Central Regional Professional Development Center

10/15/2026

Happy Thursday, educators!

⭐ Here's today's Tip for Teachers to Thrive: Use the 70/30 Talk Rule! 🗣️👂

🥅 The Goal: Move away from passive lecturing and maximize student participation.
🗣️ Teacher Talk Time (TTT): Use 30% of the time allotted to Instruct, Give Directions, Model Concepts, etc.
🧠 Student Talk Time (STT): Uses 70% of the time for engaged learning - peer discussion, practical application, write, debate, experiment, etc.

⭐ You may notice improved engagement and the development of independent learning, but what is really exciting is seeing students retaining knowledge better! ⭐

💬 Have you used this in your classroom? Does it work for you? Let's discuss in the comments below. ⤵

10/15/2026

10/15/2026

Our PBIS consultant, Nancy Rogers, also attended the Tipton R-VI School District board meeting this afternoon.

She was on hand to congratulate Tipton Middle School and Tipton High School on the accomplishments with receiving recognition for Tier 2. “Their team and leadership has been gathering data, matching students to an intervention that fits their function of behavior and completing all the paperwork needed to earn this Tier 2 Recognition.”

Congratulations, Tipton Middle School and Tipton High School! 👏🏻

10/14/2026

Congratulations, Norborne Pirates!

From our PBIS Consultant Nancy Rogers: So proud of Norborne Elementary being recognized for an outstanding achievement of being awarded Tier 2 in PBIS! Lots of artifacts, data, and helping teachers and students strive to be the best they can be academically and behaviorally. Great team!

Well done! 👏🏻👏🏻

10/13/2026

🙌 Celebrate wins, tackle challenges, and keep growing! 🎉

We had an incredible session today with our first-year educators in one of our Beginning Teacher Assistance Program (BTAP) cohorts. The energy, vulnerability, and dedication in the room were truly inspiring. 🥹

Here is a quick look at what our new teachers are experiencing on the front lines right now:
• The Big Wins: Students are officially loving the Safe Spaces created in their classrooms, and we are already seeing a massive boost in student confidence! 🙌
• The Real Challenges: Classroom distractions, short attention spans, and the daily art of deciphering behavioral issues are keeping everyone on their toes. 🧠⚡

To our cohort: You are doing amazing work, and you are not alone in this journey!

👉 Want actionable strategies to handle these exact classroom moments? Check out our posts every Thursday as we drop practical, battle-tested tips for educators.

10/13/2026

💡 Today's Tip for Busy Paras: Keep Data Simple! 📝

When you’re supporting students with diverse needs, tracking behavior or academic progress can feel overwhelming. But data doesn’t have to be complicated to be incredibly powerful!

✅ Try using simple tally marks, checkboxes, or a quick behavior checklist on a clipboard. Taking these objective notes on the fly helps your lead teacher and special education team accurately track IEP goals—making you an invaluable piece of the student's success story! ⭐

💬 What's your go-to method for tracking data without breaking your stride? Let's share ideas below! ⤵

10/08/2026

10/08/2026

🌟 Today's Teacher Tip: Read Aloud Every Day! 📖

🗣 This models fluent reading and exposes students to rich vocabulary, improves listening comprehension, strengthens comprehension, encourages discussions, builds background knowledge, and develops a love for reading. 📚

❓ What are some of your students' favorites? Share in the comments below! ⤵

10/07/2026

😶‍🌫️ It's Who's Who Wednesday! 👀

This week, we're catching up with the extraordinary Elaine Metcalf!

🗣 As a career pathways consultant, one of the ways my work influences educators is through planned educator experiences called externships. These externships typically happen during summer months. Teachers and counselors sign up to attend 1 to 5 days of learning through hands-on application with our business and industry partners. For example, Liberty Public School teachers traveled to the TWA Museum to get hands-on simulator experience, went on an airplane tour, and learned about careers in aviation. 🛫

🌟 Elaine has 3 beautiful grandchildren that inspire her. She likes to travel, volunteer, and stay healthy. She also works at Pro Deo Youth Center and is a member of the Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce and a member of Lee's Summit Sunrise Rotary Club. You may find her reading "Teach Like a Pirate" by Dave Burgess and sipping a Diet Cherry Limeade when she has a moment to relax. 😌

🙌 Please join us in celebrating Elaine's impact on our educators and in her community in the comments below! 👏

10/06/2026

💡 PARAS: Let’s talk about shifting our praise! 🧠✨

When a student finally gets the right answer, our first instinct is often to shout, "Wow, you are so smart!" It comes from a place of pure love and excitement.

But did you know that praising a student's fixed traits (like being "smart" or "natural" at something) can actually make them more afraid of making mistakes later on? As paras, we are in the trenches during a student's most frustrating academic moments. We have the unique power to reshape how they view challenges! Instead of focusing purely on the final outcome or a perfect score, let’s start actively praising persistence, effort, and the strategy they used to get there.

Here's one quick example to flip the script during your next small group or one-on-one session:
❌ Instead of: "You're a math genius!"
✅ Try: "I love how you tried three different strategies until you found the one that worked. You didn't give up!"

👇 Paras, drop your favorite growth mindset phrase in the comments below! What do you say to keep your students motivated when they get stuck?