TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Dec 13, 2020

Here are this week's features. Clicking the tags in the description area of each listing will present a list of other resources with this topic. | Click here to return to the Featured Sites Archive

 

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OK2Ask: Bitmojis to Support Instruction: Oh, Yeah! - TeachersFirst

Grades
K to 12
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from November 2020. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Looking for a way

...more
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from November 2020. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Looking for a way to "jazz things up" in the classroom? Look no further! Use your personalized emoji to capture student attention and facilitate your lesson. Create a Bitmoji classroom scene to share the week's reading materials, take students on a virtual field trip, or create an escape room activity. This is definitely bells and whistles, but who doesn't like to have a little fun? Join us, and you too can participate in the Bitmoji classroom craze. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn how to create a Bitmoji classroom scene; 2. Share ways to use Bitmoji scenes for instruction; and 3. Plan for the instructional use of Bitmoji scenes. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): classroom management (128), professional development (388), remote learning (61)

In the Classroom

The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.

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OK2Ask: Sway Cool Reading - TeachersFirst

Grades
2 to 12
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from November 2020. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Good readers take

...more
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from November 2020. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Good readers take breaks to process what they're reading. Learn research-based strategies to use Microsoft Sway to guide comprehension. Helping students become aware of reading comprehension strategies allows them to manage their learning and empowers them to read strategically. This is especially helpful in a flipped or blended learning model. Join us and learn how to put Sway into action in your classroom! As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn three active reading comprehension strategies; 2. Understand where these strategies fit in the instructional cycle; and 3. Plan for the use of Sway during reading instruction. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): blended learning (16), flipped learning (9), Microsoft (84), professional development (388), reading comprehension (142), reading strategies (96), remote learning (61)

In the Classroom

The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.

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OK2Ask: Wakelet as an Instructional Hub - TeachersFirst

Grades
K to 12
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from July 2020. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Pulling all of your

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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from July 2020. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Pulling all of your lesson content into one collection that students can navigate independently is a great instructional strategy. When used to implement flipped/blended learning, Wakelet allows students to be more self-reliant and gives the instructor more time to help students who struggle. Wakelet offers flexibility in how you share content with your students encouraging creativity in both the instructional sequence and in the ways students demonstrate learning. Join us to learn how Wakelet can be used to reshape your classroom. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand how Wakelet can be used to deliver differentiated blended learning lessons; 2. Explore Wakelet's built-in tools that support instruction; and 3. Plan to deliver a lesson using Wakelet. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): Accessibility (9), blended learning (16), classroom management (128), curation (35), flipped learning (9), professional development (388), remote learning (61), teaching strategies (41)

In the Classroom

The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.

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Blended Learning Resources - TeachersFirst

Grades
K to 12
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Mix up your classroom and get blended! If you are new to blended learning, this basically means that the learning is a combination of digital media with traditional classroom teaching....more
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Mix up your classroom and get blended! If you are new to blended learning, this basically means that the learning is a combination of digital media with traditional classroom teaching. Since some of the instruction is digital, students have more control over the pace of the instruction. Peruse this curated list of resources to start blending in your class!

In the Classroom

Explore this fabulous collection to use in your blended classroom. Learn more about blended learning in some of the informational readings.

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Class Responder - Teacher Created Resources

Grades
K to 12
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Interact with students in real-time with Class Responder. Assign lessons, create quizzes and activities, then view student responses on any device. Create your account with email, then...more
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Interact with students in real-time with Class Responder. Assign lessons, create quizzes and activities, then view student responses on any device. Create your account with email, then follow prompts to add students, create groups, and choose response options. Class Responder activities are for grades 1-6, however, you can create your own for older students. Activities offered on the site include correlation to state and national standards. This is a terrific tool for differentiation and keeping abreast of how special needs students are understanding an assignment.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): classroom management (128), DAT device agnostic tool (143), polls and surveys (46), substitutes (27), Teacher Utilities (146)

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.

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NBC Learn Free Resources - NBCUniversal Media, NBC News

Grades
5 to 12
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This collection of free streaming videos, mostly under six minutes, supports school curriculum using material from NBC News, one of the largest news archives in the world. Topics include...more
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This collection of free streaming videos, mostly under six minutes, supports school curriculum using material from NBC News, one of the largest news archives in the world. Topics include language arts, humanities and social sciences, and parenting information. The majority of videos feature STEM content. Specific sample topics include: Mysteries of the Brain, Writers Speak to Kids, Science of NFL Football, and many others. All videos include transcripts. Some have lesson plans and/or activities which are available in a side tab in the video window when launched. Most have closed captioning, and a few have a Spanish language option. The majority of NBC Learn, the educational arm of NBC News, is fee-based. This review is for the free material.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): brain (54), civil rights (193), news (229), olympics (40), pi (26), sports (78), STEM (259), sustainability (44), video (256)

In the Classroom

This site is perfect for flipped or blended learning classrooms but will spark interest in most classroom lessons. Use the search box in the upper right corner to find free content of interest. The whole class can watch the videos, many of which are parts of a series. Create a Padlet, reviewed here, for each group and have individuals or small groups view and extend their learning by sharing information. The transcripts and close captioning will be helpful for struggling learners. Transcripts can be used alone for informational text reading practice. If your school or district doesn't block YouTube, you may want to investigate the NBC Learn playlists here.

