​I attended this event a couple of years ago and it was wonderful!  My only problem was not scheduling to attend for the entire day.  I am still using some of the ideas and books that learned about from this free online conference. I have copied and pasted information about the conference that came in an email.  

SLJTeenLIve!Join us on August 9, 2017, from 10 AM - 5 PM ET, for the 6th annual SLJTeen Live! This free, entirely virtual conference will feature more than 20 YA author panelists and keynote speakers, plus two hours of panels on innovative and creative approaches to teen services and programming.

Authors will speak on topics including immigration, gender, and reluctant readers, while your fellow librarians share how they work with special populations, small budgets, and other challenges to create outstanding teen programs.
This year's keynote speakers:

• Benjamin Alire Sáenz, The Inexplicable Logic of My Life
• Barry Lyga, Bang
• Reshma Saujani, Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World

Why losing control of your classroom is a good thing: https://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/06/19/losing-control-classroom-good/
"Schools can see big gains in creativity by letting students take charge of their classroom--and their learning."
​This article addresses the area where I have had the most questions and discontent: adults understanding how to set objectives for themselves.  When I teach traditional graduate classes I usually get two questions the most often from the students: "What do you want?" and "What can I do to get an A?"  These are followed by "Can I do the same thing/read the same book/etc. that I have been doing since it seems to work?"  It is sometimes difficult to get the young adults to try something new or think in a new, more creative way.  This article address this issue in middle school classrooms.

First Lessons in Writing: Starting Off easy to Ensure Later Success: https://www.thoughtco.com/first-lessons-in-writing-1212381
​The concrete examples in this article would be especially useful to teachers who work with adult students who are learning to write and speak in English, I think.

Technology's Flood into Classrooms Doesn't Necessarily Translate to Productive Teaching: http://www.educationworld.com/a_news/technology%E2%80%99s-flood-classrooms-doesn%E2%80%99t-necessarily-translate-productive-teaching-1102410841?
This article summarizes a report by Education Week about how technology is used in the classroom.  Although many classrooms have technology, the report says, it is often not used for passive activities, such as drill and review, rather than for research, collaboration, or empowering students. High quality professional development would help in this area, it seems. ​

Traditional assessment rewards the wrong behaviors - here's why: https://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/06/16/av-traditional-assessment-wrong/
​"Instead of rewarding students for how many problems they solve, here's what schools should be focusing on instead."  According to this article, what educators should be assessing is how students tackle challenges and how they use various hypothesis if the first one they try does not work.  Also, students are encouraged to cooperate to find the answers.  I like these ideas and think that they may solve the issue of students asking questions like, "What do you want me to do?" or "I've always done it this way."

Assistive Technology Can Benefit All Students: https://www.edutopia.org/blog/assistive-technology-can-benefit-all-students-jenny-grabiec
​"Five tools for reading, writing, and time management that can help all students-not just those with learning disabilities."
​In my classes I have noticed that many students benefit from the tools and strategies used for those with IEPs.  Giving all children in the  the choice of using these tools and strategies helps those who need them not feel different and allows those who need them get the help they seek.
​

Not Just Group Work -- Productive Group Work!: https://www.edutopia.org/blog/productive-group-work-andrew-miller
​In my experience both as a teacher and a student, group work either works well in accomplishing a goal or is very frustrating.  I liked the ideas in this article to help make group work successful beginning with making the goal of the work clear to the students and also why working in a group is necessary.  Other specific suggestions are described and can be easily adapted in most classrooms.

8 Tips for Teaching With Mentor Texts: https://www.edutopia.org/blog/8-tips-teaching-mentor-texts-christina-gil
​"Using great writing as a model doesn't come naturally to students-it's a skill that needs to be taught."
​I like to use mentor texts in my classes but find that I begin well then don't follow through with referring to the mentor text often enough during a lesson.  This article has specific ways that mentor texts can be used often throughout a class.

Hey Higher Ed, Why Not Focus On Teaching?: http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/06/07/530909736/hey-higher-ed-why-not-focus-on-teaching
Nobel Prize winner Carl Wieman, author of Improving How Universities Teach Science: Lessons from the Science Education Initiative, advocates the use of active learning in college classes.  This seems to me to be a great idea as it would not only help teachers learn the subject matter but also have experience with active learning.  He says that many K-12 teachers come to college without the needed science knowledge to teach the classes they are assigned.  I don't know about high school, but I have found that many PreK-middle school teachers learn as they teach.  Having a depth of knowledge beyond what is taught at an assigned grade-level and experience with active learning would make classes more effective, it seems to me. ​

Promoting Understanding: Islam (A Toolkit for Teachers): http://www.wnet.org/education/programs/islam/
​This toolkit is sponsored by my local PBS station and was created to "...promote understanding about Islam through study of the culture, traditions, and personal stories of Muslim Americans." It includes general guidelines for teaching about religion as well as religion and the first amendment. I particularly liked the explanations about holidays and religious observances told in a way that provides "...videos, background essays, discussion questions...while increasing empathy and celebrating diversity."