Ideas and Resources for Substitutes from TeachersFirst

This collection of ideas and reviewed resources is selected to help both substitute teachers and regular teachers leaving instructions for a substitute. The list includes useful time-fillers for when plans are not a perfect fit as well as teacher-friendly suggestions to make subbing a positive learning experience for all. Be sure to check "In the classroom" suggestions for practical tips and ways to use these offerings.
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Is That a Big Number? - Andrew Elliott
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): measurement (181), number sense (97), numbers (192), ratios (64)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site to use for reference throughout the year. Use it as a 5-10 minute fill-in when you have a little bit of extra time. Get your interactive whiteboard or projector ready and challenge students to provide numbers to use as a comparison or take the numbers quiz together to learn more about numbers. As a substitute to paper and pencil, have students create explainer videos using Biteable, reviewed here, to demonstrate the power and size of large numbers. To extend student learning and understanding, challenge students to create a web page using Carrd, reviewed here, to share information learned after researching numbers and statistics found on this site and others.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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eStory Timeline Creator - Jean-Benoit Malzac
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): timelines (56)
In the Classroom
Before using eStory browse through the site to find examples to share with students. Use eStory to create timelines to order events in stories, visualize and compare historic events or outline steps in a science experiment. Ask students to create a timeline as a substitute for a handwritten research paper. Include student timelines in multimedia projects that include video, images, and maps. Find ideas for multimedia presentation tools and redefining student learning at TeachersFirst Edge tools reviewed here. Some tool suggestions are (click on the tool name to access the review): Visme, Adobe Spark for K-12, Plotagon, and My Simpleshow.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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For the Teachers - For the Teachers
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): characterization (17), charts and graphs (200), constitution (89), differentiation (50), graphic organizers (41), inferencing (6), mean (27), measurement (181), median (24), mode (17), multiplication (211), patterns (87), place value (55), plot (11), reading comprehension (129), rubrics (30), sequencing (29)
In the Classroom
Be sure to bookmark this site to save as a favorite to find lesson ideas and activities throughout the school year. When planning for a substitute, look through the site to find useful ideas for lessons and planning organizers. There is so much material here to use, consider exploring the site with peers using techniques similar to a book study. Divide the site into sections to discuss at different times of your study. Organize your favorite materials from this site and your other resources using Padlet, reviewed here. Share your Padlet with peers to collaborate and create a useful time for organizing and sharing your favorite teaching materials. Supplement information included on report cards by using a site like Seesaw, reviewed here, to create portfolios for your students to demonstrate progress in reading, math, and other content areas. Include student-created projects based on activities found on For the Teachers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Semantris - Google
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): game based learning (139), logic (249), puzzles (205), vocabulary (314), vocabulary development (120), word study (78)
In the Classroom
Share Semantris with students on classroom computers or devices for use as a quick word association and vocabulary building activity. Challenge students to become more proficient in "beating" Google by earning as many points as possible. For younger students, this site is an excellent way to build vocabulary skills. Have older students take this site a step further and research how machine learning works through this Google activity. Ask them to substitute a traditional report or presentation by making a video explanation tool like Biteable, reviewed here, to describe the concept of machine learning. After spending some time practicing this game, take it a step further and modify student learning by having students create their own vocabulary learning game using a tool such as Scratch, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ruff Ruffman - Humble Media Genius - PBS Kids
Grades
1 to 6tag(s): digital citizenship (68), internet safety (116)
In the Classroom
Introduce Ruff Ruffman with a projector or interactive whiteboard, showing students all of the different questions Ruff will answer. Then either view the video shorts and quizzes as a class, or allow students to view the video shorts and take the interactive quizzes at a computer center. As a substitute for paper and pencil, have students use a video response tool like FlipGrid, reviewed here, to reflect on their learning and share tips for their peers. To extend student learning, require students to view their peer's reflections and make thoughtful comments.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Stay Safe Online - Stay Safe Online - NCSA
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): digital citizenship (68), internet safety (116)
In the Classroom
Introduce this site or the accompanying pages of Stop.Think.Connect to show students how to navigate the resources. Then, allow pairs or small groups to choose from the tips and advice for further study and exploration. As a substitute for handwritten notes, have students document their learning and understanding by taking notes online with SuperNotecard, reviewed here. SuperNotecard can then be turned into a storyboard and used to create a multimedia digital story for students' siblings, parents, and peers. Show your students how to embed media modifying their work into a true digital story with one of these tools (click on the tool name to access the review): PicLits, Adobe Spark For Education, Plotagon, and My Simpleshow.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Nimbus Screenshot Capture - Nimbus Web Inc
Grades
K to 12tag(s): drawing (79), editing (74), images (279), tutorials (47)
In the Classroom