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Whereby - appear.in

Grades
K to 12
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Create video conversations including up to four people instantly with Whereby (formerly Appear.in). There is nothing to download, and no registration is required. Add a name for your...more
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Create video conversations including up to four people instantly with Whereby (formerly Appear.in). There is nothing to download, and no registration is required. Add a name for your room and click "create." Allow access to your computer's webcam and microphone, and your room is all set up. Send the link to others to click and join in. Claim a room to get privileges such as customizing your room's background and locking your room when empty. Whereby works with Chrome, Firefox, Vivaldi, and Opera browsers.

tag(s): chat (42), communication (136), DAT device agnostic tool (143), remote learning (61), video (256)

In the Classroom

Whereby is a perfect tool to use for your blended learning or remote learning classroom. Use it for any subject for small group interactions such as small group projects, literature circles, writing consultations, and more. Connect up to four whole classrooms across the country for book clubs. Connect experts such as authors and scientists to classrooms of children. Create connected learning experiences with other students, especially those in older grades. Connect world language classes to classes in other countries. Students interested in graphic design can connect with an expert or artist far away and share current work in a virtual critique. Connect students with mentors or older students for help with homework. Teachers can hold "office hours" for homework help and student questions. Whole buildings can collaborate and share professional development with others in their own district and beyond! Of course, you will want to pretest whether this service works in your school since some filters block access to such "interaction."

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Flipped Math - The Algebros

Grades
6 to 12
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Would you like to "flip" your Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2, Pre-Calc, or Calculus classroom but just aren't sure how to get started? Flipped Math has everything you need! Choose a ...more
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Would you like to "flip" your Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2, Pre-Calc, or Calculus classroom but just aren't sure how to get started? Flipped Math has everything you need! Choose a course to view video lessons and download practice problems, corrective assignments (additional practice for misunderstood concepts or incomplete mastery), and a complete pacing guide. Flipped Math also includes many student resources as well as Teacher and Parent FAQ's. Even if you aren't flipping your classroom, Flipped Math offers valuable teaching tools to use in any Algebra or Geometry classroom.

tag(s): differentiation (83), Online Learning (39), remote learning (61), teaching strategies (41), video (256)

In the Classroom

Flipped Math is also perfect for blended learning. Begin your journey into the flipped, blended or remote learning classroom by trying a single lesson or two in which your students have access to view videos at home. Use videos and practice problems found on the site as a supplement to your current lessons. Flipped Math is also perfect for Flipped Learning - Embed videos on your class website or blog for use at home. Even if you are not "flipping," these will make terrific reinforcement for struggling students -- and possibly for parents who want to help, but cannot remember the math skills. Do you want to learn more about flipping your classroom? Find many ideas and suggestions at Flipped Learning Global Initiative.

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Bam! Radio - Bam Radio Network

Grades
K to 12
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Bam! Radio is a podcast network devoted to education from many different perspectives. Choose from Educators, Leaders, Edtech, Specialties, and Binge Listening channels to view offerings....more
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Bam! Radio is a podcast network devoted to education from many different perspectives. Choose from Educators, Leaders, Edtech, Specialties, and Binge Listening channels to view offerings. The Specialties channel options include topics such as Blended Learning, Differentiated Instruction, Game Based Learning, Project Based Learning, Creating a Positive School Culture, and many others. Discussions include all education-related topics with multiple perspectives. Listen directly on the site by choosing the play button or use the iTunes option to download and play through your iTunes account.

tag(s): classroom management (128), parents (60), professional development (388)

In the Classroom

Bam! Radio is an excellent resource for professional development sessions. Search the site to find topics of interest and listen to the session together as a staff to begin your discussions. Be sure to share topics of concern with parents such as those for gifted students or keys to motivating teens. Be sure to follow Bam! Radio on Facebook, iTunes, or Twitter to receive latest updates and information.

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Canva for Education - Canva.com

Grades
K to 12
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Canva presents a simple way to design almost anything with drag and drop technology. Create custom timelines, posters, business cards, infographics, presentations, badges, flyers, charts...more
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Canva presents a simple way to design almost anything with drag and drop technology. Create custom timelines, posters, business cards, infographics, presentations, badges, flyers, charts and graphs, and more using a custom layout or a blank page. Begin by choosing the type of design you want to create. Choose pre-made templates or design your own. Upload images from your computer or your Facebook account. Change your background, add text, and personalize as desired. When complete, choose link and publish to save and download your creation as an image or PDF file or copy the link to share via URL. For creating charts and graphs go to the Features tab. There are iOS & Android apps (free) available for this tool. Canva has recently made the desktop application available for Windows as well as Mac OS. Note: you must register (with email and password) before you can access this site.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (143), graphic design (50), images (270), posters (47), slides (45)

