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Kris Melgar: Professional Learning Resources

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Kris Melgar: Professional Learning Resources

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I might use Teacher Tube to illustrate how a strategy works in the classroom.  I could see publishing a link in my staff meeting agenda to the AFT Professional Development Program for Educators to guide teachers to self advocate for their roles and professional development through those PDs and events offered.

As an instructional leader, having multiple means of accessing and demonstrating learning is an effective and meaningful way to build teacher capacity and improve pedagogical growth.  I would utilize these resources to foster that growth and reflection.  I also like book studies and using research based knowledge learned to support skills and mindset development for

One resource I would offer for the group here is the WIDA website Grow section. It offers free self paced learning that any school in Minnesota has access to and it's free. A free login for this website can be set up by any district WIDA coordinator, termed by MDE as the DAC.Minnesota is part of the WIDA consortium and all districts are expected to use the WIDA standards to support ELs as well as annual testing for students on the ACCESS test. All EL identified students in MN are required to test annually to measure the growth of their language development. Here is the flyer for more information. All of these professional learning opportunities are developed to support tier 1 instruction supporting all educators, not just EL teachers. I could see EL teachers extending this learning by leading school specific PD or PLCs that build from this foundational knowledge.

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As a EdMN union member, the professional development resources they offer have been invaluable to me. However for those who aren't in the union, I came across Waterford.org - they have a collection of free professional development resources from across the internet. I learned that PBS, like PBS that we used to watch Arthur on, has over 1000 videos of strategies specifically for teachers! I learned about it through the Waterford library! https://www.waterford.org/resources/free-online-professional-developmment-for-teachers/

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Free Online Professional Development for Teachers - Waterford.org

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If you're a teacher looking for professional development to fulfill requirements, these resources are free and available entirely online.

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I think some of the most underutilized professional development resources are local, state, and national associations that are important for educational leaders to belong to. For instance, the following organizations have provided me with great resources and PD as I have learned the role of an activities director:

MSHSL- They host monthly virtual LEAD Meetings on all relevant topics to schools and ADs. They also host the annual fall meetings that provide schools with information they need to be successful for the year. They also have numerous free resources on the Why We Play Curriculum and Coaching Certification Courses.

MNIAAA- The core values of the MNIAAA are:

Educational and equitable opportunities for students

Professional integrity and accountability

Mentorship

Support of MSHSL mission and values

Professional growth

Newsletters, website resources, and the annual conference provides educational leaders with great resources to be successful educational leaders.

NIAAA- The national association provides great PD resources for LTC Courses and learning. The monthly magazine helps educational leaders stay up to date on relevant topics and best practices.

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Mobile Minds:
https://www.mobilemind.io/
This is a professional development hub for schools. It is a place for schools to house or assign online professional development. There are pre-built courses on technology training, but schools can also create and add their own trainings. This platforms strives for personalized and self-paced trainings.

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Newline Interactive , the leading provider of quality interactive touch displays and collaboration solutions, is pleased to collaborate with MobileMind in offering Newline content on their professional learning hub. Newline Interactive, which already offers free on demand training, is now available on MobileMind's professional development platform. Now, existing MobileMind clients will have access to Newline content with their MobileMind paid subscriptions. This content will include training videos on our latest products that will have a short knowledge check after each video. "This partnership ensures that educators new to Newline are set up for success and can leverage Newline's award-winning interactive panels in a way that immediately impacts student outcomes," said Tyce Miller, MobileMind's Founder & CEO. "Newline engages students in creative learning just as MobileMind engages teachers in creative learning." "By collaborating with MobileMind, we are giving customers another avenue to learn about Newline and what we have to offer. MobileMind's existing clients will now be able to access all things Newline and acquire tools that encourage innovative learning in the 21st century classroom." Stated Ty Hall, Newline's Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing. Newline Interactive's content page will be live on MobileMind's professional learning hub soon! About Newline Interactive Headquartered in Allen, Texas, Newline Interactive is a leading supplier of interactive touch screens and innovative software that increases productivity and enables collaboration. Newline Interactive develops products that help organizations in a wide range of vertical markets including financial services, education, healthcare, law enforcement, manufacturing, municipalities, and legal services. About MobileMind Founded in 2015, MobileMind is a privately held, Atlanta-based educational technology company. MobileMind is a Google and Microsoft professional development partner offering a cloud-based, asynchronous professional learning platform designed to provide personalized growth opportunities to teachers and staff that improve teaching and learning. The professional learning hub is the only platform that allows districts to consolidate all of their PD initiatives, from new technology to curriculum to compliance. MobileMind delivers anytime, anywhere access to personalized micro-courses, activity-based learning, digital badging, and reporting to K-12 school districts.

