TeachersFirst: Examples of Ways to Differentiate

Examples of Ways to Differentiate:

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Lessons for All Grade K to 6 - TeachersFirst- 9522

This collection of lesson plans features multi-sensory approaches to help all learners, including special needs students who benefit from multiple experiences with concepts. All plans focus on consistency, repetitiveness, tactile and visual reinforcement—great for children with special needs. The original lesson plans were written by award-winning teacher Nora Coyle of Colorado, a KOAA-TV "Teachers First" Award winner.

Lesson content includes letter-sound relationships, parts of speech, paragraph writing, sequencing, earth science, animals, egg-laying animals, volcanoes, addition, and more. The staff of TeachersFirst has incorporated technology options, tips, and templates appropriate for younger students into the lesson plans to add yet another way for your students to experience and interact with new concepts.

Many of these ideas and templates can be adapted for use with almost any subjects and concepts, to differentiate for different learning styles. All lessons include national standards. Experienced and new teachers alike will find these examples helpful in designing multi-sensory, technology-infused lessons.

In the Classroom:
If your classroom includes special needs learners or simply students who need a multi-sensory approach in order to master new concepts, try these lessons or use them as prototypes as you plan for other curriculum content. If you mentor new teachers or student teachers, share these examples for infusing technology into lessons and for differentiating lessons.

Calculation Balance Grade 1 to 4 - WMnet- 8445

This mathematical balance activity has a super hero who challenges students to balance the scales by answering math questions. The topics include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and words as numbers. The website offers a variety of difficulty levels and can easily be differentiated to meet the various ability levels of your students. The entire activity requires Flash, get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
This website would work perfectly as an individual activity (differentiate the activities to the various levels of your students). If you prefer a group activity, get out the interactive whiteboard and treat your students to this engaging activity. Each challenge is only a few questions and could easily be incorporated into your daily math lessons. Add this as a warm-up or as part of your closure for a skill lesson.

Teaching with the Brain in Mind Grade 1 to 2 - PBS- 5034

This concise little article is packed with information on how the brain is structured and how teachers can be more effective in establishing "brain friendly" communication. Practical ideas on how to differentiate instruction are provided.

See user comments on this resource. -

Differentiating Curriculum for Gifted Students Grade 4 to 12 - ERIC- 3492

This ERIC Digest suggests strategies to provide curriculum differentiation for gifted and talented students. Includes reading and resource suggestions.

The Differentiator Grade K to 12 - Byrdseed.com- 10219

Struggling to create the best objectives for your lessons? Use this free tool created by an educator to create great objectives for differentiated instruction. Based upon the new (1990s) Bloom's Taxonomy, click on the action verb; enter your content, resources to be used, final product, and group size. You will see your objective created across the top of your screen. Be aware this site does include some “click me” advertisements for contests and more. And the review team did notice one typo. However, we still felt this site would be helpful to many teachers out there “in the trenches.”

In the Classroom:
For example, use a verb from Bloom' taxonomy such as "evaluate." Click on the portion of the sentence at the top to enter your content such as "patterns of environmental issues." Choose the resource to be used, final product to be made, and number of students in group from the appropriate tabs. Example objective: Students will evaluate the patterns of environmental issues using websites to create a news report in groups of two. Save your objective by copying and pasting into any document or online tool. This site will give you many project ideas that you may not have thought of yourself. Although this site is deceivingly quick and simple, it could be very useful when writing detailed, powerful lesson plans.

Save the Apples Grade 1 to 5 - PlayKidsGames- 8979

This math practice game is sure to excite your students. The challenge is to help a monkey swing on a vine across the water (and keep the apples from the crocodile). The best aspect of this game (besides the entertainment of the monkey), is that you can choose addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. You can also choose the difficulty level (easy, medium, or hard) to differentiate student practice levels. This website requires FLASH. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
What a wonderful tool to use to differentiate your lessons to meet the needs of your struggling students and your gifted students. Why not have the students work on individual computers and use the operation that they are currently learning (addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division). And then have them work at their own individual difficulty level. If this isn't practical in your classroom, using this as a learning center on your class computer would also be beneficial. You WILL want to turn off the annoying sound!

Animal Lost and Found Grade K to 1 - PBS- 8772

This age-appropriate math activity challenges young students to identify various pets based on a set of criteria. The list of criteria requires students to count eyes, ears, mouths, and other body parts. There are two difficulty levels, which allows teachers to differentiate the instruction for less or more advanced students in a primary class. This website requires FLASH. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
One concern: non-readers will not be able to READ the criteria. The game is intended for sharing with at least one reader (child or adult). This website could be incorporated in many ways: First, use an interactive whiteboard and include the entire class, asking them to raise their hands or use clickers to vote on whether you have "found" the pet as someone reads the criteria aloud. Second, you could use this website as a learning center for cooperative groups (including a reader)to investigate together. Third, you could differentiate the instruction by having students work on their own laptops (or in the computer lab). Turn off the irritating sound with the little speaker icon.

Flick's Adventure Grade 2 to 5 - BBC- 9326

This highly engaging and diverse website offers interactive activities in the areas of language arts, math, and science. The site was created by the BBC, especially for ages 7-9. For differentiation purposes, there are links to activities for ages 5-7 or 9-11 on the left-side of the website. Attention Teachers - there is a link with lesson plans, printable pages, lesson ideas and more available if you click on Home and then Teachers .

This interactive website features topics such as friction, what dissolves, newspaper headlines, poetry, coordinates, time, and several others. Some of the motivational interactive activities include Looping the Loop, Escape Route, & On the Trail . There are also links to create comics, music mixers, planning a party, and skating. Be aware, since this site was created by the BBC, Americans may notice some slight spelling and language differences. Nearly all of these activities require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Wow - there are so many possible uses for this website in an elementary classroom. The lesson plans (at the Teachers link) offer standards and ready-to-go ideas. Check these for the direct connections to your curriculum. The interactive activities are perfect for computer lab time, cooperative learning, or class challenges using your interactive whiteboard or projector. Be sure to list this site on your class website so students can access these wonderful and enriching activities at home. If you are looking to differentiate instruction, allow your more advanced students to explore the activities listed for ages 9-11.

Top Ten Tips for Working With ESL/ELL Students Grade K to 12 - TeachersFirst- 6928

Teaching ESL./ELL students in your regular classroom can be a challenge. You feel great empathy for the children who enter your room, bewildered, but you have the rest of the class to think of, too. TeachersFirst offers these Top Ten Tips for Teachers working with ESL/ELL students to help you find appropriate ways to differentiate instruction and make minor adjustments for the individual student and maximize the benefit of having these new students in the class.

Job Voyager Grade 8 to 12 - ipums.org- 10343

This interactive graph (created with information from the U.S. Census) shows all jobs and the percentages of people who worked them from 1850-2000. Students can scroll up over any given year to see any job and the percentage of Americans working that job during that year (gender indicated). A few do have “missing data,” but most are complete. By clicking on the job, a new screen appears which shows the percentage of workers but divides the workers into male and female (pink and blue traditional colors help to differentiate between the genders). The site reflects the growing number of female workers, the loss of agrarian occupations, and the changing fields of importance, to name a few trends. Besides viewing the breakdown of male and female employees, you can also select one field and analyze its place in society today and during any given year. Occupations range from teachers to salesman to farmer to clerical worker and countless others. You can also search by letter and all the occupations beginning with that letter will come up graphed by percentages across the span of years.

In the Classroom:
This is a great find for the interactive whiteboard or projector. Share this site with career counseling staff, as well. Use this site when studying U.S. history and economics. Compare the role in society of various occupations (such as a farm laborer) from the 1850s to 2000. Have students hypothesize about why the changes occurred. Use this when teaching graph reading and graph creation, as well.

Visual Math Learning Grade 2 to 8 - visualmathlearning.com- 10317

Use these easy lessons to understand math concepts in Elementary Algebra and Pre-Algebra that many students find difficult to grasp. Use a variety of interactives to bring the concepts to life and provide real practice. Practice exercises include topics such as Numeral Tree, Less or Greater, Equivalent Fractions, and several others. Puzzles and Games include Shapeology, Primary Colors, Equivalence Rings, and more. This site has a lot to explore! Use additional puzzles and activities for extra practice. There are some unobtrusive advertisements at this site.

In the Classroom:
Many students feel inadequate with math concepts. Use these simple lessons and activities to teach concepts in a meaningful and easy to understand manner. Share the activities on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Or have students work on individual computers and use this site to differentiate instruction to meet each student’s current math level. After understanding, provide additional practice on paper or with other manipulatives.

It's Fun To Read - Poetry Grade K to 2 - Starfall Education- 10076

Beginning readers will be delighted to read these four adorable poems entitled "If I Could Touch the Sky," "My Hiding Place," "My Shadow," and "Who Has Seen the Wind?" Every student will find something to relate to within these poems. Students can differentiate the activity by either reading the poem independently or clicking on the sound icon (ear) to have the poem read to them. Each poem provides a list of high frequency words or "unique" words at the bottom of the web page as well as a writing extension page. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Share the poetry on your projector or interactive whiteboard. If individual computers are available, even better! Just be sure to remember the headsets! Maybe consider creating a “Poetry Station” using this site on a computer cluster.

Review corresponding high frequency words with students prior to reading the poems. Have students search for those words throughout the poem. Incorporate some of the words onto the classroom word wall or point out existing words on the wall as a connection activity to the literature. Students can complete the extension print out activity as a center assignment and proceed to publish it with illustrations.

Language Arts for Dummies Grade 7 to 12 - John Wiley & Sons- 9956

Filled with a variety of essential language art skills, this site is a super teaching opportunity to be followed by students working on their own. With 42 lessons ranging from “Differentiating between who/whom" to “Writing Sonnets” to "Crafting Your Character's Dialogue in Your Screenplay," there is plenty to suit your particular class needs. You are able to write replies (comments), however an email address is required. Registration is not required for any other part of this site.

This site does offer the option of signing up for RSS feeds. There are some unobtrusive advertisements at the site.

In the Classroom:
These lessons give great examples as well as "pop quizzes" as you go through them. It would be great to do these on a projector or interactive whiteboard, having students comment as you go; then you can assign their own writing to follow up. Of particular interest is the lesson on "note taking on a computer." As essential as computers are to writing these days, it may be the best place to begin. This might also be a good site to link from your class website. It is very easy for students to explore on their own and get extra help where needed. Or have small groups investigate a specific area together and then create a multimedia presentation to share with the class. Have the groups create a podcast to share using a tool such as Podomatic (reviewed here).

The Calculus Page Problems List Grade 11 to 12 - UC Davis Department of Mathematics- 9761

Need a solution to a difficult Calculus problem? Look for solutions in Beginning Differential Calculus, Beginning Integral Calculus, and Multi-Variable Calculus. View the problems and their solutions to different rules. . The site is utilitarian in appearance, but the information, provided by a college prof, is sound.

In the Classroom:
Use this site for reinforcement of difficult problems. Students can also identify similarities between rules and common aspects of Math solutions. Provide this link on your class website for students to use both in and out of the classroom.

Lesson Plan: Volcano Grade 4 to 6 - TeachersFirst- 9531

This lesson on volcanoes and paragraph writing is part of a collection of lesson plans featuring multi-sensory approaches to help all learners, including special needs students who benefit from multiple experiences with concepts. The plans focuses on consistency, repetitiveness, tactile and visual reinforcement—great for children with special needs. The original lesson plans were written by award-winning teacher Nora Coyle of Colorado, a KOAA-TV "Teachers First" Award winner. The staff of TeachersFirst has incorporated technology options, tips, and templates appropriate for younger students into the lesson plan to add yet another way for your students to experience and interact with new concepts.

Many of these ideas and templates can be adapted for use with almost any subject or concepts, to differentiate for different learning styles. The lesson includes national standards.

In the Classroom:
Experienced and new teachers alike will find this example helpful in designing multi-sensory, technology-infused lessons.

Lesson Plan: Egg-Laying Animals Grade 2 to 6 - TeachersFirst- 9530

This lesson on egg-laying animals and research is part of a collection of lesson plans featuring multi-sensory approaches to help all learners, including special needs students who benefit from multiple experiences with concepts. The plans focuses on consistency, repetitiveness, tactile and visual reinforcement—great for children with special needs. The original lesson plans were written by award-winning teacher Nora Coyle of Colorado, a KOAA-TV "Teachers First" Award winner. The staff of TeachersFirst has incorporated technology options, tips, and templates appropriate for younger students into the lesson plan to add yet another way for your students to experience and interact with new concepts.

