The Education Wonks
Actually, I think you may be a bit generous. In my time as a public school teacher, I had yet to see one decent "consultant." I am not saying there isn't good professional development out there. Programs like the National Writing Project for writing teachers is one of the best, but this is outside, not part of a district. Pretty much if the district honchos bring someone in, it is time to break out the knitting (something some of my more experienced colleagues back in my day did). You want good PD, you often have to seek it on your own and as far from the school itself as possible. And thanks for the link to the "Unprofessional Development" post. That was excellent as well.
Hey, how was school?
I find that the best professional developments are ones that are presented by other - current - teachers. They know how you feel, what you want, and make it useful to your classroom. Otherwise? I'm making nametags, grading papers or text messaging.
I was going to comment, but Angel's comment says it better than I think I could, except for the knitting. I say, bring a book. Elmore Leonard's "Mr. Paradise" is my pick of the week.
Just for fun, some of the pearls of wisdom imparted by four "professional consultants" at a PD session not too long ago (and I swear I am not making any of this up):
(1) Teachers can adapt in the classroom if they don't have scissors by actually tearing paper.
(2) Staplers, rulers and scissors are no longer staplers, rulers and scissors. Now they're "Manipulables."
(3) Having kids work in groups is no longer kids working in groups. Now it's "cooperative grouping activities."
(4) A single sheet of paper can be folded as many as six times. Maybe more.
And this was imparted to high school faculty and took the better part of 4 hours.
One of my all time favorites was this gem of wisdom: When the butcher paper comes out and is posted on the walls and everyone is forced to walk around and look at it, it's no longer walking around and looking at butcher paper. No. Now it's a "gallery walk."
I've gotta get into this professional consultant racket before their professional consulting causes irreversible brain damage.
What happened to the good old fashoned lecture?! I like those.
Granted if the person lecturing isn't a moron.
You just described the travesty of Professional Development that I sat through today. What a freakin' waste of resources...
I guess con + insult would equal "consult" rather than "consultant". Bygone.
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