Examples of ways to differentiate instruction
TeachersFirst's Thinking Teachers who write our resource reviews often have suggestions that have worked in their classrooms. Open the reviews to the "more" view to see ideas for using specific resources as tools to differentiate for a variety of learners. Alternatively, use the keyword search tool at the left of this page to search for a curriculum topic and the term "differentiate." For example, search fractions differentiate (with "all the words" selected for the search).
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Bees: A Honey of an Idea - Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
Grades
3 to 9
3 Favorites
0 Comments
Learn about the fascinating world of bees with this beautiful and comprehensive site. Begin your exploration as you choose from different categories such as What is a Bee?, Pollination,...more
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Learn about the fascinating world of bees with this beautiful and comprehensive site. Begin your exploration as you choose from different categories such as What is a Bee?, Pollination, Life in a Hive, or The Beekeper. The entire site is also available in French. Explore each topic as you view images and descriptions of the life of bees. Find the Glossary link near the top of each page to view a selection of vocabulary words and definitions. Be sure to view the Activities page including recipes, crafts, printable activities, and an image gallery.
tag(s): insects (69)
In the Classroom
Be sure to share this site during any unit on insects or careers. As news stories tell us about the rapid demise of honeybees and the resulting danger to our food supply, step back to see what bees are all about. Allow older students to explore on their own. Younger students will benefit from viewing and reading together on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students create an annotated image including text boxes and related links using a tool such as Thinglink, reviewed here. Have students use Fakebook (reviewed here) to create a "fake" page similar in style to Facebook about a week in the life of a beekeeper. Use the glossary as a resource for differentiated spelling lists each week. French teachers may want to use this site as a reading experience!
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Fill in the Chart - Susan Jones
Grades
2 to 6
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Fill in the Chart helps you practice multiplication facts using multiplication charts with missing numbers. Choose from many different versions of the charts such as the 5's...more
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Fill in the Chart helps you practice multiplication facts using multiplication charts with missing numbers. Choose from many different versions of the charts such as the 5's or 10's facts. When finished, choose "Grade Me!" to view your score. These practice activities are untimed (so less pressure). Other practice charts include quizzes with multiplication facts offered in random order. Choose from many different practice options.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): multiplication (122)
In the Classroom
Share Fill in the Chart on your class website or newsletter for multiplication practice at home or from any computer. Create a link on classroom computers for student practice during center time. Differentiate learning by assigning different practice charts based on individual student needs. This site doesn't time students, therefore causing less stress. if you prefer, have students time themselves with each activity then challenge them to improve completion time and accuracy with each practice. Or time your students using the free Online Countdown Timer (reviewed here).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Frontiers for Young Minds - Frontiersin.org
Grades
2 to 10
1 Favorites
0 Comments
This tool is a neuroscience journal that includes articles reviewed by kids! Approved student scientists, ages 8-16, review the articles, and neuroscientists serve as their mentors....more
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This tool is a neuroscience journal that includes articles reviewed by kids! Approved student scientists, ages 8-16, review the articles, and neuroscientists serve as their mentors. The scientific process is followed with young scientists writing their submission specifically for the Frontiers Journal. The article is then peer reviewed. Students and scientists serve as peer reviewers. The process shows how articles are reviewed in major publications and show the scientific process.
