Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

The "Teach From Anywhere" website by Google provides various resources and tools to support teachers in delivering effective remote or in-person instruction. Teachers can use the platform to access tutorials on Google Workspace for Education, lesson ideas, and strategies for managing hybrid classrooms. The website also includes tips for families, offering guidance on supporting learning at home, making it a valuable bridge between school and home environments. Educators can integrate these resources into their teaching to enhance student engagement, streamline communication, and ensure students and families feel supported in their learning journey. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

tag(s): collaboration (94), digital literacy (16), feedback (13), remote learning (54), Teacher Utilities (202), teaching strategies (52)

School Library NJ is a free resource that allows access to information resources that enhance the teaching and learning experience to enrich literacy experiences. The website has a wealth of resources, including elementary, middle, and high school parents, educators, administrators, and librarians. Each subcategory has links to websites, including e-books, read-alouds, annotating, college and career searches, internet safety, virtual field trips, and more.

tag(s): audio books (29), ebooks (46), parents (56), test prep (69)

Speeches That Defined a Presidency is a free site that is based on C-SPAN's 2023 television series. The video series starts with a clip from Andrew Carroll sharing the importance of the power and significance of presidential speeches throughout United States history. The series then continues with speeches from presidents including George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. The video series has options for selecting the length of the speeches to watch. Speeches can be two minutes to up to an hour in length.

tag(s): presidents (136), speeches (23)

Crash Course Study Skills is a free digital tool that has ten study skills videos. This series of videos teaches you how to learn, effectively take notes, understand reading assignments, write papers, and study for tests. Additionally, the series explores how your memory works, various study strategies, planning, and improving your concentration. Videos, on average, are about ten minutes. This site uses YouTube and has commercials before each video.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): note taking (36), organizational skills (88), test prep (69)

Staying current with the latest AI tools is time-consuming, and choosing appropriate tools becomes difficult when there are so many available options. TeacherServer is your hub for finding and using AI tools that save time and increase efficiency. Create a free account to begin using TeacherServer, then explore content by selecting from categories that include general resources, content area tools, and professional topics such as leadership and tools to use with parents. Each category contains dozens of tools, such as lesson plan generators, standards navigators, and assessment generators. After selecting a tool to describe grade level and objectives, fill in the form and add personalized instructions if desired. Copy the results, add them to a Word or Google document, or save them to your TeacherServer account. Save your favorite tools to find and access them easily from your account dashboard.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (187), professional development (393), Teacher Utilities (202)

The Crash Course has over 45 videos on topics ranging from Anatomy to Zoology, Artificial Intelligence to Outbreak Science. There are the more common topics one might want to learn about, like Ecology, Films, Geography, and much more. All videos are free to watch. Each video also includes a short description (some with lesson stem ideas). Crash Course videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district/school blocks YouTube, they may not be viewable. The good news for teachers whose schools block YouTube is that you can download the video if you fill out a form. Go to the Download tab from the top menu, select Students & Teachers, scroll down the page, and follow the directions.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (187), black history (135), branches of government (64), business (54), climate (85), computers (109), copyright (43), ecology (105), energy (133), engineering (137), human body (91), literature (221), media literacy (113), myths and legends (42), plants (148), politics (118), space (220), statistics (121), video (267), zoology (18)

MirrorTalk uses AI to create meaningful opportunities for cognitive and emotional reflection in any classroom while also serving as an assessment tool to support continued student growth. After creating a free account, educators can set up a group by selecting a name and grade level, then choose how students will access the reflection activity. Access options include login groups (student email required), session groups (name only, no email), or open groups (no name/email, but video is required). Responses can be submitted via video or audio and are available in English or Spanish. Teachers create reflections by defining objectives and selecting focus areas such as depth of knowledge, mindset, or problem-solving. The AI generates thoughtful, personalized prompts that guide students through the reflection process. Prompts are shared through assignment links, and as students respond, the teacher dashboard updates with visual charts and AI-generated insights that help monitor student progress and provide targeted suggestions for support.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (187), assessment (146), DAT device agnostic tool (146), Formative Assessment (73), preK (289), social and emotional learning (110), Teacher Utilities (202), teaching strategies (52), thinking skills (17)

Numerade STEM Bootcamps provide free, interactive video lessons in STEM subjects like math, physics, chemistry, biology, and economics. The platform includes Bootcamps with step-by-step video tutorials, practice problems, and quizzes designed to enhance students' understanding. You can access a variety of topics for different grade levels and standardized tests like the ACT and SAT. The videos have captions available for students who may need them. Videos do have discussions under them, so be mindful of this if are having students use them independently.

