TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Oct 28, 2018
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
Semantris - Google
Grades
4 to 12
4 Favorites
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Semantris is an engaging pair of word association games offered as a Google experiment in predicting the use of words by players. Arcade is a quick-thinking game; write a word ...more
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Semantris is an engaging pair of word association games offered as a Google experiment in predicting the use of words by players. Arcade is a quick-thinking game; write a word associated with the shared selection to drop words to the bottom of a list as quickly as possible. Block is a slower paced game; try to provide a short phrase to describe one of the words in the blocks to drop the blocks and prevent them from reaching the top of the page.
tag(s): game based learning (171), logic (164), puzzles (143), vocabulary (235), vocabulary development (90), word study (58)
In the Classroom
Share Semantris with students on classroom computers or devices for use as a quick word association and vocabulary building activity. Challenge students to become more proficient in "beating" Google by earning as many points as possible. For younger students, this site is an excellent way to build vocabulary skills. Have older students take this site a step further and research how machine learning works through this Google activity. Enhance learning by asking them to substitute a traditional report or presentation by making a video explanation tool like Typito, reviewed here, to describe the concept of machine learning. After spending some time practicing this game, take it a step further and extend student learning by having students create their own vocabulary learning game using a tool such as Scratch, reviewed here.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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The Halloween Collection - PBS Learning Media
Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Explore the concept of fear through this Halloween Collection based on PBS T.V. shows. The collection includes videos and lessons for students in PreK through high school. Each item...more
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Explore the concept of fear through this Halloween Collection based on PBS T.V. shows. The collection includes videos and lessons for students in PreK through high school. Each item included on this site provides links to standards, and many include lesson support materials. Use links to share directly to Google Classroom or social media accounts.
tag(s): emotions (47), halloween (30), macbeth (8), preK (254), salem (6), shakespeare (93), sound (74), spiders (10)
In the Classroom
Instead of viewing videos on this site as a class, enhance student understanding by using EdPuzzle, reviewed here, to create a complete lesson within the video. Students could then view videos in class as partners, or at a learning center on their own. In blended learning classes, students could watch the videos on their own at home if you post them on your website. EdPuzzle offers features for inserting questions into videos and provides quick feedback on student understanding. To wrap up your unit, substitue a paper and pen project by having younger students work together to create a class book using WriteReader, reviewed here, to share different types of scary situations and suggestions on how to address them. For older students, have them redefine their learning by using a multimedia tool like Book Creator, reviewed here, to analyze supernatural or historic events like the Salem Witch Trial included in this site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Twitter Chat: Digital Storytelling - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
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This archived Twitter chat is from August 2018 and will open in Wakelet. The title of this chat is - Digital Storytelling. Through this chat participants will: 1. Define ...more
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This archived Twitter chat is from August 2018 and will open in Wakelet. The title of this chat is - Digital Storytelling. Through this chat participants will: 1. Define and discuss the basic principles of digital storytelling, 2. Share tech tools that can be used for students to communicate and share knowledge, and 3. Share resources to help with lesson planning which incorporates digital storytelling. Peruse the tools and suggestions from our lead moderator and all participants.
tag(s): twitterchatarchive (173)
In the Classroom
Tell a story... digitally! Learn new tools and tips for using digital storytelling in your classroom. Share this chat with your colleagues looking for sites and information related to digital storytelling. Explore the various tools that are shared.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Title Case Converter - Title Case Converter
Grades
K to 12
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Make sure your headlines and titles are capitalized correctly with this fantastic tool! Type or paste in your title to convert to the correct capitalization of all words. Even better,...more
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Make sure your headlines and titles are capitalized correctly with this fantastic tool! Type or paste in your title to convert to the correct capitalization of all words. Even better, this site highlights changes made. Also, hover over each word in the correct title to see a pop-up explanation explaining why each word is or isn't capitalized. Modify the results to meet your needs using Associated Press, Chicago, MLA, or Wikipedia formatting.
tag(s): journalism (72), writing (315)
In the Classroom
Include this site with your other bookmarks for writing tools. Include a link on your class website and student computers for use at any time. Ask students to use the Title Case Convertor before publishing any of their work. Ask them to take a before and after screenshot and share any changes and why they were made. If you produce a class newsletter, this site is perfect for double-checking the use of correct capitalization. Consider using this site as part of a mini-lesson on creating and writing effective headlines.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Whooo's Reading - Whooo's Reading
Grades
K to 8
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Whooo's Reading is an alternative to traditional reading programs by offering short response options to book quizzes instead of multiple choice answers. After reading, students answer...more
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Whooo's Reading is an alternative to traditional reading programs by offering short response options to book quizzes instead of multiple choice answers. After reading, students answer three quick higher-level questions, that are automatically scored, and earn coins for correct responses to spend on personalized "owlvatars." Teachers receive scores in real-time and have the option to provide feedback through conversations with students within the program. In addition to quizzes, Whooo's Reading also offers standards aligned journal activities for use in between quizzes and book recommendations upon completing quizzes.
