Educator-Focused Social Networks: Free Lesson Plans, Blogs and Suppor

Educator-Focused Social Networks: Free Lesson Plans, Blogs and Support 

Date updated: Tuesday, October 02, 2012

By Alysia Clancy

Chances are, you’ve joined Facebook to connect with your friends and family. Perhaps you have a LinkedIn account to maintain professional contacts. Maybe you even tweet about your life using Twitter. But did you know there are numerous social networking websites created specifically for the education community?

By joining an educator-focused online community, you have the comfort of knowing you are interacting with colleagues, as opposed to “friends” who might be students and their parents.

You can also benefit from the interaction with like-minded peers who personally understand the obstacles you encounter every day and who can communicate with you on a professional level.

Ready to join more of your colleagues in groups, find and share tried-and-true lesson plans or follow some fresh education blogs? We’ve compiled the following list of social networks dedicated exclusively to educators like you. Try adding one or two of these sites to your social media collection:

• TeachAde: One of the original educator-focused social networks, TeachAde is built around groups, blogs and sharing educator-submitted resources. With more than 400 groups dedicated to curricular areas and hot education topics (i.e., 21st Century Skills, Elementary Technology), you’re sure to find like-minded colleagues across the country. In addition, TeachAde has more than 58,000 educator-submitted resources, including lesson plans, printables, online activities and more, all free. And TeachAde is an NEA Member Benefits partner, providing a special social networking communityjust for NEA members.

• Curriki: Striving to create a complete digital curriculum, Curriki is compiling and organizing thousands of educator-submitted lesson plans and resources. In addition, many of these are aligned to state standards. This free site has both a national and an international focus. Curriki members can rate lessons and activities, and most resources are reviewed by a panel of educators.

• Classroom 2.0: This site is self-described as the social network for “those interested in Web 2.0, Social Media and Participative Technologies in the classroom.” Recent forum topics include discussions about using iPads in education, classroom management and social media tools. Free membership allows access to the forums and more than 900 groups, as well as live webinars and recordings.

• We Colloborate!: With a focus on professional development, members of this site (formerly LearnCentral) each receive a three-seat virtual meeting room and access to webinars. In addition, members can create professional blogs, participate in forums and join groups.

• Thinkfinity.org: Supported by the Verizon Foundation, this free website offers a professional development support community and online tools for educators. Resources can be searched by keyword or state standard. In the Community Hub, you can connect with peers, join discussions, and read blogs and articles.

Teachers For Social Justice- I'll be tabling as CTA there!

T4SJ’s 12th Annual Conference: Teacher for Social Justice – Acts of Courage and Resistance. Take a look at the list of some of the sessions that will be offered this year: (click to download a complete copy of the T4SJ 2012 Conference Program.)

Classroom Yoga Project

Raising Voices Silenced By History

A Student Led CA Ballot Initiative

Redefining Race In Our Classroom

Elements Of Success & Strength In School Of Social & Racial Justice

Global Connections In The Classroom: Environmental Justice In The African Diaspora

Out Of School Spaces: Places For Community Organizing

Movement Of The People: Teacher Organizing In LA

Prisoners And Politics On Alcatraz Island

Rethinking The “Line Between Us” Bringing History Alive In The Classroom

A Mindful Approach To Creating Inclusive Classrooms

Theory & Tools For Teaching Meaningful Resistance In & Beyond The Classroom

Using Literacy Teaching To Develop Social & Emotional Skills

Growin Up Ain’t Easy: Gender Support Groups & Rites Of Passage For Youth

The Knotted Line: Interactive Resources For Investigating & Fighting The Incarceration Epidemic

Creating Sustainable Conditions & Structures For Cultivating Social Justice Educators

