The PD Cafe: Instructional Practices
An activity to develop professional development ideas for teachers.
15-20 min
The PD Cafe: Wellness and Growth
A PD activity where staff choose a quick reset to an ongoing habit each week.
Megan Rogers
A self-paced professional development activity centered on staff wellbeing, where staff choose their own commitment level from a menu: a quick appetizer for a small reset, a deeper entrée, or an ongoing dessert habit.
Why try it
Support staff well being in a way that feels flexible and realistic. A menu of self-care ideas lets each person choose what fits their schedule and energy, whether it's taking a ten-minute walk during a busy day or joining a monthly accountability check-in. Giving staff the freedom to choose what works best for them helps make self-care feel more manageable and sustainable.
What's included
Browse the printables included with this resource.
Instructions
1
Print the menu and reflection cards
Print a Learning Menu, a Reflections & Refills card, a Learning Bites card, and a Thoughts & Takeaways card for each staff member.
2
Share the Wellness and Growth menu
Walk through the three categories: Appetizers (10-20 minutes), Entrées (1-2 hours), and Dessert (ongoing), each centered on staff wellbeing.
3
Let staff choose what they need
Give staff time to pick items that fit their current capacity, whether that's a quick reset or a bigger commitment, and note their choices on the Learning Menu.
4
Check in without pressure
Set a loose timeframe for staff to try their picks, then invite them to fill out a reflection card if they want to capture how it went.
Activity variations
Adapt to fit your school's vibe, budget, and setting.
Seasonal refresh
Swap in different appetizer and entrée options each season, since what feels restorative in October might not fit in April.
Anonymous joy club
Let staff join a "staff joy club" thread or channel where they can share something good without attaching their name if they'd rather stay private.
Leadership-only cohort
Consider hosting a separate wellness cafe just for grade-level leads or department chairs. These team members spend so much time supporting others, and this gives them dedicated space to connect, recharge, and focus on their own wellbeing.
Go deeper
Additional tips for running this resource.
Leader Tip #1
Keep it truly optional
Wellbeing looks different for everyone. Giving staff the choice to participate, pass, or keep their reflections private helps create a supportive environment where everyone feels respected.
Leader Tip #2
Model it from the top
Encourage leaders to share their own picks from the menu, including the small, everyday choices. When leaders participate alongside their team, it shows that wellbeing is a shared priority.
Built by Educators, for School Leaders
This resource was created in collaboration with passionate educators and school leaders who believe in the power of intentional connection.
Megan Rogers
Teacher
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