Professional Development on a Budget

Features

The Spirit of Teacher Learning
Joan Maute
"Teachers can and should be learning all the time," says Illinois teacher Joan Maute. "It's what we do and what we model. It's our spirit." Joan shares ways teachers grow and learn every day, from having a conversation with a colleague in the hall to visiting an exemplary school to scheduling time for team learning.

Looking Within: The State of Funding for Professional Development
Mary O'Doherty
Professional development for educators is often the first item on the chopping block when budget pressures loom. Mary O'Doherty takes a look at what schools and school districts are doing across the country to ensure their staffs continue to learn and grow.

Peer Coaching: One on One Support
Jim Paterson
Peer coaching has proven itself to be a positive influence on both instructional effectiveness and student achievement. Jim Paterson explores this many-faceted strategy and how schools are using it to get the results they want.

Integrating Math and Social Studies Through Word Problems
David Cooper
When they begin flexing their mathematical muscles, seventh graders in Pennsylvania gain new perspectives on social studies and develop their higher-order thinking skills. Teacher David Cooper explains why social studies and math DO mix.

Departments

The Electronic Thread
Brenda A. Dyck
Telecollaboration is an educational venture that often begins with a fledgling idea in the mind of a teacher and develops into a project that amplifies student learning in a way that rivals most traditional project work. Brenda Dyck outlines the steps for "linking minds."

One Teacher to Another
Rick Wormeli
When educators are given the time and funding to attend professional development activities, they have an obligation to maximize every moment. Rick Wormeli offers tips for getting the most from a professional development opportunity.

The Mark of Leadership
Robert Ruder
Helping ensure student health is a responsibility that extends beyond the school cafeteria. Pennsylvania principal Robert Ruder outlines steps middle school leaders can take to set a healthy example.

Spotlight on Health & PE
A climate that promotes healthy living should be interwoven into the very fabric of the school, from healthy foods to nutrition education to ample opportunities for physical activity.

• Helping Kids Make Good Choices
• Adventure Curriculum: Challenging Mind and Body
• Healthy Hero
• What Constitutes a Quality PE Program?