Resources for Urban Teachers
National Association for Bilingual Education's mission is to advocate for our nation's Bilingual and English Language Learners and families and to cultivate a multilingual multicultural society by supporting and promoting policy, programs, pedagogy, research and professional development that yield academic success, value native language, lead to English proficiency, and respect cultural and linguistic diversity.
Twenty percent of the U.S. population speak a language other than English at home. As the number of English learners continues to grow, educators are seeking effective programs and instructional strategies to serve them. From its inception, improving the teaching of English around the world has been a core activity for Center for Applied Linguistics.
For more than 20 years as a writer, lecturer, and advocate, James Crawford has specialized in the politics of language. This web site has highlighted that work, while reporting on the English Only movement, bilingual education, Native American language revitalization, minority language rights, demographic data on language usage, and related issues.
The National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition (NCELA) collects, coordinates, and conveys a broad range of research and resources in support of an inclusive approach to high quality education for ELs. To fulfill its mission, NCELA supports high quality networking among state-level administrators of Title III programs. In addition to SEA coordinators, NCELA serves other stakeholders involved in ELL education, including teachers and other practitioners, parents, university faculty, administrators, and federal policymakers.
The mission of the Office of English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students (OELA) is to provide national leadership to help ensure that English learners and immigrant students attain English proficiency and achieve academically.
After more than 40 years in business, National Professional Resources (NPR, Inc.) has become a leading source for educators of an extensive variety of classroom and professional development resources. Founded and run by career educators with decades of experience in the field, National Professional Resources is committed to the mission of advancing the success of all learners through supporting the educators who serve them. To that end, we publish, produce, and distribute a wide variety of classroom and professional development resources for teachers, administrators, school counselors and psychologists and other education professionals. Co-Teaching involves the delivery of instruction by two or more professionals with equivalent licensure or status. It is a service delivery option commonly used for providing students with disabilities who have IEPs (individual education program) some or all of their specialized instruction in the general education classroom.
Special Connections was developed for general and special education teachers, related service personnel, para educators, parents and other professionals engaged in the meaningful inclusion of students with special needs in the general education curriculum.
LD OnLine offers hundreds of expert-reviewed articles and resources for educators, parents, and others concerned about children and adults with learning disabilities and ADHD.
Yo Art! enhances the classroom curriculum with media arts programming designed to spark the students’ curiosity and engage them in issues beyond their own life boundaries. Our projects encourage learning through discovery and discipline, improvisation and technique, therefore providing a fertile ground for creative thought. Yo Art partners with local artists and arts organizations to provide comprehensive arts education, nurturing relationships and high expectations that enable young people to better know and express themselves as they discover and develop their artistic gifts.
The purpose of Engaging Creative Minds partnership is to provide creative learning opportunities that encourage imagination and innovation to help students achieve academically, stay engaged in school and succeed in life.
The National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization, is committed to advancing the cause of public education. NEA's 3 million members work at every level of education—from pre-school to university graduate programs. NEA has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving the educational success of individuals with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides professional development, advocates for individuals with exceptionalities, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice.
UChicago CCSR was created in 1990 after the passage of the Chicago School Reform Act that decentralized governance of the city's public schools. Researchers at the University of Chicago joined with researchers from the school district and other organizations to form UChicago CCSR with the imperative to study this landmark restructuring and its long-term effects. Since then UChicago CCSR has undertaken research on many of Chicago's school reform efforts, some of which have been embraced by other cities as well. Thus UChicago CCSR studies have also informed broader national movements in public education.
DNAinfo.com is Chicago's leading hyper-local news source, covering Chicago's neighborhoods. We deliver up-to-the-minute reports on entertainment, education, politics, crime, sports, and dining. Our award-winning journalists find the stories - big or small - that matter most to Chicagoans.
Mikva Challenge develops youth to be informed, empowered, and active citizens and community leaders. We do this by engaging youth in action civics, an authentic and transformative learning process built on youth voice and youth expertise
Young Chicago Authors (YCA) creates a culture that transforms the lives of young people and their communities by bringing together participants through writing, publication, and performance education for civic discourse and community celebration.
