Professional Development part of the Education Reform Network

Quality Teaching

Staff development that improves the learning of all students deepens educators' content knowledge, provides them with research-based instructional strategies to assist students in meeting rigorous academic standards, and prepares them to use various types of classroom assessments appropriately.

Rationale:

Successful teachers have a deep understanding of the subjects they teach, use appropriate instructional methods, and apply various classroom assessment strategies. The following links support this standard:

1. Assessment
   
2. Classroom Management
   
3. Content Knowledge
   
4. How People Learn
   
5. Lesson Planning
   
6. Pedagogy
   
7. Reaching All Students
   

• TEAMS Distance Learning
  Helpful tips for beginning and experienced teachers.
• Curriculum Development
  Teachers need to continually discuss what students should know and be able to do. This article explains how teachers begin to know their curriculum, develop curriculum maps, and web the curriculum.
• Reading Lessons
  Tucson Unified School District has focused on improving reading for all students by increasing teachers and administrators knowledge about how children learn to read as well as providing the teachers with different strategies to use with different children.
• Supporting Technology in Education through Professional Development
  A planning resource for technology professional developers, school technology specialists, and K-12 administrators. Organized around the following themes: Visualizing Technology-Supported Engaged LearningCurrent RealityEffective Staff DevelopmentEvaluationImplementation .
• Action Research
  Overview of the concept of action research, how to get started and links to other resources, such as a chapter from an ASCD book on action research.
• Pathways: Action Research
  Defines action research and provides suggested reading.
• Pathways to School Improvement
  Comprehensive set of tools to help school leaders. Survey provided, scored and linked to critical issue topics.
• Action Research Network, Ireland
  Provides action researchers with links to international resources. (Note: Last update 3/1/99).
• National Institute for Science Education
  Links to publications from Professional Development Team.
• National Writing Project
  Official site for the National Writing Project. Provides links to resources.
• CELA Researchers Suggest Useful Framework for Studying Professional Development
  Summary of the report, Appropriating Conceptual and Pedagogical Tools for Teaching English: A Conceptual Framework for Studying Professional Development by Pamela Grossman, Peter Smagorinsky, Sheila Valencia. They propose that activity theory-following from the work of Vygotsky (1987), Leont'ev (1981), Wertsch (1981), Cole (1996), and others-provides a useful framework for studying the conceptual development of teachers.
• standards-of-practice.net
  Self-assessment tool provides teachers with diagnosis of standards that can be developed. The standards are linked to print, media, and Internet resources.
• Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators
  Part of DiscoverySchool.com, this website provides teaching strategies for teachers in different content areas.
• Project Based Learning
  Describes the process for project based learning.
• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
  Professional organization provides resources and links to additional resources.
• What is Reflection?
  Describes the rationale for professional reflection.
• Ideas that Work
  Professional development strategies for teachers of math and science.
• Short Cuts
  Multiple resources for math and science teachers to get information quickly.
• National Council of Teachers of English
  Professional organization that links to resources.
• Teacher-Researcher Network
  Demonstrates how one school system supports action research. The system supports action researchers, produces a newsletter and organizes an annual conference for presentation of teacher research.
• Professional Development: Global SchoolNet
  Web resources will be useful as you plan and implement your own professional-development program.
• Top-Notch Programs for Middle Schools
  Professional development programs, if implemented properly, have potential to improve teachers’ knowledge of content and content-specific pedagogy to improve student learning. This article outlines the criteria used for selection of programs published in What Works in the Middle.
• CEO Forum Reports
  Reports on integrating technology into the curriculum.
• Action Research/Teacher as Researcher
  Resource links to articles on action research.
• North Central Regional Technology in Education Consortium
  Multiple tools provided to plan professional development for technology integration.
• National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
  Sponsoring agency for teachers to obtain national certification.
• Teacher Change
  Focused on the TIMSS, this set of resources provides leaders with tools to help teachers understand the purpose for school change.
• Standards and Frameworks
  Links to national and state math and science standards and frameworks.
• Standards for Professional Development for Teachers of Science
  Describes the professional development standard for teachers of science.
• Analyze student data
  Provides articles with discussion/reflection tools. Good for use with study groups.
• Looking at Student Work
  Coalition of Essential Schools model for examining student work. Gives specific directions for use of tools, such as tuning protocol.
• Classroom Action Research
  Describes the action research process used in the Madison Metropolitan School District.
• It All Adds Up
  The Michigan TIMSS group tested a hypothesis that high math achievement results from curriculum and teacher knowledge. This article shares the two stories of how teachers engaged in a staff development program to ensure all math teachers knew both the material and strategies to support them.
• California Subject Matter Project
  Links to papers from projects sponsored by this organization. Addresses different content areas.
• Mathematics Professional Development
  Professional development strategies for math education. Model programs are highlighted as are several technical assistance providers around the country.
• Technology in Education
  Provides resources in the following areas:Teachers Administrators Policymakers Around the Region Hot Topics Products Presentations .
• School Improvement: Focusing on Student Performance
  Describes the school improvement model advocated by the Regional School Accreditation Commissions .
• International Society for Technology in Education
  Home site of the National Educational Technology Standards. Provides an online assessment for technology in a district or school.
• League of Professional Schools
  Provides an overview of the League of Professional Schools. Action research is a primary component of this school reform model.
• Teaching and Learning
  This organizations represents a network of urban school reform leaders. Includes Making Good on the Promise: High Standards for All, a toolkit.
• PBS Teacher Source
  Provides resources and links in multiple content areas.
• Mathematics Education: Teacher Education & Professional Development
  Provides links for math educators to websites providing professional development.
• Ask ERIC
  Good resource for action researchers to find research on specific topics.
• teachervision.com
  Extensive resources for teachers in all subject areas. Links to other resources.
• The Ontario Action Researcher
  Electronic journal for teachers at all levels.
• Peer Coaching
  Offers tools and articles on peer coaching.
• PDA Links
  Provides links to PDA websites.
• Technology Professional Development: At a Glance
  Article on how to provide professional development for teachers in technology. Links to other resources.
• National Council for Social Studies
  Professional organization that provides workshops and links to other resources.
• National Center for Improving Student Learning and Achievement in Mathematics and Science
  Provides resources and links for teachers of mathematics and science.
• Educational Research
  Resources for teachers involved in action research. Provides information for math and science education.
• www.4teachers
  Website for teachers to integrate technology into curriculum. Provides resources for professional development in: Equity in Diversity Funding & Grants Limited English Proficiency Professional Journals Special Needs Student Assessment Student Motivation Technology Planning Technology Tutorials .
• Ethical Standards of AERA
  Provides standards for researchers in their work with human subjects. Good resource for leader of action research program.