Microdoses of professional development can help inspire winter-weary staff, supplementing monthly PD meetings that typically offer tangible take-away information while eliciting teacher input, Hammarskjord Middle School (New Jersey) Principal Michael S. Gaskell writes for eSchool News.

The first few months of school are full of rested and rejuvenated teachers ready to take on the educational world. By January and February, however, they're well aware of the challenges they'll face each day in the classroom, not to mention from the looming standardized testing season.

To counter these effects, there are simple practices administrators can do to perk up those weary educators. Among them: Making the school, and especially the teacher’s area, homey by adding plants and flowers, putting out healthy snacks, and providing magazines. Showing appreciation with a verbal thank you or a hand-written note also goes a long way. The team will have an incentive to work harder if they feel appreciated for their efforts.

Teachers need to feel valued, so listen to them and take their opinions seriously. Work with them to come up with solutions that make sense and provide support for their work. Encouraging teachers to work in teams will help ease the stress and isolation that can lead them to feel overwhelmed, and one way to do this is by arranging team-building activities and games like Gaskell's micro PDs.

Another strategy is to inspire teachers to be part of the solution and then recognize them for it. Rather than have one teacher of the year, why not recognize several teachers for different innovations? Instead of expecting teachers to comply, see their innovation and ideas.

Read the full article about professional development for teachers by Shawna De La Rosa at Education Dive .