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Professional Development Learning Hub For Schools

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Newline Interactive , the leading provider of quality interactive touch displays and collaboration solutions, is pleased to collaborate with MobileMind in offering Newline content on their professional learning hub. Newline Interactive, which already offers free on demand training, is now available on MobileMind's professional development platform.

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Gina Plotz - Professional Development Resources 

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Gina Plotz - Professional Development Resources 

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Here are a few professional development resources that I have found helpful...

Infinitec, https://www.myinfinitec.org/login - professional development on a variety of topics; helps cover teacher license renewal mandates (admin, teachers, support staff)

Top 20 Training - https://top20training.com  professional development  for more social-emotional learning classroom; PD workshops, books, or even a weekly Wednesday newsletter subscription

Professional Learning Board - https://professionallearningboard.com/ - professional development online courses on a variety of topics (there's a really good 5 hour cultural competency course through this website)

Restorative Practices Training - https://restorativepracticesinschools.com/ (Mickelson Consulting) professional development training to a stronger relational culture in a school, this training stresses the importance of relationships in a PBIS/social-emotional way creating a peaceful interconnected classroom

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Infinitec is the assistive technology program of UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago. The program leverages the power of technology to advance independence.

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Florida Center For Reading Research https://fcrr.org
While working in Title, Tier 2 and 3 interventions this website was particularly helpful to gather resources, learn about interventions, and research how to best meet the needs of all students. It includes podcasts, student learning activities, at home learning resources, dyslexia information, assessment tools, and more. I look forward to reacquainting myself to this comprehensive site.

LETRS Lexia Learning
https://www.lexialearning.com/letrs
This is an intense training program centered around the science of reading. The website includes research, webinars, and additional literacy resources. I recently started the comprehensive two year program and have already learned a great deal about the processes and science behind reading. It goes in much greater detail than my undergraduate education. LETRS teaches the how, why, and what behind literacy achievement. There are courses available for teachers and administration. I have only heard amazing things about the pd courses from both teachers and principals.

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I think one of our greatest staff development resources is the Education Minnesota web site.  Specifically, if you can find your local Region.  Our district (Springfield) is in the Great Southwest United Region centered out of Windom and Marshall.  They can provide you with a variety of staff development online classes to help you renew your license.  But, they do much more. We have used them to located speakers/presenter to come to our district and provide training on reading, social and emotional learning, mental health, social awareness, and more.
https://educationminnesota.org/events/calendar/great-southwest-united

Another free site is the waterford.org.
this one is centered around the Science of Reading, but it does also include staff development opportunities in Teaching Character, & Motivating Gen Z learners.

https://www.waterford.org

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40 Hour Teacher Workweek - (Not Free) - Angela Watson has created a course to help teachers develop sustainable and efficient systems to manage the work required over the course of the school week. Building these systems allows teachers to focus on the important business of educating students without begin bogged down by the ‘extra’ tasks that they are asked to do.

(She also has a podcast called “Truth for Teachers” and a 40 hour instructional coaches and 40 hour administrator program.)

Ditch That Textbook - Matt Miller wrote the books Ditch That Textbook, Ditch That Homework, Teacher Like a PIRATE, and others. He regularly posts ideas for students to use technology to engage in meaningful learning. Ideas I’ve seen on his information before they became internet famous were to create a facebook/instagram page for your historical figure instead of writing the generic short bio piece. He runs a free Ditch That Textbook Summit every winter where presenters share their ideas and strategies for increasing student engagement.

3M Twist Program - TWIST (Teachers Working in Science and Technology) - (The teacher gets paid. The district/school may need to pay for a substitute of a day or two.) This program partners teachers from STEM curriculum areas up with a 3M host to work on applied science applications and view the design process in action. I participated about 10 years ago and worked on a joint compound that was taken to market and is used when constructing airplanes. Teachers are given a stipend for their work in addition to professional development opportunities where various departments present their work and testing methods to hopefully inspire classroom applications.

User Groups  - I’ve participated in the User Groups for both Skyward and Infinite Campus and I get a lot out of connecting with people that also use the systems to see what is possible. I’ve learned a lot of tips and tricks to make our systems function more efficiently and how to just generally make the system work.

