Toolkit: Connected Professional Learning for Teachers
Research and tools to help school systems accelerate teacher effectiveness and student growth through Connected Professional Learning
A Teacher’s Perspective
“During my first year of teaching sixth-grade English Language Arts, I met for one 50-minute period per week with my grade-level teaching team. We typically used this time to cover administrative updates, talk about the kids in our grade level, and plan around events like field trips…I usually ended up planning instruction alone after I got home from work or over the weekend.
My mentor observed me once, left me an observation form with some tips to improve classroom management, and never scheduled any follow-up. For professional development, I attended district-run workshops with other new teachers several times over the course of the year…
As a teacher, I felt like a failure almost every day. It was the hardest job I have ever done.”
— Former sixth grade ELA teacher in a large urban district
CONNECTED PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FOR TEACHERS
The introduction of college- and career-ready standards profoundly raises the bar for teaching and learning in American schools—and for professional development. Successful school systems integrate three elements into one cohesive strategy:
- Rigorous, comprehensive curricula and assessments
- Content-focused, expert-led collaboration
- Frequent, growth-oriented feedback
We call this Connected Professional Learning. It requires significant shifts in how school systems organize resources—moving away from one-size-fits-all workshops and pay for advanced degrees—toward time and instructional leaders to help teachers engage with the curriculum and adjust to student results.
In this toolkit we explore what these strategic practices look like, how to organize resources, and where to get started. We also share a diagnostic assessment, in-depth case studies, and other tools to support the shift.
For a closer look at how districts and schools can use federal COVID stimulus money to organize resources in ways that empower teachers through regular, job-embedded learning and increased time for reflection, planning, and collaboration, explore our Schools Start Here guide on Professional Learning & Collaboration.
The Professional Learning Toolkit
- Overview
- case studies
- diagnostic
- Artifacts
- connect
Igniting the Learning Engine: How school systems accelerate teacher effectiveness and student growth through Connected Professional Learning
We studied four school systems that are rising to the challenge and seeing growth in student achievement, even as they work with large populations of high-need students through Connected Professional Learning.
In many school systems today, teacher PD remains disconnected from everyday instructional work —disconnected from the material being taught, from the collaborative work of teacher planning time, and from observations by peers, mentors, and school leaders.
In contrast, professional learning in the systems we studied is profoundly connected—really, embedded—into the teaching job, and teachers learn and grow through the daily work of improving instruction.
Igniting the Learning Engine explores the strategic practices in these four school systems, how to organize resources to make them happen, and where to get started.
Rigorous, Comprehensive Curricula and Assessments in Louisiana
See how the Louisiana Department of Education is improving student and teacher learning through access to high-quality curricula—despite a combination of resource challenges.
Finding Time for Collaborative Planning
Learn six strategies for finding enough time for meaningful collaborative planning among your teachers.
Content-Focused, Expert-Led Collaboration at Achievement First
Get a detailed portrait of how the charter network Achievement First provides its teacher teams with the lesson materials, time, expert support, and teacher culture to embed professional learning in collaborative planning teams.
Frequent, Growth-Oriented Feedback at DC Public Schools
Take a look at frequent, growth-oriented feedback at DC Public Schools, which is a key part of LEarning together to Advance our Practice, or LEAP.
Teacher Professional Learning Diagnostic Assessment
Assess how your school system supports curriculum, collaboration, and feedback and compare yourself to strategic practices in our case study systems.
Access the tools and resources used by the case study systems from Igniting the Learning Engine to support Connected Professional Learning (such as curriculum guides, collaborative planning protocols, sample schedules, and more). The tools are organized by each of the three elements of Connected Professional Learning.
Rigorous, Comprehensive Curricula and Assessments
ACHIEVEMENT FIRST
- Intellectual Preparation Protocol (PDF)
- Sample Daily Lesson Resource (PDF)
- Unit Unpacking Protocol (PDF)
- Looking at Student Work Protocol – Teacher Copy (PDF)
- Looking at Student Work Protocol – Facilitator Copy (PDF)
- Sample Daily Lesson Resource with Completed Intellectual Preparation Protocol (PDF)
LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
- Louisiana ELA Guidebooks 2.0
- NOTE: The Guidebooks 2.0 are the LDOE’s most current curricular resource. Compare to their previous resource, the Guidebooks 1.0. You will note that Guidebooks 1.0 are still very detailed, but far less than Guidebooks 2.0. A Year Plan and Unit Plan from the 8th grade ELA Guidebooks 1.0 is linked below.