tag(s): brain (54), child development (23), human body (93), senses (20)
In the Classroom
Use these articles in Biology or Health class to learn about the brain and factors that affect it. Students will find many articles of interest to them. Articles focus not only on learning, but games, media, emotions, and other activities. Have a bright students looking for a challenge? Encourge him/her to follow the directions to apply as a Young Mind reviewer. Challenge cooperative learning groups to read an article and create an infographic sharing the highlights of what they discovered. Use a tool such as Venngage reviewed here. If you teach gifted science students or would like to offer an advanced option to a gifted student in your regular science class while studying the brain or human body, this journal offers an outstanding opportunity for real world collaboration with scientists and very bright students in other places. Differentiate by going outside school walls! Have your student write an article and/or apply to join the team of young scientists.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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News in Levels - newsinlevels.com
Grades
K to 8
6 Favorites
0 Comments
Find high interest, leveled news articles (and lessons) for English language learners. Although this site was designed for ENL/ESL it could be very useful in any elementary classroom...more
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Find high interest, leveled news articles (and lessons) for English language learners. Although this site was designed for ENL/ESL it could be very useful in any elementary classroom looking for informational texts that can be differentiated for various reading levels (great for meeting Common Core standards). This tool could be used with any readers to increase comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary skills. There are three difficulty levels. Complete the Test Your Level exercise in the pop-up box after you first get to the home page to find out what level will be best for you. Many of the lessons include audio and practice exercises. In addition, interesting pictures pique the students' interest. The same story is presented in all of the various levels. The vocabulary at lower levels repeats at the higher levels with more vocabulary added as the level increases. Definitions for the vocabulary words, below the reading, assists with English meanings. The audio is hosted on YouTube. At the time of this review, most of the news story content was fine for all ages. However, please preview the story before you share it with your class to be certain it is appropriate.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): differentiation (84), guided reading (32), multilingual (65), news (229), reading comprehension (141)
In the Classroom
Add this website to your classroom computers, websites, and newsletters for parents of ENL/ESL students or beginning readers. This tool is especially helpful at the beginning of the year, as you are learning students' reading levels. Use this tool to differentiate in all primary classes. Although this site was created for English Language Learners, it could still be used by all students including gifted and learning support. Differentiate for your advanced/gifted students in elementary, while meeting Common Core standards of Informational Text. Use these news articles as informational text meeting your Common Core goals. Assign students of different levels the same story at the appropriate level or build skills by sharing the same story as a class. Challenge groups to compare the stories in pairs. Have students create a visual presentation of the story. First have students create a rough draft of their comic using Printable Comic Strip Templates, reviewed here. For Level 1 readers have them create their final comic using ToonyTool, reviewed here, for Level 3 readers use Make Beliefs Comix, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Slick Write - Russ Tek, LLC
Grades
5 to 12
5 Favorites
0 Comments
Refine your writing with Slick Write's feedback about the flow, style, structure, readability, word frequencies, and repeated phrases in your writing. This program is not just a grammar...more
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Refine your writing with Slick Write's feedback about the flow, style, structure, readability, word frequencies, and repeated phrases in your writing. This program is not just a grammar check. See diagrams showing the flow of your writing and sentence styles. It will highlight and label weak descriptions, too many prepositional phrases, cliches, and weasel words. Under "Configure", Slick Write gives choices for types of feedback for the writing. Give it a try by clicking on "edit" and pasting your text. Click "proofread" to get your results. Click "stats" to learn about overuse of prepositions and passive voice, two common writing faults. Once you see your "weaknesses," it's time to begin the hard part: revising! But at least you have an idea where to focus!
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): editing (92), proofreading (21), writing (315)
In the Classroom
Use this program with your students who are ready to refine and improve their writing. This is a wonderful program to use for revision after editing of grammar and mechanics is complete. Discover what is making your writing too wordy (excessive prepositional phrases or adverbs?) Partner an advanced writer with one not so advanced and have them use Slick Write to improve their styles. Easily differentiate for writing pitfalls by having them "configure" the settings to focus on their greatest needs instead of overwhelming them with everything at once. Put the URL on your website for students and parents to use from home. Remind seniors to use it for their college essays. Use this tool to polish your own professional writing, parent newsletters, blog posts, and papers for grad classes!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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MobyMax: Complete K-8 Curriculum - MobyMax.com
Grades
K to 8
