TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Mar 20, 2022
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
Alison - Mike Feerick
Grades
10 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Alison is a free learning platform offering courses for education and skills training provided by the world's leading experts. Find courses using the dropdown boxes at the top of the...more
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Alison is a free learning platform offering courses for education and skills training provided by the world's leading experts. Find courses using the dropdown boxes at the top of the site sorted by Explore Diplomas and Certificates and Discover Careers. Under More find Assessments and a Resume Builder among other tools. Browse the home page to find the popular courses and most recent offerings. Complete the free registration to begin. Upon selecting a class, view information on the number of modules, topics, and approximate length. Upon completion, Alison provides a certificate or diploma, depending on the duration of the offerings.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): business (47), careers (139), chinese (44), coding (88), communication (136), engineering (119), french (74), german (48), literature (217), multilingual (65), OER (43), Online Learning (40), politics (112), psychology (67), sociology (22), spanish (105), STEM (262)
In the Classroom
Use Alison to find professional learning courses, learn the basics of a new language, or for personal development. Share Alison with students to learn skills not offered in school or share with ENL/ESL students to use when learning English. Use Alison with student cohorts interested in learning about a new topic or preparing for college-level courses.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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PBS Kids - PBS
Grades
K to 5
1 Favorites
0 Comments
PBS Kids' focus is mainly educational activities and videos for kids in Preschool, Kindergarten, and Primary age students. For younger students, select games, videos, and activities...more
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PBS Kids' focus is mainly educational activities and videos for kids in Preschool, Kindergarten, and Primary age students. For younger students, select games, videos, and activities about well-known characters like Clifford the Big Red Dog, Arthur, Peg and Cat, Dr. Seuss, and more. Clicking All Games will give you 29 categories to choose from, for example, Team Work, Feelings, Engineering, Spelling, Reading, Healthy Habits, and many more. Click New Games to find topics such as Guess the Feeling, World Orchestra, and others to help familiarize youngsters with flight, trains, counting, and well, you name it, and PBS Kids probably has it!
tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (143), game based learning (171), literacy (107), preK (254), video (257)
In the Classroom
Discover and share the many free resources available on PBS Kids. Show clips on your interactive whiteboard, or with your projector, then have students complete an accompanying activity. With younger students, use Flip, reviewed here, as a video response platform for students to share how they would use what they learned by watching the videos or using the interactives. Alternatively, you might try using Acast, reviewed here; Acast is an extremely easy to use tool for creating audio to share as podcasts. PBS Kids is perfect for sharing with parents. Include a link to activities on your class website along with suggestions on how to use activities at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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FluentKey - Fluentkey, LLC
Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
FluentKey turns videos into interactive learning activities to teach world language learners (including American Sign Language). This site's videos engage learners through the addition...more
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FluentKey turns videos into interactive learning activities to teach world language learners (including American Sign Language). This site's videos engage learners through the addition of captions, quizzes, and games embedded into videos. Take advantage of the large library of videos found on the site, or upload your own videos from YouTube, Facebook, or your computer. After creating your account, add class information and student lists, then assign videos and add quizzes and other interactive content. Students access your assignment using the code created; as students complete each assignment, view responses and class averages to each question on your classroom dashboard. In addition to assigning content to individual students, FluentKey Live is an interactive game for classrooms. Share a video from the site on your interactive whiteboard and ask students to participate on their own devices.
