TeachersFirst: Week of August 29, 2010

Featured Sites - Week of August 29, 2010

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Here are this week's features. Clicking the "more resources like this" link below each listing will present a list of our most recent additions for the same subject area and grade level .

Reading Rewards - Grades 1 - 7 - permalink
Reading Rewards is a new, free reading incentive program for teachers, parents, and students that can be used as a teaching tool in the classroom or at home. Kids accumulate Reading Reward "Miles" on the site, which they can exchange for fun things on the site: joke of the day, video of the day (always safe, kid-friendly videos their editors find), mini-games, and more. Watch the introductory slide show for the program showing you how to set up Reading Rewards for your class(es). A side benefit of this site is that you can also use it to teach about distinguishing between advertisements and actual content on a site. 11527

In the Classroom:
Make a shortcut to this site on classroom computers and use it as a center, or post the address on your teacher website so students and parents can access the program at home, too. Set reading goals for individual students or the class.

Elephant Odyssey - Grades 2 - 6 - permalink
Learn about elephants through this engaging interactive that takes you back to the time of mammoths. Keep your elephant alive by finding food and avoiding dangers such as saber tooth tigers. In addition, there are links to explore the elephant exhibit at the San Diego Zoo, meet the elephants and watch videos of the elephants in action. 11485

In the Classroom:
Make a shortcut to this site on classroom computers and use it as a center during your animal unit. Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students explore this site independently or in small groups. Use this site as a starting point for individual or group projects on animals and their habitats.

Money Counting Worksheets - Grades 1 - 3 - permalink
Money Counting Worksheets takes the basic idea of worksheets and incorporates it with the benefits of technology. This simple tool generates online worksheets that show either the coin faces or coin values. Students simply count the sums of the coins and type their answers in the space provided. Students can check their answers as they go and print their worksheets upon completion if necessary. *Be aware, there is also a link to writing worksheets. This feature is for a FEE. The counting worksheets are free. 11084

In the Classroom:
Money Counting Worksheets can provide simple enrichment and differentiated instruction opportunities. This is a great site to add as a math center. You can quickly and easily generate worksheets to supplement math curricula for whole group instruction or individual needs. Be sure to demonstrate how this site works on an interactive whiteboard or projector.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: money |

You Can Teach Writing - Grades 7 - 12 - permalink
Here you will find writing advice for different genres, prompts, advice for teaching thesis statements and so much more; all presented with humor and a very strong voice. Are you a new teacher? Is your school pushing "writing across the curriculum"? Are you an English or writing teacher who just wants verification and some new ideas or prompts? If you answered yes to any of these you must visit Linda Aragoni's You Can Teach Writing site! Linda is a teacher, editor, and professional writer whose writing site started out as a book. Linda puts out a monthly newsletter with all sorts ideas you can use in the classroom. The last one had a link for a slide show about how new words are made and suggestions for how to use the slide show in the classroom. 11044

In the Classroom:
This site is primarily for teacher use, but you will find yourself using what you learn here in your classroom, weekly, if not daily. This is definitely a site to save in your favorites. There are many ideas here.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: writing across the curriculum | expository writing | essays | essay writing |

Historypin - Grades 4 - 12 - permalink
This is a site created in partnership with Google as a project to help generations share and talk more through social networking. The concept is that young people ask older people to share their photos; these photos are then uploaded through Google maps to show the world as it once was. The older pictures can be compared to today's images through Google street view. In addition to uploading photos, stories can also be shared about the time period and the pictures. Historypin is still in Beta stage; however, there are plans for events throughout the world to launch the site in the near future.

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In the Classroom:
Use as an enhancement to research projects of family, historic events, and world cultures by finding and uploading pictures to the map. Use Historypin as a resource to compare and contrast different time periods in the same geographic area. Demonstrate on the interactive whiteboard or projector how different places have changed over time. Have individual students or cooperative learning groups create podcasts using PodOmatic (reviewed here) to go along with the maps. ESL students will appreciate the ability to upload pictures and/or learn about their country of original.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: world cultures | maps |

Multiplying and Dividing Fractions - Grades 4 - 6 - permalink
Multiplying and Dividing Fractions is a comprehensive web activity that starts with a PowerPoint Lesson and follows with resources, activities, games, and worksheets. 11291

In the Classroom:
Using an interactive whiteboard or projector, go over the PowerPoint on how to multiply and divide fractions. Have students go through the resources, games, activities, and worksheets using individual laptops. Also try having students create a mini web unit on a topic by putting together a multimedia presentation and including additional web resources, activities, games, and worksheets. Challenge students to create a simple video demonstrating how to multiply and divide fractions and share using a site such as SchoolTube (reviewed here).

