Professional Development

To enhance the preparation of teachers to meet the needs of students, teachers and administrators, the Partnership Grant offers sustained clinical and mentoring resources for professional growth. These opportunities are designed to enable educators to meet national and state standards for student achievement. The grant also initiates new leadership development opportunities for area K-12 educators and administrators. SVSU graduate credit is available for many professional development series.

In order for K-12 teachers in all subject areas to integrate best practices and technology, University faculty and K-12 master teachers conduct professional development that include sustained follow-up within the classroom. University faculty and K-12 master teachers also lead new teacher workshops that team new teachers with mentor teachers and University faculty to bring best practices to new teachers' classrooms.

Support resources (e.g., application manuals, videotapes, websites) have been designed for use in K-12 classrooms and schools. These resources contain models and methodology for implementing integrated, inquiry-based lessons and units as well as teacher-composed narrative vignettes which show effective teaching in action.

University faculty and K-12 master teachers are also creating new models for leadership institutes that target future K-12 administrators. Potential administrators include, but are not limited to, teacher-leaders currently serving as models and mentors who will become classroom leaders, lead teachers, building heads, department chairs, district area coordinators, and ISD coordinators.

Examples of Work Done

• Alignment of Social Studies Curriculum with Michigan Curriculum Framework
• Authentic Assessment Workshop
• Blue Ribbon Schools Recognition Process
• Building Shared Leadership
• Classroom Management
• Connecting Curriculum Using a Thematic Approach
• Covey Training for Administrators
• Current Literature on Brain Research
• Developing Math/Science Rubrics
• Developing Published Poets
• English Curriculum Review series
• Increasing Student Achievement
• Integrating Technology in the Classroom
• Interpretive Training
• Language Arts Curriculum Alignment
• Language Arts Workshop
• Law and Education for Public School Teachers and Administrators
• Leadership Workshop Series
• Legal Issues for Teachers and Administrators
• Listening Skills
• Literature Circles
• Lucy Calkin’s Reading Method
• Math Middle School Standards
• Math/Science Curriculum Frameworks
• Math/Science Homework Workshop for Parents
• Mathematical Modeling of the Environment
• Mathematics and Science Education Reform
• New Teacher Professional Development Series
• Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum
• Science Workshop Series
• Social Studies Curriculum Seminar
• Strategic Planning
• Summer School Curriculum Planning
• Technical Reading and Writing
• Technology for Teachers Program
• Technology in Math and Science
• Technology Literacy Planning
• Use of the Internet for Administrative Support