Content+Area+Professional+Development+and+Leadership

//It seems as though more often than not many school districts give very broad professional development opportunities throughout the school year. It always leaves us wanting more: more specialized, more unique, more of everything in general! As teachers, the general concensus is that we never have enough professional development.//

Many times, we want a very specific type of professional development, including how to do something in particular or content area specific. Throughout the rest of this page, you will find many different subject area opportunities. It is important to remember that you can **be** the change and introduce this professional development within your school district and your personal learning network. It's the least you can do for your fellow counterparts to help them within their content area! Also, remember, the best professional development is through networking of your fellow teachers. Remember this, and you're on your way to mastering the art of finding fantastic PD for yourself and others!

=All Subjects=

The International Society for Technology in Education is a great resource for educators who want to better themselves within the technology realm. They offer not only an annual conference, but also a plethora of online resources for educators looking for a professional opportunity. Not only do they have networks, associations, training, and conferences, but they also have what is called, Your Learning Journey, a place where educators can learn about up and coming technologies and re-purposing technology for their own use. An important note is that even if you are unable to attend the conference, you can still watch the speakers, either live or after the conference.

The Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning defines itself as, "dedicated to bringing educators from all levels together to share their knoweldge and concerns regarding educational uses of computers and technology". MACUL offers a variety of professional development resources, including an annual conference that boasts over 3,000 attendees along with an exhibit hall and real educators who are using the technology you want to learn about within their classroom. They also have an online network called MACUL Space, which has 2,485 members and 53 different interest groups where you can network within your subject area.

PBS Teachers offers a variety of different subject areas, including The Arts, Mathematics, Health and Science, Reading and Language Arts, Science and Technology, and Social Studies, ranging from grades Pre-Kindergarten - 12. They offer featured classroom resources through interactive content, web content, and online professional development for educators. They have both instructional strategies and instructional technology resources, as well as the TeacherLine Peer Connection, which gives educators help to create meaningful collaboration within their individual schools.

At Learner.org, there are six different subject areas that offer free online professional development: Arts, Foreign Language, Literature and Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies & History. As Annenberg Media states, "Annenberg Media uses media and telecommunications to advance excellent taeching in American schools. It is funded by the distribution of educational video programs with coordinated web and print materials for the professional development of K-12 teachers, which advances the Foundation's goal of encouraging the development of more effective ways to share ideas and knowledge." They offer web-based videos for professional development, workshops and courses, and distance learning. Many of the free professional development opportunities can be transferred for graduate credit.

=Mathematics=

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has a variety of professional development opportunities online and states, "NCTM is dedicated to providing professional development for teachers to ensure mathematics learning of the highest quality for all". They offer free e-seminars and e-workshops for those teachers on the go, as well as regional meetings and publications for further professional development. They offer three regional conferences as well as an annual conference for networking.

Math Solutions provides ePD Coaching, Webinars, Ask Me Now, and Video to provide professional development for math teachers at all levels. The Webinars offer educators the opportunity to search out best practices in standard-based instruction. They also provide live question and answer sessions during the webinar for further exploration. They also provide a variety of print resources for educators.

=Science=

= = The National Science Teacher's Association Learning Center has e-professional development opportunities available for free for all members. It has over 5,000 different resources such as journal articles, podcasts, and web seminars. It also has practical tools that science teachers will find very beneficial, designated as the "My Professional Development Plan and Portfolio ", which allows teachers to outline a personal professional development plan and has a "My Transcripts" plan, which gives teachers the opportunity to keep track of their professional development. They also offer a unique take on conferences, which meet for the day and then continue online for further professional development opportunities. The National Association of Biology Teachers offers a variety of conferences and workshops along with a BioBlog which focuses on educational needs of Biology Teachers. The NABT has many different online community forums, where, "members can interact and learn from colleagues who have similar disciplines and interests, research, life-science educational interests, who are at similar educational institutions, and outread or infomal educational organizations". Members consist of scientists, life science educators, and educators of all levels of experience and expertise.

=English/Language Arts (including Writing)=

The National Council of Teachers of English offers a wide variety of Professional Resources, including Consulting, Web-Seminars, Resource Kits, Annual Conventions, and the WLU Summer Literacy Institute. They also offer a unique Pathways Program, which offers "job embedded and ongoing professional development", which include web-seminars, podcasts, and readings from experts. They also offer real classroom videos, live chats, and a wide variety of classroom lesson planning. There is also an Online Community of advocates for English Reading and Writing.

The Web English Teacher offers a wide variety of Professional Resources including disciplinary and classroom management strategies, grant writing tips and opportunities, literature circles, professional resources, socratic seminars, and a variety of web sites for further professional development.

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=Social Studies=

PASS (Powerful and Authentic Social Studies) is a feature of the National Council for the Social Studies. Through this portal, you can standards-based curriculum design, instruction, and assessment. They offer both face-to-face contact for university credit, as well as online professional development where you learn how to implement the above. The Council also boasts an annual conference, an online community where you can post ideas and ask for opinions, and state-level councils, as well, which boast meetings in different areas of professional development. The Michigan Council for the Social Studies offers lesson planning and professional development in the above areas, as well.

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History offers a variety of resources for both teachers and students. It is updated regularly with new resources. They offer curriculum modules, podcasts , online exhibitions , and historical documents. They also offer summer institutes, prizes and awards, and recommended websites for further professional development. = =

=World Language=

The American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese provides educators a national conference in a Spanish-speaking country, a great way to network and earn university credits. They also offer various lesson planning development activities along with several study abroad opportunities.

The Michigan World Language Association boasts an annual conference that is full of technology-savvy teachers who want to learn how to implement technology within their world language classroom. The presenters at the conference are mostly educators who are creating the change with a difference within their classroom. There is also a network that connects the WL educators in Michigan to share ideas and questions. The national chapter, American Council for the Teachers of Foreign Language, offers many different workshops, both online and face-to-face.

The FL Teach ListServ through SUNY Cortland offers a membership of over 5,000 world language educators around the world. By networking within this ListServ, you receive personal responses to your most important questions. By subscribing here, you will be able to specifically ask about student teaching, classroom activities, curriculum, world language teaching methods, and assessment. The list of contributors range from students in teacher education programs, to new and experienced teachers, to administrators and other professionals interested in world language. The K-8 ListServ for World Language teachers is Nanduti. = =

=The Arts=

= = The Incredible Art Department has a variety of different professional development opportunities, as well as an online forum to share ideas and receive constructive feedback for ideas within the classroom, as well as a Virtual Training Center which provides over 23,000 different tutorials covering a wide variety of different art education software. They also have a variety of different technology resources for art educators. They boast an Art Teacher Toolbox, which offers different activities, professional development opportunities, free items, supplies, and instructional links.

The National Art Education Association has an incredible professional development resource center. They range from a conference, which posts all of their sessions online after the conference, to help with designing art curriculum, as well as a reference desk for all things art education. They also offer a regularly updated Monthly Mentor Blog, which offers a variety of topics from creativity to deeper level thinking. The site has over 20,000 members, ranging from art educators, college professors, researchers, administrators, and museum educators.