Many of these ideas and templates can be adapted for use with almost any subject or concepts, to differentiate for different learning styles. The lesson includes national standards.

In the Classroom:
Experienced and new teachers alike will find this example helpful in designing multi-sensory, technology-infused lessons.

Lesson Plan: Egg Hatching Into Sequencing Grade 1 to 3 - TeachersFirst- 9529

This lesson on egg hatching and sequencing is part of a collection of lesson plans featuring multi-sensory approaches to help all learners, including special needs students who benefit from multiple experiences with concepts. The plans focuses on consistency, repetitiveness, tactile and visual reinforcement—great for children with special needs. The original lesson plans were written by award-winning teacher Nora Coyle of Colorado, a KOAA-TV "Teachers First" Award winner. The staff of TeachersFirst has incorporated technology options, tips, and templates appropriate for younger students into the lesson plan to add yet another way for your students to experience and interact with new concepts.

Many of these ideas and templates can be adapted for use with almost any subject or concepts, to differentiate for different learning styles. The lesson includes national standards.

In the Classroom:
Experienced and new teachers alike will find this example helpful in designing multi-sensory, technology-infused lessons.

Lesson Plan: Tactile Parts of Speech Grade 1 to 3 - TeachersFirst- 9528

This lesson on parts of speech (noun, adjective) is part of a collection of lesson plans featuring multi-sensory approaches to help all learners, including special needs students who benefit from multiple experiences with concepts. The plans focuses on consistency, repetitiveness, tactile and visual reinforcement—great for children with special needs. The original lesson plans were written by award-winning teacher Nora Coyle of Colorado, a KOAA-TV "Teachers First" Award winner. The staff of TeachersFirst has incorporated technology options, tips, and templates appropriate for younger students into the lesson plan to add yet another way for your students to experience and interact with new concepts.

Many of these ideas and templates can be adapted for use with almost any subject or concepts, to differentiate for different learning styles. The lesson includes national standards.

In the Classroom:
Experienced and new teachers alike will find this example helpful in designing multi-sensory, technology-infused lessons.

Lesson Plan: Nouns and Adjectives Are Not Just Words Grade K to 3 - TeachersFirst- 9527

Many of these ideas and templates can be adapted for use with almost any subject or concepts, to differentiate for different learning styles. The lesson includes national standards.

In the Classroom:
Experienced and new teachers alike will find this example helpful in designing multi-sensory, technology-infused lessons.

Lesson Plan: Dinosaur Math Grade K to 1 - TeachersFirst- 9525

This lesson on simple addition is part of a collection of lesson plans featuring multi-sensory approaches to help all learners, including special needs students who benefit from multiple experiences with concepts. The plans focuses on consistency, repetitiveness, tactile and visual reinforcement—great for children with special needs. The original lesson plans were written by award-winning teacher Nora Coyle of Colorado, a KOAA-TV "Teachers First" Award winner. The staff of TeachersFirst has incorporated technology options, tips, and templates appropriate for younger students into the lesson plan to add yet another way for your students to experience and interact with new concepts.

Many of these ideas and templates can be adapted for use with almost any subject or concepts, to differentiate for different learning styles. The lesson includes national standards.

In the Classroom:
Experienced and new teachers alike will find this example helpful in designing multi-sensory, technology-infused lessons.

Listen and Write Grade 6 to 12 - listenandwrite.com- 9506

Listen and Write is a listening/dictation site that allows ESL and ELL students to click on their choice of oral transmissions and then write the words they hear in a box. Clicking the play button will repeat the sentence. There are also choices for hints or a version that provides a separate text box for each word, helping listeners to distinguish and separate the words they hear. When students write the correct sentence, a red "good" appears at the end of the line. Students can submit their own oral recordings as part of the bank of recorded items. Many of the items they can do dictation to come from VOA news. Students can also select other languages for dictation: Korean, Basque, Estonian, and Hebrew. Dictations are available at a total of 16 levels. Students must sign in and establish an account in order to save their scores, share and save audios, and collaborate with others on dictations or audio recordings.

In the Classroom:
Check school policies about establishing a "class" log in with an official email address instead of having the students use their own. You may want to create your own Gmail account with up to 20 subaccounts for each group of students (by code name or number) within your classes. Here is a blog post that tells how.

Refer students to improve their oral comprehension or applied spelling skills at this site. Teacers can also create or assign recordings for required listening and dictation, differentiating for each student’s level. There are some French recordings that could be used in a world language class, as well. Why not have your students create their own recordings to challenge their classmates?

Number Pyramid Grade 1 to 3 - BBC- 9245

Help Molly free herself from a pyramid by answering additional and subtraction questions. There are three levels of difficulty. The website also features a "full screen" option, printable worksheets, engaging sound effects (that can be turned off), and animations. Be aware, this site was created by the BBC, so you may notice some beautiful accents and spelling differences than in American English. This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use the three difficulty levels to differentiate addition and subtraction practice for your students. Share this website with your class on an interactive whiteboard or projector and show the students HOW to use the program. Then, create a learning center for students to use this website, or provide individual laptops or computers. Play a game of "Around the World" using this activity. Or divide your class into teams and have some healthy competition. You may want to list this website in your class newsletter and on your class website so students can practice their math skills at home.

Math Baseball Grade 1 to 6 - Funbrain- 9201

This is an on-line game in which students advance runners and score runs by completing math problems of varying difficulties. Students can select easy or difficult problems, either non-algebraic or algebraic, and operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, or a combination).

In the Classroom:
Have you students work on individual computers and "take a swing" at this math activity. It offers a highly motivating review activity on various difficulty levels, enabling the teacher to differentiate the instruction based on the math levels of the individual students.

Around The World in 80-Seconds Grade 1 to 5 - Scholastic- 8948

This interdisciplinary math/ geography practice activity challenges students to answer several math questions in 80-seconds. Each correct answer flies Maggie and her helicopter to a new destination in the world. Students can choose a difficulty level of easy or hard. They can also choose to play the game using addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, or a mix of all four. This activity is also available in Spanish. This math journey requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Use your interactive whiteboard or projector to make this "flight" a class challenge. Assign a few students to be "recorders." Have them record the names of the cities, countries, and/or continents that you visit. Make this into a thorough geography lesson by having students complete research the locations that Maggie visits during her journey.

This website is also ideal for individual computers. This allows students to practice the particular math operation that they need most help with AND differentiates so that students can work at an easy or difficult math level. Provide a link to this site in your class newsletter or on your class web page, so students can practice their math and geography skills at home.

Subtraction Grade K to 3 - Dositey- 8521

This is a fabulous site for subtraction. It includes interactive games, challenges, and printable worksheets. Topics all relate to subtraction and include basic subtraction facts up to 20, subtracting with regrouping, subtracting without regrouping, and subtracting 3-digit numbers. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use this website to differentiate subtraction instruction. This website would be a wonderful learning center activity. List this site in your class newsletter or on your class website.

Addition K-2 Grade K to 2 - Dositey- 8520

This is a useful site for addition practice. The website includes interactive games and challenges, as well as printable worksheets. Topics all relate to addition and include levels: basic addition facts, adding 2-digit number with regrouping, adding 2-digit numbers without regrouping, adding 3-digit numbers and more. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use this website to differentiate addition instruction. This website would be a wonderful learning center activity on your classroom computer or cluster, with each student assigned the appropriate section for practice.

Fractions Grade 1 to 5 - BGFL- 8505

This is a fabulous website for all levels of fraction instruction (there are five difficulty levels). The website offers both interactive challenges and printable worksheets. Students will love the pizza fun and other graphics used at this website - check it out. Level 2 is a TERRIFIC way to help students read fraction markings on a ruler, always a challenge for some. Some of the activities require Flash, get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Use an interactive whiteboard to introduce this activity. Then differentiate the instruction and allow students to work on their own computers at their own levels. For more instructions on how to use this website, visit the "support materials" link.

Woodlands Math Zone Grade 2 to 6 - Woodlands Junior School- 8323

This comprehensive math site provides countless math activities (nearly all interactive). Topics vary from basic number skills (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division), to shapes and space skills, to data and probability, to measurement skills, and even math investigations. There are worksheets to print. There are also interactive activities to use with an interactive whiteboard or individual computers. Some of the activities require FLASH, get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Use an interactive whiteboard to introduce your class to this site's activities. Then differentiate your math lessons by allowing students to work independently on the math skills they are currently acquiring. Even if you have only a single classroom computer, you can provide practice and challenge at all levels. This is also a wonderful site to share as a link from your teacher home page or in your classroom newsletter.

Math Arcade Grade K to 5 - FunBrain- 7403

This interactive "arcade" consists of 25 math games. At the introduction page, students are asked to choose a level and game piece. Each game is interactive, "kid-friendly," and quick. There is a feature that the students can "log-in" if they are returning. So, this would be a great practice activity for computer lab time. Since there are eight difficulty levels, there are a variety of math skills/operations included in the games, allowing you to differentiate for student levels. This site requires FLASH.

In the Classroom:
Your students are sure to enjoy these math "arcade" games as they practice their skills. Use an interactive whiteboard or projector to introduce the games as a class, then have your students use a classroom computer or the computer lab to work at their individual levels. Check your school's acceptable use policy befoe allowing students to set up personal log-ins.

NumberNut - Advanced Grade 2 to 6 - Andrew Rader Studios- 7211

This useful website provides teachers with over 50 interactive mathematical activities. All activities require FLASH. The activities include fractions, decimals, estimation, rounding and money. There are also links to "kid-friendly" instructions for each operation. There are graphics used to help explain the concepts.

In the Classroom:
Teachers could use the activities at this website to differentiate mathematical instruction. Teachers do not need to search the site for activities; the specific topics are already listed with each activity, so the site is extremely easy to use. Be sure to include this one on your teacher web page for students to use as a review tool.

Zoo Matchmaker Grade 6 to 10 - Minnesota Zoo- 6923

Try this online simulation to teach about genetics, biodiversity, and disease resistance among tigers. This is a "hands-on" activity that forces students to think about the repercussions of environmental and genetic factors. You can turn off the sound, if it starts to get to you, but the animated simulation both displays and reads the text, a helpful touch for differentiating for ESL or learning support students.

In the Classroom:
Let students navigate the activities themselves on lab or laptop computers. You could even assign it as homework if everyone has internet access. Be sure to follow up with some discussion or written activity to hold students accountable for more than click-madness.

Exercise Central Grade 6 to 12 - Bedford/St. Martin's- 6583

It's not the kind of "exercise" you might expect, but if you're looking for a resource that can strengthen and tone your students' grammar and writing skills, you've come to the "write" place! Browse the many activities that focus on grammar concepts, punctuation, writing style, and editing. To use all of the site's many interactive features, you must complete a free registration. Also includes a nice collection of practice exercises for ESL students.

In the Classroom:
This might be a viable option for formative assessment in your language arts classroom. Use the resources on this site to test student knowledge before beginning a grammar unit, then differentiate your instruction based on the results.

Learning Resources to Promote Literacy Grade 5 to 8 - Western/Pacific Literacy Network- 6448

This literacy resource provides students with full texts of a wide variety of news stories, then challenges them with related interactive activities testing reading comprehension. Each full text is accompanied by an abridged version, and a story outline - great features for differentiating instruction as needed.

In the Classroom:
Use for independent, self-paced reading practice. An excellent preparation activity for state standards testing.

Learning Resources Grade 8 to 12 - CNN- 6435

Improve reading comprehension of non-fiction text with this online activity that uses actual CNN news stories to strengthen skills in making inferences and drawing conclusions. Differentiate your reading instruction by allowing students to choose a story of interest, then select the full or abridged version, based on reading ability. Follow-up activities testing vocabulary and comprehension are provided (see links to the left of each story).

S.O.S. Math CyberExams Grade 9 to 12 - MathMedics- 6119

Send your students to this site for interactive practice with math concepts ranging from algebra to differential equations. These "cyber exams" provide instant feedback and multiple chances to rethink incorrect responses. Browse the choices for the topic that matches your curriculum.

In the Classroom:
Include this link on your teacher web page for outside practice and skill reinforcement.

Hypermath Grade 8 to 12 - - 5341

This is truly a unique math resource. A concept map on the home page serves as an interactive navigational system for the site which focuses on trigonometry, calculus, differential equations, algebra, geometry, exponents, and more. Formulas, functions, and examples stress basic mathematical principles and fundamental understanding. A great site for refreshing or reinforcing math skills.

