Teachers Network

Teachers Network

Teachers Network is a non-profit education organization - by teachers, for teachers - with a track record of more than 27 years of success, dedicated to improving student learning in public schools nationally and internationally.  Through a unique approach in its focus on teacher professional development, Teachers Network has had a long-standing tradition of supporting the creativity and expertise of a national and international community of outstanding educators.  Using the power of an award-winning website, videos, and print resources, Teachers Network has empowered teachers to transform public schools into creative learning communities by providing teachers the necessary tools for successfully educating today’s students. 

One of the many resources Teachers Network provides to teachers everywhere is a rich library of free online resources available 24/7 on its award-winning website, www.teachersnetwork.org, which includes lesson plans, searchable by grade-level, subject and topic; daily classroom specials with ideas that can help teachers manage the classroom and motivate students; web-based curriculum units comprised of teacher-tested lesson plans; teacher research papers on current education issues and policy recommendations; an interactive Helpline with a 72-hour guaranteed response time to questions teachers can submit online; how-to topics that feature tips and ideas by veteran teachers; videos, allowing viewers a look into classrooms putting ideas and resources to use; and much, much more.

Teachers Network also offers additional print resources, available for purchase on its Teacher Store.  These include the New Teachers Handbook, a practical teacher guidebook on integral aspects of classroom management; the alignment of curriculum, standards, and assessment; teaching techniques; family-teacher partnerships, and more.  Produced by contributions of 45 teachers representing expertise in preK-12 grade levels and all subject areas, the guidebook provides firsthand accounts on how to plan lessons that truly motivate students, how to integrate technology into the curriculum, and how to connect classroom studies with the “real world.”  Successful Teaching Practices in Action CD-ROM sets for both elementary and secondary school levels feature complementary videos to the New Teachers Handbook, showcasing veteran teachers in action, in their classrooms, demonstrating the techniques that have made them successful educators.  How to Use the Internet in Your Classroom is a guidebook that offers classroom materials, lesson plans, websites, and other supplementary materials—all geared toward integrating online teaching and learning.  It is a valuable resource, compiling strategies and ideas from 28 teachers nationwide with varied experience and expertise in using interactive media within the classroom.  The How to Use the Internet in Your Classroom CD-ROM comprises complementary videos that illustrate tips and techniques for using technology successfully in the classroom, giving the viewer a inside view of a classroom where strategies for intergrating technology into class activites and resources are being used.  The Making the Most of the Web with Your Students CD-ROM demonstrates the latest technology tools for the classroom through videos, lesson plans, articles, and web resources, showing experienced teachers in action, embarking on blogging and podcasting with their students, as well as topics such as wikis, digital images, streaming video, online writing tools, and interactive web tools for instruction.

In addition to providing teachers practical teaching resources, Teachers Network also serves 21 national and international affiliates that have adopted one or more of the following major program initiatives.

Teachers Network Leadership Institute (TNLI)
TNLI was established to improve student achievement by giving teachers an active voice in education policymaking.  TNLI MetLife Fellows, who are full-time teachers from Teachers Network affiliates, research key issues and develop, publish, and disseminate research findings nationwide and to education policymakers at all levels.

IMPACT II Grants
Teachers Network helps teachers make the most of innovative and creative ideas by awarding grants to teachers in order to package and disseminate their ideas to other interested teachers, who then adapt and tailor them to their own classrooms. More than 50,000 teachers have received IMPACT II grants to develop, document, and disseminate innovative preK-12 programs in the curriculum areas of science, math, technology, and literacy.

Teachnet
Teachnet seeks to improve student learning by helping teachers develop appropriate and effective instructional materials that integrate the Internet and other interactive multimedia tools. Teachers have access to curriculum and technical specialists, grants, and a supportive network to further develop their skills throughout the year. Projects are published online and disseminated to educators both locally and worldwide.

New Teacher Resource Program (NTRP)
NTRP provides new teachers throughout the nation with a package of materials in order to support and nurture them as professionals—and to help keep them teaching. All designed by teachers, for teachers, the three complementary components of the New Teacher Resource Program include: Teachers Network’s bestselling New Teachers Handbook; the CD-ROM series of videos—Successful Teaching Practices in Action; and, New Teacher Online Courses.

Vivian Chang
TeachersNetwork.org