The Breakfast Club – #BFC530 – is a 15 minute, 1 question Twitter chat every weekday. We chat in 4 timezones Mon-Fri – 5:30am Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific Times. The mission of BFC is to empower participants to make a difference in education by engaging in consistent reflective practice in a supportive community that inspires and challenges one another.
Good morning #BFC530! Besides twitter and our great PLN, how are you given ownership over your professional learning? What, if any, choice do you have in PD at your school?
Morning #BFC530 Well...
We have instructional coaches = @VtheLearner & her partner. They offer classes we can take on our preps & lunch:)
Up to us to choose:) & We have other offerings after school as well.
Good morning #BFC530! Besides twitter and our great PLN, how are you given ownership over your professional learning? What, if any, choice do you have in PD at your school?
School has a great PD program, offers lots of choice. Also, the instructional coaching program offers self-directed, job-embedded PD. Admin supports conferences out of district. #lucky .#bfc530
Good morning #BFC530! Besides twitter and our great PLN, how are you given ownership over your professional learning? What, if any, choice do you have in PD at your school?
Our school is trying to give choice of content with in-house stuff. They are working off a model LS teachers came up with of the in-house field trip. #bfc530
We have no ownership over the PD at our school. It is decided for us, but I do a lot of reading and learning on my own time. I feel it is my professional responsibility to stay on top of my own learning. #bfc530
We are still completing benchmarks at my current school due to the snow last week. Then a meeting before heading over to my new school to begin the transition there. New school and new position, mid year makes busy day. Plus paper due tonight. #bfc530
The vast majority of our PD is in-house and comes for the great Critical Friends team of peers I work with! Best PD? Spending time in another teacher's classroom - watching, listening, learning. #bfc530@TCECHS
Good morning #BFC530! Besides twitter and our great PLN, how are you given ownership over your professional learning? What, if any, choice do you have in PD at your school?
Sadly, the only personal PD I get is from my personal time and my personal funds. When I find something worthwhile, I attempt to share with others (including the higher ups), but most of our PD is a directive. #bfc530
Continuing to work on access so that our students and teachers can do the things they need to do in the classroom. Providing hope and opportunity. Tech is really just about the people! #bfc530
Good morning #BFC530! Besides twitter and our great PLN, how are you given ownership over your professional learning? What, if any, choice do you have in PD at your school?
I’d say this is still an area for growth where I work. Teachers need to be freed up and supported in identifying their own professional needs and engaging in high quality learning experiences in order to keep growing as educators. #bfc530
Good morning #BFC530! Besides twitter and our great PLN, how are you given ownership over your professional learning? What, if any, choice do you have in PD at your school?
I believe our district is attempting to address this. In our last PD there were several options of presentations offered & I am confident if I approach my admins w/great idea for PD in lieu of what is provided they would be willing to work with me. #bfc530
Good morning #BFC530! Besides twitter and our great PLN, how are you given ownership over your professional learning? What, if any, choice do you have in PD at your school?
When I was in a school, the only times I was given ownership of PD was when I was in charge of something else. "OK, you're the English dept, chair, you get to do the writing PD..." Would have been better to give Ts a bigger role. #bfc530
Wait, I take that back. We get $125 plus sub coverage to go to a workshop we choose and set up. This I went to the CT reading conference and saw @burgessdave. It was fabulous! #bfc530
Its so important. I dont understand people who dont do walkthroughs but feel they have their finger on the pulse of teaching and learning in a building. #bfc530
In reply to
@TCMSPrincipal, @Katiemc827, @ChrisQuinn64
Inspired by @gcouros and @DanielPink, I facilitated a personalized, autonomous FedEx Day where Ts had the time to design innovative projects and present them to peers.
Year 2 this April!
##bfc530
Professional growth/development is an individual thing ... if you’re wait no for your school or district to teach you : you have the wrong mindset. #BFC530
We are told. We have so many professional days and early releases. We are told what we will work on those days. It could be to work on curriculum, or hear a speaker etc. #bfc530. On these days there is no choice
Most of the PD occurring at school comes from admin. I did join a committee to work on PD this year, but it’s more of a multiple choice rather than a narrative answer situation. Bit of a rubber stamp really. #bfc530
Love this question since I'm currently participating in the #4OCF book club on voxer. For the most part, I am in charge of finding my own PD. But our district PD days do offer a lot of variety and choice. Unconference for 1 and proposal based for the other. #bfc530
Good morning #BFC530! Besides twitter and our great PLN, how are you given ownership over your professional learning? What, if any, choice do you have in PD at your school?