AAA Math Grade K to 8 - - 5286

Students can practice math skills independently (and in both English and Spanish) with this collection of challenging, interactive practice activities, organized by grade level and topic. Click Spanish version at the top for your ESL/ELL students to have access to the same valuable resources! The website says the activities are designed for students in grades K through eight. Topics vary greatly and include algebra, statistics, counting, comparing, decimals, basic operations, exponents, fractions, and many others. Nearly every math topic taught in elementary or middle school, will be found at this site. Once you click on the general topic area, be prepared for a HUGE list of specific choices to explore. Each math concept is explained in a simple paragraph and then students are presented with practice activities about the specific concept. The practice activities are timed.

Be aware there are several advertisements at this website (all appropriate). But considering this site is free (and full of ready to go math activities), the advertisements are worth the minor annoyance.

In the Classroom:
This site has countless possibilities in the classroom. Use the descriptions and activities as an anticipatory set for a new topic in math class. Share the activities on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Set up a learning station for students and differentiate the activities for your lower and higher level math students. Provide this link on your class website for students to use to review at home.

Graphics for the Calculus Classroom Grade 10 to 12 - - 5152

This site provides first year calculus students and teachers with a collection of helpful graphics illustrating a variety of important concepts including differentials and differences, Archimedes calculation of pi, the number e, secants and tangents, and much more. Each graphic is accompanied by an overview and description.

Math Demonstration Applets Grade 7 to 12 - - 4543

Designed by a college professor, this site has helpful simulations for teaching a number of graphing topics for middle and high school students. There are applets for linear, quadratic, and exponential functions, as well as regression, trigonometric functions, differentiation, and integration demonstrations. The site is helpful for both demonstrations, and solving problems.

History of Geometry Grade 7 to 12 - Cynthia Lanius- 143

This site offers an interesting look at the history of geometry. Learn about geometry during the times of the Egyptians, Babylonians, and Greeks, The Fifth Postulate Controversy, The search for Pi, coordinate geometry, non-Euclidian geometry, differential geometry, and fractal geometry. There is also an Assignment link at the bottom of the site. The assignment challenges students to research a famous mathematician. The research links are provided, and some are very lengthy.

In the Classroom:
Use this site to help your students understand how geometry has evolved throughout the centuries. Have students work in cooperative learning groups (or independently) to research a mathematician. Challenge students to create a blog entry written from the perspective of the mathematician explaining what they have "discovered."

Digger and the Gang Grade K to 6 - BBC- 1629

This site offers an eclectic mix of topics (and interactives) divided up by age level. All ages include science, math, language arts, music, art, and more! Ages 5-7 will enjoy Nash's Adventures: spelling, counting, sinking and floating interactives, and more. For ages 7-9, there is Flick's Adventure. This exciting "adventure" includes several interactives, many revolving around "adventures" (through a haunted house, riding a roller coaster, and walking up a mountain). Sprat's Adventures offers interactives and more for ages 9-11. The activities takes students virtually to a museum, a circus, and outer space! In addition to the numerous interactive activities, there are also printable pages, comics, songs, e-cards, and more. Attention Teachers - there is a link with lesson plans, printable pages, lesson ideas, and more available if you click on Home and then Teachers . Be aware, since this site was created by the BBC, you may notice some slight spelling and language differences. Nearly all of these activities require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
This site can easily be differentiated using the specific age ranges provided. Use this site to differentiate for your special education, ESL, or ELL students.

Be sure to visit the Teachers Link for some excellent ideas. All of the activities are perfect for learning stations, individual computers, or on an interactive whiteboard or projection screen. The offerings available are so diverse, that this website could be used throughout several language arts, math, science, art, and music lessons. Feature this website in your class newsletter or on your website so students can practice these educational activities at home.

Protractor Grade 3 to 10 - Mark Robinson- 10336

Choose from a selection of controls to create a demonstration of virtual protractors. Choose from one of ten activities to generate angles and use an actual protractor to measure and check the answer. Choose from "Show the angle," "Make and measure," "Make the Angle game," and others. All of the choices make this site easy to differentiate for a variety of ability levels. Even in lower grades, this tool will allow your students to visualize right angles and other angle basics.

In the Classroom:
Use this excellent resource with an interactive whiteboard, projector, or using computer stations. Show students how to measure with a protractor as a class, in groups, or individually. Students can easily operate the demo themselves on your whiteboard. Follow up with additional activities that challenge students to use and measure with protractors. This may be a good site to list on your class website for students to access both in and out of the classroom.

Virtual Pilot Grade 6 to 12 - Lufthansa Airlines- 10303

How good are your students at European geography? Lufthansa Airlines has created a game site that allows students to attempt to land their plane in the correct location! A location is provided, there are several red dots to choose among, and you simply click on the dot that you feel is in the correct location. Three levels of difficulty make the activity easier to differentiate. The first level shows a bunch of cities in Europe as starts. Students who guess closer to the target city get more points. The second level shows only countries. Students have to pinpoint the location of their desired city with a mouse click. The third, most difficult level, has students clicking on the continent of Europe, trying to locate countries and the desired city. Points add up quickly, even if players do not get the exact location, since more points appear for guesses closest to the desired city. What a terrific way to learn and remember cities (and countries) in Europe!

In the Classroom:
Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have cooperative learning groups try to figure out where the cities are located. See which team can earn the most points. Use this site to review European geography and capitals. Have international students play against Americans. Provide this link on your class website for additional practice.

The Digital Narrative Grade 6 to 12 - Martin Jorgensen- 10248

This site's subtitle, "Finding your story with new media," only hints at what you will find. Explore the possibilities of using newer digital tools, ways to write stories, get inspired, exchange ideas, publish, and more. This site has extensive resources for teachers (see "Teaching Method"), including both traditional writing exercises and tool recommendations to "find your story" in a new medium such as online comic creators, podcasts, and slide shows. The "Media Library" also includes many tool options. (Many of the tools mentioned are also reviewed by our TeachersFirst Edge, including tips on how to use them within school policies.) In "New Stories" you will find examples of stories told using digital media. Note: New Stories may include subject matter not appropriate for your class, depending on age and maturity level, so preview. One intriguing "new media" literary form is the email story, a narrative told entirely by a series of emails, reminiscent of 18th century epistolary novels!

In the Classroom:
Explore the various types of New Stories and choose one to try with your students. Select a tool from the Teaching Method options (and read the related TeachersFirst Edge review). Then let the stories begin! The use of digital tools will go beyond engaging your students to challenging their higher level thinking while they actually enjoy the task. Stories need not be limited to purely creative fiction. Ask students to collaborate and tell a tale based on historical facts about a major event or retell a piece of literature from the point of view of one of the characters. In world language classes, use the tools to tell stories in a new tongue (provided the tools can handle the accents, etc.).In science class, let a molecule or bacterium tells its own story. As you introduce the tools, use your interactive whiteboard or projector and allow a student tool "expert" to demonstrate any particularly quirky how-to's.

Provide this link on your class web page for students to access outside of class and for tools to choose as alternatives for required projects. Your gifted students will stretch to meet the new challenges, and learning support students may be more successful in more visual media. Allow students to self-differentiate by choosing, "finding their own story."

Teachers interested in project ideas to get started with project based learning will find the examples on this site helpful for envisioning project possibilities.

Bloom's Revised Cognitive Domain Grade K to 12 - Jen Farr- 10221

Confused about Bloom's Taxonomy and Cognitive Domains? Unsure about developing questions for critical thinking? Click on the links at the bottom of the page (remembering, understanding, analyzing, applying, evaluating, and creating) to create learning objectives as well as challenges and lessons. On each page, view student and teacher roles, student skills, key words for objectives, and sample questions or assignments. Use the tabs along the top to work within the original domains and categories.

In the Classroom:
Find great question starters and projects for increasing critical thinking and creating higher order projects and activities. Use these question starters for writing assignments or larger projects in any content area to move beyond just knowledge. As you design project-based learning, be sure to visit this site to be sure you are putting the HOTS into student tasks!

Dictionary of Science Quotations Grade 7 to 12 - Today in Science History- 10183

This site is a searchable database of science quotes from different scientists and philosophers. This site is a basic “plain vanilla” tool, but includes a lot of scientists and philosophers (great for reference and quick research). Searches can be done by keyword, names, or alphabetically. The drawback to the site is that there are some distracting commercial features. Direction would need to be given to younger students on differentiating between advertisements and site content.

In the Classroom:
This site would be great for creating cross curriculum units with language arts and science. It could be used as a resource for teachers. Students could search for quotes relevant to scientists being studied. Students could also choose a favorite quote as a prompt for a blog post. Have students create bulletin board posters using favorite quotes and adding images to them using a tool such as Project Poster, reviewed here: http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=7332, or an online “poster” about a scientist using a tool such as Nota, reviewed here: http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=9915.

Find a Book Grade 1 to 12 - lexile.com- 10138

This site allows teachers and students to go through four simple steps to find a book that has a lexile rating. The steps include entering a lexile range (if unknown: enter grade level and ease of reading), interests (similar to a keyword search), search of all items that come up, and list-making.

One disadvantage of the site is that you can only enter a keyword when you get to the third step. After a book list based on interests appears, then you can search by keyword to make the search zero in on specifics. When teachers or students select books for a reading list, they can then click to see the complete list of books they have selected. Clicking on a book title leads to another screen, but it does not contain a book summary; instead, it has a list of other keywords for the book along with other book data.

In the Classroom:
This site is great for teachers searching for books at specific lexile levels. Learning support and ESL/ELL teachers can find books to accompany units in content area classes but on the correct lexile level. Students can also use the site by entering their grade levels and what kind of readers they are. Use this site to differentiate the learning experience for all levels of students. Rather than having students complete traditional book reports, why not have them complete a multimedia project? Provide some choices such as a podcast, using PodoMatic (reviewed here), interactive venn diagram comparing characters (reviewed here), or online book using Bookemon (reviewed here).

Aquatic Speedway Grade K to 3 - Fun4theBrain- 10038

Race against other forms of sea-life while completing basic addition facts. Students choose the sea creature of their choice and difficulty level (there are 9 levels). The fish moves ahead of the others when they correctly answer addition problems. This is a timed activity, so speed is a factor. Students also have the option to choose a fact family they would like or need to work with the most. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
This is a great site for the student who always finishes his/her work first...and has all of the answers correct. Demonstrate HOW to use this site using your projector or interactive whiteboard. Set up math learning station using this site. Use this site’s variety of levels to differentiate for your students. Share this link on your class website for students to practice addition both in and out of the class.

The Valley of the Shadow: Two Communities in the American Civil War Grade 6 to 12 - Edward L. Ayers- 10032

This site is a digital archive of documents related to people from two communities during the American Civil War: Augusta County, Virginia in the South and Franklin County, Pennsylvania in the North. The archive is roughly divided into three sections: pre-war, during the war, and post-war. Within each section are subsections devoted to census information, newspapers, letters and diaries, church records, maps and images. The archive allows the user to examine the lives of real people living on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line during one of the most pivotal times in U.S. history. Another section of this site presents specific lesson plans that use the archives, a list of possible research paper topics that draw on the information and the specific case of a teacher who used these archives to help prepare students for the DBA (Document-Based Analysis) sections of the Advanced Placement History exams.

In the Classroom:
The site is a gold mine of information, and would be useful to either students doing in-depth research, or for teachers who want to highlight the specific contrasts between communities from the North and the South during the Civil War. Teachers who wish to differentiate instruction will find paper topics which could be assigned to students who want to extend the lesson. Additionally, paper topics give options for creative essays, traditional essays or research papers, which can be adapted to different learning styles. Why not have students create a fictitious ongoing wiki between folks living on either side of the “line.” What might they say to one another? Not sure what a wiki is? Check out the TeacherFirst Wiki Walk-Through (reviewed here).

KENKEN Grade 4 to 12 - Nextoy, LLC- 9899

The KENKEN craze is spreading quickly across the world! Created in 2004 by Japanese Math Teacher, Tetsuya Miyamoto, these puzzles are fun, educational, and addictive. At first, these puzzles appear very similar to Sudoku puzzles. They have a few added components (more math and logic required). There are various levels of difficulties (3x3 puzzles through 9x9 puzzles). For 3x3 puzzles, you use only numbers 1-3, for 4x4 puzzles you use only numbers 1-4, and so on. At the time of our review of this brand-new puzzle, the 3x3 puzzles had not been created. But they add new puzzles daily, so check back! The rules are simple: each number can only be used once in any row or column. There are also "cages" which are represented by heavily outlined sets of squares. The goal is to produce the target number (in the corner of the cage). Numbers can be repeated within one cage, just so the number is not already in the row or column. Want to learn more? View the How to Play link that includes written instructions and a tutorial video. Puzzles are also PRINTABLE. Don't miss the link for teachers. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Introduce this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students explore the puzzles on their own. Use this site to differentiate for various students. Be certain to save this site in your favorites and check back often. List this link on your class website so students can "play" both in and out of the classroom. Have older students attempt to create their own KENKEN puzzles. It’s not as easy as you think.

