By guest blogger, Tanya Bosco, MBA – Chief Strategy Officer at IDE Corp.
Want your teachers to experience mic drop moments during back-to-school planning days? Then stop presenting and start modeling.
Whether you have a single day or an entire week before students return, these are some of the most valuable (and most often under-leveraged) moments of the school year. They’re not just for logistics; they’re your chance to model the energy, culture, and learning design you want to see in every classroom.
So ask yourself: What will your opening days say about your school’s priorities?
Model What You Want to See in Classrooms
Your facilitation style sets the tone. If you want student-centered, engaged classrooms, then your teacher learning time should reflect that.
– Think in chunks. Break up time with reflection and collaboration, just like a strong lesson plan. Try using an External Brain to help faculty capture key takeaways and then share their thoughts with each other.
– Ditch the slide deck. Replace full-group sit-and-get with short videos, podcast-style intros, or visual one-pagers.
– Offer choice. Create a menu of small-group sessions, self-paced tools, and how-to guides. Let teachers design their own schedule. IDE Corp. can offer targeted small-group sessions to Power Up Planning Week for your teachers.
Let them feel what student-driven learning looks and feels like.
Add Arrows to Their Quiver
Back-to-school is the perfect time to give teachers tools they can use immediately.
– Share 2–3 go-to strategies that activate student thinking.
– Highlight structures that boost executive function, engagement, or agency.
– Create time to practice with peers, not just hear about it.
Using IDE Corp.’s on-demand Professional Learning Experiences (PLEs)? Let teachers dive into the modules that meet their goals and apply tools right away.
What’s the Lead Song on Your Playlist?
Ever get a song stuck in your head on the drive in and then have it shape your whole day?
That’s your opportunity as a leader. What message do you want replaying in teachers’ minds as they launch the year?
– “Talk Less, Smile More” from “Aaron Burr, Sir” — Hamilton
– “Unstoppable” — Sia
– “Whatever It Takes” — Imagine Dragons
Set the tone with a message that sticks . . . and then live it all year.
This Is Your Moment
Planning days aren’t about “training.” They’re about launching.
Use this window to inspire, equip, and spark momentum. Introduce a PLE module. Let teachers explore, reflect, and apply. Then come together to co-create the year ahead. Engage teachers in conversations versus disseminating information. Drop the mic and inspire “mic drop” moments!