Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

iExloreSTEM is a volunteer community dedicated to bringing STEM activities and festivals to local communities in and near Iowa; the ideas and resources can apply to any state. The site includes information and resources for planning STEM festivals and creating safe activities. Scroll down the page to find several sample activities listed by discipline including architecture, engineering, and more. Other useful resources include links to STEM career information and STEM links to specific states.

tag(s): animals (295), architecture (75), engineering (129), environment (252), plants (146), STEM (297)

This visual dictionary includes over 800 math definitions with almost 800 illustrations. Over 200 of the illustrations are animated examples of math terms and concepts. Use the keyword search to find specific terms or browse by letters of the alphabet. Most definitions also include a link to related concepts and additional information.
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tag(s): dictionaries (47), vocabulary (238)

Just as the title implies, this site converts text to speech. Enter any text up to 4000 characters, select a voice and speed, name the file, then choose "Start." After processing, click play to listen or choose from download options as an mp3 or wav file.
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tag(s): listening (93), multilingual (77), pronunciation (34), text to speech (20)

Learn about the uses of 3D printing in the classroom with resources provided by MakerBot. Choose Resources from the top menu to find Webinars, Videos, and Case Studies. Click the Industries tab from the top menu and slide down to Education to find grant and white paper information for funding 3D printers and an essential information packet for pitching and implementing 3D printers in the classroom. Email registration is required to view and download information.
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tag(s): crafts (64), creativity (86), drawing (61), makerspace (40), modeling (8), robotics (24)

Sylvia's Super-Awesome Maker Show! is the website created by a California teen to share her enthusiasm for science through demonstrations and web shows. View videos as Sylvia demonstrates how to to make sidewalk chalk, builds a cardboard periscope, experiments with squishy circuits, and much more. In addition to the entertaining videos, the site also includes several printables with additional directions for creating projects. If your district blocks YouTube, the web shows may not be viewable.
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tag(s): engineering (129), experiments (55), makerspace (40), STEM (297), video (266)

Discover ideas for new, captivating literature to include in your classroom! Each blog entry focuses on a recently published book. In addition to a summary of the book, entries discuss several different teaching methods incorporating the book along with extensive lists of links to additional information and similar books. In addition to the blog entries, use links to find book lists by topic as well as classroom and curricular ideas. This blog is a must-read for teachers of all subject areas and is free! This blog is a sister to The School Library Journal which costs for a subscription.
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tag(s): blogs (65), book lists (167), literacy (122), literature (222), preK (271), reading lists (77)

Encourage and promote proper digital citizenship through the use of the Fair Dealing Decision Tool. Choose the type of published work from options including periodicals, poems, books, and more to begin. Answer questions to learn if it is a permissible use of the published work. In addition to the decision tool, this site contains many other resources for teachers including articles and video presentations.

tag(s): copyright (44), digital citizenship (85), ethics (21), plagiarism (34)

Writer is a distraction-free writing app for online and offline typing. Register using email to begin using the typewriter. The free version allows saving an unlimited number of documents, and it automatically saves documents as you write. Customize your experience to include typing sounds or not, change background colors, fonts, and more. When finished, export as a PDF or text document. this is a great writing tool for students with distraction issues!

tag(s): digital storytelling (154), editing (93), journals (15), process writing (37), proofreading (21), Special Needs (53), Teacher Utilities (198), writing (325)

WordClouds generates custom word clouds using your text. Create using their "wizard" with step-by-step directions to add documents or text and personalize features. Another option is to use the dashboard at the top of the page to add and customize the look of your word cloud. Choose colors, type of display, and font. The most frequent words appear larger and darker. When finished, select file to save in your choice of format or share online.

tag(s): editing (93), proofreading (21), speech (69), vocabulary (238), word choice (14), word clouds (13)

