To promote educational excellence, the Alabama Education Association serves as an advocate for its members and leads the advancement of equitable and quality public education in Alabama.
Upcoming Professional Learning
AEA's Education Policy & Professional Practice Department is actively developing conferences, webinars, Twitter edChats, and other events for educators to continue learning. This list will continue to change so please check back often to find what you need.
For more information, contact: Dr. Pamela Fossett at pamelaf@alaedu.org
EARN CEU CREDITS
Free for AEA Members
$50 per CEU study for Non-AEA Members
EARN PLU CREDITS
Free for AEA Members
$500 per PLU study for Non-AEA Members
Professional Learning For Members, By Members
The Education Policy and Professional Practice (EPPP) Department hosts statewide and regional professional learning events to promote programs for the improvement of teaching and learning and fostering professional growth to hone leadership skills. Recognizing that all AEA members possess a great deal of experience and expertise to be shared with colleagues around instructional, educational support, and leadership issues, the EPPP Department is utilizing a Request for Proposal (RFP) process.
Click here for more information
Upcoming Conferences
Alabama NBCT Network Annual Conference
January 22, 2022
Virtual event
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Postsecondary Conference
January 28-29, 2022
Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa
Florence, AL
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Administrators Conference
February 10-11, 2022
Renaissance Ross Bridge Resort & Spa
Birmingham, AL
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ESP Conference
February 18-20, 2022
Auburn University & Dixon Conference Center
Auburn, AL
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Professional Learning Unit (PLU) Studies – February Cohorts
Registration Deadline – February 1, 2022
PLU study instructions will be emailed on February 3, 2022 to each participant as listed in PowerSchool.
PLUACLD749 – Being an Ethical Instructional Leader
February 3, 2022 - April 4, 2022
PLUACD1017 – Everyone at the Table: A Diversity Conversation for Educators
February 3, 2022 - April 4, 2022
Click here to register (Spaces are limited.)
PLUACD786 – Identifying, Establishing, and Utilizing Community and Stakeholder Relationships to Improve Student Achievement
February 3, 2022 - April 4, 2022
AEA Professional Learning Cohorts
Kindergarten Konnections Cohort
The Kindergarten Konnections Cohort has been created by the Education Policy & Professional Practice (EPPP) Department to help kindergarten educators best serve our youngest learners. Participants will earn CEU credit as they work alongside fellow educators exploring best practices for teaching kindergarten students. The cohort will meet the 3rd Tuesday of each month starting in February.
Magnanimous Mathematics Cohort: The Syzygy of Mathletes
The AEA Magnamious Mathematics Cohort: The Syzygy of Mathletes has been created by the Education Policy & Professional Practice (EPPP) Department to help educators use the 2019 Alabama Mathematics Course of Study to best serve students. Participants will earn CEU credit as they work alongside fellow educators exploring best practices for teaching mathematics to students K-12. The cohort will meet the 2nd Thursday of each month starting in February.
NBCT Jumpstart Tuesdays Cohort
Join Dynamic National Board Certified Teachers as you move to the next phases of navigating your way to achieving remarkable recognition! Every Tuesday beginning January 18, 2022, this journey to National Board Certification will continue to explore the four components and provide strategies and resources to achieving this prestigious goal!
NBCT Jump Start Tuesdays for Advanced Candidates will begin Tuesday, January 18th from 4 pm-6 pm.
NBCT Jump Start Tuesdays for NEW Candidates will begin Tuesday, February 8th from 4 pm-6 pm.
Special Education Cohort
The Special Education Cohort has been created by the Education Policy & Professional Practice (EPPP) Department to help educators use the current Alabama Exceptional Education Curriculum to best serve students. Because of the multiple perspectives offered by educators, this cohort will provide richness to the learning process, as well as provide materials and resources for working with students with a variety of exceptionalities. The cohort will meet on the 3rd Wednesday of each month - January 19, February 16, March 16, April 20, and May 18.
ACT/SAEA Book Study: We Got This
This book focuses on “equity, access, and the quest to be who our students need us to be.” The book study will meet each month from January until June. This is a joint project by the Association of Classroom Teachers (ACT) and the Student Alabama Education Association (SAEA). All AEA members are welcome to participate. Participants will discuss Chapter 1: Begin By Listening - January 27, 2022, 4:00 p.m.
Upcoming Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Sessions
JANUARY
Multi-Sensory Approach to Literacy (POSTPONED)
January 13, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
This session will incorporate the use of multi-sensory techniques to facilitate the acquisition of phonics knowledge, decoding, and sight-reading skills. Multimodal learning takes place when our brains process stimuli in a variety of channels, from visual to auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile (touch-based) learning.
Productive Struggle in Elementary Mathematics (POSTPONED)
January 20, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
This session will explore productive struggles in the K-5 mathematics classroom. We will address specific questions regarding the story of productive struggle in the mathematics classroom.
The Many Uses of Class Dojo
January 25, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
Class Dojo is a great student management tool. It also has great resources for social-emotional teaching as well as an excellent tool for student portfolios. This presentation will highlight the key tools in Class Dojo such as parent communication, student portfolios, tracking behavior, and a huge resource of short videos to teach growth mindset, empathy, perseverance, and respect.
So, YOU are the Intern!
January 26, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
This session is part 2 from the Fall 2021 Professional Learning session to provide guidance for Aspiring Educators to gain insight into how to have a successful internship and feel confident upon officially entering your own classroom.
FEBRUARY
I'm a Teacher, Now What?!
February 3, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
You have made the pivot to entering education as an uncertified teacher. Learn how to navigate through the alternative certification process while teaching students. Hear from University Professors and Certification Officers on the basics of navigating the road to Professional Educator Certification.