tag(s): chinese (44), DAT device agnostic tool (143), french (74), german (48), multilingual (65), sign language (10), spanish (105), Teacher Utilities (146)
In the Classroom
Use FluentKey to easily differentiate world language lessons for students and allow them to progress at their own speed. Help ENL/ESL students master English using videos and quizzes based on their knowledge level. This is also an excellent tool to provide language learning experiences based on student interests. Even if the language isn't included with the videos on the site, find and upload videos for student use and add quizzes along with additional content. As students become proficient in a new language, encourage them to share their knowledge using a variety of multimedia tools. Annotate images using Google Drawings, reviewed here, create an audio recording of conversations, or use PhotoCollage, reviewed here, to create the collage. As students become more proficient in their new language, ask them to record short podcasts with a podcast creation tool like Podcast Generator, reviewed here, and share tips and advice with their fellow students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Radiooooo - Benjamin Moreau
Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Discover music from all over the world and from over 100 years back in time! Visit Radiooooo and start listening immediately (no registration required) or download the iOS or Android...more
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Discover music from all over the world and from over 100 years back in time! Visit Radiooooo and start listening immediately (no registration required) or download the iOS or Android app. Just select a country (all countries in yellow have music), decade, and mood (from tabs at the bottom) the music will begin. Create a thematice playlist from different countries and decades using "Islands Mode. Create an account to save your favorites, or upload your own favorite music. There are different subscription programs for a cost. This review is for the free version
tag(s): 1900s (73), countries (69), DAT device agnostic tool (143), radio (20), songs (44)
In the Classroom
Social studies teachers will have a heyday with this program! Complement any period in time with its music. Use music from the site as an anticipatory set or "activator" to introduce a unit or lesson on a projector or interactive whiteboard. Play music from the period you are studying during reading or research time. Use during current events for students to hear the music and language of the country of the article. Allow students to explore the site on their own, and then share their findings with classmates. Ask students to exchange paper journals and write about their impressions of the music and make comparisons to their favorites of today using a blog tool like Telegra.ph, reviewed here. With Telegra.ph you just click on an icon to upload images from your computer, add a YouTube or Vimeo, or Twitter links. This blog creator requires no registration. Redefine classroom technology use by challenging students create multimedia timelines (with music, photos, videos, and more) using Timeline JS, reviewed here. Any teacher will appreciate Radiooooo. Play music selections quietly during any subject and student work time. Filter distractions by finding instrumentals to play during silent reading time, test taking, lab activities, or any other quiet time during class. World language teachers can use this tool to introduce music from all the countries whose population speak the language they teach. This tool would also be perfect for performance groups such as drama clubs or musicals that need background music. Use background music for poetry readings during poetry month.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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LyricsTraining - LyricsTraining.com
Grades
4 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Learn a language through favorite music videos with LyricsTraining. This very engaging site offers an extensive collection of videos in several genres. Choose from top lyrics to begin...more
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Learn a language through favorite music videos with LyricsTraining. This very engaging site offers an extensive collection of videos in several genres. Choose from top lyrics to begin or scroll through the home page to view new lyrics. Select a language to narrow down choices. Once you select a video, choose from four different levels - the hardest requires you to fill in all the words of the song! Choose also to fill in the blanks or select responses from the four provided options. Registration isn't required; however, it allows you to save favorites and create your own customized exercises. If your district blocks YouTube, then the videos may not be viewable.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (143), french (74), german (48), italian (28), japanese (47), multilingual (65), portuguese (22), spanish (105)
In the Classroom
Ways to use this site are limited only by your imagination! Share with ENL/ESL learners for practice in English. The many choices on this site assure that all viewers will find music to enjoy. Foreign language learners will love practicing their new language using options on the site. Be sure to share a link on your class website and school computers for practice at home and during independent work time. Use this site as a 5-minute transition at the beginning or end of class. Register on the site and create customized exercises to meet the needs of your students, or let them create practice activities for fellow class members.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Text to Speech Reader - WellSource Ltd
Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Drag, upload, or paste text files to convert your text to speech instantly. Choose from many voice and language options for replay. Other options allow control over the speed of ...more
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Drag, upload, or paste text files to convert your text to speech instantly. Choose from many voice and language options for replay. Other options allow control over the speed of your speech replay. Use the upload icon to save to your computer.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): chinese (44), french (74), german (48), multilingual (65), spanish (105), text to speech (19)
In the Classroom
Share with world language learners to hear text spoken in the native language. Use this site with ENL/ESL students to convert small pieces of text to their native language. Use the speed options to slow down speech for students who are language learners. Use this site with students who have difficulty reading, especially when working with more challenging passages and text. Include a link to this site on your class website for students to use when learning new vocabulary in a different language and for your ENL/ELL students to hear something read or pronounced both in and outside of class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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LanguageTool - LanguageTool.org
Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites
1 Comments
LanguageTool is a spelling and language checker for English, French, and more than 20 other languages. Copy and paste your text to check for spelling and grammatical errors. Use the...more
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LanguageTool is a spelling and language checker for English, French, and more than 20 other languages. Copy and paste your text to check for spelling and grammatical errors. Use the drop-down boxes to change language preferences. LanguageTool also offers browser add-ons for downloading on Chrome and Firefox, and add-ons for Google Docs, LibreOffice, and OpenOffice.