6 Favorites
0 Comments
Practice and improve student skills in the K-8 curriculum with MobyMax. Start with pre-testing students and assigning differentiated activities for reading, math, science, writing,...more
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Practice and improve student skills in the K-8 curriculum with MobyMax. Start with pre-testing students and assigning differentiated activities for reading, math, science, writing, grammar and vocabulary. Pre-tests target areas of struggle and assign curriculum based on need. Never again will students have to practice material they have already mastered. The progress tracking throughout is based on Common Core standards. Adjust assigned curriculum on your own if desired by reassigning a pre-test or assigning your own lessons. Register using your email and school information to begin. Add your student list. Once created students have their own individual login to begin placement testing. There is a PRO account that costs money; this review is only for the FREE portion.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): addition (128), assessment (147), classroom management (128), differentiation (84), division (98), fluency (24), game based learning (171), multiplication (122), subtraction (109), vocabulary (235), vocabulary development (90)
In the Classroom
Create a classroom account. Use MobyMax during centers, for nightly homework, or computer lab time. Share with parents as an excellent resource for practicing math, reading, writing, grammar, science, and vocabulary skills at home. Use the pre-testing features at the beginning of the school year to get students started at the correct levels. Use this tool to differentiate for all students. Your gifted students can pretest out of material already learned and receive activities and instruction at their individual level. Be sure to bookmark this site to use with all levels of students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Maths Practice and Worksheets - EduGain
Grades
4 to 10
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Practice math skills online, print practice sheets, or create your own customized worksheets with this in-depth mathematics site. Choose a grade level to begin. Topics vary from basic...more
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Practice math skills online, print practice sheets, or create your own customized worksheets with this in-depth mathematics site. Choose a grade level to begin. Topics vary from basic operations to Roman numerals to data handling and many others! Choose from the printed paper or solve online options. Free registration is required to print worksheets and complete some of the online activities; however, this option also allows you to customize worksheets to suit your individual needs. An Android app version is available.
tag(s): addition (128), charts and graphs (169), decimals (84), division (98), equations (119), experiments (52), fractions (159), geometric shapes (136), integers (22), logic (164), mean (19), median (16), mode (13), multiplication (122), number sense (70), numbers (119), operations (72), order of operations (28), probability (96), problem solving (226), ratios (47), square roots (15), subtraction (109), symmetry (27), venn diagrams (15), whole numbers (9)
In the Classroom
Use this site to differentiate for students of all levels. Use activities on this site as a learning station or center. This site is ideal for 1-1 (or BYOD) classrooms. Set up a single teacher account and have all the students use the class login to enable access to all features of the site. Be sure to include this site on your class web page for students to access both in and outside of class for further practice.
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Color in my Piano - Joy Morin
Grades
K to 12
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Color in my Piano is a piano teacher's blog for exchanging and finding resources. Scrolling down the page gives an overview of the most popular articles, teaching tips, and resources...more
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Color in my Piano is a piano teacher's blog for exchanging and finding resources. Scrolling down the page gives an overview of the most popular articles, teaching tips, and resources offered. Explore the large printables portion of the site to view and download worksheets, games, lesson plans, sheet music, and more. Search through an extensive reading list of articles and resources for teachers, parents, and students. Don't miss Wednesday's Words of Wisdom, featuring inspirational quotes for all. If piano music interests you, this site is a must-see! Note: some of the materials mentioned are for sale, but there is plenty for free.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): music theory (45), musical instruments (46), musical notation (35)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans and worksheets for music classroom use. Search the Reading Lists for articles to share with students. Share (and discuss) Wednesday's Words of Wisdom. Use this site to differentiate for music students of all levels.
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Famous Inboxes - Mark Brownlow
Grades
6 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
If famous people from long ago had inboxes, what would be in them? Famous Inboxes takes that concept and creates inboxes for characters in literature, entertainment, and history....more
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If famous people from long ago had inboxes, what would be in them? Famous Inboxes takes that concept and creates inboxes for characters in literature, entertainment, and history. Choose from artists, musicians, great leaders, authors, and many more categories. Each inbox contains a screenshot of the person's email (mythical) inbox including the subject of the email and the sender. This is an entertaining and provocative site sure to inspire lots of ideas for your own use! Be sure to preview before you share as some of the topics (or "texting" language) may not be appropriate for the classroom.
