Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Need some new ideas for end-of-year activities and class celebrations? This collection of games and activities provides basic description and instructions for creating educational and interactive experiences that require minimal materials, but maximum student involvement.

tag(s): game based learning (206), summer (28)

Before you schedule that next field trip, spend some time with this helpful site that outlines tips for making the excursion as pain-free as possible. A must for first-timers - but even seasoned trekkers can pick up some useful advice. Includes a sample schedule, parent letter, and suggested rules.

tag(s): field trips (7)

While Avian Influenza currently presents no credible threat to humans in North America, this planning guide for school and health professionals outlines steps that might be required should such a threat turn into an actual pandemic. As such, it might be useful reference to bookmark for possible future use. The various links to facts about avian influenza and its current spread should be of more immediate interest.

Understanding and applying the Doctrine of Fair Use is vital for teachers and students at all levels. This site clearly explains important exemptions that limit the exclusive rights of copyright holders and provides analysis of the four factors of Fair Use.

tag(s): copyright (43)

Find a reason to celebrate each day of the year with this online calendar that highlights special holidays and celebrations around the world. Check out the current observances, or search for holidays by date, country, or religion.

tag(s): holidays (194)

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 impressive collection of free printable worksheets, flashcards, puzzles, and lesson plans offers ESL teachers at all levels so many options for teaching vocabulary, conversational skills, "survival" English, and culture. You may have to poke around a bit to find what you need, but this is definitely a resource to bookmark.

tag(s): printables (36)

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)

PBS commentator Hedrick Smith's latest articulation of current "school reform" efforts concentrates on the factors common to several school districts that have achieved notable successes at improving both teaching and student performance. While not designed to please everyone, teachers will want to peruse the extensive text content on this site for ideas they might adapt to their own situations.

tag(s): design (80), teaching strategies (52)

This article, published in the George Lucas Foundation's Edutopia online journal, argues that the rigid time schedules found in most schools work to the detriment of both teachers and their students. It argues for a reexamination of some of the practices common in most schools, and suggests the consequences of continuing with current patterns.

tag(s): professional development (393)

This huge collection of downloadable worksheets covers all major subject areas - from geography and reading, to science and spelling. New choices are added on a regular basis, so check back often. Please read and follow the copyright guidelines provided on the site.

tag(s): spelling (98), worksheets (71)

Back-to-school time can be especially traumatic for students who must face the transition from elementary to middle school. This article, especially designed for parents and teachers, discusses the common but negative emotions students may experience as they return to school. Includes tips on minimizing first-day anxiety, thoughts on what students can expect from their teachers, and suggestions for recovering from a "bad start" to the year.

tag(s): back to school (55)

Looking for a good icebreaker for the first week of school? This interpersonal activity will help students get to know you and each other while having a lot of fun. A printable questionnaire and scavenger hunt sheet are included.

tag(s): back to school (55), firstday (22)

These "short and sweet" tips and hints covering everything from classroom management to bulletin board designs have been created for teachers by teachers. Select a topic from the navigation bar on the left and check out the offerings. If you're looking for lesson plans, this is not the site for you, but if you need some fresh ideas to incorporate into your classroom, this site is worth exploring.

tag(s): classroom management (118), teaching strategies (52)

As the school year begins, you might find that you need a little extra inspiration, so check out this collection of materials that can make your classroom run more smoothly. Offerings include downloadable bookmarks for students, lesson plan templates and forms, as well as links to calendar makers, worksheet generators, and assessment tools and so much more.

While they're not all strictly educational, this sampling of winning web sites, along with a large number of nominees, makes for an interesting barometer of how the Web is being used by scores of disciplines and in hundreds of ways. Try a sampling of these sites for a taste of what's possible on the web.

tag(s): design (80)

Use this handy online tool to generate tests using a variety of formats - multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, true and false, short answers, and more. Just complete a free registration, then start creating and customizing your assessment. Follow the prompts to select font size and style, choose a format, enter each question and answer, and print the test and answer key. Your tests are saved online and can be easily accessed or edited from anywhere.

tag(s): quiz (66)

Elementary and middle school teachers can tap into this series of free online, closed-captioned videos for help with meeting the demands of No Child Left Behind. The videos highlight real-world, research-based practices and effective instructional methods for teaching language arts, math, and science. Complete a free registration to access all of the materials on the site. A high speed connection is a must.

Professional development activities are just a mouse click away. This exceptional online library contains hundreds of educational videos, covering all grade levels and content areas. Search by discipline, grade, or keyword and complete a free registration to view the materials. Check out the broadcast schedule for a list of daily simulcasts. A high-speed connection is a must.

This extensive resource provides science teachers at every grade level with continually updated performance tasks, scoring rubrics, and student examples that are directly aligned to National Science Education Standards. Click on the standards for a particular grade level and view the bank of related assessments and performance tasks. Complete instructions for implementing the task are included under "administrative procedures." The "guided tour" is highly recommended for first-time users.

tag(s): assessment (146)