Professional Development


Navigating the vast array of resources and professional development opportunities as a new teacher candidate can feel overwhelming. To ease this transition, I’ve curated a diverse list of resources, spanning scholarly articles, educational blogs, and comprehensive resource banks. These resources aim to infuse learning with excitement as you embark on your teaching journey. Even seasoned educators may find value in exploring these resources, potentially discovering new insights and approaches to enrich their teaching practice.

Books and Articles

“How to Differentiate Instruction (Without Losing Your Mind)” by Jennifer Gonzalez (Cult of Pedagogy)

This article on the Cult of Pedagogy website offers practical tips and strategies for differentiating instruction to meet the diverse needs of students in the classroom.

“Culturally Responsive Teaching: 4 Misconceptions” by Zaretta Hammond (Edutopia)

Addresses common misconceptions about culturally responsive teaching and provides insights into how educators can effectively implement culturally responsive practices in the classroom.

“How to Differentiate Instruction” by Carol Ann Tomlinson (ASCD)

Offers practical strategies for differentiating instruction to meet the diverse needs of students, including strategies for modifying content, process, and product.

“The Power of Belonging in Schools” by Jenn David-Lang (The Main Idea)

Discusses the importance of fostering a sense of belonging in schools and offers strategies for creating inclusive classroom environments where all students feel valued and supported.

“The Importance of Social-Emotional Learning in Schools” by Jennifer Miller (Greater Good Magazine)

Explores the role of social-emotional learning (SEL) in fostering students’ emotional intelligence, resilience, and well-being, and offers strategies for integrating SEL into the curriculum.

“The Science of Learning: 77 Studies That Every Teacher Needs to Know” by Amy Novotney (ASA Magazine)

Published in the American Psychological Association’s magazine, this article summarizes key research findings on learning and memory that can inform teaching practices.

Educational Technology Tools

Google Classroom

A learning management system (LMS) that allows teachers to create, distribute, and grade assignments, communicate with students, and organize class materials in one platform.

Canvas

Another popular LMS that provides tools for course management, content delivery, assessments, and communication between teachers and students.

Moodle

An open-source LMS that offers customizable features for course creation, collaboration, assessment, and tracking student progress.

Edmodo

A social learning platform that enables teachers to create online classrooms, share resources, facilitate discussions, and track student performance.

Apps and Software for Classroom Management

Class Dojo

A behavior management app that allows teachers to track student behavior, communicate with parents, and reward positive behavior with points and badges.

Remind

A communication app that enables teachers to send messages, announcements, and reminders to students and parents via text, email, or app notifications.

Socrative

A student response system that allows teachers to create quizzes, polls, and assessments to gauge student understanding in real-time.

Nearpod

An interactive presentation tool that allows teachers to create engaging multimedia lessons with interactive activities, quizzes, and formative assessments.

Platforms for Student Engagement

Kahoot!

A game-based learning platform that allows teachers to create and host interactive quizzes, surveys, and discussions to engage students in learning.

Flipgrid

A video discussion platform that empowers students to share their ideas, opinions, and reflections through short video responses.

Pear Deck

An interactive presentation platform that allows teachers to create engaging slide decks with interactive questions, polls, and activities to increase student participation and understanding.

Mentimeter

An interactive presentation platform that allows teachers to create engaging slide decks with interactive questions, polls, and activities to increase student participation and understanding.

Padlet

A digital bulletin board that enables students to collaborate, share ideas, and create multimedia projects by posting text, images, videos, and links.

Vocaroo

A video discussion platform that empowers students to share their ideas, opinions, and reflections through short video responses.

Tools for Formative Assessment and Feedback

Knowledgehook

A digital assessment platform that allows teachers to assign interactive questions, practice games, and open-ended questions that reinforce classroom content.

Quizizz

A gamified quiz platform that allows teachers to create and assign quizzes for formative assessment, review, and reinforcement of learning concepts.

Formative

An online assessment tool that enables teachers to create interactive assignments with real-time feedback, allowing them to monitor student progress and understanding.

GoFormative

A digital assessment platform that allows teachers to create assignments with interactive questions, drawings, and annotations for real-time feedback and assessment.

Poll Everywhere

A polling tool that allows teachers to create interactive polls, surveys, and open-ended questions to gather feedback and assess student understanding during lessons.

Professional Learning Networks

Edutopia Community

Edutopia’s online community provides a platform for educators to share best practices, ask questions, and participate in discussions on topics related to teaching and learning.

Teacher Tube

A community-driven platform where educators can share educational videos, lesson plans, tutorials, and resources with other teachers worldwide.

EduMatch

A platform that connects educators worldwide based on interests, expertise, and location, allowing them to collaborate, share resources, and engage in professional development activities.

The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast

Hosted by Jennifer Gonzalez, this podcast explores a wide range of topics related to teaching and learning, including instructional strategies, classroom management, and educational technology.

The MindShift Podcast

Produced by KQED, this podcast explores the intersection of education and neuroscience, highlighting research-based strategies for fostering student engagement, creativity, and critical thinking.

Teaching Resources and Lesson Plans

Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT)

A marketplace where educators can buy and sell teaching resources, lesson plans, activities, and materials created by teachers for teachers.

Share My Lesson

A platform where educators can access a wide range of free lesson plans, teaching resources, and materials shared by educators and educational organizations.

PBS LearningMedia

A digital library of educational resources, including videos, lesson plans, interactive games, and digital media collections, aligned with curriculum standards and grade levels.

National Geographic Education

National Geographic offers a variety of teaching resources, lesson plans, activities, and interactive maps for educators across grade levels and subject areas.

Smithsonian Education

The Smithsonian Institution provides educational resources, lesson plans, activities, and virtual field trips based on its vast collections and research for educators and students.


The examples and resources mentioned above represent just a few of the many platforms accessible online and through professional organizations. Each platform is designed to assist educators in their continuous teaching practice and professional growth.