tag(s): editing (93), french (74), german (48), grammar (133), portuguese (22), spanish (105), spelling (95), writing (315)
In the Classroom
Use this visual revision program with students who are ready to refine and improve their writing. Have students copy and paste writing projects into the text editor for a final check for spelling and grammar mistakes after making their last revisions. Continued use of a language checking tool helps students correct writing on their own after seeing common errors in their writing. Never send out a newsletter or post to your web page with spelling or grammar errors again! Use LanguageTool to spell check and suggest corrections for any published writing projects.Comments
Good contentSajit, ZAC, Grades: 8 - 12
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New York Times Spanish Edition - New York Times
Grades
6 to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
Read New York Times articles and original content in Spanish with this site. The information ranges from politics, global news, business, technology - even pop culture. Reading this...more
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Read New York Times articles and original content in Spanish with this site. The information ranges from politics, global news, business, technology - even pop culture. Reading this version of the NY Times will be useful in any Spanish language classroom as well as for ENL/ESL students.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): journalism (72), multilingual (65), news (229), newspapers (91), spanish (105)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a resource for advanced Spanish language learners for current events projects or for ENL/ESL students to stay up to date on current events- assign students different weeks throughout the semester in which they are to be the class news reporter, keeping their peers up to date and informed. Have students research what's going on via this news site, and present a short presentation at the beginning of class every day during their week. Enhance learning by challenging cooperative learning groups to create their own news videos using a tool like Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here, and share them on a site such as TeacherTube, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Vocabulary Trainer - LanguageCourse S.L.
Grades
3 to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
Create a world language learning plan with the Vocabulary Trainer. Use dropdown boxes to select your native language and a language to learn or practice. Other options include different...more
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Create a world language learning plan with the Vocabulary Trainer. Use dropdown boxes to select your native language and a language to learn or practice. Other options include different course levels and options such as business vocabulary. Tools in the program allow you to set up a personalized learning plan, including time set aside for learning and days of the week to practice.
tag(s): arabic (13), chinese (44), french (74), german (48), greek (33), hebrew (16), italian (28), japanese (47), multilingual (65), spanish (105)
In the Classroom
This site would be very handy in world language classes and when working with ENL/ESL students. Use this site as a learning station or center. Include this site as a resource when students are preparing a project about another culture. If you have students in world language, world cultures, or even language arts classes who need enrichment - send them to this site to learn the basics of a new language or to look for roots that show in English. Self-motivated advanced students or those planning a semester abroad can learn language basics on their own here. Be sure to include this site for "Children of the World Day" or family heritage day activities.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Unite for Literacy Library - Unite for Literacy
Grades
K to 8
5 Favorites
0 Comments
The Unite for Literacy Library offers many online books for young readers with audio. Browse through the home page to choose books to read from the library shelves. Narrow down ...more
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The Unite for Literacy Library offers many online books for young readers with audio. Browse through the home page to choose books to read from the library shelves. Narrow down your choices using picture icons for different themes such as animals or families. Select and click a book to read. Click the speaker icon to hear each page. The narration is also available in many languages, from Arabic to Vietnamese.
tag(s): audio books (22), independent reading (85), interactive stories (21), preK (254)
In the Classroom
This site is one you must bookmark if you work with young readers! Create a link to the site on classroom computers for students to explore and listen to books on their own. Unite for Literacy is perfect for use with ENL/ESL students for reading and hearing books in both English and their native language. Share a link to the site on your website or newsletter for use at home or use during remote learning. During remote learning, consider assigning your elementary students reading and follow up activities using Symbaloo, reviewed here. Symbaloo is an excellent bookmarking tool to use with elementary students due to the easy to use design and use of icons for identifying information readily. World language teachers can use this site to have students listen to books in the language they are learning.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Langscape - Maryland Language Science Center
Grades
3 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Langscape is an interactive map of almost 7000 languages from around the world. The site offers three main features: an interactive map, a text identification tool, and a language familiarization...more
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Langscape is an interactive map of almost 7000 languages from around the world. The site offers three main features: an interactive map, a text identification tool, and a language familiarization game. Click on a map location to view a pop-up box with the name or names of languages spoken and location by longitude and latitude. Click on the name of the language to find basic data (underneath the map) about the language and its speakers. Underneath the map, find icons to learn more about the language, choose the music-note to listen to MP3 recordings of the language. The page icon leads to other Internet resources for learning about the language chosen. Be sure to drop down the Discover link at the top of the page to find the K-12 educators guide, a complete guide on how to use the site as well as lessons linked to Social Studies Standards.
