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!
View from the back of the room
View from the front of the room
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.
Our Work Plan targets for the year
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 laminated our five “Habits” and adhered them to the front of each table’s pencil bin.
Books for guided reading are available for teachers to check-out.
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 comfy space for teachers to sit and peruse through the latest read-alouds.
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!