TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Dec 11, 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
My Wordle - Pallav Agarwal and Pulkit Agarwal
Grades
K to 12tag(s): game based learning (179), sight words (22), spelling (97), vocabulary (237)
In the Classroom
Use this Wordle generator in various ways in any classroom for increasing problem-solving and strategy skills. When using with young students, generate three or four-letter Wordles for students to attempt with partners. Provide a list of sight words if needed to avoid frustration. When teaching older students, develop Wordles to solve using vocabulary words, weekly spelling lists, science terms, or historical characters. Provide this site to students and create Wordles to share with their peers. Include a link on classroom computers during computer centers or as an activity when finished with daily assignments. Using this site is an excellent way to include ENL/ELL students in classroom activities by creating a word from their native language. Include others in your school community or parents by developing and sharing Wordles for your school or classroom site. Your imagination only limits the possibilities of creating and sharing personalized Wordles!You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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WordsTool - Wordstool
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): flash cards (42), vocabulary (237), vocabulary development (87), word study (58)
In the Classroom
Share Wordstool with students and ask them to create an account for use with any new vocabulary. Use during science lessons to build knowledge of new terms, during social studies activities to enhance understanding of words such as sovereignty by including examples and images, or reading novels such as those written by Shakespeare that may consist of unfamiliar language. At the end of your teaching unit, ask students to share their learning using tools found at Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here, and include their new vocabulary terms. For example, have students create an infographic sharing science vocabulary or retell events in history by creating a short video that includes highlighted vocabulary.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Educandy - Educandy
Grades
K to 5tag(s): assessment (149), DAT device agnostic tool (148), game based learning (179), preK (262), quizzes (91), vocabulary (237)
In the Classroom
Use Educandy to create games and practice activities to reinforce vocabulary for any subject. Embed your activities into your website or learning platform for students to use at home. Turn the quiz creation around and ask students to create a list of vocabulary terms and definitions to use within the games. Introduce new vocabulary using Educandy to assess student knowledge at the start of any new unit. Extend student learning after vocabulary practice by having them create infographics, posters, social media posts, or guides with tools found at Canva Edu, reviewed here, using the new vocabulary and your topic of study.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Crossword Clues - CrosswordClues.com
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): crosswords (19), puzzles (143)
In the Classroom
Save this site to encourage students to test their skills on higher-level puzzles, using only as a last resort to find answers. Use the recent clues list for you or your students to create puzzles using the crossword generator from Class Tools, reviewed here. Have students develop puzzles to review vocabulary terms, important information from novels, or test their knowledge of historical figures. Include their puzzles on your website for students to access from home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Wheel of Names - Martin Omander and Google
Grades
K to 12tag(s): classroom management (122), preK (262), Teacher Utilities (156)
In the Classroom
Use the Wheel of Names to randomly call students during class discussions. Add images instead of names to make the wheel more interesting. In addition to the obvious use for calling names, use this random wheel in a variety of different ways. Add dates onto the wheel when reviewing events in history, review vocabulary, instead of student names add character names from novels for students to discuss, add books to determine the next read-aloud, the list goes on and on! Be sure to save the wheel with the names of class members so that it is ready to go at any time.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Semantris - Google
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): game based learning (179), logic (163), puzzles (143), vocabulary (237), vocabulary development (87), 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.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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ProProfs Brain Games - ProProfs Brain Games
Grades
K to 12tag(s): game based learning (179), gamification (78), logic (163), problem solving (226), puzzles (143)
In the Classroom
Share puzzles and brain teasers with students on your class website or classroom computers. Brainstorm with students on problem-solving methods and tips. Use a tool like Padlet, reviewed here, to share your list of ideas. Have students use Brain Games to create their own games to review classroom material before tests and quizzes. Take student learning a step further and include their game in a Symbaloo Learning Path, reviewed here. This site allows users to add tiles including quizzes, websites, videos, and more to follow as a learning path for any subject.Comments
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Root Word and Prefix Study Pages - myvocabulary.com
Grades
2 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): grammar (133), grammar review (31), prefixes (9), root words (10), spelling (97), vocabulary (237), word study (58)
In the Classroom
Include these activities as part of any lessons on prefixes. Use words found on this site as a starting point, then challenge students to find additional words with the same prefixes.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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TextProject - TextProject, Inc
Grades
K to 9tag(s): commoncore (75), literacy (110), multilingual (69), reading comprehension (142), reading lists (79), reading strategies (100), vocabulary (237), vocabulary development (87), word study (58)
In the Classroom
If you teach reading or are an ENL/ESL or resource teacher for students with special needs, you will want to bookmark this site! Take advantage of all of the free downloads on the site, including forms, checklists, lessons, and reading passages. Share this site with parents to help them understand the process of learning to read and finding materials for their student. Share this site during professional development sessions when discussing reading instruction and alignment to Common Core Standards. Be sure to sign up for TextProject's monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all new additions to the site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Games to Learn English - Owen Dwyer
Grades
K to 8This site includes advertising.
tag(s): game based learning (179), multilingual (69), preK (262), sentences (22), sequencing (17), spelling (97), vocabulary (237), vocabulary development (87), word study (58)
In the Classroom
Although created for English language learners, this is an excellent site to develop vocabulary (and computer skills) for younger students. It also helps with speech/language vocabulary development and grammar reinforcement for special ed. Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Complete the activities as a class with a student operating the board. Create a link on classroom computers and challenge students to increase their speed in completing games.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Knoword - Trevor Blades
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): game based learning (179), vocabulary (237), vocabulary development (87), word study (58)
In the Classroom
Try this activity at the start of class on your interactive whiteboard or projector; it's perfect for vocabulary development with a lively twist! Offer this site to your students who are trying to assess and/or improve their vocabulary for standardized tests such as the ACT or SAT. ENL/ELL students may also enjoy the challenges and additions to their vocabulary. Share this site on your class webpage or blog for students to access (and practice) at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Learning Chocolate - learningchocolate.com
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): chinese (44), japan (56), japanese (48), spanish (105), vocabulary (237), vocabulary development (87), word study (58)
In the Classroom
Save/bookmark this site on your classroom computers to serve as a vocabulary resource for ESL/ELL and also world language students. Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students explore this site independently or in small groups. Share this site with Chinese, Japanese and Spanish teachers as well as with special needs professionals for help with vocabulary development and articulation. You could also have students create their own narrations of photos (similar to this site) using a site such as Google Drawings, reviewed here. Google Drawings allows you to annotate an image with links to videos, text, websites, and more. Not familiar with Google Drawings? Watch an archived OK2Ask session to learn how to use: OK2Ask Google Drawings, here.Comments
This is one of my favorite resources! Works great with ESL students from 4-104!Marina, VA, Grades: 0 - 12
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AAA Spell
Grades
1 to 8tag(s): spelling (97), vocabulary (237), word study (58)
In the Classroom
Use this website to create spelling and/or vocabulary lists for your class. Learning support teachers will appreciate the ready-to-go practice activities for a wide variety of lists. If your school already uses a spelling curriculum, use these words for the highly capable students who are looking for more of a challenge. Each lesson includes additional teacher ideas. List this link on your class website, so students know the spelling words and have access to practice at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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