Conferences and webinars are simple ways to brush up on best practices, discover new methods to connect with students, network with other professionals and much more. Even better? Many professional-development events are free to attend!

As a gift to our educator community, we’ve put in the work and rounded up 32 summer conferences, from June to August. The majority of these opportunities are virtual and free, making professional development accessible for all.

As customary during our spring phase course, Rutgers Alternate Route held an online Twitter Chat to help new teachers enrolled in the program increase awareness of inclusion strategies for helping special education students thrive.

Veteran and new teachers alike are expected to understand their students’ learning disabilities and make the appropriate accommodations. That’s why new teachers enrolled in with Rutgers Alternate Route invest time identifying and studying research-based practices and other resources that help their special education students excel.

These 11 articles are ones that new teachers enrolled with Rutgers Alternate Route have found helpful to their goals of creating an inclusive classroom for students with learning disabilities. We hope they will help other teachers who are looking to build supportive learning environments in which all students can thrive.

Teacher Appreciation Week is a beloved week for us at Rutgers Alternate Route, as we love celebrating our candidates past and present, as well as our trusted partners. 

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week (May 8-12, 2023), many businesses are celebrating educators by offering exclusive discounts. Teachers can redeem coupons for school supplies, insurance and auto repair deals, clothing discounts, and more. 

In January 2022, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation that seriously increased representation for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students and educators.

The bill ensures that the “contributions, history, and heritage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are included in the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Social Studies for students in kindergarten through Grade 12,” according to a press release from the Governor’s Office.

New Jersey is the second state to require AAPI history as part of its public school curriculum, following Illinois. By incorporating AAPI history into schools, students with AAPI heritage feel better represented and the material helps fight harmful stereotypes.