This year we have a mthly Choice Board. There are a couple of required PD from the county that we have to reflect on for 1 to 2 of the choices, but we choose the rest (we are given a number to do, typically 3-4). Reading, conference/webinar etc. We submit reflections #bfc530
Yesterday I was denied a PD request - a free conference at the United Nations on education and the holocaust with significant world leaders and survivors because it is a conference and not "official" PD #bfc530
Honestly, it’s been quite some time since I felt I needed to be “given ownership over my PL”...I have been able to chose and have ownership for my own learning (often with others) for many years. I try hard to avoid models of PL that may be done ‘to me’. #bfc530
Good morning #BFC530! Besides twitter and our great PLN, how are you given ownership over your professional learning? What, if any, choice do you have in PD at your school?
In their defense, we have an incredibly small staff..so maybe that is the reason???? I don’t know. There are only 6? Administrators in the whole system. #bfc530
Love this! If I am told not just learn but we will give you time to produce something that improves the classroom for your students would be a motivation for me. #bfc530
Good morning! Susan, instructional coach, Loudoun County VA, Twitter began as a way to connect, it has blossomed into a means of learning, communicating, sharing and building my edu repertoire via other’s insights/experiences #bfc530
PL is planned through our Performance Growth in Action. It is planned against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers to maintain accreditation over 5 years and aligned to school needs. It might seem a lot but it works. #bfc530
Now I get to do very focused PD on English learner data for my whole district. Not a topic that stands well on its own, so I'm usually part of a larger PD session. I also produce online trainings for the tools I support. #bfc530
Me too. I took my own spin on the Q. We really do need to do Learning Walks! Perhaps virtual ones to start. We’re all working on the same hard work! #bfc530
Our school: We should read a book.
Me: Teach Like a Pirate. #tlap@POLKProfLearn : we will buy the books for you ... see how that worked ... that is called supported professional learning. #BFC530
Professional growth/development is an individual thing ... if you’re wait no for your school or district to teach you : you have the wrong mindset. #BFC530
I'm with you there. We've had zero PD budget for most of the time I've been teaching...one reason we decided to just take matters into our own hands! Cool thing is it's better than most "sit & get" anyway. #bfc530
How simple would it be to allow teachers to choose their own PD plan and give them time to complete it (I mean most of us pay for it anyways)? Then admin would have time to meet with us about our learning with passion driven conversation. #bfc530
You should suggest our Choice Board concept. It is excellent! No $ or coaches required. I do personal development I want and need, then reflect on it. Sometimes they will ask us to offer PD to our peers after they read our reflections #bfc530
Basically a venue for Ts to post what is happening in a specific room at a specific time block during a week's time.
I'm actually presenting on its implementation at the National Principal's Conference this July in Chicago!
#bfc530
We work in an awesome place!
@mhrdschools Rocks!
We are respected and encouraged to be the best we can.
After enjoying chatting with #bfc530 I look forward to going to work each day:)
Yesterday I was denied a PD request - a free conference at the United Nations on education and the holocaust with significant world leaders and survivors because it is a conference and not "official" PD #bfc530
My district and school admin support all sorts of PD: edcamps, out of district, teacher led. It is really a model I think too few Ts take advantage... I don’t have that issue- I’m always doing something! #bfc530
Choice is important but I also understand the need to get all teachers on the same page. You guys should try a fed ex challenge after one of those meetings. #bfc530
I love this conversation, as it’ll soon be my job to offer PD at my school. While I believe PLC time is important, I don’t think it all that’s important. #bfc530
Yesterday I was denied a PD request - a free conference at the United Nations on education and the holocaust with significant world leaders and survivors because it is a conference and not "official" PD #bfc530
As an Education Officer, I am involved in delivering PD programs for Teachers. Again, they are aligned to system priorities and to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. You can find the Standards at:
https://t.co/sjXCKpNjY1#bfc530
We have a union-supported PD day once per year that is subject specific & organized by committee of Ts rather than "the board".
Some of our other PD days organized by school have a theme and we get to choose workshop topics from within that theme for at least 1hr of it.
