Summer PD

Summer 2020 Professional Development for Roycemore School Teachers

Introduction

The 2020-2021 school year will be unlike any other! Though there are some things we don't know yet, Roycemore is making preparations for a few different learning situations. Teacher professional development is a key component of those preparations.

With the understanding that teachers will also take time for rest and rejuvenation over the summer, we are providing a few different professional development paths to choose from. We trust that our teachers will choose the path that best fits their needs.

We ask that each Roycemore teacher completes the Remote Learning Module, as well as the Module for their division (crossover teachers may choose the division they work with most). We also have an optional (yet highly encouraged) Equity Conversations Module. Some modules have further choices within them. Modules can also be found on our Faculty PD Google Classroom, and teachers are encouraged to submit relevant comments and documents there.

Remote Learning Module

Even though we hope that there are no interruptions to in-person learning, we realize that may not be the case. In addition, Roycemore is providing the option for students to continue learning from home if their situation requires it. Therefore, continuing to study best practices in remote learning is essential for the 2020-2021 school year.

Start Here

If you haven’t already, read or listen to Episode 146 of the Cult of Pedagogy podcast. In it, Jennifer Gonzalez offers some practical tips for thinking about next year. In particular, the ideas under “SOLUTION 6: INDIVIDUAL LEARNING PLANS” and “PREPARE FOR A FULL YEAR OF 100 PERCENT DISTANCE LEARNING” are relevant for Roycemore. Please read/listen and think about what other ideas you might be able to implement as you think about next year.

Review the distance learning resources found here- especially if you haven't looked at them since March! Think about what tools worked well for you, and what you'd like to learn more about. Keep these tools in mind as you complete your choice below, and feel free to add more resources to this document.

Choices

After completing the above, please choose one or more of the following. If you have found another remote learning resource that you would like to use instead, please let us know via Google Classroom.

Lower School Module

Part 1
GOAL #1: Preparing for robust remote learning (and meeting the needs of all learners, including those who are off-campus)

  1. Read this article:

  2. Spend some time exploring one of these websites.

  3. Keeping these resources in mind, think about how you will approach your lesson planning this fall. Add your ideas to this collaborative Google Doc. Please read other's ideas, and continue sharing as you begin planning your classes for the fall semester.

  4. If you need any support with the technology used for remote teaching, please set up a meeting with Beth and/or contact MOST, our tech support company.

We highly encourage Lower School teachers to pursue G Suite Educator Level 1 certification as well (Why? See this article.) Please see that module below. Some teachers may also wish to pursue the Seesaw Pioneer Program.

GOAL #2: Preparing for On-Campus Learning: Rethinking Classroom Design and Curriculum

  1. Use your time to work with colleagues and share ideas to set up a learning environment that works to maintain the safety of our students and provide enriching learning goals.

  2. Collaboration: Add to this document when finding any great resources to assist with teaching this year.

Part 2
GOAL: Increasing interdisciplinary, project-based learning (PBL) in the Lower School (Phased Approach)

Phase 1 (2020-21): Thinking about End of Unit Projects for Integrated Units with essential questions and main objectives.

  1. By August 14, update your Integrated units in the Integrated Unit/End of Project Focus document.

  2. Fill out the last two columns for your first unit. You can do more if you would like. The goal is to have the whole form filled out by the End of the Year.

  3. Review and collaborate with colleagues within the Integrated Unit/End of Project Focus as needed.

  4. (Optional) Utilize these PBL resources when thinking about End of Unit Projects.

  5. Schedule an on-site or Zoom workshop time with Darcy Aksamitowski the week of August 17th or sooner to discuss your plan and needs for the start of the school year.

Phase 2 (2021-22): Develop integrated units and projects with a specific PBL focus.

Middle School Module

GOAL: Increasing interdisciplinary, project-based learning (PBL) in the Middle School

  1. By July 10, post your big ideas/enduring understanding for September in this shared, collaborative MS Back to School Essential Learning Map. Find your content column on the correct grade level tab and add as much information as you can to your column.

