Pineapple PD: Learning from Each Other with Heather Ehlschide, Ep. 110 Buzzing with Ms. B: The Coaching Podcast

When most people think of professional development, they imagine sitting in a room listening to someone talk at them for hours on end. But what if there was another option? What if teachers could visit other teachers while they were teaching and learn from them that way? This is the idea behind Pineapple PD.

Pineapple PD is a way for teachers to open their classroom doors and learn from each other in a more informal setting. The beauty of this system is that it lets teachers see how other educators teach in different settings and with different students.

On this episode of The Coaching Podcast, middle school instructional coach Heather Ehlschide joins me to talk about all things Pineapple PD. During the call, we discuss what it is, best practices, different ways to implement it, and common challenges. Heather shares her tips for creating an open-door policy culture of learning, how to choose a focus, and the results she’s seen from using this professional learning model.

If you’re interested in learning more about Pineapple PD, or if you’re looking for a new way to approach professional development in your school or district, this is the episode for you! Click the media player below to listen now!

Topics and Questions Discussed in Episode 110 – Pineapple PD: Learning from Each Other with Heather Ehlschide

• What is Pineapple PD and how to get started
• Best practices when introducing and using Pineapple PD
• Different ways to implement Pineapple PD and what it can look like in schools
• Tips to help teachers become more comfortable welcoming others into their classroom
• Setting expectations for being guests during classroom visits
• Building a culture of safety so visits don’t feel like evaluative observations
• Ghost walk-throughs
• Structuring a Pineapple PD week
• Learn and grow walks using monthly themes
• Why PD intent and a clear purpose matter if you want to see results
• Why Heather focuses on positive feedback only when teachers observe each other
• Questions to ask when teachers visit other classes
• How she shares feedback from other teachers and why
• Differentiating teacher PD
• How to transition from structured observations to more freely available ones over time
• Ways Pineapple PD supports vertical and horizontal alignment
• Common challenges with professional learning and how to overcome them
• Creative scheduling ideas for classroom visits when teachers are short on time or there isn’t coverage available
• How to get teacher buy-in
• How observing other teachers helps make education more equitable and accessible
• Moving professional learning from experiences into practice
• The importance of a common language, conversations, and reflections
• Follow-up and accountability when using Pineapple PD
• Why it’s so valuable for our students to see us as learners

Ready to listen? You can listen below with the media player, or search for Buzzing with MS. B: The Coaching Podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts!

This post contains links to products from one or more of our advertisers. This means I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post when you click on links to those products.