Professional Development
Mentoring Minds offers a vast array of professional development to be utilized in multiple areas on your campus and in your professional life.
Well-trained educators and district leaders enhance and improve a child’s learning experience, which will better equip and motivate that child to think critically and achieve a higher performance.
For ten years, thousands of school districts across the country have trusted Mentoring Minds to help them in the classroom with proven results. We put the same experience, expertise, and rigor into our professional development.
All of the courses listed below can be customized for your district or campus needs. Our team of seasoned trainers will work with you to create a unique, tailored professional development experience. For more information, call Mentoring Minds at 800.585.5258.
STAAR
Ready for STAAR in Mathematics Administrators and Educators
Learn how to design high quality instruction that aligns to the mathematics standards, reflecting the increased rigor of STAAR™. An emphasis is placed on advancing students’ problem-solving capabilities, building mathematics vocabulary, and improving higher-order thinking by incorporating strategies to extend mathematical reasoning and concept development.
Ready for STAAR in Reading Administrators and Educators
Learn how to design high quality instruction that aligns to the Reporting Categories, reflecting the increased rigor of STAAR™ . An emphasis is placed on text complexity, the analysis of literary and informational texts, and higher-order thinking.
Ready for STAAR in Writing Administrators and Educators
Learn how to design effective writing instruction that aligns to the writing standards, reflecting the increased rigor of STAAR™. Emphasis is placed on acquiring an essential understanding of the writing process, supporting the writing process, developing the higher-order thinking skills needed by successful writers, and providing appropriate practice opportunities that allow students to master revision and editing requirements.
Ready for STAAR in Science Administrators and Educators
Learn how to increase the level of rigor in your science classroom to align with the new expectations of the STAAR™. An emphasis is placed on investigations, higher-order thinking, and vocabulary development.
Common Core Standards
Ready for Common Core Standards in Mathematics Administrators and Educators
Learn how to design high quality instruction that aligns to the Common Core Standards (CCS) for Mathematics. An emphasis is placed on advancing students’ problem-solving capabilities, building mathematics vocabulary, and improving higher-order thinking by incorporating strategies to extend mathematical reasoning and concept development.
Ready for Common Core Standards in Reading Administrators and Educators
Learn how to design high quality instruction that aligns to the Common Core Standards (CCS) for English Language Arts. An emphasis is placed on text complexity, the analysis of literary and informational texts, and higher-order thinking.
General
Bullying Awareness Administrators and Educators
We’ll guide you in answering these pivotal questions: How do I recognize bullying on my campus or in my classroom? What are the effects of bullying? Who is involved in bullying? How do I prevent bullying on my campus? How do I intervene when bullying occurs?
Formative Assessments Administrators and Educators
Understand the importance of creating a balanced classroom assessment approach. Formative assessments provide both teachers and students feedback to help clarify misconceptions and refine skills during the learning process. Educators must act upon information gathered during student learning by using a variety of formative assessment strategies.
Critical Thinking Administrators and Educators
Critical thinking skills play a significant role in the successful performance of students in school and in life. Integration of critical thinking within all subjects is essential. The levels of critical thinking required by students will be introduced using either Bloom’s Original Taxonomy or Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy. Norman Webb’s Depth of Knowledge model will be examined to understand the depth of thinking needed by students.
Creative Thinking Administrators and Educators
Gain an understanding of the four elements essential to creative thought: fluency, flexibility, elaboration, and originality. Learn how these elements can improve student thinking and be integrated throughout all disciplines.
Rigor and Complexity Administrators and Educators
Effective instruction and assessment must show evidence of rigor and complexity of thought in order to reach higher standards and improve student achievement. Models/matrices will be shared from which teachers can design learning experiences and formulate questions that contain rigor and relevance.
Differentiated Instruction Administrators and Educators
What is differentiation? Why is it important? Learn practical tips about how to effectively differentiate instruction by implementing strategies to create positive classroom environments.
Response to Intervention Administrators and Educators
Focus is placed on maximizing student success through effective practices for students at various tiers of Response to Intervention. Both academic and behavioral domains will be addressed.
Change Management Administrators and Educators
Schools and standards are constantly changing! Change management is critical. Help teachers transition by determining key focus areas and developing a plan for communicating with key stakeholders.
Twenty Ways to Build Your Faculty Administrators and Educators
Enjoy learning more than 20 practical, proven ways for making an impact on your faculty.
Team of Eight Superintendents and School Board Presidents
Our Team of Eight programs are customized, and also include lively and engaging team building elements. Here are some common choices: The Exceptional School Board, Team Building, DiSC Behavioral Style Program, and Facilitated Analysis.
