This morning's topic in class- online professional development. With all of the budget cuts, going to conferences, (unless you want to pay for them yourself) is basically not going to happen. However, we are of course still required to earn professional development hours. A way that we can do this is by registering for online professional development. Thankfully, Michigan LearnPort has free online courses that Michigan teachers can register for and take in order to receive some of the required continuing education hours.
What's great about this? It's easy, it's free, and you can work on it at home in your comfy clothes with a cup of coffee in hand.
What's not so great about this? Well, perhaps it will be wonderful. However, there is also a small (or maybe not so small) probability that the "free" courses will not be very high quality. I suppose hours are hours, but I'd rather not waste time taking courses that are not going to be profitable when time is limited.
I do look forward to giving one a try and seeing what they are like. There is one called "Planning and Designing Social Studies Investigations" that looks interesting, and also one about writing at high levels in the intermediate grades. That one of course will only be applicable if I end up teaching fourth or fifth grade.
Which brings me to my next point. Can you believe that I still don't know what grade I am teaching in the fall? Our open house is on August 27th, five days before school actually starts. That means that I have 12 days to have a room ready to go so that parents and students can see it when they come.
Fewer days to get ready = more stress for Melanie! I suppose the plus side is that it keeps me on my toes. Never a dull moment in teaching!
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