Core Professional Learning Offerings

CATALINA FOOTHILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT

Core Professional Learning Offerings in CFSD

Professional Learning

New Teacher Induction: Great Beginnings - Systems for Success

Continuing Professional Learning

 

The CFSD instructional model is built upon our belief of continual improvement through research-based best practices. We offer exciting and rigorous active learning opportunities with immediate classroom takeaways.

Below are examples of core professional learning offerings that are provided for our teachers.

Understanding by Design

Developed by Jay McTighe and Grant Wiggins, UbD is an instructional planning approach that uses backward design to increase student understanding and transfer. UbD complements the CFSD professional learning model in that it “reflects a continual improvement approach to student achievement and teacher craft” (Wiggins and McTighe, 2011). CFSD teachers in Years 5-7 attend formal training with Understanding by Design experts.

Project Based Learning: Teaching Through Vibrant, Rigorous, and Engaging Collaborative Projects

Rather than an assigned task at the end of instruction, the project becomes the instruction in project based learning. Never again will you hear, “Why are we doing this?” or “Will this be on the test?” because your students will be working on in-depth inquiry, answering driving questions for a public audience. Learn how to structure a project to foster true collaboration -- so every student has a meaningful role in inquiry and production.

Teacher Leadership Training for Facilitation of Collaborative Inquiry Teams

Teacher leaders are central to our district's Collaborative Inquiry Teams (CITs) school improvement model. As facilitators of CITs, teacher leaders help build a culture of collaboration, inquiry, and professional learning with the goal of implementing evidence-based practices that lead to improved student achievement. Teacher leaders participate in an initial facilitation training that helps them begin to develop the necessary dispositions, skills, and practices that support facilitation of Collaborative Inquiry Teams. Throughout their time as CIT facilitators, teacher leaders will participate in ongoing training, coaching, and support to hone their skills and address facilitation challenges. 

Systems Thinking Level 1: Developing Critical Thinking Skills

Systems thinking is an invaluable 21st century skill for both students and adults to use in educational and professional contexts, as well as in their daily lives. This Level 1 offering provides an introduction to systems thinking and its connections to other effective instructional practices. Teachers develop skills and knowledge in the use of systems thinking concepts and tools, and use the tools to analyze complex issues and identify high leverage interventions. Integrating systems thinking into the instructional process helps students develop thinking skills that empower them to examine and understand complex problems both inside and outside the classroom.

Citation:

McTighe, Jay, and Grant Wiggins. "Understanding by Design Framework." Understanding by

Design Framework White Paper. ASCD, 2011. Web. 18 Sept. 2016.