Professional Development – What Approach Works for You?
What type of professional development do you receive (or provide)? What kind would you like to receive?
by Tracey West
One year when teaching preschool, I found that my program was not working well for one of the children in my class. I tried making changes to the activities and routine, but the child continued struggling and so was I. Fortunately, I was able to locate an outside professional who came to my class, observed, and helped me develop and make some modifications. Was this professional development? Definitely! However, at that time, professional development was considered to be a workshop or conference – one-on-one interactions were completely outside the box.
This happened long ago, and for many years now the early childhood field has recognized the importance of a variety of methods of professional development, including coaching, consultation, and reflective supervision. While I value the rich information I receive at conferences and workshops, I still continue to benefit from one-on-one opportunities through mentoring from more experienced colleagues. What type of professional development do you receive (or provide)? What kind would you like to receive?
