Professional Learning Network

 One of the assignments that I was tasked with as a graduate student was to think about and expand my Professional Learning Network (PLN). I created a linear brainstorming map to organize my thoughts and look for room in my PLN for expansion seen below:

 concept map via Canva

Once my resources were laid out in the above format, I was able to see where I could improve my knowledge. I set out to add 5 new resources to my PLN. 

1. For my first source I chose this blog formatting site. I have never used Blogspot professionally or privately and this graduate assignment is my first blog post. I had to do some research when I first started as I was having trouble with spacing and figuring out how to edit things properly. The first video that I used and found helpful was 

This video was helpful in working out some of the kinks, but I quickly realized after I started watching this video that I did not take the opportunity to choose a theme before I started this project and couldn't figure out how to select a different one, so back to YouTube I went. Unfortunately I was unable to find many videos aside from the one above that was helpful to me, so I reached out to my friends network for assistance. After getting my feet under me and playing around a bit, I do like the format and think that it is a great tool for students to create educational portfolios. Creating this blog post also encouraged me to look for other blogs written to the theme of reading and literacy. I came across the Shanahan on Literacy blog and began to follow it. This blog acts as a question answer forum where teachers can post a question and then receive a blog post in response to their question. There is also opportunity to leave comments. I especially enjoyed the post about the best ways to organize a classroom for reading instruction. It focused on small group vs. whole group approaches and had teachers on both sides of the fence in the comments. I personally did not comment, because I found that every question I had or suggestion was either already asked or provided in the comments. I think going forward this could be a great collaborative resource for teachers looking to find new tips and techniques for teaching reading in their classroom. Shanahan

2. For my second source I chose to research some podcasts. I do a lot of traveling in my vehicle for work and prefer to listen to podcasts rather than music/radio. I tried out a few different podcasts before I found Melissa and Lori Love Literacy. Their podcasts very in length from 20 minutes to a little over 60 depending on the topic. Both Melissa and Lori are teachers and discuss common struggles that teachers face in the classroom while trying to teach literacy. They also bring on top professionals in the field of literacy to provide tools and greater understanding of the classroom. I have listened to most of their podcasts but two episodes really stuck out to me as great resources for myself and to share with others. My favorite episode is a bonus episode released on March 26, 2024 entitled "Happy Schwa Day! with Yvette Manns". 

Yvette Manns is a literacy teacher, author, and creator of National Schwa Day. Not only did she give a great overview of the schwa, but she also gave tips for teaching "the good, the bad, and the lazy" of the Schwa. Yvette wrote the book "The Not So Lazy Schwa" to be used as an extension tool to further the learning and understanding of students in the classroom. The book not only teaches the schwa and how it can be used, but it also teaches students about teamwork, finding their place, and being proud of who they are and the skills they bring to the table. 

As the creator of National Schwa Day, Yvette also created a tool kit for teachers complete with all of the resources needed to implement the celebration in their own district. National Schwa day takes place on April 7th of every year and is a day dedicated to literacy and really making it a day of schwa themed activities. Yvette gave a few examples of how schools have participated such as pajama parties or lemonade bars, but my favorite idea was implemented by a school counselor who did a mindfulness activity and focused on breathing exercises to help students learn to be unstressed like the schwa. I have included a link to the National Schwa Day website, where a 100% no cost tool kit can be found that includes everything needed to implement a schwa day from a letter to the principle explaining the importance and requesting permission to implement to classroom small, and large group activities. Yvette has also included a read aloud version of her book "The Not So Lazy Schwa" in the no cost tool kit so that all of the activities and content can be accessible to everyone as they are closely linked to the message in her book. Click the following link to obtain your own free Tool Kit.

3. Source three was an easier one for me once I looked at my PLN and realized I already had it in my arsenal, and that was Pinterest. I have used the Pinterest app for several years for everything from figuring out dinner menus to assisting in finding fun and unique pre-school crafts and activities when I was a Lead Teacher with Head Start. I tapped into the Pinterest archives again and was able to find some new and useful ideas and materials that I can incorporate into a classroom if I choose to return to a direct instruction setting. Below is the link to the Literacy Board I created. I also have a board specifically focused on the Pre-School age group that has fun and engaging activities with the literacy topic in mind. I thought about moving all of the literacy information to one board, but I prefer to have the age break between Early Childhood and School-Aged Learners.

Literacy

Pre-K

4. The fourth source I found was a website called Read Write Think. It is a website created by the National Counsel of Teachers of English and includes multiple resources from lesson plans to extension activities that are separated by grade/reading level and available completely free. There are print outs and professional development resource as well. My favorite resource however is the interactive games and lessons that students can either work on independently or can be worked on in small or large groups on a smartboard. Each activity also comes with an overview and related sources that the teacher can use to the build on the learning even further. It is so helpful to have ready made activities that can be linked to the state standards to add extension activities to direct instruction. This is an excellent tool for a teacher who is new to teacher and unsure how to develop activities to enrich the learning as well as a tool for seasoned teacher looking for new and exciting ways to engage their students in the content. Below is a screenshot of one of the many free interactive games that can be played individually or in groups on a smart board. The student is working on constructing words. They are prompted to pick an ending sound (I chose /ed/) and then they are prompted to pick a beginning sound to make words. I first chose the /l/ sound. I was congratulated on making a word and then as shown in the screenshot, was prompted that there were 7 more words for me to find.

5. For my fifth resource, I reached out to my colleagues in Human Resources within my organization as well as some members of our TAC team to find resources other than PaTTAN to help enrich my professional development at not cost to me. I was given access to our Vector Solutions Training Modules that we typically only use for onboard training and mandated reporter recertifications. Not only were there helpful resources to further my learning in learning disabilities related to reading, but I also found several trainings that I can request my staff take to better support our students in the community. Because of my excitement toward the training tool, full staff access will be provided for all staff in order to have the opportunity to grow their learning as they see fit. I would encourage anyone who works for an agency who takes required virtual trainings or new onboarding trainings to reach out to Human Resources to see if there is more opportunity for training within the organization. 

I chose to take a training on Dyslexia that focused on assessment, progress monitoring, and using these tools to help form instruction to better fit the student. It was a short 29 minute training that hit the highlights of what Dyslexia is and how it can be identified. It was a good review of Dyslexia, but I feel as though completing all of the courses available in the Dyslexia module would be the most benefit to someone looking for more information. I do see myself using this tool in the future if I need to gain knowledge in a specific area, or if I need my staff to refresh on skills needed to better perform their job duties. I do plan on having my staff complete the Austism Spectrum series in the fall as majority of our student demographic has this diagnosis. 

I am impressed with how my PLN has grown through doing this activity. I feel as though I have found so many useful resources that I can use in not only my own position currently but I can share with other education supervisors as well. I am especially going to advocate that the districts I work in celebrate a National Schwa Day next year. I will also continue to use my work travel time as professional development time and incorporate more podcasts in my field of study. I enjoyed this learning process and look forward to finding more tools to add to my PLN in the future. I have attached a final map of my PLN. I didn't speak much about using Canva, but it is a resource that I use for just but any digital content. I have used it to create newsletters, posters, flyers, stickers, logos and the list goes on and on. I am glad that I had the opportunity to build something new as I had yet to build a mapping diagram. Canva is so user friendly and comes with tons of free features. I personally have never paid for the pro-version and have been able to create some really awesome pieces. 

concept map via Canva