Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from September 2021. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Want to make learning fun and enjoyable for your students? Try Genially! Start from scratch or use a template to gamify a lesson or unit of study and easily create interactive content that your learners will want to explore. In this session, you will learn to make interactive images, infographics, and presentations to engage learners of all ages. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Discuss the basic principles of multimedia learning, 2. Explore various ways to use Genially in the classroom; and 3. Plan for the instructional use of Genially. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): multimedia (53), presentations (23), professional development (385), student-centered (6)

Let TeachersFirst Reading Treks be your guide to a virtual field trip based upon the novel Farewell to Manzanar. Based upon real events, the author tells the story of her family who lost their home simply because they were Japanese-Americans during the Second World War. Use our robust Instructional Guide and the accompanying Google Map with students in grades 6-12. Content correlates to Common Core Standards, ISTE Student Standards, National Core Arts Standards for Visual Arts, and National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies. Find the entire selection of Reading Treks here.

tag(s): japanese (47), virtual field trips (128), world war 2 (161)

Teach students about westward expansion using the book suggestions and teaching ideas found at this TeachersFirst Exclusive. Resources include activities for an extensive list of picture books and chapter books. In addition, this resource contains links to virtual field trips and interactives as well as recommended videos.

tag(s): louisiana purchase (5), native americans (109), railroads (14), westward expansion (39)

Understanding Reconstruction following the trauma of the Civil War is an important concept taught in American History classes. This TeachersFirst Exclusive provides a short synopsis of Reconstruction and the political implications of governing in a post-Civil War era. In addition, this exclusive shares many resources for teaching about Reconstruction. Choose from several chapter books and picture books that include suggested lessons and teaching activities. Other inclusions feature suggestions for virtual field trips, videos, primary source links, and music. All information correlates to AASL National School Library Standards.

tag(s): 1800s (75), civil war (139), lincoln (66), literature (221), slavery (79)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from September 2021. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Using technology in the classroom can foster engagement and higher-order thinking. When strategically infused into lesson plans designed with sound instructional practices, technology can provide challenging, collaborative, and creative experiences. Learn how to transform your lesson plans and create rich digital learning experiences by applying the SAMR Model while using resources available on the TeachersFirst website. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand the SAMR Model and its importance to the lesson planning process; 2. Locate resources within TeachersFirst that support lesson planning in your content area; and 3. Plan to use TeachersFirst's resources and the SAMR Model together to plan effective technology-infused lessons. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): professional development (385)

Formative assessment is a term that refers to a wide variety of strategies and methods that teachers use to provide ongoing feedback to students. Before the final assessment, a formative assessment evaluates student comprehension, academic progress during lessons, and learning needs. These assessments help teachers check for understanding, determine skills mastery, and choose topics to review. Peruse the resources shared in this collection to find unique and engaging tools to use as you assess your students throughout your daily lessons.

tag(s): assessment (147), Formative Assessment (74), game based learning (205), polls and surveys (49)

Engage students in learning about Colonial America with this selected list of picture books, chapter books, and non-fiction books, along with accompanying activities. Each suggested book includes a summary as well as suggested teaching activities. Then, browse through the extension activities to find additional support materials that have a virtual tour of colonial cities, a suggested research project, and ideas for using Google Expeditions to take students on a virtual reality field trip.

tag(s): colonial america (95), colonization (21)