Professional Organizations -

MCTM - Minnesota Council of Teacher of Mathematics

NCTM - National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

NSTA - National Science Teachers Association - They also have a New Science Teachers Academy that is awesome!

MMSA - Minnesota Middle School Association

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Many of the PD resources shared below I have accessed or heard about throughout my teaching career, but others, I have not. I look forward to digging deeper into these to help not only myself as an educator, but as an aspiring leader as well.

A few more resources I would add are...

https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/professional-development-resources-for-teachers/. This website is for all things professional development. It links specific teacher and educator podcasts to sign up and listen to. There are some very good ones available.

https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/ is another resource aimed to build successful, independent, and meaningful learning for your students. RC offers in person or virtual conferences, as well as information and resources to try in our own classroom.

https://www.apa.org/education-career/k12/professional-development is a website full of linked professional development for educators with a wide array of specialisties and content area. To take the full course, one would have to pay the fee, but interventions to try with your own students are free to browse.

https://www.nctm.org/Conferences-and-Professional-Development/Professional-Development-Resources/ is a site aimed at providing resources for math educators. This provides resources, pd opportunities, research, as well as membership offerings.

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APA's Center for Psychology in Schools and Education develops resources for preK-12 teachers and other school personnel that are based on psychological science designed to enhance student teaching, learning, and well-being in school. The purpose of the teacher professional development program is to benefit the education communities in better understanding the importance of and incorporating psychology to improve student and teacher experiences.

These professional development programs are based on existing modules that are available for free on the Center for Psychology in Schools and Education website. All programs have been reviewed and approved by APA's Office of Continuing Education in Psychology to offer CE credits for educators and/or psychologists.

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Professional development for preK-12 teachers

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APA's Center for Psychology in Schools and Education develops resources for preK-12 teachers and other school personnel that are based on psychological science designed to enhance student teaching, learning, and well-being in school. The purpose of the teacher professional development program is to benefit the education communities in better understanding the importance of and incorporating psychology to improve student and teacher experiences.

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Building Thinking Classrooms: This is a book dedicated to teaching students to think, specifically in a math classroom. I highly recommend it to anyone who has/will ever be in a math classroom. This is by far the best PD I have ever attended. https://buildingthinkingclassrooms.com/

The Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI®): the premier cross-cultural assessment of intercultural competence that is used by thousands of individuals and organizations to build intercultural competence to achieve international and domestic diversity and inclusion goals and outcomes. https://idiinventory.com/

Keeping the Wonder: Structured around four key elements that fuel engagement—surprise, curiosity, freedom, and inspiration—Keeping the Wonder offers practical strategies and abundant inspiration for K–12 educators to create lessons that are fun and compelling. https://www.keepingthewonderworkshop.com/

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· now Reply on Twitter Retweet on Twitter Like on Twitter Twitter

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Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics exudes enthusiasm for
students, how they think, and how those thoughts coalesce into powerful
thinking classrooms. It’s also deeply practical, describing how everything
from the teacher’s questions to the arrangement of the furniture can add to
your students’ learning.

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Any of the linked sites would be useful for specific staff development. Great leaders don't need to have all of the answers, but they do need to know where to find them.

AVID-If your school is an AVID school, there are many resources on MyAVID to develop all aspects of WICOR, family engagement, and building capacity for success.
PBIS World-This site has many resources for tiered interventions for many SEL needs. It provides timelines, suggestions, and next steps through each tier of behavior intervention.
BoysTown-It's not just for boys. This site has many resources on social skills including some free resources and some curriculum. It also has resources for families. The goal of BoysTown is to help keep boys out of "the system".
Coursera- This site has both free and paid courses on a TON of topics

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Edutopia:  A free source for teachers in grades preK-12 that includes information, inspiration, and practical strategies for learning and teaching.
edutopia.org

Intervention Central: Tools for resources for RTI implementation, including academic and behavioral interventions.
interventioncentral.org

PBIS World: Wonderful site that includes practical strategies to address a multitude of behaviors often exhibited in the classroom setting.
pbisworld.com

Autism Internet Modules (AIM): Offers information about supporting individuals with autism through case studies, videos, and discussion questions.
autisminternetmodules.org

University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI): Offers programs and resources to help teachers gain confidence and skill to help their students learn to read.
ufli.education.ufl.edu

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George Lucas Educational Foundation

The benefits of movement in the classroom aren't limited to younger students. Pairing new words and concepts with gestures or dance moves locks in understanding-and active brain breaks prime students to learn even more.

