ASCD Welcomes New Teachers to Profession, Offers Free Resources

Alexandria, VA (8/10/11)—As school doors swing open for the 2011–12 school year, new teachers across the world are looking to ASCD as a resource for supporting the success of each learner. From tips to tools, ASCD has what those new to the education profession need to be successful.

“We’ve all been there—new on the job, wondering how to harness our passion into achievement. As a former teacher myself, I remember the nerves and questions vividly,” said Dr. Gene Carter, executive director and CEO of ASCD. “That’s why we’re so passionate about providing educators with the tools and resources they need to succeed in their careers and in the classroom. ASCD has the professional development, initiatives, books, and resources that enable new teachers to begin the year informed and energized and sustain that enthusiasm and focus throughout their years as educators.”

ASCD encourages new teachers to:

Join other new teachers from around the world on ASCD EDge®, the social networking tool empowering educators to support the success of each learner. The platform, supported by ASCD and more than 27,000 educators strong, is free and open to all—teachers, principals, administrators, researchers, school staff, authors, and any professional who works or has an interest in education. The New & Student Teachers group offers links, advice, message boards and more for educators joining the profession. Visit now.

Watch free session archives from the ASCD 2011 Annual Conference in San Francisco. Sessions such as “The Strategic Teacher” from expert Harvey Silver will provide educators with the tools needed to help all students meet today’s rigorous standards. Other sessions include Bob Sullo—The Motivated Student: Five Strategies to Inspire, where teachers can learn how to manage a classroom effectively and identify five strategies that will inspire academic achievement to unlock students’ natural enthusiasm for learning. Visit the archives now. In addition to the free archives, ASCD also offers webinars that provide ongoing learning for new teachers. Explore the webinars now.

Learn how to support the whole child. Check out ASCD’s Whole Child Initiative for information on how to support the whole child in your classroom. Visit www.wholechildeducation.org to learn more. The site features everything from podcasts like “The Whole Child Needs a Whole Teacher,” where listeners learn how educators and schools can work to create the conditions that allow teachers—and subsequently students—to thrive, to blog posts from experts like Mike Anderson with tips for the new school year. New teachers might also want to check out the blog post where we asked, “What was one thing you wished you'd known when you started teaching?” Visit Whole Child online.

Get a jump start on professional development by logging on to ASCD’s PD In Focus®. For ongoing professional learning, the PD In Focus® professional development platform provides professional development activities through online videos and other content related to research-based school improvement. For new teachers, PD In Focus video content brings to life teacher attributes essential to classroom effectiveness. The platform provides instant access to hundreds of videos ideal for providing instant tips and assistance to beginning teachers, including “Qualities of Effective Teachers,” “21st Century Skills: Promoting Creativity and Innovation in the Classroom,” “Enhancing Professional Practice” and “The Art and Science of Teaching.” In addition, entire channels of content, like the Differentiated Instruction channel featuring Carol Ann Tomlinson and the Never Work Harder Than Your Students channel featuring Robyn R. Jackson offer a deeper dive into a today’s most popular topics. Visit PD In Focus now.

Complete your own at-home reading task by checking out ASCD’s bookThe New Teacher's Companion: Practical Wisdom For Succeeding In The Classroom by Gini Cunningham. The book guides new teachers as they prepare to teach, organize their classrooms, plan lessons, and focus on their daily instruction. Combining the wisdom of a sage mentor with the collegial comfort of someone who’s “been there,” Gini Cunningham dispenses hundreds of tips and ideas across the entire spectrum of good teaching practice—from developing a personal vision and beliefs, to implementing school policies and procedures, to engaging students and sequencing learning. The book is also available as an e-book, and teachers can check out sample chapters before they purchase. Visit the ASCD store to learn more.

ASCD is the global leader in providing programs, products, and services that empower educators to support the success of each learner. Enjoy ASCD’s resources? Become a member. ASCD membership offers more information and ideas about learning and teaching than any other single source. There are eight membership levels that offer an increasing number of valuable benefits and resources, including two new online membership categories: Select Online and Premium Online.

For more information about ASCD and all of our programs, products, and services, or to join, visit www.ascd.org.

Contact Information
Katie Test, communications specialist, 1-703-575-5806 or by e-mail.
ASCD is the global leader in developing and delivering innovative programs, products, and services that empower educators to support the success of each learner. Comprising 160,000 members—superintendents, principals, teachers, professors, and advocates from more than 140 countries—the ASCD community also includes 58 affiliate organizations. The nonprofit's diverse, nonpartisan membership is its greatest strength, projecting a powerful, unified voice to decision makers around the world. To learn more about how ASCD supports educators as they learn, teach, and lead, visit www.ascd.org.