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: fractions | multiplication | division |

Historic Tool Construction Kit - Grades 3 - 12 - permalink
This online "Kit" allows students to create stories with Medieval graphics a la Bayeux Tapestries and antique-style text. Students drag the selected picture onto the screen and click on text to begin writing the story. They can change the graphic to its mirror image easily. Options include deleting the page or going on to a new page in the story. Students can save, e-mail, and view other historical tales already created. Although the graphics include plenty of men, animals, and buildings, there do not seem to be many females available! Given the historic source of the graphics, this alone could spark an interesting discussion about the Bayeux Tapestries and the times when they were produced. 11238

In the Classroom:
Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students use this story writing site to summarize historical tales or to creatively imagine and display what might have been if historical events had gone in a different way. Have students write a blog entry from the perspective of a male, female, or even animal during this time period. Use this site as an inspiration for developing student's own system of pictographs for story-telling.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: Medieval story writing |

Shmoop: Shakespeare - Grades 6 - 12 - permalink
Shmoop has an entire section just for William Shakespeare. If you click on his name at the top you'll be taken to his biography page. This address will also list the Learning Guides that Shmoop has developed for Shakespeare's works. All you need for your Shakespeare unit on one page! 11457

In the Classroom:
Introduce Shakespeare before reading any of his works by having the students do a jigsaw. Have students number off in groups of four. Three of the students should investigate two tabs each (exclude Citations and Opinions). One student should look only at “Best of the Web” since it is rather extensive. Have students get in their expert groups based on the tab(s) they will read and jot down notes. Once everyone has completed the work have them report out to their original group what they found that was important or interesting. Have groups create multimedia presentations to share with the class. Have your students create an interactive online poster ("glog") using Glogster EDU, reviewed here. Another idea, have students create podcasts using a site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here). Challenge students to narrate a picture of Shakespeare using a tool such as Voicethread reviewed here.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: biography | Shakespeare | Shmoop |

Energy City - Grades 6 - 12 - permalink
How would you power a city if fossil fuels were no longer present? Provide this opportunity to your students using this highly interactive activity. Click "Play Energy City" to view an overview and instructions for the interactive. Explanation of stakeholders, icons, and strategies for play are provided. Listen to the instructions as they appear on the screen. Click "Begin" to choose your city and choose to play either in Normal or Expert mode. Follow on screen tutorials available. 11386

In the Classroom:
Use this interactive to learn the basics of managing an energy strategy keeping in mind those living in the area as well as the environment. Use this site at the end of an energy unit or as an introduction to introduce possible renewable sources of energy. Following the activity, discuss in groups or as a class what they learned about the different types of renewable energies. Assign certain groups a different energy to review, research, and present to the class. Identify why there may be a world without fossil fuels. Look at viewpoints from groups within the US as well as elsewhere in the world. Identify the environmental effects from both renewable and non-renewable sources of energy. Create a campaign to increase awareness of energy issues and alternatives. Have your students create an interactive online poster ("glog") using Glogster EDU, reviewed here. Expand your unit to create an energy audit of your school, homes, and community to expand the value of conservation to others.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: energy | conservation | environment |

Twitter - Grades 0 - 12 - permalink
Teachers First Edge Review: For serious technology users looking to build connections and push their thinking about teaching and learning. Centered around the question "What are you doing," users enter information they share with their "followers" by creating 140 character updates. Updates are much more than messages to share what you are eating for lunch! Use this popular microblogging and social networking tool for a great way to communicate with teaching peers you may not have a chance to otherwise meet. Reply to others to create conversations for some of the best professional development around. Each "tweet" or message may not seem extraordinary, but using the sum total of tweets from those you "meet" on Twitter can have an amazing impact. Use your profile and settings to add a bio and other information, change your security settings from public to protected, find those who follow you, and more. Post your tweets through the website, mobile devices, or myriad of applications to manage tweets and followers. Keep track of your favorite posts by starring them. Refer to your favorites list as needed. Wish you could take back a tweet? Click the trash can beside the post to delete (however, others may have already seen and responded.) Find many opinions about twitter on and off the Internet. Remember you will gain only as much as you put into this service. Build a network of helpful colleagues to become a better learner and educator. Still not sure what Twitter is about? Find a great explanation of how it works in this review. 11537

In the Classroom:
Skills required: Users must be able to create an account using an email address. Though overwhelming, be sure to start out slow and look at conversations that catch your eye. Follow people with experience in your areas of interest to gain from the conversations. Start off by following @teachersfirst or @cshively (our leader). Learn about hashtags -- ways to mark and follow conversations on a specific topic. For example, the #ntchat tag is for new and pre-service teachers and the #edchat hashtag is for all teachers. Participate in these chats which are scheduled at certain days and times. Find archived tweets from these chats to learn from some wonderful and motivated teachers weh it is convenient for YOU. Use other Twitter applications such As Twapper Keeper reviewed hereto archive specific tweets.

