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March 7, 2016
Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers®
Nature Works Everywhere is a free resource that can be used to learn (and teach) using videos and ready to go lessons. We are excited to share a unique opportunity (from Nature Works) to take a virtual field trip to Peru on March 16. Learn more about this free opportunity here.
Tech Tips
Teachers rarely have a free hour to explore and learn throughout the day. But sometimes, the best learning comes in small tidbits. Discover handy ways to make your tech-infused lessons go more smoothly with TeachersFirst’s Been There, Done That tech tips. Savor a clever idea or two from experienced, Thinking Teachers or share the entire batch with colleagues who need a little extra confidence.
Science Fair Goes Google!
Does your school have an annual Science Fair? Share this additional challenge with your students. The Google Science Fair is open to ages 13-18. Submissions will be accepted until May 18th. Learn more about this annual competition in our TeachersFirst review.
More March Happenings
March is FULL of exciting events to engage your students. Start with the Alaskan Iditarod, and don’t miss our new-featured sites all about the Iditarod. Pi Day is coming up next week. Plan to celebrate this “holiday” with all grades using TeachersFirst’s fabulous resources. The Ides of March and St. Patrick's Day will also be here soon.
Reading in all Content Areas
Explore this collection of web resources to engage students in reading in all content areas, especially social studies and science. Visit the “In the Classroom” section of each review for ideas and strategies to use in your classroom. Try using the web-based texts to offer students more differentiation within their reading repertoire.
Ideas and Resources for Substitutes
Whether you have a planned professional leave day or an unexpected sick day, find resources to share with your substitute. If you are the substitute, take a look at this collection to find some new ideas to throw into your toolbox.
New TogetheRead Book Theme
The March theme from TogetheRead is “Tales and Truths from Other Times!” TogetheRead provides a list of recommended books, questions, and activities designed to build stronger readers. The themes include books for all ages, centered around the same theme. Parents find questions to ask as the family reads, deepening comprehension before, during, and after reading.
Colonial Times Read-Alouds PLUS Common Core
K-5 teachers have been making instructional shifts in their teaching to meet the demands of Common Core. Don’t let Social Studies take a back seat. This article will show you how to infuse Social Studies content (specifically the early colonial period) with the power of daily read-alouds. Use these books as part of your Social Studies units related to the thirteen colonies or early settlements. Check out our entire collection in the Help! I lost my library/media specialist! series.
Age of Independence
This week’s Teacher Poll asks: At what age should students take responsibility for their homework without parent reminders? Place your vote on the teacher poll on the TeachersFirst home page.
Featured Sites
This week in our Featured Sites you will find:
- Duo of Iditarod Resources
- Helping Writers Become Authors
- Compound Interest
- Adobe Slate
- Robo Boogie
- Blended Learning Implementation Guide
- Vocabulist
- And more
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are reading this March 13, or later, the link above will take you to the Featured Sites for the current week. Find the archived March 7th, 2016 Features here, and don’t miss our many other recent additions from the link at the bottom of the Featured Sites page.
The TeachersFirst Team