This week, I wanted to highlight some of my favorite teaching resources that I have found while writing lessons plans and through my graduate class. Many of these sites and tools are listed in my Resources section of this website. I have learned that in teaching, there are so many opportunities to learn from and borrow from others, that it's important to investigate what is available to you before trying to "reinvent the wheel". These resources are wonderful complements to lessons and gives you a great base to create lessons that become your own. I think this is why educators are so unique; they are truly excited to share with others things they have found, created or learned through their journey to create quality lesson plans to teach to students. So here are some of my favorite resources to use in the classroom. I hope you find them useful and helpful as well!
1. Teachers Pay Teachers: This site is truly a remarkable resource for educators of all grade levels. It is an open marketplace for sharing lessons and activities. There are many free resources but there are also ones that are available for purchase. It is easy to spend too much money on this site because there are SO many great resources on every subject. If you are looking for a great gift for a teacher in your life, a gift certificate to this site is the way to go!
2. Reading Rockets: I love this website! It is full of information, and resources to help teachers and parents improve student's reading skills. There are so many wonderful lesson ideas on a variety of reading and writing topics. There are also many tools to help teachers find different ideas on how to teach reading and how to help struggling readers.
3. Smart Exchange: If you have a smartboard in your classroom, here's the place to find lessons to use! There are lessons for all topics and grade levels. A great place to find lessons and resources to get the most use out of your smartboard.
4. Spelling City & Quizlet : My favorite student tools to help them study for spelling and vocabulary! Students, parents or teachers can create their own lists and use their own information and the site will create games and practice tests to help students study for their tests. All the students I have used these tools with have improved on their test/quiz scores.
5. Night Zookeeper Project: If you are looking for a creative writing project for your class, this is a site you MUST check out. I love the concept of this project and, after trying it with a third grade class, can tell you that it truly engaged the students and motivated them to create imaginative and descriptive stories and illustrations. The site gives you all of the tools to fit the project into your curriculum and grade level. The nice part is you can do as much or as little of the project as you want to fit the needs of your particular students. What I also love about the site is that the project creators are not only trying to help strengthen students writing skills, they are also incorporating an element of technology so students can understand that they can be creators of digital media, not just consumers. Skype lessons with the Night Zookeeper make the project truly come alive for the students and enhances their experience. I would highly recommend this project to all elementary teachers!
1. Teachers Pay Teachers: This site is truly a remarkable resource for educators of all grade levels. It is an open marketplace for sharing lessons and activities. There are many free resources but there are also ones that are available for purchase. It is easy to spend too much money on this site because there are SO many great resources on every subject. If you are looking for a great gift for a teacher in your life, a gift certificate to this site is the way to go!
2. Reading Rockets: I love this website! It is full of information, and resources to help teachers and parents improve student's reading skills. There are so many wonderful lesson ideas on a variety of reading and writing topics. There are also many tools to help teachers find different ideas on how to teach reading and how to help struggling readers.
3. Smart Exchange: If you have a smartboard in your classroom, here's the place to find lessons to use! There are lessons for all topics and grade levels. A great place to find lessons and resources to get the most use out of your smartboard.
4. Spelling City & Quizlet : My favorite student tools to help them study for spelling and vocabulary! Students, parents or teachers can create their own lists and use their own information and the site will create games and practice tests to help students study for their tests. All the students I have used these tools with have improved on their test/quiz scores.
5. Night Zookeeper Project: If you are looking for a creative writing project for your class, this is a site you MUST check out. I love the concept of this project and, after trying it with a third grade class, can tell you that it truly engaged the students and motivated them to create imaginative and descriptive stories and illustrations. The site gives you all of the tools to fit the project into your curriculum and grade level. The nice part is you can do as much or as little of the project as you want to fit the needs of your particular students. What I also love about the site is that the project creators are not only trying to help strengthen students writing skills, they are also incorporating an element of technology so students can understand that they can be creators of digital media, not just consumers. Skype lessons with the Night Zookeeper make the project truly come alive for the students and enhances their experience. I would highly recommend this project to all elementary teachers!