Check with your school's tech department for the appropriate procedure for adding this tool to classroom computers. This very handy tool serves many purposes. As a substitute for handwritten notes, have students take a screenshot and add information to document research findings. If students are stuck at a specific point on a web page or when working with a web tool, ask them to take a screenshot and add their question then share it with you. Augment learning by having students take screen shots to upload into a video presentation. Use a tool similar to Rawshorts, reviewed here, that can be used to create short, animated video explanations. Take screenshots of new websites you share with students and add notes on how to use the tool or create a video recording by screen sharing how to use any site. Share your images on your class website for students to access at any time or use your images to create a simple explainer video using Biteable, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ryeboard - Ryestory
Grades
K to 12tag(s): iwb (32), organizational skills (119)
In the Classroom
Ryeboard is perfect for those times that you need to organize information and ideas in one place, but you don't need a lot of fancy options. Use this tool to save and organize images for use with class digital projects. Create a whiteboard with an image of each student in your class, add a text box with notes then share with a substitute to have a quick overview of the class. Ryboard is easy enough to use with younger students and ESL/ELL students. For technology integration at the substitution level, create a board with images and have students use the text box to label the images and add additional information. For example, when studying animals upload several images of animals and have students add a text box naming the animal and sharing information about their habitat or adding a label to classify as birds, mammals, reptiles, etc. Augment the this by having older students create a whiteboard for a group project, and share the URL with their partner or group members. Those students can then take a screenshot of the whiteboard using Screencast-o-matic, to insert their comments and ideas, and post the screenshot on their own Ryeboard.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Substitutes - Ideas and Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): substitutes (17)
In the Classroom
Whether you are a substitute looking for some "filler" ideas or a classroom teacher looking for new sites, check out this list of resources. Share this list on your class website for families to use at home. This list includes resources for young readers and secondary students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Whooo's Reading - Whooo's Reading
Grades
K to 8tag(s): independent reading (123), reading comprehension (129)
In the Classroom
Although recommended for students in grades K-8, teachers of younger students should review questions and consider writing ability levels before including them in the program due to the written responses required. Consider using Whooo's Reading as an alternative to Accelerated Reader due to the use of short response answers instead of multiple choice questions. After reading books, substitute paper and pen journals by asking younger students to create a blog using a tool like Loose Leaves, reviewed here, to share a book review with fellow students. Challenge older students, or literature circle groups, to create a poster for the book using a tool like DesignCap, reviewed here, and then upload the poster to their blog about the book. A great blogging tool for older students is Telegra.ph, reviewed here. With Telegra.ph have students extend their learning by clicking on an icon to upload related images, add a YouTube or Vimeo, or Twitter links. This blog creator requires no registration. For all age students, change learning by creating a class book review site using FlipGrid, reviewed here, where students create short video book reviews and can comment on each others reviews.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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WriteWell - WriteWell
Grades
5 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): creative writing (170), descriptive writing (42), expository writing (40), letter writing (18), paragraph writing (17), persuasive writing (55), process writing (46), writers workshop (34), writing (364)
In the Classroom
WriteWell is a must-have for all teachers. Use this site for your own professional use in graduate work. Share a link on your class website for student use at home. Share the steps and information within any template as a guide for teaching different writing styles. Have students enhance a previous project by using tools within WriteWell, then have them compare and discuss the differences. Substitute paper and pen self edits and peer edits by having students write their documtents in Google or Word, then have students highlight and add comments sharing changes to their text. Include before and after documents in an online student portfolio like bulb, reviewed here. Bulb allows you to embed videos and enhance student learning by asking students to upload a short video discussion of their revisions to any document. Redefine student learning with a culminating activity: have students create a video tutorial of different styles of writing using a video creation tool like My Simpleshow, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Free Screen Recorder Online - AceThinker
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
Any subject area teacher can use this tool to record instructions for using websites. Share how to solve problems, step by step directions for any project, and much more. Leave a video message for a substitute teacher or even your class! Create a video message for parents about current projects, clips from field trips, and more. Put a link to your recording on your class website for students to view at home. Demonstrate how to use this tool for students with a projector or interactive whiteboard, then have them record questions they have when using websites or online programs.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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A Year of Picture Prompts - New York Times
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): creative writing (170), descriptive writing (42), journals (22), writing prompts (91)
In the Classroom
Save this website to your favorites or link from your class web page. These inspirational ideas are perfect for journals, quick writes, or to develop into a full story or essay. There are plenty of unusual ideas to give even your most reluctant writer or artist an inspirational nudge. ESL/ELL students can be motivated easily with picture prompts. Share these prompts with your gifted students for some "out of the box" writing ideas. Keep these creative ideas in your "emergency" lesson plan folder for substitutes, or for your own spontaneous writing needs. Extend student learning and challenge them to share writing aloud in a podcast format using a site such as Buzzsprout, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Pobble365 - Johnny Davies
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): creative writing (170), digital storytelling (151), writing (364), writing prompts (91)
