Professional Development

Teacher 'Best Practices' Resource Page

The Best Practices Resource Page is a place to highlight and share the amazing things teachers do related to classroom management, curriculum alignment, and co-teaching, among other topics.

If you have "best practices" you would like to share or if you know someone who should be highlighted for "being great" please contact Sidney Gunter at sgunter@rvaschools.net .

Phases of First-Year Teaching

Source

The first year of teaching is a difficult challenge. If you are currently in your first year of teaching, the graph above probably applies to you...and you are most certainly not alone! The phases are very useful for mentors and new teachers as they work together the first year. Teachers move through the phases from anticipation, to survival, to disillusionment, to rejuvenation, to reflection, and then back to anticipation. 

Curriculum Alignment Resources

• Unpacking Standards/Writing Student Learning Objectives Presentation
• 30 Questions for Teacher Reflection

English

History

Map skills can be challenging for students. Mega Maps  is a resource that contains maps that can be printed out in multiple sizes.

The colorful maps above are from Mr. Wesley Arthur, a World History I teacher at Huguenot. His students piece the maps together and label them.

In Ms. Sarah Waltman's World History I classroom at John Marshall, the maps are used throughout her room as a teaching and reference tool for students.

Mathematics

Science

• STEM is Everything! 
• Ocean Today Every Full Moon

Posting student work gives students a sense of accomplishment and pride! Ms. Puga and Ms. Sessions' science work is currently posted at Huguenot High.

Co-Teaching Planners

• Getting to Know Your Co-Teacher
• Co-Teaching Activity Planner

THE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT BOOK by Wong & Wong:

• Effective Teaching
• The Classroom Management Book Resource Guide
• Classroom Management Self-Assessment
• Classroom Management Presentation
• Management v. Discipline (video)
• Procedures Checklist 

 The Teaching Channel:

• Teaching Channel: New Teacher Survival Guide

Edutopia:

•  New Teacher: Classroom Management Essentials
•  5 Powerful Questions Teachers Can Ask Students

Education World:

•  Creating a Classroom of Learning

Scholastic:

• Classroom Procedures

PBIS

• PBIS Incentives

Conscious Teaching:

• Random Calling: Solutions for: "I Don't Know"

Managing Cell Phone Usage:

• BYOD Posters

Thought Co.:

• Behavior Versus Classroom Management

Trauma Informed Care 

• Oprah Winfrey on Treating Childhood Trauma
• The Chronicle of Social Change

Effective classroom management tools and strategies spotted in RPS classrooms!