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Wheel of Names - Mikko Haapanen - Seating Chart Maker
Grades
K to 12
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The Wheel of Names is a popular online tool for random name selection, decision-making, or prize giveaways. It allows you to input a list of names, options, or items into ...more
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The Wheel of Names is a popular online tool for random name selection, decision-making, or prize giveaways. It allows you to input a list of names, options, or items into a spinning wheel format. When the wheel is spun, it randomly selects one name or option from the list. This tool is commonly used in classrooms for selecting students for tasks, in virtual meetings for choosing discussion topics, or in games for determining winners. It adds an element of fun and randomness to decision-making processes. The Wheel of Names not only offers mobile and desktop apps for versatile usage but also provides a wealth of resources covering various aspects such as wheel examples and templates, and FAQs, plus troubleshooting tips. These resources ensure you have comprehensive support and guidance to make the most out of the Wheel of Names.
tag(s): classroom management (147), Teacher Utilities (223)
In the Classroom
The Wheel of Names can be a versatile tool for enhancing student engagement and participation while creating a safe and positive classroom setting. One effective use is for random selection, where the wheel can be spun to choose students for tasks, discussions, or presentations, ensuring fairness and transparency without singling out individuals. This transparent randomization helps avoid potential discomfort or anxiety from direct calling out. Another valuable application is in decision-making activities, such as selecting topics for projects or prioritizing ideas generated through collaborative brainstorming. By combining the Wheel of Names with other tech tools like collaborative platforms here, educators can create dynamic learning experiences that promote engagement, fairness, and effective decision-making in the classroom.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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When Something Scary Happens - PBS Kids
Grades
K to 2
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Discover a collection of videos and activities to help children navigate challenging situations. Featuring characters like Daniel Tiger and Arthur, the content emphasizes the importance...more
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Discover a collection of videos and activities to help children navigate challenging situations. Featuring characters like Daniel Tiger and Arthur, the content emphasizes the importance of having a plan, expressing emotions, and recognizing helpers in the community. Accompanying activities, such as drawing feelings and preparing emergency kits, provide practical tools for classroom discussions on coping strategies and resilience.
tag(s): emotions (72), podcasts (173), preK (328), problem solving (285), social and emotional learning (203)
In the Classroom
After watching a video, students can identify different emotions characters experienced and match them to a classroom feelings chart. They can also share times they felt similar emotions. Using an activity from the PBS KIDS page, students can draw a picture of what fear or nervousness looks like to them and then discuss ways to feel better in those situations. Students can then brainstorm and list people in their community (such as teachers, firefighters, and family members) who help in scary situations. They can create thank-you cards or posters to show appreciation to these helpers. As a class, create a simple plan for what to do in an emergency (fire drill, storm, getting lost). Students can also draw or write about their safety plans at home. Students can bring in or draw something that helps them feel safe (such as a stuffed animal, a blanket, or a song) and explain why it is comforting to them. This encourages self-awareness and coping strategies.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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When Two Vowels Go Walking - PBS
Grades
K to 3
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Introduce this sometimes difficult-to-grasp concept with this short video clip and the classroom ideas. The short animated movie includes a catchy song that students won't forget. Yes,...more
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Introduce this sometimes difficult-to-grasp concept with this short video clip and the classroom ideas. The short animated movie includes a catchy song that students won't forget. Yes, it's corny, but it is guaranteed to liven up your grammar lesson. Bring out the headphones, print out the lyrics, and sing along!
In the Classroom
This is a perfect site to share on your projector or interactive whiteboard.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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WhenIsGood - Keith Harris
Grades
K to 12
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WhenIsGood is an easy to use tool to find out when all participants are free for an event or meeting. Choose "get started" and click all possible times and dates ...more
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WhenIsGood is an easy to use tool to find out when all participants are free for an event or meeting. Choose "get started" and click all possible times and dates for an event. Narrow times to particular days and time periods of 15, 30, or 60 minutes. Give the event a title. Additional options include specifying a time zone and viewing of only specific hours each day. After creating the event, write down the result code provided to receive the link to send to participants. Click the box to receive email alerts for any new responses. Participants highlight their choices and submit adding comments if desired. No registration is required to use this tool. You can register for an account to receive a few additional perks: edit or delete activities, no need for result codes with each event, and more.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): calendars (37), noregistration (74), parent conferences (20)
In the Classroom
Create a calendar for scheduling parent-teacher conferences to send to parents. Scheduling a special presentation and inviting parents? Use this tool to find out what date and time of day will work best. Use WhenIsGood to set up grade level or department meetings. Share with your school's Parent Teacher Organization as a tool for scheduling meetings, fundraisers, or book fairs.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Where to? What next? - National Park Service
Grades
5 to 8
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Where to? What next? includes a film and accompanying lesson plans dedicated to the life of American poet Carl Sandburg. The short (9-minute) film explores Sandburg's childhood and...more
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Where to? What next? includes a film and accompanying lesson plans dedicated to the life of American poet Carl Sandburg. The short (9-minute) film explores Sandburg's childhood and how his love for words developed into a love of poetry and stories. The lesson plans include an exploration of essential questions based on family heritage and future aspirations.
