Wednesday, May 25, 2016

What happened at school this year?

As another school year comes to a close and the halls are about to empty for yet another summer break it allow us time  to look back and reflect.  Reflect on what has worked, what has not worked, what still needs to work and what may never work.

As Americans, December 31st marks the end of one year and promises endless possibilities for a new one the next day.  We make resolutions.  We commit to different life choices.  We remove bad habits.  We commit to new, healthier, more productiveness.   We reflect on what is and is not working in our lives and what we want to adjust, monitor, and change. 

For schools that happens in May/June.  As educators watch their students board those buses for the last time and close out the school year they have the exact same thoughts that all of us do on December 31st?  (after they fall on the floor in exhaustion of course)

The reflect on their teaching, their classroom management, their curriculum, their leadership, their choices, their lesson plans, their assessments, their activities, their learning, their classrooms.  They ponder, they adjust, the modify, they learn and they commit to doing "better" the next year.  Some are critical of themselves and want something different for next year, yet are not sure how.

Sometimes their opportunity to "get better" is directly affected by their ability to access the appropriate professional development to get better.  There is limited access and funding to allow teachers to learn appropriate and necessary professional development in order to increase the learning happening in their classroom.

I address this very topic in Chapter 10 of my book, "The Education System is Broken:  Strategies to Rebuilding Hope, Lives and Futures."  Professional development to an educator is as vital, and perhaps more vital,  to educators as learning in the classroom is to students. 

If teachers are not continually developed and provided more tools to teacher our students how can we expect them to get better at their craft?  I would say that professional development that enhances students learning IS what is necessary for our teachers.

We, at Tools for Success, are committed to the professional development of our teachers.  If you are an educator or know of one who is committed to learning, growing and having the best tools for their classroom, contact info@cathytooley.com for more information.

As a PROUD educator of over thirty years I am committed to creating the classrooms and schools that return in July/August renewed, refreshed and armed with new tools that WILL increase students achievement.

Are you?

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