Here are a variety of ways people use Teacher Essentials in their school:

As a Kick Start or Wrap Up

Teacher Essentials lessons can be used as a catalyst for: 

• Discussions
• Focusing a group on a specific topic area
• Creating instructional strategies

Example 1: Some users have taken a "book club" approach to lessons in Teacher Essentials.  As a department they have chosen a lesson to focus on, reviewed it individually, and then assigned each person one of the references or additional resources to explore in more detail.  This is a great example of using the online Teacher Essentials lessons and blending them with an existing professional learning process to achieve a richer experience.

Example 2: Some principals have used Teacher Essentials lessons in their PowerPoint presentations at the beginning of a staff or faculty meeting where they want to focus on a particular topic, instructional strategy, or approach for a content area.  Other principals use Teacher Essentials as a basis for a "lunch and learn" type session with their staff.

As an Opportunity for Professional Growth and Capacity Building

Teacher Essentials can be used by teachers to pursue topics or instructional strategies that they are interested in developing further as they grow their practice.  

Example 1: Some teachers have used Teacher Essentials to target instructional strategies or topic areas that they would like to know more about or areas that they consider themselves as requiring additional information.  For them, being able to access Teacher Essentials anywhere and at anytime helps them to learn when it fits into their schedule.

Example 2: Some principals have used Teacher Essentials as part of a capacity building strategy with their faculty or staff whereby areas for growth and development are identified jointly.  Then, as part of the identified action plan, the appropriate Teacher Essentials Lessons are utilized.

As Support for Follow up in Situations That Require Immediate Teacher Action

Teacher Essentials can be used by schools to help them as they work to develop and refresh their common approach to a variety of different situations.

Example 1: Some teachers have gone back to the Teacher Essentials library after experiencing inappropriate behavior from students to review strategies for dealing with behavioral issues.  They then used that as a starting point for discussion with their colleagues and/or their administrator as the school works to resolve the issue.

Example 2: Some principals have used Teacher Essentials as a way to provide additional information on a specific topic or examples of strategies that can be used when dealing with difficult situations.