Whether you're a local or an out-of-towner, if you have a day off in Chicago, spending it at a museum is a no-duh. (Ferris Bueller knew this; he hit up the Art Institute.) These well-respected institutions offer informative and inspiring encounters with art, history, science and culture, not to mention noteworthy architecture.
Launched in 1990, Catalyst Chicago is an independent news organization that serves as a watchdog and resource for school improvement in Chicago. We publish Catalyst In Depth, our quarterly, flagship newsmagazine; Catalyst In the Know, an occasional newsletter for parents; and breaking news and analysis on our website. We invite dialog through public forums and online op-eds and comments on our stories.
The Resource Center for Autism and Developmental Delays (RCADD) is a Center for Literacy initiative established to provide resources, referral information, education, and training for parents and teachers of children with developmental disorders. The Center opened in 2010 in partnership with the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) and The Autism Program in Illinois (TAP). With our founding location in the Garfield Community Services Center on Chicago’s west side, RCADD is staffed by professionals who work with families and providers to identify and prioritize current needs and select or create appropriate resources for children with disabilities. Resources include books, software, games, home teaching kits, and visual supports. The library’s resources are available to check out free of charge to provide community members and professionals with access to current, innovative, supportive services and materials.
CTC’s Resource Center is a place where teachers, parents, pre-services students and staff from community organizations connect to discuss instructional ideas, develop curriculum and attend workshops. CTC provides an organized and efficient workspace for developing classroom materials, computer equipment and cultural resources along with an extensive collection of teacher resource books and video tapes, including the PBS collection. A great place for pre-service teachers to work on projects with expert staff.
Teacher turnover is sky-high in many schools that enroll impoverished students of color, notes Chicago teacher and UNITE National's Associate Director Greg Fairbank. This revolving door creates a lack of trust between teachers and students who don't believe their teachers will stick around. Teacher attrition is a national problem impacting students, schools and communities. Numerous solutions are possible, including mentoring programs that support new teachers (like UNITE!), beginning while they're still in college. Watch Mr. Fairbank's video here.
The Division for Learning Disabilities (DLD) was organized in 1983 to promote the education and general welfare of people with Learning Disabilities, and it was recognized by the Board of Governors of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) 1 July 1983. After a two-year charter period, DLD applied for and received status as a Division within CEC.
The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) was established in 2002 as an initiative of the Institute for Education Sciences (IES) at the U.S. Department of Education. The WWC is administered by the National Center for Education Evaluation within IES. The goal of the WWC is to be a resource for informed education decision making. To reach this goal, the WWC identifies studies that provide credible and reliable evidence of the effectiveness of a given practice, program, or policy (referred to as “interventions”), and disseminates summary information and reports on the WWC website. With over 700 publications available and more than 10,500 reviewed studies in the online searchable database, the WWC aims to inform researchers, educators, and policymakers as they work toward improving education for students.
Developed in collaboration with nationally recognized researchers and education experts, the IRIS Center’s resources about evidence-based instructional and intervention practices—modules, case study units, activities, and others (including a number of Web-based tools)—are specifically created for use in college instruction, professional development activities, and independent learning opportunities for practicing educators. The Center also offers resources to facilitate the use of IRIS materials by college faculty, professional development providers, and independent users.
All students can use the writing process to write effectively. Teacher expertise and research can inform the conversation on how best to accomplish this. SRSD teaches the writing process through authentic writing process instruction. Decades of research shows it can make writing process work for all students.
The Learning Toolbox was developed as part of the Model Demonstration Project for Improving Postsecondary Education for Students with Mild Disabilities, a U.S. Office of Education grant awarded to James Madison University. The purpose of the Project was to develop, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of course-specific strategy instruction with college students who have learning disabilities and ADHD. This one-on-one instructional approach significantly helped students improve their academic performance. One of the goals of this project was to share what we have learned. This website provides a way of sharing this approach so that others might use it.
