TeachersFirst: Timely Topics

Timely Topics:
School Violence; Internet Safety; Bullying; Cyberbullying

Here are resources related to these "hot" topics:

74 record(s) found - search again

Bullying Grade K to 8 - BBC- 7974

This site addresses the important issue of bullying. It includes an interactive video, reports, information guides, quizzes, polls, and more. This site also talks about the less frequently discussed forms of bullying - such as cyber bullying, girls bullying girls, cellular phone bullying and other less "traditional" forms of bullying (which unfortunately are becoming more common). FLASH is required for some of the activities.

In the Classroom:
Use an interactive whiteboard or projector to talk to your class about bullying. Perhaps you can even use this discussion to prompt a journal entry, skit, or other personal response on the topic of bullying and how to handle it. Provide this link for parents to read at home with their students. Parents need to know what could be going on in their students' lives and how to help.

Pacer Kids Against Bullying Grade 2 to 6 - National Center for Bully Prevention- 9440

This interactive site, geared toward the elementary school-aged child, highlights the signs and repercussions of bullying. Your students can play games or watch webisodes to learn about this hot topic. Your students may want to enter the continuously-running essay contest at any time of the year. For Bully Prevention Awareness Week, this fun site is your one-stop place for information.

Note: At the time of this review, some links were “under construction.” This site requires Real Player. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
On your interactive whiteboard or projector, show the webisodes of bullying scenarios to spark conversations about this problem. After watching the webisodes, divide your class into small groups to create their own real-life anti-bullying ‘webisode’ to perform for the class. For Awareness Week, create your own poster contest against bullying

The Newest Breed of Bully, the Cyberbully Grade 3 to 12 - PTA- 7365

As if traditional bullying were not enough, we know have cyberbullying! This web page offers a great explanation and examples of cyberbullying. It also lists strategies by which to help children who are being cyberbullied. Do not forget to visit the link provided that helps to locate cyberbullies and their web pages.

In the Classroom:
Include this link on your on classroom web page or share the information at conferences with parents. As an Internet safety activity, teach about the cyberbullying, then have students create pamphlets based on cyberbullying information to send home to parents. Or have them create posters to hang around school about cyberbullying, using terminology you teach from the web site.

Students will need you to present the information, since the site is directed toward parents, not students. Use scenarios such as those described in the article to spark discussion.

Kids Against Bullying Grade 1 to 6 - National Center for Bullying Prevention- 8100

This site provides a good introduction to what bullying is and tips on how to respond to acts of bullying. The Parents and Professionals section includes lesson ideas and downloadable handouts for parents. This site requires Real Player, Flash and Acrobat reader. Get them from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.. An html version is available if you don’t have Flash.

In the Classroom:
Use this site as an “activator” to introduce a unit or lesson using a projector. You will need headphones or speakers for the audio portions of this site. Include this site on your teacher web page for parents to access as a reference or discussion starters. Get parent permission before posting any student work on this sharing site.

Stop Bullying Now Grade 2 to 8 - US Department of Health- 9454

Your one-stop place for bullying resources, whether it is cyberbullying or face to face, this site is loaded with twelve games, oodles of webisodes, online polls, interviews, and more. You can even download the "Stop Bullying Now" theme song as a ringtone. Click on the “What Adults Can Do” link on the left to access the “Materials for Educators” link. Download TFK Extra (Time for Kids) webisodes to print out for classroom reading. Teacher guides are also available. View the extensive Tip Sheets for adults.

A Spanish version of this entire site is available with a click from the Home page. Flash and Adobe Acrobat are required, get them from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Pass out appropriate Tip Sheets to parents in a newsletter, on your class website, teacher blog, or during Open House. Generate discussion on bullying by addressing it on your blog. This site has enough Tip Sheets and resources for an entire school year. For fun, divide your class into small groups to create their own webisodes against bullying.

Steps to Bully Proof Your Child Grade 1 to 9 - - 4344

Always a difficult subject, bullies can ruin your child’s upper elementary school day. Bullies often manage to operate without adults’ awareness. Here are six straightforward strategies to help your child deal with bullies.

Girls Bullying Girls Grade 4 to 12 - TeachersAndFamilies- 7617

This article for parents discusses the aggressions of girls (in particularly bullying other girls). Topics include an explanation of relational aggressions, reasons why girls bully other girls, what the consequences of the bullying can be, how parents can help and resources.

In the Classroom:
This article may be a useful reference for some of your parents. Share the link on your teacher web page or in a newsletter or note sent home.

Report a Bully Grade K to 12 - - 7326

This simple site allows a school to sign up ( free) for a confidential bully reporting system. Students, teachers, parents can click to report a bully and turn in a report confidentially so school administration can look into the incident. Though there is the potential for bogus reports, this site would likely work well with elementary students or even middle schoolers IF you explained it to them in advance and spoke specifically about the consequences of false reports. The benefit is that the service allows students to report an incident without fear that a bully might "see them in the office."

In the Classroom:
Teachers and principals will like the written record the system generates by emailing the report to the designated contact.

Hector's World Grade K to 5 - NetSafe - Internet Safety Group (New Zealand)- 8308

This attractive, interactive site includes online movies, complete lesson plans, and activities for teaching all about Internet Safety, for three levels of elementary students: preK-1, 2-3, and 4-5 (click on Learning Resources for the plans). "Episodes" of animated movies with sound and accompanying coloring book pages and activities make it easy to teach each of five lessons for your grade level. The audio and spelling are from new Zealand, so a quick geography lesson could be included for U.S. classrooms! Teach about protecting personal information, who to trust, how to handle uncomfortable situations, and getting help.

NOTE: You MUST disable your pop-up blocker for some portions of the site to work! See Tools>Pop up Blocker Settings to tell the computer to always allow pop-ups from this site. the entire site is done in Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.. This site is resource-rich and really needs a high speed connection and opens fairly slowly. Be patient.

In the Classroom:
The "episode" movies are perfect for a projector or interactive whiteboard and are ideally suited for follow-up discussion so students can connect to the content. Anyone can teach about Internet Safety with these free, easy-to-understand lessons. Include parents by sharing the link on your teacher web page or through building or class newsletters. If your building is interested in a comprehensive Internet Safety campaign (such as through the PTA/PTO), share an episode at meeting with parents and students, then encourage everyone to join in Hector's World both at home and school. Everything is ready to go.

Student Violence in America's Schools Grade 6 to 12 - New York Times- 7275

The New York Times Learning Network has brought together a number of resources on school violence. Although the site does not include any coverage of the 2006 Amish school shooting, there are contemporary Times reports of a number of other high-profile cases of school violence. The reports are coupled with several lesson plans designed to help students talk about these issues, as well as resources to help teachers plan effective discussions on school violence.

In the Classroom:
Teachers cannot ignore the issues of school violence, nor hope they can avoid questions from students. The issue is not whether they should talk about it with students, but how they can do it most effectively and honestly. These lesson plans and resources can help teachers feel prepared, either for a planned discussion, or for the spur-of-the-moment question that becomes a teachable moment.