tag(s): classroom management (128), reading comprehension (141), reading strategies (96)
In the Classroom
Although recommended for students in grades K-8, teachers of younger students should review questions and consider writing ability levels before including them in the program due to the written responses required. Consider using Whooo's Reading as an alternative to Accelerated Reader due to the use of short response answers instead of multiple choice questions. After reading books, substitute paper and pen journals by asking younger students to create a blog using a tool like Penzu, reviewed here, to share a book review with fellow students. Engage older students, or literature circle groups, by having them create a poster for the book using a tool like DesignCap, reviewed here, and then upload the poster to their blog about the book. A great blogging tool for older students is Telegra.ph, reviewed here. With Telegra.ph have students click on an icon to upload related images, add a YouTube or Vimeo, or Twitter links. This blog creator requires no registration. For all age students, enhance learning by creating a class book review site using Flip, reviewed here, where students create short video book reviews and can comment on each others reviews.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Infographics - Grammar Check - GrammarCheck
Grades
6 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Explore a large selection of infographics related to grammar and writing. Sample titles include 5 Basic Rules of English Writing That Everyone Should Know and 222 Words to Use Instead...more
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Explore a large selection of infographics related to grammar and writing. Sample titles include 5 Basic Rules of English Writing That Everyone Should Know and 222 Words to Use Instead of "Said." Click on any preview to open the full infographic. Share items using social media links or use the embed code to include any post on your website or blog.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): grammar (133), grammar review (31), infographics (55), writing (315)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site to use as a resource for quickly sharing grammar tips with students. Include a tip of the week on your class website or blog, or display a tip on an interactive whiteboard or with a projector each week to share with students. Along with using the infographics in your teaching, ask students to use the Grammar Check editor, reviewed here, for their own writing, and then find the infographic that has the rules for their grammar mistakes. Have students compare and contrast different types of infographics and share their opinion on features that make effective presentations. Ask students to create their own infographics using a tool like Genial.ly, reviewed here. Genial.ly offers free templates and designs for customizing and creating infographics.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Digital Storytelling Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
This editor's choice curated list of reviewed resources focuses on digital storytelling. Engage and excite students to get writing. Many of the tools shared are device agnostic and...more
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This editor's choice curated list of reviewed resources focuses on digital storytelling. Engage and excite students to get writing. Many of the tools shared are device agnostic and will work on all devices in both web browsers and apps. Find tools ideal for all grades. Use digital storytelling in all subject areas to assess, collaborate, share results, and more. Find options in the resources for student projects. View and learn from the professional resources shared.
tag(s): digital storytelling (141), writing (315)
In the Classroom
Find an abundance of digital writing tools to use in your classroom. Share sites on your interactive whiteboard. Challenge students to create their own projects using tools on this list. Rather than a unit test, have students create a book demonstrating their understanding of concepts. Bring out creativity with these engaging tools!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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BookBub - Josh Schanker
Grades
7 to 12
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0 Comments
Looking for a new book to read? Bookbub has it covered. Enter your email address and begin telling BookBub your preferences in genres and your preferred reader device or app ...more
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Looking for a new book to read? Bookbub has it covered. Enter your email address and begin telling BookBub your preferences in genres and your preferred reader device or app (Nook, Kindle, iBook, Google Play, Kobo). You will be presented with a list of authors to follow based on your genres, and then you create your password. Next you will get a list of books recommended for you. Best of all, many of the books are free. You can always put a book under bookmarks, and be alerted when it has a reduced price or is available for free. You will even get an email when one of your favortite authors is publishing a new book. Under your account and notifications select how often you would like to receive BookBub updates - daily, weekly, and various other choices.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): book lists (161), independent reading (85), reading lists (80)
In the Classroom
Sign up for BookBub and receive daily emails with book excerpts. Share the excerpts with your class as a way to hook some students into reading or to offer book suggestions. Use the emails as an example of a service that students may want to try. A valid email is required to join this site. Read TeachersFirst tips for safely managing email registrations here. Substitute oral book recommendations by having students choose an interesting excerpt from a book they are reading and share with it others via email or on your classroom blog or website. Be sure to have students use the title and author in the subject line! This will also provide a record for those looking for a new book.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Adobe Creative Cloud Express - Adobe
Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Create beautiful visual designs with Adobe Creative Cloud Express (was Adobe Spark). First, follow prompts for creating an account, then select a creation you will work on; those include...more
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Create beautiful visual designs with Adobe Creative Cloud Express (was Adobe Spark). First, follow prompts for creating an account, then select a creation you will work on; those include flyers, banners, posters, business cards, social graphics, advertisements, YouTube thumbnails, and a few others. The canvas where you will create has a right and left menu. Choose a template, text, photos, shapes, backgrounds, and design assets from the left menu. Next, you can select colors, animation, background, resize, or design from the right menu. When complete, share using email or with the social media links provided, or you can download.
