TeachersFirst - What's Popular
This page shares the 25 resources most frequently marked as Favorites by TeachersFirst Members in the past 60 days. See what tops the list of TeachersFirst's database of well over 15,000+ educator-reviewed web resources. Find out what other teachers are excited about. Not a TeachersFirst member yet? See the time saving benefits of free TeachersFirst membership.
Google Forms - Google
Grades
K to 12tag(s): polls and surveys (46), spreadsheets (23)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the flexibility of Google Forms to create surveys for parents and students at the beginning of the year to learn about student interests, create parent volunteer lists, and much more. Create sign in and sign out sheets for classroom library materials including books and digital equipment. Use Google Forms to set up and collaborate on lesson plans, include check boxes to standards, materials needed, and covered content. Google Forms is perfect to use for assessment purposes - create online quizzes and exit tickets. Have students use Google Forms to prepare and submit reading logs, brainstorm and collaborate with fellow students, create choose your own adventure stories, or schedule reading and writing conference times. Use Google Forms to set up and share rubrics for any project, have students complete the rubric and turn in with any completed assignment. The uses for Google Forms are as unlimited as your imagination; this is a must-have tool for all classrooms!You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Excel Easy - E-Learning
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): computers (107), data (147), Microsoft (84), spreadsheets (23)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site for your use and for student use on classroom computers. Make it easy to find sites with tutorials by creating a Padlet, reviewed here, to share with students. Use columns to sort tutorials and other helpful sites by topic within your Padlet. If you don't find a tutorial that you need, extend student learning by asking them to create their own using Free Screen Recorder Online, reviewed here, or by creating an explainer video using FlexClip, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Try an Hour of Code with Khan Academy - Khan Academy
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): coding (88), computers (107), critical thinking (112), logic (164), STEM (264)
In the Classroom
Although this site is a resource for Hour of Code, it is available at any time. Include the tutorials on classroom computers for students to use during computer center time or as an ongoing STEM activity. Encourage students to revisit lessons and try them again with their newly-found coding skills or ask them to try a different tutorial than the one used during Hour of Code. Ask students to become coding experts by sharing tips and ideas created using a screen recording tool such as Free Screen Recorder Online, reviewed here. Share the recordings on your class website for students to access from any location. Consider starting a monthly podcast designed by students to share coding tips and suggestions with the larger school community. Buzzsprout, reviewed here, offers up to two hours of free podcast uploads monthly. Hour of Code lessons are supported in many languages, including a transcript option for deaf students. Registration isn't required; however, it allows you to track progress and earn badges on the Khan Academy site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: 3 Cool Tools for Digital Reading - TeachersFirst
Grades
3 to 12Digital or online...more
Digital or online reading is different from reading print. Digital reading often includes a research component that is not linear, so when reading online, students need to clarify their purpose and then evaluate and synthesize information. Come learn about the processes involved in digital reading and explore three tools that will help you teach critical strategies to your students. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand skills and processes involved in digital reading. 2. Explore tools that help students find, evaluate, and synthesize what they read. 3. Plan for digital reading instruction in the classroom. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
tag(s): digital reading (16), professional development (396), reading strategies (98)
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Nova Education - PBS
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): archeology (25), engineering (119), environment (240), forensics (13), paleontology (28), space (213)
In the Classroom
Enjoy the interactives, videos, and text on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Use selected activities as a center (station). Share the included articles and videos with students to supplement your STEM curriculum. If articles are too difficult for students, use a text leveler tool like the one available at Brisk, reviewed here to match student reading abilities.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Litmaps - Litmaps Ltd
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): professional development (396), Research (83)
In the Classroom
Use Litmaps as a professional tool for researching current teaching frameworks and strategies. For example, if you are investigating the Science of Reading, search for that term to learn more about the academic research done on this topic.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Let's Listen to a Podcast - Shanon McClintock Miller
Grades
1 to 5tag(s): listening (68)
In the Classroom