In the Classroom
Bookmark Pobble365 on your display computer to be able to show an image quickly and easily at any time of the day. These unique images are perfect for quick writes, creative writing assignments, journaling, or blogging. There are plenty of unusual ideas to give even your most reluctant writer an inspirational nudge. Share these prompts with your gifted students for some "out of the box" writing ideas. Keep these creative ideas in your "emergency" lesson plan folder for substitutes or your own spontaneous writing needs. Share Pobble365 as a link on your class web page to inspire students in search of a topic they can "relate to." Have students choose their favorite response and find more pictures to turn it into a digital story. Try using Picsearch, reviewed here, or Compfight, reviewed here, to find free images. Students can "collect" their ideas and extend their learning by using presentation tool like Utellstory, reviewed here, that allows narrating and adding text to a picture.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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My Simpleshow - simpleshow
Grades
K to 12tag(s): animation (61), digital storytelling (151), movies (69), multimedia (54), slides (66), video (269)
In the Classroom
Challenge older students to create their own Simpleshow. Have students use this tool to share their ideas or to "prototype" an idea. Students can modify their learning and create videos to show math processes, explanations of complex concepts, review new learning, teach others, explain scientific processes, tell stories, or present research. The possibilities are endless, and students will come up with hundreds of more uses. Use Simpleshow presentations in blended learning or flipped classrooms. Use Simpleshow to create teacher-authored animations for students in ANY grade. This tool is an excellent way to present new information or ideas for discussion. It is an easy way to share information with the class when a substitute is in your classroom. Embed your Simpleshow creations on your website or blog for students to review at home. Use a Simpleshow video on the first day of school to explain class rules or to give an exciting introduction to the year ahead. Use Simpleshow to create presentations for back to school night or conference nights to display on your interactive whiteboard or projector.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Class Responder - Teacher Created Resources
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): classroom management (147), DAT device agnostic tool (179), polls and surveys (55)
In the Classroom
Be sure to click the "Help" link at the bottom of a page or the upper right corner of any page for information about using and setting up Class Responder. Use Class Responder in a 1:1 classroom, then have students provide feedback in real-time to demonstrate understanding. Use as an exit slip, to identify material that needs to be retaught, or to locate specific students that need remediation. Class Responder is perfect for use in flipped or blended learning classrooms to share videos and ask questions before students come to class. Create several activities to save just in case you need an extra lesson on short notice, need to have a substitute, or to use as an at-home lesson for snow days.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Animatron - Dmitry Skavish
Grades
K to 12tag(s): animation (61), movies (69), multimedia (54), slides (66), video (269)
In the Classroom
Challenge older students to create their own Animatrons. Students can use Animatron to share their ideas or to "prototype" an idea. Students can create videos to show math processes, explanations of complex concepts, review new learning, teach others, explain scientific processes, tell stories, or present research. Flip your classroom using Animatron presentations. Use Animatron to create teacher-authored animations for students in ANY grade. Animatron is an excellent way to present new information or ideas for discussion. It is an easy way to prepare information for the class when a substitute is coming. Share Animatron creations on your website or blog for students to review at home. Use an Animatron video on the first day of school to explain class rules or give an exciting introduction to the year ahead. Use Animatron to create movies or presentations for back-to-school night or conference nights to display on your interactive whiteboard or with a projector. Teacher-librarians can ask students to create Animatron book reviews to share kiosk style in the library/media center.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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CamStudio - Free Screen Streaming Software - CamStudio
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): video (269)
In the Classroom
Use CamStudio to record instructions for using websites. Share how to perform problems, step by step directions for any project, and much more. Leave a video message for a substitute teacher or even the class! Create a video message to share with parents about current projects, clips from field trips, and more. Share on your class website for students to view at home. Allow students to record a video sharing their favorite websites or tips for solving math problems.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Math Study - Pi Day Vocabulary Games - Jan Cook
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): pi (28), vocabulary (314)
In the Classroom
Include these interactive activities with your math vocabulary studies or use for Pi Day activities. Include a link to puzzles on your class web page for students to complete at home. Encourage students to use Flashcard Stash, reviewed here, to make online flashcards like as a substitute for handwritten flashcards, and to practice and learn math vocabulary anytime, anywhere.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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BookBub - Josh Schanker
Grades
7 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): book lists (129), independent reading (123), reading lists (77)
In the Classroom
Sign up for BookBub and receive daily emails with book excerpts. Share the excerpts with your class as a way to hook some students into reading or to offer book suggestions. Use the emails as an example of a service that students may want to try. A valid email is required to join this site. Read tips for safely managing email registrations here. Substitute oral book recommendations by having students choose an interesting excerpt from a book they are reading and share with it others via email or on your classroom blog or website. Be sure to have students use the title and author in the subject line! This will also provide a record for those looking for a new book.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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