Goals of the Staff Development Plan:

1. Participating teachers (the grant team) will write and implement curricular units related to improving reading and mathematics.  These units will include academic and technology goals.
2. Participating teachers will receive hands-on training on technology relevant to the curricular units, including the use of productive software in the classroom (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), locating and utilizing resources on the World Wide Web, creating web-based curricular activities, and, designing and maintaining a web site devoted to the curricular units.
3. Participating teachers will receive hands-on training in the area of rubric development and implementation.
4. Participating teachers (the grant team) will receive training related to pedagogical structures and strategies that will enhance student learning, including engaged learning, learning styles, and strategies for reading and math.

Summary of Staff Development Plan:

The purpose the staff development plan is to work closely with the identified teachers who will receive focused, strategic, hands-on mentoring via an educational technology consultant supplied by C.A.S.T.L.E. Technology Consultants, Inc. The identified teachers will meet, at the start of the staff development program, with the mentor to receive an overview of the total program.  At this time, the identified teachers will complete two surveys:  (1) Identification of Basic Technology Skills, and (2) Identification of Understanding of Technology Integration Concepts.  These surveys will be re-administered at the end of the program to determine growth within the identified teachers.  An additional training day, toward the end of the grant period, will allow teachers to participate in an exit interview to determine what was gained from the staff development program. At this time, they will complete the post-survey. 

An additional purpose of the staff development plan is to work closely with the identified teachers who will receive focused, strategic, hands-on mentoring via an educational technology consultant supplied by C.A.S.T.L.E. Technology Consultants, Inc. Eight (8) days of training will be supplied by C.A.S.T.L.E. and coordinated by the school’s administration. The eight (8) days will delivered as outlined below:

Days Two through Five – Demonstration of Model Lessons

During this session, the CASTLE mentor will work with students for identified grade levels in the computer lab.  Each class will receive two days of model training related to a reading lesson and a math lesson.  The purpose of these days is to demonstrate the principles of engaged learning, the use of performance tasks, and basic technology skills.  Teachers will receive a copy of the lesson to script during the model presentation.  A little time will need to be built into each so that the teachers can debrief with the mentor.

Day Six – Locating/Utilizing Resources & Online Generators

During this session, participating teachers will receive hands-on training related to utilizing the web effectively in the classroom.  By the end of the session, participating teachers will have located 5 – 10 web sites relevant to a curricular topic and will have developed two activities at an online generator.

Intersession:  February – April

During the time between workshops, participating teachers will be required to develop and implement an engaged learning lesson based on the model lessons viewed in Days Two through Five and utilizing the hands-on training information from Day Six.

Day Seven – Review of Engaged Learning Lesson

The consultant from C.A.S.T.L.E. will review and debrief the engaged lessons developed and implemented.  In addition, hands-on training will be conducted utilizing Inspiration^©.

Day Eight – Word and the Writing Process

During this session, participating teachers will receive hands-on related utilizing a word processor (WORD) as a tool to facilitate the writing process.  Participants will review how the steps of the writing process, including free writing, drafting, editing, revising, and publishing, can be successfully accomplished in a word processor.

Day Nine – PowerPoint and Visual Learning

During these sessions, participating teachers will receive hands-on training related to the use of utilizing a presentation program (POWERPOINT) to enhance and improve visual literacy.  Participants will produce a presentation that summarizes and highlights their participation in this staff development program.

Time of Staff Development Plan:

Month/Date Description Work / Substitutes Needed January 22, 2001 Initial Workshop Overview of program Completion of surveys Teacher/Mentor Interviews AM – 3rd & 6th Grade PM – 7th & 8th Grade (work in computer lab) AM – 6 subs PM – 5 subs January 23, 2001 Model Lesson – Reading All 3rd grades All 6th grades (work in computer lab) NO SUBS January 24, 2001 Model Lesson – Reading   All 7th grades All 8th grades (work in computer lab) NO SUBS January 25, 2001 Model Lesson – Math All 3rd grades All 6th grades (work in computer lab) NO SUBS January 26, 2001 Model Lesson – Math   All 7th grades All 8th grades (work in computer lab) NO SUBS January 29, 2001 Hands-on technology training – developing online activities AM – 3rd & 6th Grade PM – 7th & 8th Grade (work in computer lab) AM – 6 subs PM – 5 subs February – April No workshop   Participating teachers develop an engaged learning lesson and implements in class.   April, 2001 Review of engaged learning lessons Inspiration training   AM – 3rd & 6th Grade PM – 7th & 8th Grade (work in computer lab) AM – 6 subs PM – 5 subs April, 2001 Word & the Writing Process   AM – 3rd & 6th Grade PM – 7th & 8th Grade (work in computer lab) AM – 6 subs PM – 5 subs April, 2001 PowerPoint & Visual Learning   AM – 3rd & 6th Grade PM – 7th & 8th Grade (work in computer lab) AM – 6 subs PM – 5 subs

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