FCPS Induction and PL
Keeping Up with Induction and Professional Learning
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
The Science of Learning
In our last newsletter, we looked at the challenges of teacher development. As we bring this school year to a close, many in the field would agree that teaching and learning is a complex process. Developing teachers is also complex. Peps McCrea has outlined an expertise model for developing teachers that has, at the heart, four main steps. These steps are Get It, See It, Try It, and Keep It. Here’s a quick definition of each. From this article: Essential Ingredients of PD by Peps McCrea
GET IT → Helping teachers to develop an understanding of the science of teaching and learning.
SEE IT → Helping teachers to develop a bank of strategies of what the science looks like in practice. (This can include modeling strategies, visualizing and talking through strategies and reflecting)
TRY IT → Engaging in rehearsal to help teachers contextualize these strategies for their subject(s), students, and selves.
KEEP IT → Helping teachers to build fluency in these strategies and embed them in the routines of their work.
GET IT and SEE IT can be done in either order, but both must come before TRY IT, which must come before KEEP IT. This means, in some cases, that teachers can get it and see it while still in a PD session. Trying it could start in the same PD by having teachers try it in front of other teachers. Here the teachers could troubleshoot possible challenges and pitfalls while developing common language and efficiencies that the single teacher may not be able to develop on his or her own. In this way, teachers leave the PD having something started that they could use right away.
Running the Room Classroom Management Tip
While summer is a time for rest and relaxation, we are also looking forward to welcoming new students and gearing up for the excitement and joy that comes with every new school year! As part of that process, consider what behaviors and routines students will need to learn in that first week in order to be successful. Start small and with intention. As we plan for opening the days of 2024-2025, plan lessons that explicitly teach these behaviors and routines to students. Model and practice these behaviors and routines. Provide feedback and reteaching as necessary! As Tom Bennett shares, “Behavior is a Curriculum.”
We are excited to dive deep into The Running The Room Companion this summer through the On the RISE 2 component of our RISE Induction Program!
TEACHING WALKTHRUs
The Teaching WalkThrus resources are designed to be used as part of a coaching / feedback conversation. The power rests not only in the simple to follow step-by-step guide, but also in the ongoing reflection and discussion that happens while a teacher ADAPTs a strategy and makes it their own. Handing a novice teacher a WalkThrus hexagon and asking them to implement it without the support of coaching or mentoring takes away the process of metacognition and reflection for the novice teacher who may not have the experience or expertise to “see” challenges or adaptations in a proactive way. Using discussions, questioning and active listening to support a teacher through these steps helps to better ensure that the strategy implementation will have the desired impact on student learning.
What does it mean to ADAPT a strategy?
Below are the five steps of the ADAPT process:
Career Development: Leveling Up Learning Series
Leveling Up will return in the 2024-2025 school year and continue to offer career development topics, insights and resources for all FCPS staff! The 2023-2024 Fall and Winter series resources will remain available. Check out https://www.fcps.org/hr/career-development to learn more.
Induction
PDS Partnerships / DFI & Hood College, Effortful Thinking
FCPS continues to strengthen our Professional Development School (PDS) partnerships with our local institutions of higher education (IHEs). One outgrowth of our deepening PDS relationship with Hood College is the Learning Science Consortium, a first-of-its-kind partnership between Deans for Impact, an educational non-profit designed to support teacher preparation, Hood College and FCPS. The Learning Science Consortium brought together administrators, leaders, and mentor teachers who support Hood College phase II and III interns, Hood College faculty, and members of the Department of Equity and Organizational Development to examine the impact that effortful thinking can have on teaching and learning. Through this year-long professional learning experience, Learning Science Consortium participants developed a common understanding of what effortful thinking looks like in classroom practice and considered ways to bring the learning back to their respective roles and buildings.