Bullies Grade K to 5 - PBS Kids- 7254

At this website, students will find information, videos, surveys and more all about bullies! Some of the topics include, "What is a Bully?", "How to Handle It", "Are You a Bully" and more. Some of the activities require FLASH.

In the Classroom:
Try an interactive whiteboard to include your entire class on this important subject. Teachers can find lesson plans and other class activities by clicking on the "Parents and Teachers" link. The lesson plan requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Bully Awareness Week (Canada) Grade K to 12 - Bill Belsey- 9448

This Canadian site provides a week’s worth of lessons to teach your students about bullying. It doesn’t matter when your particular school highlights this important topic, you can use these valuable lessons and tools any time of the year. Please be aware that the statistics at this site are Canadian, however; the USA stats can be found via the internet with ease. Click on the left hand menu on each day of the week for a healthy stash of activities to use. From surveys to books to school-wide activity suggestions, be sure to save this site in your favorites. Music, videos, and more also await you at the Resources link.

QuickTime, Flash, and Adobe Acrobat are required for music and videos. You can get them from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Teachers, encourage your school to set aside a week to highlight this concern at your school. If your school doesn’t promote it, you can do your part by having an anti-bullying campaign in your own classroom by using the simple suggestions at this site.

Surf Swell Island Grade K to 6 - Disney.com- 9289

This colorful and engaging website explains Internet safety to younger students. There are four activities; Privacy Falls, Virus Cave, Temple of Tact, & Challenge of Doom . Come along with Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and others as you answer various questions during the interactive Internet safety quiz. All answers are explained in a kid-friendly manner. There is also a teacher's guide (you must allow pop-ups to view the guide). The teacher's guide provides specific activities and lesson ideas for kindergartners, grades 1-3, and grades 4-6. There are some small pop-up style and sidebar advertisements at this website. But the annoyance is minimal, and the topic is pertinent. You could even talk about the ads as part of your lesson. If you aren't directed automatically to the homepage, click on the link Go to Island . The website does require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Use your interactive whiteboard or projector to teach your class about Internet safety any time or when you start on a research project using the Internet. The program doesn't "go on" unless you hit "continue." So take a few minutes after each question to discuss why something is okay or not okay online. Open another window to show actual examples of some of the topics discussed, as well. There are many other creative ideas at the Teacher's Guide link. For example, they suggest encouraging students to pretend they are on Surf Swell Island. and create a story about their adventures in cyber safety.

Internet Safety Poster Grade 3 to 12 - London Grid for Learning- 8307

This colorful, downloadable poster is written entirely in text-message language (aka chatspeak, txt, txtspk,txt talk, etc), so adults who do not know the lingo will puzzle figuring out the message. Click the blue download arrow to open the pdf file (Acrobat Reader required). Then let the students take the lead in translating for YOU.

In the Classroom:
The poster is ideal for your computer labs or even to send home to parents (electronically, of course). Share the link on your teacher web page. Start the conversation-- in real words-- to protect your students.

As part of an Internet Safety campaign, have students create their own txt message posters or PowerPoint slides using images from Flickr or other Creative Commons sites. Make it an exercise in SAFE activity to promote Internet Safety. If you can find money for a prize, make it a contest throughout your school.

Bullies and Victims Grade K to 12 - TeachersAndFamilies- 7622

This article provides information to parents about bullies and their victims. Topics include signs of bullying, signs of victimization, what parents can do, research and resources. This is a very insightful article.

In the Classroom:
This article may be a useful reference for some of your parents. Share the link on your teacher web page or in a newsletter or note sent home.

Bullying - How to Help the Victim Grade 1 to 5 - Boys Town- 1463

In the Classroom:
Tips for parents on strategies to counter bullying.

Get Net Wise Grade K to 12 - Internet Education Foundation- 8269

This is a great compilation of information on internet safety, covering many hot topics including safety for your children, protecting your personal information, stopping unsolicited email, and keeping your computer safe. The section on Safety for Children is especially appropriate for parents of school age children and includes an Internet Safety Guide, Tools for Families, a place to report problem sites and occurrences, and further web sites for children. Computer literacy teachers and those responsible for teaching INternet safety in any course will find the information wuite helpful. Sections are divided by age-ranges so information is age-appropriate.

In the Classroom:
Share this site in your classroom newsletter or on your teacher web page to help parents protect their children, themselves, and their computers. Some of the safety information is directly aplicable in your classroom technology-based lessons, as well.

You may find some good tips for protecting your own home computer and children, too!

Internet Safety Education Foundation Grade 3 to 12 - - 4510

This site has extensive resources on internet safety for adults and students alike. Visit the Xblock section where kids and teens can become "i-mentors," helping their peers and adults to better understanding Internet safety or go to the iLearn section for tutorial modules for kids, parents, and even senior citizens. You have to join, but it is free. The site may be good for schools looking to develop rules and policies for safe classroom internet use. It also discusses some of the information sharing risks children should be aware of when using internet resources.

In the Classroom:
Share this resource with parents at open house or conferences. They will thank you for it!

CyberBullying Grade 2 to 12 - Bill Belsey- 9438

This portal site is loaded with links, information, and resources to use in your classroom to teach about this timely issue. Although it is a Canadian affiliated site, information applies to all youth around the world. Highlights of this site include fact sheets, examples, resources, and more. Especially take note of the first fact sheet in the “What Can Be Done” section, which shows you how to be a sleuth in figuring out who is doing the anonymous cyberbullying. Fact sheets require Acrobat Reader. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
This is a great site for computer teachers (and regular education teachers) to share with their students and parents. Please review the “What Can Be Done” section with students. Cut and paste, then laminate the rules into small posters to be hung near all computers. Create a notebook of cyberbullying facts, and include the fact sheets at this site. Be sure to share the link with parents and your PTO/PTA, as well.

Scared of Cyber-Bullies? Grade 1 to 12 - CBS News- 5304

School bullying has taken a high-tech twist. This CBS article, with accompanying video and interactive features, describes this alarming trend and provides information for parents and teachers on how to protect children and teens from cyber crime.

ThinkUKnow Grade K to 12 - Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre- 9251

This timely website is a must-see if you are teaching computer and Internet safety. The site is divided into three age levels of activities: 5-7, 8-10, and 11-16. Students ages 5-7 get to meet Hector and take a tour and see interactive information about Internet safety. There are several interactive cartoons and other educational material. Students ages 8-10 meet Griff and his friends to learn how to stay safe while using email, cell phones, chat rooms, and other new technologies. Turn your sound on to listen to Hector and Griff explain safety on a young person’s level (and with charming British accents). The site for secondary students includes video clips, information, and more. All three sub-sites provide age-appropriate activities, with upbeat music and neat interactives. There are also links for parents and teachers. The teachers link features lesson plans to coincide with the cartoons and/or video clips. The lesson plans require membership (which is easy and free). Viewing the cartoons does not require membership. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Click on Parent and Teachers resources to access lesson plans and resources that teach alongside the Cyber Café. You must register to access these, but it is painless. Interact with the content of this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector with your entire class to generate a class discussion on this important topic.