Taking Stock In Our Success: Fueling Our Courage And Resistance

Unpacking The Historical Timeline Of Public Education

Teachers And Parents Unite To Fight Neoliberalism In Our Schools

Free Online Resources

Beyond Tolerance: Integrating LGBTQ Content

Complex Instruction As A Vehicle For Equitable Math Instruction

Teaching Understanding And Representing Arab Thought & History

Images Of Excellence, Stories Of Hope

Connecting The Newsroom & The Classroom

Claiming Face

Mentoring Social Justice Educators With Love

Science And Community Research In The Classroom

Uprooting Chinatown: Racism Masquerading As Public Health

Supporting Children Of Incarcerated Parents In Your Class Or School

Evaluating Multicultural Children’s Books For The Pre-School Classroom

Using Discourse Practices To Promote Equity

Honorable Duty: Historic Inquiry And The Story Of The Buffalo Soldiers

Unpacking The Historical Timeline Of Public Education: What Does Our Past Tell Us About Our Present?

The World As It Could Be

Creating Student-Centered Notebooks For The Classroom

Content Matters: Why Elementary Science Is A Social Justice Issue

Exploring Environmental Justice

Science And Justice On The Green School Yard

Subjugation Is A Vocabulary Word

Shadows & Light: From Plato To Malcolm

The Evolution Of A Hope Dealer: Generating Innovative Approaches To Literacy Development

Understanding HIV In The Classroom

Education Outside

A NEW CHAPTER FOR SFGSA SFGSA announces its new name, Education Outside.  Dear Friends and Colleagues, For those of us in the educational field, fall represents a time of new beginnings. The start of the new school year is full of anticipation as families and students settle into their new schedules, teachers put the finishing touches on their fall lesson plans, and green schoolyards buzz with the excitement of another year of hands-on learning and discovery.   This fall is a truly special time for our organization and San Francisco's green schoolyards movement. After 11 years as the San Francisco Green Schoolyard Alliance, our organization is excited to announce that we have changed our name toEducation Outside. Our name change reflects a new and very important chapter in our organization's work and vision for the green schoolyards movement.    As we and many of you have witnessed during the past 11 years, green schoolyards truly represent a new frontier in K-12 public education. Beyond their ecoliteracy and health benefits for kids, these spaces have the power to bring academic standards to life in new and exciting ways, to inspire students' interest in nationally-important subjects such as science and math, and to reinvigorate teaching.     As Education Outside, our organization looks forward to this next chapter in the green schoolyards movement—the integration of these innovative outdoor learning spaces into the heart of formal K-12 public education. While we have long believed that green schoolyards have the power to transform public education, this vision is now becoming a reality.    We are honored to be a part of this historic movement, which is pushing the public school experience beyond the traditional classroom towards “Education Outside.”   Thank you for your partnership, support, and unique role in advancing the next chapter of the green schoolyards movement.  We look forward to working with you this year.   Best,    Arden, Rachel, Joyce and Brittany   Education Outside 135 Van Ness Ave. Room 408 San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 355-6979 x1565 www.educationoutside.org

Campaign Calendar Precinct Walks, Phonebanks, Street Fairs in San Francisco

Facebook and the Campaign: Make it Happen People!

Hello UESF member or Concerned Citizen,

I got your facebook info. from our site visit to your school and you marked you were interested in getting info. via Facebook.

I hope we will be facebook friends during this election as I will keep you informed in the coming days of the Campaign.

Below are 2 simple things you can do to inform your facebook family and friends.

Join NO on Prop. 32 Campaign:

http://www.facebook.com/events/313534555408611/

Like Yes on 30:

http://www.facebook.com/SchoolsAndSafetyProtectionAct

I also have a blog you are welcome to check out for daily updates on Campaign and recommend to family and friends.

www.msdawnsturntospeak.blogspot.com

Post these sites to your timeline!

Share sites with friends/family.

In Unity,

Sunny Dawn

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/le.dawn.5

Democracy Now Video, Expanded Debate

http://www.democracynow.org/2012/10/4/expanding_the_debate_exclusive_third_party

NPR Forum Radio Show on NO on 32

http://www.kqed.org/a/forum/R201210021000

Common Core in 2012/2013 Tips/Knowledge from AFT

Dear CCSS Stakeholders, (will attach files within the week)

I wanted to take a moment to touch base with you and share some new resources that have been released to support your work around the Common Core. I hope you find them helpful as you proceed through the implementation process. These links and documents will be placed in our drop box as well as referenced below in the body of this email. The drop box is in the process of being reorganized to make it more user-friendly.

