Professional Development
From the creators of Wit & Wisdom®and Geodes®
Created by the team of teacher–writers behind Wit & Wisdom and Geodes, our in-person and virtual professional development (PD) sessions include options for teachers and leaders. These sessions ensure strong initial implementation as well as sustained success.
Private Professional Development
Come together with educators from your school or district for an in-person or virtual PD session. All virtual sessions with Great Minds facilitators can accommodate up to 35 educators; in-person sessions can accommodate up to 50 educators.
Virtual Open Enrollment
Join educators from around the country for an open enrollment virtual PD session. Designed for 20–35 participants, sessions are led by two Great Minds facilitators.
GET STARTED WITH VIRTUAL OPEN ENROLLMENT
Wit & Wisdom Partners Program Professional Learning Network
Join fellow instructional leaders to strengthen your strategic implementation of Wit & Wisdom and Geodes. Participants of this program collaborate to enhance literacy leadership and realize the potential of every child and educator in their district.
Wit & Wisdom Leaders Program
The Wit & Wisdom Leaders Program provides strategic and collaborative support across key school and district stakeholders, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and mindsets needed to successfully implement Great Minds humanities curricula and resources.
Have you already completed the Foundational PD series? Then Personalized Coaching for Wit & Wisdom and Geodes might be a good option for you.
PD to support new implementers and seasoned users of Wit & Wisdom and Geodes.
BUILDING A FOUNDATION
Educators develop a foundational understanding of Wit & Wisdom’s design and learn best practices for preparing to teach the curriculum. These sessions are appropriate for educators starting year 1 with Wit & Wisdom or who have not yet engaged in professional learning around Wit & Wisdom and Geodes. All virtual sessions can accommodate up to 35 educators; in-person sessions can accommodate up to 50 educators.
Launch Wit & Wisdom
This session is an introduction to the curriculum’s research foundation, learning design, approach to knowledge building and complex texts, and module and lesson components.
DOWNLOAD LAUNCH WIT & WISDOM AGENDA (PDF, 161kb)
WATCH LAUNCH WIT & WISDOM SESSION PREVIEW
Lead Wit & Wisdom
This session builds leaders’ understanding of the what and why of Wit & Wisdom and guides leaders to plan and prepare for successful implementation.
DOWNLOAD LEAD WIT & WISDOM AGENDA (PDF, 128kb)
WATCH LEAD WIT & WISDOM SESSION PREVIEW
Module and Lesson Study
This session takes participants deep into the curriculum’s structure and offers practical planning tools and strategies.
DOWNLOAD MODULE AND LESSON STUDY AGENDA (PDF, 95.7kb)
WATCH MODULE AND LESSON STUDY SESSION PREVIEW
Getting Started with Geodes*
This session is an introduction to Geodes’ accessible, knowledge-building approach to early literacy. To support successful implementation, it provides educators with helpful resources and a flexible framework for planning Geodes instruction.
DOWNLOAD GETTING STARTED WITH GEODES AGENDA (PDF, 278kb)
WATCH GETTING STARTED WITH GEODES SESSION PREVIEW
*Add-on for K-2 educators implementing Geodes in their classrooms
SUSTAINING GROWTH
Educators deepen their knowledge of Wit & Wisdom’s learning design and learn best practices for supporting student growth. These sessions are appropriate for educators who have built a strong foundation with Launch Wit & Wisdom and Module and Lesson Study. All virtual sessions can accommodate up to 35 educators; in-person sessions can accommodate up to 50 educators.
Writing in Wit & Wisdom
This session dives into Wit & Wisdom’s text-based approach to teaching informative, opinion/argument, and narrative writing. The virtual version split into two parts for scheduling flexibility.
