CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

It’s not the curriculum, or the school district, or the budget, or even demographics. Research has shown repeatedly that teachers matter most in student achievement – more than any other aspect of the school experience. And professional development for teachers, in turn, helps these educators improve their own classroom and leadership skills – which keeps the cycle of improvement going.

While it’s hard to think about taking on new work when you – like most teachers – are already stretched thin, professional development courses are for you – they build up your strengths, bolster any weak spots you may have, and get you inspired again. And the possibilities are many – sharpen your technology skills, focus on wellness, shore up your classroom behavioral knowledge, learn about teaching students who have cultural differences, enhance your research skills – all will benefit you, make you feel more grounded, and reinforce the reasons you’re in the classroom in the first place.

There are many examples online; search the terms “individual continuing education & professional development plans” and you’ll get plenty of models, dozens on Pinterest alone; some are downloadable, printable, and free. They can be set up as spreadsheets, Word documents, or in graphic form. Some of the common elements:

• State the action you will take (What would you like to be better at? What would you like to know more about? What skills do you want to pursue?)
• State your area of focus (This can be subject matter, classroom skills, or self-focused improvement in areas such as mindfulness or time management)
• State your reason for this action and area of focus
• List any related activities
• Outline your time frame
• Pinpoint how you’ll know when you’ve succeeded
• Note which teaching standards your goals align with

Put your educational experience and passion for course development to good use!