#bfc530
#bfc530 Our most effective PD involved a great deal of choice; so much learning. Now, I rely on #Edcamp, which offers so much choice for #teachers and an amazing sense of #collaboration#edccampCT
And unfortunately, that model seems to still dominate our profession (https://t.co/OEqpTTCFZi). I'll never understand how we can emphasize personalized education for Ss & not make that same investment for Ts. #bfc530
A lot depends on deep knowledge & trust of admins w/ staff. Where it is lacking, the PD will never be rich or meaningful.I expect very little from PD I do not plan for myself. #bfc530
Just like in the classroom ... sometimes you want the kids t be free but the reality is we need to make sure everyone is on the same page before they can be totally free #bfc530
My new role at @RutgersGSE is all about professional learning offered to schools and district personnel. The type is determined by the needs of the clients. #bfc530
I have to shout out @MsJMadrid for leading some of the most useful PD ive been a part of in years. We have been digging through @artofcoaching1. Its amazing. #bfc530
They used to do a tech tip Thursday where you could go and learn about some websites and resources you could use in your classroom. Other than that we do not really get to personalize much #bfc530
I made a promise to myself never to forget what it is like in the trenches. Wrote this blog piece a few years ago about it https://t.co/c5WSQozP0a#bfc530
Take a day and have teachers work on whatever they want but they have to present it at the end of the day. What if you did that but focused it on a specific topic. #bfc530
In reply to
@coreythornblad, @BrianHerb17, @kathyiwanicki
Inspired by @gcouros and @DanielPink, I facilitated a personalized, autonomous FedEx Day where Ts had the time to design innovative projects and present them to peers.
Year 2 this April!
##bfc530
But if it was a conference with STEM leaders would the response have been different? When are education leaders going to wake up and realize that social studies is crucial if we want democracy to survive! #bfc530
I agree! We talked about that in our feedback meeting with our principal. I suggested that month one option on our Choice Board should be a pedagogical discussion with peers. Talking about making it with non-like-content area since we have wkly CPT mtings already #bfc530
Totally agree, I mark all of the books down on my end of the year eval, both professional and middle grade. I also make a list of the podcasts that I listen to. #bfc530
Regardless of the limit a school district may have for staff on their policies on outside PD or time according to contracts, adults are completely in charge of their own PD outside of school hours. #bfc530
Today it will be a balmy 42*F, one degree warmer than the current temperature. I can't complain, spring is getting closer each day. How about you? How's summer and the start of the school year? #bfc530
PD/PL in time / on-demand is increasingly a need. In building capacity of your staff you increase your ability to have the PL closer to when it is actually needed. #bfc530
That reminds me, and I may have seen this idea from someone on #bfc530 from last year, but to place weekly tech tips on a piece of paper and tape it on the door of the faculty bathroom for some reading material.
At my school, there is the occasional whole-school PD, but most is filtered through PLTs. The district, however, has a full calendar of offerings, and this year’s tech push is personalize based on T choice. #bfc530
We have done this the past few years on our “choice” PD day, where Ts can use the day for own learning (like visiting a museum, doing research). It’s been great, but not well attended. Average 4 people in a breakout session #bfc530
More importantly adults have complete choice in their own professional learning. For example, they could learn a new language on their or how to repair a vehicle. Where there is a sincere desire, there are no boundaries! #bfc530
That reminds me, and I may have seen this idea from someone on #bfc530 from last year, but to place weekly tech tips on a piece of paper and tape it on the door of the faculty bathroom for some reading material.
Usually our school will provide supply coverage if we go to a conference but all other costs (registration & accommodations) are up to us . Can apply for union grants.
#bfc530
Good morning #BFC530! Besides twitter and our great PLN, how are you given ownership over your professional learning? What, if any, choice do you have in PD at your school?
Our district has teacher-run, voluntary PD hours after school - if we accumulate at least 6 of these in a year, we get to take off on the scheduled PD day the Friday before Memorial Day #bfc530
I like this idea. Heck as a social studies teacher, it may even be my responsibility. I may have to annoy you later with more ideas on how to write it #bfc530
Id be remiss if I didn't mention that the teachers in my building are amazing at this. @OMHS_Eagles has gone through a lot of changes in the past 4 years and they have rolled with all the PD. Its not easy to do. #bfc530
The amount of choice in professional learning staff is involved in at the school level depends on the school leader. Collaborative leaders will offer staff more input before making the ultimate decision based on the data and feedback received. #bfc530
I have a certain amount of money to spend on PD and just have to run it through my supervisor. Pretty much any PD is approved as long as it’s related to my position and not outside of that funding. #bfc530
#bfc530 Good morning all, first-timer here. :) The school I’m at right now has the most choice I’ve seen. We have book studies we can join, ISD one-day workshops we can seek out ourselves & apply to be reimbursed, etc...It’s nice for more experienced staff.