DOWNLOAD WRITING IN WIT & WISDOM AGENDA (PDF, 107kb)
WATCH WRITING IN WIT & WISDOM SESSION PREVIEW
Focus on Fluency
DOWNLOAD FOCUS ON FLUENCY AGENDA (PDF, 47.1kb)
WATCH FOCUS ON FLUENCY SESSION PREVIEW
Testing and Wit & Wisdom
DOWNLOAD TESTING AND WIT & WISDOM AGENDA (PDF, 48.8kb)
WATCH TESTING AND WIT & WISDOM SESSION PREVIEW
Cornerstone Bundle for Leaders: Wit & Wisdom
Designed to support leaders at the start of Wit & Wisdom, this sequence builds leaders’ knowledge and skills to effectively plan, launch, and maintain implementation. The combination of sessions aims to build knowledge, as well as provide strategic planning and guided observations to inform leaders’ reflection and planning for the future. These sessions can accommodate 10-50 instructional leaders.
|
Sessions Included |
Total Number of Each Session |
Number of Hours Per Session |
Mode of Delivery |
|
Lead Wit & Wisdom |
1 |
6 |
Virtual or In Person |
|
Wit & Wisdom Strategic Planning |
3 |
1.5-3 |
Virtual | View Agenda |
|
Guided Observations for Leaders |
1 |
6 |
Virtual or In Person |
|
Understanding Wit & Wisdom’s Design Series |
1.5-3 |
1.5 |
Virtual |
Cornerstone Bundle for Leaders: Wit & Wisdom and Geodes
Designed to support leaders at the start of using both Wit & Wisdom and Geodes, this sequence builds leaders’ knowledge and skills to effectively plan, launch, and maintain implementation. The combination of sessions aims to build knowledge, as well as provide strategic planning and guided observations to inform leaders’ reflection and planning for the future. These sessions can accommodate 10-50 instructional leaders.
|
Sessions Included |
Total Number of Each Session |
Number of Hours Per Session |
Mode of Delivery |
|
Lead Wit & Wisdom |
1 |
6 |
Virtual or In Person |
|
Wit & Wisdom Strategic Planning |
3 |
1.5-3 |
Virtual | View Agenda |
|
Guided Observations for Leaders |
1 |
6 |
Virtual or In Person |
|
Understanding Wit & Wisdom’s Design Series |
1.5-3 |
1.5 |
Virtual |
|
Getting Started with Geodes |
1 |
3 |
Virtual or In Person |
|
Geodes Strategic Planning |
1 |
3 |
Virtual or In Person | View Agenda |
Implementing Wit & Wisdom with Fidelity
To set educators up for success, our team of teacher–writers created this sample three-year plan integrating PD and coaching so all teachers feel confident with the curriculum—and leaders know how to support them. This plan is based on our success with schools and districts nationwide. We can tailor a plan to meet your scheduling needs and implementation goals.
Year 1:
Professional Learning for Teachers
SUMMER
(before implementation)
Foundational PD Sessions
-
Launch Wit & Wisdom
-
Module & Lesson Study
FALL
Foundational PD Sessions
- Getting Started with Geodes
Professional Learning for Leaders
SUMMER
(before implementation)
Cornerstone Bundle for Leaders:
-
Strategic Planning
-
Lead Wit & Wisdom
Leadership Consulting (4 hours)
FALL
Cornerstone Bundle for Leaders:
- Understanding Wit & Wisdom’s Design: Complex Texts
- Guided Observations for Leaders
Leadership Consulting (8 hours)
SPRING
Cornerstone Bundle for Leaders:
- Strategic Planning
- Understanding Wit & Wisdom’s Design: Knowledge-Building
END OF YEAR
Personalized Coaching Sessions
- Guided Observations for Leaders
Year 2:
Professional Learning for Teachers
SUMMER
Foundational Sessions for New Teachers:
- Launch Wit & Wisdom
- Module and Lesson Study
Sustaining PD:
- Writing in Wit & Wisdom
FALL
Sustaining PD Sessions:
- Focus on Fluency
SPRING
Sustaining PD Sessions:
- Testing and Wit & Wisdom
Wit & Wisdom Coaching Series
Professional Learning for Leaders
SUMMER
Cornerstone Bundle for Leaders:
-
Strategic Planning
-
Understanding Wit & Wisdom’s Design: Writing
Leadership Consulting (4 hours)
FALL
Leadership Consulting (8 hours)
SPRING
Wit & Wisdom Coaching Series
Leadership Consulting (8 hours)Year 3:
Professional Learning for Teachers
SUMMER
Foundational Sessions for New Teachers:
- Launch Wit & Wisdom
- Module and Lesson Study
FALL & SPRING
Wit & Wisdom Coaching Series
Professional Learning for Leaders
SUMMER
Leadership Consulting (4 hours)
FALL & SPRING
Wit & Wisdom Coaching Series
Leadership Consulting (2 hours)