Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

The Global Read Aloud offers you a chance to share a book with other students from around the world. This program is in its fifth year and has had over 200,000 participants. The Global Read Aloud is a six-week event that ends in November. Announcement of the book list and the author study selections occur each spring. Student involvement starts in the fall each year. Teachers, parents, and individual students are invited to join. Choose a book to read and sign up at the very beginning of each October. There is a Google form on the main page for registration. On this main page, you will find several suggested ways to participate: The Global Read Aloud wiki here, Flip, reviewed here, Padlet, reviewed here, and others.

tag(s): authors (103), collaboration (87), cross cultural understanding (157), guided reading (32), reading comprehension (143), reading lists (80)

Fake iPhone text is a tool to create fake screenshots of a series of iPhone text messages. Enter your conversation including name and message. Click the link "Create" to view the picture. Take a screenshot or copy the URL to share.
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tag(s): creative writing (121), digital storytelling (141), gamification (74), writing prompts (58)

Digital Passport is an interactive, engaging, and effective way to teach and test the basics of digital citizenship designed for upper elementary grades. Create and add student groups to assign, monitor, and customize assignments for students. This site consists of five topical modules covering privacy, cyberbullying, communication, creative credit, and search. Module Guides accompanying each lesson include complete guides and suggestions for teaching and using the activity. Be sure to download the Educator Handbook for a complete guide to effectively using the Digital Passport.

tag(s): cyberbullying (41), digital citizenship (89), game based learning (171)

The Fun Theory is a collection of experiments captured on video to find out if making tasks more fun can change people's behavior. One of the most popular videos on The Fun Theory is a staircase in a subway station. The stairs were converted into working piano keys as a way to convince commuters to take the stairs over the escalator. Another test uses a game-based scenario to recycle bottles. Students and colleagues at all levels are subject to the same ineffective carrots-and-sticks. Why search around for methods to motivate when fun is the key to unlocking a world of possibilities? A contest also encourages visitors to upload their own applications of The Fun Theory. After watching the videos, you will see the evidence that appealing to an individual's intrinsic motivation is better on many levels. Make the road less traveled FUN! The collection of Fun Theory videos is an excellent resource to support game-based learning in your classroom. If your district blocks YouTube, they may not be viewable.
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tag(s): psychology (67), science fairs (19), scientific method (47), video (258)

Four documentary films related to the Civil Rights Movement, available to stream either in part or in their entirety, form the centerpiece of this effort from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The films cover time periods beginning with the Abolitionist Movement and continuing through the Freedom Marches and the turbulent 1960s. Explore the meaning of freedom and equality in the United States with relevance still today. There are teacher resources for using Created Equal in the classroom.

tag(s): bill of rights (28), black history (124), civil rights (194), civil war (134), cultures (132), emancipation proclamation (11), segregation (18)

Find a complete resource for how to write a research paper, including simple step-by-step directions, suggested resources, and ways to avoid plagiarism. This site also includes how to format a research paper, write footnotes, create endnotes, and make parenthetical references, with examples for all. There are tips for public speaking and how to use search engines.
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tag(s): expository writing (31), literature (217), persuasive writing (55), plagiarism (34), process writing (38), Research (83)

Just as the title states, Virtual Piano is a piano that you play via your computer. Adjust the different options to meet your needs and playing ability. Use Key Assist to display notes on the keys or turn it off to look just like a regular keyboard. Choose from several music sheets to get started playing some familiar tunes. If you want to change the look of the keyboard, choose "change style" to view in several different colors. The Record option even allows you to play back your music and hear your creations.

tag(s): music theory (45), musical instruments (46), musical notation (35)

Greg Tang Math offers a nice selection of math games for elementary grades. Each game offers different levels and options for play. In addition to practicing basic math facts, these games promote thinking and problem skills through different game options. Try your hand at Math Limbo, Funny Numbers, ? Missing, and others.
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tag(s): addition (128), calendars (40), division (98), fractions (159), logic (164), multiplication (122), subtraction (109), time (92), volume (34)