tag(s): creative writing (122), digital storytelling (141), gamification (74), social networking (68)
In the Classroom
Share Famous Inboxes with your students on your interactive whiteboard or projector using a character or author studied in class. Assign students to each of the inbox titles and have them write the actual email sent. Don't see anyone to use in class? Create your own or have students use the site as a model to create their own. Most likely, working in groups will get the creative juices flowing. This would be a great model to use for introducing a history or science unit or for looking at the relationships between characters in literature. Have students write the emails as an end of unit review. Subscribe to the RSS feed of this site to receive updated contents. Use the option to create an inbox as a differentiated challenge for your gifted students. For example: Summarize World War II by showing Winston Churchill's inbox, then write two of the key emails. As a "hook" for new books in the media center, have students create inboxes for one of the characters and post them with the book jackets. Instead of a "report" on a scientist, have students create their inbox documenting their research and accomplishments.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Gettysburg by the Numbers - TeachersFirst
Grades
5 to 10
10 Favorites
1 Comments
Gettysburg by the Numbers (GBTN) is a web-based, interactive experience of the Battle of Gettysburg through numbers and infographics that raise questions and invite connections. Exploring...more
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Gettysburg by the Numbers (GBTN) is a web-based, interactive experience of the Battle of Gettysburg through numbers and infographics that raise questions and invite connections. Exploring Gettysburg "by the numbers" invites you to move beyond dates and facts to questions that make the battle more meaningful and real. Dig into the numbers to imagine the weather, the clothing, the communications, the people, the weapons, and--yes -- the cleanup from three devastating, pivotal July days in 1863. Delve into the infographics and accompanying questions to connect what was then with what is now. The site includes ideas for families and for teachers to use it in the classroom. Be sure to click on the large color image of the battle to get the "big picture." Teachers will want to explore the extensive "For Teachers" section that offers materials, lesson ideas, Common Core correlations, and much more.
tag(s): civil war (134), gettysburg (15)
In the Classroom
Gettysburg exemplifies many aspects of the Civil War experience and of U.S. life during the 1860s. Use this resource as a whole class introduction to the Civil War or specifically to the Battle of Gettysburg. Extensive teacher materials include downloadable and customizable handouts for students to "get the basics" about the battle or extend their understanding through small group or individual projects on battle-related topics that interest them. Coordinate with your math teacher to reinforce concepts of proportion, percent, ratio, and graphing with real data about Gettysburg. Differentiate for your students by helping them select from more concrete or more open-ended "questions" included with each detail about the battle. You can make this a one-day "quick tour" or a week long journey. Find project ideas included in these questions. There is even a customizable project rubric in the teacher materials. Be sure to share this link on your class web page for curious students (and families) to explore on their own outside of class!Comments
Excellent resource for researchArthur, TX, Grades: 0 - 12
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ESL Games World - eslgamesworld.com
Grades
1 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
ESL Game World is the place to go for interactives, PowerPoint activities and templates, printable board games, ESL/ELL games for kids and adults, grammar games, vocabulary challenges,...more
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ESL Game World is the place to go for interactives, PowerPoint activities and templates, printable board games, ESL/ELL games for kids and adults, grammar games, vocabulary challenges, and reading activities. Some of the featured activities include Snakes and Ladders, Hangman, and Wheel of Fortune games/templates. Some spelling appears to be different from Standard American English. Check to be sure. Avoid the online store section to stay with free activities.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): grammar (133), grammar review (31), verbs (27), vocabulary (235)
In the Classroom
This website contains many ads, demonstrate avoiding the advertisements with your students before assigning or using any of the activities. Find ways to assist your ESL/ELL students in an engaging way! You can also use many of the games to reinforce basic skills with native speakers. Customize some of the activities for the content areas you are studying. Use as a whole class activity on your projector (or interactive whiteboard) to practice vocabulary, grammar, and content. Add as a resource for ESL/ELL learning or even struggling readers. Ideas and materials are gathered in one spot to help you reduce the time you need to meet your ESL/ELL students' differentiated needs. Add this link to your class website or share it with parents as a resource.
