HeidiNowicki

DesignofCurriculumforInquiry
ProfessionalDevelopmentPlan
3913

IfIwantedtopredictyourhappiness,andIcouldknowonlyonethingaboutyou,Iwouldntwant
toknowyourgender,religion,health,orincome.Idwanttoknowaboutyoursocialnetworkabout
yourfriendsandfamilyandthestrengthofyourbondswiththem.DanielGilbert

TheSchoolDistrictofWaupacaislocatedineastcentralWisconsin.PeopletraveltoWaupacato
enjoythearea'smanylakes,sparklingrivers,gorgeoussceneryandsmalltownatmosphere.The
Waupacacommunityfeaturesstrongindustrialandserviceindustry,thereisalsoastrongfarming
componentinthearea.Povertylevelshavebeenincreasinginrecentyears.TheDistrictserves
approximately2,500studentsinprekindergartenthroughgradetwelve.(Modified,fromtheWaupaca
SchoolDistrictWebsite.)

WaupacaHighSchool
Thereare51teachersonstaffatthehighschool.Administrators,guidancecounselors,aides,secretaries
andotherschoolrelatedstaff(notincludingcustodiansandkitchen)includeabout35more.Iworked
atWHSwhileearningmyteachingcertificationtogoalongwithmyEnglishdegree,sowhilethisismy
firstyearasthelibrarymediaspecialist,thisismythirdyearinthebuilding.Therearetwoprincipalsand
adeanofstudentsinmybuilding.Neitherprincipalisaviceprincipaltheyarecoprincipals.Onehas
beeninthebuildingformanyyearsandalsoservesasathleticdirector.Theothercommutesto
WaupacafromOshkoshandisservinghissecondyearonstaff.Ourdeanofstudentsisalsoanatrisk
teacher,soheworkswiththekidsforacoupleofhoursperdayandfulfillstheDoSrole.

Ourschoolisbehindotherdistrictsinmanyregards.Idontequateoldteachers=unwillingto
bend/learnnewthings(IveheardmanyyoungerLMSesandTIprofessionsgrumblethattheseolder
teachersshouldessentiallyretireandgetoutofthewayforchange),butmystaffisgenerallyestablished
andsetintheirways.ThehighschoolhasSmartBoardsinjustabouteveryclassroom,butteachers
couldprobablyuseprofessionaldevelopmentinbestusewiththistechnology.Thissemester,weve
beenmakingtheshifttoGmailinourschool,andafewoftheHSteachershaveshowninterestinwhat
Googlecandointheclassroom.

ProfessionaldevelopmenthasfocusedlargelyonthechangesbyCCSS.Itdoesntseemtohavea
cohesiveeffortbehinditjustyet.The1213schoolyearbroughtanewcurriculumdirectortothe
district,butIdontperceivedanurgencyamongthestafftoembraceCCSS.

Forthisexercise,Iwillhaveateachersampleof12,besidesmyself,tobegin.Iknowtheliterature
wevereadsuggeststhatwecouldfocusoncontentarea,butIdontknowifthatwouldbemost
productivewithmyteachers.Therearefactionsinthestaff,andtheyjokeaboutwhichdepartmentis
mostdysfunctional.Ifeelthatoneofthebiggestchallengesandmostimportantstepswouldbeto
createcommunityamongmyteachers.AttheriskofsoundinglikeaJediMasterwhosensesunrestin
TheForce,Isenseasadnessandresignationinmanyofthestaff,andmyhopewouldbetocreatetrust
andcomraderyforthesakeofthestaffandthestudents.Buildingonfriendshipandtrust(JohnSpencer)
ismostessentialtothisplanssuccess.

Summer2013

JUNE

SafeHarbor:GettoKnowYouIceBreaker

TheClearwaterHarborisarestaurantand
barinWaupaca,knowntolocalsasThe
HarborBar.Thisseasonalestablishmentis
belovedbytouristsandlocalsalikeandis
locatedonTaylorLakeontheWaupaca
ChainOLakes,andnothingsaysSummer
FunquiteliketheHarborBarseason.
Dailypaddleboattripsdepartfromthis
location,andlocalboatersmotor(and
paddle)inforarelaxingmealandvisit.A
sandyplaygroundandicecreamparlor
makethisafamilydestination,asopposed
toawateringhole.

MyfirstPLNdevelopmentofferingwillbeagatheringofcuriousminds.Becauseourschooltendsto
divideintofactionsbydepartment,thisgroupofteacherswillreachacrossthecontentareastoinclude
curiousmindsandengagedteachers.

