Free Professional Learning for Teachers

A few years ago I created a list of free professional development opportunities for teachers, and I’ve heard from so many of you with more great options. That’s why I decided to create a new post to highlight 10 more amazing ways to continue your professional learning.

This time I didn’t break the options down quite so much, so you’ll find this list includes online courses, live webinars, and pre-recorded options. Regardless of the format, every single option on this list is absolutely free because, as teachers, we already pay enough out-of-pocket.

10+ More Free Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers

I’ve made sure to indicate the ideal grade range and focus of each site to help you quickly narrow down whether one of these options is the right professional learning opportunity for you.

Before you start, make a list of what you’re hoping to learn or get out of your online learning experience. Then you’ll be able to go into this process ready to make the best choices for your needs. However, if you aren’t quite sure what you want to learn about, don’t stress! There are a ton of great options to support your professional growth.

1. ShareMyLesson

Ideal for: Upper Elementary – Middle School Teachers

Website: https://sharemylesson.com/

What you’ll find:

• Developing Empathy through Indigenous Cultures & Stories
• Differentiating Instruction without Lowering Rigor
• Essential Techniques for PBL Success
• How to Successfully Work with Defiant Students

2. Inspire Teaching

Ideal for: Aspiring Counselors, Teachers building SEL skills

Website: https://www.inspireteaching.org/

What you’ll find:

• Social-Emotional Learning & Trauma-Informed Practices
• Neuroscience of Stress
• Supporting Diverse Learners with Digital Instruction

3. EDweb.net

Ideal for: Upper Elementary & Middle School Teachers

Website: https://home.edweb.net/

What you’ll find:

• The Science of Literacy Instruction
• Teaching Problem Solving in Math
• Teaching with the News in a Time of Challenge and Change
• Integrating SEL into Remote and Hybrid Learning

4. Scientific Learning

Ideal for: Teachers interested in brain-based learning

Website: https://www.scilearn.com/webinars/

Perks:

• Certificates available
• Webinars focused on high-risk groups
• 60-minute research-based professional learning sessions

What you’ll find:

• Developing Executive Function in K-12
• 5 Secrets to Jumpstart Learning in Students of Poverty
• Teaching with the Brain in Mind
• How to Rewire the Brains of Struggling Readers

5. ASCD Professional Webinars

Ideal for: Teachers & Instructional Coaches

Website: http://www.ascd.org/professional-development/webinar

Perks:

• Great professional learning options for teachers & instructional coaches
• Lots of options from the past few years
• Special members only training opportunities for ASCD members

What you’ll find:

• Solving Academic and Behavior Problems in the Remote Environment
• Just-in-Time Strategies for Ensuring Equity
• Rise to the Challenge: Designing Rigorous Learning that Maximizes Student Success
• How to Integrate SEL into Learning

6. APA Professional Development for PreK-12 Teachers

Ideal for: Teachers wanting support for Classroom Management & Behavior

Website: https://www.apa.org/education/k12/professional-development

Perks:

• All options are approved by APA for CE credit hours
• Relevant topics related to psychology & learning
• Includes great options for counselors, school psychologists

What you’ll find:

• Classroom Disruption Interventions
• Developing Responsible & Autonomous Learners
• Practical Classroom Management
• Using Classroom Data to Give Systematic Feedback to Students to Improve Learning

7. Future Learn

Ideal for: Middle – High School STEM Teachers

Website: https://www.futurelearn.com/subjects/teaching-courses

Perks:

• Offers free 7-day trial (with lots of courses you can finish in that time)
• Options for online degrees, micro-credentials, expert tracks, and short courses
• Micro-credential available for online teaching

What you’ll find:

• Teaching Coding
• Linking Curriculum Learning to STEM Careers
• Interdisciplinary Learning
• Digital Learning – Resources for Successful Online Learning

8. Sesame Street in Communities

Ideal for: PK-Kinder

Website: https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/professional-development/

Perks:

• Offers training videos, webinars, and courses
• Designed to support early learning
• SEL & academic options for parents and childcare providers
• Spanish options available

What you’ll find:

• Make Believe with Math
• Brave, Strong, Resiliant
• Helping Families Thrive Through COVID-19
• Learning Through Play

9. Teaching Strategies

Ideal for: Teachers PK-12

Website: https://teachingstrategies.com/blog/webinars/

Perks:

• Offers options related to virtual and in-person teaching
• Offerings related to early childhood and elementary
• Includes PD related to home-school engagement

What you’ll find:

• Harnessing the Power of How to Promote Deep, Reflective Thinking
• Working with Trauma-Impacted Young Children
• Making Distance Learning Work: Virtual Classroom Setup as a Teaching Strategy
• Using the Cultural Wealth of Families to Create Meaningful Learning Contexts for Children

10. WNET Education: Concept to Classroom

Ideal for: Upper Elementary or Multi-subject Teachers

Website: https://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/

Perks:

• Free monthly webinar that offers an upgrade option for $5 to get PD certificate
• A simple, easy-to-navigate site
• Options across a variety of different areas of education
• The multimedia format includes video and reading w/ focus on implementation
• Regularly adding new courses

What you’ll find:

• Option to get continuing education credits
• A simple, easy-to-navigate site
• Options across a variety of different areas of education
• The multimedia format includes video and reading w/ focus on implementation

11. Model Teaching

Ideal for: Taste-testing a return to graduate school; teachers looking for credit hours or grad credits

Website: https://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/

Perks:

• Free monthly webinar that offers an upgrade option for $5 to get PD certificate
• A simple, easy-to-navigate site
• Options across a variety of different areas of education
• The multimedia format includes video and reading w/ focus on implementation
• Regularly adding new courses
• Options for grad credit & state recertification (paid)

What you’ll find:

• Differentiation
• Assessment & Data Collection
• Technology in the Classroom
• All core subjects

Take the next steps with your professional learning

Whether you’re just hoping to grab a few PD credits from the comfort of your couch or you’re seeking an online graduate degree in education, there are so many options available today. Although you’ll need to do a little research and find a few spare hours, you can find almost anything you need.

Many of us have been thrown for a loop due to Covid restrictions. However, one positive has been the rapid expansion of online professional development options. These courses don’t require travel or hours in a hot, stuffy conference room. This makes them a definite win!

Last but not least, if you know of other sites that offer free, online professional learning for teachers, let me know in the comments below.