PLNs are a great way to have PD available at all times. You can learn at all times, ask questions, and share what is working in your classroom. Here are some PLNs I have found helpful (and their links)
Facebook groups are a great, easy way to share with teachers all over the world ideas and strategies that are working in your classroom, as well as hearing what is working in others. It’s also a great way to connect with other teachers who share a passion for teaching and improving their work. Here are some groups that I am apart of. I get new ideas for my classroom as well as post what I am doing in my class. (Some of these groups are private but by answering a few questions the owners will add you to their groups).
- Teach with Peace – This is a group that shares ideas to integrate mindfulness, yoga and gratitude into your classroom. The Teacher’s Passport (link) teaches different techniques for teachers to use, and then provides resources for teachers to use. We then get to share and hear ideas that have worked for others.
- Kindergarten Teachers Unite! – This group is for early childhood teachers to share ideas, either curricular, management or otherwise.
- Proud Primary Teachers – This is a group that shares their highs and lows of teaching, collaborate and share ideas and learn from one another. Teachers are free to ask questions, share successes and failures and support each other when our jobs get complicated.
Instagram: I find instagram very helpful for finding new ideas and sharing my ideas. I started following teachers on instagram whose blogs or teacherspayteachers stores I loved. From there, I looked for other teachers they followed, and began following those teachers as well. I now follow 230 teachers on instagram, and have 115 people following me. Using instagram, I follow the links to read blog post, comment along other teachers as well as participate in instagram live videos. Teachers will use instagram live videos are hosted by other teachers while others can type to talk live with the host teacher as well as others watching the video. This are a great way to learn. Using instagram, I have posted videos and links about things that have been working in my room as well as learning from others. Here are some teachers that I have found helpful to follow and have been my favorite to learn & connect with:
Glitterandglue4k2, Mrshenryinfirst, Mrsdscorner, techninjatodd, macul_ed_tech, Schrodershenanigansin2nd, Smittenwithfirst,theteacherspassport, thesocialspeechie, toocoolformiddleschool, fifthgradevibes, SharingKindergarten, Moffattgirls,Schoolandthecity, thecreativeclassroom, teachcreatemotivate, Justaprimarygirl, teachoutsidethebox, primarygraffiti,learninginwonderland, learning.through.play, thewritestuffchics, queenof1stjungle, farlyfarlyfarly, elementaryshenanigans,ronclarkacademy, ronclark, theamygroesbeck, stepintosecondgrade, mrsjumpsclass, deedeewills, teaching3rdwithmrg,chrispombonyo, ramonarecommends, mrdtimes3, kindergartensmorgasboard, missstasiak
Glitterandglue4k2, Mrshenryinfirst, Mrsdscorner, techninjatodd, macul_ed_tech, Schrodershenanigansin2nd, Smittenwithfirst,theteacherspassport, thesocialspeechie, toocoolformiddleschool, fifthgradevibes, SharingKindergarten, Moffattgirls,Schoolandthecity, thecreativeclassroom, teachcreatemotivate, Justaprimarygirl, teachoutsidethebox, primarygraffiti,learninginwonderland, learning.through.play, thewritestuffchics, queenof1stjungle, farlyfarlyfarly, elementaryshenanigans,ronclarkacademy, ronclark, theamygroesbeck, stepintosecondgrade, mrsjumpsclass, deedeewills, teaching3rdwithmrg,chrispombonyo, ramonarecommends, mrdtimes3, kindergartensmorgasboard, missstasiak
YouTube – Like instagram, many teachers have youtube accounts where you can watch their video/blog post, and comment to them or other teachers about the videos. Just like in instagram, I follow many teachers and get emails about new videos they have created or posted. Search the youtube channels of the teachers listed above to see some helpful videos.
#ProudMIeducator: Is a hash tag used by the Michigan Department of Education to share the success of Michigan educators. You could search this hash tag on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or facebook or on the Michigan Department of Ed website. On the MDE website there are videos shared, links to blogs of Michigan teachers, and School News Network articles that celebrate and share helpful resources from Michigan Educators. I use this website to gain information about schools in the area. I have also had articles posted hosting my classroom, or our school, and have used this hash tag to share with other educators. You don’t need to be a Michigan educator to use this resource!!
MACUL (Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning): This is a 3 day tech conference that is held in Michigan once a year. The conference host technology gurus from around the state as well as award winning Keynote speakers. Last year was my first year to attend this conference. Since the conference I have signed up to be a part of the MACUL community where I can learn about helpful tech recourses, and ideas to integrate technology into my classroom for both my students to use, as well as myself. I hope to attend this conference again this winter. What to follow them? Here are some ways to connect: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Google, Instagram, YouTube