In the Classroom

This site is perfect for enhancing, modifying, or transforming classroom technology in the classroom depending on the requirements of the assignments. Create a slideshow, invitations, or photo collages for any classroom presentation. Share what you created on your website or blog for students to review or for students who were absent. Deliver blended or flipped lessons using Canva Edu by adding links to videos, assessment information, and other learning activities. In the younger grades, teachers would be the ones creating the project. However, older students could easily create their own Canva presentations. Have students use this online tool as they would any presentation tool or image enhancing site. Use this site for research projects about famous people from the past and present. Have cooperative learning groups create presentations about science or math topics. Have students create presentations to "introduce" themselves to the class during the first week of school. Link or embed the introduction presentations on your class wiki or website and have others guess who they are. Use this tool with your 1:1 art class for students to practice design principles and techniques. Create 2 to 5 circle Venn Diagrams. Share student projects with parents and others via URL. Be sure to demonstrate HOW to use this tool on your interactive whiteboard or projector.

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TED-ED - Ted.com

Grades
6 to 12
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Find videos recorded by professional educators. These are not just the humdrum lecture type videos you might expect. These are dynamic speakers, energized by their desire to share what...more
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Find videos recorded by professional educators. These are not just the humdrum lecture type videos you might expect. These are dynamic speakers, energized by their desire to share what they've learned and know. The videos are even more appealing because of the professional animators who worked in the background (with the educators) to get the message across to the audience. You can search these videos by "Lessons" (under "Discover") and from there by subject, "Collections," is organized by theme, or by "Exploration." Every video has a "Think" section with multiple choice and open ended questions. If you get a multiple choice answer wrong you will receive a video hint to help you get it correct. Every video has a Dig Deeper section with additional resources for exploring the topic. You can take one of these videos, a video from YouTube, or any other video with a URL and "flip" them to make them your own. You can change the title, put in instructions, discard or keep the questions, create your own questions. In other words, you can make the video your own, to suit your needs. Once you save the video it will have a unique URL so you can track the progress and participation of anyone using it. Don't miss such clever offerings as David Hunter's video about the importance of geography concepts in deciding "How do you decide where to go in a zombie apocalypse?" Ted-Ed is only part of the TED offerings. View the full TED site reviewed here. Be sure to look at the Discover and Create tabs on the top menu.

tag(s): business (47), design (82), literature (217), psychology (67), religions (75), Teacher Utilities (146), video (256)

In the Classroom

Choose a video or create your own videos for students to use for review. After students view a video that has the questions, show one that doesn't, and have students generate questions for it. Assign videos for students to view at home or in the computer lab. Use them as a springboard for engaging writing prompts or to spark a discussion connected with a unit of study. Challenge students to do a compare/contrast activity using an online Venn Diagram tool, reviewed here. Most of the videos are less than twenty minutes, which makes it realistic to use them in a one-period class lesson or if you are implementing blended learning or flipped learning in your classroom or school (leaving class time for asking questions and clarifying).

Show a video or two with your class and discuss the set up of the lesson. Discuss the difference between basic comprehension questions and open-ended questions. Show your students an inspirational video or two from TED reviewed here. As a class, pick out eight or ten of the TED videos and allow students to sign up to work on one of the videos. Have cooperative learning groups develop a TED Ed video lesson. You will need to proofread all work using a word processor, before allowing students to upload their questions on TED Ed.

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Curriki - EnterpriseDB Postgre SQL company

Grades
K to 12
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Curriki is a nonprofit organization that encourages teachers and learners' to collaborate in developing quality educational materials in a global community. Click What We Do from the...more
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Curriki is a nonprofit organization that encourages teachers and learners' to collaborate in developing quality educational materials in a global community. Click What We Do from the top menu and slide to CurikiStudio, and click Creators to create a free account and find resources like questions, photos/images, multimedia, and more for interactive lesson creation. Next under Solutions is CurrikiGo, where you will publish your lessons, etc. Last on the dropdown list is the CurrikiLibrary, where you can search by subject area, grade level, or resource type (interactive, video, or podcast). For a thorough summary of Curriki click the Explore a CurrikiStudio Activity. Join different groups for a more involved way to explore new areas in online learning, subject area interests, or focus questions. Create collections of your resources to keep private or share with others. This site focuses on providing free access to teachers, schools, students, or parents to many new creative ideas for in-class learning, digital learning, and hybrid or blended learning in a global community. Free membership includes monthly newsletters. Follow Curriki on Facebook, Twitter, or blogs.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): graphic organizers (48), literacy (106), OER (43), operations (72), resources (87), rubrics (33), Teacher Utilities (146)

In the Classroom

Curriki has several ways to benefit teachers and students. Use Curriki as a resource listed on your website to have extra opportunities for additional practice or enrichment for parents and students. If you have a blended classroom, Curriki is the perfect tool to use for your students to access assignments. Use as a way to organize your digital resources. The lesson plan and Webquest templates are user friendly and promote best practices. While growing in your professional development by connecting with teachers worldwide, let your class learn with other classes worldwide. Curriki encourages you to think critically about your own lessons, and also the lessons suggested.

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