Multiplication Puzzle - An Interactive Whiteboard Resource Grade 2 to 6 - West Midlands RBC- 9873

Multiply by 1,2,3..through 12 at this interactive site! Choose your table, grid size (columns and rows), use a timer (or turn off), have music effects (or turn off), and use a help button (or not). You type the number and hit enter to input the data onto the grid. To start the fun, click on View the Item. Some of the answers are simple to figure out, while others require some mathematical reasoning. Young gifted students will really enjoy the challenges of this site! This is a great way to differentiate multiplication practice for your lower and higher math students. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Share this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students work on individual computers and fill out the interactive grids. Share this site with parents on your class website or blog, so students can practice both in and out of the classroom.

Speakaboos Grade K to 6 - Speakaboos- 9854

Speakaboos provides an abundance of animated stories read aloud by famous people. Some are read in song! Whoever thought that “Old McDonald” could be heard as a rap song? The genres include fairy tales, fables, multicultural and holiday stories, nursery rhymes, lullabies, and children's favorites. Select an age range to differentiate for various reading levels. Many of the stories highlight the words as they are read.

There is also a link to Play. Here you will find a few links to games, printables, e-cards, and more. Registration is required to join the site, but there is no fee to join. You do not need to register to listen to the stories.

Coming Soon: you will be able to record your own interactive stories. This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

Coming Soon: you will be able to record your own interactive stories. This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Have students listen to a story during a listening center, choose a character from the story, and extend the assignment by writing in-character using the diary, e-card/invitation or printable activities options. Listen and watch stories as a whole group on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students retell the story as a short skit. For more extensive projects, consider using Voicethread (reviewed here) so students can draw and read their own stories in ways modeled here.

Fast Forward Math Grade 1 to 5 - Harcourt School Publishers- 9716

Search a simple dictionary of math terms by word or using a guided search. There are six levels of difficulty. New vocabulary words are included at each level. Many terms use Flash to explain the term. Click on the sound icon to hear the dictionary term or definition aloud for differentiated learning. The search option includes the entire site (all subject areas), not just math. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Students can be given a term or terms to review, learn to pronounce, and represent to classmates in another way. Students can present to small groups or the entire class. Groups of students can be given related terms that they use to build a collaborative presentation of the terms in action. Use this site to help students better understand terminology. Learning Support teachers will want to offer this handy reference for students who forget terms as soon as the chapter test is over. Be sure to list this link on your class website so students can access it both in and out of the classroom.

Young Artist Workshop Grade K to 6 - Kevin Collier- 9705

With this site, you don’t need to be an art teacher to teach some very easy art and illustration techniques to your students. Kevin Collier, an acclaimed artist, demonstrates simple drawing ‘classes’ for your students via video on his blog. He also answers questions about art from his young audience. Check out his archive for more art lessons. When you watch him draw, you will need to fight the urge to pick up a pencil and paper.

There is a “Sign In” option, but all features appear useable without registering at the site. This site requires Flash. Get it from theTeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
If you find your art teacher is out for the day and there is no substitute, let Kevin teach art to your class via an interactive whiteboard, projector, or individual computers. This site could be used in language arts class to illustrate a story, social studies class to add depth and drawings to a project, or other subject areas. Differentiate for your visual/spatial students by providing the link to these tutorials when they choose to create visual book reports or research products.

Sight Words with Sampson Grade 1 to 3 - Knowledge Want, LLC- 9594

When you arrive at the site, click Start to enter the world of Samson. There are four steps at this site: Learn Words, Build Words, Identify Words, and a Quiz. At the "Learn Words" step, the site includes 28 different lists of words for students to read at four levels. Mousing over the number of the list brings up the actual word list so it's easy to check if the student is working at the correct level. Students read, listen to the word, pronounce it, see the word spelled, and see the word used in a sentence. Step two has students spell the words themselves (after hearing them read audibly and being provided with several letters to choose among). Step three challenges students to click on the correct spelling of the word (several choices are presented). The final step is the quiz; students are presented with all letters and are asked to spell the word pronounced. The same list is used throughout all four steps of this activity. For example, if a student is working on list 1 of level 1, those same words will be repeated throughout all four “steps.” All steps provide immediate feedback on the students’ choices, and opportunities to try again. The Question/Answer steps have a Hear Again feature to repeat the word. The Resource center provides useful tools for teacher, including pdf files of the sight words used, lesson plans, and more. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Include this website on your class newsletter or on your class website so parents can encourage their students to enrich their spelling vocabulary and have fun at the same time. ESL and ELL students will benefit from having the opportunity to practice their listening and spelling skills simultaneously. This site is also useful in differentiating spelling lessons in a regular or special education classroom.

Lesson Plan: Silly Sentences Grade K to 0 - TeachersFirst- 9524

This lesson on letter-sound relationships is part of a collection of lesson plans featuring multi-sensory approaches to help all learners, including special needs students who benefit from multiple experiences with concepts. The plans focuses on consistency, repetitiveness, tactile and visual reinforcement—great for children with special needs. The original lesson plans were written by award-winning teacher Nora Coyle of Colorado, a KOAA-TV "Teachers First" Award winner. The staff of TeachersFirst has incorporated technology options, tips, and templates appropriate for younger students into the lesson plan to add yet another way for your students to experience and interact with new concepts.

Many of these ideas and templates can be adapted for use with almost any subject or concepts, to differentiate for different learning styles. The lesson includes national standards.

In the Classroom:
Experienced and new teachers alike will find this example helpful in designing multi-sensory, technology-infused lessons.

Lesson Plan: Billy Goats Gruff Grade K to 0 - TeachersFirst- 9523

This lesson for early literacy skills and creating a book is part of a collection of lesson plans featuring multi-sensory approaches to help all learners, including special needs students who benefit from multiple experiences with concepts. The plans focuses on consistency, repetitiveness, tactile and visual reinforcement—great for children with special needs. The original lesson plans were written by award-winning teacher Nora Coyle of Colorado, a KOAA-TV "Teachers First" Award winner. The staff of TeachersFirst has incorporated technology options, tips, and templates appropriate for younger students into the lesson plan to add yet another way for your students to experience and interact with new concepts.

Many of these ideas and templates can be adapted for use with almost any subject or concepts, to differentiate for different learning styles. The lesson includes national standards.

In the Classroom:
Experienced and new teachers alike will find this example helpful in designing multi-sensory, technology-infused lessons.

Tutpup Grade 2 to 8 - - 9474

With Tutpup, students can compete against students from all over the world in math or spelling contests. You are able to use the site without registration, but joining does allow you to save student accomplishments. Note that spelling is pronounced with a British accent, and spellings will be British! Teachers sign up and can create a class identity; only teachers have to put in their real names. Check out the Help for Parents link for additional information about registration and how to use the site. If necessary, check with your administrator about registering your own name as a teacher before you start the games with the class. Parents are supposed to grant permission for students to participate.

You can choose to allow students to compete with students outside their classroom, outside their school, or just within their own class. Teachers can also lock the class list to prevent anyone else from joining. Students must wait for an opponent to appear to participate in the activities.. As soon as a competitor appears, each student sees the same game and tries to answer each question faster than his opponent. Players can see their progress throughout the game, as well as the time remaining.

Be aware: this site is still in Beta and requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use this site to encourage students to compete in math and spelling to to review and reinforce skills. Use the difficulty levels to differentiate in your classroom. Set up learning stations for language arts or math class. Include the link on your teacher web page for students to “compete” with classmates at night or on weekends. Require parent permission before completing the registration process so you can work together in supporting student learning. Learning support teachers will love this tool as a motivator for students to practice.

Math Moves U Grade 4 to 12 - Raytheon Company- 9443

Let math move YOU through different areas of math practice! Choose an animal character and customize the color of the collar, fur, and tail. Choose your grade range prior to play. Other options include saving your character to begin or registering to create a locker for extra benefits, including access to new characters and monitoring of your progress. . Use the arrows on the keyboard to move along to different math problems. Areas vary by age level, but examples include Music (Pythagorean Pavilion), Sports, Fashion and feature facts, quizzes, polls, flashcards, or a game that can be accessed for learning opportunities. Facts have links that allow students to connect to more knowledge. Tutorial help is available with the quizzes. Background music which is lively can also be turned off for better concentration. Enter Math Moves University for worksheet practice on many math topics downloaded as a pdf document. A math dictionary is also available. Clicking on the navigation along the top can also take you to various areas.

Opportunities to register pop up during play but are not required at this site.
If you choose to have your students register, please be aware of your district’s requirements and acceptable use policy for using student user names, passwords, and emails.
This site requires Flash and adobe acrobat. Get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Differentiate your math instruction easily! Use as assigned, independent study for students as needed. Use as a class resource on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students work collaboratively in groups to achieve the answers. Assign areas as homework practice; if computers aren’t available at home, print off the worksheets for homework practice.

Kung-Fu Sentences Grade 1 to 2 - BBC- 9434

This site challenges students to create sentences. One or several words are provided and students must click and drag them in the correct order to construct a sentence. There are three levels of difficulty. The main difference between the simple and more difficult levels are the amounts of words or statements to put into the correct order. Easier levels only have three words, while more difficult levels have five or more.

The website also features a "full screen" option, printable worksheets, engaging sound effects (with an option to turn the music off), and animations. Although this site uses British English, this activity is useful to practice American English. At the time of this review, all words were common in both forms of English. Be aware: the animation of this activity can be a bit distracting. The site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use the three difficulty levels to differentiate for your students. Share this website with your class on an interactive whiteboard or projector and show the students HOW to use the program. Then, create a learning center for students to use this website, or provide individual laptops or computers. Be sure to provide headsets. Why not split your class into two teams and make this activity a class competition. Have students create their own Kung-Fu Sentences (minus the "karate kid") using WORD or good old fashion paper and pencil.

You may want to list this website in your class newsletter and on your class website so students can practice creating sentences at home.

Alien Punctuation Grade 1 to 4 - BBC- 9433

Come along with Max and Molly and help them "talk to the aliens" and correct their punctuation. There are three levels of difficulty. The beginning level mainly focuses on capitalization, periods, and question marks. The more difficult levels delve into more complex punctuation (commas, quotation marks, and more). The website also features a "full screen" option, printable worksheets, engaging sound effects (which can be turned off), and animations.

Although this site uses British English, this activity is useful to practice American English. At the time of this review, all words were common in both forms of English. The site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Demonstrate this activity on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Then, create a learning center for students to use this website, or provide individual laptops or computers. Be sure to provide headsets. Use the three difficulty levels to differentiate for your students. You may want to list this website in your class newsletter and on your class website so students can practice punctuation at home.

Matching Word Golf Grade 1 to 4 - BBC- 9432

Max and Molly are golfing in outer space. This synonym activity provides a sentence asking students to figure out a word with a similar meaning (three choices are provided). Students must click on the word with the similar meaning, and then the golf club swings towards the ball. Although this site was created by the BBC, at the time of this review, all words included were used in both British English and American English.

This site offers three levels of difficulty. The website also features a "full screen" option, printable worksheets, engaging sound effects (which can be turned off), and animations. The site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Synonyms can be tough for young learners. Use this site to make synonyms simple. Use your interactive whiteboard or projector to share this website with your class. Use the three difficulty levels to differentiate for your students. This site is ideal to use with younger ESL and ELL students, and any class learning about synonyms. Create a learning center for students to use this website, or provide individual laptops or computers. Be sure to provide headsets. Why not print off the worksheet for additional practice or enrichment.

You may want to list this website in your class newsletter and on your class website so students can practice at home.

Travelling Pronouns Grade 1 to 3 - BBC- 9431

Max and Molly are on holiday (vacation) and writing notes to friends back home. Can you help them choose the correct pronouns to complete their sentences? This site offers three levels of difficulty. The easier levels include fewer blanks to fill in.