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Math Champs - Pearson
Grades
K to 5
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Math Champs offers 30 free math activities for ages 5 though 11. Choose an age group from three different levels to begin. Topics begin with simple addition and subtraction, but ...more
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Math Champs offers 30 free math activities for ages 5 though 11. Choose an age group from three different levels to begin. Topics begin with simple addition and subtraction, but also include more challenging multiplication and division. Activities provide short instructions to begin play. Turn sound off or on using the button near the top of each game. Choose from most popular games and view high scores. Scores are recorded only after signing up for the site newsletter, but membership is not necessary to play games. This site was created for the UK so American English speakers may find some slightly different spellings.
tag(s): addition (128), decimals (84), division (98), logic (164), multiples (15), multiplication (122), numbers (119), preK (254), subtraction (109)
In the Classroom
Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Use the age ranges (5-7, 7-9, or 9-11) to differentiate for your students. Provide this link on your class website for students to access at home. This is a great site to provide on a list of summer "practice" sites.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Figure This - KnowNet Construction, Inc.
Grades
5 to 10
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Looking for a way to add challenges to your middle school math curriculum or gifted classes? Try Figure This, a site of math challenges developed by the National Council of ...more
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Looking for a way to add challenges to your middle school math curriculum or gifted classes? Try Figure This, a site of math challenges developed by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Figure This offers a number of challenges in English and Spanish to be used in a classroom or offered to families for math challenges at home. A PowerPoint is included to help increase parent involvement. Learn why most manholes are round, how fast your heart beats, and numerous other interesting topics. At the time of this review, there were 80 "Challenges" to explore. All of high interest and intriguing topics! Although mainly math activity, many border on science topics as well. Each activity offers hints and answers explained in many ways. Finding the answer is rather tricky! Scroll to the bottom of the page and look for the link to Answer. Don't miss the Teachers Corner. It includes all beginning materials; PowerPoints, forms, and ideas you need to begin!
tag(s): critical thinking (112), geometric shapes (136), logic (164), percent (58), probability (96), problem solving (226), statistics (114)
In the Classroom
In the classroom, use Figure This to help differentiate instruction for all levels, especially the high-achievers and gifted students. Allow students to work independently, or work in pairs to solve challenges. Introduce the challenge on your interactive whiteboard projector. Then allow students to dive into the challenge! Use for gifted enrichment, or even a Math Challenge Day for a reward. Offer extra credit for the number of challenges solved. Use as a model to allow students to create their own challenges. Add to your website as a fun resource for students and families.
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Bedtime Math: Making Math a Fun Part of Kids' Everyday Lives - Laura Overdeck
Grades
K to 4
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Enjoy these engaging and "quick to solve" story problems every day of the year. Topics include content familiar to kids such as Dog Years, The 10 Second Rule, and House ...more
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Enjoy these engaging and "quick to solve" story problems every day of the year. Topics include content familiar to kids such as Dog Years, The 10 Second Rule, and House of Cards. Following each short story is a question for three different age groups - wee ones (preschool), little kids (k-2), and big kids (3rd grade and up). Sign up to receive problems daily by email or check the website daily for new problems.
tag(s): preK (254), problem solving (226)
In the Classroom
Do you have parents who want ideas to help with math (or make it fun) at home? Share this site as an easy way to do math and discuss problem solving at home. Instead of assigning endless worksheets, consider a family bedtime math challenge that parents and kids can do together. Use the problems in a math center - differentiate by choosing different questions from the stories for different student needs. After solving problems, change the numbers in questions to provide additional practice. Display the question of the day as a beginning of class activity or to use as a daily math journal entry.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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noredink - Jeff Scheur
Grades
3 to 12
14 Favorites
1 Comments
Students will have fun while improving their writing and grammar. At the time of this review, noredink's grammatical categories include apostrophes, subject-verb agreement, comma issues,...more
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Students will have fun while improving their writing and grammar. At the time of this review, noredink's grammatical categories include apostrophes, subject-verb agreement, comma issues, sentence fragments, run-on sentences commonly confused words, phrases and clauses, and a lot more! The program provides differentiated instruction based on the questions students answer right or wrong. Click the "Product" tab on the top menu to read about more features. There are interactive tutorials to help students correct mistakes. Sign up with name, username, email address, gender, school name, and a password.
