What GIF comes to mind when you think of PD days? This one?
Well, the answer probably depends on whether you’re a teacher or principal reading this.
The truth is, this blog post is for the school leaders.
We talk about “student engagement” all the time. But what about teacher engagement?
We want our teachers’ classes to be engaging, incorporate movement, collaboration, and end with reflection, right? But do our PD days reflect that? While there’s so much to say about PD and the best ways to really set your teachers up for success (we’ll have to do another blog post for that!), here are 7 low-prep (hashtag real life) and fun ideas that can sprinkle these flavors into your PD – engagement, movement, collaboration, and reflection.
Engagement
1. The GIF Game: A Fun Hook
Ask teachers questions that they answer through GIFs on the teacher chat. Try questions like, “How do you feel about parent-teacher conferences coming up?” or “What’s your reaction when you get a last-minute schedule change?” Teachers reply in the class whatsapp group. This is an awesome way for teachers to have fun, laugh and get started on a fun note.
2. Two Truths and a Lie—Classroom Edition
Each teacher shares three teaching moments or strategies they’ve tried—two that worked and one that didn’t. The group guesses which one didn’t work. It’s a great way to share experiences and laugh at our teaching misadventures (we all have them!)
Movement
3. Post-it Wall
Put large post-it notes on the wall with topics or question prompts. Before lunch, teachers can write down their answers on the post-its. During or after lunch, teachers can browse and read others’ responses. Questions like:
- “What’s your easiest engagement strategy?”
- “What website helps you the most with prep time?”
- “Your favorite teaching book or podcast?”
4. Phrase Partner Challenge: Walk & Talk
Give teachers half of a phrase related to education. For example, one teacher would have, “Education is the kindling of a flame,” and another would have, “not the filling of a vessel.” Give teachers a chance to walk around and find their buddy, then spend a minute or two discussing their quote. It’s a simple way to encourage movement and a chance for them to meet other teachers and share their opinions.
Collaboration
5. Zoom-in Game
Take pictures of random spots in teacher’s classrooms that are really zoomed in, such as the handle of a teacher’s closet, the edge of a poster, or their windowsill with Tchotchkes. Take a zoomed-out picture as well. First show the zoomed in picture. Then ask teachers to guess the zoomed-in picture: “Who’s classroom is this?” Show the zoomed out picture, and then continue until all of the pictures are done. This can lead into a discussion on what we can learn from each other’s classrooms—classroom setups, posters, and observing the teacher in action. Encourage teachers to use this time to set up time with the other teachers, see if they can observe them. Even just five minutes in action is SO powerful.
6. Article Stations
Set up stations with different articles. Teachers can choose their article, then highlight their favorite sentences to share with the rest of the teachers. Here are some great article suggestions:
- Seven Keys to Effective Feedback by Grant Wiggins
- Growth Mindset: Clearing up Some Common Confusions by Eduardo Briceño
- The Five Biggest Pitfalls of Collaborative Grouping (And How to Avoid Them) by John Spencer
- An article from everygrowingeducator.com’s blog section 😉
Reflection:
7. Fortune Cookie Wisdom
Put out fortune cookies for each teacher to take. The teachers crack open their cookies, read their fortune, and then share how that fortune connects to something from the PD. It can be a mindset shift, a strategy or technique, or something that was implicitly picked up on. It’s a fun way reflect on the PD, hear what other teachers gained, and get every teacher to share something.
PS: Looking for a presenter that is engaging, encourages movement, collaboration and reflection?
I know someone who fits the bill. 😉
Presenting to teachers is one of my favorite things to do. Contact me to see if it’s the right fit for your school.
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