There is More to Literature than Shakespeare and Chaucer
February 9, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
Have you found your students not connecting to the literature being taught? Learn innovative strategies to tie current literature with traditional selections to aid in making it all relatable. Using both visual and written resources, now you can ensure that all will be engaged!
Strengthening Parental Involvement in K-12 Schools
February 10, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
This session will provide participants with informative and clever ways to increase participation from parents either in-person or virtual interactions to help them share the mission and vision of their child's educational experience.
Using Optimism to Overcome Learned Hopelessness
February 17, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
Learned helplessness is a psychological condition associated with feelings of lost control, and it can create students who disengage. This session will focus on using realistic optimism to help students understand that effort is within reach and can lead to success.
How to Eliminate Barriers to College and Career Readiness Through the Use of Technology
February 23, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
Participants will leave the session with a knowledge of these proven techniques: how to use technology to create a career education program, how to use technology to improve college applications and FAFSA completion, how to communicate more effectively with parents/students, how to improve ACT and WorkKeys scores, how to market your program, and how to use technology to eliminate barriers to college and career readiness. Proven techniques will be demonstrated with little or no cost to the educator. Triple "E' Program will be shown.
MARCH
Reading Across Social Studies and Mapping Your Way in the World
March 2, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
This session is designed to provide participants with a framework for teaching social studies using relevant reading activities. Strategies to provide understanding and social awareness in society will also be shared.
It Takes Two, or Three, or More!
March 9, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
Learn strategies to use in your classroom and school to engage students and parents whose primary language of communication is not English. This will also assist in instruction when an ELL Coordinator is not readily available.
The 3 (or More) Cs of Learning
March 17, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
This session will focus on using the 3 (or more) Cs of Learning - Community, Collaboration, Commitment, Creativity, and Critical Thinking - to enhance student engagement. This session will utilize PearDeck to actively engage participants.
There's No "I" in Teamwork – Transforming the Whole Child
March 30, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
The participants participating within this session will learn about how all employees within a school must work together as a team to keep students excited about attending school on a daily basis and help them understand that academic achievement is the key to success.
APRIL
Exploring Educational Apps to Increase Teacher & Student Engagement
April 6, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
This session will provide participants with multiple valuable hyperlinks to educational websites and resources that spans across the curriculum to increase student engagement, increase small group technology intervention and decrease educator instructional burnout!
High School CTE Programs – Preparing Future Early Childhood Educstors
April 7, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
This presentation will give participants a deeper understanding of career preparedness in the high school setting. The presenter will explain the early childhood career pathway and how it benefits the education field. The presenter will explore the partnerships of organizations and how they support the goal of preparing students who are interested in early childhood careers. Participants will understand the instruction provided to equip students with knowledge and skills needed in preparation for credentials, articulated credit, and/or further education.
It's More Than Just an Introduction
April 13, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
Ever wanted to introduce a new lesson and wanted to change up your introduction? Gain insight on how to diversify your lesson introduction using several strategies such as film and music to engage students at the beginning of each lesson.
Daily STEAM
April 21, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
This session will focus on creating a STEAM culture in the classroom by incorporating music, the arts, and literature. This session will utilize Nearpod to enhance member participation.
MAY
Strategies to End a Successful School Year
May 5, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
This session will provide participants with self-care inventions to key their mindset strong about their passion for teaching and keep their tolerance level manageable as the school year comes to a close.
Did You Learn Anything?
May 11, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
You have made it to the end of the year and we know that can entail several activities outside of traditional instruction. Interact with various methods to provide formative and summative assessments to close out a lesson, unit, or class without losing your wits.
Ethnomathematics – How Cultures Mathematize
May 19, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
Ethnomathematics is the study of how cultures use math to solve problems. This session will focus on creating holistic, integrated units of study that are relevant to students.
JULY
Simplistic Strategies for a Successful School Year
Date and Time TBA
This session is designed to provide elementary and secondary novice and veteran teachers with simple strategies and tips to assist with building relationships, student engagement, and classroom management throughout the school year.
Registration Coming Soon
#myAEA edChats
*Participants must have a Twitter account to participate.
Experienced Educators Need Mentors, Too!
January 11, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
Mentoring relationships aren’t just for new educators. Successful educators search for mentors at every stage of their careers. This edChat will explore mentoring relationships for educators at all career stages. Follow Suzanne Clemons, @suzannecaea on Twitter, for the discussion.
Career and Technical Education for All Students
February 8, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
February is Career and Technical Education Month. Join career tech educator JoAnn Wilson, @JoAnnWi56339205 on Twitter, to discuss the impact and importance of career and technical education for all students in our schools.
The Art of Creative Writing
March 8, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
March is Art in Our Schools Month. This edChat will discuss the importance of art in our schools, with a particular focus on creative writing. Follow Nancy Dowdy-Cole, @dowdy_nancy on Twitter, for the discussion.
Cheer for a DEAR Time
April 12, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) time should be an eagerly anticipated part of the school day at every grade level. This edChat will explore ideas to make students (and educators) cheer for DEAR time. Follow Suzanne Clemons, @suzannecaea on Twitter, for the discussion.
Using Effective Mathematical Questioning
May 10, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
Effective questioning strategies should be a part of the math classroom at every level. This edChat will explore ideas for crafting and using questions effectively in the math classroom. Follow Suzanne Clemons, @suzannecaea on Twitter, for the discussion.
Summer Learning Ideas
June 14, 2022 | 4:00 p.m.
This edChat will focus on sharing effective ideas for summer learning activities for elementary students. Follow Amy Fowler, @FOWLER08 on Twitter, for the discussion.