Teacher Training: Learning to Be Instigators of Thought™ Through a Process Aligned with Inspired Teaching's Educational Phil

Transforming education through innovation teacher training

Teacher Training: Learning to be Instigators of Thought™

Through a process aligned with Inspired Teaching’s educational philosophy – which engages participants intellectually, physically, and emotionally - Inspired Teaching trains teachers to design and implement rigorous, student-centered lessons and activities that meet student needs and academic standards, including the Common Core State Standards. Like the teaching process itself, our teacher training is complex and allows for customization to meet the specific needs of each teacher. This audience-sensitivity creates a permanent shift in teachers’ thinking about their jobs and is one of the key reasons our process is so effective.

Inspired Teaching’s Five Step Process for Teacher Education

Each teacher navigates the following process:

Step 1. Analyze and deepen my understanding of the ways I learn through a rigorous examination of the teaching and learning process, including my including my own experiences as a child and adult learner.

Step 2. Articulate and defend my philosophy of teaching and learning , including what I believe about children. Challenge myself to listen to and consider other points of view and to find room in my philosophy for an appreciation of children's natural curiosity and innate desire to learn.

Step 3. Make the connection to classroom practice , analyzing my current instructional strategies and whether they support my philosophy, so that I can explore and develop new ways to make sure what I do in the classroom matches my philosophy of teaching and learning.

Step 4. Build the skills of effective teachers , including active listening, asking questions that will spark students' intellect and imaginations, observing to assess for student understanding, and communicating effectively. Learn to combine thoughtful planning and goal setting with spontaneity to ensure my students have input into every lesson.

Step 5. Implement and learn to advocate. Develop, create, and practice new strategies that will make my classroom an active place of learning, fueled by students' ideas and curiosity, where:

• students: are engaged in work that is truly important to them and to the community; • students are challenged, even provoked, by me and other teachers to grapple with tough, "real world" issues and problems; and • students stretch their intellectual limits every day as they master rigorous academic material.

Arm myself with research that shows children learn best when they engage in work that is important and challenging. Prepare to educate my colleagues, administrators, parents, and students about my new approach to teaching.