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Summer Professional Development

Posted by Flic'ted on 3/14/2023, 12:51 pm

I've been asked to present for some of my district's summer PD. My target audience is the general teaching population, not specific to just band or even music. I am in need of some ideas for what I could present on that is pertinent to the masses. Thoughts?

Re: Summer Professional Development

Posted by Question? on 3/20/2023, 10:30 am, in reply to "Summer Professional Development"

What level? JH, HS, both?

Re: Summer Professional Development

Posted by Okay on 3/18/2023, 8:59 am, in reply to "Summer Professional Development"

“Why regular Ed teachers have it so much easier than band directors”

Re: Summer Professional Development

Posted by Umm... on 3/18/2023, 5:48 pm, in reply to "Re: Summer Professional Development"

I would never throw stones like that. As many long hours as I might have, at least I don't have to deal with grading 130+ essays of students every time I have an assignment turned in. I also don't have to worry about a STAAR or EOC score from the kids either. (Yes we have UIL, but let's be honest, there is far more likely a universal 'you're gone' about bad STAAR/EOC than a II for a band!)

Now, if this is tongue and cheek...?

Still wouldn't do it.

Re: Summer Professional Development

Posted by Okay on 3/20/2023, 1:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Summer Professional Development"

Do we have to be serious on this site all the time? Can't we have a little fun?!?!?

Re: Summer Professional Development

Posted by Mr. Dude on 3/14/2023, 7:04 pm, in reply to "Summer Professional Development"

In my last job, we had a PD day that teachers were encouraged to present, and then everyone got to pick which ones to attend. The AD and myself decided to get our teams to present things that would be beneficial for us and our teams. here are some good ones…

I did one on parent communication and avoiding conflict, it was well attended by the teacher population. Not surprising, campus admin did not have our backs, so lots of teachers were feeling helpless.

Effective use of class time and lesson pacing.

Teaching students to own the classroom and peer leadership.

Work/Life Balance.

Re: Summer Professional Development

Posted by Me on 3/14/2023, 4:31 pm, in reply to "Summer Professional Development"

The things we do as band directors that are second nature - team building, grouping, ability based grouping, classroom management - that’s what you should be presenting.

They will not care a single bit about your content, how you present your content, or anything else. They will care about how you make your content relevant to students, since it is not inherently so.

Re: Summer Professional Development

Posted by Been there on 3/14/2023, 6:53 pm, in reply to "Re: Summer Professional Development"

You can still do some music, like using music as a tool to remember facts.

Re: Summer Professional Development

Posted by Some on 3/14/2023, 3:54 pm, in reply to "Summer Professional Development"

Goal Setting - we do this at a consistently high level

Knowing Students - we also do this at a consistently high level. Maybe more geared to freshman or beginner year since most teachers won't have students for multiple years.

Budget stuff - some teachers don't know how to manage a budget or how to advocate for supplies in their classrooms. Show them how to shop and advocate for purchases in their classes. Think of it as a local, intraoffice grant writing seminar.

Trip planning - the list of details for taking a band to a game is long but we nail it (mostly) every week, every year. There are many things we do well that would transform how other teachers plan for off campus trips.

Off the wall/nontraditional - you could offer SEL style professional development by providing music suggestions to produce effects on students or teachers, drum circle, quiet meditation time, yoga or special interests (if your district is hip).

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