This document provides guidance for teachers on finding and using effective resources. It outlines several sources: 1) board-approved curriculum materials like textbooks and libraries; 2) supplemental materials from professional learning communities, approved websites, and books; and 3) other teachers through grade teams. The document also lists ways for teachers to extend their knowledge, such as through the state Department of Education website, professional development workshops, and instructional coaches. Finally, it recommends that teachers utilize non-instructional support staff like counselors and nurses to help students with health, emotional, or nutritional issues that impact learning.

1. Finding Resources:
A Brief Teacher Guide

2. Assessment #3
Instructor: Shawn Robbins
Presentation by Teresa Hopson
December 7, 2014

3. Teachers can locate resources
from the following:

4. Board-Approved Curriculum Materials
● State Curriculum and Core Standards
● Textbooks, teacher guides
● School libraries
● Supplementary books with board
approval

5. Supplemental Materials
● Can be cross-curricular
● Can add variety
● Can target known interests
● Can replace weak resources

6. Supplemental resources include:
● Professional Learning Communities
● Your grade team
● Online interactive sites
● Poems and songs
● Pre-viewed, approved film and video

7. Three examples of where teachers
can find and use resources to extend
pedagogical and content knowledge:
1. Professional Development workshops
2. Memberships to blogs or educational
societies
3. Instructional coaches and curriculum
supervisors

8. Specific examples to extend
pedagogical and content knowledge:
● Penna. Dept. of Education SAS website
● Act 48 classes
● Scholastic’s Instructor magazine
● Content-specific websites such as Edutopia
and Khan Academy
● Other members of PLC such as art and
technology instructors

9. Finally, here are two ways to use
non-instructional resources for
students:
1. Death and other traumatic events may
require the teacher to invite the counselor
to a session with a student or students.
2. Children are unable to learn with poor
nutrition, so the teacher may need to
request class visits with the nutritionist.

10. Summary, Part 1
Three places to search
for and evaluate
effective resources:
1. Grade team (PLC)
1. Established websites
1. Board-approved
supplementary
materials

11. Summary, Part 2
Three ways to find and
use resources to extend
pedagogical and
content knowledge:
1. PDE SAS website
2. Professional
development
workshops
3. Instructional
coaches, mentors,
and curriculum
specialists

12. Summary, Part 3
It really does take a village, so please
utilize non-instructional staff (counselor,
nurse, and other learning support
specialists) to aid in the students’ learning
process.