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A free source of information, inspiration, and practical strategies for learning and teaching in preK-12 education.

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AFIRM: Autism Focused Intervention, Resources, and Modules.
https://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/afirm-modules
This website offers free training modules and resources for Birth-21 children with Autism.

The National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder
https://autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu/
The NPDC has developed free professional resources for teachers, therapists, and technical assistance providers who work with individuals with ASD. Resources include detailed information on how to plan, implement, and monitor specific evidence-based practices.

CHADD
https://chadd.org/about-adhd/overview/
this website is dedicated to providing resources, advocacy, and education for educators and families with children who have ADHD/ADD.

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NAPA- a yearlong cohort-based academy designed  to support aspiring, assistant, and early career principals in attaining the essential skills and practices needed to advance to the next level  of leadership.

NAESP Center for Diversity Leadership- focuses on promoting best practices and sharing resources related to cultural responsiveness and inclusion leading to a deeper understanding among all leaders on how to address the needs of each student.

NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership-
The Center for Innovative Leadership works to highlight transformative and innovative practices and strategies that serve as a catalyst for shaping the long-term impact of school improvement efforts.

Twitter-
#EdChat #IAEdChat #MNEdChat An insane amount of connections and resources being thrown around on twitter if you can find the right account or hashtag.

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Minnesota Education Association: https://meaonline.learnupon.com/catalog
You will need to request access in order to enroll in online classes. You will be sent an e-mail to set up your password and then you can register for free classes for professional growth and to meet re-licensure requirements.

SimpleK12:
https://www.simplek12.com/
You will need to create a log in and then will have access to on demand classes. Many of these classes are developed by educators and applicable to the classroom.

Google Skillshop:
https://skillshop.withgoogle.com/
This website offers training for all the features that are available in google. There is a specific topic for education and you can learn how to start a google classroom, fundamentals, etc. I used this resource to learn how to make a survey!

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PACER Center enhances the quality of life and expands opportunities for children, youth, and young adults with all disabilities and their families by providing assistance to individual families, workshops, materials for parents and professionals, and leadership in securing a free and appropriate public education for all children

UofM Center for Early Education & Development (CEED)- Conduct research, provide professional development, conduct program quality evaluations and observations, and offer consultation services for Early Education

MN Educator Academy (MEA) - host annual conference in October, Summer Seminar, and has MEA online with Professional Development for teachers

BrIQht Ideas - Free or low cost CEUs designed for Speech-Language Pathologists, but often sessions would be beneficial for Special Education teachers

Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is an international membership organization for those who work with, or on behalf of, young children (0-8) with disabilities and other special needs, and their families. DEC Collaborateprovides parents and professionals an online format to facilitate discussions and resource sharing through a library.

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CTE Learn - A suite of free professional development resources for the CTE professional. Resources include CTE lessons, workplace skills tutorials, a learning community of CTE professionals and individual development plans that aid to identify and achieve performance goals.

MEA Online - this is a free resource for MEA members that offers NUMEROUS professional development ranging from licensure renewal requirements to advocacy to community engagement. They are all online courses.

Coursera - Another online platform with a plethora of free and priced professional development. There is more than education focused PD, which I would also encourage a leader to look at.

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Character Strong
(not free) Provides research-based Pre-K through 12th grade social & emotional learning curricula and professional learning services that positively impact lives.

Ripple Journals
(not free) Research-based workbooks, developed by educators, that do triple duty as a leadership log, connection curriculum, and wellness journal for young people.

Walking Classroom
(not free) Provides students and teachers with an innovative way to get exercise without sacrificing instructional time.

Be Good People
(free) Provides students, families, and teachers with K-12 SEL curriculum with the ability to customize tier 1, 2, and 3 needs for learning.

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Pacer Center: Champions for Children with Disabilities

This organization is for parents, families, and educators of children with special needs. It has a wealth of information and many resources, including workshops for teachers and puppet shows for student education.
Learn more here at pacer.org

Mackin Educational Resources

This resource is perfect for the librarian, teacher, or educator who is looking to use literacy to enhance student learning. They offer professional development downloads and webinars. They also provide resources for reading materials (books, eBooks, databases, magazines) or information on Makerspaces.

Learn more here at mackin.com

Edutopia

This resource is for teachers and leaders to learn about new and exciting practices that are working in the classroom. It offers a multitude of videos, articles, and so much more for educators to learn and grow in their work. Topics vary from assessments to project-based learning, to professional development.