Safety/security: Users can decide whether they wish to make their tweets private or public. As people follow you, decide whether you want them to see your tweets or block them easily to prevent access. Wondering about the usefulness of Twitter with students? Be sure to check with your District's policies. Many Districts block Twitter. If using it with students, be sure that you can monitor their use in class and follow their conversations. Be sure students understand the appropriate and inappropriate use of this service as well as consequences. Here is a blog post about using Twitter in the classroom.

In the classroom: Bring teaching and learning to new heights by using this service as a great form of professional development. At conferences, use Twitter as a backchannel to expand upon thoughts and ideas during presentations and after. Have a question to ask others' opinion about? Throw it out to Twitter to see the great perspectives given by those who follow you.

If your school does permit Twitter, consider using your teacher account to send updates to other teachers across the country or across the globe. A whole-class, teacher account is the most likely way to gain permission to use Twitter in school, especially if you can demonstrate specific projects. That can be as simple as making sure you and that teacher are FOLLOWING each other, then sending a direct message (start the tweet with D and the other teacher's twitter name) or creating a groups with your own hashtag for a project such as daily weather updates. Even if you are not "following" someone, you can send them a tweet using @theirtwittername in the body of the message. This is called a "mention" but can be seen by others, too. Compare what your class is observing in today's weather, which topics you will be discussing today, or ask for another class's opinions on a current events issue. Ask for updates about local concerns, such as talking to California schools about wildfires in their area or a Maine school about a blizzard. Challenge another class to tweet the feelings of a literacy character, such as Hamlet, and respond as Ophelia, all in 140 characters or less.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: twit-tchr | microblogging | social network | update |

New Teacher Chat - Grades 0 - 12 - permalink
Teachers First Edge Review: For adventurous new teachers and pre-service teachers to push teaching and learning to a new level! Use the New Teacher Chat wiki to find archived chats conducted on Twitter by new and pre-service teachers. Find a wealth of links and information as the wiki is developed in association with Edutopia's New Teachers Group. New to Twitter (reviewed here)? No problem. Find great stand alone information on this site and plenty of support for using Twitter to make connections among new educators and seasoned professionals. The new teacher chat uses the #ntchat hashtag on Twitter to find the conversations easily. Follow the directions on the main page to get started on Twitter and the New Teacher Chat. Still confused? No worry. Ask questions of anyone in the group (we all started out in the same place!) Be sure to follow @teachersfirst and @cshively to connect with other TeachersFirst users, too! 11559

In the Classroom:
Skills required: Users must be have a Twitter account to follow the chat. Alternately, view the chat archive. To really receive value from the group, be sure to participate in the scheduled chats. View the wiki for times and days.

In the classroom: Use Twitter and the New Teacher Chat for the best professional development available today. Create connections with other educators, both new and seasoned, to support and challenge you as you begin your teaching career. Consider also joining Edutopia's New Teacher Group as well.

Twapper Keeper - Grades 9 - 12 - permalink
Teachers First Edge Review: For serious technology users. Can't keep up with the Twitter tweets from a specific hashtag, conversation, or person? Create your own archive that is based upon a hashtag or keyword you choose. Export and download the relevant tweets that have been gathered for you in one convenient place! Use to keep track of important conversations or links shared through Twitter. Analyze information at your leisure. Use an RSS feed to continue to receive updates on tweets you have chosen. Not wishing to have your tweets archived? Use their opt out feature to protect your tweets from this service. Follow the tabs to create specific archives or create a collection of archives. 8370

In the Classroom:
Skills required: Users must have a twitter account and be familiar with the use of hashtags. See more information here about Twitter.

Safety/security: Be sure to check out the Twapper Keeper blog and FAQ's for concerns about using the service. Login to this site using your twitter login and password.

In the classroom: Use Twapper Keeper to keep track of specific hashtags for great teacher chats such as New Teacher Chat (#ntchat) and Ed Chat (#edchat.) Find hashtags being used at conferences to stay on top of information being shared or discussed. You may discover some teacher groups using hashtags for specific curriculum topics to collaborate between schools. Twapper Keeper can help you keep these exchanges for your class to revisit when it fits your lessons.

For similar resources, click the appropriate keyword: twitter | twit-tchr | hashtag | microblogging |

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