- LDOE Curriculum Implementation Plan (PDF)
- 2016 PD Vendor Guide (PDF)
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PARTNERS
- Educators Evaluating the Quality of Instructional Products (EQuIP)
- Instructional Materials Evaluation Tool (IMET)
INSTRUCTION PARTNERS
Content-Focused, Expert-Led Collaboration
ACHIEVEMENT FIRST
- Day of Practice Schedule (PDF)
- Example School Friday PD Agenda (PDF)
- Intellectual Preparation Protocol (PDF)
- Unit Unpacking Protocol (PDF)
- Looking at Student Work Protocol – Teacher Copy (PDF)
- Looking at Student Work Protocol – Facilitator Copy (PDF)
DUVAL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOLS
- Sample LEAP ELA Module (PDF)
- Sample LEAP Math Module (PDF)
- LEAP Scheduling Policies and Best Practices (PDF)
- LEAP Handbook (PDF)
- LEAP Observation and Debrief Tool (PDF)
- LEAP Team Design Guide (PDF)
- TLI Release Time Guide (PDF)
- A Day in the Life of a LEAP Leader (PDF)
Frequent, Growth-Oriented Feedback
D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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For more than a decade, Education Resource Strategies has worked with school systems to transform how they use resources. We are ready to partner with your school system or connect you with other service providers to create Connected Professional Learning.
Other Resources
See below for a list of related resources from both inside and outside ERS
Media and blog coverage of Connected Professional Learning
- What Does it Look Like When Districts Connect PD to Academic Goals? Ed Week special report on PD, April 25, 2017
- Look at the Bigger Picture for Long-Term Improvement, Stephanie Hirsh, PD Watch blog at EdWeek. April 27, 2017
- In Washington, DC, a Roadmap for Reinventing Professional Development in Schools, Karen Hawley Miles and Ross Wiener, The 74, May 17, 2017
- Connecting Teacher Leadership and Professional Learning in DC Public Schools, Leading Educators blog, May 24, 2017
- What Do You Think Are the Most Exciting Things Happening in Education Today?, Classroom Q&A blog at Education Week, Nov. 14. 2017
- Building a Connected Professional Learning System, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation blog
- Q&A: Connected Professional Learning in Practice, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation blog
Related resources from ERS
- Connected Professional Learning: All in One Doodle
- Building a Talent Decision Map
- School System 20/20 Checklist: Teacher Leadership and Career Pathways
- Do More, Add More, Earn More
Related resources from other organizations:
- Instruction Partners: What Does it Take to Implement a Strong Curriculum Effectively?
- Chiefs for Change: Hiding in Plain Sight: Leveraging Curriculum to Improve Student Learning
- Aspen Institute: Practice What You Teach: Connecting Curriculum and Professional Learning in Schools
- Learning Forward: Standards for Professional Learning
- Learning Forward: Establishing Time for Professional Learning
- Leading Educators: State Teacher Leadership Toolkit
- TNTP: Teacher Talent Toolbox
- National Academy of Advanced Teacher Education: Leading and Learning: Professional Development for the Classroom Teacher
- Various: Teaching-Led Professional Learning and Teach-to-Lead
- National Board for Professional Teaching Standards: Moving All Teachers Towards An Accomplished Teaching Workforce: A Toolkit for School and System Leaders
Next Steps
The Strategic System
Professional learning strategies should be designed as part of a holistic strategy for system-wide change. This means connecting it to other elements like:
Teaching: New teachers thrive in schools with effective teacher teams, clear roles for teacher leaders, a culture of feedback, and access to rigorous curriculum
Read more:
>> Teacher Leadership Checklist
>> Building a Talent Decision Map for K-12 Human Capital
Strategic School Design: School leaders need to learn how to organize people, time, and money to support new teachers, school culture, and student outcomes. We call this Strategic School Design – and school systems must support it.
Read more:
>> Designing Schools that Work
>> Finding Time for Collaborative Planning
Funding & Portfolio: If school leaders are to innovate with new models, school systems need to allocate funds equitably, transparently, and flexibly. Student-based budgeting helps systems achieve that.
Read more:
>> Transforming School Funding for Equity, Transparency, and Flexibility: An Introduction to Student-based Budgeting