LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

CEU courses open for enrollment

e-Learning for Educators - Data-Based School Reform for Administrators
Research shows that effective school improvement plans should be based on careful analysis of school data. Review current data-driven decision-making theory; use technology to identify, gather, and analyze data for patterns and trends; examine the role of data in equity reform; and develop action plans in support of their school-based data.
Take this course: Begins February 17.

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Communicating with parents, colleagues, and administrators
Effective communication is often about avoiding problems rather than solving them. These resources on communicating with parents, participating in a mentoring relationship, and working with colleagues and administrators will help you communicate effectively in a number of situations.
Format: bibliography/help
Building a support network
Every teacher needs support networks, both formal and informal. This guide to LEARN NC's collections will point you to resources that show you how to build your own and get the help you need.
Format: bibliography/help
The First Year
Essays on the author's experiences in her first year of teaching: the mistakes she made, what she learned from them, and how she used them to become a better teacher — and how other first-year teachers can, too.
Format: book (multiple pages)
Connecting with colleagues: No tricks, all treat!
In The First Year, page 2.4
You're busy, but making time for conversation with colleagues will pay off in the long run.
Format: article
By Kristi Johnson Smith.
New Teacher Support
Ok, so it's not all fun and games. Now what? When you decided to become a teacher, what did you think about? If you're like most people, you thought about making a difference in children's lives, about helping them learn, making them think, "touching...
Format: article/help
Writing for the web
In Writing for the Web, page 1
Why teachers need to think about how they communicate on the web.
By David Walbert.
Communicating with parents
To communicate successfully with parents, be caring, professional, open, and organized.
By Kathleen Casson.
Mentoring matters
How mentors can serve as role models, helpers, and colleagues.
By Evalee Parker.
Looking for support
An elementary special education teacher talks about finding support in challenging situations.
By Kathleen Casson.
Mentor's guide
My first words to any veterans, mentors and administrators reading this section should be “thank you.” The support and counsel you offer new teachers is invaluable. It is my hope that The First Year will assist you...
By Kristi Johnson Smith.
Conversations, questions, and answers for a beginning teacher
A kindergarten teacher begins her career with an excellent support network.
By Kathleen Casson.
Templates to help you with paperwork
In The First Year, page 1.2
Templates for a parent contact log, discipline log, multipurpose log, sub plan, in-school-suspension plan, IEP notebook, grade book, and locker log.
By Kristi Johnson Smith.
Our students: Not just ours, and not just students
In The First Year, page 3.7
Often, your difficulties with students will have nothing to do with your actions, your classroom management, or your school.
By Kristi Johnson Smith.
And you thought it had been a long time since someone thanked you
In The First Year, page 4.3
Take time to show your appreciation for secretaries, custodians, and other support staff in your school.
By Kristi Johnson Smith.
Working together to get writing right
Philosophical and practical reasons to support writing across the curriculum in high schools. A WebQuest for teachers.
Format: article
By Kim Bowen.
Jump start your creativity: question yourself!
A short webliography of tools to help you ask good questions.
Format: article
By Bobby Hobgood.
Painting the alphabet
After working on numerous letter names and sounds, the children will use a paint program to draw a picture and write the word to name the picture. The pictures will be printed out to make a class book or alphabet page.
Format: lesson plan (grade K Computer/Technology Skills and English Language Arts)
By Jackie White, Kathy Moore, Kelley Turner, and Mike Christopher.
Building your own support network
How to take charge of your own professional development and break through the isolation of the classroom.
Format: article
By Denise Young.
Snow days
In The First Year, page 3.2
Don't make assumptions about school policies, and remember that not all “rules” are written down.
By Kristi Johnson Smith.
Twelve rules for arranging your classroom
In The First Year, page 1.1
You'll want to set up your classroom as quickly as possible, but consider these factors before you start.
By Kristi Johnson Smith.