Responsive, Impactful Support for Educators~ YEAR ONE
RISE and Thrive would like to congratulate the 240 participants who earned credit for their work in the Year 1 induction class. Through the support of Master Teachers, educators who facilitated choice sessions, and the Employee Induction and Professional Learning team, new hires were able to find success as an FCPS educator through their year-long series of classes. New hires had opportunities to collaborate, discuss challenges, troubleshoot and acquire curricular resources. These educators celebrated their journey with guest speakers, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Markoe, Chief of Equity and Organizational Development Dr. Harris, Board President Karen Yoho, and FCTA President Missy Dirks at Hood College. We are looking forward to working with all of our new hires next year in RISE and Apply!
Responsive, Impactful Support for Educators~ YEAR TWO
RISE and Apply Year 2 is designed for second year hires in FCPS. Participants will have an opportunity to develop and apply instructional strategies as well as understand pedagogical approaches.
Registration for our fall book study is open! 'Teach Like a Champion 3.0' explains 63 simple but powerful techniques that you can immediately implement to enhance engagement, set high expectations, improve your instructional delivery, and create a positive classroom culture. This edition of the text features updated teaching techniques, the latest evidence from cognitive science, and culturally responsive teaching practices.
Visit our advertisement for more information.
Responsive, Impactful Support for Educators~ YEAR THREE
Rise and Reflect for 3rd year educators consists of two unique credit-bearing opportunities to grow as reflective practitioners. Third year FCPS educators dive deep into goal setting and growth related to Charlotte Danielson’s Framework for Teaching in the Rise and Reflect 2 credit course. We also offer a 1-credit Networking Experience, where educator cohorts collaborate to plan, problem-solve, and share resources with the support of a Master Teacher. Register for one or BOTH experiences!
Visit our Rise and Reflect advertisement for more details, dates and times and registration information.
On the RISE Book Study Opportunities
On the RISE Year 2 is designed for new hires who've just completed their first year in FCPS. Participants will have an opportunity to lay the groundwork for a successful beginning of the 2024-2025 school year. Additionally, participants will analyze practical examples and evidence-informed techniques to promote an understanding of classroom management skills and instructional strategies.
This course is designed as a two-part course in which participants will earn 1 MSDE credit. There is an in-person professional learning experience along with an asynchronous book study using the text 'The Running the Room Companion,' composed of chapter readings, discussions, and coursework, and one required virtual synchronous discussion.
Upcoming New Hire Symposium Event
New Hire Symposium is an annual on-boarding conference for new hires, which will be held on August 5, 6, 7, and 8 at Tuscarora High School. Topics at this conference include building familiarity with curriculum standards at the appropriate grade level and content area, classroom management strategies, and meeting the needs of diverse student populations. These professional learning sessions are designed to prepare all new FCPS educators for a successful year. In addition to these professional learning opportunities, new hires will also meet with their school-based mentor (or designee) to learn about their school community, work closely with master teachers to explore the curriculum and develop lesson plans, and begin to prepare their classrooms. Throughout New Hire Symposium, participants build relationships with other new hires, mentor teachers, master teachers and curriculum specialists, which sets them on a path for instructional success in FCPS!
Mentor Spotlight
The Employee Induction and Professional Learning team would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our school based mentors for the time they have spent supporting new hires throughout this school year! We have greatly appreciated their leadership, flexibility, patience, enthusiasm, and dedication. We wish you all a restful and enjoyable summer!
Special Education Mentors
The Employee Induction and Professional Learning team would like to express our sincere gratitude to the first-ever group of special education mentors. We appreciate the unique and creative ways that you have inspired first-year special education teachers. From facilitating group virtual sessions, to traveling off-site to conduct support visits and providing personalized support as needed, you have made a huge difference! We recognize the extra efforts you have made to provide support.
To Contact Us:
Email: professional.learning@fcps.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/fcps.org/professional-learning/home
Location: 44 West Frederick Street, Walkersville, MD, USA
Phone: (240)236-8831