  2. Review and collaborate with colleagues within the Back to School Essential Learning Map.

  3. Utilize these PBL resources to begin planning your September PBL unit.

  4. Schedule on-site or Zoom workshop time with Adrienne Floro July 13-31 to fully develop your plan.

Middle School teachers may also wish to explore the resources in our Upper School Module below, especially those who do not have experience teaching in a block schedule. The Upper School Module will help prepare teachers for the new block schedule, as well as for supporting concurrent learning; that is, having both face-to-face and remote learners.

Upper School Module

Though there are two parts to this Upper School module, faculty will need to consider the ideas in both parts in tandem as they plan for the fall semester. One might consider reading/watching the resources for each part, then completing the interactive components.

Part 1
GOAL: Preparing for longer classes in our new block schedule

  1. Read or listen to Making the Most of a 90-Minute Block from Jennifer Gonzalez at Cult of Pedagogy.

  2. Begin planning the first few days or weeks of your classes. Remember to start with your learning goals. If you like, you can use all or parts of this document as a template (source: NE’s Digital Age Pedagogy Website). You may also consider using a lesson planning template specific to your subject area (try a Google search for "90 minute world language lesson plan template" or similar).

  3. Learn from one another! Share at least one of your block lesson plans with a colleague or administrator for feedback. Discuss what will likely go well, what might need to be longer or shorter, how you will support off-campus learners (see Part 2!), and anything else you'd like.

Part 2
GOAL: Preparing for concurrent learning (meeting the needs of all learners, including those who are off-campus)

  1. Watch this video: How I would approach fall semester: a personal Zoomflex-based view. Though created for college-level courses, this explains a way of thinking about the fall semester. (To dive even deeper into these ideas, consider checking out the video creator's other videos.)

  2. Read at least one of these articles:

  3. Keeping these resources in mind, think about how you will approach your lesson planning this fall. Add your ideas to this collaborative Google Doc. Please read other's ideas, and continue sharing as you begin planning your classes for the fall semester.

  4. If possible, conduct a test concurrent class from your classroom. Use your teacher laptop, and log in to the platform of your choice (Zoom or Google Meet). Imagine you have students in the classroom with you, as well as one or more students at home. If you need someone to join remotely, you can ask Beth or Stefanie. This will help you think through any issues that might come up as you concurrently support both on- and off-campus students in your classes.

  5. If you need further support with the technology used for concurrent teaching, please set up a meeting with Beth and/or contact MOST, our tech support company.

Equity Conversations Module (Optional)

GOAL: To start more conversations among our faculty about diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly in how we can best support our diverse students on a day-to-day basis.

This module was prepared with the help of the Roycemore DEI faculty committee. We realize that this topic goes well beyond reading and discussing a few articles. Our hope is that the instructions below help us begin important conversations, which will be ongoing throughout the school year, and beyond. For questions or help with this module, please contact any of the members of the DEI committee.

  1. Choose one or more anti-racist or equity related resource to explore. There are many available, including the ones listed on this collaborative Roycemore document. Please choose anything that speaks to you. It could even be something you did last year, such as our October PD. If you're not sure where to start, here are some suggestions:

  2. Start or join a conversation with fellow Roycemore faculty about what you read or did. Visit Slack by clicking here or using the Slack app. Then find the #Equity channel (you might see it on the left side of the screen; if not type it in the search box). Post your thoughts to that thread and/or respond to others. Consider sharing what you read/listened to/watched, what it got you thinking about, and how it will affect your work this year.

  3. Be prepared to have further equity conversations at an upcoming PD workshop. And please continue adding links to this document, as well as on Slack.

  4. Consider expanding your participation in these discussions to a wider community. Here are some online communities you might consider:

G Suite Certified Educator Module (Optional)

Google certification will not only solidify your skills with Google tools, but also classroom techniques in general, especially for remote learning. Please review this website to get started with this module.