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: 

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. 

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.

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. 

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

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.

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. 

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.

We are thrilled to unveil the new AAE Professional Development Calendar! Housed on the AAE website, the Professional Development Calendar aims to be a comprehensive listing of high-quality professional development opportunities that our members can participate in.

A few weeks ago, an article in The Atlantic made a bit of a stir.  Written by a teacher, the article argued that participation grades should be part of a teaching structure as a way to teach introverts to be more outspoken and to speak their minds.  The author, Jessica Lahey, reasons that it is a teacher’s responsibility to teach students how to succeed in the world, which means teaching introverts to “self-advocate” and not to be “intimidated” by the world around them.

One of the things that stood out among the data released in the recent MetLife survey, was that teachers who collaborate professionally with other teachers are more likely to seek out leadership roles and are more likely to be satisfied with their position.  This information points out yet another reason that having a high-quality professional learning community (PLC) is essential to teaching.

As always, we’re rounding up the teacher resources we saw this past month that we like best.  Check out our picks below!

It can happen to even the best of teachers. You look around your classroom to see glazed over eyes and drooping eyelids. Yes, it could be because your students didn't sleep or even because they were up late working diligently on their homework. Or it could simply be because they are bored.    Continue Reading...

It seems as if this month has just flown by, and while much of it is a blur, the following resources still stand out in our minds.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and brings its own challenges in the classroom.  Teachers want to impart some historical knowledge about our country or use it as a springboard for math or language arts lessons. Students, however, are ready for their break.  Any lesson done Thanksgiving week, then, needs to be informative, creative, and able to hold students’ attention.  Below we’ve listed some of the best Thanksgiving resources on the web that we think will help teachers plan that perfect lesson.

I've always learned the most about teaching by watching more experienced teachers in action. That's why one of my favorite resources is a website called the Teaching Channel, a relatively new entry to teacher-resource websites. The Teaching Channel is not the first, and probably not the last, site that came up with the idea of providing teachers virtual professional development, but it is among the highest quality. Best of all, it's FREE!

ASCD recently released their October issue of Educational Leadership, with the titleStudents Who Challenge Us. Intrigued, I headed over to their site, excited to learn about better ways to deal with challenging students.    Continue Reading...

Have you ever pondered the idea of a Google-like search engine exclusively for educators and students? Look no further—instaGrok is here! The new online platform is a low cost option for teachers seeking age-appropriate resources for K-12 students.