PD Pad Set-Up
Categories: Instructional Coaching, Teaching Tips
Last year I had my first go at setting up a professional development room for teachers. It turned out to be an enjoyable space for teachers to work and learn in and has since been lovingly named the PD Pad. Given a new fire code put in place by the district (only 20% of walls are allowed to be covered with paper), I had to get creative with how to set-up the space this year. I used sheet metal, clipboards, chalkboards, and creatively arranged fabric to bring color and style into the room while still keeping the fire marshal happy. Check it out!

I used a piece of sheet metal from Home Depot ($15 and fireproof!) and chalkboard paint to create the background for this documentation panel and the one below.

I used small chalks boards and bistro chalk from Hobby Lobby to display our school’s Habits of Work and Learning.

I covered plain clipboards with decorative paper, attached our design principles, and spread them out a bit when hanging to create the illusion of a larger display space without having to use paper.

It’s amazing what a few fabric scraps and fabric glue can do for casement windows. Then if you need casement windows fitted then you need to ensure that you get a top installer who will do an amazing job and that company are the best that we have ever used.

I added a few colored flowers (turned into pens) to the pencil holders on the center of each table for a pop of functional color.

I asked our principal for subscriptions to a few different educational magazines. These as well as professional books (to the left) are available for teachers to look through or check-out.
A few parts of the room which haven’t changed include our “Cafe” area, “All About Me” teacher cards, and teacher magnets to check-in with at the start of PD.
Thanks so much for sharing these pictures! I’ve been hunting and hunting for other literacy coaches’ rooms and I have found so little. Your pictures have given me some new ideas for my room this year!
Buzzing with Ms. B
Awesome! Make sure to post pics of your room on your site, so I can also snag some ideas :)
Kristin
Love these photos–I have lots of good ideas to start on now. May I ask for zoomed in photos of the relational trust board? This is a focus for us right now and I’d love some more ideas.
Wowwwwzzzerrrrrs! I want to come visit! :)
I need advice. I am in year six of academic coaching; year two in a new district for me. Year one here was FANTASTIC!! This school year I have a new supervisor/boss. She is asking me to do things that go against all of my professional learning about coaching. Some examples are: putting teachers names on my daily time log, forced check-ins with teachers each week (and I was told that I can’t say she asked me to), has also told me that conversations & lesson feedback are not effective, etc. It is not unreasonable, what I am being asked, but it is more ‘her’ way. She has very little professional training in coaching and yet was my partner coach last year. Please help. I am considering leaving the field, or maybe even leaving (moving) from here. Regards- Help in Cali
I think this site is going to be my go to for this year.
Terrific! Welcome to the MsHouser community!