ThoughPLNsarenottopdownstructures,thisventuremustbeginsomewhereIwillinitiatethis
meetingbyinvitingteacherswhoIfeelwillbenefitfromnetworkingwithenergizedteachers.Those
includedwillbeacoupleofnewteacherswhoareenthusiasticabouttheirnewrolesintheschool,a
guidancecounselorwhohasinterestingperspectiveaboutlifeingeneralandbigpictureideas,a
coupleofmidcareerteacherswhoarestrugglingwithsomeaspectsofburnout(butareknowntobe
dedicatedtotheirstudents),avibrantteacherwhohasgreatenergy,ateacherwhoisveryconnected
withintheschool,atechnologysavvyteacher,anotherteacherwhoismakinginroadswithtechnology,a
moreseniormemberofstaffwhoisastabilizingforce,ateacherwhoiscreativeandanotheranchorin
themoreestablishedfaculty,and,finally,ateacherwhoisengagedwithherstudentsbutIperceive
couldusealittleextraprofessionalboost(notacommentaryonherprofessionalism,onlythatIfeelthat
shewouldbenefitfromthisengagement).

Atthisgathering,IwouldsimplystatethatIaminterestedinbeginningapersonallearningnetwork,
describewhatitis,andthenaskthemtoconsiderformingalearningpartnership.Iwouldindicatethat
theyalreadyare,tome,peopleIvalueasaprofessionalresource,andIwouldthinkthatwecouldpool
ourresourcestobetterprofessionalengagement.

Aspartoftheicebreaker(andinlightofthesetting),Iwouldcreatesomepersonaltriviathatwouldbe
funandinthespiritofthecasualsetting.Iwouldsticktolightthemes:funniestcollegestory,weirdest
travelstory,mostimportantbooktheyveneverread,strangestjobthattheyeverhad,whatthey
wantedtobewhentheygrewup,andsoforth.

AtthismeetingIwouldnotaskforacommitmentfromthegroup.Iwouldrathertheygohomeand
reflectupontheproposaltomakesurethattheyareinterested(ratherthanpressuredbythemoment)in
thisproposition.Iwillaskthemtocheckemailinthenextweek(baseduponJohnSpencersideasfor
buildingcommunityandtrust).

SafeHarbor,Part2
Afterthecookout,IwillcreateanEdmodogroupandaDiigogroup.Iwilladdthepartymembersfrom
theSafeHarborgathering,andemaileachandletthemknowtheyvebeeninvited.Iwillreiteratetheir
valueaseducatorstoourschool,andencouragethemtobecomeinvolved,iftheychoose.Iwillthen
askforatheirfeelingsaboutwhethertheyfeelthismightbenefitthemandiftheydbeinterestedintrying
thisout.

PlanningAhead
InvitePLNgrouptoaJulygathering.

JULY

PotluckGrillOut
InterdisciplinaryRoundRobin.Anothersocialgroup,butwithconversationaboutwheretostartand
whattodotomoveforward.Wayswecommunicate.Activitiesweenjoy.Thingswedliketolearn
(seeOctoberInTouch).Thingswecouldlearnfromeachother.

Startaconversationaboutwhatwefeelarestrengthsandweaknessesinourprofessionalandinour
building.

ThoughIfeelthismayinspireagripesession,Ialsofeelairinggrievancescouldbebeneficialforagroup
thatmayneedtopurgethebadtogettothegood.Theseteachersaregenerallyglasshalffullpeople,
soventingcanpurgesomeofthebaggagetakingupspacethatinspirationneeds.

AUGUST

PostitNotes
BeginthecountdowntothenewschoolyearwithnotespostedontheEdmodopageandDiigo
groups.Peoplecontributethoughtsthatgothroughtheirheadsasthegathersuppliesandresourcesfor
thefall.Ifthereareanyresourcesthattheylearnedaboutoverthesummer(orhaveusedforawhile),
addthemtoDiigo.

MidAugustthroughMidSeptember:

SecretSchoolBell
LiketheSecretSantaofDecembertradition,thisisasmall,tokengiftingforteachersbyteachers.
Namesareexchangedamonggroupmembers,andsmallthinkingofyouorsillygiftsforthenewyear
areleftanonymously.Thesecanbeassimpleassharpenedpencilstiedwithabow,aMagic8Ballto
givethemtheanswers,oremergencychocolatetotidethemoveronaroughTuesday.

