Professional Development

Our Enrichment teachers have received ongoing training from a gifted educator in Keyport. During the 2019-202 school year, teachers received professional development training on the iReady Diagnostic and on iReady Instructional tools as a means of providing differentiated instruction to all students, including those identified as gifted. K-5 teachers have monthly grade level meetings that include PD including utilizing LinkIt benchmarking & progress monitoring probes, designing centers, and student goal setting. In addition, we had teachers train for a Speech and Debate Club.

The Matawan Aberdeen Regional School District is part of the Shore Consortium for the Gifted and Talented. The SCG&T is dedicated to the development of exciting and challenging standards-based activities for high-achieving students. We look to develop activities that foster risk-taking, persistence, inquisitive thought and breadth of experience.

The district also planned to have an “Ed Camp” professional development day where teachers could select the PD that would be most beneficial to them. It included:

PD Session 1

PD Session 2

PD Session 3

PD Session 4

In addition, our district has a designated G&T Committee that meets 4 times a year to continually evaluate our program, discuss and review data including demographic information on identified students. The committee makes recommendations to enhance the program offerings.

Goals for the upcoming school year include bringing in a consultant to help review our programs for enrichment and to provide professional development to our teachers. 

Educational Services staff and school leaders also participate in the G&T Committee and have access to PD in house and out of distinct. The district tries to use a turnkey training approach using our staff leaders to build capacity of all teachers, support staff and administrators. We do this at monthly grade level meetings and at faculty meetings in addition to PD days built into our calendar. This year, our focus began with Blended Learning, Social and Emotional Learning and iReady. As mentioned, we plan to bring in a consultant to work with teachers on differentiation which meets the needs of learners across all levels including G&T.