With the announcement of Google and EdX joining forces to provide online courses, opportunities to take courses online, either for free or pay, continues to expand. For teachers, this provides an easy way to keep on top of their craft through professional development. While not every site offering online courses have courses that teachers can use for professional development, many do.   Continue Reading...

Have you considered flipping your class this school year?  Perhaps even for a lesson or two?  Flipping has now been around long enough that we have some idea of things that do and don’t work in a flipped classroom.  If you’re going to attempt to incorporate this innovative technique at some point during this school year, consider the tips below:

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All teachers go back to school with goals in mind. These goals are often state or school-mandated and many teachers also set personal goals for student development. While academic goals are crucial to insuring a student's successful future, emotional and social goals are tantamount to a child's well-being and academic growth.   Continue Reading...

In the midst of going through your materials, setting up your bulletin boards, and writing new lessons, check out these websites which can help you add a little flash to the new school year.

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There's always a lot of talk about what apps are good for student use in the classroom – which apps teach math or reading the best or which apps students can use to make presentations. Well, as the school year begins, we thought that we'd recommend the best apps for teachers to use in their classroom.   Continue Reading...

Below is a list of 20 fantastic discounts to make back-to-school shopping a little easier on your wallet. From software to clothing, this list contains a wide variety of incredible savings opportunities. Start your year off right with everything you need for your classroom! Do you need additional funds? Check out AAE's fall Scholarship and Grant opportunities.   Continue Reading...

Today marks the beginning of August and the start of back-to-school season! As you gear up to go back into the classroom and meet the challenges and joys of another school year, check out these 10 videos of inspiring teachers, from the TED blog. From calculus to liberal arts, these 10 gifted teaches share how to make the most of your classroom.

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Summer is quickly approaching and for some teachers it's already here. While many will be spending some well-deserved time at the beach, summer also provides us with a chance to reflect on the year past and prepare for the year to come.   Continue Reading...

Yesterday, Edweek published  an insightful article citing new trends in low-cost professional development courses. As professional development opportunities continue to expand via online platforms, "MOOC's" (massively open online courses) are now being offered to K-12 educators. Silicon Valley company Coursera recently partnered with seven universities to provide 28 free courses, with topics ranging from biology and literacy to lessons on how to structure classes and survive the first year of teaching.

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Every month, AAE takes some time to put together the best teacher resources we’ve come across.  This month we’ve got online tools to help with grading and seating charts, timelines, backchannels, Shakespeare and more!

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The ability to work in groups and collaborate is one of those 21st century skills that teachers try to instill alongside all the other curriculum necessities.  It is also a skill that teachers constantly struggle to pass on to their students.  It is not an impossible task, however.  Consider these methods for building collaboration in your classroom:   Continue Reading...

Even though the controversy about the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) is still in full swing, for the vast majority of teachers, the reality is that next year they will be expected to be teaching the standards. At AAE, our desire is to support our teachers through the implementation process and make sure that they have the tools necessary to succeed. Without good implementation of the standards, teachers are being set up for failure.   Continue Reading...

Teachers today are bombarded with the phrases, "Technology is good!" and "Integrate more technology!" They constantly hear about apps, tablets, 1 to 1 classrooms, and "bring your own device" schemes. Seldom does this advice move beyond the imperative of do this. As a result, many classrooms deploy technology in a slapdash and ineffectual manner.   Continue Reading...

As we do every month, we’ve collected the best teacher resources we’ve found and are presenting them here for you.

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This April is School Library Month, a month long celebration of the essential role of school libraries in students' learning created by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL). The 2013 theme is "Communities Matter @ Your Library," emphasizing how libraries can help students, individuals, and families discover new and exciting things through library collections, digital resources, and more.   Continue Reading...

As a teacher, your life is often busy, and so you might be tempted to read books that offer an escape from the hustle and bustle of life in a classroom. A well-chosen book, though, can not only give you new ideas, but inspire as well. Below is a list of what we at AAE think are the most inspiring books for teachers released in the past year – providing both inspiration and a new way to look at your practice. Consider adding them to your reading list.   Continue Reading...

All teachers have had that student – the teenage boy whose eyes constantly dart around the classroom, pencil constantly tapping, foot bouncing incessantly under his desk. These cases seem to be business as usual for most educators. While it may be simple for doctors to diagnose these antsy students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), its exponential growth rate warrants further investigation into this growing medical trend.   Continue Reading...

It's my sincere hope that every AAE member is involved in some sort of professional learning community (PLC). Without a doubt, this form of professional development is proven to be one of the most effective with one of the longest reaching impacts for teachers and students.   Continue Reading...

We recently introduced our new Professional Development Calendar, meant to be a single place where teachers can find a wealth of upcoming opportunities.   Continue Reading...

When you talk to educators about professional development, there tends to be a mindset that favors events like conferences, workshops, and webinars. Even though studies have shown that these forms of professional development are limited in their success, teachers still cling to them as ways to connect with other educators and get new ideas. That's not to say that these forms of professional development are entirely without merit, just that by relying on these staples we close ourselves to other opportunities.   Continue Reading...