Intervention Central provides teachers, schools and districts with free resources to help struggling learners and implement Response to Intervention and attain the Common Core State Standards.
UNITE Alabama Spring Break 2013 video reflections found here, here, here, and here.
Twenty percent of the U.S. population speak a language other than English at home. As the number of English learners continues to grow, educators are seeking effective programs and instructional strategies to serve them. From its inception, improving the teaching of English around the world has been a core activity for Center for Applied Linguistics.
For more than 20 years as a writer, lecturer, and advocate, James Crawford has specialized in the politics of language. This web site has highlighted that work, while reporting on the English Only movement, bilingual education, Native American language revitalization, minority language rights, demographic data on language usage, and related issues.
The National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition (NCELA) collects, coordinates, and conveys a broad range of research and resources in support of an inclusive approach to high quality education for ELs. To fulfill its mission, NCELA supports high quality networking among state-level administrators of Title III programs. In addition to SEA coordinators, NCELA serves other stakeholders involved in ELL education, including teachers and other practitioners, parents, university faculty, administrators, and federal policymakers.
The mission of the Office of English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students (OELA) is to provide national leadership to help ensure that English learners and immigrant students attain English proficiency and achieve academically.
After more than 40 years in business, National Professional Resources (NPR, Inc.) has become a leading source for educators of an extensive variety of classroom and professional development resources. Founded and run by career educators with decades of experience in the field, National Professional Resources is committed to the mission of advancing the success of all learners through supporting the educators who serve them. To that end, we publish, produce, and distribute a wide variety of classroom and professional development resources for teachers, administrators, school counselors and psychologists and other education professionals. Co-Teaching involves the delivery of instruction by two or more professionals with equivalent licensure or status. It is a service delivery option commonly used for providing students with disabilities who have IEPs (individual education program) some or all of their specialized instruction in the general education classroom.
Special Connections was developed for general and special education teachers, related service personnel, para educators, parents and other professionals engaged in the meaningful inclusion of students with special needs in the general education curriculum.
LD OnLine offers hundreds of expert-reviewed articles and resources for educators, parents, and others concerned about children and adults with learning disabilities and ADHD.
Yo Art! enhances the classroom curriculum with media arts programming designed to spark the students’ curiosity and engage them in issues beyond their own life boundaries. Our projects encourage learning through discovery and discipline, improvisation and technique, therefore providing a fertile ground for creative thought. Yo Art partners with local artists and arts organizations to provide comprehensive arts education, nurturing relationships and high expectations that enable young people to better know and express themselves as they discover and develop their artistic gifts.
The purpose of Engaging Creative Minds partnership is to provide creative learning opportunities that encourage imagination and innovation to help students achieve academically, stay engaged in school and succeed in life.
The National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization, is committed to advancing the cause of public education. NEA's 3 million members work at every level of education—from pre-school to university graduate programs. NEA has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving the educational success of individuals with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides professional development, advocates for individuals with exceptionalities, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice.
UChicago CCSR was created in 1990 after the passage of the Chicago School Reform Act that decentralized governance of the city's public schools. Researchers at the University of Chicago joined with researchers from the school district and other organizations to form UChicago CCSR with the imperative to study this landmark restructuring and its long-term effects. Since then UChicago CCSR has undertaken research on many of Chicago's school reform efforts, some of which have been embraced by other cities as well. Thus UChicago CCSR studies have also informed broader national movements in public education.
DNAinfo.com is Chicago's leading hyper-local news source, covering Chicago's neighborhoods. We deliver up-to-the-minute reports on entertainment, education, politics, crime, sports, and dining. Our award-winning journalists find the stories - big or small - that matter most to Chicagoans.
Mikva Challenge develops youth to be informed, empowered, and active citizens and community leaders. We do this by engaging youth in action civics, an authentic and transformative learning process built on youth voice and youth expertise
Young Chicago Authors (YCA) creates a culture that transforms the lives of young people and their communities by bringing together participants through writing, publication, and performance education for civic discourse and community celebration.
