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Studying Skillful Teaching 1 (SST1)
is a 36-hour course that supports teachers in improving
student achievement by promoting the development of
a professional community, examining beliefs about teaching
and learning, expanding instructional repertoires, experimenting,
and reflecting on instructional decision making. The
course is open to all contracted professional staff
(teachers, media specialists, school counselors, instructional
specialists, staff development teachers, administrators,
etc.). Successful completion of SST1 is required for
all staff development teachers and instructional specialists,
and recommended for those who aspire to leadership positions.
Studying Skillful Teaching 2 (SST2)
is a 36-hour course that builds upon the conversations
initiated in SST1. The course helps teachers identify
and eliminate obstacles to student achievement, develop
a classroom climate conducive to learning, make students
active agents in assessing their own learning, and collect
and use data related to student performance. The course
is open to contracted professional staff members who
have successfully completed either SST1 or OAT1. Successful completion of SST is required for all staff development teachers.
Participants in SST1 and SST2 sections that meet outside the duty day may take courses for continuing professional development credit (CPD), graduate credit, or stipend. The cost of graduate credit is reimbursable upon successful timely completion of the course. Participants in SST1 and SST2 sections that meet during the duty day do not have these options.
Paraeducator Studying Skillful Teaching is a 36-hour course in which participants examine ways they can maximize student learning by building positive personal relationships with students, maintaining and communicating high expectations and beliefs about students' ability to achieve, recognizing that many discipline problems stem from student' frustration and feelings of powerlessness and promoting collaboration and collegially with teachers.
Participants in Paraeducator SST sections may take courses for undergraduate credit or stipend.
Courses are generally offered twice yearly: beginning in the summer, with completion by January; and beginning in January, with completion by May. Registration for these classes usually opens on PDO in March for summer/fall sessions and in October for winter/spring sessions.
Observing and Analyzing Teaching 1 (OAT1), and Observing
and Analyzing Teaching 2 (OAT2) are leadership courses
required for all staff who write observations that contribute
to staff evaluations in the Professional Growth System
(administrators, student support specialists, consulting
teachers, and secondary resource counselors, resource
teachers, and IRTs). Based on the same principles as
the Studying Skillful Teaching courses, OAT courses
also focus on the development of classroom observation
and conferencing skills.
Observing and Analyzing Teaching 1 (OAT 1) is a six-session (39 hours) course in which participants
examine the knowledge base on teaching, are introduced
to the MCPS professional standards, and develop skills
in communicating to teachers in a balanced way about
their teaching repertoire. In addition to practicing
administrators as noted above, OAT 1 is open to aspiring
administrators. Beginning September 2005, successful
completion of OAT 1 will be a requirement for admission
to the AP Promotion Pool for both new applicants and
when applicants reapply after being in the pool for
three years.
Observing and Analyzing Teaching 2 (OAT 2) is a six-session (36 hours) course in which participants
delve deeper into supervisory skills in challenging
situations, linking course content to MCPS standards
for teacher evaluation. The course focuses on developing
knowledge, skills, and confidence to confront and address
mediocre and ineffective teaching. Conference and goal-setting
skills are emphasized. Successful completion of OAT
1 is a prerequisite for participation in OAT 2.
Graduate credit is available for all OAT1 and OAT2 sections.
This credit is not reimbursable, since all sections
are offered entirely within the duty day.
Courses are generally offered twice yearly: beginning
in the summer, with completion by January; and beginning
in January, with completion by June. Registration for
these classes usually opens on IMS in March for summer/fall
sessions and in October for winter/spring sessions.
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