Integrating Shannon McClintock Miller's Choice Board for Podcasts into the elementary classroom can significantly enhance listening comprehension skills and encourage literacy development (read more about podcasts in the classroom here). Introduce the choice board of podcasts to students and encourage students to explore the podcasts based on their interests. Facilitate discussions about the podcasts, allowing students to share their favorite episodes and insights with their peers. You can use tools like Flip, reviewed here where students can record video responses discussing their favorite podcast episodes, or Padlet, reviewed here which offers a digital bulletin board for students to share insights and reflections. Integrate some of the podcasts into existing units of study as supplemental resources. For example, assign a relevant podcast from Julie's Library to complement a reading lesson. You can then provide guiding questions or reflection prompts to help students make connections between the podcast content and what they're learning in class. Here's a great blog post on Questioning Strateties that can help you craft those. Wrap it all up by giving students an opportunity to create their own podcasts. Choose from several free resources to create your podcasts. Spotify for Podcasters (was Anchor), reviewed here, Buzzsprout, reviewed here, and PodOmatic, reviewed here. This can be a great collaborative project where students work together to produce podcasts on topics of their choice or related to the unit of study. Find opportunities for students to share their podcasts with a wider audience, such as the school community or caregivers!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Storytime from Space - Global Space Education Foundation
Grades
K to 5tag(s): digital reading (16), motion (49), newton (21), space (213)
In the Classroom
Have students watch experiments conducted in space to understand how microgravity affects various situations. Then, in groups, have students brainstorm and plan simple science experiments that could be conducted in space. Next, using a storyboard template from Canva found here, have students outline their experiment, hypothesize results in space versus on Earth, and present their ideas to the class. Have students write letters to an astronaut, asking questions about space, life on the ISS, or the books read. Have students watch an astronaut read a children's book aboard the International Space Station and then draw their favorite part of the story or an experiment shown in the video. They can use a digital drawing tool like Tux Paint, reviewed here to illustrate their ideas. These drawings can be compiled into a class science journal and shared with parents or other classes.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: Sway Cool Student Projects - TeachersFirst
Grades
2 to 12Harness the power...more
Harness the power of Microsoft Sway to create dynamic, multimedia-rich student projects. Explore the versatility of Sway and learn how to craft compelling "show what you know" assignments that are applicable to a wide range of grade levels and subject areas. In this workshop, you'll learn how to use Microsoft Sway to create and share digital stories that showcase your students' learning. Whether it's a book report, an interactive webpage, a portfolio, or a curated collection of artifacts, Sway can breathe new life into student projects, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and digital literacy. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand the potential of Microsoft Sway as a versatile tool for student projects. 2. Plan a "show what you know" project using Sway. 3. Produce an exemplar to accompany their project description. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
tag(s): Formative Assessment (70)
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: Tech Tools Smackdown: AI Tools - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12The bots are battling...more
The bots are battling it out in this AI-themed Tech Smackdown! Our TeachersFirst contributors will showcase their favorite classroom AI assistants in an epic showdown. From creative bots, to time-saving bots, to student-engaging bots, to organizing bots, these artificial intelligence dynamos will digitally duel for the title of most valuable AI. With new AI tools emerging faster than you can say "machine learning," finding the top tech can be a challenge. Let our tech-wise teachers be your guides in this fast-paced, fun session! The future is now - come see which classroom AI education tool will be crowned king! As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Compare and contrast the most popular AI-powered education tools to discover which ones are most effective for classroom use. 2. Evaluate the strengths and limitations of leading AI learning tools to determine which provide the greatest benefits for students. 3. Discuss implementation strategies and best practices for leveraging AI tools to enhance teaching and optimize student outcomes. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (104), professional development (396)
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Piktochart AI Infographic Generator - Piktochart
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (104), infographics (57), posters (45), presentations (17)
In the Classroom
