Professional Development

Have you ever heard your principal or supervisor utter the words 'professional
development,' and all of a sudden your eyes glazed over? Were you thinking,
'What can someone possibly do to entertain me for half a day (or maybe a
whole day or two or three) that will actually help me to grow as a teacher?'
Have you really sat down and given any real thought to what it is you hope to
accomplish and develop as a professional?
If you answered 'yes' to the first two questions in the last paragraph, this
lesson is probably for you. Here, we will define some long-term goals for
professional development and discuss ways of working to attain those goals.

Professional Development Defined

Before we take a look at professional development goals, we first must clearly
define what 'teacher professional development' is. Basically, professional
development is any kind of formal education, specialized training, or advanced
learning activity that helps teachers to improve their skills or professional
effectiveness.

What Are My Goals?

Most teachers do not really give a great deal of thought to what their
professional development goals are. Most find some workshops that look
interesting and hope that their principals will give them the time off to go, or in
some cases, teachers are given professional development by individuals
brought in by the school or school district--whether they ask for it or not. And
that's as far as it goes. But thinking about what your goals really are will help
you to develop in the way that you want to.

When thinking about your professional development goals, understand that

there is a processinvolved. This process usually involves defining the things
for which you want or need to increase your skill set. In addition, the process
can involve exploring avenues within your profession that you have not yet
planned for. Sometimes, when trying to figure out what your goals are, it can
be helpful to sit down and make a list. Start with the things you're really good
at, and then work your way over to the things you want or need to learn how to
do. This will usually give you some direction.

My goal to my students are to learn in my class and apply it to real life.

What is the role of the

teacher in the
classroom?
A:
QUICK ANSWER

The role of the teacher is to instruct students, manage behavior,

encourage student learning and assess progress. The teacher is the
leader in the classroom and maintains responsibility for the
students' learning and safety throughout the school day.
CONTINUE READING
KEEP LEARNING

What kind of information is collected on a teacher's

observation form?

What are some disadvantages of portfolio assessment?

What are the skills or attributes that are necessary to be

an outstanding teacher?

FULL ANSWER

The teacher sets the tone in the classroom. She is responsible for
creating an environment that allows students to learn and grow.

Teachers achieve this by setting up a stimulating, appealing

classroom with procedures and routines.
Before students get to the classroom, the teacher needs lesson
plans. These plans break down the steps for every lesson the
teacher uses for instruction to ensure all learning objectives are
met. Lesson plans also help the teacher stay organized while
teaching. The lessons a teacher creates provide the framework for
instructing students and giving them practice on the new skills they
learn.
Classroom management is another key duty of a teacher. If student
behavior is out of control, learning is a challenge. Student safety is
also threatened when the kids don't follow guidelines or misbehave.
Teachers use behavior-management plans to encourage expected
behaviors in the classroom.
Teachers also serve as role models for their students. A teacher
encourages learning by showing that she is still learning. She
encourages students to use creativity and use learning tools to
expand knowledge.