Eight Forty-Eight: Cyber Bullying Grade 3 to 12 - Chicago Public Radio- 8810

This article, available in both audio recording and print on the web page, shares a parent's experience discovering that her daughter has been the victim of cyberbullying. The article is written from an adult perspective, but the facts and feelings it reveals are very real to anyone. Parents with children as young as elementary grades should be aware of things they should watch for, say, and do to help their children. Teachers should read it to understand the nature of the problem, as well.

In the Classroom:
Share this article with parents in a newsletter or school web page so they, too, can be involved in talking with their children about cyberbullying. Use it as a discussion starter for a parent organization meeting or possibly in a group of middle school students to open the conversation about their experiences and how different they are from what their parents were familiar with as children. Both parents and children would benefit from open dialog on the subject as part of a consistent effort for Internet safety in your school and homes.

NetSmartz Workshop Grade K to 12 - National Center for Missing & Exploited Children- 7434

Use this website to help students of all ages learn to be safe online and in the real world. Included are short video clips that are sure to catch the student’s interest along with plans for class discussions and activities. Activity cards and safety pledges are available in Spanish. Hint: turn off pop up blockers for some of the activities or games to work. Flash and Acrobat Reader are required. Get them from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
If you know you will be using the Internet during class or assigning it for outside work, consider sharing some of the safety lessons ahead of time using a projector, especially with elementary and middle school students. Secondary English, information literacy, or computer teachers should consider requiring teens to report on an Internet safety topic as a research project as you are trying to both teach and USE research skills. This site could be a good topic-finder and starting point.

Provide a link on your teacher web page to give parents a resource for talking about internet safety with their children at home. Bookmark this site on a classroom computer for students to visit when they have free time.

10 Things You Can Do to Prevent Violence in Your School Community Grade K to 12 - PTA- 7364

This site provides ten easy-to-follow suggestions for becoming involved and staying involved with children in the school system in order to lower the rate of school violence. The ten suggestions are neatly organized with brief explanations and examples for quick reading. This would be a great tool for parents not only regarding school violence, but simply how to stay involved with their children and the school district.

In the Classroom:
Provide as a link on classroom web page. Send a copy home to reach out to parents and get them involved. Share this information with your principal or at a faculty meeting for a building-wide effort.

Wired Safety Grade 1 to 12 - Parry Aftab- 8539

No filtering will ever protect our students completely online. It is important to teach them to protect themselves, as well. Wired Safety is a compilation site about internet safety concerns and includes information for parents, teachers, librarians, and children. PDF printables for parents in Spanish and English make the information easy to share. A special Hot Topics section keeps the site up to date with subjects such as cyberbullying, MySpace, child pornography etc. A collection of lesson plans under the educator link offer resources and ideas for the classroom.

In the Classroom:
Some portions, such as the cyberbullying "quiz" are easy for students to complete on their own (on laptops or in a lab) and follow up with a discussion. Take some time to explore the various areas of this site so you'll know where to look when questions come up and can address internet safety every time you use computers at school, rather than as a separate "lesson." Share the printables with parents at open house or conferences.

Cyber Angels Grade 1 to 12 - Cyber Angels- 8460

This award-winning site focuses on Internet safety. Advertised as being the "the country's leading specialist on cyber crimes" (Boston Globe. March 10, 2000), the site offers downloadable guides of different levels for parents and students, training for schools, and a variety of information about how to protect oneself against cyber crime. There are downloadable student and parent Internet user agreements, brochures,and tip sheets. Some areas of the site are still being developed.

In the Classroom:
As you start any class activity that uses the Internet, refer to the basics you learn from this site. Even if your school "teaches" Internet safety in another class, YOU need to reinforce it every time you have students online so they realize the universal importance of safety principles -- even with older teens.

Include this site on your teacher web page for students and parents to access as a reference. Share the printables with parents at open house or conferences.

Combined Strategy for Internet Safety Grade K to 12 - PTA- 7361

This site contains a very brief summary of current issues concerning students and Internet usage. It provides current acronyms for Internet terminology, AUP's (Acceptable Use Policies) and discussion starters for parents who are interested in discussing Internet issues and responsibilities with children.

Rules of the Road Grade 2 to 5 - PBS- 5263

Kids can earn a "Web License" by taking this interactive quiz that covers topics like downloading, meeting people on the net, passwords, and Internet safety. After successfully answering the multiple choice questions, a personalized license can be printed.

Bullying Online Grade 1 to 12 - - 3782

This British site offers a very complete resource, and its foreign origin may offer a slightly different spin from that encountered on American sites. Teachers and parents alike should find the content useful, and there is a deep well of content submitted by students. American users should note that both the legal situation and the school rules in Britain can differ from that in the US in some significant respects.

Safe Teens Grade 7 to 12 - safekids.com- 8462

This site is the teen partner to safekids.com. Its additional offerings include a wonderful cyber-dictionary parents can use when they are totally puzzled by acronyms their children are using in email, chat rooms, and text messaging (Note: the language is realistically what some teens use---asterisks replace "bad" words, but the abbreviations could teach the timid more than they want to know). Highlights for teens include tips about safe blogging, warnings about grooming, general Internet safety info, and accompanying info for parents. A link to blogsafety.com allows users to report abuses and suspicious behavior that might occur on blogging or social network sites. Links to current articles about Internet misuse keep the site current.

In the Classroom:
Use this site as the starting point when teens have questions about blogging, cyber safety, and correct Internet behavior so they know what to watch for should something unethical occur. Be sure to share it with parents via your teacher web page or at open house, as well. As you begin web-based activities in class, take the time to repeat the basics found here, even if another teacher is supposed to "cover" this topic.

Safe Kids Grade 1 to 12 - safekids.com- 8461

This site offers information to children, teens, and parents about how to stay safe online and keep your computer safe. It contains information sheets for various levels, downloadable parent and child online safety pledges, and slide shows about Internet safety. The slide shows do require the user to register at myspace.com, so this requirement may preclude usage at school. There is even a SafeKids song, but it downloads slowly, even on a fast connection (opt for the dial-up version). Younger children will also enjoy the online safety quiz. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Include this site on your teacher web page for students and parents to access as a reference. Share the printables with parents at open house or conferences. As you introduce web-based activities in your classroom, pause to rmind students of these safety rules, even if someone else is supposed to "cover" them in their classroom. Parts of this site require the use of myspace, so be sure to preview it and match the requirements to your school's regulations.

Web Wise Kids Grade 6 to 12 - Web Wise Kids- 8268

Although this site sells its programs to help parents and children stay safe on the Internet, the sections for Teens and Parents contain valuable information and tools. In addition to examples of how scary and intrusive unsafe use of the Internet can be, the pages for parents and teens offer Safety Tips and a downloadable Internet Safety Plan. This site requires Real Player or QuickTime and Adobe Acrobat. Get them from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Share the parent information on your teacher web page or in a classroom newsletter, especially if you ask students to use the Internet for homework assignments. It is easy to avoid the advertising or donation areas of the site and use the important information.

Back To School Grade K to 8 - BBC- 7975

Although this site was created to help students in Britain prepare for "Back To School," many of the tips and activities are useful to students from all over the world. This site provides interactive quizzes, informative guides, and numerous features. The guide section provides a lot of details about very useful subjects including bullies, school uniforms, exam stress, dyslexia, creativity and other subjects. The Press Packs section is written by a student for students' use and includes topics such as being the new kid in school and organic lunches.