Fall2013

OCTOBER

Challenge:Breakout
Sooften,theonlytimesweareobservediswhenaprincipalisevaluatingus(orstudentstudyingto
becomeateachercomestocall).OctoberschallengeistoinviteamemberofthePLNgrouptoour
class.Wecouldcreateamorefunchallengebyseeingwhocouldvisitthemostclassesinthegroup.At
theendofOctober,thegroupcouldmeetfordinnerout,thewinnerbeingtreatedtodinnerbytherest
(whowillpoolmoneytocoverthewinnersdinnercost).(Usingcompetitiontohelpcreatesomefun,
SeannDikkers.)

Dinnerdiscussionthemescouldcenteronconversingaboutwhatmadeittheexperienceinterestingfor
us.Intheinterestofbuildingcommunity,wecouldagreetousingtheopportunity(fornow)todiscuss
thepositivethingsthatwesawhappeninginclass.(ThisisawayofincorporatingJimKnightsideas
aboutPerformanceCoaches.)

Thiswheretheformalquestionisasked:WhatdoIwanttoachievethroughthisPLN?Membersare
askedtocommentonthisintheEdmodogroup,alsoaddressingthequestion:Howdomylife
experiencesmakemeabetterteacher?(JohnSpencer,ASketchyExplanation.)

TuesdaysInTouch
Workingoffthediscussionsfromthesummer,membersofthegroupwhoaresoinclinedcanmeetafter
schoolonTuesdays(weeklyorbiweekly)tosharetheirwealthofinformation.Thesesessionsmay
includekickboxingaerobics,jewelrymaking,quilting,Photoshop,cooking,gardening,greathikingin
theareawhatevertheexpertofthedaychoosestosharewiththegroup.Thesesessionsmayevolve
intoregulargatheringsofaspecificsubjectareainthefuture,buttobegin,thesesessionscancovera
rangeoftopics.Mostly,thisisaregulartimescheduledforthepersonaldevelopmentofthegroup
members.Itwillestablishthepatternoflifelonglearning.(Usingcreativitytocreateoriginalideas,to
reconnect,AmyAzzam,andCollaborationandRespectamongfaculty,BryanGoodwinandKirsten
Miller.)

NOVEMBER

Gratitude
Sooften,itiseasytofocusonthechallengesthatweighusdowninsteadofkeepingoureyesonthe
manyconnectionsthatbuoyusindailylife.November,withThanksgivingonthecalendar,isatimeto
reflectupontheyearsblessingsandabundance.UsingPinterest,PLNmembersareinvitedtopin20
itemsforwhichtheyaregrateful.10personal.10professional.Membersareaskedtorepinthose
itemsthatresonatedwiththem.(KathySchrockandPinterest,DavidWarlick.)

FindingPurpose
UsingthediscussionpointsfromtheOctoberEdmodoposts(whatgroupmembershopetoachieve
fromthePLN),membersaddresswhattheyseeascommonthemesonwhichthegroupshouldfocus
(WillRichardson).Consensusisnarrowedastowhatpossibleobjectiveshouldfirstbeaddressedinthe
group.

DECEMBER

MomentofSilence
Decemberisaharriedtimeofyear.Programs,projectsandgathersclutterthecalendar.Insteadof
addingacumbersomeobligationoranothergettogethertothecalendar,Decemberwillallowgroup
memberthechancetoaddressthemorepressingneeds.Onesuggestionforgroupmembersistoallow
5minutesintheeveningorearlymorninghourstopracticedeepbreathing,sittingstillandquiet,inan
uninterruptedplace.Dedicatingtimetoquiettheirmindsandfeelatpeaceratherthanimmersing
themselvesinthehumofthebusyseason.ThereistimetomoveforwardinJanuary,butthegiftto
themselves,inDecember,isachancetobeinthemoment.

Spring2014

JANUARY

NewYear,NewYou
ThePLNwillbegintotakesomeshapeanddeveloplifeofitsownintheNewYear.Building
connectionsandevolvingisessentialtothegroup.Januarywillhelptoputthegroupintoanewgear.

Groupconsensus(NovembersEdmodopost)isputforwardasalearninggoalforthegroup.
Thoughthereisdefiniteroomtoaddmoreideasandtopicsasthegroupmovesforward,
keepingitsimple,atfirst,willhelpthegroupmembersevolveandgettheirfootinginthenew
PLN.

RSSFeedsorGoogleReader:Eachgroupmember,suggestaresourcethatyouuse,
electronically,tohelpperfectyourpractice.Everygroupmember,subscribetoafeedtokeep
youinformedoneachothersfavorites(DavidWarlick).Makeacommitmenttospend10
minuteseverydaytocheckRSSfeed(AdventuresofLibraryGirl
http://www.librarygirl.net/2012/06/videoitssmallworldafterallmypln.html).

