Leading Teacher's Professional Growth Cycles

This course is designed to step leaders through their part in implementing professional growth cycles in ways that provide strong support for teacher engagement and learning. When leaders and teachers are invested in professional growth, teaching practice improves and children benefit. The course is structured in a way that addresses the key components of a professional growth cycle (PGC) in chronological order so you can watch each part at the relevant time in preparation for upcoming events.

1. Establishing your system: This session gives an overview of the key requirements of a professional growth cycle as expected by the Teaching Council. It also discusses the most common drivers of a PGC and the benefits and potential drawbacks of each.
2. Goal setting: Establishing a clear and appropriate focus for professional growth is a critical factor in ensuring that the cycle improves teacher practice and outcomes for children. Many teachers play it safe, choosing goals or inquiries that are too easily achievable. This session outlines how to lead a goal setting conversation in ways that promote professional stretch and challenge.
3. Maintaining momentum:  Many teachers lose momentum over the course of a year. Things start out with a hiss and a roar and then fade to relative inactivity. In this session we will explore simple strategies to maintain forward momentum of teacher learning.
4. Interim meetings:  It is usual for a leader to have at least one interim meeting with a teacher during the course of their professional growth cycle. This session provides information about how such a meeting should be structured and what should be discussed and documented.
5. Observation & feedback:  Observation of and feedback on teacher practice are key components of a PGC. However, many leaders are uncertain what and how to observe and how to give constructive feedback that results in positive change. This session clarifies the what and how of observing teacher practice and provides a framework to give feedback in a way that makes a difference to teaching practice and learner outcomes.
6. Summary meeting:  The final session in this series addresses how to conduct the summary meeting that takes place at the end of a PGC. It includes strategies to ensure teachers are able to effectively share their learning and tips on conducting a conversation focused on teaching and learning rather than ticking boxes. Clear examples of the summary documentation required are given.