Top Professional Development Ideas for Schools

A few days every school year, administrators will introduce professional development topics for their teaching staff. There are times when the information provided can be really beneficial for educators. And then there are other moments when the teaching staff is left scratching their heads wondering how this can help them in the classroom. 

Rather than let the administration decide upon the topics, perhaps you should propose a few of these ideas to the school principal for the next professional development day. 

Ed Tech
Education technology can come in all shapes and sizes. With so many apps and websites available that deal with education (more than a million in total), it can be hard to narrow down the absolute best on your own. 

In this professional development day, let the teachers guide the learning. Each educator can present a certain aspect of ed-tech that they believe will be valuable to the rest of the staff. This could be how to use Google Docs, free education apps, how to use video conferencing to bring in guest presenters in the classroom, or about a million other ways to use ed tech effectively. 

Simple Ways to Differentiate
Differentiating lessons in the classroom should be an everyday occurrence. If you would like to group your students and differentiate their homework and other lessons, it does not have to get too complicated. A professional development day assisting teachers on how to differentiate their lessons in minutes should be valuable. 

How to Assess Students Other Than Tests and Quizzes
In real life, people are allowed to use whatever resources they may figure out their problems. However, in school, the most common way to assess is through tests and quizzes that require memorization. Doesn’t seem quite right, does it?

Rather than use typical assessments, a professional development day that instructs educators on allowing students to use presentations to showcase what they have learned would not be a bad idea. 

Ways to Work with Parents
One of the most stressful areas for teachers is figuring out ways to work with parents and how to approach them when they become difficult for one reason or another. A little education in communicating with parents could alleviate some of the frustration. 

Recognizing Mental Health Issues
Mental health is a hot topic with students nowadays. And rather than just wing it as educators and try our best to identify problems, a professional development day with certified counselors and therapists would be beneficial for all involved. 

School Safety
There have been more than a dozen mass shootings in schools already this year. A day working with law enforcement and how to respond to dangerous situations could save lives at a later date. Some of the smallest districts mistakenly believe something like this will never happen to them, but it is better to be safe than sorry. 

Taking Care of Yourself
There are plenty of teachers out there that do not live the healthiest of lives. As role models for children, it is essential that we practice what we preach. Sometimes we struggle under the stress of our jobs and before long, our health is not what it could be. A professional development day led by health professionals could help some teachers get back on the right track. 

We Can Help!
Need more professional development ideas? Here at iAchieve we can provide the guidance you need. We even can present professional development to small groups of teachers or the entire staff. Let us help!

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