Snappa is an easy to use graphics editor and infographic creator. Use your own images or choose from Snappa's large library of over 500,000 royalty-free, licensed for commercial use images, 200 fonts, and 70,000 graphics. After choosing your image size use the site's templates to begin a design, or start with a blank canvas to create your own. Use the tools on the dashboard to change backgrounds, add effects, personalize text, and more. When complete, download to your computer or share to your connected social media sites. The free plan provides five downloads per month and limited templates. At the time of this review, the majority of templates are free.

tag(s): graphic design (48), images (256), infographics (57), posters (42), slides (42)

vistacreate is a visual editor for creating social media images, banners, animated designs, infografics, timelines, videos, and more. Choose from vistacreate's extensive library of templates and photos (type in your theme) or use your own. Select the type of media to create to begin a project, open your workspace, and personalize different features. Click the Tutorials tab on the top menu to see How to Get Started and more. Create an account using email to download and share finished projects.

tag(s): digital storytelling (144), graphic design (48), images (256), infographics (57), posters (42), slides (42), social media (54), timelines (51)

Design a free logo with DesignEvo, no download or registration required! Find icons from the millions in the site's library, then add and customize text and shapes to create your logo. Change colors, add backgrounds, and much more. When finished, download to your computer. One caveat, before downloading you must give credit by sharing DesignEvo on your social media account or using the embed code on your website.

tag(s): design (79), drawing (60), graphic design (48), images (256)

Classroom Strategies contains a vast library of resources for teaching reading skills. Choose from six different literacy strategies to find instructions on using the strategy, templates, examples, children's books to teach the strategy, and much more. The interactive chart also includes information on when and how to use each strategy. Many strategies include a video showing how to use these ideas in the classroom. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable. This site is a must-have for any reading teacher!

tag(s): fluency (24), persuasive writing (55), phonics (50), reading comprehension (142), reading strategies (98), writing (317)

Create beautiful multimedia digital books with Book Creator. Scroll down the landing page to the bottom menu, and click the "Help With Getting Started" title. Note: This points out how you need to change to the "teacher sign in" (the default is for students). This is a wonderful tool with many features. Reading the short Getting Started Overview first and watching the beginning videos would be best. Then, you can go to the Resources tab from the top menu, where each grade level has a video, and you'll find example books created by students. Under Resources, you can also search by subject to find suggested ideas and books designed for a specific subject. Next, click Resources from the top menu to find the "Teach your first lesson toolkit" with lesson plans, remixable student templates for different age ranges, and a teacher guide. You can also choose Remixable Books to get you and your class started. When finished, publish and share your book using the site's web-based reader for access on any device. Once you have mastered the basics, click on Features to see the magic of using the pen and discover all the features of the graphic organizers, comics, and more. By clicking the "more" you will can embed documents on your page(s). These documents can be narrated and interactive! The free plan offers one library with up to 40 books storage. Book Creator presents a variety of levels for technology use depending on teacher requirements for the project or even student ability; it allows for adding narration, videos, text, using your webcam, and adding links to help explain the artwork. When creating your book, click on the big + in the upper right corner to add text, audio, images, your camera, and the pen; you will also see The lowercase "i" (for inspector), which offers colors, comics, paper type, and more. There are other apps, but you must have a premium account. You can use Book Creator on iPads, Macs, Android devices, PCs, and on these browsers: Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Chrome. Teachers need to provide an email to create an account. However, students do not need emails to make their books. Once ready, follow the site's prompts to add video, text, images, audio, and more to your book.
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tag(s): collaboration (89), DAT device agnostic tool (144), digital storytelling (144), ebooks (39), literacy (110), preK (258), reading comprehension (142), writing (317)

Telegra.ph is a simple to use web publishing tool for even the most novice creators. Click and type to fill in the title, your name, and add content. After starting your writing, you can choose the camera icon to upload images from your computer or select the brackets to paste a YouTube, Vimeo, or X (formerly Twitter) link. When finished, click on the publish button. That is it! Your work is now online. Just copy the URL to share. Add or delete content at any time using the link to edit.

tag(s): blogs (65), communication (133), writing (317)

Discover ideas for new, captivating literature to include in your classroom! Each blog entry focuses on a recently published book. In addition to a summary of the book, entries discuss several different teaching methods incorporating the book along with extensive lists of links to additional information and similar books. In addition to the blog entries, use links to find book lists by topic as well as classroom and curricular ideas. This blog is a must-read for teachers of all subject areas and is free! This blog is a sister to The School Library Journal which costs for a subscription.
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tag(s): blogs (65), book lists (162), literacy (110), literature (218), preK (258), reading lists (79)

