2014-15 Learning Lab PDU Professional Development Unit

1. 2014-15Learning Lab PDUProfessional Development Unit

2. During the course of this PDU, what three instructional strategies did I implement? What strategy worked best? Why? I worked with colleagues to reflect on best practices after observing my colleagues’ instruction and being observed myself. I learned new strategies from colleagues related to grouping students, giving feedback, and communicating CLOs. The strategy I found most useful to emulate was grouping students in new ways, because it was most time efficient and effective.

3. How did I apply the PDU strategies in my classroom/practice? (examples) Who did I collaborate with during the PDU? Discuss the ways you collaborated while implementing the PDU strategies. Reflecting on the lesson I was observed teaching was a very effective use of time. Colleagues observing me asked critical questions that allowed me to reflect metacognitively about my own practices, creating a safe collaborative way to think about how to plan differently. They also were able to suggest new strategies during this collaboration that helped me reflect on the lesson.

4. What did I learn to do differently as a result of the PDU and strategy implementation in my classroom or in my practice? The strategies I learned the most from observing other teachers were the SIOP strategies. The strategies that allow students access to content in multiple ways seem to have the greatest impact. Strategies that allow students to access complex non-fiction text are particularly useful in Social Studies. Highlighting complex vocabulary, using graphic organizers, jig-sawing readings, these are all SIOP strategies I knew how to do already. What this PDU helped me to do was to recognize the students that needed help and to review their data to find the right supports for them. This individualized approach to instruction has had the greatest impact on my teaching.

5. Why is this PDU action research process important to my students learning and to my growth as a professional? Continuing to do research and teacher observations creates a more reflective and collaborative group of colleagues. Students benefit from having their teachers work together to align their practices and sharing their best practices with one another. Engaging in Learning Labs keeps me engaged in learning as a professional and reduces burnout, as it gives me plenty of new ideas and resources to implement.

6. PDU Data AnalysisReflecting on the data you have collected, how did this experience impact instruction, progress monitoring, student performance, and your own practice? • After observing other teachers and collecting data I was able to reflect on effective new practices. The practices that impacted my teaching the most were grouping strategies as explained to me by a colleague. This led to more intentional grouping strategies in my own classroom.

7. How will I apply my new learning in the future to further my practice? What are my next steps? In the future I will continue to individualize my supports for students with complex reading assignments. I will also work on using ELA strategies to help with challenging AP level writing assignments to allow students to be able to access this more challenging content. I think one of the most effective ways to improve writing that I have learned from my geography module I created for my ELA class is including a verbal element to help students formulate ideas using evidence and utilizing all the components of language.

8. PDU Artifact #1 • (i.e. Data Charts, Pre/Post Work, Lesson Plans, Reflection Logs, Discussion Questions, etc.)

11. PDU Artifact #2 • (i.e. Data Charts, Pre/Post Student Work, Lesson Plans, Reflection Logs, Discussion Questions, etc.) • Learning Lab Observed lesson plan – Geography Wildfire Module

12. Geography Wildfire Module After researching newspaper articles, historical case studies, and climate data on how the environment impacts Coloradans through wildfires, write a persuasive statement  that argues your position on  housing development in high risk areas for presentation at a state hearing. Support your position with evidence from your research and be sure to acknowledge opposing opinions.

14. PDU Artifact #3

15. Exit Ticket • Please write • What support(s) do you need to further your professional growth in future PDUs? More Learning Labs with structure, such as an ELA learning lab or one focused on reading intervention. • 2 things that you took away from the PDU this year That there are a variety of teaching styles in this building which are an enormous resource to tap into. • 1 piece of constructive criticism A little more structure around discussing ‘planning’ – what went into making the lesson I observed effective?