The website also features a "full screen" option, printable worksheets, engaging sound effects (which can be turned off by clicking "music OFF"), and animations. Although this site was created by the BBC, at the time of this review, all words included were used in both British English and American English. The site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Pronouns can be tricky! Use your interactive whiteboard or projector to share this website with your class. Use the three difficulty levels to differentiate for your students. This site is ideal to use with younger ESL and ELL students, and any class learning about pronouns. Create a learning center for students to use this website, or provide individual laptops or computers. Be sure to provide headsets. Why not print off the worksheet for additional practice or enrichment.

You may want to list this website in your class newsletter and on your class website so students can practice pronouns at home.

Pirate Spelling Grade 1 to 5 - BBC- 9430

Come aboard the ship with Max (and his pet parrot) to practice spelling. Although this site was created by the BBC, at the time of this review, all spelling words were included and used in both British English and American English. There are three levels of difficulty. The medium level challenges students to fill in the blank to correctly spell a word. (They are provided three choices). The more difficult levels challenge students to choose the correct word that Max pronounces (again, three choices are provided). Students may click "listen again" to hear the word again.

The website also features a "full screen" option, printable worksheets, engaging sound effects (which can be turned off), and animations. The site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use the three difficulty levels to differentiate for your students. This site is ideal to use with younger ESL and ELL students. Create a learning center for students to use this website, or provide individual laptops or computers. Be sure to provide headsets. Why not print off the worksheet for additional practice or enrichment.

You may want to list this website in your class newsletter and on your class website so students can practice spelling at home.

Alphabetical Adventure Grade 1 to 2 - BBC- 9429

Help Molly put five, six, or seven words in alphabetical order at this engaging website created by the BBC. Audio is available, so even beginning readers can participate in this activity. There are three difficulty levels.

Since this site is about alphabetical order, it is useful with both British English and American English. The website also features a "full screen" option, printable worksheets, engaging sound effects (which can be turned OFF), and animations. The site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use the three difficulty levels to differentiate for your students. Share this website with your class on an interactive whiteboard or projector and show the students HOW to use the program. Then, create a learning center for students to use this website, or provide individual laptops or computers. Be sure to provide headsets. Why not print off the worksheet for additional practice or enrichment.

You may want to list this website in your class newsletter and on your class website so students can practice alphabetical order at home.

River Rhyming Grade 1 to 3 - BBC- 9428

Help Max cross the river by finding the rhyming words. A word is displayed, and three options are provided. Click on the correct answer to "jump" Max to the next stone on the river. Although this site does use British English, this activity is useful to practice American English. At the time of this review, all words were common in both forms of English.

There are three levels of difficulty. The website also features a "full screen" option, printable worksheets, engaging sound effects, and animations. There is also the option to turn music OFF. The site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use the three difficulty levels to differentiate for your students. Share this website with your class in Full Screen on an interactive whiteboard or projector to show the students HOW to use the program. Then, create a learning center for students to use this website, or provide individual laptops or computers. Be sure to provide headsets. Why not split your class into two teams and make this activity a class competition.

You may want to list this website in your class newsletter and on your class website so students can practice rhyming at home.

Animal Island Data Grade 1 to 4 - BBC- 9427

Help Molly count and organize data at the zoo. There are three difficulty levels. The easier level challenges students to count the specific number of monkeys, birds, rabbits, and other animals. The really hard level has students read and analyze data from a graph. The website also features a "full screen" option, printable worksheets, engaging sound effects (which can be turned off), and animations. This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use the three difficulty levels to differentiate practice for your students. Share this website with your class on an interactive whiteboard or projector and show the students HOW to use the program. Then, create a learning center for students to use this website, or provide individual laptops or computers. Why not list this website in your class newsletter and on your class website so students can practice their math skills at home.

Shape Lab Grade 2 to 5 - BBC- 9426

Come to the Shape Lab to learn about shapes, fractions, lines of symmetry, and more! There are three levels of difficulty. The website also features a "full screen" option, printable worksheets, engaging sound effects (and an on/off switch for music!), and animations. This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Use this site as an introduction for a lesson on fractions or lines of symmetry. Share this website with your class on an interactive whiteboard or projector and show the students HOW to use the program. Then, create a learning center for students to use this website, or provide individual laptops/computers. Use the three difficulty levels to differentiate for your students. Print off the SHAPE worksheet for extra practice and/or enrichment. You may want to list this website in your class newsletter and on your class website so students can practice their math skills at home.

Clock Works Grade 1 to 4 - BBC- 9425

Practice telling time at this site created by the BBC. Molly and Max (your child guides) are at Big Ben in London. They need your help to make sure the time is correct on this famous building. There are three levels of difficulty. Simple questions ask for the time, while the more difficult questions ask what time it will be in a specific amount of time (for example, what time will it be in 3 hours and 10 minutes). The website also features a "full screen" option, printable worksheets, engaging sound effects (music can be turned off), and animations. This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

Harbour Measurements Grade 2 to 4 - BBC- 9424

Use the metric system to measure the height and weight of boxes being placed on a large ship. You are told the specific height and weight to locate. Then you are presented with three packages to weigh and measure. You click and drag the items onto an interactive scale that measures the height and weight. There are three levels of difficulty. You can play several times at each level. The website also features a "full screen" option, printable worksheets, engaging sound effects, and animations. This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Come to this website to practice the metric system. Share this website with your class on an interactive whiteboard or projector and show the students HOW to use the program. Then, create a learning center for students to use this website, or provide individual laptops or computers. Use the three difficulty levels to differentiate for your students. Play a game of "Around the World" using this activity. Or divide your class into teams and have some healthy competition.

Igloo Shopping Grade 1 to 5 - BBC- 9423

It is time to go shopping at the Igloo with Molly. Your challenge is to choose the correct coins to pay Pablo. Since this site was created by the BBC, the MONEY is UK pounds not American dollars. There are three levels of difficulty. You can play several times at each level. The website also features a "full screen" option, printable worksheets, engaging sound effects (which can be turned off), and animations. This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use this site to practice counting money (pounds). With older students, practice higher-level thinking skills by introducing them to a different form of money than they may be accustomed to using. Use the three difficulty levels to differentiate the activity for your students. Share this website with your class on an interactive whiteboard or projector and show the students HOW to use the program. Then, create a learning center for students to use this website, or provide individual laptops or computers.

Safari Units Grade 1 to 3 - BBC- 9422

Come to the safari and choose your difficulty level. This balancing challenge has students add numbers together (weights) to balance out the "Safari" animal or object on the other side of scale. The website also features a "full screen" option, printable worksheets, engaging sound effects, and animations. Be aware, this site was created by the BBC, so you may notice some simple spelling differences than in American English. This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use the three difficulty levels to differentiate "weight and balance" practice for your students. Share this website with your class on an interactive whiteboard or projector and show the students HOW to use the program. Then, create a learning center for students to use this website, or provide individual laptops or computers. Play a game of "Around the World" using this activity. Or divide your class into teams and have some healthy competition. You may want to list this website in your class newsletter and on your class website so students can practice their math skills at home.

Adventure Sequences Grade 1 to 3 - BBC- 9421

Help Molly swing across the jungle by figuring out the correct sequence and clicking on the next number in the sequence. There are three levels of difficulty. You can play several times at each level. The website also features a "full screen" option, printable worksheets, engaging sound effects (which can be turned off), and animations. Be aware, this site was created by the BBC, so you may notice some simple spelling differences than in American English. This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
If you are trying to teach your class about sequencing, take advantage of this "quick and easy" web activity. Use the three difficulty levels to differentiate the program for your students. Share this website with your class on an interactive whiteboard or projector and show the students HOW to use the program. Then, create a learning center for students to use this website, or provide individual computers. Play a game of "Around the World" using this activity. List this website in your class newsletter and on your class website so students can practice their math skills at home.

Forest Ordering Grade K to 2 - BBC- 9420

Max needs help in the forest! He needs YOU to put the numbers in the correct order - can you help? This simple game only takes a few minutes and offers some terrific sound effects and animation (which can be turned off). There are three levels of difficulty. Some levels ask you to put the numbers from least to greatest, while other levels challenge you to go from greatest to least. The website also features a "full screen" option and printable worksheets. This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Share this website with your class on an interactive whiteboard or projector and show the students HOW to use the program. Then, create a learning center for students to use this website, or provide individual laptops or computers. Use the three difficulty levels to differentiate for your students. Be sure to list this website in your class newsletter and on your class website so students can practice their math skills at home.

TeacherTube Grade K to 12 - Teacher Tube, LLC- 9419

TeachersFirst Edge Review: for any technology user comfortable with video. Move over YouTube! Teachers now have their own place to learn, to laugh, and to cry: TeacherTube.com. Since this site is designed specifically for education, there is not as much concern about “public” contributions and appropriateness for school! Teachers will find videos suitable for classroom instruction, such as Ben Franklin chatting with a group of students, or they will find hilarious sites that only teachers could appreciate. There are also professional videos ideal for staff training (such as Classroom Strategies for Differentiated Instruction). Just click on the subject area that interests you, and then click on a video. To leave comments or to upload your own video, you will need to register. It’s all free. Obviously, this isn’t a site for students; however, there are many educational videos suitable for all subject areas that you could share with your students. If your school blocks streaming video sites, consider accessing this site and choosing videos at home, using a tool such as Vixy (explained here) to bring them in for class use. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Skills Needed: no special technological skills are necessary to view the videos. If you are looking for a specific topic, save time and use the search option If you wish to add comments or upload your own Teachertube video, you must register as a user at the site. Registration is free, but does require an email address. If you don't want to provide your personal email address, set up a gmail account or other “extra account” to use for site memberships. Then log in. Create and save your edited videos where you can find them on your computer. (Windows Movie Maker or iMovie are great, free tools for video). Then upload to TeacherTube. You will also receive comments on your uploaded videos.

Safety/Security Concerns: If the teacher is the one uploading, the only potential concerns include posting videos with identifiable information or images about your students, school, or class. Check your school policies about posting pictures of your school. If you post student videos, obtain written parent permission to post student work, again within school policies. Any student visible in a video should also have parent permission in accordance with school policies.

Possible uses: The most common classroom use would be viewing many videos that match curriculum content. Rap math, visit Anne Frank’s historical locations, or view a grammar lesson—these are just a sampling of videos that you may want to use to enhance your curriculum lessons. Use your interactive whiteboard or projector to share the videos with the class. Use the site's videos as an anticipatory set to a new unit or lesson on a specific topic. Have your students create their own TeacherTube video together as a class on any lesson/topic that you are teaching. Have a contest for the best videos and upload the winners to the site (within school policies, of course). Once the class has videos hosted at TeacherTube, you can also embed them in your class bog or wiki for easy sharing with those in your extended online “community.”

Kids Memory Grade 1 to 8 - kidsknowitnetwork- 9393

This site claims to improve memory with its interactive games. The highly interactive games include one that's similar to the game Memory. Others include remembering a series of numbers, one in which you click on bulbs that light up after the lights turn off, and one that has you click on parts of faces to improve sequential memory. Most of the games have several levels so these activities can easily be differentiated for your students. The site provides specific ideas for ways teachers can use the activities.

There are some minor advertisements included at this website. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Have a team competition as students use the site on an interactive whiteboard, projector, or computer station for higher scores or better times than another team. Learning support teachers may want to try it as a memory improvement tool. Our editors really do not know if it works or not. Leave a comment on this review if you try it(TF members can do this)!

Save this site in your favorites. Use the site for enrichment, or test it out as a memory tool as you try out different study skills. You may want to list this site in your class newsletter and on your class website for students to use at home.

Kids Numbers Grade K to 5 - kidsknowitnetwork- 9392

This site provides math foundation activities for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. After students learn the basics, there are a number of review activities for them to try in each operation area. In addition, there are practice activities with flashcards, telling time, money, fractions, algebra, and geometry. All of the activities are educational, but some seem to focus more on entertainment than education.

This site includes a worksheet generator so teachers can prepare their own review work. There is a calculator one click away for those who need it. There are some minor advertisements at this website. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Display this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector to create an anticipatory set for a new concept in your elementary math class. Once students are familiar with the activities, allow them to explore this website if they finish early or for extra practice. Put this site in your classroom newsletter or on your class website so students can explore and learn at home.

ESL students will enjoy this site since it will help them learn the vocabulary for math operations in English, and it will also allow them to succeed at something in school. This site can also be used to differentiate for your learning support and/or gifted students based on their current level of math instruction.

