Posted by:
Judy Freier
Building admin/coordinator
Stamford, CT

Topic:
Staff Development

Message:

I agree wholeheartedly with the "ongoing and continuous" concept of staff development but don't feel that 9 months on and 3 off for that endeavor will serve the purpose. Until teachers actually use new ideas with their students, and begin to "own" the ideas, these ideas frequently remain just that. In addition, implementation with a class often presents new issues that may not have surfaced during the training sessions. An alternative approach is to have onsite mentors work with colleagues in an ongoing, continuous, onsite setting (daily, weekly, often). Allowing time during the school day for unhurried, collegial sharing (as per the Japanese model)can effect significant improvements in the delivery of instruction. Also, allowing teacher mentors to model lessons and to dialogue with teachers regarding curriculum concerns, teaching strategies, classroom management, questioning techniques, etc. are effective tools for staff development. This method seems to be expensive but it is actually more cost-effective than the present "one shot deal" method presently in place in most school districts.

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