Professional Development

By: Christina Marquez

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Building Your Flexibility as an Educator

3. Strategies to Use in the Classroom

2. Flexible vs. Adaptable

1. Introduction/Purpose

find what you need

Introduction & Purpose

The purpose of this professional development session is to equip teachers with different strategies that they can add to their tool belts to help support them with being flexible within their classrooms and giving them ways to adapt to situations in their classrooms.

Knowing how to be flexible and having strategies that you can use to adapt to the situations in your classroom is one of the most important skills we need as teachers. But how do you pick when to be flexible and what strategey to use?

Purpose

Introduction

Why are you here...

flexible vs. adaptable

• Quick Responses
• Thinking on your feet
• Knowing what your students need and when they need it

Adaptable

Flexible

• Prepared with backup materials
• Transistion from one to the next easily
• Make minor adjustments

What's the difference...

strategies to use in the classroom

Calm & Positive

Collaborate

Spontaneity

Breaks

Seating

Expectations

Technology

Backup Plan

Click on a topic below to learn more...

• Review Activity
• Classroom Discussion
• Educational Videos

Have a Backup Plan

• Different Learning Experiences
• Educational Apps
• Connecting to the content

Use Technology Wisely

• When studnets know what to expect, they are more likely to adapt to any changes you throw at them.

Establish Clear Expectations

• Flexible Enviroment
• Alternative Seating
• Desks
• Chairs

Flexible Seating Arragements

• Movement Breaks
• Stretching
• Dancing
• Increases Engagement

Incorporate Active Breaks

• Allow spontanious learning moments to happen.

Embrace Spontaneity

• Ask for advice
• Insight
• Solutions

Collaborate with Colleagues

• Attitude
• Demeanor
• Tone

Stay Calm and Positive

• Choose one strategy and try implementing it in your classroom!

Challenge yourself...

• Ayers, R. (April 3, 2023). Boosting student success through flexible learning spaces. E Learning Industry. https://elearningindustry.com/boosting-student-success-through-flexible-learning-spaces
• Christenbury, L. (December 1, 2010). The flexible teacher. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/the-flexible-teacher
• Collie, R., Martin, A., & Granziera, H. (May 8, 2018). Being able to adapt in the classroom improves teachers’ well-being. UNSW Newsroom. https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/social-affairs/being-able-adapt-classroom-improves-teachers-well-being
• Teaching Channel. (June 13, 2022). Classroom management – set expectations not rules. Teaching Channel with Learners Edge. https://www.teachingchannel.com/k12-hub/blog/classroom-management-set-expectations-not-rules/

References