So, what's fun about learning this type of grammar? noredink asks students to pick their interests from Sports, TV shows, Musicians, and Miscellaneous. They will also be asked if they want them to use your friends from Facebook. When students are practicing or are taking quizzes, the program will use their interests and friends, and generate the questions around their interests and friends. The hope is that the content will be more interesting by including sentences with favorite celebrities, hobbies, TV shows, or even personal friends. Be sure to watch the introductory video. The program works on iPads as well as your regular computer.
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So, what's fun about learning this type of grammar? noredink asks students to pick their interests from Sports, TV shows, Musicians, and Miscellaneous. They will also be asked if they want them to use your friends from Facebook. When students are practicing or are taking quizzes, the program will use their interests and friends, and generate the questions around their interests and friends. The hope is that the content will be more interesting by including sentences with favorite celebrities, hobbies, TV shows, or even personal friends. Be sure to watch the introductory video. The program works on iPads as well as your regular computer.
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tag(s): assessment (147), capitalization (9), classroom management (128), differentiation (84), grammar (133), homonyms (8), homophones (6), punctuation (25), quiz (67), quizzes (90), sentences (22), Teacher Utilities (146), verbs (27)
In the Classroom
Teachers sign up and create a class. You will receive a class code for your students to use (optional). With the class code you will be able to track student's progress, differentiate, assign quizzes and assignments, and see class trends. The program has color-coded "heat maps" to track progress easily. Your assignments and quizzes will be uniquely generated according to each student's interests. Also, students don't have to wait for you to give them an assignment. With their account, they can practice at any time. A student does NOT have to provide an email address to create an account. It will work without it! Since students are providing some personal information about interests, etc., we strongly advise parent permission.Challenge (and excel) your gifted students with the concepts practiced at this site. Since student assignments are at their own level, students can find great acceleration in practicing these necessary skills. ENL/ELL students will especially benefit from the practice using correct English, in their writing, over a continuous time period. Student assignments are at their own level. You can also create your own quizzes. Use this site as part of your rotation during learning stations. Put your class' URL on your website so students can practice at home, too.
Comments
Any website that doesn't let you try it before creating an account is instantly uninteresting to me.Kristi, , Grades: 0 - 12
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Busy Teacher - busyteacher.org
Grades
2 to 12
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0 Comments
This site offers ESL/ELL worksheets for a wide range of subjects, including pronunciation, grammar, reading, listening, writing, and speaking. With a free registration, you can search...more
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This site offers ESL/ELL worksheets for a wide range of subjects, including pronunciation, grammar, reading, listening, writing, and speaking. With a free registration, you can search for the type of worksheet you desire, including review, crosswords, games, etc. You can also submit your own worksheets for inclusion on the site. In the creative writing section of the site, there are also "ready to go" writing prompts (in addition to worksheets).
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): creative writing (122), descriptive writing (39), grammar review (31), listening (68), pronunciation (33), reading comprehension (141), speaking (22)
In the Classroom
This site offers multiple levels and themes, so it is easy to differentiate for ability levels and interests within your class. Peruse the many printable pages available and determine which are useful for your students. Provide this URL on your class website for students to access (for practice) at home.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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The Readability Test Tool - David Simpson
Grades
1 to 12
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Test any website's readability using The Readability Test Tool. Test readability by URL or direct text input from any source (such as copy/paste of student writing). Simply enter...more
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Test any website's readability using The Readability Test Tool. Test readability by URL or direct text input from any source (such as copy/paste of student writing). Simply enter the web address (URL) and get the readability of the site on several scales. You can also check your own webpages by using the "referer" section. You will get a score for the most used readability indicators: Flesch Kincaid Reading Ease and Grade Level, Gunning Fog Score, Coleman Liau Index, and Automated Readability Index (ARI). These tell much more than a simple "grade level." View sentence info such as total characters, number of words, average word length, percentage of short and long sentences, and more. View word usage of types of verbs, conjunctions, and other parts of speech as well as type of words used to begin sentences. Click the link provided to view an explanation of each type of score.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): independent reading (85), readability (5), writing (315)
In the Classroom
Use this tool to offer differentiated resources for the different reading levels in your class. At the beginning of the year, as you learn your students' capabilities, use this tool to find reading at the appropriate level to eliminate frustration. This is perfect for finding the "just right" level for your highly advanced/gifted students and those needing extra remediation. If you do discover that a website you want to use is over your students' independent reading level, you can still use it, just use Read Ahead, reviewed here as a guided reading activity for younger students. Read Ahead is perfect for introducing any reading passage to struggling readers, special education students, and ENL/ESL learners. View readability levels of websites before sharing with students to find appropriate reading levels for differentiation. On an interactive whiteboard or with a projector, test passages of public domain texts from sites like Project Gutenberg, reviewed here, by famous authors to see how their writing ranks when discussing their writing style.Why not have students put in the URL for their blog or wiki (or simply paste in a writing sample) to see the level at which they are writing? This is one way to encourage writing as a craft and challenge students to include more varied vocabulary and sentence structure in their writing.
