TOP PICKS | 19 TOOLS
Best Professional Development Websites and PLNs for Teachers
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BetterLesson
Exemplary Common Core-aligned lessons from rock star peers at large
Bottom line: Get a head start on the Common Core transition with this professional community for great classroom-ready lessons.
Grades: Pre-K–12
Price: Free
Common Curriculum
Sleek lesson planner replaces bulky binders, promotes collaboration
Bottom line: Ditch pen-and-paper planning; embrace the flexibility of collaborative lesson planning and calendar design.
Grades: Pre-K–12
Price: Free, Free to try, Paid Free for the Basic plan. $4.89-$6.99 per month for Pro plan. $7.50 per teacher per month (for 20 teachers - price per teacher goes down with more teachers) for Schools plan. $1,500 when purchasing for 3 or more schools for Site License. Free 30-day trial also available.
PowerMyLearning Connect
Create playlists and differentiate with quality third-party content
Bottom line: A curation of some of the best educational content on the web made easily accessible, both for students and teachers.
Grades: Pre-K–12
Price: Free, Paid A basic edition for individual educators is free; annual prices for a school edition range from $2,900 to $4,900 per school, depending on enrollment.
ReadWriteThink
Excellent free resource for all things reading and writing
Bottom line: A language arts teacher's dream; lesson plans, professional development, and all-around quality support.
Grades: Pre-K–12
Price: Free
Smithsonian Science Education Center
Teacher-geared site outlines steps for innovative science instruction
Bottom line: Use the SSEC's site as a stop on your changing-science-instruction path; just be prepared to reach out to them for constructive details.
Grades: K–10
Price: Free
California Academy of Sciences
Expert research and diverse, rich lessons inspire future scientists
Bottom line: A perfect companion to (or substitute for) the Academy, this site delivers highly interactive resources and research with a lot of depth.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free, Paid Some of the educational kits and virtual programs have a cost for classrooms.
LearnZillion
Quality Common Core-aligned lessons with great modeling for teachers
Bottom line: An innovative way to enhance lessons and tailor learning for individual needs.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free
OER Commons
Free, easy access to a wealth of resources
Bottom line: Impressive resource opens access to quality materials for all educators.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free
Teaching Channel
See colleagues in action with digital PD for discussion and reflection
Bottom line: This video library of actual classroom teaching offers opportunities for professional educators to watch, share, and improve their craft.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free, Free to try, Paid Public features on the site are free. Schools and districts interested in the Teams feature have the option for a two-week trial. The developer can be contacted for further information on fees and pricing.
Teaching Tolerance
Thought-provoking classroom resources support diversity education
Bottom line: It's an invaluable teacher tool to help reduce prejudice and encourage tolerance in schools, as well as within society as a whole.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free
Edmodo
Manage classes, content, and communication with social LMS platform
Bottom line: This free platform allows for teacher-monitored classroom communication but lacks excitement.
Grades: 4–12
Price: Free This website is free to use for all features, but it does contain advertisements on the teacher side.
The Current
Engaging space for tech-forward instruction and teacher collaboration
Bottom line: A great resource to share and gather ideas on teaching with technology and media, but there are some bugs that need fixing.
Grades: 5–12
Price: Free
KQED Education
Great news and classroom resources support both teachers and students
Bottom line: With some organizational adjustments, the site could be an exceptional place for both kids and teachers to find educational inspiration.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
Microsoft Teams
Collaborative platform helps manage multiple groups and projects
Bottom line: It offers a ton of options for integrating learning; the lack of some typical LMS features may make it a better fit for small groups or nontraditional group configurations.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free, Paid Microsoft Teams is included with Office 365 subscriptions, which range from free to $6 per month per student and $8 per month per teacher.
Ogment
Get beyond binders with digital, remixable lesson-planning tool
Bottom line: If you invest some serious time in preloading your content, this is an exceptional tool for building and using your lesson plans.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free to try, Paid Licensed at the school or district level.
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Stellar history website, gateway to cool PD and scholarship
Bottom line: In class, a good resource for U.S. history; beyond, a great website for free teacher PD and some great in-depth exploration of primary sources.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
Voxer Walkie Talkie Messenger
Voice- and text-messaging app is a teacher PLN standout
Bottom line: A cool tool for teachers to collaborate with each other (but maybe not with their students).
Grades: 7–12
Price: Free, Paid Optional Pro version is $3.99/month.
Visually appealing, endlessly creative gallery of images and ideas
Bottom line: An effective way to search for new ideas and save them for later use, but keep an eye on the source -- and on your watch.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Free
Smart classroom tool if used with care; priceless for PLNs
Bottom line: Twitter offers something for everyone: information, resources, and an easy way to connect with just about anyone.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Free