Design, organize, animate, and publish creations using Animatron. Use Animatron's backgrounds and characters, or upload your own. Be sure to take advantage of the Tutorials and Tips, and the Knowledge Base for a full understanding of the many features available. Registration isn't required to create an Animatron project; however, you will need to register to save and share. Free accounts allow users to create up to five public projects with up to 2GB storage (50Gb/month). The Tutorials are in video format and reside on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, the video tutorials may not be viewable.

tag(s): animation (62), movies (51), multimedia (43), slides (42), video (260)

Using hands-on lessons, students work in teams to learn the basics of investing, create $100,000 portfolios, manage an investment portfolio in a real-world scenario of a dynamic marketplace, learn other economic concepts, and compete against teams across the globe while fostering teamwork and decision-making skills. Created in 1977 by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Foundation, The Stock Market Game (SMG) is an online simulation game for teaching students about the global capital markets and the stock market. Teachers must register for their school and students and then will receive essential information on program requirements and important dates. Adults are welcome to play after completing the online registration.

tag(s): business (47), DAT device agnostic tool (144), game based learning (173), investing (5), money (119), stock market (9)

Google Scholar is a web search tool for scholarly literature and academic resources such as books, articles, and documents. Enter your search term, then choose to search by articles (with or without patents and case-law). Use additional tools within search results to narrow down by date. Enable the My Library function to save selected results for later use. The Cite link beneath the entry description includes formatted citations in many different options.

tag(s): citations (34), search engines (49)

No sign up or registration is needed to create personalized postcards with this interactive tool. Follow directions on your screen to add a mailing address, message, description, and to choose from a collection of stamps. When finished editing, print the postcard using the provided link.

tag(s): digital storytelling (144), writing (317)

Wattpad is storytelling redefined through an online story sharing community. Become part of the story experience by sharing your thoughts and comments as you read. Create your account to find recommended stories and view most shared by other Wattpad users. Choose a story and add it to your library to easily begin reading where you left off on any device. Add comments at the bottom of each page, or view comments left by other users. If you feel creative, add your own stories and enter writing contests offered in several different categories. Note: some material is labeled mature and should be monitored before sharing with students.

tag(s): creative writing (119), DAT device agnostic tool (144), ebooks (39), independent reading (86)

Organize and run a scavenger hunt with GooseChase! Sign up for an account to begin creating games. Add your own missions to games or use missions available on the site. Determine point values for completion and optional links or images to provide additional information. Choose to allow participants to submit validation of completion through photos or videos that you can see in real-time. Once your game is set up (using any computer or device with Internet access), invite participants to begin play through a mobile device. Download the free apps for any mobile device through the Google Play Store or iTunes. GooseChase now has free basic plans for teachers where you can have unlimited games (Experiences) and have 5 teams per Experience, however, it allows only team Experiences.

tag(s): creativity (91), DAT device agnostic tool (144), game based learning (173), gamification (73)

This site, delivered via a LibGuide format, is a virtual field trip to a college campus and college library, giving high school students a taste of the higher education experience. Topics emphasize the college and career readiness standards. Short, interesting videos (with transcripts) of college students lead visitors through what to expect, give tips on adjusting, and doing college-level work. Additional links, mostly other college sites, provide more helpful information.

tag(s): assessment (146), college (46), digital citizenship (90), media literacy (103)

The Classroom Freebies Resource Library contains thousands of free materials for grades K-8. Many different kinds of resources are included such as task cards, classroom management charts, coloring sheets, worksheets, and posters. Use the search bar to find specific content or browse using links to grade level content and topics such as the End of the Year and Common Core Freebies. Follow links for directions about downloading materials.

tag(s): back to school (63), book reports (28), classroom management (126), commoncore (75), posters (42), preK (258), substitutes (27), worksheets (70)

Maker Camp is a free online community for kids interested in crafting, DIY, tinkering, and building. Links in the Project Library include project tutorials from Summer Camps beginning in 2012. Click on any Summer Camp link to view videos or download PDF's with the tutorials. Sign up to join the Maker Camp online community of over 33,000 members in discussions about individual projects. Find or host a local "campsite" using the links provided to meet up with like-minded students. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): crafts (54), energy (130), magnetism (36), origami (15), solar energy (34)

Expand your technology library for free at Free Tech Books! Find a variety of ebooks with topics such as computer science, math, operating systems, programming, scripting, web design, electrical circuits, and engineering. Join the RSS feed to keep up with the latest new additions. Although this site is plain vanilla in appearance, it is full of "sprinkles" of information!
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tag(s): book lists (162), STEM (265)