I am constantly amazed by the wealth of teaching resources available on the internet – shared through Twitter and educational blogs! In the spirit of collaboration, I wish to share a few of my favourites with you! Many of these are new to me – so please do share your experience with these online tools if you have had an opportunity to put them to effective use in the classroom!

Listed below are several “first stops” if you are just starting your collection of resources:

@ School – a UK education site that provides interactive exercises, worksheets and content-area lesson plans

A to Z Teacher Stuff – resource for lesson plans, thematic units and a discussion forum for teachers, created by teachers

Cybrary Man’s Educational Websites – an internet catalogue that houses over 20,000 online resources

EduTeacher – searchable catalogue, organized by grade level and subject, for teachers

Enchanted Learning – an index for over 25,000 educational links to teaching resources

I Love That Teaching Idea! – creative and ready-to-use classroom resources developed by teachers

Lesson Planet – a membership based online resource for lesson plans, worksheets, and teaching articles

Mr. Nussbaum: A Thousand Sites in One –an American index that includes educational games, printable resources, creative and much more!

Ontario Elementary Curriculum Links – an excellent “file” for lesson ideas and teaching resources

PBS Teachers – an index that organizes classroom resources by grade levels and lists opportunities for online professional development for each subject area

Promethean Planet – a unique teaching and sharing resource for teachers that offers lessons plans, assessment tools and opportunities for online professional development

Real Classroom Ideas – collection of online websites, activities and ideas collected by teachers  

Sophia for Educators – includes learning packages and discussion forums for increased teacher collaboration

Teachers First – over 12,000 educator-reviewed classroom and professional resources

Teacher Lingo – classroom resources such as lesson plans, printables and e-books searchable by subject and grade level

Teachable.Net –offers top quality teacher resources at a minimal cost per downloaded lesson

Teachers Pay Teachers – an open marketplace for teacher-created resources

As I reflect over the past year, I am reminded of The Evolution of a Teacher, which was presented during a workshop while attending WLU Faculty of Education. Now, as I stand at the finish line and anticipate the next phase –finding a teaching job – I, much like my fellow new teacher candidates, are anxious to jump in and get started! We have achieved our Bachelor of Education degrees and are eagerly awaiting our certifications…eyes peeled for the next job opening or supply list announcement. We have said our goodbyes to the students we grew to care for deeply and teach to the best of our abilities –and now we wait with anticipation.

While many new teachers have fallen back into the disillusionment phase, I endeavor to stay motivated and continue the learning journey in an effort to better prepare for my future practice. I truly believe that,

“Life is all about timing... the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable become available, the unattainable... attainable. Have the patience, wait it out. It's all about timing.”  –Stacey Charter

Yesterday, I stumbled across the HiredTeacher, who offers hope for aspiring new teachers, in consideration of the current prospects in the Ontario education system. A few next steps for the new teacher were suggested:

1. Stay Focused

Use these upcoming months to earn supporters and gather information on local board hiring processes. Connect with key individuals and lean on the support and wisdom of teachers and administrators.

     2.  Be Ready

When you land the interview, be PREPARED! Research the school and local community. Ask recent hires to share their experiences –answers to key questions, presentations and portfolios. This is the moment you have been waiting for…show what you know, reflect on what you need to learn, and most importantly, clearly demonstrate your teaching passion!

    3.  Continue Learning

Certainly, take an AQ course if time and finances allow. Research opportunities for PD in the community or online –check out Solution Tree and Education Week, just to name a few! Connect with educational experts through Facebook and Twitter and share in the excitement of learning collaboratively. READ! Seek out volunteer and classroom opportunities that will further build on your teaching practice.

As I evolve as a teacher, I anticipate exciting things ahead on this learning journey…