Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Technology Tailgate is a collaborative blog network for teachers to collaborate, share ideas and show ways to incorporate technology into primary classrooms. Specifically designed to meet Common Core Standards through technology, entries offer viewers ideas for infusing technology in everyday lessons. Use the keyword search bar to find specific information, scroll through daily posts, or click on tags for subject-specific posts. Search through archives dating back to 2012 for earlier posts.

tag(s): blogs (65)

Common Core Math is a PDF document providing an overview of mathematics skills developed through Common Core Standards. Designed for use with curriculum nights or conferences in mind, information on each grade level fits on the front and back of one page when printed (two pages for high school). View advice for use as a parent or teacher on the first page. Be sure to scroll down to the two last pages providing an excellent overview of the big picture of teaching math and general tips for parents.

tag(s): commoncore (73), parent conferences (21), parents (57)

Choose from primary or secondary level Advent Calendars with different themes such as planet earth or food and drink. Don't let the years bother you, use these calendars as you please and at any time. Click on your choice of calendar then on a number to view the problem of the day. Problem formats include video questions, problem solving, and games. Note: The age levels terminology for lessons is from the UK, so you may need to "translate" for U.S. curriculum topics and spelling.

tag(s): addition (129), division (98), equations (119), fractions (160), geometric shapes (134), logic (161), multiplication (122), numbers (120), patterns (61), prime numbers (26), problem solving (233)

Do you need to choose items in a truly random way? If so, this site is for you! Random.org offers many different categories for receiving randomized information. Choose from the links for random lists, coin flippers, dates, passwords, dice rolls, and much more. Follow directions on each page to set the form and receive results. There is also an app for both Android and iOs devices.

tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (147), gamification (83), probability (99), resources (83)

Science Trek is an integrated web and broadcast T.V. project introducing science topics to elementary students. In addition to the broadcasts, Science Trek provides accompanying material for teacher and parent use. Each month of the school year a new broadcast answers students' science questions and provides additional resources. Currently, there are more than 90 topics available. Choose from any topic to view the web broadcast and explore resources such as games, facts, and glossaries. Some games lead to outside resources such as PBS and NASA.
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tag(s): animal homes (57), animals (294), archeology (28), body systems (40), brain (56), earthquakes (46), ecology (103), endangered species (27), food chains (19), forces (37), fossils (41), gravity (43), habitats (92), heart (27), human body (93), mass (19), moon (73), planets (113), plants (146), rocks (35), simple machines (19), soil (16), sound (72), STEM (298), volcanoes (55), water (104), weather (160)

Here is an excellent site for finding images for non-commercial use that will have the proper citation downloaded with it. Find a photo you want to use. Click the download link under the picture. The downloaded image will have the appropriate attribution information with it. Note: right clicking on the photo will not produce the attribution information. Our editors found all photos to be "class appropriate." However, it is always best to use caution with image searching. Provide students with clear guidelines and expectations.

tag(s): images (264), photography (131), search engines (48)

Give your students practice and instruction in standardized test style format. Find an easy way to create Common Core assignments using PARCC and Smarter Balanced question types. Passages allow for highlighting, graphs, image labeling, and video sections for background knowledge. Questions include a section for written response to improve evidence-based answers as well as multiple choice. Teachers can share their assignments or use other teacher created assignments. Students receive immediately graded feedback. With a free teacher account, save questions to your library.

tag(s): assessment (148), test prep (69)

Need practice worksheets or new teaching techniques? Go to Dads! Find printable flashcards, fact family math with timed tests, place value, decimals, fractions, patterns, negative numbers, word problems, order of operations, geometry, time, measurement, rounding, and metrics. Find several versions for multiple opportunities for practice. Included is an online timer. Join the newsletter to view the latest new additions.
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tag(s): addition (129), fractions (160), measurement (122), order of operations (29), subtraction (110), worksheets (70)

Join the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count every February anywhere in the world. Help scientists collect data to get an annual snapshot of the distribution and abundance of birds. Detailed information contains a tool kit with instructions and a how to video, data forms, bird lists, and an online bird guide. Submit your observations and explore the data that was submitted by area, range, and submission map. Count birds any time of the year by clicking on the ebird link on the home page.

tag(s): birds (46), service projects (17)

Welcome to your math reference website, Allmath! Find resources for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division practice either timed or untimed. Challenge your students further with Magic Squares. Find information regarding metric conversions and how to do the metric conversions. A math glossary answers all of your math vocabulary questions. Biographies of Math show many famous mathematicians.
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tag(s): addition (129), division (98), multiplication (122), periodic table (44), subtraction (110), vocabulary (238)

Planet Nutshell offers a small selection of animated videos for preschool students. Topics include art, music, patterns, and time. Each video is under two minutes in length, perfect for use with young students with short attention spans!

tag(s): drawing (62), geometric shapes (134), numbers (120), patterns (61), preK (271), rhythm (21), video (266)

Oh nO is a unique logic puzzle game that is available on your web browser or as an app (on any device). Use the blue dots with numbers to decide where to place red or blue dots on the grid. The numbers on the blue dots indicate how many other blue dots surround each. Click once to make the circle blue and twice to make the circle red. Select different size grids and use the timer to increase difficulty. Follow the introduction on the site to learn more details about this mind challenge!

tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (147), logic (161), problem solving (233), puzzles (150)

ABC Splash is a large educational website from Australia containing videos, games, and audio clips. Special sections for parents include informational articles, teaching resources, and education news. Choose from primary or secondary level to view offerings sorted into categories or go to games and sort by topic or grade level to find resources. Register on the site to store and save favorite activities for later use. The site was created in the Australia, so some of the pronunciations and spellings may differ from those in American English.

tag(s): addition (129), animals (294), antarctica (30), atmosphere (22), australia (29), cells (82), climate change (100), continents (33), counting (60), decimals (85), division (98), earth (184), earthquakes (46), ecosystems (83), egypt (56), energy (133), environment (252), food chains (19), forces (37), forensics (12), fossil fuels (10), game based learning (205), gold rush (15), human body (93), immigration (68), insects (68), light (56), maps (220), molecules (43), money (113), multiplication (122), nuclear energy (20), nutrition (140), oceans (149), parts of speech (39), percent (59), perimeter (20), place value (34), plants (146), probability (99), rhymes (22), rocks (35), songs (46), sound (72), subtraction (110), time (91), vietnam (38), volcanoes (55), weather (160), whole numbers (9), world war 1 (78), world war 2 (161)

Learn math through simple, yet engaging videos at Math Antics' YouTube Channel. Choose from several different math topics such as working with fractions, multi-digit numbers, and factoring. Most videos run less than 10 minutes, making them perfect for use in many different situations. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable. Avoid YouTube issues by viewing videos directly on the Math Antics website located here

tag(s): addition (129), decimals (85), division (98), equations (119), factors (29), fractions (160), geometric shapes (134), mixed numbers (8), multiplication (122), subtraction (110)

Free Online Stopwatch offers an assortment of popular clock tools - all ad free, simple, and easy to share! Choose from the Stopwatch, Alarm Clock, Current Time, Timer, or Date Countdown. Also, find emoticons for social media and email at the bottom of the page. Click on any of the social media links at the top to easily share your countdown. Download the program to begin.

tag(s): classroom management (120), organizational skills (88)

Create a presentation that has the familiar slides of PowerPoint with the commentary of a screencast. With this tool, you have the control. You can determine whether to see the presentation as created or browse slides and listen to only the portions that you want. Upload your content from Google Drive or a computer. Click "Present" to begin making your presentation. Be sure to approve the tool to access your device's sound and camera. Create your presentation and then share the link to the recording. Share by using Gmail, Google+, Google Drive, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Dropbox, and other social media. You can also embed the link on your blog or wiki. You may need to manage the size of the slides and images before uploading. If they are too large, you may have difficulty moving to the Present phase (this problem may be a temporary one). Find several tutorials for using Presentious by scrolling down the Support page.

tag(s): blended learning (37), multimedia (53), slides (43)

This tool is an online Jeopardy game builder. Click support on the top right to find video tutorials to help you get started. Sign up for a free account, enter the information, and you are ready to play! Use the "create game" button and enter your title. Then, start building your game. Enter your email address so you can edit the game later. Enter your series of questions and answers under difficulty levels. It's that easy. Up to four teams or individuals can play at one time. Play the demo history game and choose one of the vegetable icons to get started. Clicking the check mark for correct will reveal the answer.

tag(s): gamification (83), quiz (67), quizzes (91)

Oh h1 is an addicting and challenging interactive for problem solving and logic. Choose from four different grid sizes to play. Click on squares to make them red or blue. The goal is to never have more than 2 squares of the same color in a row, and to have equal numbers of colors in all rows and columns. The rules are explained as you play. Increase difficulty by increasing the number of grids and completing in the shortest elapsed time.

tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (147), game based learning (205), logic (161), problem solving (233), puzzles (150)

Typeform offers an interactive method to ask and answer questions online. Use the form builder to create visually rich and engaging questions. Drag and drop features make it easy to add and personalize content such as different question choices, images, backgrounds, and more. The "live" preview allows you see your typeform evolve as you create it. When complete, share using your unique URL or embed your Typeform using provided HTML. Go to the Help Center and under Dashboard, read more about your options for sharing your Typeform. Choose options for receiving and tracking visits to your form in your configuration settings. Track visitor behavior and demographics with your Google Analytics tracking code; you can also export your result to a spreadsheet in Excel (XLS) or CSV file formats, or Google sheets. Through Typeform you can have your Google sheet automatically update as answers come in--no need to export data manually.
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tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (147), polls and surveys (49), quizzes (91)

Numeracy Tasks offers a large selection of open-ended problems for grades K-12. Choose from titles sorted by grade level (K-3, 4-6, 7-9, or 10-12). Each task is listed individually. Click to download the Word document including instructions and any necessary materials. Although this site is rather "plain vanilla," there are some very engaging topics: Cell Phone Plans, Nine Hole Golf Course, Building a Garden, Trip to the Waterslides, and many more.

tag(s): number sense (69), problem solving (233)