Monday, July 6, 2015

Another Layer to Professional Development

My professional reading has become a bit more intentional since taking on a new role as Literacy Strategist last summer. I mean, I have always read with intention before now, but there is something different about reading professional literature when you know the audience for sharing your new learning and understanding will be teachers. Before, I read with my students in mind, thinking about how I would refine and improve my teaching in the classroom. I wasn't necessarily going to have to explain the thinking behind my instructional decisions and moves to them, but rather I would be doing the new learning.

Now I read with the teacher in mind, thinking about how I will facilitate conversations around instructional strategies and ideas from the professional texts I'm reading, in order to help teachers have a better understanding of the "why" and "how" of the instructional moves they make in their own classrooms. This has changed how I annotate and keep track of my own thinking as I'm reading. I started last fall by keeping notes using Google Drive, where I could link handouts I create and web links within my notes so it was all in one place. I found this made it easier for me to share with teachers this year, as I could create "synopsis" notes that could be shared with them during coaching cycles or professional learning sessions.

This summer I'm taking this a step further, using "virtual" avenues that I've expanded through my PLN (Professional Learning Network).  The National Council for Teachers of English just published a qualitative narrative study on teacher participation in online professional development. As I tweeted out today, I'm a big believer and participant in this kind of learning!


This summer I've added another layer to my professional learning! I'm using Google Drive and Voxer to participate in several professional book studies.  This idea started back in May when people were sharing their #cyberpd book stacks via Twitter, Facebook, and Google Communities. Several people in a larger Voxer group I'm a part of noticed that we had similar titles. 


And so a smaller group of us decided to read three books we had in common during June, July, and August. Michele (@knott_michele) set up a Voxer group and reading schedule for the first book, Writing About Reading: From Book Talk to Literary Essays by Janet Angelillo. I set up a google doc where we could keep notes and add comments as we read. It's been a great way to share ideas and thinking, while still enjoying summer time trips and activities. As a literacy strategist, I've really appreciated the comments and questions the teachers & teacher librarians have added to the conversations, both through Voxer and the google document. We've worked together to create handouts and charts that capture key ideas that we can easily reference once we're back in the busyness of a school schedule. We're just getting started on our next book, Conferring~The Keystone to Reader's Workshop by Patrick Allen, using the same format. 

Voxer has benefited me in many ways, since someone first tweeted about last summer. Working in separate buildings, my coaching partner, Jamie (@fivenomar) and I found it very helpful this past school year to stay connected during the week and in planning professional development. My new coaching partner, Matt (@Matt_Halpern) and I are already using it for thinking about & planning for the upcoming school year. My colleague, Natalee Stotz (@nataleestotz) set up a #nErDcampNNE Group for our planning committee to use the weekend of Nerd Camp Northern New England, which helped us all stay in touch in various parts of a large school building. I'm a part of a 'Coaching Connections' Voxer Group that includes a small group of literacy coaches who support each other in work specific to coaching and working with adult learners. We started by meeting monthly via Google Hangout and added Voxer as a way of sending quick messages of encouragement or questions during the work day. An 'All Things Literacy' Voxer group was created when I tweeted out a question looking for input from 3rd grade teachers about how they use & organize Readers Notebooks and our conversation needed more than 140 characters. Honestly, the more I use Voxer, the more I see the powerful layer it adds to an already vibrate, engaging professional learning community! I'm so thankful for those in my PLN who have been willing to try this idea out with me! 

How are you leveraging the various online professional development opportunities and platforms?  I'd love to hear more about the ways your using it to expand professional conversations and learning! As for the professional books I'm reading this summer, I'll share big take aways from my reading in upcoming blog posts...so stay tuned. 

8 comments:

  1. You make so many great points here. Digital tools have given us new ways to learn from each other no matter how far apart we live. Like you, I have come to love Voxer. We have used it for planning #cyberPD and work with Columbus Area Writing Project. Our grade level team uses it as well to plan and share.

    Cathy

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    1. Cathy,

      It's amazing to me how much digital tools have changed the "face" of professional development. There are so many options available to us now. I especially love the ones that layer on top of each other, adding breadth AND depth to my learning.

      Thanks for sharing your experience with Voxer. You always add new ideas to my thinking and understanding.

      Best,
      Susan

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  2. Last year was my first year to leave the classroom & work as a coach. Your post have given me so much to think about.

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    1. Hi Mary,

      Last year was also my first year as a strategist/coach. It was such a stretching year of growth for me. One thing I've found to be true is that I have to seek out ways to continue my own professional learning so that I can continue to help others with theirs. Online opportunities such as Twitter and Voxer have definitely helped with that.

      It's nice to "meet" someone else on this journey. Thanks for reading & commenting.

      Best
      Susan

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  3. Susan, You have found some innovative ways for professional development. I started using Voxer this school year and love it. I'm hoping that some of my fellow literacy coaches will want to join in. Your book groups sound so interesting and maybe that's a place for me to begin trying to engage some of them. If you don't mind, I'm going to share your post with the coaches in my district. Who knows what might happen. Thank you for sharing your ideas.

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    1. Julie,
      As I moved into the role of literacy coach, I've kept in the fore front of my mind the fact that I have to keep finding ways to fuel my own professional learning. It's not easy when there is only one or two people in this position in a district. The online learning has become even more important to me now and platforms like Voxer only strengthen it!

      It's reaffirming to me to know that sharing my ideas and learning around coaching and professional develop are helpful to others. Please feel free to share this post and idea with your team. I would love to hear more about how it works for you as you try it out!

      Thanks for reading and commenting!
      Best,
      Susan

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  4. Hi Susan,

    I am inspired by your post! As a literacy teacher educator and coach, I understand how your lens of reading has changed and appreciated your discussion how and why. I have heard of Voxer through our #cyberPD group and now, after reading your post, I have to explore more. I lead a study group of literacy coaches in NY and would love to talk about the Coaching Connections group you are part of as well. Perhaps we could connect our work together?

    Stephanie

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    1. Stephanie,

      So nice to "meet" you here! Thank you for your kind words. I would be happy to share what I'm doing and collaborate on ideas! You can find me on Twitter (@literacydocent). I look forward to connecting!

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