A web-based resource on what works in teaching & learning, developed
by the LAB at Brown University. Searchable database includes research-based
professional development practices with real-school examples.
NSDC's website offers a wealth of professional development resources,
including articles from the "Journal of Staff Development"
and "Tools for Schools." The Council's library compiles
on-line resources under more than 70 subject headings.
The Intergraph Corporation has teamed with state department experts
and classroom teachers to produce a series of professional development
presentations that can be accessed via the Web.
Former Alabama teacher of the year Anne Jolly describes the experiences
of a team of teachers at Mobile's Burns Middle School as they explore
the power of whole-faculty study grooups. Includes guidelines and links
to more information.
This comprehensive site developed by the Annenberg Institute for School
Reform explains how schools are analyzing student work to strengthen
curriculum and instruction and identify professional development needs.
A booklet designed to help states and communities find ways to overcome
obstacles to better teaching. The booklet examines six challenges: teacher
recruitment, preparation, licensing & certification standards, professional
development, and teacher retention.
A high school English teacher describes his work with the National Board
for Professional Teaching Standards and the impact NBC has had on his
own teaching.
Teachers who participate in professional development focused sharply
on good classroom practices (such as hands-on activities and higher-order
thinking skills) produced significantly higher levels of student achievement
in science and math.
The former national teacher of the year and teacher advisor to Education
Secretary Richard Riley shares her thoughts on the crucial link between
professional development and student learning.
The wNetSchool "Concept to Classroom" on-line seminars are
free and include multi-media features and many resources. A recent workshop,
"Interdisciplinary Learning in Your Classroom," offers 35
hours of content developed by Heidi Hayes Jacobs. Credit available.
See the backlog of earlier offerings and announcements of future workshops.
At Sherman Oaks Community Charter School in San Jose, California, powerful
learning results from the combined efforts of students, teachers, staff,
the principal, parents, and neighbors. This web-based package (nine
features) showcases such rewarding Sherman Oaks practices as daily staff
development and wide use of technology.
Find other professional development resources at the GLEF site: http://www.glef.org/
This community report highlights recommendations to improve teacher
quality, teacher recruitment and retention, and teacher professional
development in local schools. This community-led initiative could serve
as a model for similar studies in Alabama communities. The "Teaching
and Learning" report produced by the A+ Task Force on Teaching
and Student Achievement might be a starting point for these discussions.
Although the website MiddleWeb focuses on middle grades reform, many
resource listings point to sound professional development practices
at all grade levels.
The
Plumb Design Visual
Thesaurus is an exploration of sense relationships within the English
language. By clicking on words, you follow a thread of meaning, creating
a spatial map of linguistic associations. Try the 3-D view (click on
the bottom right hand corner of the site).
