Professional Development Education Articles for Teachers

When the dismissal bell rings and your class hurries out the door, you ask yourself, “Where did the time go?” The fast-paced nature of traditional scheduling can often leave you feeling like there just isn't enough time. More and more schools are solving this problem by turning to block schedulin...

When do you first begin thinking about the school year? What are the first things that run through your mind? For me, I start thinking about my next school year on the fourth of July. You see, throughout each year I keep a legal pad of paper in a desk drawer. This legal pad serves as the place I ...

Congratulations on another successful year! Lesson Planet is proud to have such a strong community of hard-working educators. While you’re traveling, spending time with your family, cleaning, and recuperating this summer, don’t forget to take some time to reflect on the previous year. After my fi...

When did it become so difficult to get a teaching job? With the surplus of qualified teachers, many schools are revamping their hiring processes and requiring prospective teachers to plan and teach a demo lesson. Last year, when I was looking for a new teaching job, I was asked by three different...

If your idea of summer is relaxing beside the pool with an umbrella drink in hand, this is not the article for you. However, if the pursuit of lifelong learning is what makes your summer hum, then read on. Consider a nearby museum for professional development opportunities. In most cases, these p...

How do you know your kids are learning? How and when do you currently assess if your students are learning? A recent opportunity for professional development made me realize that the four to five ways I typically collect data are not enough to truly judge if individual learners are where they nee...

It’s time to turn off the TV and get reacquainted with your family. My family has been virtually TV-free for nine years and I want every parent and educator to know, that it’s not only possible, it’s wonderful. This article will provide some light information on why TV should be kept to a minimum...

As professional educators, we all know what it’s like to juggle the many responsibilities of teaching. We are accountable for providing effective instruction, intervention, and enrichment for all learners in a safe and inspiring environment. Don’t forget there are committee meetings, parent/teach...

In the world of education, student-led conferences instead of, or in addition to, parent/teacher conferences are a recent trend. What are student-led conferences? Why should a teacher or school consider them? How do they work? What are some follow-up steps and some challenges? This article will s...

We've all seen the movie—a harrowed hero squints at the faded remains of a tattered map, straining to interpret the cryptic symbols. Fortunately, the path toward 1:1 implementation is far less enigmatic, and those who have gone before have worked to create a credible and useful map. Take time ou...

When was the last time you reflected on the meaning of an assigned grade? Whether through rubrics and/or published answer keys, what did scores on each assignment, assessment, or project truly mean? Was the final grade a true measurement and reflection of the individual student's learning? One sp...

Picture two classrooms at a school that has just recently handed out tablets to every student. In one classroom, everyone walks into class and pulls out the tablet, knowing they will be actively using it as a tool for their learning. In the other classroom, students walk in and keep the tablet tu...

As a student teacher, I used to love the days my mentor teacher was gone, because I got to teach all her classes while the substitute sat at her desk and got paid to read the paper. I’m sure you know I’m not being sarcastic, either. This was one of those days, and I remember the substitute who gr...

In Seminole County, Florida near Orlando, a school bus pulls up to a cheap motel and eighteen children board. This two-story building with rusty downspouts and leaking air conditioning units is home to many families, and this isn’t the only such stop the bus will make. Hundreds of families crowd ...

We’ve all been there—a puzzling student circumstance, a lesson needing feedback, a multi-dimensional standard in need of help from other content areas. Where do we turn? If we’re lucky, we can go directly to colleagues for help. Working with colleagues inside and outside our content areas benefit...