Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Although this website appears to offer a simple list of lesson plans, it is a "diamond in the rough." All of the lesson plans relate to the same standard, Students will expand number sense to include integers and perform operations with whole numbers, simple fractions, and decimals. Specific lesson plans include, "How Much is a Million," "Multiplication Strategy Review," "Partial Quotient," "Mixed Number/Improper Fraction Review," "Playground Measurement," and "Fraction Track." All lesson plans are extremely detailed and provide standards, material lists, step-by-step instructions, interactive elements, links, printable pages, and more. Some of the links require JAVA. Get it from the Teachers First Toolbox page. All grade levels from K through Calculus available.

tag(s): fractions (160), measurement (122), mixed numbers (8), multiplication (122), numbers (120)

This website is truly a rare find - combining math and reading skills. Although the main page is aesthetically plain, the activities are very challenging. Most are set-up as word problems that require reading, comprehension, math skills, and more. The "outline math problems" provide students with 3-5 choices. You simply click on the blank and the choices for the answers are provided. There are activities for primary grades (such as basic addition practice) as well as advanced activities for secondary grades (such as geometry concepts). Many of the activities require JAVA. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

tag(s): angles (52), logic (161), multiples (15)

Check out this easy-to-use flashcard site useful for any subject area. The Leitner System of efficiently learning facts through flashcards makes learning a breeze. This online version actually graphs the results of a study session so you can see progress. The sign-up for this free tool is ultra-quick and requires no email address. The set-up is quite user friendly. Within a few minutes of accessing this site, you have personalized flashcards to help with learning. Another cool feature: when you give your card sets the same 'tag,' you automatically have the ability to study those multiple sets together. After the study session, you will see the study stats for just those card sets. Flashcards couldn't be easier!

tag(s): word study (59)

What a wonderful tool to use in any classroom. This website provides an online stop watch (as the name suggests). On the home page, you have your choice of a stop watch (counting up from 0) or a countdown (for the number of minutes or seconds you choose). There is even a "large stop watch" link that makes the counting a full-screen adventure (perfect if you are using your desktop computer at a distance -- easier for students to see).

tag(s): counting (60)

This website provides numerous activities (mainly printable pages) all about the circus. Subject areas include math, language arts, writing, poetry, and other areas. Some of the pages include coloring pages, literature themes, alliteration, word searches, writing prompts, and more. Be aware, although most of this website is free - a few of the printable pages require a membership.

tag(s): counting (60), handwriting (15), poetry (193), writing (325)

This educational website was created by a Canadian primary teacher. It offers links to numerous practical activities on the topic of "numbers." Most are interactive and all have educational value. Specific number topics include foundations, counting, addition, subtraction, fractions, and place value. Some of the activities still require Flash so be sure to check before assigning to students. The acivities that don't require Flash make this site worth the visit.

tag(s): addition (129), counting (60), fractions (160), numbers (120), place value (34), subtraction (110)

Students must identify where Squigly is on a line using ordinal numbers and click the WORD for that number. This site is simple and will help students with ordinal numbers and vocabulary.

tag(s): numbers (120)

This site offers a simple interactive way to create bar graphs. Add a title for the graph, labels for the x and y axis and the value for each item to be graphed. Change the color of each bar then click on "Generate graph" to see the results. NOTE: Graph can be printed but NOT saved.

tag(s): charts and graphs (171)

This is a TeachersFirst Edge Entry for ANYONE who wants to know more about new technologies. No special skills needed. Watch and learn. If you are embarrassed to say that you don't know what all the "new web 2.0" terms are all about, this one is for you (and probably for your students' parents, as well). Common Craft uses a very simple, visual method of explaining all the latest technologies so that anyone can understand, using short video clips narrated by a positive and respectful voice. The next time you hear someone talking about RSS feeds or some other new doo-dad, stop here first so you will know what they are talking about. Did you think you were the only one who did not know? Fear not. This site has incredible popularity because there are LOADS of people quietly questioning -- just like you. To view the video clips FREE, click on "Video Library" and the topic that you wish to view. Despite a paid membership model, Common Craft still offers the videos for free, but it does have a watermark saying, "For evaluation only." If you wish to share this with a group, they will need to view it on individual/partner computers (or IOS devices) or on a projector that has a zoom function to enlarge a selected area of the screen.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): blogs (65), bookmarks (43), social networking (61), video (266), wikis (14)

If you want to learn more about rubrics, find the perfect "ready to go" rubric for almost any subject or project, or create your own original rubric - you will find everything at this one-stop shop. Find the best rubrics "out there" on the web. The general topics of this website include "Student Web Page Rubrics", "Subject Specific and General Rubrics", "Multimedia Rubrics", "Rubric Builders, Generators, and Support", "Educator Technology Skills and Rubrics", and other areas of interest. There are also articles of interest to explain what a rubric is, why they are useful in the classroom, and other pertinent information.

