The two organizations are:
Oregon Education Association (http://www.oregoned.org/site/pp.asp?c=9dKKKYMDH&b=123024) Participation with this organization would help keep me up to date with news in education, various issues, conferences, and other events. They have created a table for mathematics teachers to use that compares common core state standards with current Oregon state standards that would also be a useful tool.
National Council for Teachers of Mathematics (http://www.nctm.org/) Participation with this organization allows access to common core standards, journals, and lists of conferences that are being offered around the nation. The organization also offers one-time 60 minute informational seminars for professional development.
Khan Academy www.khanacademy.org - offers real time data reports to track student's progress. Teacher can easily see how students are doing in all different areas. Students are challenged to achieve mastery in various areas and the site tells them how far they have to go. Also, students learn through discovery using interactive tools before they actually learn a skill through direct instruction. I think this helps with professional development because they use simple teaching methods that can be applied by all math teachers. It is a reminder that teaching is not about showing, but about learning through discovery and guidance.
www.emergingedtech.com - This is one of my favorite websites as it offers ways to utilize technology in the classroom to improve engagement and learning outcomes. Use of technology in the classroom is relatively new and becoming more popular, but we must all learn how to use it to our full advantage. One of the best ways to do so is through Twitter and forum posts on this website. Topics and videos are searchable as well, making it an easy tool to use for professional development.
www.mathplanet.com - offers a variety of resources for teachers including instructional videos and sample problems with explanations. Forums are also available for discussion if teachers have questions or want to discuss topics to gain insight from other professionals.
