Workshops that Work

I found the Best Practices for Diverse Learners to the workshop I would most utilize.  Working in a school that not just promotes differentiation but demands it often places me in the place of how exactly can I make this work for that learner.  My 8th grade students are in the midst of writing compare/contrast essays; I was able to immediately come back to class and target a few kids with what I perceived to be their intelligence.  By switching simple tactics I have been able to get better work out of those kids.


Introduction to Smarter Balance was the most challenging workshop for me.  The challenge comes not from the material itself, but more from a personal belief and concern I have around CCSS, standardized testing, and privatization of education.  When I come into contact with these types of workshops and professional development, I have to put my negative perceptions toward this topic in check and look for what is helpful for my students and me.