tag(s): assessment (147)

This handy online tool allows you to create customized rubrics "on the fly" for any subject or project. You can print the rubrics directly from the website. You choose the age level (primary, elementary, middle, or high school) and input the name of your rubric. Then a blank rubric appears for you to fill in the details. The blank rubric includes space for the criteria, plus a range to rate (gradations) the quality of the students' work. There are also ready-made rubrics you can print out. The website provides explicit direction about how to use the website (they are in PDF).

tag(s): assessment (147)

This easy to understand web and mobile app tool allows you or your students to enter vocabulary terms and definitions to create electronic flashcards and quizzes to enhance word study in any language or a content area. Students may choose to create study sets, electronic tests, or the networking page allows them to interact and learn with others who have the same words. Teachers or students can create groups to share word lists. Use this tool from any device or move between several devices and still access your work. The iOS and Android apps practice tests can be multiple choice, true/false, or written questions. Turn on "Instant Feedback" (new feature for the apps) that will give real-time feedback on right/wrong answers as you go; or wait and get your score at the end. As wonderful as this technology is, the coolest thing about Quizlet might be in its history--its creator was a high school student who tells his inspiring story and shares his blog through links at this site.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (147), flash cards (44), Formative Assessment (74), quiz (67), spelling (98), vocabulary (238), word study (59)

Start the first day of school or a new marking period with a getting-to-know-you activity from this great, searchable collection. The activities are designed for all ages, so some will not work well with very young ones (such as writing things on slips of paper). The site is easy to navigate and sorts ideas by group size and activity level for easy retrieval. There are also activity suggestions for distance and remote learning. You are invited to submit your own ideas. Since the site is designed for general use, not for schools, some ideas may be impractical in a classroom setting but could be easily adapted. Substitutes - check out some of these icebreakers, the kids will love them....and you!

tag(s): back to school (55), firstday (22), newbies (11), remote learning (54), substitutes (25)

This all-inclusive math website contains activities for all grades (K-12). The website also features countless lesson plans, math problems, math games, and a math dictionary. There are links for students, teachers, and parents. This resource provides excellent introduction lesson plans and highly creative games and activities. Be warned - this website does have some advertisements, but the content is wonderful. If you are looking for a way to review, re-teach, or introduce a math concept, take a few minutes to visit this website.

tag(s): addition (129), decimals (85), logic (161), puzzles (149)

Exercise your gray matter by solving one of the 12,000 'braingles' at this site. It purports to be the largest collection of puzzles, riddles, mind games, etc, on the Internet. Once you explore the site, you trust their word. The site is mobile phone and wii-friendly. Don't miss the section with SAT vocab (in Mentalrobics). There are articles on study skills and strategies such as clearing your mind before studying, "chunking" when reading, or various strategies to memorize material. Engage students into math and reading exercises through the endless riddles and puzzles at this site. They won't even be aware they are 'reading' or 'solving math.'

tag(s): brain (56), puzzles (149), riddles (16), vocabulary (238)

Math has always been a major part of the White House culture, and now it is ready for your students to enjoy. One challenging math problem on four levels is presented each week. The archive holds hundreds of other math problems.

This website, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, provides an enormous collection of "web lessons" (interactives) for all grade levels. There are lessons in language arts, math, science, social studies, and health. There are too many lesson plans to count - and all are projector, laptop, or whiteboard-ready. Just to give you an idea of some of these unique lessons, some of the titles include "Where is Japan?", "Walrus World", "Piece of Pie", "Medians", "Fence Me In", and "Critter Craze". On the main page, a brief description is provided for each lesson plan. Click Teacher Solutions > Lesson Plans to search by subject or grade level.

tag(s): charts and graphs (171), evolution (89), expository writing (31), industrial revolution (22), native americans (109), primary sources (117), probability (99), symmetry (27), writing (325)

This website provides a good introduction to telling time and provides interactive activites. Scroll down the page to proceed through the lesson and then find the interactive activities. Find tools to teach how to tell time, how to use words to describe time, both digital and analog, plus how to add and subtract increments of time.

tag(s): time (91)

This online tool creates a highly visual "home page" that can incorporate multiple elements simply by dragging and dropping them in place. Not unlike Google's personalized homepage, the elements look like little sticky notes or boxes, but there is far greater flexibility and a wider variety of content readily available. You can also make the page local (simply use it as the "home" on your classroom computer), shared by a select group (passworded), or completely public. You can easily make a theme or unit page for quick access of resources, complete with directions.

tag(s): resources (84)