tag(s): statistics (121), STEM (310), test prep (69), tutorials (52)

Varsity Tutors offers a series of free live classes for summer learning. These sessions begin on May 6 and run through August 14. Classes provide learning opportunities to help students prepare for the SAT and ACT exams, learn about hieroglyphics, visit an aquarium, and more. Select the link to any class to learn more about the content and suggested grade levels, and enroll. Each class is offered at a specific time and date and lasts 45 minutes to an hour.

tag(s): animals (293), coding (87), college (44), deserts (17), egypt (59), essays (21), Online Learning (36), pyramids (24), rivers (16), STEM (310), test prep (69)

Twinkl offers a wide range of educational resources. They provide craft activity ideas for Mother's Day that can be used in classrooms or at home. These activities include printable templates, step-by-step craft instructions, and creative ideas to make personalized gifts and decorations. Some crafts have explanation videos that are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

tag(s): crafts (76), holidays (194), mothers day (23)

If you believe you are not musically inclined but still want to produce music for any subject, Suno AI Song Creator is for you! Choose "Make a Song" and log into your free account. Use the explore area to find songs produced by other creators, or select Create to have Suno make a song based on your prompt. Add a description for your song that includes information such as the topic, type of music, and any specific words to include. When ready, click Create and wait a few seconds for a few songs to appear. The standard song length is up to one minute and twenty seconds; visit the FAQ section for instructions for extending the length. When finished, share your song using the link or download it to your device as a video or audio file. Free accounts offer 50 credits daily (10 songs).

tag(s): artificial intelligence (187), lyrics (15), preK (289), songs (46)

BBC Bitesize for Secondary is an extensive online resource designed specifically for secondary students. The site offers a wide range of learning materials for all subjects including, Mathematics, English, Science, Geography, History, and more. Each subject is broken down into manageable topics, featuring easy-to-understand notes, interactive activities, and quizzes to reinforce learning and test understanding. The site includes animations and graphics to explain complex concepts, particularly useful in subjects like Science and Math. Additionally, guides and articles offer study and revision tips, exam preparation strategies, and advice on coping with school-related stress. While this site is focused on UK studies, the content can easily be used by any country; just use the search feature to find content. Students can save content, which requires account creation. Please be mindful of your district's policy on student account creation before having students sign up. The videos on this site are only available if you reside in the UK, however there are interactives and a lot of content to help your students understand the concepts.

tag(s): careers (182), homework (28), organizational skills (88), quizzes (90), resources (83)

Class Companion offers the power of AI (artificial intelligence) to provide assignments and feedback for written tasks. Import assignments using any of three methods - import a project from your device's documents using copy and paste, create a task from scratch, or use an assignment from Class Companion's library. Choose from the essay or short response format. Class Companion analyzes the text and allows teachers to customize options before assigning them to students; options include a selection of rubrics, questions about the piece, and the number of attempts students have to submit a correct response. Students access Class Companion by the provided link shared from your account. As students complete the activities, Class Companion provides feedback on their responses.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (187), assessment (146), differentiation (85), feedback (13), writing (325)

Studysmarter.us is a website that provides resources and support for students and teachers to help them improve their study habits and achieve academic success. The website offers articles and guides on time management, note-taking, and exam preparation. Students can improve their study skills by using various ready-made tools and resources, including articles, videos, and interactive activities, or creating their own study materials. Studysmarter.us adds a little bit of fun and engagement to studying by setting weekly goals, then awarding badges for tasks completed, and time spent studying,

tag(s): organizational skills (88)

The article "How to Take Cornell Notes" from TeachThought.com explains the process of using the Cornell note-taking method. The learner will divide a piece of paper into two columns, leaving room at the bottom of the page for a summary: a small column on the left for keywords or questions and a larger column on the right to add detailed information. Note-takers should use symbols and abbreviations to accelerate the note-taking process during a lecture, video, or reading. Cornell notes are helpful in studying because the learner can cover the right column and ask themselves questions such as, "Why is this material significant?" and "How can this be applied to the real world?"

tag(s): note taking (36), reading comprehension (149)

This article shares information on a kindergarten class's use of iPads to research and create digital books based on their exploration of the rain forest. Follow the learning process beginning with the research anchor chart and discussion of the different methods students used to demonstrate learning. As a culminating project, students use Book Creator, reviewed here, to create and share digital books based upon their research of rain forest animals.

tag(s): descriptive writing (42), preK (289), Research (88), writers workshop (31)