Quickly create infographics as a schema activator or lesson introduction by typing in the topic of your lesson. Discuss the information shared on the infographic and ask students to share additional ideas that support their current understanding of the content. Share the infographic creator with students to include with multimedia presentations, book reports, or oral presentations. Students can create infographics about a classroom topic, relationships, definitions of significant terms, lab information, and more. If you use literature circles in your classroom, making an Infographic about a novel the group read would be a great conclusion for the lit circle project. It might also entice others in the class to read the novel. Post the infographics on your web page for all your students and parents to enjoy. To challenge your gifted students, have them research and create infographics depicting the challenging issues or "flipsides" related to your curriculum topic. Here are some suggestions: Major court cases and matters involving freedom of speech (during your Constitution unit), risks and benefits of nuclear power (in a physics class).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ideogram - Ideogram
Grades
K to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (104), creative writing (121), images (264)
In the Classroom
Ideogram is an excellent tool for creating AI-generated images and a valuable resource for learning how to create effective prompts. Scroll through the home page to find images of interest, then open the picture to view the prompt used to make it. Teach students how to write descriptive sentences by creating AI-generated images; students quickly learn how to add specific details to create a desired output. Use Ideogram to engage students in creative writing projects by generating images based on anything their imaginations share. Include AI-generated images in your classroom newsletter, website, or worksheets as an easy resource for adding pictures without spending much time searching for the right photograph. Share this site with students to include images in multimedia projects, such as those created using Sway, reviewed here or edublogs, reviewed here. When using any AI resource, be sure to provide guidance on using AI tools ethically, creatively, and responsibly.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Reading Treks: Charles Darwin's Around-the-World Adventure - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 3tag(s): animals (281), continents (32), darwin (13), ecosystems (73), plants (145), preK (255)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many lesson ideas in the Teachers' Guide to bring this story to life and provide activities that correlate with the book's theme of adventure and exploration. Help students understand the timeline of Darwin's adventure using MyLens, reviewed here to create a timeline that includes the dates of his voyage created using AI or build a timeline as you read the book using ReadWriteThink's Timeline builder tool, reviewed here. Work together as a class to create an adventure story using Book Creator, reviewed here. Add student drawings, voice recordings, and maps to your digital book, then create a link on classroom computers for students to read over and over again!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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WPSU Language Arts Games - PBS Learning Media
Grades
K to 1tag(s): infographics (57), literacy (110), reading comprehension (143), reading strategies (98), science of reading (33), vocabulary (237)
In the Classroom
To develop and practice language arts skills, add these games to classroom computers and include them in station rotation activities. Each game includes a set of discussion questions; use these questions as discussion topics in Flip, reviewed here and ask students to share their responses as part of a video discussion. Learn more about the Science of Reading by visiting TeachersFirst Science of Reading Special Topics Page, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Really Great Reading - Really Great Reading
Grades
K to 12tag(s): literacy (110), phonics (50), preK (255), reading comprehension (143), reading strategies (98), science of reading (33)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site as a resource for learning about and finding activities for reading instruction. Share ideas and articles with parents to support reading activities at home. The Heart Word Magic section includes many short video tutorials to help students learn to read and spell high-frequency words; consider including a video tutorial in your weekly classroom newsletter and on classroom computers for students and parents to review at home and in school. As an alternative to adding information to your classroom newsletter, consider using Wakelet, reviewed here or Padlet, reviewed here to organize and share resources with parents and guardians.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Skybrary Collection - Reading Is Fundamental
Grades
K to 5tag(s): book lists (161), ebooks (39), interactive stories (21)
In the Classroom
Have students choose a book from the Skybrary and create a digital story map using one of the graphic organizers found on the site. Using them to outline the plot, characters, and settings, reinforces narrative understanding. Enhance learning by having students create a character trading card using Trading Card Creator, reviewed here. Extend students' learning by creating a video like Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here to create a book trailer for a Skybrary book they enjoyed. These trailers can be shared on the library's webpage to help students learn about different books.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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