In the Classroom:
Include a link to this website on your "Welcome Back" newsletter. Parents are sure to appreciate the informative subjects, links and activities.

Teen Chat Decoder: Teenspeak Translation Made Easy Grade K to 12 - - 7708

Confused by BRB and PWOM? Use this handy online acronym look-up to find out what these tand thousands of other little abbreviations mean. Parents and teachers can monitor internet safety and be more aware of what their children are saying. Teachers may even be able to decipher notes passed in class! Thought the site calls it "teenspeak," children as your as five are picking it up. The site mentions software, but you do not need to install anything, join anything, or pay to use this online look-up tool. The site also includes several articles for parents.

In the Classroom:
Share this link at parent conferences or on your teacher web page. They will thank you for it! Your principal and other teachers will appreciate it, as well.

"Teachable Moment" Lesson on School Safety Grade K to 12 - NASP- 6998

This lesson summary provides ways to help children of all ages deal with frightening news about school violence. Use these ideas on those terrible occasions when the students simply need to talk. The National Association of School Psychologists provides this "teachable moment" strategy to help.

In the Classroom:
Share this with your principal and fellow teachers when you know students are in need.

Find your kid’s online blog Grade 3 to 12 - Kim Komando- 6967

Parents concerned about Internet safety and their teen (or preteen)'s online information-sharing should read this article. It may sound devious to check up on your children, but the era of social networking makes it a must-talk topic. Your child or young adult may not realize the serious safety issues involved with having online space. Trying to "just say no" will not work on this issue. Have the conversation. Although this may not be a classroom issue, the negative sides of social networking tools are harming the positive tools for learning made available through the same technologies.

In the Classroom:
Teachers may want to share this article with parents to help them get the dialog started.

Threat Assessment Center Grade 1 to 12 - US Secret Service- 4404

It’s an imposing name for a site about violence in schools. This site seeks to de-bunk many of the myths about the frequency and origins of school violence. It makes the point that cultivating trust between students and adults is the single most important factor in heading off potentially violent situations.

In the Classroom:
This is the sort of solution to which every teacher can contribute.

TeachersFirst: Sifting Through the Filters Grade K to 12 - TeachersFirst- 9513

Web filtering is a common topic of frustration and mystification for teachers. Do you wonder why it’s there, how it works, and what other schools do? Are there sites you read about but cannot access? Are you worried that your students may access “bad” things under your supervision? Learn the basics of Internet filters, consider key questions, and take a quick poll in Sifting Through the Filters, another teacher-friendly interactive module. In just a few minutes, you will gain a new perspective on filtering and some ideas to advocate for positive change (for best viewing, turn off your pop-up blocker).

In the Classroom:
Read through this on your own or share it in a staff meeting where you discuss use of the Internet and teachers' role in Internet safety. You may also want to share the link with your principal or other decision-makers to open dialog on ways to include teachers in the process.

transl8it! Grade 3 to 12 - Translate it!- 9455

Impress your class when you give them a taste of their own lingo. Stay informed about what your students are writing. Just key ( or paste) in your regular text (in ENGLISH) or your SMS (short message service) , TXT, emoticon, smiley, slang, or chat room lingo and let this site translate it. The site can translate “lingo” to English or English to “lingo.” Since we always cry that regular English is going down the tubes, reverse the trend by giving students a dose of their short-cut text English and have them re-write it into normal English. Teach grammar skills by coming in the back door…this time the back door is the door most frequently entered by our youth. Want to give it a try? Translate this: dEr claS, I knO U typ wds dat L%k lIk DIS wen Im not l%kin. It iz important 4 U 2 knO how 2 wrte propR eng. n employer wiL eva hire U f U wrte lIk DIS. pls transl8 DIS pargrph in2 propR eng. U wiL earn a gud grade f U do. --yor Tcha

What’s the translation? Dear class, I know you type words that look like this when I'm not looking. It is important for you to know how to write proper English. No employer will ever hire you if you write like this. Please translate this paragraph into proper English. You will earn a good grade if you do. -Your teacher

Translations are not always perfect, but you will get “the gist.” Parents will also appreciate this site as a tool to help them understand their children’s writings. There are some minor advertisements at this website. There is also a place to "log-in." Registration is free but is not required to use this site.

In the Classroom:
Teachers (or administrators), you may need this translator to decode SMS/TXT text lingo used by your students when you cannot decipher it. You may also have concerns about your students’ online behavior and need some assistance monitoring for bullying or risky behavior. Just type (or paste) in the message and click on the ‘transl8it’ button. Presto…it’s English again.

Use this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector during the first day of school to introduce yourself to the class using “their” language (and your expectations to use proper English). Be sure to share it on your teacher web page as a tool for parents, as well.

Ning in Education Grade 7 to 12 - Ning- 9415

Teacher's First Edge Review: for thoroughly adventurous or organized technology users. Ning is a tool for creating social networks. Though that may be a scary term to parents and a concept prohibited in your school, this education initiative from Ning provides advertising-free, private spaces for classroom use in K-12. Because of concerns over COPPA (federal legislation protecting children on the web), Ning specifies that the tool is for ages 13 and up. Users outside the U.S. do not need to worry about this law. There are related blog posts and debate about whether the law applies if you configure your Ning a certain way, but TeachersFirst cannot recommend circumventing the law. A Ning provides an online space for forums (threaded discussions), blogs, “friends,” groups, personal spaces for members, and more. As the administrator of your Ning, you can control the actual set-up. Assuming you can access the Ning URL at school, this tool can provide a PRIVATE online space for your classes or teaching team as an electronic home for use in and out of school.

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: Before you start, make sure your specific Ning URL will not be blocked by filtering on the school network. See some of the tips from the Edge team . Join Ning and set up a network, including name, URL, and description. Be sure to choose Private to limit viewing of your network to those you INVITE to join. Drag your desired features to create your Ning layout. You can always change it later. Make appearance choices. Create a “master key” (and for heaven’s sake WRITE IT DOWN somewhere secure – not on a sticky note at your classroom computer). Customize at will, but right away you will want to follow Steve Hargadon’s blog entry with detailed directions to remove the ads from your Ning for education space. The ad-free offer began in November 2007 and may not continue forever, so do it now!

Safety/security concerns: Since the Ning tool establishes profiles for each member; you will want to customize the profile settings to stay in accordance with your school policies. You will probably not want students to be able to set up groups, since they might make them “private” and lock you out. You can also change the questions they are asked as part of their profiles. The simplest way to set up student accounts may be through a teacher Gmail account with subaccounts. You could then create the accounts and passwords on your own or have students enter the information. Even though your space is private, we recommend asking for parent permission mostly to be sure that they are aware of this positive use of social networking and all the lessons about Internet safety that can grow from its use in class. A modified version of the Blogging agreement offered by TeachersFirst would work (a word doc).