Sprat's Adventures Grade 4 to 7 - BBC- 9327

Sprat's Adventures offers age-appropriate exciting activities in math, language arts, science, music, and more. The language arts activities all center around a group of kids being on a vacation (called a holiday, at this BBC site). While at a museum a statue is stolen. Students complete three interactive challenges to find the missing statue. In the math section, Sprat and his friends visit a circus to go quad biking and they get stuck in a strange tent. Students must complete various math activities to help them get out of the tent. The science link takes students on a rocky adventure into outer space. In addition to the numerous interactive activities, there are also printable pages, comics, songs, e-cards, and more. Attention Teachers - there is a link with lesson plans, printable pages, lesson ideas, and more available if you click on Home and then Teachers . Be aware, since this site was created by the BBC, you may notice some slight spelling and language differences. Nearly all of these activities require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
This website is geared towards ages 9-11; however there are links to similar activities for ages 7-9 on the left side of the site. Use this feature to differentiate for your special education, ESL, or ELL students.

Be sure to visit the Teachers Link for some excellent ideas. All of the activities are perfect for learning stations, individual computers, or on an interactive whiteboard or projection screen. The offerings available are so diverse, that this website could be used throughout several language arts, math, science, art, and music lessons. Feature this website in your class newsletter or on your website so students can practice these educational activities at home.

Higher Bitesize Revision - Calculus Grade 9 to 12 - BBC- 9324

Although this website doesn't appear especially engaging, there is a wealth of information and activities just waiting to be explored. The two main topics, Differentiation and Integration, both include numerous subtopics with a great deal of information. This website, created by the BBC, includes review information (referred to as "revise") and online tests created specifically for calculus students ages 16+. Some of the material would be useful in pre-calc.

The website includes a Site Guide (to assist teachers, parents, and students in navigating the site) and an "Ask a Teacher" link for students to read previous questions from students (and the answers) about specific difficult concepts. Since this site was created by the UK, you may notice some slight language differences. Much of the information is available in a printable format. A few of the activities require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Use this website in your Calculus class on an interactive whiteboard or projector. The "Revise" information would work as an anticipatory set for a new lesson or a review prior to the test. Have students work on individual computers to try the online quiz. Students will need a piece of paper to complete the online quiz, it is not interactive. Be sure to include this link on your class website, so students can access the site for practice at home.

Nash's Adventure Grade K to 2 - BBC- 9290

This interdisciplinary website was created by the BBC and features interactive and highly engaging math, language arts, and science activities. Some of the topics include "Get Up and Go," "Float and Sink," "An Invitation," and about ten other topics. This website is geared towards students ages 5-7, there are also "sister sites" with similar activities for older or more advanced students (see the left side of the site). In addition to the numerous interactive activities, there are also printable pages, stories, songs, painting, and more. This website offers an eclectic listing of activities that can easily be differentiated for your lower and higher students.

Be aware, since this site was created by the BBC, you Americans may notice some slight spelling and language differences. Nearly all of these activities require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
The possibilities at this website are endless! They scream "interactive whiteboard or projector" but would also work as a learning center or even on individual computers. The offerings available are so diverse, that this website could be used throughout several language arts, math, science, art, and music lessons. Attention Teachers, there is a link with lesson plans, printable pages, lesson ideas and more available if you click on Home and then Teachers . Check these for the direct connections to your curriculum. Feature this website in your class newsletter or on your website so students can practice these educational activities at home or during vacation breaks.

Division Mine Grade 3 to 5 - BBC- 9269

Help Max and Molly, both miners, choose the correct number of wagons necessary for each set of stones by using your division skills. This website doesn't just show the answer, but also demonstrates how division works. There are three levels of difficulty. The website also features a "full screen" option, printable worksheets, engaging sound effects (that can be turned off), and animations. This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Share this website with your class on an interactive whiteboard or projector and show the students HOW to use the program. Then, create a learning center for students to use this website, or provide individual computers. Use the three difficulty levels to differentiate for your students. Play a game of "Around the World" using this activity. Or divide your class into teams and have some healthy competition. You may want to list this website in your class newsletter and on your class website so students can practice their math skills at home.

Activity Bank for Literature Resources Grade 3 to 12 - S.C.O.R.E.- 9250

Need a quick activity to enhance a literature lesson? Schools of California Online Resources for Educators amassed an activity bank of useful suggestions for teachers. Just click on the links at the left from this homepage, and you will find a wide array of teacher and student activities: Graphic Organizers, Journaling, Literature, and Rubrics. Although the site is intended for California teachers, most teachers across America will find the resources conducive to their state's requirements.

NOTE: SCORE Cyberguides announced that they are no longer checking links and maintaining these excellent resources as of April 2008 due to lack of funding. You will want to verify all links before using the cyberguide in class. You may want to use portions of this cyberguide in combination with other online resources.

In the Classroom:
Use these fabulous resources to introduce your students to new styles of graphic organizers. Find many new ideas and approaches at this website to use to differentiate your curriculum and keep your students interested in the topic. Allow students to choose among several types of graphic organizers to use for a project, rather than having the entire class use the same format. Many of these organizers can easily be created on PowerPoint slides or in Word using Autoshapes, then right-clicking to "add text." They also work well in Inspiration software. Collect electronic copies of organizers on your classroom computer or teacher web page for students to see as examples in the future.

ESL Gold Picture Dictionary Grade 1 to 6 - ESL Gold- 9166

ESL Gold's "Words and Phrases" page is a listing of vocabulary, grouped in categories ideal for learning a new language. The categories are divided by levels from Low Beginning to Advanced. Many of the categories provide a picture dictionary of all items. Some of the more advanced levels do not include pictures. All levels have audio pronunciation. The higher levels contain vocabulary in context, word phrases, and other vocabulary development activities without definitions. This site requires Windows Media Player or Quicktime to play the audio. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Use this site to share vocabulary by category, using pictures, audio, and written words with your ESL/ELL students, primary students, special ed students, or speech/language students. Include this link in a newsletter that goes home with ESL/ELL students. Mark it as a Favorite on your classroom computer. Demonstrate how to use this website on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students work alone (or with a partner) at their current speaking level. This website could also be used in a regular education class with emerging readers. The five difficulty levels allow teachers the flexibility to differentiate the instruction. Note: small type fonts and some advertising may make this site difficult for some younger students to use. Preview and decide what your class can handle.

Autism4teachers Grade K to 12 - Autism4teachers.com- 9129

This comprehensive website, written by four teachers, offers an excellent starting point and whets the appetite for anyone seriously looking into autism. Autism4teachers offers a snapshot of many of the current and research-based concepts in the area of autism. The information provides enough information to enable you to research even further. There are numerous specific topics highlighted at this website including Communication, Social Skills, Classroom Structure, TEACCH, Inclusion, Behavioral Support, Parent Support, Visual Support, Community Support, Autism Awareness, Assistive Technology, Sensory Based Activity Room, Thematic Units, Data Sheets, & several others. Don't miss the MANY lesson ideas and activities provided with the topics. This website requires Windows Media Player. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use this free website (and the many tips) to help your autistic students succeed, whether you are in a regular classroom or special ed. Share this link in your class newsletter and on your class website. Be sure to provide this link to any colleagues helping autistic students in and out of the classroom.

The Art of Teaching the Arts Grade 9 to 12 - Annenberg Media- 9064

This is a wonderful site for high school educators who are interested in teaching the arts through theatre, music, art, or any of the humanities. It is a professional workshop site that offers 8 one-hour practical video seminars on how to teach the arts and on the passion of those who already do. The videos are free for streaming, but you can also purchase them as DVDs or VHS. You do have to register--for free. The self-described goal is a workshop to help teachers improve their teaching through seven different foci, including the diverse needs of students, instructional approaches, creating the appropriate learning environment to making the most of community resources, and encouraging students to be independent thinkers and creative problem solvers. This site requires Windows Media Player. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
This is a professional site rich in ideas for any teacher looking for new ideas or a jump-start to teach the arts. Make this course your personal goal for summer break or a collaborative professional development group.

Dude's Dilemma Grade K to 4 - Scholastic- 9062

This highly engaging website challenges students to rescue Maggie's dog, Dude, from a rooftop). To help the dog, the students must answer several math questions correctly. Each correct answer flies the helicopter closer to the dog. This activity can be differentiated by ability levels (easy, hard, or extreme). You are also able to pick addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, or a mix of all four operations. This adventure requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Use this site on individual computers, or as a learning center. Although the site is rather simplistic, the ability to choose the difficulty level and operation makes this website a winner. The audio and motivational story is sure to excite your students. List this link on your teacher web page for students to use at home.

Camel Times Tables Grade 1 to 3 - BBC- 9045

This website, created by the BBC, presents Molly and her camel. The goal of the activity is to put fruit in the camel's basket. You must use basic multiplication and addition skills to solve the math problem. The website also offers the options of printable worksheets, full screen display, and engaging audio (which can be turned off), and animation. Enjoy the beautiful British English accent at this site that requires Adobe Acrobat and Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Share this website with your class on an interactive whiteboard or projector and show the students HOW to use the program. Then, create a learning center for students to use this website, or provide individual laptops or computers. Use the three difficulty levels to differentiate multiplication practice for your students. You may want to list this website in your class newsletter and on your class website so students can practice their math skills at home.

Spelling City Grade K to 8 - Spellingcity.com- 9030

Your students will clamor to learn their spelling words (or capitals, states, or other lists), when you introduce them to this site. With the atmosphere of city-life, students or teachers generate their own list of words (or use the pre-saved ones at the site). What a great way to differentiate and have student individualize their lists! From there, students have the options of Test Me, Teach Me, or Play a Game . For the "test," each word is read aloud in isolation and in a sentence. Students type the spelling word, and then the site ‘grades’ it. Students will love the applause and will not feel intimidated by the tutorial for their incorrect words. For further practice, interactive games extend the spelling fun. Many of the activities require FLASH. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Teachers, check out the forum for more ideas about how to use this site. Special education teachers should take note of this site, since there are multiple sensory ways to learn spelling words, including hearing each word as an echo. Use an interactive whiteboard or projector to play games with a whole-class weekly spelling list or allow students a time slot on your classroom computer cluster for practice with individualized lists. This website would also work in various other subject areas to teach capitals, science terms, presidents, and many others. Sign up for the free newsletter, written by the Mayor of Spelling City, of course.

Be sure to provide a link to useful site in your class newsletter, blog, and website. This is a fabulous tool for at-home spelling practice.

Story Starters Grade K to 6 - Scholastic- 8904

Type your name and choose your grade level (K-1, 2, 3, or 4-6). Then get ready for the wheel to spin! You can spin four wheels to get a very specific writing prompt. For example, Describe a vacation with a skinny cactus who loves country music. Each wheel produces a different part of the prompt. Each time the wheel spins, a new prompt is created. The prompts are created for the specified grade level and are highly creative. Be sure to check out the Teacher's Guide that offers learning objectives, specific lesson ideas, and printables.

Be warned: the "spinning" page has some rather loud audio sounds. Either turn up the volume and enjoy, or hit the mute button! This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Whether you are looking for a daily prompt for your students, or individual prompts for writing stations, you will find some creative ideas here. Share how to use this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Set up writing stations and have students use this site to find their prompts. Use this site to differentiate for your gifted students by allowing them to choose a prompt at a higher grade level. List this link on your class website for some writing practice or extra credit writing exercises.

Kindersay Grade K to 1 - Webmosis- 8867

Although it describes itself as being "preschool" site, Kindersay is a great web site for primary readers, ESL/ELL students and special education students working on speech and language. This site offers simple, easy-to-use activities such as letter recognition and vocabulary. Each letter and vocabulary word has a corresponding video with correct pronunciation. The Favorites tab provides an opportunity to create differentiated instruction for each child. Registration is free!

In the Classroom:
Add the link to a classroom homepage for center-time or for parents and children to practice at home. Use a different activity category each day or week with ESL/ELL or special ed students to build vocabulary. Then use a digital camera to create some pictures and sound files of your own for new categories using PowerPoint slides or the online "My Family" area.

AlgebraLAB Grade 7 to 12 - Mainland High School- 8846

AlgebraLAB highlights the connection between algebra (and many other math subjects) and science. Although this website may appear as an in-depth informational algebra site, there is A LOT more to explore! AlgebraLAB includes 10+ links to various topics: Lessons, Practice, Careers (how Algebra and science are used in countless careers), Directions (offers insight on how to use this site), Word Problems, Study Aids, a Glossary, and several others. Many activities are interactive. This site requires Windows Media Player. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
This informational site is a MUST HAVE in any secondary math class. Be certain to save this site in your favorites. The site highlights countless algebra topics (and other math areas). Share the information on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Share the link on your class website so students can access the site both in and out of the classroom. Have cooperative learning groups explore one of the topics presented at the lessons or activities link. Have the groups create a video to share what they learned. Share the videos on your interactive whiteboard or projector using a tool such as TeacherTube (explained here). Differentiate! You can easily find extension activities for your more-able students to do while you reinforce the basics with others.

