PLN




 * PLN stands for Personal Learning Network. Before the technology explosion, this only consisted of mentors and personal teaching friends. Today with all this technology, your PLN can include anyone who is talking about education in person or on the web.
 * ===**Ways to use your PLN**:===
 * Professional development – learn from content-area specialists
 * Locate resources for your classroom, such as free websites and software
 * Get lesson plan ideas from master teachers
 * Learn about new technology and how to integrate it into your teaching
 * Find collaborative solutions
 * ===**Why is PLN becoming a valuable part of a teachers resource list?**===
 * PLN is becoming more and more important because technology is becoming a bigger part of our lives. Also who you know can help alot with references and job offers. Also, those that are part of your PLN that you read about show what you agree and disagree with which could make or break a position. For instance, if you read about a teacher with a specific teaching style that you favor and the school you are applying at favors that approach as well, it makes it easier for you to get that job.
 * ===**Resources I can use in my PLN:**===
 * Blogs
 * [|On Special Education]: This blog consists of special education news which helps keep teachers up to date on what is going on in our country in this area. Also, alot of the articles are supported by alot of research which teachers can use to better teach their students
 * [|Special Education Strategies and More]: This blog is a teachers blog to help provide a place for teachers and parents of children with special needs to find positive strategies that promote academic, social and emotional growth.
 * Wikis
 * Teach With Your Ipad: This wiki is about specific Ipad apps and their benefits to special education students. It helps to see what is beneficial from a teachers point of view.
 * K-12 Tech Tools: This wiki has technology resources for all grade levels but this specific page is of websites and tools that could be used to help a wide variety of special education students.
 * 21st Century Concepts: this wiki includes up to date resources for special education teachers on how to use technology to teach students with different special needs as well as tools the students can learn from independently
 * Websites
 * [|National Association of Special Education Teachers]: This is a national organization to help specifically special education teachers. Thir website also has alot of resources on anything these teachers would need from IEP Development to Transition Services
 * [|Do2Learn]: This website contains alot of printable worksheets, social stories, schedules, picture cards, and many other resources to specifically help their special students.
 * Groups:
 * [|National Association of Special Education Teachers]: a great organization to keep special education teachers up to date on new resources or anything else happening in special education
 * [|Council for Exceptional Children]: They work to improve the educational success of children with disabilities by providing professional development and alot of news about special education.
 * Individuals:
 * [|Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators]: a teachers website throught Discovery Education that contains many resources for teachers in every subject and any grade level.
 * [|Virtual Vine]: a teachers website for first and second grade classrooms that provides alot of reading and math resources that teachers can use to help their own students.