Hi, everybody! I hope everything is going well! Please forgive me, this might be a silly question, but I am so new to this job and the district. This is my first year as a contracted teacher. I kind of needed some advice about professional development. I got my observation results back, and the VP was pleased with what she saw. However, one of her recommendations was to get some more PD hours in my field. I teach ninth grade English. I've attended the PD workshops offered by the school, of course. But I want to attend some more workshops. I just don't know how many hours I need every year. How do PD workshops work for teachers? I'm a teacher in New Jersey. I know this might be a silly question, and I do apologize for my newbie-ism. I just want to become better at my job and take my boss's advice. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!
You need 20 hours per year, 100 in five years. That's the minimum in NJ. Lot's of ways to acquire them, although I tend to acquire mine by taking grad courses. A three hour course amounts to 45 PD hours. I should say that in the last five years, I have acquired about 810 PD hours through grad credit, and another 200 PD hours in conferences, webinars, training, and selected programs that appealed to me. That said, I have been blessed to find so much that has enriched my life and career. Acquisition of my MED in ESL was certainly beneficial, and what it taught in teaching literacy, as well as the statistic courses/data utilization is of great benefit in everything I do. I am Science, so I belong to the NSTA, which has multiple conferences to choose from. TCNJ often offers PD in English with authors, and Rutgers also would have similar workshops, I'm sure. For me, the limitation is only where to find the time. I am assuming that there must be an English Teacher Association, but that's out of my field. I can also tell you that if you are interested in online courses, there are offerings by PBS TeacherLine, and I have enjoyed all of those that I have had the pleasure of taking. I'm wanting to take one right now, because I finished my last endorsement, so I have some time. They are reasonably priced, generally covered by tuition reimbursement, and you can take them as grad credit, good for pay raises down the road. I'm sure that other English teachers will chime in. Enjoy the experience - I know that I do.
My district in California requires 12 hours each year, 6 of which are built into activities before the school year starts. Our district coordinator sends out an email blast weekly with PD opportunities, and we can also do webinars. Look at www.edweb.net to see if there are some that interest you. Also, check with the National Writing Project closest to you to see if they have anything scheduled: https://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/doc/findasite/completelist.csp You might also look for an Edcamp event: https://www.edcamp.org/edcamp-locations Those are fun “unconferences” for all content areas.
Referring to vickilyn's suggestion, a bunch of CECs available through NCTE. They aren't always cheap, but they're less expensive than a college class.
Not only is there stuff available through the NCTE, but your state probably has its own association as well. (Virginia, for example, has the VATE.) Check with local theaters and museums too; the Blackfriar's Playhouse here hosts several workshops on tips for teaching Shakespeare every year, and the Holocaust museum has workshops for teachers in all subjects areas on how to appropriate discuss the Holocaust in their classroom. I imagine you have similar opportunities in your area, or at least your state.
How lovely! WOW! Thank you so much, everybody! I'm really excited now! I found an amazing one on how to teach theater, and it's actually at my alma mater! <3 Thank you, thank you! Stay blessed and happy holidays!
What types of PD are you interested in? I'm curious as to what you think would be most beneficial as a new teacher.
I do love any PD that has to do with the curriculum. There's a wonderful PD coming up at TCNJ about how to teach works of drama to students. I've been having some trouble with Shakespeare, and I want my kids to love it and understand it better. I hope this PD can teach me a few things that I can try next year. There's also another PD in Atlantic City, but it's more creative. It's about the poetry and fiction we produce as teachers. It's like a writers' workshop. It looks so wonderful. I haven't written in years. It'll be wonderful to get back into my writing.