Diigo:GroupmembersareaskedtofindmoreaboutthetopicandshareresourcesinDiigo
(DavidWarlick).

InStep
SettinggoalsisimportanttothePLN.So,too,isahealthybalanceinlife.Thoughmanyofthegroup
arephysicallyfit,severalarenot.Movingforwardinbothaliteralandmentalperspective,this
subgroupofthePLNwillbeginafitnessgatheringtoallowmembersachancetowalkorruntogether,
eitherontheroadsnearschoolorinthehallways(lessice).Thisgroupcandiscussideasorsimply
connectwhilegettingmoving.Groupmembersmaywanttoplanfora5Kor10Keventinwhichto
participatetosetatraininggoal(andregularmeetings).

FEBRUARY

PhoneaFriend
GroupmembersagaininviteaPLNfriendtotheirclassroom.Membersmeetwiththosewhoobserved
togetideasabouthowtochangeupthelessonpresented.Membersdiscusswaystochangeupthe
wayinformationispresentedinclass.

CandyHearts
Usingcandyhearts,leaverandommessagesofkindnessforfellowPLNteachers.(JohnSpencer,on
buildingrelationships.)

WhyWaitforSpringforTweets?
Twitterforteachers.DiscusshowTwitterworksandhowitcanmadeadifferenceforusaseducators.
UsingtheAZGuideforTeacherstofindothereducatorswithyourpassions.(KathySchrock,
http://edudemic.com/2011/10/twitterhashtagdictionary/)Add#edchat(AdventuresofLibraryGirl,
http://www.librarygirl.net/2012/06/videoitssmallworldafterallmypln.html)

MARCH

Inlikealambandoutlikealion
TLVirtualCaf:ISTEtechnologyeducatorswebinars.(AdventuresofLibraryGirl
http://www.librarygirl.net/2012/06/videoitssmallworldafterallmypln.html).Determineawebinar
youmightliketoattend(onthissiteoranother)tohelpyoulearnsomething.Shareitwithsomebodyin
thegroupandsomebodyoutofthegroupwhomightenjoythenewidea.

Lion,Part2
GroupmemberspostsonEdmodoaboutTLWebinar.Postaboutoneideathatmatteredfromyour
webinar.

MARCH

FeedinforaReason
GroupmeetstodiscusseducationalthemesraisedfromTwitter,TLVirtualCafandEdmodo.Potluck
dinnerthemeistobringadishtothatrepresentshowyourefeelingaboutwhatyouvelearned,whatis
happeninginthegroup,yourhopesorfearsaboutthefuture.(Fruitsalad,becauseyouthinkthewhole
experiencehasbeenvibrant,upsidedowncakebecauseyourexpectationshavebeenturnedaround,
blackforestcakebecauseyouareconfused,etc.)Groupguesseswhatthefoodsymbolizesand
discussesdirection.(SeannDikkers,Funinagroup,JohnSpencersocialcontacts.)

APRIL

BroadeNingtheScope
EducatorsPLN(Ning):JointhisPLN.BringanideafromthisNingtotheEdmodosite.(David
Warwick,socialnetworksAlsoAdventuresofLibraryGirl.)

RePlay
UsingtheDistrictsDiscGolfcourse,memberteamupandcompete.Thisoffersachancetoget
togethersocially,competitiveandcooperatively,allowingforanopressurewaytogatherand
spontaneouslytalk.(JohnSpencer)

StayingonTrack
Groupmeetstodiscussprogress.Arewereadytoinviteotherstothegroup?Isthedirectionfulfilling
thepurpose?(Garet,etal.,week5reading.

MAY

SummerDays
Asthesummercomesuponus(ourdistrictisdoneattheendofMay),whatstepsandmeasuresshould
wetaketomeetandstayoncourse?

PrincipalInvolvement:
Ithinkthattheprincipalshouldbekeptinformed,informally,ofthegroupanditsdiscussiontopics.I
wouldlikehisblessingonthegroup,butduetoschoolculture,Ithinkthegroupwillgrowbetter,
initially,ifithadsomeindependencefromprincipalinfluence.

FinalNote:
TheroutinecollaborationandmeetingduringtheworkdaycomesfromideasintheTeaching
Coaching,andCommunityarticlefromISTE.Whilenoteverythinghappensduringtheworkday,
effortshavebeenmadetolatchontotheworkdayasmuchaspossible.

Thegroupismakingstridestobuildabalanceofworkandfun,buildingthisnetworkofequalstocreate
activitiesandinvolvementthatisntforcedandconsequently,resented(JimKnight).

Becauseofstaffisolation,muchofthePLNisbuiltuponnurturingrelationships(JohnSpencer).