Here are some resources to learn more about Peer Assistance and Review (PAR) or starting a professional learning community at your school site.
Harvard’s guide to PAR
The Harvard Graduate School of Education created the “User’s Guide to Peer Assistance and Review” that includes practical issues and advice about setting up a PAR program. The site also includes examples of successful PAR programs in cities such as Minneapolis.
NEA Academy
The NEA Academy offers online courses for teachers in several areas. For teachers struggling with content, there is a wide variety of professional development courses across the curriculum spectrum.
For those who are struggling with classroom management, NEA Academy offers courses on such topics as teaching the ESL learner, differentiated instruction, teaching in diverse classrooms, and the “I Can Do It!” program.
There’s also a course that specifically addresses rights and responsibilities in the disciplinary process.
Every NEA Academy course is peer-approved — developed by educators and reviewed and approved according to quality standards determined by NEA members. The courses are also practical, reasonably priced, and a way to earn graduate credit or continuing education units for license renewal or salary schedule advancement.
New Teacher Center
The New Teacher Center offers online mentoring for new math and science teachers, in an effort to support the development and retention of beginning science and math teachers through content-specific, online mentoring that promotes student achievement. For more information, visit the e-mentoring for student success section on the New Teacher Center’s site.
Even more resources
The New Member Center on the CTA website is a one-stop shop with information, resources, and opportunities for involvement to get your school year off to a great start, both in the classroom and in your chapter.
California Standards for the Teaching Profession , published by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing in 2009, offers guidance to teachers as they develop, refine and extend their practice. The document can be downloaded from the CTC website.
For information on CTA’s programs “I Can Do It!”, “I Have Done it!” and Survive and Thrive, contact your chapter leaders or primary contact staff.
For information on starting a professional learning community at your school, read Getting Started: Reculturing Schools to Become Professional Learning Communities by Robert Eaker and Richard and Rebecca DuFour. A six-page article (pdf) on PLCs by Richard DuFour is available download.
Read a success story