tag(s): arabic (13), chinese (44), cultures (132), french (74), german (48), greek (33), hebrew (16), italian (28), landforms (38), latin (22), map skills (56), maps (209), phrases (6), portuguese (22), russian (24), spanish (105)
In the Classroom
Bookmark Langscape for any lessons about other countries. Locate countries on the map then listen to the audio files of the spoken language. Create a link on classroom computers for students to play the language game. Take advantage of the many lesson ideas found in the educators guide.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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PicFont - Picfont.com
Grades
4 to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
Create a poster (meme), postcard, or add captions to a photo. Also, resize and crop images. Save in medium or best quality to your device or download as a PDF ...more
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Create a poster (meme), postcard, or add captions to a photo. Also, resize and crop images. Save in medium or best quality to your device or download as a PDF or Word doc easily with Picfont. No registration is required. Choose images from your computer or device or select a picture from the gallery. Change not just the color and size of the font, but add an outline in any color and size, place it anywhere on the photo, and many more effects. Use Picfont to spice up social media postings; select to create a Facebook header, and a post with photos, a Twitter header and an In-stream, an Instagram Post, a LinkedIn cover, or select from several ad sizes. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click features for directions about how to use the different features of Picfont.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (143), digital storytelling (141), editing (93), images (270)
In the Classroom
Use this easy tool to replace paper posters and add captions to images, create memes, or posters for your bulletin boards. Use this easy tool with students during back to school time as a way for them to get to know each other. Have students upload a picture of themselves doing their favorite activity and label it with amusing text or a favorite quote (or song lyrics?). Have them upload images that represent their interests and character traits. Print the images with text for a back-to-school bulletin board. Use after a field trip for students to write captions on the photos they took. Be sure to share the photos on your class web page, blog, or wiki. Haven't started blogging yet? Check out TeachersFirst's Blog Basics. For other uses, have students practice new words in a world language class by labeling and identifying images in that language. Create writing prompts using several annotated images. Have students create annotated images to explain key terms in science class. In ELA class, make homophone or vocabulary images to show the correct word along with a picture that explains it.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ba Ba Dum - Aleksandra MizieliA...
Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites
1 Comments
Use these interactives to learn up to thirteen new languages (English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Lithuanian, and more). Choose from various...more
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Use these interactives to learn up to thirteen new languages (English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Lithuanian, and more). Choose from various options: match images to a spoken word, fill in the blanks, or multiple choice. Audio options are available for non-readers. No registration is required. Registration allows you to save your progress and compete to earn the highest scores in each activity.
tag(s): arabic (13), chinese (44), french (74), german (48), italian (28), multilingual (65), portuguese (22), spanish (105)
In the Classroom
Use your interactive whiteboard (or projector) to introduce this site in your world language class, ENL/ELL class, or young elementary classroom. Make a shortcut to Ba Ba Dum on classroom computers for use as a center in a language class or world cultures. Use this tool with young students just learning the English language to build up their vocabulary. The website offers audio options on many of the interactives, making this site ideal for non-readers (even kindergartners). Share this site with your gifted students looking for individual challenge. Why not learn Lithuanian or Chinese? Be sure to share a link to this site on your class website or blog for students (and possibly parents) to use at home. Have cooperative learning groups create online picture or ABC books featuring a different language using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here.Comments
Buena practica de vocabularioClaudia, TX, Grades: 1 - 7
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Duolingo - Duolingo
Grades
1 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Duolingo is a free, online language learning class. Sign up with email. Make a selection from Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Arabic, and many others. Earn points on...more
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Duolingo is a free, online language learning class. Sign up with email. Make a selection from Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Arabic, and many others. Earn points on different levels as you work towards mastery. Practice provides both seeing and hearing the words. Your responses require choosing the English translation and also spelling the words in the "new" language. Put your knowledge to work in the immersion section and translate a document or even upload a document of your own. Check the vocabulary you have learned and your progress toward mastery. Track your weekly progress. The discussion section answers individual questions. Duolingo is free for schools. There are free iOS and Android apps for Duolingo.
tag(s): arabic (13), chinese (44), DAT device agnostic tool (143), french (74), game based learning (171), german (48), hebrew (16), italian (28), japanese (47), multilingual (65), OER (43), Online Learning (40), portuguese (22), russian (24), spanish (105)
In the Classroom
Use Duolingo in your world language classes as another form of practice and enrichment. Have students sign up to compete against each other in a fun game of language mastery. Have world language students use the immersion tool to help read and translate authentic text. For an ENL/ELL classroom, provide extra, specific practice in beginning English. ENL/ELL students can also use the immersion section to check their own written documents and connect with other ENL/ELL students. Offer this site as a supplement when you study cultures from around the world. Gifted students are sure to enjoy the challenge of learning some language phrases. Is your class remote learning? Duolingo has a guide just for that! Scroll down the home page and find Duolingo for Schools, then click Bring Duolingo to Your Classroom. Find the Guide for using Duolingo at home at the top right of the page.
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