Professional Learning and Development

So this is what I have been doing to ensure that I am doing the Professional Development, that myself, as a teacher needs.  All in order to gain a better understanding of what my learners need and what I can do for them as their teacher.

I have been spending lots of time with RTLit and the sessions we have had have been so beneficial, not only for myself, but for the students as well.  I can see this, because the students are moving with their reading and their writing.

Reading:


Writing:  e-asTTle scores have made an impressive movement since the beginning of the year.

Below is Term 2 of 2016  Year 2 students
A window into where my students were at the beginning of the year.  This is on descriptive writing.

Test Type	First Name	Overall Score	Overall Level
Writing	Nicholas	1390	2B
Writing	Antonia	1457	2A
Writing	Cyrus	1229	1B
Writing	Ava	1366	2B
Writing	Corey	1197	1B
Writing	Envy	1413	2P
Writing	Logan	1259	1P
Writing	Brock	1229	1B
Writing	Renee	1288	1P
Writing	Kaelyn	1197	1B
Writing	Shaun	1197	1B
Writing	Trinity	1197	1B
Writing	Tamati-Kapua	1315	1A
Writing	Mathias	1197	1B
Writing	Lucan	1197	1B
Writing	Jonny	1197	1B
Writing	Jay	1197	1B
Writing	Rose	1341	1A
Writing	Hayley	1366	2B
Writing	Ruby-Pearl	1366	2B
		1280	1P

I have been thinking about this for a while now, and am wondering how is it that we can define what is professional learning, and what is professional development.  From my perspective, I can not seem to separate the both, because they are so closely bonded together.  This is one way I can place it.  Go back to the definition, using the dictionary, and then go from there.  May seem humble jumble, but it makes sense to me, and that's all that matters.

Professional

adjective

1.

following an occupation as a means of livelihood or for gain:

a professional builder.

2.

of, relating to, or connected with a profession :

professional studies.

3.

appropriate to a profession :

professional objectivity.

4.

engaged in one of the learned professions :

A lawyer is a professional person.

Learning

noun

1.

knowledge acquired by systematic study in any field of scholarly application.

2.

the act or process of acquiring knowledge or skill.

3.

Psychology. 

Development

noun

1.

the act or process of developing; growth; progress:

child development; economic development.

2.

a significant consequence or event:

recent developments in the field of science.

Reading these definitions reminds me the true meaning of why it is that I went to university to become a teacher.  The learning is continuous, the development is continuous.  This is in order to become the best professional I can ever be.  To pass on what I know to others who are willing to learn, and to enhance what others are teaching me, in order to develop my existing skills and attributes.