Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

The focus of this site is to encourage better literacy and reading enjoyment among pre-teens and adolescents. A sister site to Reading Rockets and Colorin'Colorado, Adlit offers summer reading strategies, book lists, book clubs, classroom technique hints which encourage development of reading attack skills, and a special section on authors and their best books. For a Spanish language version of the main topics available as an A to Z list, click on the left side of the screen ( En Espanol ). This site has everything you already know about teaching reading in easy-to-use formats. This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. Get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

tag(s): authors (115), independent reading (112), reading strategies (63)

This site provides an organized and user-friendly explanation of the history of plate tectonics as described by the U.S. Geological Survey. It includes a lot of detailed information as well as photographs and diagrams. This site has some tough reading depending on the reading level of the user. Allow plenty of time to take in all of the information.

tag(s): earth (205), earthquakes (50), geology (77), plate tectonics (21), volcanoes (63)

Wow - this website provides ready-to-use PowerPoint presentations on over 100 topics. The presentations were created by teachers - for teachers to use in their classrooms. This website organizes topics by general grade levels (K-5 and 6-12). Just to give you a taste of the uniqueness of these presentations, topics include such diverse topics as Shakespeare, "grammar goofs," active reading strategies, haunted house graphic organizer, phonics millionaire game, pronouns, and numerous others. Any language arts teacher is guaranteed to find something useful at this website. Do yourself a favor and check it out! You may need PowerPoint software to be able to view these files, depending on how the site creators save them. Note: while files are downloading, it may appear that nothing is happening and that the links are dead. Look for a tiny "downloading" icon in the lower left corner of your screen, and please be patient! This site has heavy advertising at the top of the landing page. Scroll down to find the presentations.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): air (133), grammar (186), narrative (18), shakespeare (107)

This fabulous, FREE online tool allows you to create your own interactive "books" to help young readers learn reading strategies to build comprehension. The tool allows you to enter your own text, images, and hints. The finished product is a very polished-looking book in a form that you can save on your computer or burn to a CD and use over and over and over with students for years to come.

Be sure to try the model books and read the tips for writers and illustrators. Take the time to learn the tool. Click to see a sample we made for you and placed on our site.

tag(s): digital storytelling (141), reading comprehension (129), reading strategies (63)

This wonderful site has a collection of original stories read by actors and actresses. This is an excellent way to show children that reading is valued by folks in all walks of life! An example is "Dad, Are You the Tooth Fairy" read by Jason Alexander. Many of the story titles are parodies of famous tales. Users can see the actor holding the book and turning the pages as he hears and sees the story being read. Accompanying activities and an activity guide complete the offerings. The activities are terrific comprehension checkers and build solid reading strategies. The video is available in three screen sizes. Flash required.

tag(s): reading lists (75)

Find excellent multi-skill topical social studies lessons based on current news appropriate for limited English speakers, slow readers, and average students alike! This site offers a new comprehensive lesson plan about breaking news every three days or so. The site is rich with pre-reading and pre-listening activities, oral and written comprehension exercises, assignments, and best of all, the option of selecting the easy or more difficult session and accompanying activities.

tag(s): listening (80), news (256)

Give your students some independent practice in reading comprehension with this collection of interactive lessons. Select a subject (vocabulary in context, reading for understanding, or reading strategies) and a skill level. Check out the lesson summaries for guidance in determining the reading levels addressed by each module. This site offers great practice for state assessments. Be aware: this site does sell software but teachers can use this portion of the site for free.

tag(s): assessment (128), reading comprehension (129)

Here's a site with resources specifically for ESL students. The concentration is on building fluency in English using a variety of conversational and reading strategies. There are also links to a number of other ESL resources. Some of the material is designed for adult learners, but could be adapted for secondary students.

tag(s): vocabulary development (103), word study (65)