Possible uses: A class social network has limitless possibilities. Engage students in discussions on current events, independent reading, literature, and more. Create groups for students to work on projects and use the space as a forum to work out tasks, scheduling, and file sharing. Get creative and ask students to play the role of a historical figure on a social network across time: Ben Franklin networks with Harry Truman to argue about the atomic bomb. Use the Ning as a forum for any simulated or real task. Invite parents to join to give their points of view on upcoming elections. Include the principal or superintendent in your class discussions of students’ rights as you study the Constitution. Your students themselves will suggest ways to use this all-too-familiar tool from their world. Imagine the “profiles” they could create as characters from fiction or inventors from history! Steve Hargadon, creator of this Ning in Education initiative invites participants to join a Ning for teachers who are using this tool. We hope you will tell them where you heard about it and send them over to check out (and suggest) more tools at the TeachersFirst Edge.

OnGuard Online Grade 6 to 12 - U.S. Government- 8905

This site has compiled resources for computer users to help keep their computers safe and internet transactions worry free. Topics include Identity Theft, Internet Auctions, Spyware, Wireless Security, Phishing, Social Networking Sites, Spam Scams, Online Shopping, Peer-to-Peer File-Sharing (P2P), VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), Laptop Security, and Investing Online. Of particular interest is the Word of the Day section which can help you stay “up to date” with new security scams and what they are called. Teens who see specific sites on this security warning page will know to avoid the scam sites. They will also become more knowledgeable about the potential dangers of social networking. Spanish speakers can switch the site to Spanish for their convenience. This site requires Adobe Acrobat and Flash. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Make this site a required stop when educating teens about computer and internet safety. The classroom possibilities are endless. Why not have cooperative learning groups investigate one of the topic areas provided (such as identity theft). Then have the groups present their findings to the class. Or if you prefer a whole group activity, use your interactive whiteboard or projector and have a class meeting about the topics discussed. Have students write in their journals about actions or events that have taken place in their lives which relate to the topics discussed. For example, brainstorm lists of ways to SAFELY shop online. Consider creating an ongoing class wiki to share safety situations and solutions in teen terms, including links to related news stories.

Fleck Grade 3 to 12 - Fleck.com- 8769

TeachersFirst Edge entry: for slightly adventurous technology users. Fleck allows you to put sticky notes and other annotations onto existing web pages and share them with others. Now you can tell students exactly what you want them to do on a page, point out instances of bias or unsafe Internet practice, etc. You can put effective reading strategies right ON the text of the page. See an example here. Your students can also "fleck" to each other as they work on group projects, noting how they will use information or categorizing what they find. Fleck uses FLASH and does not work well on TOP of Flash-driven pages. The annotated pages take a few moment to load, even on a quick connection.

In the Classroom:
Possible uses: Student research projects, guided reading of web sites, comprehension questions, guiding questions, annotations for tough vocabulary with younger students, Internet safety lessons, students analyzing sites as part of information literacy lessons, art critiques by you or students, student collaboration and source-sharing, professional notes for your own reading or graduate work, etc. Assign students to "Fleck" a site as an assignment in critical thinking and turn it in by sharing with you.

Skills needed: Join the site and wait for the confirming email (our review team said it took a couple of hours). While you are waiting, click over to the HOME page and watch the "How this works" animation. Then try the link to "So why don't you give it a try." (This trial will NOT be saved!) Enter the URL of a page you wish to annotate at the top of the Fleck screen and click GO. Use the toolbar that appears with the web page to add notes, etc. and SAVE. You can also download an extension for Firefox or bookmarklet for Internet Explorer (to make a Fleck button on your toolbar). Be sure to choose public or private for Flecks you make when you SAVE (can be changed). Share your Fleck by clicking the Share button and emailing a note to your recipients-- or click the "blog" button to get a permalink you can copy/paste to share via email or other means, such as on your web page or an electronic assignment handout.

To use Fleck safely, you can have students use your login account to make their own Flecks. If students have their own email, they can also have log-ins, but you have no monitoring over what they do. For safety's sake, you might want to require all student Flecks to be private and shared ONLY with class members. Since enforcement is tough, start with the teacher-only account and make Flecks for students to SEE. Once you are comfortable with the tool, allow students to use your account. You will not know WHO made inappropriate Flecks, but you can see and delete them from one place. Of course, you will need to test whether Fleck is blocked in your school (we hope not).

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE: This is a public site, and some of the "recent Flecks" that show on the HOME page are NOT school-appropriate. TeachersFirst has contacted Fleck about this concern, and they tell us they are unable to "filter" these flecks at this time. We recommend always starting students from your member home page and avoiding Fleck HOME altogether.

PTSD: Coping After a Crisis Grade K to 12 - NASP- 8073

The National Association of School Psychologists offers this resource for helping recognize and deal with post traumatic stress disorder. In today's world of school violence, suicides, weather emergencies, war, and disasters, school professionals need information to help them help their students (and peers) in the aftermath of the unthinkable. TeachersFirst hopes you will never need this resource, but it is a must-read for anyone who might someday face crisis.

In the Classroom:
Administrators, guidance counselors, and teacher leaders will want to keep this one in their favorite "just in case."

Parental Control Software Grade K to 12 - Consumer Search- 7589

The online magazine article (updated 2006) is actually a compilation of several reviews of Internet filtering tools for parents to use on home computers. Read the full article or skip to the "Fast Answers."

Newsround - BBC News for Kids Grade 3 to 8 - BBC- 7059

This highly-participatory, attractive world news site for kids lets children select all the normal news features like tv/movies, music, weather, sports, animals, sci/tech etc. Students can join the Press Pack and submit their own photos and comments. Under Newsroom, kids have the options of submitting a report they’ve researched and written; it will be displayed on the website! They can also ask for a certain topic to be investigated. Topic suggestions can be found here too. Personal advice columns are totally cyber with one current topic, bullying, available in video webchat format. A message board with current comments runs across the top of the site like a ticker tape. Other interactive features include student voting, blogs, and games. Besides features for students, video clips, quizzes, and educational games comprise some of the offerings for teachers . Requires the RealPlayer G2 Plug in to watch the Newsround videos.

In the Classroom:
Note: the site is British, so spelling and topics have a UK slant! Make sure you have parent permission for students to post work to the site, and keep their identities safe by using pseudonyms or initials. Encourage those with Internet access to visit the site with mom and dad to talk about current events together (include the link on your teacher web page). If you are familiar with RSS feeds, this would be a good choice for a first feed.

Back to School Tips Grade K to 8 - American Academy of Pediatrics- 5289

Parents of elementary and middle school students will be delighted with this helpful collection of ideas for successfully entering a new school year. Backpack safety, study habits, bullying, television use, and homework and study habits are just a few of the topics discussed.

In the Classroom:
If you have a summer newsletter, be sure to highlight this website. List this website on your class website during the summer months for parents to view during the break.

Are Our Schools Safe? Grade 1 to 12 - CNN- 2061

In the Classroom:
Web site from CNN's special coverage section outlining reactions to several incidents involving school violence. While created for the general public, the site includes insights and reactions from teachers. Professional use only.

Center for the Prevention of School Violence Grade 1 to 12 - - 2055

Constitutional Rights Foundation Lesson Plans Grade 9 to 12 - - 1625

This is a collection of lesson plans and discussion suggestions for topics ranging from impeachment to school violence. Each presents linkages to underlying constitutional issues and principles.

In the Classroom:
The lessons could be used for in-class discussion or as the basis for a written project.

Lively Grade 9 to 12 - Google Labs- 9490

Teacher's First Edge Review: For advanced technology users. Lively is a free 3-D virtual chat room that users can embed in a web page, wiki, Facebook profile, or blog. Such "multi-user virtual environments" (MUVEs) are on the very cutting edge of web-based interaction. The simple and attractive room creations are easy to make, but it is still a Beta product and may improve with better tools and more customized options. Users use a Google account to log in. A web browser plug-in must be downloaded before creating the room or your avatar. Currently, this is only available for PC, not MAC. Users can choose one of ten avatars that can be customized with hair and clothing. Create your own rooms for chatting with other visiting avatars by choosing from a variety of shells, decorate with furniture, and drag elements around to customize. Choose elements such as a TV that can play a You Tube video or a poster where you can embed a Picasa image. (Tthough we could not get the image to work, the video runs flawlessly.) Though there is no comment moderation available in your room, it is easy to ignore another bothersome avatar (though it still adds them into your contact list.) Visit other rooms with your avatar by searching the lively site for specific rooms or being invited by friends. Currently, information about your contacts from other Google products is not imported into Lively. Messages during chat show as cartoon bubbles and avatars show animated actions. This site requires Flash, you can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: Users need to be able to download the plug-in from the Lively site and then use the Lively site to begin creating a room. You must also have a Google account, such as for iGoogle or Gmail. The tools are simple and mostly easy though not all are intuitive and take practice and experimentation. Moving avatars and furniture require mouse skills that just take practice. Users also need to know how to use embed codes to place the created room on their site or the link for others to find the room.

Creating an avatar: Go to the Lively site and choose from one of ten avatars. Customize your avatar with different hair, clothing, and accessories. No matter which room you visit (yours or others), your avatar visits those sites for you.

Creating a room: Define the room properties by naming the room and entering a required description. Click the sharing tab to include in the public directory, see the URL for the room, and set the public decorating options ("Public" for everyone to edit, "Interactive" where visitors can only move objects, or "Private" for owners-only to decorate.) Click the Web Pages tab that contains the embed html code and allows you to move your avatar to a portion of the room that will become the thumbnail picture that shows in the Lively database. The Sounds tab allows the user to add audio tracks and sounds. Use the Shells tab to choose custom rooms from islands, various one room configurations, and apartments. Note: If changing shells where furniture has already been placed, it is best to not keep the furniture with the new shell -- the furniture is scattered in and outside the room!

Tools found in the right side toolbar: Use "My avatar" to change the avatar character. Click on "My wardrobe" to change the clothes, hair, and accessories for your avatar. View "My people" to show who is in your room (and contact info,) your contacts, and the chat record of actions and conversations. Use "Invite people" to invite friends or others by email address to your room. Browse the catalog in "Furniture and things." Items you have shopped in the catalog appear in your inventory to use. Click on the item in your inventory to either view in the catalog to add more or to just add in your room. Use "Move furniture" and then click on the furniture piece in the room to move where you need. Want a new room or to edit properties of your current room? Click "New room." View all the Lively rooms created by using "Room list." You can filter the list of rooms by high and low activity, date created, friends’ rooms, and new rooms.

Changing your view: Click on the eye button in the upper left corner to change your view from avatar's view, bird's eye view or a viewfinder view.

Bottom toolbar: To create a chat message, type your text into the message bar on the bottom. Other icons available include: "Chat history," "Sound volume," "Pop out window" which brings your room forward in the screen, the "Help center," and "Logout."

To chat: Type in your message at the bottom of the screen to create a general message to the whole room. To message a specific person, left click on their avatar and choose "whisper" to enter the message. To ignore an avatar and stop receiving messages, click on "Ignore" which makes their avatars transparent. This can be reversed by choosing "Stop ignore." Use an action such as "kiss," "hug," "shake hands," and other actions by clicking on the avatar and choosing "Animations."

Moving your avatar: Hover your mouse over your avatar to see the arrows. Right click and use the scroll wheel to change to a spatial view. Get back to your view by clicking the eye icon in the upper left and choose "Avatar's view." Double click on the floor anywhere in the space to move there instantly. Double click on a chair to sit down. Left click and drag the mouse where you want to walk. Left click on the floor and move the mouse to turn the floor and face a different way.

Moving and adding furniture: Click on the object to view in catalog, click the "Edit" tab to return to inventory and take away from the room, "Hyperlink" to add a link to the object, and make the object the avatar entry point for the room. Furniture in the catalog is grouped by furniture, rugs, posters, and signs, plants, and random stuff. Before moving a piece of furniture, make sure to click the "Move furniture" icon in the right toolbar. Hover over an object to see the green arrows to control moving. Left click and move the mouse to drag the piece of furniture where you need. Hovering over the green arrows changes them to a yellow circle that allows you to rotate the object around. Some objects animate by double clicking on them. Moving furniture is not too difficult and takes a little practice.

Safety and Security concerns: Currently in Beta, Lively does not offer a teen "grid" like Second Life to provide an additional layer of security for teen users. Teachers who must request software installation by tech staff may want to try this tool at home and create some sample projects to convince administration of its educational value. Chat in the room is not moderated; however a chat record is kept for review and to identify misuse. You can invite certain people to your space, but others can enter without invitation. They can be ignored once they are there. Many school policies prohibit such interaction, so be sure to check your school policy. You will want to discuss these features in the context of Internet Safety or establish specific written class rules and consequences for interacting with each other and outsiders.

Students must have individual accounts (email required). Check your school policies about accessing/sharing student email on school computers. You may want to create your own Gmail account with up to 20 sub accounts for each group of students (by code name or number) within your classes. Here is a blog post that tells how to set up GMail subaccounts to use for any online membership service. Be sure to keep a written record of their passwords for when students “forget.”

Possible uses: For a faculty, this could be a virtual teachers lounge. For the classroom, this can be a way for students to show up for help sessions, cooperative group meetings, and extra credit opportunities after school hours. Embed an extra credit video to view for an assignment and have students in the room to chat about issues, ideas, or questions. Be sure students are aware of the rules and etiquette for operating in the space. Practically speaking, you probably have students who are using Lively or Second Life. You might want to work together with a small, trusted group on a pilot project to share with administration to show curriculum-related uses for this powerful and teen-friendly tool. It’s a whole new world! Visit the Teacher's First Edge team’s sample Lively room here. Or see it below:

Spore Creature Creator Grade 2 to 12 - Electronic Arts, Inc.- 9476

Teacher's First Edge Review: For slightly adventurous technology users. Use Creature creator to make interesting and imaginative animals. Use a pre-made creature or create your own custom creature. Add carnivore features to your creation that include mouths, ears, eyes, arms, hands, feet, and legs. Weapons such as horns, spikes, and clubs can also be added to the creature as well as wings. Change the position of the features and alter them through unbelievable joint changes which then alter how your creature walks and moves. Paint your creation when done and place it in its woodland environment. The creature can walk, show emotion, have offspring, and make sounds. Use the software to take a picture, record a movie, and make an avatar. By adding a description and tags, your creation can be uploaded to the spore website or to a You Tube account. Here is an example (if you can access You Tube).

Creature Creator is a free download but is a limited version of the original purchased program. The purchased program provides many more choices for the features and environments used to make the creatures. The download is available for both PC and Mac.

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: User needs to be able to download and install the free program. Easy to use interface. Start with a blob, which you manipulate into a shape, pulling its spinal cord in any direction with the mouse, before adding a head, limbs and various optional extra body parts. Choose your part by using the onscreen catalog. Manipulate it further by changing the position of joints or through adding or deleting segments. Add a background and move your creature by dragging your mouse for it to follow. Continue to alter your creature to get the movement or features needed.

Pressing "H" brings up the spore guide which includes topic categories such as "Welcome to Spore," "Getting Started," "Build Mode," "Test Drive," and "Paint Mode."

Safety/security concerns: Check your district policy on downloading and installing of programs. Many districts have administrative controls on each computer. Check with your IT department. Teachers who must request software installation by tech staff may want to try this tool at home and create some sample projects to convince administration of its educational value.

Uploading pictures and videos of creations to You Tube or the spore site may expose students to advertising as well as inappropriately created creatures. You may want to send students directly to URLs for their own projects, maintain the creatures on the classroom computer itself, or use Teacher Tube to upload the creations. Uploading creatures enables outsider comments without teacher control. Outsiders can interact or mark the creations as favorites. Many school policies prohibit such interaction, so be sure to check your school policy. You will want to discuss these features in the context of Internet Safety or establish specific written class rules and consequences for interacting with outsiders. Student work can be saved as a picture and printed, as well, for sharing and showing. Check your school policies on whether student work may be displayed online and what information is permitted, then enforce that policy with your students.

No login is required to use the downloaded or purchased program. The tool does not show which work is attributable to each student. You may want to require student initials on projects in order to get credit.

Possible Uses: Use Creature creator to create an unusual creature as a class project. Create a classification system of all the class creatures to demonstrate biology classification skills. When discussing the groupings in the Animal Kingdom, use Creature Creator to create a new organism for that group. Use the tool to create a class creature with adaptations to a specific environment. Have students create a creature and then write a story or poem about it and how it lives. Have students create a creature as a self-portrait of personality or other traits the students possess. Students can design and draw habitats that would house their creation including the calculation of the volume and area the housing would require. Use a classroom projector or white board to share/create creatures in class and discuss specific features of the creatures.

Profile Publisher Grade 3 to 12 - ReadWriteThink.org- 9143

Reading literature with complex characters worthy of analysis and individual profiles? Do your students need practice creating their own polished “profiles”? This tool creates professional looking profiles of students or for a character in a book, historical figure, animal, or scientific object/concept. Amazingly, you may choose to set up a profile for nonliving creatures or even abstract concepts. You simply type in the requested information into the boxes, and immediately, you have a perfect profile layout, ready for photocopy publishing. (Saving your profiles is not an option, so all must be printed immediately.) This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Teach Internet safety by having students create a mock profile to use on social networking sites. Printing out those profiles makes editing in small groups a breeze. Yearbook or newspaper staff may want to use this Profile Publisher to gain more information about people of interest. History comes alive when you profile historical figures or interview veterans and generate profiles of local heroes. Imagine students creating a blog entry by George Washington. Or ask students to profile a type of cell, an endangered animal, or a science concept such as climate change. With this tool and some creative thinking, anything is possible.

Be SURE to warn students to PRINT before closing. The site does NOT save work. You may want them to draft their work in a saved document before pasting it into the profiler, just in case work is interrupted by a fire drill or the bell.

Comic Creator Grade 2 to 12 - ReadWriteThink.org- 9142

Your students will create professional-looking comics in minutes using this Comic Creator site. No log-in is required. Just type in the prompted information, such as the name of comic character, author, caption, and of course, the dialog that goes into the speech bubble. The ‘creator’ chooses the number of panels, type of characters, style of speech bubble, and various props. Two actions are needed: clicking and dragging the items to go into the comic strip, and typing dialog into the bubbles. Then, presto….a genuine comic appears, ready for printing. The tool DOES support accent marks pasted from Word. (Unfortunately, there is no way to save your comic masterpieces.) This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Instead of writing boring summaries, why not summarize through a comic strip. It’s much like storyboarding, but the drawing has been left to the Comic Creator pros. Make a class book of the comics created throughout the year. That book will become the most read classroom book of all in an elementary classroom. Use comics to show sequencing of events. When studying about characterization, create dialog to show (not tell) about a character. Another idea - why not use the comic strips for conflict resolution or other guidance issues (such as bullying). Sometimes it is easier for students to write it down (or draw the pictures) than use the actual words. World language and ESL/ELL teachers can assign students to create dialog strips as an alternate to traditional written assessments.

For Kids By Kids Online Grade 2 to 8 - Cyberspace Research Unit- 9090

This site offers levels, important information about safe Internet use, at three difficulty It addresses kids' favorite ways to use technology, including cell phones, chat rooms, instant messaging, e-mail, etc. A glossary of Internet terms and warnings throughout the easy-to-read pages make the information accessible. It also motivates the students who use it to proceed carefully and thoughtfully while communicating and downloading information. The three levels (beginning, intermediate, and advanced) differentiate for prior Internet knowledge, rather than grade or reading level. The site is an excellent introduction to doing Internet research, as well.

This site comes from the UK, so some of the language is distinctly British. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
The site suggests having children take their parents through the steps on the site so both learn together. Parents can thus be assured that the child knows how to keep his or her communications safe. Put this in your newsletter home for parents and provide a link to this site on your class webpage. When introducing the history of the computer, project the site on your interactive whiteboard or projector.

ConnectSafely Grade K to 12 - Tech Parenting Group - 8985

This site is a discussion-opener on safe use of the "social web." Some of the tools included are social networking sites, virtual worlds, chat, cell phones, video-sharing, and more. There are tips and advice for just about any medium kids and adults use today, as well as discussion forums where parents can ask questions and share information. Each article and advice section can be emailed at the click of a mouse. You can also download and share printable version (site creators do ask that you not modify them and that you simply tell them if you do download and share). While some posts may not represent your point of view, the important thing is to open dialog.

In the Classroom:
Include this link on your teacher or school web page for parents to access as part of a plan to work together. Consider using it as a hub for an evening discussion session with parents and students in a "round table" to air concerns and work together. Simply blocking or ignoring these tools is not educating or helping our kids. We want our students to grow into safe and responsible citizens both online and in person. If your school can involve and inform parents and students, you will have a better likelihood of using the new tools of the web in productive classroom settings, as well.

Internet Surfing in an Elementary Classroom Grade K to 5 - International Reading Association- 8803

What role does the internet play in our younger students’ education? This scholarly article points out that while computers become as common as chalkboards, teachers must become comfortable with managing the internet in our classrooms. In this article, two primary-level students negotiate the Web, and their discoveries and struggles highlight the tension that teachers face. The article suggests ways to resolve some of the problems faced by teachers.

Games Parents Teachers: A Parent-Teacher Toolkit Grade 3 to 12 - Marc Prensky and games2train.com- 8579

Computer gaming occupies much of your students' or child's time. This site equips you with the knowledge of what different games are about and what questions you -- as teacher or parent -- should ask of your child. Just click on the game's title and read the recommendations for parents and teachers. This site houses resources and recommended websites for understanding computer gaming and gamers as well. Note that the site is created with a positive bias about computer/video games. Some of the ideas for discussion are, however, good ones, especially if you know your students are playing the games anyway!

In the Classroom:
There are options for teachers to share their ideas for using games as part of instruction, though few have conrtributed as of the time of this review.

OneWebDay Grade K to 12 - - 8566

"The mission of OneWebDay is to create, maintain, advance, and promote a global day to celebrate online life." Started in 2006, One Web Day is a day for awareness of the power of the Internet and activities to highlight its use in positive ways. While part of the mission of OneWebDay is a sort of "Earth Day for the web," a chance to highlight and preserve the things that make the web a healthy place to learn, work, and share -- all in an ethical way. Schools may want to take the day (or the closest school day)to highlight how much we benefit from the web and how students and families can use it safely and positively.

In the Classroom:
Some ideas to celebrate the day: Send class emails to the web sites you find most useful to thank them for their contributions to your class' learning. Find a school web site in another town or country and email the webmaster to relay a "hello" to a classroom there. Make a class wiki to share all the positive things you gain from the web---and invite parents to join in, too. Have students keep a web "diary" for 24 hours, noting every time they use or benefit from someone else using the web (even the weather man on TV gets his/her information from the web!). Predict how many "web contacts" your class will have, then add them up to see how close you came. Plan a OneWebDay event for your school and share it on the OneWebDay site or with the local press. With primary grade students, take the time to point out which activities you do in class come from the web (these children see "the computer" as the genie of all things and do not distinguish between the web and a CD game). Make a giant "web" out of yarn and "connect" everyone on the playground. Send an email from your class to the principal, telling him/her about OneWebDay. What else can you think of?

Common Sense Media Grade 1 to 12 - Common Sense Media Inc.- 8267

This site has current movie reviews from the parents' point of view: What current movies are appropriate? What ages are they appropriate for? In addition to current films, there are reviews of TV programs, new DVD's, games, websites, books, music, etc. The site uses its own rating system: "Appropriate for age," "Know your kid," and "Not appropriate for age." Along with written reviews and Q/A approaches, there are video clips and tips. Each category of entertainment has several recommended and reviewed items with age ranges. There is also a newsletter and in-depth articles on subjects of concern to kids and parents.

In the Classroom:
Let your students' parents know about this site via your teacher web page or class newsletter. You may also want to share it with your school PTO or PTA.

Traumatized children: Tips for Parents and Educators Grade K to 12 - Stephen E. Brock, PhD, NASP- 8077

Parents and educators can find valuable information on helping students handle traumatic situations, both close by and in the media, by reading this article offered by the National Association of School Psychologists. Requires Acrobat Reader. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Share this article with colleagues and parents at times of crisis.

Talking to Children About Violence Grade K to 12 - TeachersAndFamilies with NASP- 8076

Every parent and teacher should know how to act and react when instances of violence enter into your students' lives, either up close or through the media. This article provides general information and Talk Time ideas and activities to facilitate the dialog, including ideas for different age levels. Printable versions are also included for you to send home (Require Acrobat Reader. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.).

In the Classroom:
Share this link on your teacher web page for parents or share the printables with your teaching colleagues or in a newsletter home to parents, especially in times of crisis.

Tips for School Administrators for Reinforcing School Safety Grade K to 12 - NASP- 8075

Though titled for administrators, this article is a must-read for all education professionals interested in making their schools safe and secure. There are ideas for planning, communication, parent information, and general security that should be automatic in every school.

In the Classroom:
Share this with your building faculty, perhaps at a meeting so you can all be on the "same page." There is a printable version available for download (Acrobat file)so you can include it with your agenda.

Safe Schools and Springtime Stress: Prevention Issues Grade K to 12 - Scott Poland, EdD, NCSP, NASP- 8074

This offering from the National Association of School Psychologists provides prevention ideas to avoid crisis at times of stress, such as spring. The article points out the stressors, both real and perceived, that occur in te spring of the school year and outlines strategies schools can take to prevent problems for mushrooming for students and staff.

In the Classroom:
Education professionals should read this brief article for proactive strategies that could head off serious situations. Perhaps a faculty meeting should follow with discussion of specific ideas for implementation in your school. Share this with your teachers/administrator.

Citebite Grade K to 12 - - 7987

TeachersFirst Edge entry: for slightly adventurous technology users. Imagine being able to give students (or parents)an exact link to a specific quote within a web page. This TeachersFirst Edge tool does exactly that. Why would you want to? Perhaps you want to send students to a certain paragraph for an activity: for reading comprehension, for reading a specific portion of text, or even for highlighting a literary device within a text or poem. Students will no longer waste time, announcing, "I can't find it!" or return to school saying they couldn't do the homework!

In the Classroom:
No membership or cost required. Tool can be used in less than 30 seconds. Skills needed: Open TWO windows in Internet Explorer or any web browser. One should be open to citebite; the other to the web page you wish to reference. On that web page, locate and "highlight" the exact passage of text you want to "send" people to see. Copy/paste the passage into the quotation box at Citebite (copy, then change windows). Return to the target web page and copy/paste its actual URL into Citebite. Click "Make Citebite." Copy/paste the new url, indicated after "Your citebite link is:" Note: if the original quote is within a FLASH presentation, it will not copy/paste or generate a Citebite. See this example of a Citebite link to a tip about TeachersFirst Edge tools: http://pages.citebite.com/b1j4l1j7o0ndu

Have your middle and high school students do a web page "credibility critique" on their potential sources by using Citebite before they start a research project. They can highlight passages as proof of credibility -- or lack thereof -- and give you the Citebite links. They will love this easy way to reference a specific portion of a page. You will love the ease of finding it. If you give them a Word document table as a web site evaluation rubric, they can paste the Citebites there, with their comments in the neighboring cell!

Peace Games Grade K to 8 - Peace Games- 7938

This site has links to games all designed to make the players aware of and work with others. It also promotes team building. Each category (Get-to-know-you Games, Fun Group Games, Community and Team-building Games, Running and Tag Games, and Theater Games) has clear directions, space requirements, supplies needed, and several variations. Players discuss questions listed at the end of the game directions in order to develop awareness of the group process, increase strategies to deal with frustrations and people not liked by all, and participate competitively without losing awareness of other players and points of view.

In the Classroom:
Use in the classroom to develop group awareness and defuse potentially explosive situations among radically different personalities, ethnicities, income levels, etc. These would be great as first week of school activities! These can also help in developing a positive school environment and combating bullying.

Stories from the Web 7-11 Grade 2 to 6 - Birmingham Library Services- 7810

This site provides a wealth of information for students who are looking for a good book, fairy tales or poems to read. Peer reviews, short synopsis and IS