Let's Act Like Professionals

Let's act like professionals

When I visit and observe class- rooms, which I do a lot these days, I am impressed both with how hard teachers are working on important issues of instructional practice and how large the gap is between where teaching practice currently is and where it needs to be to successfully provide access to high-level learning for all students. At the classroom level, it is now much easier to find teachers who not only are exemplars of high-level instructional practice, but also powerful peer coaches for other teachers in their own schools. At the school level, finding schools that are exemplars in supporting teachers’ instructional improvement through the use of resources is also much easier. Likewise, many school systems have in place broad-gauge strategies of instructional improvement and

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From The Field

Laura Reasoner Jones

Take advantage of technology

“IDEALLY, MUCH of professional development would be technology-based, for example, through a format that lets teachers video themselves teaching and then share that video online for their peers to analyze. It will be a way to virtually open classroom doors.

“We need to make teachers aware of the potential technology has, both in delivering and differentiating content, to improve teaching and learning. And we need to teach teachers how to take advantage of kids’ wonderful interest in technology to make kids more productive and creative learners. Technology would be as much a part of teachers’ and students’ lives as pencils or pens.”

Laura Reasoner Jones is a school-based technology specialist in the Fairfax County, Va., Public Schools. She is also a National Board Certified Teacher. You can contact her at laura.jones@fcps.edu.