Mrs. Cassidy's Web Page - Numbers Grade K to 3 - Mrs. Cassidy- 8839

This educational website was created by a Canadian primary teacher. It offers links to numerous practical activities on the topic of “numbers." Most are interactive and all have educational value. Specific number topics include foundations, counting, addition, subtraction, fractions, and place value. Many of these activities require FLASH. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.. Don't miss out on this rare find.

In the Classroom:
What excellent choices to use as a learning center. This program allows the teacher to differentiate instruction (based on the current levels of your students). Each activity has several levels of difficulties. Mrs. Cassidy has also included a color-coded guide to help teachers determine which activities are easy, medium, hard, and very hard.

Teaching Tips Grade 1 to 12 - Mr. Shurley- 8835

These teaching tips work well in an all ESL class, or a regular class with only a few ESL students. The tips provide ideas to help with preparing materials, making assessments, and modifying materials and expectations so that the ESL students can succeed. The file format is PDF.

In the Classroom:
Keep these practical tips handy in your favorites as a reminder when you are struggling to meet the needs of ESL/ELL students in your regular class. If you serve as a teaching mentor, you may also want to share them with less-experienced teachers charged to your "care." Many of the same tips apply to learning support students, as well.

The Search for Monsters of Mystery Grade 3 to 8 - National Geographic Kids- 8724

Terrifically "scary," this website thrills students with information about various monsters. Students learn the geographic location and numerous facts about several famous "monsters". The fascinating study includes Bigfoot, Nessie, Storsie, Yeti, Champ, and Mokele-Mbembe. Note: Some of the information on the monsters comes up in pop-ups. Turn off any pop-up blockers (this would include those that work as part of the Google or Yahoo toolbar).

In the Classroom:
Use this website as a starting point for researching the history of famous monsters. This is a great way to teach about fact vs fiction and the information literacy skill of evaluating web site reliability, using a topic that students will love. After they collect facts, have a monster "trial" in your classroom "courthouse" where two teams try to prove that each monster is FACT or FICTION, using "evidence" from this site and further research. Differentiate the tasks by assigning some of your brighter students to conduct the questioning (and perhaps challenge the web sources). Then have a the class-member "jury" reach a verdict: Fact or Fiction?

HippoCampus Grade 9 to 12 - Monterey Institute for Technology and Education- 8721

Find multimedia content and lessons ready to go, and customizable by your preferences on this incredible, free, online learning site. Whether you need a comprehensive curriculum for selected high school courses, a way to differentiate instruction, or materials to reinforce challenging topics, this site has it. The current subjects include Algebra, American Government, Biology, Calculus, Environmental Science, Physics, Religion, and U.S. History. The subjects extend through high school and into AP and college level material. Open a course at the left and browse the topics, especially the multimedia offerings. A free instructor account allows you to select the modules you want your students to see and share them via a unique URL for assignments or at-home review. Since the content is offered collaboratively from multiple sources, the courses each have their own "look." The ones our review team explored all included audio-- a real plus for ESL/ELL or low level readers.

Requires Flash and Quicktime. Get them from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Explore the curriculum topics for your subject area and select some options for students to use in class or for review. This is also an excellent option for leaving plans for a substitute who may have no expertise in your subject area! Many of the multimedia modules are well-suited for interactive whiteboard or projector (or for students to navigate at an individual pace on laptops). Have gifted students? Allow them to "compact" new content and extend into higher levels using this site. Be sure to share a link from your teacher web page for students who need an alternate presentation of material or for absentees.

Rubric Maker Grade K to 12 - Scholastic- 8601

This online tool allows you to assess student work by creating an original rubric. Users are able to enter up to 10 skills. Each of the skills is scored on a 5-point scale (5: Proficient, 4: Capable, 3: Satisfactory, 2: Emerging, and 1: Beginning). This is an excellent tool to individualize and differentiate instruction. Parents will be pleased to see specific areas of strength and areas of need. The Rubric Maker could be used with any grade level and in any subject area.

In the Classroom:
Use this FREE online tool to create individualized or leveled rubrics for your class assignments in any subject.

The Renaissance Connection Grade 6 to 10 - Allentown Art Museum- 8571

This is a great website for student interaction! It does require Flash to get the full effect and animation (Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.). With a click of a mouse you can be transported 500 years back in time, complete with digital images, interactive activities, maps, timelines, and more. The music that matches each section also adds to the authenticity in taking students to this time.While this site was originally for middle school students, it would work very well with 9-10th graders simply because it will hold their attention. The site includes lesson plans and ideas for language arts, art, science, social studies, and math, as well as a general introduction lesson.

In the Classroom:
Even if you only have one day to spend, you can use this site to focus on inventions or provide background before you read Shakespeare or look at Renaissance art. Start by sharing the interactive timeline of six themes of the Renaissance (Start from Art Explorer) as an introduction on a projector or whiteboard, then send student groups to different areas of the site to become "experts" on different facets of the Renaissance. The varied activities provide easy ways to differentiate or address multiple intelligences. Be sure to plan a culminating day when students share their new expertise in the form of presentations, products, or plays.

Multiplication Grade 2 to 5 - Dositey- 8523

This site includes interactive portions and printable worksheets for students to use to learn multiplication. Topics include everything from basic facts 0-20 to regrouping to order of operations. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use this website (and the activities) to differentiate the material for your class. Allow the more advanced students to try their hand at one of the more challenging programs. Get out an interactive whiteboard or projector to introduce the website, then allow students to practice their multiplication on their own on your classroom computer cluster or as part of their time on a single classroom computer.

Place Value Charts Grade 1 to 5 - Coventry City Council- 8437

This website is a wonderful resource for teaching place value. A "super hero" challenges students to learn place value by using words, numbers, and decimals. This website is perfect for differentiating activities based on the learning levels of your students. The entire activity requires Flash, get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
The activity would be excellent on an interactive whiteboard as an introduction, followed by individual student practice on a classroom computer cluster, as a center, or even outside of school. Include the link on your teacher web page for easy access.

Word Games Grade 2 to 12 - east of the web- 8426

This interactive website provides hours of mind stretching fun. The mind challenges include cryptoquote, popword, eight letters, define time, storyman, wordsearch, and codeword. Some of these challenges are perfect for spelling practice, learning new vocabulary, problem solving and basic math practice. Each activity provides instructions for the user to explain the purpose of the activity. Many of the activities also have various difficulty levels to differentiate the activity for a variety of learning levels. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
This website is "interactive whiteboard ready." Students will love these mind stretching challenges and teachers will love the easy-to-use format of the activities. Put a game up on the whiteboard as students are taking their seats to focus attention and minds on WORDS before you start class. ESL teachers may find these games will help students practice language skills more readily. If you don't have time to utilize this challenge in class, provide the link in your class's newsletter or on your teacher web page.

Protopage Grade K to 12 - Protopage- 8257

TeachersFirst Edge Entry: For very comfortable technology users who need more sophisticated capabilities than your TeachersFirst home page. This online tool creates a highly visual "home page" that can incorporate multiple elements simply by dragging and dropping them in place. Not unlike Google's personalized homepage, the elements look like little sticky notes or boxes, but there is far greater flexibility and a wider variety of content readily available. You can also make the page local (simply use it as the "home" on your classroom computer), shared by a select group (passworded), or completely public. You can easily make a theme or unit page for quick access of resources, complete with directions.

In the Classroom:
How would you use this in your teaching? Create a set of RSS feeds for current events or a specific curriculum topic such as weather and make them available for an in-class activity, complete with directions. World language, world cultures, or geography teachers can profile a location on the globe, complete with local weather and news. Make separate tabs for separate activities. Students can access them by password or publicly from outside of class, as well. For primary grades, make simple instructions right on the desktop for a computer center activity. Use color coding of the instructions to differentiate for different children (Sam, I want you to do the yellow one). If your school permits students to set up accounts on web services, have groups make Protopages on an assigned topic, collecting and organizing resources, images, and information: "A Protopage Guide to Cells" or "Shakespeare's Times." Gifted and highly-able students will go crazy!

Skills needed: Join (free). Check out the Intro, Overview, and Quickstart to see how it works. Play to your heart's content, including making tabs. Learn about RSS feeds and other Widgets-- including sticky notes. Share the URL with those you wish to have use it. Note: this works on Internet Explorer 6 and higher and on Firefox. If your users are on older web browsers, the developers recommend upgrading. This may be a problem for some. Check with your end-user computers before you spend too much time making the perfect Protopage!

If you allow students to create their own Protopage, you will need to have very specific rules about content, since there are non-educational elements available.

Photojournalism Tiered Lesson Plan Grade 10 to 12 - Leigha Tracey- 8108

This website presents a lesson in which students explore how photographs can be interpreted as conveying rich stories to the beholder. The lesson presumes that the students are familiar with journalism and photocomposition and is set up according to Bloom's Taxonomy. While one lesson is presented, its advantage is the structure it gives to the teacher who has ideas on how to teach students to incorporate photos into their work. For ideal lesson purposes, it also presents the logical Bloom's progression which is particularly helpful to new teachers.

In the Classroom:
To take full advantage of this lesson, expand it into choosing photos off the web from news stories or from Flickr. (See the TeachersFirst Edge explanation of Flickr). You might even preview some sites and have pairs of students access them and categorize them by analysis. This would enable you to tailor the lesson to any literature you were working with from: Shakespeare to Hemingway to Grisham.

Broken Calculator Grade 3 to 8 - Woodlands Junior School- 8067

This website provides a challenging and entertaining math activity. Students are presented with a broken calculator (with only a few buttons remaining). The challenge is to create specific answers using only the keys provided. The different levels allow you to differentiate for every student in your class. This activity is certain to develop strong mental math skills and number sense. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Share this site on a projector or interactive whiteboard before allowing students to use it individually or with a partner.

That Quiz Grade 1 to 12 - Andrew Lyzcak- 7788

This "quiz" website provides math quizzes for students of all ages. There are quick, 10-question quizzes in 20 areas (including money, triangles, algebra, basic arithmetic, calculus and more). Each individual quiz can also be set to various difficulty levels. This site would be useful in any mathematics class grades 1-12.

In the Classroom:
Demonstrate this website as a group activity with an interactive whiteboard or projector, then use it for an individual activity differentiated to the many different math levels of your classes and students. Provide this link on your teacher web page for parents and learning support teachers to use with their students at home for additional practice or enrichment.

Thinking Blocks Grade 3 to 8 - thinkingblocks.com- 7773

Help your students to uncomplicated the intricate world of algebra. This engaging and interactive math website is sure to challenge, educate and entertain your students. Thinking Blocks presents students with video tutorials, interactive activities, virtual tutors, and more. Topic choices include addition/subtraction, multiplication/division and ratio word problems. Blocks are used to represent numbers within the math problem. Students are guided step-by-step as they solve the multi-step problems. Each lesson includes only eight questions, so they could easily be completed during one regular class period. There are six lessons in each of the mathematical areas. FLASH is required for some of the activities.

In the Classroom:
Try an interactive whiteboard and treat your students to this challenging math activity. If you are able to use a lab or laptops, differentiate your instruction and allow the students to work on skills at their own levels. Each of the three "topic" sets has six lessons.

After you use it in class, include this site on your teacher web page for students to practice prior to your test or the "big one."

Math General Flashcards Grade K to 5 - Education 4 Kids- 7398

This math website contains four interactive and individualized activities. At the "Flashcard" link, the teacher can create individualized flashcards using addition, subtraction, multiplication, division or a mix of operations. The "Early Math" link is created especially for students in Kindergarten and first grade. The concepts include more/less and biggest/smallest. The "Math Square" link is a logic puzzle that can be individualized to three difficulty levels. The "Math Tables" link creates an interactive table utilizing addition, subtraction or multiplication.

In the Classroom:
Try an interactive whiteboard to introduce these drill and practice activities to challenge your class, then include the link on your teacher web page or as a shortcut on a classroom computer for students to access individually. Be sure to tell parents about it, too. Take the students to the computer lab or assign different tasks at a classroom center to differentiate the instruction and allow the students to work at their individual levels. Note: very Young students may need help reading the directions to access the correct game.