Learn more here at edutopia.org

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ASCD Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development--not free to get the good stuff, but the site is nicely organized and curated. Resource types are varied and includes current information from contemporary researchers in a variety of formats.

Marzano's Site--If you're into Marzano or the idea of high reliability, the site is jam packed. There's a free section separated from the rest, but even the rest reveals enough about the research, product or strategies to know if moving forward is worth the money.

Top 20 Training--A MN based group offering products and training on SEL. They aren't a mainstream group which is refreshing. Ideas and concepts work for students, teachers and parents.

The Catalyst Approach--Offers effective classroom management strategies. Trainings and ideas are highly valued by those who attend and practice. Based in ENVoY foundations, this team and the approach has been updated for today's classrooms. Affordable training options.

ISTE--Ed tech gold standard for curriculum, frameworks, current events, pd offerings, publications and more. Plenty to consume without paying for it.

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Leaving The Village provides PD on Restorative Practices, Alternatives to Suspension and PBIS.

Innocent Classroom workshop PD for building and improving relationships with students by dismantling bias.

Solution Tree provides PD on RTI, PLC's, DNA Mathematics, Transforming School Culture, and Wellness Solutions.

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Infobase Learning Cloud: This is an online resource that provides professional development training for a variety of different  categories. It's a paid subscription that Anoka-Hennepin provides to it's educators.

Be Good People SEL: An online curriculum that provides free resources on a number of social-emotional topics that are based upon the Casel framework. They have resources for both families and teachers. There are lessons and tiered interventions for all grade-levels.

Mindset Works: A resource providing PD and information regarding a growth mindset.

The Catalyst Approach: An approach to classroom management, the development of relationships, and teacher coaching opportunities using evidence based practices.

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edWeb: free online source for professional development webinars, networking, collaboration opportunities, and CEUs.

Collaborative Classroom: evidence based research, book studies, professional development webinars, events and conferences.

Learning and the Brain: conferences, seminars, and institutes that use neuroscience to explain how children learn and offer practical application for the classroom.

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WestEd: a research, development, and service agency that compiles research to support the learning of all students.

TedEd: Video platform that provides lessons and videos to assist teachers in lesson planning.

Boomerang Project: program to implement that  trains educators to facilitate peer mentorship at their schools using leadership and group development methodologies. Great to help students with transitions into new schools.

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Student Mental Health: Be There Certificate - This online resource is a program where educators can learn about how to help students mental health. This training takes staff through scenarios and research on how to support student mental health.

CharacterStrong - SEL curriculum to incorporate into homerooms where staff present different activities and topics to students surrounding how to build healthy relationships, positive mindsets, and self-efficacy.

WIDA: E-Learning/Webinars - WIDA offers trainings and webinars for individuals who are working with ELLs in a variety of content areas. They are great resources to help staff succeed.

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Virtual Lab School - The Virtual Lab School (VLS) empowers child care professionals to build their knowledge and improve their practices through a robust online professional development system. Designed for child and youth professionals across all roles and functions, the VLS provides evidenced-based content, demonstration videos, and practical tools to facilitate high quality care and education.

Safe Environments

Healthy Environments

Physical Development

Cognitive Development

Self & Cultural Understanding

Social & Emotional Development

Positive Guidance

IRIS Center Modules (variety of options related to special education)

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5 Ways To Make Teacher Professional Development Effective - A meta resource article defining the characteristics to be considered for effective and engaging PD

Ceeder Center: MTSS/UDL/DI PD Module - provides three PD courses for new teachers or administrators, or for buildings new to these efforts

Project Achieve: Webinar for Effective MTSS - provides a free 35-minute video on implementing MTSS and an online course for purchase

College Cliffs: 20 continuing ed courses for teachers - covers topics from digital storytelling to SEL

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TeachBetter, asynchronous professional development on a variety of topics for both teachers and administrators.

Zinn Education Project, resources for teaching about equity and social justice

Amplify, literacy, math and science resources for teachers and administrators

Reading & Writing in the Disciplines, resources and asynchronous professional development for teachers and administrators with a focus on literacy across the curriculum.

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Infinitec, Infinite Potential Through Technology- asynchronous professional development on a variety of topics for educators (teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators)

WWC, What’s Work Clearinghouse- a diverse collection of best practices to assist educators

ISTE, International Society for Technology in Education- organization that focuses on integrating technology into education with standards for students and educators

Common Sense Media- a site for educators that ranges from digital citizenship lesson plans, best apps and websites for learning, professional development, and family resources