20 Must-Have Educational Resources For All Teachers

Here is an extract from a blog post by Heather Eddick posted on 6th February 2012.

http://www.edudemic.com/2012/02/20-ed-resources/


I divided my resources into categories, based on my interests as a teacher. These are not all Internet-based resources, but all of them take advantage of the information available via that medium.
Devices

• iPad – The iPad provides access to e-texts and incredible educational apps. Attach a Bluetooth keyboard, and students can easily create documents with this device.
• Kindle – In a recent conversation with the Principal of my son’s school, I learned that she wants all of her students to receive a Kindle so they will have access to their texts without having to break their back carrying them all home.
• Nook – The Nook is a good alternative to the Kindle. Some people prefer it to the Kindle, but, personally, I think they might be about even at this point.
• Android Tablets – I like the Android tablets, but I found them to be a bit slow.

Resources for Lesson Planning

• TeacherVision offers many resources for teachers: lesson plans, printables, an event calendar, graphic organizers, tips for classroom management, and more. I love this site and visit it often. *Note: This site requires you to pay for membership after a free trial.
• EdHelper is another site that offers printables and ideas for teachers, but it also allows teachers to create their own printables – even printable books. For elementary or middle school teachers who like to give morning work or bell ringers, this site is great. *Note: This site requires you to pay for membership.
• Readwritethink offers classroom, professional development, and parent resources by grade level and learning objective.
• PBS Teachers offers teachers numerous videos to use in the classroom, professional development resources, lesson plans, and interactive activities. The topics are timely and help students find relevance by connecting concepts to their lives.
• Education World is a great alternative to sites that require members to pay a fee. It offers many of the same things as the members-only sites and has a section for administrators as well.

Classroom Resources

• Audible.com – Although this site is fee-based, I have been a member for many years and recommend it highly for high-quality recordings of texts many teachers use in the classroom. For free audio files, check out http://librivox.org/.
• Animoto.com – My cooperating teacher introduced me to this site. She asked her students to do a project using this site to create a video capturing the character of Holden Caulfield. The results were pretty amazing. Students can create 30 second videos for free.
• Wordle.net – I love this site! I used it first when I wanted to start a poetry for social justice unit, to activate students’ background knowledge on poetry and social justice. I asked the students, “What comes to your mind when you hear…?” Then, I typed the keywords into the text box, clicked the Create button, and we watched a beautiful word cloud appear. The kids enjoyed it. This site is also free.
• Michael Cummings Study Guides – Need a study guide for a great work of literature? Michael’s site probably has it. If not, try enotes.com or shmoop.com. They all have free resources for students; teachers have to pay for things like lesson plans on enotes and shmoop.
• Project Gutenberg – This site offers access to works in the public domain in a variety of formats, including Kindle and ePUB. Project Gutenberg volunteers diligently proofread each work they digitize. They also contribute recordings to librivox.org.

Learning Management Systems

• Schoology is a site I reviewed recently after the Palo Alto SD decided change to its platform. For more information on Schoology, click here.
• LearnBoost.com is another amazing LMS and its free features are quite attractive. What I liked best was the ability to create lesson plans within the site AND reference Common Core standards in the lesson plan. This site also offers a grade book, a teacher-student-parent communication platform, and the ability to integrate with Google Apps.
• Edmodo is similar to Schoology, but Schoology allows you to create courses and Edmodo only allows you to create groups. Still, it’s free, robust, harnesses the power of social media, and makes classroom management a lot easier.

Cloud Resources

• Google Docs – Enough said, I think.
• Evernote - I just started using this and think it’s a great way to store things to read later.
• Diigo - I like the social aspect of diigo, a resource for storing bookmarks and then sharing them with those in your network.

What about you? What resources do you love? Since I am an English teacher, many of my resources are skewed toward that subject, so I would love to hear from other subject-area teachers.

The Pros and Cons of Social Media in Education

By Justin Marquis Ph.D.


http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2012/02/pros-and-cons-of-social-media-in-education/

How to learn from mistakes - TED Video Diana Laufenberg

Diana Laufenberg shares 3 surprising things she has learned about teaching -- including a key insight about learning from mistakes. (Filmed at TEDxMidAtlantic.)

Diana Laufenberg teaches 11th-grade American History at the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia.

"This TED talk made some good points about a shift from mere information to informed, dynamic action, and this shift seems like a good goal for education reform. " John Gusty

Diana Laufenberg talks about the educational merits of:
Experiential Learning
Empowering Student Voice
Embracing failure

ALCOHOL AND YOUR SON

A message from Peter Westwood - Deputy Headmaster (Pastoral) at Bishops (Article adapted for Blog)

Underage Drinking

A few thoughts;

1. Drinking alcohol under the age of 18 is illegal and any minor who does drink or any adult who provides alcohol to minors is involved in criminal behaviour. It is an entirely reasonable and sensible law which both scientific research and common sense support. I should be able to leave it here, and as a result of the above, rest assured that all adults will do all they can to ensure that they, and the children they love, obey the law. Sadly, it would seem that some in our communities create unsafe spaces for our boys (and girls) either through criminal behaviour or “criminal” negligence.

I would appeal to you all that if you host a group of young people you do all that you can to ensure the space is safe. This includes taking an active and direct interest in what is happening throughout the time of the gathering. Let your son know this is going to happen ahead of the time. If you are concerned about a boy who is visiting your home then talk directly to that boy and let him know your expectations of him.

If your son is asking to go to someone else’s house I encourage you to contact those parents and check that they will be present and that they will do their best to ensure that no alcohol will be consumed. If you know the space is not safe or do not feel reassured on making the call then do not let your son go. Good parents are willing to be unpopular (often, if necessary – but hopefully only now and then).

Can I encourage you to make the decision that you will do all that you can to ensure your son obeys the law? It is a lie that “Everyone is doing it!”. Most parents want their sons to obey the law and will do what they can to ensure this.

2. Please be aware of the danger of alcohol to your son at his stage of emotional, mental and physical development. The research is clear that alcohol and teenagers (in fact into the early 20’s) are a dangerous combination. Their brain is not ready for alcohol – not physically nor emotionally. Apart from all the obvious dangers which result from alcohol use by young people (binge drinking, accidents, comas, unprotected sex, rape, fighting, reduced academic ability.....) there is evidence that the chances of a boy forming some sort of alcohol dependency rises alarmingly if he start drinking in his early teens (the NIAAA reports a figure of four times more likely). Any caring parent will seek to protect their child.

3. In the Bishops Partnership agreement the parent agrees to “educate my son about alcohol with respect to the law, dangers, social responsibility and parental expectations.” The school plays its part but it is first and foremost the responsibility of a parent to do this. Can I encourage you not to leave this to chance? It is too important an issue. You must take responsibility for your son and if another parent will not and you know this then do not let your son go to that home. 

If you are aware of a family who is either not being responsible on a regular basis or who actively breaks the law and gives/sells alcohol to minors then please feel free to let the relevant persons know.

In the past people knew intuitively that it was not right for teenagers to drink alcohol. Scientific research over the last few decades has only reinforced this view. We need the community to stand together to keep our boys and girls safe from this drug as they develop into men and women.

Educating your children is a partnership between parents and school but on issues like this wise parenting is crucial, especially if you have a son who is attracted to alcohol use or is not good at standing up to peer pressure or is not wise about the friends he chooses (or all of the above!). I wish you all the best in your parenting. No-one said it would be easy...

What is Digital Citizenship?

The Definition of Digital Citizenship

Read this article from TeachThought