Critical to student and school success is the commitment of time and resources to support the on-going professional development and learning of administrators, teachers, and staff. The Teacher Supports and Adult Learning Communities Pathway helps connect district-, school-, and commnity-based efforts to support and develop the knowledge and skills of adults who are essential in the early learning process: early childhood professionals, service providers, family and community members, teachers, administrators, and staff. The Ready Schools Community-District Team addresses this challenge by using advocacy, linkages, and resources to facilitate the needed professional development and support.
Download Pathway Seven: Teacher Supports and Adult Learning Communities from the Ready Schools Toolkit, Part 2.
Download Appendix H, Resources for Teacher Supports and Adult Learning Communities.
Selected Teacher Supports and Adult Learning Communities Resources:
WEBSITES
Edutopia: Teacher Development: http://www.edutopia.org/teacher-development
Edutopia.org, an initiative of the George Lucas Educational Foundation, contains a deep archive of continually updated best practices, from classroom tips to recommendations for district-wide change.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Training Opportunities: http://www.naeyc.org/ecp/trainings
NAEYC is dedicated to improving the well-being of all children, with a particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8. Follow this link to find training opportunities for early childhood professionals.
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction: Professional Learning Communities: http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/profdev/resources/proflearn/
Provides detailed definitions, specific steps, and resources for implementing professional learning communities (PLCs), or adult learning communities (ALCs), as they are called in the Ready Schools Toolkit.
North Carolina Institute for Child Development Professionals: http://ncicdp.org
Promotes the implementation of a comprehensive professional development and recognition system that links education and compensation for child development professionals to ensure high quality care and education services for children and families.
PBS TeacherLine: http://pbs.org/teacherline
Professional development for PreK-12 educators. A service of PBS Teachers.
Zero to Three: http://www.zerotothree.org/
A national nonprofit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers.