TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Aug 16, 2015

Here are this week's features. Clicking the tags in the description area of each listing will present a list of other resources with this topic. | Click here to return to the Featured Sites Archive

 

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VideoLink - Safe YouTube Videos - Wessam El Mahdy

Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites 0  Comments
  
Confidently share YouTube videos without distractions or offensive comments with Safe YouTube (no registration required!). Paste the URL of a YouTube link into the bar to generate a...more
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Confidently share YouTube videos without distractions or offensive comments with Safe YouTube (no registration required!). Paste the URL of a YouTube link into the bar to generate a safe view link and begin viewing. Use links provided to download or share through social networking sites. If your district blocks YouTube; then they may not be viewable.

tag(s): adhd (28), classroom management (128), internet safety (112), Special Needs (53), video (256)

In the Classroom

Share "distraction-free" videos on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Removing distractions and having confidence in removing any offensive content makes for a better learning experience. Use this tool to limit distractions for your ADD/ADHD, Autistic, unfocused Gifted, and other special needs students. Less distraction = better learning experience for all.

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Patch - Tim Armstrong

Grades
6 to 12
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Patch is an online newspaper created to provide local information to its readers. By default, readers see top news for the USA including trending information, business news, and arts...more
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Patch is an online newspaper created to provide local information to its readers. By default, readers see top news for the USA including trending information, business news, and arts and entertainment. Personalize your feed by entering your zip code or city. Share your story or photos by clicking on "Post on Patch" and following the instructions. Create an account to share your story and photos. Commenting on articles does not require an account. Comments are public, so be sure to check articles before sharing.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): news (229), newspapers (91)

In the Classroom

Patch is ideal for use when learning about your community. Create a link on classroom computers for students to read and explore. Become a contributor to Patch by sharing stories of events and information from your school and classroom. Have students contribute top stories locally with those from around the nation (or world). Put in the name of any city in the US for students to read about local information. If you have penpals or collaborate with another classroom via Twitter, learn more about their community through Patch.

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energy4me - energy4me

Grades
1 to 12
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Energy4me offers a large variety of resources for teaching and learning about oil and energy. Click on the little book titled About Energy and Sustainability to find an interactive...more
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Energy4me offers a large variety of resources for teaching and learning about oil and energy. Click on the little book titled About Energy and Sustainability to find an interactive about those topics. Clicking on the Into the Classroom book takes you to download-able lesson plans and more. Lesson plans are for all grade levels, in several languages, and all are correlated to US National Science Education Standards. Be sure to explore this site to find additional classroom resources, videos, and presentation materials. Choose from several interactives to test your energy IQ.

tag(s): careers (139), energy (131), engineering (117), fossil fuels (9), oil (24), STEM (259)

In the Classroom

Take advantage of the free lesson plans (and interactives, of course). Use this site as the starting point for individual or group projects. Share videos from the site as part of your career unit. Be sure to provide a link to interactives on classroom computers and your class web page for students to explore on their own.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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OldNYC - Mapping Historical Photographs of New York City - New York Public Library's Milstein Collection

Grades
6 to 12
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Discover New York City's rich historical past with this collection of photographs from the 1870's through the 1970's. View photos placed according to location using Google Maps. Scroll...more
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Discover New York City's rich historical past with this collection of photographs from the 1870's through the 1970's. View photos placed according to location using Google Maps. Scroll through popular photos or explore the map to find images from around all of New York City.

tag(s): 1900s (73), 20th century (59), images (270), new york (22), photography (131)

In the Classroom

If you teach about local history, inspire students by sharing this site first, then have them create a wiki about your town! Not comfortable with wikis? Check out TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through. Get your interactive whiteboard or projector ready for this photographic journey. Share photos from different time periods as you study different eras from the 19th and 20th centuries.

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The Teacher Toolkit - The Region 13 Educator Certification Program (ECP)

Grades
K to 12
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Find many strategies and techniques to keep your class engaged and interested! Many of the strategies are also helpful in adult meetings. View the short video on the home page ...more
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Find many strategies and techniques to keep your class engaged and interested! Many of the strategies are also helpful in adult meetings. View the short video on the home page to get a good overview of what to find and how to navigate this site. See the Strategies and Techniques, or Tools, by clicking the button. Not only will all the tools be displayed, but at the bottom, on the left, find a menu with categories to make it easier to find what you are looking for. Most tools now have a video to see the tool in action. There are Opening and Closing Activities, Checks for Understanding, Reading Strategies, and more. There is no sign in to see all the activities. However, by joining the site, you will be able to take and save notes for the different tools of interest. Each tool has an overview of how and when to use it, variations of the tool, and templates (downloaded in Word) for participants to use. Some tools have accompanying videos to show the tool in action. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable; be sure to look at alternatives for sharing the videos on classroom computers.

tag(s): back to school (62), classroom management (128), reading strategies (96), Teacher Utilities (146)

In the Classroom

Keep lessons engaging and interactive with these Tools. For instance use the Quiz, Quiz, Trade activity to get students up and to interact with questions for review before a test. To structure a meaningful discussion try the 5-3-1 activity. Use the Gallery Walk to review and get students discussing the unit or topic just finished. With the Gallery Walk, student groups could create posters (maybe a picture summary of something just read in class) and walk around observing and taking notes from others' posters. Or, to enhance learning, have students use Genially, reviewed here, to create digital posters that can include maps, surveys, video, audio and more. Then, have students complete a digital Gallery Walk, reviewing posters on each others computers. There are dozens more strategies for you to try at The Teacher Toolkit.

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Game of Chromes - Meredith Martin

Grades
5 to 12
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Game of Chromes is a printable set of flash cards teaching about Google and Google tools. Choose "Open Editor" in the tools to edit and customize for your needs. When ...more
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Game of Chromes is a printable set of flash cards teaching about Google and Google tools. Choose "Open Editor" in the tools to edit and customize for your needs. When finished, print double-sided on cardstock to use.

tag(s): computers (105), flash cards (42), search engines (49), spreadsheets (23)

In the Classroom

Print this set of flash cards for use when introducing or reviewing Google tools. Modify and change the cards to fit any unit. For example, create a complete set just for Google Documents or Google Search. Have students edit the flash cards for review on creating slide shows or spreadsheets. Use this set of flash cards as an opening when presenting information on Google to other teachers and staff.

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PrepFactory - Darin Singh

Grades
9 to 12
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PrepFactory is a free SAT and ACT preparation site. Sign up using email, Facebook, or your Google account to begin. Choose a test and then start watching videos or answering ...more
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PrepFactory is a free SAT and ACT preparation site. Sign up using email, Facebook, or your Google account to begin. Choose a test and then start watching videos or answering practice questions. Earn experience points along the way as you unlock different problem sets and view videos.

tag(s): test prep (66)

In the Classroom

Share PrepFactory with students and parents as they prepare for SAT and ACT tests. Share this as an alternative to paid programs. Create a class account and practice together. Problem sets and videos are timed and only include a few questions at a time making it perfect for use on your interactive whiteboard or projector for short study sessions.

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The Three Acts of a Mathematical Story - Dan Meyer

Grades
7 to 12
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This blog details very specifically how to introduce and teach mathematical tasks through storytelling. Begin by choosing the first link that introduces the storytelling tasks through...more
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This blog details very specifically how to introduce and teach mathematical tasks through storytelling. Begin by choosing the first link that introduces the storytelling tasks through a "brief series" of video clips. On the landing page, click on the video to display the entire 36 minutes. Scroll to the bottom to find the series of clips. Follow the next link to find a Google document with many different tasks. Included in the document is information about the resource, standards addressed, and suggested task question. Click on the Task Title to view the problem.

tag(s): equations (119), geometric shapes (135), money (119), percent (58), perimeter (20), variables (14), volume (34)

In the Classroom

Work together with a colleague to learn more about the Three Acts Mathematical tasks strategy. Use tasks in your classroom for enrichment for gifted students, as extra credit, or as weekly homework. Have students make a multimedia presentation using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge tools, reviewed here, to share steps for the problem solving process.

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Simple Sticky Notes - Simnet Limited

Grades
1 to 12
1 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Find your sticky notes with the click of a button. Post your important notes or lists to your home screen on your computer quickly and easily. Download the software and ...more
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Find your sticky notes with the click of a button. Post your important notes or lists to your home screen on your computer quickly and easily. Download the software and begin writing notes. Easily delete with one button. Change color, theme, or text type on each sticky note if you desire.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): brainstorming (15), graphic organizers (48), note taking (34)

In the Classroom

Stay organized and never lose that sticky note again! Make notes for conferences, lab materials, books needed, or even parent conferences. Use on your interactive whiteboard to create a fun brainstorming session. Use as a way to motivate unorganized students. Post a link on your class web page as a tool for students and even parents! Post on student computers and fill with inspirational messages, vocabulary or spelling words, or even for reflection questions.

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