Additionally, the AFT is sponsoring a webinar in partnership with the National PTA entitled, Facilitating a Conversation between Parents and Schools about the Common Core. The attached flier provides all the information you need in order to register. Many of the questions you generated during the Stakeholders Conference were used as the basis of the content for this event. Hopefully you will join us!

Please let me know if you have questions or need assistance with anything. I would love to hear how you are advancing in your efforts to implement the Common Core. Have you met again as a team? How have you engaged other stakeholders? What actions have you taken as a result of the plans your team put into place during the conference? Anything you’d like others to know?

Warm Regards,

Melanie

Resources

PARCC sample item and task prototypes. Provides information and support educators as they transition to the CCSS and the PARCC assessments.

http://www.parcconline.org/samples/item-task-prototypes

v  Be on the look out for sample task items and prototypes from Smarter-Balanced

Due to be released October 8, 2012

Common Core State Standards website (resources)

New research on text complexity

http://www.corestandards.org/assets/E0813_Appendix_A_New_Research_on_Text_Complexity.pdf

K-8 Publisher’s Criteria for CCSS Mathematics

http://www.corestandards.org/assets/Math_Publishers_Criteria_K-8_Summer%202012_FINAL.pdf

Publishers Criteria for CCSS ELA K-2/3-12

http://www.corestandards.org/assets/Publishers_Criteria_for_K-2.pdf

http://www.corestandards.org/assets/Publishers_Criteria_for_3-12.pdf

Tri-State Quality Review Rubric for ELA/Literacy

http://www.achieve.org/files/TriStateELA_LiteracyRubric1pageoverviewv4.1%20071712CC%20BY.pdf

National Humanities Center - collection of primary resources--historical documents, literary texts.

http://americainclass.org/

Melanie A. Hobbs
Assistant Director | AFT Educational Issues Dept.

T: 202-879-4495 |  E: mhobbs@aft.org

 
American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO
555 New Jersey Ave. N.W. | Washington, DC 20001 | 202-879-4400www.aft.org | www.facebook.com/AFTunion | www.twitter.com/AFTunion

UC Day of Action Tuesday October 16

http://cft.org/uploads/uc/docs/UCdayoaction30.pdf

UC Day of Action 

Tuesday 

October 16 

Proposition 30 asks the wealthiest Californians to pay their fair share of taxes so we can renew access to public education at all levels. 

Prop 30 will raise $9 billion in the first year for education, and $6 billion each year after that for six years.  

Only people who make at least $250,000/year will pay 1 - 3% more in income taxes, which will 

raise 90% of the revenues of this measure.  Prop 30 also includes a very small increase on state 

sales tax:  one quarter of one percent for four years.  That’s one penny on a four 

dollar sandwich. 

Prop 30 will begin to reverse the decline of funding to public education and services that has 

undermined our state’s future since the passage of Prop 13 in 1978.  

If Prop 30 does not pass, the state will impose nearly $6 billion in new program cuts, 

including to UC. 

• Stop cuts to UC 

• Tax the rich for  

schools and services 

• Secure education’s future 

Educate • Agitate • Organize • Demonstrate 

Sponsored by 

UC-AFT 

UC is California’s legacy. 

For more information, 831-345-8469 

It should be California’s future, too.

My Daughter's Speech to Coastside Democrats Campaign Kickoff (on 9/30/12)

"Hello fellow Unions, politicians, parents. I am a single parent. My daughter is here. I wanted to be a teacher to help our youth learn how to become important, but now billionaires and republicans have made us have to fight peacefully to save education."


The speech my daughter wrote for me when I asked her, What am I going to say today Malachite?" So she wrote my introduction for me. Thanks Malachite.....   :)