While the students had a day off of school, teachers held sessions to share ideas with other teachers on various topics and ideas to make school a better environment for everyone. Some teachers held sessions about technology based learning.
Teachers have very busy lives, and a lot of the time they find it hard to just sit down, think, and talk with other teachers on what resources they can use to make class more enjoyable for everyone.
“This day was extremely useful because it allowed the teachers like myself to choose the sessions we wanted to attend based on our interests and needs. It is difficult when it is a single presentation because we all have different ways of learning and teaching styles, so having these options was awesome,” said science teacher Megan Finn.
Teachers were able to choose from forty different sessions.
“I attended Google Cardboard, Using Google Expeditions to create inquiry in the classroom, Nearpod & Others: Keeping Engagement High, and Google Like a Ninja. I learned how I could use Google Cardboard and Google Expeditions to make lessons more interactive and engaging for students. I also learned about new ways to check in on student understanding, so that I can better my teaching and change things based on what my students are and are not understanding,” Finn said.
History teacher Tim Sermak held a two hour session on how school is obsolete and provided ideas on how to make school a better environment for students. His presentation was 45 minutes, and then the rest consisted of alternatives and discussion.
“I think people enjoyed the conversation. Being a teacher is a very solitary experience because normally there is not enough time to sit down and talk,” said history teacher Tim Sermak.
Teachers teaching teachers is not a new thing though. This event has been going on for over a decade.
“It gives teachers the opportunity to share what they’re doing in their classroom and what’s working for them, as well as giving them time to work with others that they normally do not have the time for,” said director of curriculum and instruction Tracey Landry.
Teachers teaching teachers is an opportunity for teachers from both Central and North to get together and share new ideas.