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Professional Development

‘The Threat From Within’ – Why We Need To Pay Attention To What Our Schools/Universities Are Advocating

December 30, 2017 | Marisa Donnelly

In February 2017, in a speech before the Stanford Board of Trustees, Former Provost John Etchemendy discussed the challenges universities (and honestly, all schools) face in the coming years. He called this problem the ‘threat from within.’ Continue reading →

7 Resources To Help Teach White Students About Racism

October 25, 2017October 17, 2017 | Marisa Donnelly

It is important that we have conversations about race, that we educate students, and that we acknowledge and try to reduce privlege and cultural bias in our classrooms.

Here are a list of resources to help teach white students about racism, originally compiled by NCTE. Continue reading →

Poverty Training

October 28, 2015October 29, 2015 | Marisa Donnelly

Today our Professional Development was held in the high school auditorium, bringing both middle and high school together for a presentation and mini-training on poverty.  Continue reading →

Concerns from the Community – Standards-Based Grading

October 27, 2015October 29, 2015 | Marisa Donnelly

“When I think about my school experience, I think of multiple choice and true-false and fill-in-the-blank. I think of a score at the top of the page. What kind of feedback is that?” Continue reading →

First Day of FCMS Professional Development

October 21, 2015October 21, 2015 | Marisa Donnelly

PD Days are on Wednesdays at Forest City Middle School. There’s a shortened schedule, and students are let out at 2, which means from 2:15-4 is an all-staff meeting/professional development/teacher prep time. Continue reading →

Data Teams

September 10, 2015September 25, 2015 | Marisa Donnelly

Mason City High School has Data Teams, which are essentially groups of teachers within the same discipline that work together throughout the year to better their teaching, create challenging assessments and classroom activities, meet standards, collaborate, and motivate one another. Continue reading →

Professional Development, Continued

August 31, 2015September 27, 2015 | Marisa Donnelly

There’s a lot for new teachers to soak up in the weeks before school starts–this I’ve learned in my PD/In-service (Professional Development) Days.

The focus of this week’s PD was centered on staff norms, walk-throughs, and feedback (how feedback should be continual and allow for progress rather than a final grade). Continue reading →

Starting Professional Development at MCHS

August 26, 2015September 27, 2015 | Marisa Donnelly

People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.

This was the opening premise and strongest point I took away from today’s Professional Development at Mason City High School (MCHS). Yes, today marks the first day of student teaching activities! It’s finally happening! Continue reading →

Atheism in the Classroom

Quote | February 19, 2015September 18, 2015 | Marisa Donnelly

The object of this presentation is to discuss the major beliefs and ideas that surround Atheism—whether the belief in the human mind and self-reliance, or the belief in science. The presentation reflects two major ideas: Atheism as a belief system or Atheism as the absence of faith in a higher power.
Continue reading →