As we all know, it is mandatory for teachers to participate in Continuing Professional Teacher Development. It is important for teachers to upgrade, hone and develop their skills. This also improves the general level of education in any school. This is good news for all schools, but it comes at a price as it requires an investment of time, money and effort.
Type 2 activities are initiated by a school. Teachers are required to participate and report on them in their Professional Development Portfolios. These activities can often foster team spirit as teachers and management gather around common concerns or needs. It encourages professional collaboration and problem solving.
These particular activities do not require SACE endorsement and, with a little planning and initiative, can easily be incorporated into your school’s calendar. So, how can you, as school management, come alongside your staff in their quest for the required 150 SACE points?
Here are 5 ways to do this and show your staff that you appreciate them.
1. Staff and cluster meetings
After a long day in front of a class, the thought of having to attend a staff meeting probably doesn’t sound too appealing. But, as long as the meeting is an hour or more, teachers can earn CPTD points by attending meetings to discuss:
- Fund raising
- Extra-curricular activities
- General staff issues
- Various school issues
- Educational topics
Help your staff keep track of the staff and cluster meetings they attend to ensure they earn these easy points.
2. School workshops
Workshops can be highly beneficial in addressing particular needs in a school. They not only earn your staff CPTD points, but they have the more important result of upgrading their skill set.
These workshops can cover issues like:
- Curriculum changes
- Discipline
- Classroom management
- Teaching methods
- Leadership
- Inclusive education
3. Start school projects
School projects are an amazing why to teach learners to give back. These projects can open their eyes to life beyond their own family and friends and build bridges into the community. Projects can be sourced by:
- Searching online – this quickly reveals a myriad of community-based projects that your teachers and learners can get involved in
- Receiving a recommendation about a project
- Researching your own community and initiating your own project
No matter the size of your school, there is opportunity to encourage your teachers to get involved in a community project. Options can include to:
- Share library books with another school
- Start a school food garden
- Partner with another school and share teaching methods
- The possibilities are endless!
4. Report
Each teacher keeps a record of all professional development they undertake. However, the onus is on the school to report, on behalf of the teachers, any Type 2 participation they have been involved in. School management must be sure to keep these records up to date and correct.
Your staff will be most appreciative ????
