Criativo, in partnership with International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), is implementing a teacher professional development program in East Jerusalem, focusing on grades 1-6 professores. Creative and IOCC are designing, facilitating, and providing ongoing coaching to teachers. Over an initial six months, we anticipate reaching 40 teachers and head teachers in six schools serving 1,800 estudantes. Creative and IOCC are using a Design Centered Approach and have engaged teachers to select and refine training topics based on their classroom experiences, prioridades, and the resources and constraints of teaching in Jerusalem schools. During summer preparation, teachers selected the following topics for the 2026/2027 ano letivo: um) rapid assessment support for struggling leaners, b) training and coaching for mainstream teachers on strategies to better serve kids with learning differences, and c) designing and trialing classroom practicums for pre-service teacher trainees. Design will continue over the summer with rollout scheduled for Sept 2027.
Conquistas do Programa
East Jerusalem TPD increases professional development for teachers and education leaders with a focus on helping educators to better meet the learning needs of struggling learners and children with learning differences. By addressing topics and activities selected and designed for and by teachers, East Jerusalem TPD will improve their instruction practices and their confidence and motivation. This training will include classroom support plans, activity and lesson demonstrations, peer support, and practice sessions.
East Jerusalem TPD will pilot a preservice teaching practicum, placing teacher candidates in classrooms with mentor teachers. This activity is a structured, supervised teaching experience that allows student teachers to apply the knowledge, habilidades, and dispositions they’ve learned in their teacher preparation program to real classroom settings. It is a key part of transitioning from theory to practice in education. This structured practice will not only allow teacher students to practice and refine their learning but also provide support for their mentor classroom teachers.
While not a substitute for comprehensive diagnostic testing, rapid identification of students needs and strengths allows teachers to detect academic struggles, emotional challenges, or social needs before they escalate and address them to best position students to learn. Early detection packages, such as those provided by East Jerusalem TPD, supports preventive measures and reduces the risk of long-term learning or behavioral problems.