Educator Effectiveness

Teachers' Top Three from ESE - February 11, 2016

1. FYI: Guide to finding and using PARCC questions
   PARCC has published a guide to finding and using released PARCC test questions. It is designed to help educators improve instruction and to give parents a better understanding of the kind of work their child should be prepared to do.

2. In the News: Blogging in the Edusphere
   In this piece on WBUR's Learning Lab website, Peter Balonon-Rosen interviews a teacher, a former school committee member and a parent about their education blogs. Many teachers use them to keep parents updated on what's happening in the classroom, but these examples go beyond that and seem to be as much a vehicle for expression as for informing. Do you have a blog you're proud of or know of one that you'd recommend to other educators? Join the conversation on Twitter at #Top3fromESE.

3. Frequently Asked Question: How can educators find content-area professional development, especially educators who don't teach core subjects (e.g., counselors, physical education teachers)?
   The Department maintains an online, searchable registry of all organizations that are approved to provide Professional Development Points (PDPs) besides districts and collaboratives, which are automatic providers and can issue PDPs. Educators can search by content area, geographic location, and online availability, among other options.
   
   Keep in mind that course credits and Continuing Education Units* from colleges and universities also convert into PDPs and can count toward the content-area requirement as long as the topic of the course aligns with the educator's area of certification. This includes courses taken online. Educators can also earn PDPs for independent activities, such as writing a chapter for a book, and for school-based activities, such as organizing a school event. For more information on these activities and how many PDPs they can earn, see the Recertification Guidelines .
   
   *Note: To determine whether an organization is approved to provide Continuing Education Units, educators can consult the list of approved providers at IACET.