Whether you're a local or an out-of-towner, if you have a day off in Chicago, spending it at a museum is a no-duh. (Ferris Bueller knew this; he hit up the Art Institute.) These well-respected institutions offer informative and inspiring encounters with art, history, science and culture, not to mention noteworthy architecture.
Launched in 1990, Catalyst Chicago is an independent news organization that serves as a watchdog and resource for school improvement in Chicago. We publish Catalyst In Depth, our quarterly, flagship newsmagazine; Catalyst In the Know, an occasional newsletter for parents; and breaking news and analysis on our website. We invite dialog through public forums and online op-eds and comments on our stories.
The Resource Center for Autism and Developmental Delays (RCADD) is a Center for Literacy initiative established to provide resources, referral information, education, and training for parents and teachers of children with developmental disorders. The Center opened in 2010 in partnership with the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) and The Autism Program in Illinois (TAP). With our founding location in the Garfield Community Services Center on Chicago’s west side, RCADD is staffed by professionals who work with families and providers to identify and prioritize current needs and select or create appropriate resources for children with disabilities. Resources include books, software, games, home teaching kits, and visual supports. The library’s resources are available to check out free of charge to provide community members and professionals with access to current, innovative, supportive services and materials.
CTC’s Resource Center is a place where teachers, parents, pre-services students and staff from community organizations connect to discuss instructional ideas, develop curriculum and attend workshops. CTC provides an organized and efficient workspace for developing classroom materials, computer equipment and cultural resources along with an extensive collection of teacher resource books and video tapes, including the PBS collection. A great place for pre-service teachers to work on projects with expert staff.
Teacher turnover is sky-high in many schools that enroll impoverished students of color, notes Chicago teacher and UNITE National's Associate Director Greg Fairbank. This revolving door creates a lack of trust between teachers and students who don't believe their teachers will stick around. Teacher attrition is a national problem impacting students, schools and communities. Numerous solutions are possible, including mentoring programs that support new teachers (like UNITE!), beginning while they're still in college. Watch Mr. Fairbank's video here.
The Division for Learning Disabilities (DLD) was organized in 1983 to promote the education and general welfare of people with Learning Disabilities, and it was recognized by the Board of Governors of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) 1 July 1983. After a two-year charter period, DLD applied for and received status as a Division within CEC.
The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) was established in 2002 as an initiative of the Institute for Education Sciences (IES) at the U.S. Department of Education. The WWC is administered by the National Center for Education Evaluation within IES. The goal of the WWC is to be a resource for informed education decision making. To reach this goal, the WWC identifies studies that provide credible and reliable evidence of the effectiveness of a given practice, program, or policy (referred to as “interventions”), and disseminates summary information and reports on the WWC website. With over 700 publications available and more than 10,500 reviewed studies in the online searchable database, the WWC aims to inform researchers, educators, and policymakers as they work toward improving education for students.
Developed in collaboration with nationally recognized researchers and education experts, the IRIS Center’s resources about evidence-based instructional and intervention practices—modules, case study units, activities, and others (including a number of Web-based tools)—are specifically created for use in college instruction, professional development activities, and independent learning opportunities for practicing educators. The Center also offers resources to facilitate the use of IRIS materials by college faculty, professional development providers, and independent users.
All students can use the writing process to write effectively. Teacher expertise and research can inform the conversation on how best to accomplish this. SRSD teaches the writing process through authentic writing process instruction. Decades of research shows it can make writing process work for all students.
The Learning Toolbox was developed as part of the Model Demonstration Project for Improving Postsecondary Education for Students with Mild Disabilities, a U.S. Office of Education grant awarded to James Madison University. The purpose of the Project was to develop, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of course-specific strategy instruction with college students who have learning disabilities and ADHD. This one-on-one instructional approach significantly helped students improve their academic performance. One of the goals of this project was to share what we have learned. This website provides a way of sharing this approach so that others might use it.
Intervention Central provides teachers, schools and districts with free resources to help struggling learners and implement Response to Intervention and attain the Common Core State Standards.
UNITE Alabama Spring Break 2013 video reflections found here, here, here, and here.