TeachersFirst Professional Exclusives

TeachersFirst’s Professional Exclusives help you learn as a teacher, try new technologies, explore new teaching strategies, or understand student differences. Discover how and why to use wikis from the Wiki Walk-Through. Learn to adapt for ESL students in a regular classroom. Learn the how and why of better rubrics – and locate or create them easily. Every TeachersFirst professional exclusive is written by experienced teachers and includes the pragmatic, teacher-friendly details that you count on from our Thinking Teachers.
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Writer's Workshop Introduction - Teachersfirst
Grades
1 to 6tag(s): writing (364)
In the Classroom
Teachers can use this introduction to introduce Writer's Workshop elements in a variety of curriculum situations and classroom settings.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Bulletin Board Hang Ups - TeachersFirst
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): bulletin boards (18), quotations (22)
In the Classroom
They look great printed on brightly colored paper! As an opening day activity, challenge small groups of students to interpret the quote hanging closest to them and predict how it may be important in your course this year. For younger students, ask them to write a paraphrase or to illustrate the quote. Be sure to change the quotes periodically and give a prize to the first student who notices. Or give a pop-quiz during the last week of school, asking students to recall as many of the year's quotes as they can (working in small groups will probably help). If you have classroom blogs, ask students to choose and reflect on a specific quote and its relevance to your class throughout the past year.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Blog Basics for the Classroom - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): blogs (77)
In the Classroom
You could use this step by step as the framework for a self-directed or "buddy" professional development project. Share it with your principal or professional development coordinator. USe the strategies and ideas here to start a blog for your class or for each student. Don't miss suggestions for a Teacher as Blogger so you can model blogging, too.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): wikis (17)
In the Classroom
This is listed as a TeachersFirst "edge" entry, but our step-by-step walk-through takes the edge off and makes your wiki a walk in the park. Check it out now, while there is still FREE classroom wiki space available from the three wiki tools we review in detail.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Adapt-a-Strategy for ESL/ELL - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): teaching strategies (33)
In the Classroom
Share this one with your colleagues who also have ESL/ELL students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Top Ten Tips for Working With ESL/ELL Students - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): teaching strategies (33)
In the Classroom
From TeacherFirst, this site is a helpful resource for new ELL teachers, or to pass along to general education teachers who are eager to know how to best assimilate a new ELL student into their classroom. Save the site as a favorite on your desktop to allow easy reference whenever, and pass it along to interested peers!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Webquest 101 - TeachersFirst
Grades
1 to 12In the Classroom
Mark this in your Favorites as a professional reference. You may even want to assign students to create their own webquests following these guidelines. If you mentor new teachers, share this resource when they are designing their first web-based projects.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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TeachersFirst: Sifting Through the Filters - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): internet safety (121)
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.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Middle School Do's and Don'ts - TeachersFirst
Grades
5 to 9tag(s): newbies (15), substitutes (19)
In the Classroom
If you are a new middle school teacher or mentor to one, these tips can maintain your sanity and improve your success. Mark this in favorites and looks for examples in your experience!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Rubrics to the Rescue - TeachersFirst- Melissa Henning, M.Ed.
Grades
1 to 12tag(s): assessment (123), newbies (15), rubrics (31)
In the Classroom
Mark this resource as a Favorite for quick access to everything you need to create a project-based learning assignment or assessment for any project.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Building Schoolwide Literacy With Free Web 2.0 Tools: A Grade by Grade Elementary Model - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 8In the Classroom
Explore the tools and project suggestions by grade for your individual use as a teacher or work together with others in your school to build literacy across all subjects and grades by systematically adopting and repeatedly using a fixed collection of tools so students master the tool skills as an aside to reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Try the practical suggestions for implementing this model in your school or grade level team.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Student Produced Video Field Trips - TeachersFirst
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): video (267)
In the Classroom
Read through the step by step and get started! TeachersFirst offers all the practical advice you need to try this 21st century approach to real world learning.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Twitter for Teachers Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): social networking (93), twitter (38)
In the Classroom
Make this page a must-learn for teaching in the 21st century. Mark it in your favorites to return often to watch the embedded tweets from educators all over the world. Then muster your courage to set up a Twitter account of your own. Follow @teachersfirst or our lead Thinking Teacher @morerukus2, and we'll be sure to welcome you!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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In a Manner of Speaking: Figurative Language and the Common Core - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 5tag(s): commoncore (88), figurative language (16)
In the Classroom
Read lesson ideas and learn more about the ambitious figurative language expectations of Common Core as you begin to implement the new standards. Mark this article in your Favorites. Many of the suggested resources may be helpful during curriculum planning sessions with other teachers or with your teacher -librarian if you DO have one. Click the "share" widget to send them to others!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Dimensions of Creativity: A Model to Analyze Student Projects - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): creativity (115)
In the Classroom
Do more than simply tell your students to "be creative." Try the ideas and practical suggestions on these pages if you ask: How do I help students who struggle with "being creative" in project-based learning? How do I differentiate tools/projects to match students' varied creativity skills? How do I know that more "creative" students are moving forward, challenging their creative thinking and not simply using past "tried and true" ideas, wrapped in a little glitz? How do my students and I talk about the creativity skills they used (or did not use) in making a project?Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
Attend OK2Ask''® sessions with your teacher friends or "meet" teachers from far and wide. Mark OK2Ask in your Favorites. Then check back often for new offerings during the school year and summer breaks. You can earn Professional Development Certificates for attending the LIVE sessions (and completing the requirements) or learn on your own from the archived recordings.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: Digital Storytelling In the Classroom Pt 3: Adding Tech Tools - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): digital storytelling (148)
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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Across the World Once a Week: Collaborative Microblogging for Cross-Cultural Understanding - TeachersFirst
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): cross cultural understanding (137), cultures (116), twitter (38)
In the Classroom
Join XW1W with your class using a single Twitter account or any blog or wiki tool where you can share student answers to the weekly question. If you cannot access Twitter at school, that is not a problem. You do not even have to use Twitter (though this is a great way dip your toes into Twitter). See the FAQ page for specific hints on using XW1W with your students. Share the XW1W idea with teaching colleagues in other places, and perhaps even with families to try at home. Want to learn more about Twitter and teaching. See TeachersFirst's Twitter for Teachers page.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: Easy and Engaging Projects for Your Reading Classroom - TeachersFirst
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): reading comprehension (131), reading strategies (58)
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.Comments
Excellent resources!Helena, VI, Grades: 0 - 8
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Gifts of Character Readalouds - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 6tag(s): christmas (51), holidays (140), independent reading (118)
In the Classroom
Mark this one in your favorites to bring out in late November, just in time for the holiday season. Or include it during a character education unit. Maybe invite some parents to volunteer as readers, modeling how adults give of their own time to support others.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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