Holes (webquest) Grade 6 to 9 - Lu Dayment & Linda Heiden- 7309

This webquest uses the metaphor of hole-digging found in the novel to provide separate activities for 5 separate groups of students. Each hole focuses on a certain aspect of the book , such as reptiles, prejudice, nature, relationships etc. Besides completing the tasks found in the "holes," students also prepare a final presentation of their choice (power point, video, research paper, or original).Note that the webquest is from a Texas school, so you may want to adjust some of the geographic suggestions they make to fit your region.

In the Classroom:
A good way to get groups of students deeply into the book. The tasks vary in difficulty, so it is easy to differentiate your instruction. Grading criteria are also provided. If you do not have time for the entire web quest, perhaps you can use one or two of the tasks for a shorter time period.

NumberNut - Basic Grade K to 5 - Andrew Rader Studios- 7210

This very useful website provides over 100 mathematical activities. The specific skills required are listed with each activity. The general mathematical areas include shapes, colors, numbers, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, dates and times. All activities require FLASH.

In the Classroom:
There are activities at this site for all elementary math levels. This site would be great to differentiate instruction. Or the teacher can involve the entire class by using an interactive whiteboard. Keep this link on your teacher web page for students to use outside of class for review.

Wash Line 1 Grade K to 2 - Crick Web- 7087

This game challenges students to put numerals in the correct order. There are options of numbers 1-5, even numbers to 10, odd numbers to 10 or random selection up to 20. The numbers are printed on t-shirts which need hung up on a wash line in the correct order. This site requires FLASH.

In the Classroom:
Use this tool to differentiate instruction and meet the educational needs of your students. If you see a blank screen, download the Flash plugin from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

The Digit Workout Grade 1 to 5 - Crick Web- 7082

This timed math challenge provides the students with 10 questions to practice basic math facts. There are six levels - single digit addition up to 20, single digit subtraction up to 20, double digit addition up to 100, double digit subtraction up to 100, multiples of 5 and multiples of 10. This site requires FLASH. If you see a blank screen, download the Flash plugin from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use this site to help to differentiate instruction in math class! Allow students to practice individually on computers by taking turns on one of the classroom computers or using laptops. Another useful tip: students need to click on the answer blank each time before typing in their answer. The TeachersFirst editors did catch a typo or two in the text ("mutliplication"), but the game itself works well.

Compare Numbers Grade 1 to 4 - Crick Web- 7069

There are 3 levels of difficulty in this multifaceted activity (numbers up to 100, 1000 and 10000). Students are asked to "click and drag" either the less-than, greater-than or equal sign to correctly answer the question. This game requires Flash. If you see a blank screen, download the Flash plugin from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
This tool could be used to differentiate instruction (there are three levels of difficulty). Allow students to try it as a classroom center, on laptops, or even on a whiteboard.

Adapt-a-Strategy Grade K to 12 - TeachersFirst- 6997

Adapt your existing lesson plans using these simple strategies to help ESL students. Click on the activity type you have planned and find suggestions and resources to help your ESL/ELL students be successful with the lesson. Some of the same strategies may help with students with IEPs for speech and language or learning support.

In the Classroom:
Share this one with your colleagues who also have ESL/ELL students.

ESL Levels Grade K to 12 - TeachersFirst- 6929

TeachersFirst provides these descriptions of ESL levels to help you think about what your student may be capable of doing in your class. These will also help in dialog with other teachers who work with this student. If you have an ESL/ELL specialist available for consultation, you may want to talk to him/her about where your students fit in this continuum.

Learning Resources Grade 5 to 8 - literacyworks- 6880

This site, intended to help build comprehension and current events knowledge, contains a “current story” from CNN San Francisco bureau and CBS 5 - KPIX (CBS Broadcasting) news stories. From the archives, you can select a story for your students to read (abridged or complete), listen to, or view a brief video. Although this site is designed for use in adult literacy, its flexibility and reading skills options (vocabulary, word selection, multiple choice, sequencing, and conclusions)support comprehension activities. Because the stories are offered in two forms, you can easily differentiate instruction. Students can also view an outline of the story before or after they listen/read. Homework suggestions and follow-up links lead students to more information.

In the Classroom:
Include this as an option if you require current events reports or are working on content reading to reinforce good reading strategies. You can build entire lessons around the activities, done on a projector, individual computers, or an interactive whiteboard. Click "Current story" to tart the activities.

The English Learner Movie Guides Grade 8 to 12 - Raymond Weschler- 6877

This helpful collection of movie summaries grants limited English speakers access to popular movies. Besides the summaries, which are available in PDF, Microsoft Word, and html, there are hints for teachers on how to use movies in the classroom, hints for the student on how to watch movies that are often full of fast talk and slang, and an overall explanation of the best way to utilize the movie guides. The glossary includes not only difficult vocabulary but also explanations of cultural, historical, and idiomatic references that will add to student comprehension and enjoyment of the movies.

In the Classroom:
Teachers planning to show a film in class should check this site for information to help their ESL studente better understand the film. You can also use it to help with literature that has been made into a film.

Be A Historian - Immigration Grade 4 to 10 - Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area- 6832

This website is a virtual time-travel experience for students in grades 4-10. The students travel back to the late 1800s in Waterloo, Iowa and see immigration to America. Although the site talks about Iowa, the information is applicable to American immigration in general. This website provides 10 different activities (many interactive and open-ended). The activities could also easily be used for differentiating instruction for various levels of ability. The website provides summaries, answer keys, standards and extension activities for the teachers.

In the Classroom:
This activity would be great for cooperative learning groups, whole class projects, or independent assignments. The ten activities provided are all very diverse and cover language arts, research, mathematics, history and more!

Math Playground Grade K to 8 - Mathadvantage.org- 6814

Have a ball on this highly interactive, attractive, and entertaining site that teaches all sorts of math skills for grades K-6. Check out Weighing Wangdoodles to practice balancing equations, learn about perimeter, practice word problems, solve logic puzzles, and even watch video problem-solving challenges. View the video "Math Apprentice" to learn more about how math is used in the "real world." This is certain to be a favorite both in school and at home. Teachers can even build their own worksheets to specifications by topic and level. Try the math Olympics, get caught up in fractions playground or money mania (near the bottom of the page). Every activity allows you to differentiate by skill level. This one is a teacher's dream.

In the Classroom:
Use the activities to reinforce skills as you teach them or allow advanced students to move ahead. Be sure to include a link to this one on your teacher website for parents and kids to enjoy together at home.

Reading Strategies: Scaffolding Students' Interactions with Texts Grade 6 to 12 - Greece (NY) Central School District- 6812

Find resources for teaching and modeling MANY reading strategies in your classroom, including handouts for graphic organizers and vocabulary development, all from this school-district site. Each strategy is explained and classified as before, during, or after reading and then linked to further information. This is a one-stop shop for teachers in every content area, as well as those reinforcing study skills for learning support students and helping students prepare for standardized testing. Each strategy includes suggestions for how to differentiate instruction, as well.

In the Classroom:
Give students links from your teacher web page directly to the graphic organizer they must complete for homework. Then there is no excuse such as having the dog eat it! Files are all Acrobat files, and Acrobat Reader is a free download.

Current Events Lesson Plans Grade 3 to 8 - Sean Banville- 6772

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.

In the Classroom:
All news stories are offered in multiple forms: auditory (can be downloaded as a podcast or played on your computer, equipped with speakers), word document, pdf, and on the web page itself. You can play the auditory version for the class or use the print forms to reinforce reading strategies while differentiating using the "easy" and "harder" versions.

World News in Special English Grade 4 to 8 - VOA- 6770

VOA offers audio and written radio scripts of a wide range of news stories in areas including science, agriculture, culture, health, and education. The language used is simple, and the stories are read more slowly than the average radio broadcast. The site includes its own dictionary (“Word Book”) and pronunciation guide, as well as links to many other features. Contains RealAudio and MP3 downloadable audio files. If you have high speed internet, you can also use the streaming option.

In the Classroom:
Use this simplified news site to help students improve listening skills and vocabulary while learning about current events. This is an easy way to differentiate for students who process information more slowly as English language learners or for other reasons.

LearniT: Technology Videos Grade 4 to 12 - Nortel- 6719

For teachers or students who have not had the opportunity to learn technology skills from a real person, these video tutorials can be very helpful. They can also fill in gaps in basic computer knowledge. Topics range from Internet safety and Netiquette to more advanced video production, digital imaging, and web page creation. For your students doing independent projects, for basics before you launch into a full-class technology production, or even for teaching yourself as a teacher, these tutorials are approachable and fairly up-to-date. Make sure you choose the right level(s) for your students, since they may have better skills than you think. You can differentiate easily with the multiple skill levels available. This one takes a longer time to open, so be patient.

In the Classroom:
Include this link on your teacher web page or in Favorites in your computer lab or on a classroom machine for students to use as a reference. This can be a great help for students who move in and do not have the same background knowledge as the rest of the class or as a challenge to your techno-whiz or gifted student. These also can make excellent ready-to-go projected tutorials a substitute could show in preparation for an upcoming project.

Starfall Grade K to 3 - Starfall Education- 6711

Find interactive reading activities for emergent/beginning readers at Starfall. It combines instruction in letter-sound relationships, word recognition skills, and reading comprehension strategies. The site also includes scope and sequence and a section to download worksheets and journals for additional practice of skills introduced. Seasonal activities can also be found on the main page. The four "levels" of reading at Starfall include "ABCs," "Learn to Read," "It's Fun to Read," and "I am Reading." Many of the interactives require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
This website could be used for an entire class using your interactive whiteboard or projector. You could also set up a learning center for use during your L.A. block. Use this site to differentiate reading levels for your students. Be certain to save this site in your class favorites and list this site on your class website for students to access both in and out of the classroom.

World Geography Quizzes Grade 3 to 12 - Sheppard Software- 6680

With such poor results as a nation on geography testing, we all should try these geography games to build student knowledge of U.S. and world geography. Students can click on the region of the world and practice at different levels of difficulty. Even adults can find a challenge. Offered in a "dial up version" for those accessing the sites from a slower connection. Note: the non-dial-up pages require FLASH. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Be sure to put a link for these online games and quizzes on your teacher web page for the summer and throughout the school year. Students can use them to practice for your geography quizzes or as extra challenges. The different levels of dificulty will allow you to differentiate your instruction easily.

Windows to the Universe Grade 3 to 9 - - 6541

Explore our planet, the solar system, and the universe beyond with this highly visual site, filled with kid-friendly text and interactive activities. Choose a reading level – beginner, intermediate, or advanced – and explore the varied earth-science subtopics, liberally peppered with hyperlinked definitions, descriptions, and multi-media surprises. Other features include summaries of astronomy-based current events and a generous selection of guided tours. Available in Spanish.

In the Classroom:
This is a safe, easy-to-understand resource for independent student research. Design a simple Web hunt to create a differentiated activity for multi-ability classes.

On the Job Math Grade 2 to 4 - - 6402

This math-based activity addresses reading, computer, and problem-solving skills while encouraging student creativity. After reading an online story, students participate in a class survey based on the story content, use that data to create a graph, and construct and illustrate a related word problem.

In the Classroom:
This activity provides many opportunities for differentiation. Provide students with choices in style or mode of graphing, math operations used in the word problems, or style of illustration.

Disabilities Studies for Teachers Grade 6 to 12 - Syracuse University- 5242

Help your students to develop awareness, understanding and acceptance of individuals with disabilities. This searchable site offers a series of lesson plans and materials that can be easily integrated into secondary social studies, history, and literature curricula. Strategies for using differentiated instruction are also included.

In the Classroom:
Take advantage of the free lesson plans and activities offered in this site! This would be a great resource for History or English classes!

Karl’s Calculus Tutor Grade 10 to 12 - - 4818

Here’s an unusually complete online calculus resource. It includes step-by-step presentation text, written in conversational style, along with a toolkit of interactive calculators and graphing resources. Add to that an e-mail based Q&A feature and the site becomes a sort of one-stop shopping for online calculus instruction.

In the Classroom:
The site could supplement a secondary course, or it could be used for individual study in situations where a face-to-face class is not available.

Take a Walk in my Shoes Grade 7 to 9 - TeachersFirst- 185

A lesson that uses the original partition of Israel in 1947 to examine the cultural conflicts in the middle east. Students use a series of role plays to understand the issues and emotions that abound in the region. This lesson plan was one the winners in a lesson plan contest sponsored by TeachersFirst in 2002. TeachersFirst editors have added technology options where appropriate.

In the Classroom:
Ths lesson plan include student handouts and technology options for students to share their projects several ways. Teachers can easily differentiate the challenge level of projects by specifying which tools to use.