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Shadow Light Productions - ShadowLight Productions
Grades
2 to 12
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Investigate the art of shadow puppetry through Shadow Light Productions. This is a commercial site featuring performances for school groups, community centers, or various events. Examples...more
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Investigate the art of shadow puppetry through Shadow Light Productions. This is a commercial site featuring performances for school groups, community centers, or various events. Examples of performances with traditional stories appear in written and video format. A commercial venture on this site sells DVDS of actual performances. Begin your study of shadow puppetry at this site. Detailed plans with standards include suggested objectives, strategies, equipment, materials, and resources for audio, video, and texts. These plans answer all your questions on how to use shadow puppetry effectively in your classroom. Examples of lesson plans and student performance give ideas for language arts classes. Some of the images (although appropriate) may appear scary to younger students. So please preview before you share with your class.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): halloween (30), short stories (18)
In the Classroom
Share some of this "puppeteer fun" on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Integrate into your Language Arts classroom to discover theme, plot, characterization, or myths and legends in a new way. Science classes can investigate the use of shadow and sound. Shadow puppetry is an easy way to incorporate several multiple intelligences. Easily differentiated plans for ESL/ELL and Gifted students to capture interest and motivate success. Use as an enrichment cluster, or after-school activity. Be sure to capture all your class creations on video and share on your class web site or blog.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Math 3 Under the Sea! - LearnAlberta.ca
Grades
1 to 3
5 Favorites
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This interactive and colorful math activity lets students practice math skills in several different areas. All activities take place in an under the sea environment with included help...more
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This interactive and colorful math activity lets students practice math skills in several different areas. All activities take place in an under the sea environment with included help and vocabulary support. Please note that this site is from Canada, so the money activity uses Canadian currency.
tag(s): differentiation (84), numbers (119), operations (72), vocabulary (235)
In the Classroom
Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector with the sound turned up. Play the introduction to orient your students. Have students try out this site on individual computers, or as a learning center (maybe on the IWB). For students that are having trouble with math vocabulary, use the provided glossary for explanations of common math terms. Parent/teacher information is available for each of the lessons. Most of the activities have different levels so activities can be differentiated for students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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iRubric - Reazon Systems, Inc.
Grades
K to 12
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Create your own rubric for multimedia and other projects or search the gallery from many that already exist for all grade levels. (Also use the gallery to get great ...more
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Create your own rubric for multimedia and other projects or search the gallery from many that already exist for all grade levels. (Also use the gallery to get great project ideas!) Search the type of rubric or project to find a related rubric. Use the buttons at the bottom to preview, edit (customize and save your own version from existing ones), or copy. Share by URL or embed code in a wiki, blog, or site. Keep bookmarked rubrics in your account on the site. Create free personal or group accounts (for educators). Create classes, join educator groups, and more.
tag(s): assessment (147), rubrics (33)
In the Classroom
To save rubrics and modify existing ones, educators must create an account. Find great project ideas, rubric examples and criteria. Build on the expertise of others to create excellent rubrics. Consider creating categories and using the advice of students to help identify criteria that is important to the project. You might even want to create differentiated rubrics to match multiple intelligences, learning styles, or varied ability levels. With such easy adaptations, you can start alter different versions very easily.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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