Check your blogs, emails, and other written content for grammar and spelling using Grammarly. Consider it your second set of eyes for proofreading any document. Copy and paste text into Grammarly's text editor, or install the browser extension for use on Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Grammarly also includes an add-in for Windows OS for use in Microsoft Word and Outlook. Use Grammarly to flag 250 types of errors, including context-optimized synonym suggestions. Click on underlined words to view and correct errors. This review is for the free edition of Grammarly, which includes the browser extension.

tag(s): editing (93), grammar (137), Microsoft (80), proofreading (21), spelling (98), writing (325)

Simplenote is a note-taking tool that updates information across all of your devices. Download the app for mobile devices and onto PCs. Notes update immediately, no need to save. Use the scroll bar to go back in time and find notes from a previous time. Use tags or search to find notes created. Simplenote also allows for collaboration with other users.

tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (147), organizational skills (88)

Baamboozle is a quick and easy-to-use tool for playing and creating games. It doesn't require registration to play. Choose the "Games" link to go to all games saved on Baamboozle. Scroll through to view games, or search for a term. Divide the group into two teams and begin play. Each team chooses a number from the game board and answers the question. Check for accuracy; then, Baamboozle keeps track of scores. Use games found on the site, or create games on any device. Registration with email is necessary to create your own games.

tag(s): flash cards (44), game based learning (205), preK (271)

EasyWrite is a simple to use writing tool for creating easy to understand content. Just type your text into the text box and begin writing. EasyWrite highlights words not found in the 1,000 most commonly used words in the English language. At the time of this review, EasyWrite worked best with Chrome or Mozilla FireFox.

tag(s): digital storytelling (154), editing (93), multilingual (77), process writing (37), vocabulary (238), writers workshop (31), writing (325)

Contrasting Cases provides curriculum and professional development for developing flexibility in math problem solving in Algebra. The site includes many printable resources for classroom use including student handouts and teacher guides. Click the word Curriculum on the top menu, and then click Materials in the left menu to find the printable resources. Also, there are archived webcasts illustrating teaching techniques and discussions on why students struggle with Algebra concepts.

tag(s): critical thinking (127), equations (119), problem solving (233), thinking skills (17)

Hundreds of teachable movies! That's how many lesson plans or guides you'll find at Teach With Movies. Search one of the numerous categories to locate the movie, documentary, or short you want. Some of the categories are Subject Matter (and not just math, science, history, etc.), Social-Emotional Learning (themes like Ambition, Coming of Age, and many others), Appropriate Age (three through adult), and Set Up the Sub (found on the top menu under Features), just to name a few. Lessons include a general summary of the film and discussion questions with answers. Most also include a rationale for using the movie, the subjects, topics, and themes, if there is a book - a bit of background and review of it, objectives, possible problems, historical context, and more. Of course, the topics for consideration depend on the film. Sign up for the newsletter to see when there are lesson guides for the newest movies. Whether culminating a unit or introducing one, using these lessons and guides along with the video will help to make a lasting impression about your topic.

tag(s): difficult conversations (57), essays (21), movies (54), questioning (36), social and emotional learning (102), social skills (22), worksheets (69), writing (325)

Read less to find out more! Pressed for time? Use Skimcast to pare down articles you need to read. Just get the facts - choose a summary anywhere from 1 - 99% of the material. Paste in a URL or upload a PDF. Not only will you get the entire document back with the summary highlighted, but also see a list of clickable theme words and phrases to the right of the text. Click one and see it highlighted where ever it appears in the article. Use Skimcast on the web or find a button at the bottom to add it as a Chrome browser extension on your toolbar. To more fully understand this tool, read the Top Tips.

tag(s): multilingual (77), note taking (36), reading strategies (96), summarizing (23)

Enjoy a colorful look at Santa's Village. NorthPole has interactives (concentration, word searches, counting money, telling time, mazes, and more), and you can even play checkers with Santa. Attend the Elf Academy, read stories about your elf, send animated Christmas postcards, write Santa a letter and get a reply! For those into the maker movement, there are holiday crafts to make with directions and free templates. Create an account and register your students at the same time. Students will be assigned a user ID and password.
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tag(s): christmas (38), holidays (187)