Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

The subtitle of this site, Cooking 4 Kids Online, says it all. From hundreds of "video recipes" to kid hosts, opportunities to submit your own recipes as Remote Reporters, featured recipes including healthy snacks, information about cooking utensils and supplies, lessons in cooking basics, and up to date previews of upcoming sections, this site motivates kids to learn to cook and eat in a healthy manner. You can teach basic weights and measures using healthy foods. Clever section titles make even eating veggies attractive to all kids.This site requires Quicktime. Get it from the Teacher's First Toolbox TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

tag(s): cooking (32), makerspace (40), nutrition (140)

This site has current movie reviews from the parents' point of view: What current movies are appropriate? What ages are they appropriate for? In addition to current films, there are reviews of TV programs, new DVD's, games, websites, books, music, etc. The site uses its own rating system: "Appropriate for age," "Know your kid," and "Not appropriate for age." Along with written reviews and Q/A approaches, there are video clips and tips. Each category of entertainment has several recommended and reviewed items with age ranges. There is also a newsletter and in-depth articles on subjects of concern to kids and parents.

tag(s): internet safety (114), movies (54), parents (57), safety (68)

When you bill yourself as the world's leading website on Learning Disabilities and ADHD, you'd better prove it. LD OnLine does that and more. LD OnLine provides in-depth professional and parent articles, expert advice columns, forums, and disability/differences resources for parents and educators within this easily-navigated site. Many of those articles offer strategies to help deal with the disabilities. The site also includes a convenient yellow pages directory for those who need further professional advice.

tag(s): adhd (28), dyslexia (11), learning disability (21), Special Needs (53)

Although this site was created to help students in Britain prepare for "Back To School," many of the tips and activities are useful to students from all over the world. This site provides interactive quizzes, informative guides, and numerous features. The guide section provides a lot of details about very useful subjects including bullies, school uniforms, exam stress, dyslexia, creativity and other subjects. The Press Packs section is written by a student for students' use and includes topics such as being the new kid in school and organic lunches.

tag(s): back to school (55)

This site addresses the important issue of bullying. It includes videos, reports, information guides, quizzes, polls, and more. This site also talks about the less frequently discussed forms of bullying - such as girls bullying girls, cellular phone bullying and other less "traditional" forms of bullying (which unfortunately are becoming more common).

tag(s): bullying (48), cyberbullying (40)

National Parent and Teacher Association(PTA) is the oldest and largest volunteer association in the United States working exclusively on behalf of children and youth. Members include parents, teachers, students, and other child advocates. At this site find a PTA near you, the PTA Fundraising Marketplace, News & Events, and a blog.

Divided into parts For Parents, For Kids, For Teens, and For Educators Kid's Health presents health issues in an attractive, frank, and appealing format. The younger kid's section features topics like How the Body Works, Staying Safe, Feelings, and several more. In addition, some of the pages are available in Spanish. Other sections include health issues for grown ups and a glossary, the latter of which is available in Spanish. Video clips include health-related topics featuring well-known athletes. The teen section provides answers to multiple teen questions about health including sexual issues, drug and alcohol concerns, food and fitness, your body, your mind, and hot topics. The parents' section has regular health topics about raising a child.

tag(s): body systems (40), difficult conversations (57), emotions (49), fitness (39), sexuality (15)

As if traditional bullying were not enough, we now have cyberbullying! This web page offers a great explanation and examples of cyberbullying. It also lists strategies by which to help children who are being cyberbullied. Do not forget to visit the link provided that helps to locate cyberbullies and their web pages.

tag(s): internet safety (114), safety (68)

This site contains a very brief summary of current issues concerning students and Internet usage. It provides current acronyms for Internet terminology, AUP's (Acceptable Use Policies) and discussion starters for parents who are interested in discussing Internet issues and responsibilities with children.

tag(s): internet safety (114), safety (68)

This simple site allows you to report bullying at your school. Students, teachers, parents can click to report a bully and turn in a report so school administration can look into the incident. Though there is the potential for bogus reports, this site would likely work well with elementary students or even middle schoolers IF you explained it to them in advance and spoke specifically about the consequences of false reports. The benefit is that the service allows students to report an incident without fear that a bully might "see them in the office."

tag(s): bullying (48), cyberbullying (40), DAT device agnostic tool (147)

This website is basic - but provides lesson ideas, detailed descriptions and calculators for students and interactive worksheets for student practice in all dimensions of algebra.

tag(s): equations (119), factoring (25)

Encourage parents to become involved with their children's education using these helpful, downloadable booklets on helping your child with science, history, math, reading, homework, early adolescence, preschool, general success in school, and being a responsible citizen. Some are geared for elementary only and others extend through middle school. Most are also available in Spanish version. Download as a pdf (Acrobat file) or Word document. You can order copies, but it may be easier and faster to simply print your own. Remember that you need Acrobat Reader to open pdf files. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

tag(s): adolescence (12), homework (29)

This very simple site, created by an anonymous puzzle-lover, is a treasury for logic problems and lateral thinking puzzles to use in your classroom or beyond. Click on the puzzle type you want. Use them as brain warm-ups in a math or science class before venturing into problem-solving or inquiry process or simply to engage the brains before starting any activity. There are different levels of logic and different types of lateral thinking puzzles, each with a hint before revealing the complete answer. These puzzles would also be useful for gifted enrichment.

tag(s): gifted (66), logic (161), puzzles (149)

This website provides three free lesson plans for converting fractions and percents. The three plans are easy to follow and include practice activities for the students and online worksheets. the lesson plans are basic - but could be helpful in teaching a new topic or review.

tag(s): fractions (160), percent (59)

Oral health topics are presented in an attention getting format that includes stencils, hands on activities, and printable student worksheets. The a la carte lesson format makes it easy to use lessons individually or as a complete oral health unit. Animations and games/puzzle section are geared for the younger grades. The appropriate age levels for each of the sections are clearly labeled. There are also sections on dental careers.

tag(s): careers (156), dental health (14), hygiene (9)

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)

Have a ball on this highly interactive, attractive, and entertaining site that teaches all sorts of math skills for grades K-6. Check out Weighing Wangdoodles to practice balancing equations, learn about perimeter, practice word problems, solve logic puzzles, and even watch video problem-solving challenges. View the video "Math Apprentice" to learn more about how math is used in the "real world." This is certain to be a favorite both in school and at home. Teachers can even build their own worksheets to specifications by topic and level. Try the math Olympics, get caught up in fractions playground or money mania (near the bottom of the page). Every activity allows you to differentiate by skill level. This one is a teacher's dream.

tag(s): equations (119), fractions (160), logic (161), olympics (45), puzzles (149)

This web site provides students and teachers with ideas for agricultural science projects. Many of these ideas could easily be used as classroom science experiments or as an individual student's science fair project. The site includes experiments that could be incorporated into science lesson plans.

tag(s): environment (252), medicine (57), zoology (18)

If you're looking for an educational toy or game for a special-needs student, check out this comprehensive, annotated list of items, especially designed for children with physical and hearing impairments, vision problems, and developmental disabilities.

tag(s): disabilities (32)

This searchable online resource is filled with timely articles, interactive features, and practical information on understanding a child's special needs, managing his/her education, and connecting with other parents who share similar concerns. Sign up for a free weekly e-newsletter, participate in an interactive message board, or personalize your visits to the site with the "My Page" feature.

tag(s): resources (83)