Evaluating Program Conditions for Professional Development

For teacher inquiry, reflection, and growth to be successful, early childhood programs must support the conditions for mentoring and professional development. After reading the text, with special attention to Table 8.5 Reflecting on Conditions Conducive to Reflective Supervision and Professional Learning.

Explain how you might respond if you were a coach working with a program with observable growth opportunities in the ability to support professional learning, reflection, and mentoring. Using the text and one outside source, address the following in your initial post

You must respond to both A and B; and C or D:

1. Discuss what you perceive to be the two most important conditions a program can have to support professional learning. Provide a rational to support your selection.
2. Identify and explain the two conditions that you perceive are most likely to derail a supportive professional learning environment
3. Discuss the potential benefits and/or disadvantages of first working with the supervisor, administrator, or program manager to increase his or her skills in reflective supervision prior to working with an entire staff.
4. Describe one program setting with which you are familiar to share with your peers (i.e., Head Start, family childcare, for-profit preschool, etc.) and the best choices for coaching for increasing the learning potential at this type of program.