Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

This page has simple tips on ways dads (or surrogate dads) can get involved to support learning support or ADHD kids both in and out of school. The brief article is available in printed form and include support from resaerch on the impact dads can have.

tag(s): adhd (28)

Though a visually cluttered site, this one offers some great ways to practice for all sorts of standardized testing, from PSAT to SAT and more. Let's hope that practice makes perfect!

tag(s): college (45)

A thorough site on planning for a career. Includes timelines, options, many links to different career paths and college planning resources, even a cover letter generator. the site does have some advertising, but it is tolerable (turn on your pop-up blocker). Special Education teachers working with students on transition planning will also find this site helpful in providing a structured approach.

tag(s): careers (156), college (45), financial aid (13)

Designed for National Hurricane Preparedness Week, this site offers extensive resources to help students and their parents plan ahead in case they find themselves in the path of a hurricane. There are also extensive descriptions of storm surge, inland flooding, wind damage, and other phenomena associated with these storms.

tag(s): hurricanes (32), safety (68)

This site bravely tackles some of the serious issues faced by teens who engage in inappropriate, risk-taking behavior. Click videos for a series of interactive videos that involve students in real-life decision making and allow them to see the consequences of their choices. The this program focuses on some common problems experienced by young people and provides suggestions for coping withthem. Warning: Some linka contain some graphic images, so use with caution.

tag(s): adolescence (12), difficult conversations (57)

ScienceBuddies offers a large variety of science resources including science fair projects and free STEM lessons. From the top menu bar, select Science Fair Project to find a Topic Selection Wizard. This tool uses a short questionnaire to guide students to recommended projects based on length of time needed to work on the project, grade level, and topic for research. Be sure to also visit the teachers' portion of the site to find STEM lesson plans for all grade levels, science fair tools, engineering design information, and much more.

tag(s): calories (6), earthquakes (46), electricity (61), energy (133), gravity (43), internet safety (114), recycling (45), robotics (24), science fairs (20), sound (72), STEM (297)

Students in second-year algebra and beyond can answer this pressing question in a lesson that introduces a mathematical model comparing the cost of education to potential earnings. Students are challenged to determine if the investment is a good one. The reality of real-life debt is encountered as students compute the amount that must be repaid each year for the life of the loan and check out starting salaries of target careers. A discussion component asks students to critique the model and discuss other factors that should be taken into consideration. This is a thought-provoking, authentic application of math skills

tag(s): careers (156), college (45), financial aid (13)

Why do adolescents behave the way they do? It is a puzzling mystery that continues to frustrate parents, teachers AND teens! This site delves into the recesses of the teenage brain to provide scientific explanations for many exasperating behaviors. Interactive maps of the brain are supplemented with clear and informative explanations. Advice and online activities can help adults interact more successfully with this very unique population! Refer parents to this site, use in class to help teens better understand themselves, or explore it yourself for some enlightening ideas on improving teen communication in the classroom! Shockwave required for some features of the site. Developed by Frontline (PBS)

tag(s): adolescence (12), brain (56)

National Public Radio's coverage of the legal and ethical issues surrounding "right to die" cases examines the rights of patients and the responsibilities of relatives, the state, and health care providers. Grappling with the, "Who decides?" question may be troubling for some students, but can be a thought-provoking process.

tag(s): civil rights (209), medicine (57)

The aging American population increases the probability that a student will have a family member or acquaintance suffering from Alzheimer's. Because it affects the personality, this disease can be frightening or confusing to young people. These pages help teens and children better understand what this disease is and why its victims behave in the way they do. Preview before using.

The National Institutes of Health offers this site containing lots of resources to encourage folks to eat vegetables in appropriate quantities. While the subject may not be popular with young people, health and nutrition teachers will find a number of resources that can be used to help students make more intelligent choices about the foods they eat.

tag(s): nutrition (140)

National Runaway Safeline's tagline is "Keeping America's runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth safe and off the streets." Find important information for students, parents, counselors, and anyone else who works with young people who have run away (or might be thinking about doing so) and their families. In addition to location and confidential contact services, the site offers a wealth of resources for both families and young people. For teachers and counselors, there is an evidenced-based, interactive, 14-module curriculum "intended to educate young people about alternatives to running away as well as to build life skills... "Runaways are a quiet problem whose dimensions are far more significant than many realize. The site includes resources for homelessness, as well.

tag(s): behavior (45), character education (79), safety (68)

The National Institute for Drug Abuse offers this page about drugs and drug abuse for teens. There's a lot of factual information, some quizzes, and a wealth of statistics on the decline in drug use among teens. The coverage also includes ecstasy and the "date rape" drugs. Counselors and nurses may find this one particularly useful.

tag(s): drugs and alcohol (28), red ribbon week (9)

While no college ranking can be fully objective or authoritative, everyone likes to digest them. The listings from US News offer rankings along a number of different criteria. These can be a useful comparator when weighed along with other information. ***Only partial information is available without a subscription.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): careers (156), college (45)

This online presentation and catalog from trade schools reads much like a college web site. While there are reams of facts and figures, students should be aware that this site aims to attract strong students in the same way as the web sites from the four-year colleges do. Caveat user, but technical schools can provide great career opportunities for particular students.

tag(s): careers (156)

This is a great resource for finding a career, trade schools, writing a resume, filling out a college application, and more. This site has helpful information for guiding students along a variety of paths upon graduation. The career planning resources help students assess their likes and dislikes to identify how those preferences can translate into successful careers. The site also has helpful information on what certifications and qualifications different jobs require.

tag(s): careers (156), college (45)

This is a wonderful resource for exploring Health and Life Sciences careers. Individuals can search the site by salary, education required, and interest areas to determine which jobs might be the best match for them. Although this site is rather plain in appearance, there is some great information provided.

tag(s): careers (156), medicine (57)

While there's a wealth of "common knowledge" about what it takes to succeed in higher education, specific discussions of the factors and preparation that let students succeed is harder to find. Developed by a consortium of leading universities, this online PDF reference is the sort of reading that counselors, parents, and students should have available when they begin to plan their high school careers.

tag(s): college (45)

Stanford University's Bridge Project has examined the disconnect between K-12 and college education systems to learn why many students fail to make the transition from high school to college successfully.

tag(s): college (45)

In an unusually frank discussion, this site offers students, families, and education professionals advice on how to help manage eating disorders, especially in people whom you care about. There is a wealth of information here, so parents and counselors should review the site thoroughly before using or recommending specific portions.

tag(s): eating disorders (6)