There never seems to be a GOOD time for Professional Development

 

Don't get me wrong- I like learning new concepts, ideas and strategies that will make my teaching better. What I just can't seem to figure out is when would be the best time to learn them?

End of year- NOPE! At the end of the year, teachers just want to clean-up their classrooms and forget about school...even if it is only for a short time.

Beginning of the year-NOPE! Although learning new stuff just before school starts is a good idea....teachers are more focused on getting their rooms and schedules ready for that magical 1st day when the children walk across the threshold of the front door to start their year.

Middle of the year- NOPE! At this point, if we don't have our teaching down - maybe trying something new is a good idea. However, if we are on a roll, it is awfully hard to change gears and add some newly learned stuff to our daily routines. (Unless it is just an extension of what we may have learned earlier in the year or previous year.)

Since it is in our contract to participate in PD when it is offered by the district, we don't have a choice but to attend. Administration also struggles with the same dilemma of timing, and I am sure they try to accommodate our requests if possible or is feasible. So, what is the solution? Just do it! If it is a topic that you already know, plan to share your knowledge with a colleague that could use your help. If it is overwhelming, take a step back and just absorb it for a while until you can break it apart into smaller can-do pieces. Embrace it and do your best to stay engaged- for you, your team, and for the students.