TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Feb 28, 2016
Here are this week's features. Clicking the tags in the description area of each listing will present a list of other resources with this topic. | Click here to return to the Featured Sites Archive
SMS Generator - Class Tools
Grades
4 to 12
tag(s): book reports (28), creative writing (122), digital storytelling (141), writing (315)
In the Classroom
Engage students with what they know, text messaging! Inform students you will be creating a text conversation between two historical figures, fictional characters, scientists - anything from something the class is reading. On the whiteboard or with a projector display the SMS Generator. Show students how to use it by having them create the conversation. The text is not limited, but keep it reasonable. Besides using SMS Generator for presentations, it could be used to teach or refine social skills, practice writing in a new language, or explaining a math or science concept to a peer.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Teaching London Computing Resources for Teachers - Teaching London Computing
Grades
1 to 12tag(s): computers (106), logic (164), probability (96), problem solving (226), sequences (12), STEM (262)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free activities and resources on the site to promote computer skills and problem solving in the classroom. Choose activities from the site to include during your school's math fair (or hold your own class math fair). Share a link to activities on your class website and encourage students to complete them and share with the class. Have students create an annotated image of their activity including text boxes, related links, and video using a tool such as Thinglink, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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New York State K-12 Social Studies Resource Toolkit - NYSED
Grades
K to 12tag(s): assessment (147), commoncore (75), professional development (393)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site for use when teaching social studies concepts throughout the year. Although created for New York teachers, activities correspond to Common Core Standards used throughout the country. Be sure to take advantage of all resources available such as worksheets, assessment suggestions, and teaching tips. Share with other teachers as you collaborate and plan together.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Investing for Beginners - Fidelity Investments
Grades
8 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): financial literacy (92), investing (5), stock market (9)
In the Classroom
Share videos with your students on an interactive whiteboard or projector. You may be interested in continuing the investment study by having students set up their own practice portfolio for a no-risk option to dabble in stock trading and buying. Use a program like Wall Street Survivor, reviewed here, to do this. Extend student learning by having cooperative learning groups research other aspects of economics or business, then challenge the groups to create videos using FlexClip, reviewed here, and share them on a site such as SchoolTube, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Getting Hands-On with Soft Circuits - Emily Lovell
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): circuits (20), creativity (92), electricity (60), engineering (119), STEM (262)
In the Classroom
Getting Hands-On with Soft Circuits is perfect for use with an after-school science program or as a resource for science fair projects. Create a center throughout the school year for students to work on circuits and build skills at an individual level. If you don't feel comfortable working on this topic, find a parent volunteer to help, or partner with another classroom to work together. Need funding to buy materials? See GetEdFunding, reviewed here, to write for a small grant.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Maker Camp - Maker Media, Inc
Grades
K to 8tag(s): crafts (53), energy (130), magnetism (36), origami (15), solar energy (34)
In the Classroom
Use Maker Camp as an excellent resource for finding hands-on learning activities for your classroom. Share this site with students who love to tinker! Be sure to provide a link on your classroom website for parents to use when looking for at-home activities. If you teach an after school program, search Maker Camp to find activities for many different topics.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Flock - Cookies Riva FZC
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): chat (42), communication (136), microblogging (18), polls and surveys (46), video (257)
In the Classroom
Teachers can use the chat feature to communicate with parents or students. Collaborate with other educators on lesson plans and activities. Create groups of students during group projects for collaboration. Attach the directions to the chat and monitor the conversation by including yourself in the group and promoting good digital citizenship. Use the poll feature to check for understanding or use the chat as an exit ticket.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
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Voxer - Tom Katis
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): chat (42), communication (136), DAT device agnostic tool (143), listening (68), microblogging (18), multilingual (65), social media (53), speaking (22), speech (66)
In the Classroom
Extend classroom technology use by using Voxer with early readers in your Daily 5 literacy structure for oral reading and listening to others read. Archive students' reading fluency at the beginning of the year, making comparisons throughout the year. Send the Voxer sample readings to parents via email so they can hear the progress and your comments, too. Use Voxer with any language learning students, both ENL/ESL and world languages. Students can practice speaking and listening in their new language. Connect with another class in a country speaking the language your students are learning for rich, real-world discussions. Create small groups to discuss anything from current events, to how to complete a math problem, to contributions for group research projects. Middle and high school teachers can use Voxer for communication between classes posting a question about the reading they are doing, an equation in math, or a lab in science. Collaborate with another classroom across the state or in another country allowing students to discuss with other students not in their school. Reluctant writers could use this tool to brainstorm their thoughts for a writing piece. With students under 13 consider setting up a class account using a global login. Students would need to give their first name when contributing so you will know who is speaking.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
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