tag(s): blogs (66), communication (136), creative writing (122), design (83), digital storytelling (141), microblogging (18), posters (47)
In the Classroom
Possible uses are only limited by your imagination! Create your own flyer, poster, business card, etc. for parents and students where they can learn a little you and what is happening in your classroom. Enhance or extend student learning (depending on the project requirement) by having students create a visual to accompany books read in class, tell about social studies events, or display images for different science terms. Flip your classroom using Adobe Express presentations. Adobe Express is perfect to use for presentations, digital storytelling, or a gift (think Mother's Day) in any subject!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Cube Creator - Read Write Think
Grades
2 to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
The Cube Creator offers four different options for creating and personalizing a printable cube for summarizing or story-telling: Bio Cube, Mystery Cube, Story Cube, or Create your Own...more
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The Cube Creator offers four different options for creating and personalizing a printable cube for summarizing or story-telling: Bio Cube, Mystery Cube, Story Cube, or Create your Own Cube. Follow prompts to create the cube. The planning sheets help you collect information before making the actual printable cube. Once you have entered all your information, print and follow directions to assemble the paper cube. Follow links to find lessons that use this interactive as well as suggestions for other uses. There are lessons for grades 3-4 up through grades 11-12. Note: Read Write Think has added the capability for students to save their work to continue later. In the last paragraph of the Overview, there is a link to watch the video: Saving Work With the Student Interactives.
tag(s): back to school (63), biographies (93), firstday (22), mysteries (19), printables (37), summarizing (22), word study (58)
In the Classroom
Use the Cube Creator for virtually any lesson or activity as a substitute for a paper and pen project. Try printing on heavier card stock so cubes are durable. Create a cube to practice math problems, describe habitats, outline important story events, and much more. Have students create a cube and share with other students to practice retelling, summarizing, adding synonyms, or review for tests. Have each of your students create an All About Me cube for parents to view at Open House or to get to know each other during the first week of school. Have others guess which cube belongs to which classmate. Create a cube review game where others must answer the question that comes up when you "roll" the cube. The possibilities are endless. Challenge your gifted student(s) to create a "Who Am I?" cube about a famous person they research. Use the Bio Cube option with one variation: DO NOT include the person's real name. Share the cube as a game for the rest of the class to guess (and then create their own similar cubes). Your gifted students may also come up with new ways to Create Your Own Cube that could become a class game! Invite them to try their creativity.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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StoryToolz - Chuck Heintzelman
Grades
2 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
StoryToolz offers many different tools for authors: story generators, word count meters, a readability analysis, a random conflict generator, a title generator, a cliche buster, and...more
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StoryToolz offers many different tools for authors: story generators, word count meters, a readability analysis, a random conflict generator, a title generator, a cliche buster, and more. Choose any of the topics to begin. Story generators offer suggestions for conflict within a story or half a title. Choose from random title beginnings and endings to generate your title. Don't miss the Readability area: paste up to 5K of text in the box to check the readability of any source. Registration isn't required; however, it offers the opportunity for additional resources within the word count meter section and a larger portion of text for analyzing in the readability section.
tag(s): creative writing (122), readability (5), stories and storytelling (40)
In the Classroom
Enhance and modify student writing by having them use StoryToolz. First, share it with students with a projector in your writing class to generate ideas for stories, possible centers of conflict to map out the new tale, and show them how to use the tool. Use the readability section with any writing to determine appropriateness for use with students. Have students paste their writing in the readability section to determine if their writing is at an appropriate grade level or to note information such as words per sentence or use of various parts of speech. Paste into the cliche buster to point out ho-hum wording and overused expressions. Suddenly, students may begin to write more complex sentences or use more vivid language. Be sure to include a link to this site on your class webpage and classroom computers for use throughout the year. The readability portion of the site is a great resource for ESL/ELL and Special Education teachers to help determine the appropriateness of reading materials.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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