. It sounds like it would be a great tool to use. #CollaborativePD
A3 First year of a new prof support model grouping edus around self identified goals into "Families." Release time, small budgets, and an emphasis on collaboration, observation, and critical conversations. #CollaborativePD
A3: I must give @sararileyhowell the biggest shout-out for getting peer review going @participate. It’s an incredible aspect of the PD, all done virtually so Ts connect around the world #CollaborativePD
A3: All things Google. I’m very intrigued by @Flipgrid though, and love using good old protocols. Uncomfortable for students at first, but they grow :) #CollaborativePD
A4 It seems the key component to getting any of this done is time. Time for the mentor and new teacher to meet; time to teach together; time to evaluate. Time seems to be the biggest challenge in education today.#CollaborativePD
Joining late, nevertheless…
A1: Building a positive relationship between the mentor & the mentee/S by having trust and a positive attitude towards learning from & with each other. #CollaborativePD
A4: one of the best things I did when I was an administrator overseeing mentorship - I gave coordinator responsibilities to 3rd year teachers who still could really relate to the new teacher experience! #CollaborativePD
Building a relationship of trust and encouraging each other to take risks with lesson planning and implementation to positively transform instruction. Don't be afraid to take a risk! #whitmanwtps#CollaborativePD
A4: Ask teachers what they think success would look like. Remember what helped you when you started. Stick with it, even if you don't see immediate results. #CollaborativePD
A3: With technology, mentoring can be done anywhere at any time. I love that I can google hangout with anyone in the world! Time difference doesn’t have a thing on me! #CollaborativePD
A4. I’d say that culture and morale will play a big part in determining the success and effectiveness of mentoring. Also, they must create time, space and freedom for the process to happen. #CollaborativePD
A4: look for someone who is highly respected & a proven educator! At times recent retirees serve in this role incredibly well. We’ve even used stay at home mom and dads who are looking for part time work and were incredible in the classroom #CollaborativePD