Personally, I learn best from others sharing what they’re passionate about, so edcamps, content-specific and pedagogical PD from Ts who do whatever they’re training on, and conference offerings. I’ll admit I nearly always skip vendor-led sessions. #nothingpersonal#bfc530
#bfc530 I’m way late this morning, but in our district Ts can choose any district offered PD available for Ts. I do plenty of reading on my own including Twitter, blog posts, and sites that offer EDU topics.
It would make sense. As Head of Curriculum in my previous school, we would have 1 hour heads of faculty meetings each month. We would do Admin for no more than 15 minutes and then PD for the rest of the meeting. The agenda always got sent out with Professional Reading. #bfc530
I think that’s very district specific. Some require so many that Ts, particularly new Ts and those in struggling schools have little time to breathe, let alone seek out personalized PD. #bfc530
Too few Ts take advantage of PD...schools might have the $ and admins might give their blessing, but if Ts are drowning in meetings, emails, prep, grading, and duties, there’s not much time & energy left for PD. How do admins relieve some of that burden? #BFC530
That’s AWESOME! Our Choice is good, but it means that I spend my money to go to things. Trying to raise $$ to go to @ronclarkacademy, but district has new policy not allowing @gofundme pages etc., not sure how to raise $900, but determined to go! #bfc530
In reply to
@kathyiwanicki, @ronclarkacademy, @gofundme
Look what I got yesterday! My #hyperdocs never looked so good. LCD panel on wheels, can use for stations, small groups, AND keep the lights on. Whose got great ideas for interactive lessons to get me going? Looking at you @KerryHawk02#sschat#bfc530 Thank you #wpsedtech
Exactly—for all 3 comments—PD time is precious, and there are many ways to present info and check for understanding in 2018; makes admin seem out of touch with Ts reality if they always go to 20th c methods; harms overall relationship; practice what you preach is best #bfc530
In reply to
@LaurenPorosoff, @DennisDill, @MrEandre
I think another source of PD can be the company we keep. My closest friends are also caring and inventive educators. We get great ideas from each other. #bfc530
Yes, at times the agenda would come with an active link to a clip for PD discussion. It works well and means you can align their PD to the Strategic needs of the school. #bfc530
One of the many reasons I ❤️ Twitter... I follow amazing educators who share best practices and life lessons that I need to be a better teacher. #twitterPD#bfc530#Educolor
Good morning #BFC530! Besides twitter and our great PLN, how are you given ownership over your professional learning? What, if any, choice do you have in PD at your school?
I think this is one of the biggest questions in education right now. Everyone is doing what they can with what they have and most want to do more. #pln365#bfc530
Too few Ts take advantage of PD...schools might have the $ and admins might give their blessing, but if Ts are drowning in meetings, emails, prep, grading, and duties, there’s not much time & energy left for PD. How do admins relieve some of that burden? #BFC530
Hi, #bfc530. Charter school where I teach holds 10 PD days yearly, including back-to-school bunch in Aug. Those blend assigned meetings w/concurrent PLC groups from which to choose & genius-hr time. Largely self-selected goals (linked to school initiatives) drive prof learning.
Good morning #BFC530! Besides twitter and our great PLN, how are you given ownership over your professional learning? What, if any, choice do you have in PD at your school?
Some of the more successful staff meetings I’ve seen involve a format with breakout sessions where teachers can “choose their own adventure”. This allows the training to be more relevant to the needs of the teacher for that particular week. #BFC530#edchat#leadupchat
Good morning #BFC530! Besides twitter and our great PLN, how are you given ownership over your professional learning? What, if any, choice do you have in PD at your school?
Our district has done a great job of supporting PD. Our institute is run by our own staff and everyone has the opportunity to submit proposals to present. Our experts are in-house! #bfc530#bthschat
Good morning #BFC530! Besides twitter and our great PLN, how are you given ownership over your professional learning? What, if any, choice do you have in PD at your school?
My staff and I offer what we call Mini PD opportunities twice a month after school. They take ownership in their PL. Our ELA team chose to do a book study this year as well. We also have increased our use of social media for PD and increasing our PLN #BFC530