tag(s): authors (114), family (53), famous people (40), genealogy (8), poetry (196), racism (82)
In the Classroom
Include this video and these lesson plans with your current poetry unit. Engage students by creating a Padlet, reviewed here, to learn more about Carl Sandburg and other poets. In your Padlet, post links to poems to read and watch as they are read by poets and entertainers. Find some ideas and examples to use at the Archive of Recorded Literature, reviewed here. Encourage students to collaborate as they plan and create their own poetry by using a shared whiteboard tool such as Draw.Chat, reviewed here. Draw.Chat doesn't require registration, invite collaborators by sharing the link. Use the whiteboard to upload images, create graphic organizers, and brainstorm ideas for poems. Share your class's poetry using Pinecast, reviewed here, challenge students to create podcasts with short segments of up to 256 seconds each.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Whereby - appear.in
Grades
K to 12
4 Favorites
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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 access privileges, including customizing your room's background and locking it when empty. Free plans include a URL for one room with up to four participants and meetings lasting up to thirty minutes.
tag(s): blended learning (28), chat (41), communication (125), DAT device agnostic tool (133), remote learning (32)
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, with classrooms of children. Create connected learning experiences with other students, especially those in older grades. Connect world language classes to classes in different countries. Students interested in graphic design can connect with an expert or artist from afar and share their current work in a virtual critique. Connect students with mentors or older students for help with homework. Teachers can hold "office hours" to provide homework help and address 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."Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Whichbook.net - Opening the Book Ltd.
Grades
7 to 12
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Whichbook is an intuitive way to find books that match students' interests, topic choices, and other elements and serves as a welcome replacement for the traditional way of searching...more
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Whichbook is an intuitive way to find books that match students' interests, topic choices, and other elements and serves as a welcome replacement for the traditional way of searching the stacks and card catalogs in the library or browsing in bookstores or on the web. Whichbook starts with the individual reader and what they are looking for. It enables students to input criteria that is not limited to the typical title, author, genre search, but includes characteristics such as funny/sad, easy/demanding, and short/long to find books that they consider to be a "good read." Whichbook finds titles that match your preferences. There are millions of possibilities so if you don't like any of the books offered, change your choices and try again! Public libraries have played a key role in creating the database. It is important to note that all of the books are either fiction or poetry, available in paperback, and published since 1995.
tag(s): independent reading (84)
In the Classroom
Trying to motivate reluctant readers to pick up a book or to require independent reading is not always an easy task. Make the task more glamorous by providing your students the link to Whichbook. Demonstrate the site and invite students to try it on your whiteboard to witness the fun they will have discovering books they want and need. Then, provide a direct link on your class web page or wiki to make it easily available. Technology has built-in appeal; therefore, the idea of using it as a method to choose a book offers an imaginative way for promoting reading. As always, while in the classroom or computer lab, caution should be taken to oversee students' use of the website as it is possible to type in characteristics that may not be appropriate for the grade level. As an extension or book report alternative, challenge students to make their own simple graphics categorizing books they have read using the same system, determining where they would fall on each of the different scales. Have them explain why they would label the book that way. Share the student-made graphics and explanations on your class wiki.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Whimsical Mind Maps - Whimsical
Grades
4 to 12
3 Favorites
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Whimsical Mind Maps is a visual presentation tool offering concept maps in a variety of formats. Create appealing flowcharts, wireframes, sticky notes, and mind maps through the use...more
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Whimsical Mind Maps is a visual presentation tool offering concept maps in a variety of formats. Create appealing flowcharts, wireframes, sticky notes, and mind maps through the use of templates and intuitive editing tools. After signing in to your account, begin creating your mind map by choosing a template for your chosen format. Each format includes a dashboard with items to add and edit onto your page. Select the sharing icon to enable and disable features, including password protection, allowing comments, and creating a shareable link. Be sure to view the examples found on the site, including the interactive model on the home page to get a feel for the features available to you. Free accounts offer you the ability to create up to 3 free boards.
tag(s): charts and graphs (184), mind map (31)
In the Classroom
Assign students to "map" out a chapter or story. Assign groups to create study guides using this tool. Use this tool for literature activities, research projects, social studies, or science topics. Use this to create family trees or food pyramids in family and consumer science. Have students collaborate (online) to create group mind maps or review charts before tests on a given subject. Have students organize any concepts you study. They can color-code concepts to show what they understand, wonder, and question. Have students map out a story, plotline, or plan for the future. Students can also map out a step-by-step process (such as a life cycle or how to solve an equation). Use the wireframe option to create interesting images mimicking screen displays found on computers, phones, and mobile devices. Enhance and extend student learning by asking students to include their "map" as part of a final presentation created using a multimedia presentation tool like Wakelet, reviewed here, or as part of a digital book created using Book Creator, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Whiteboard.chat - whiteboard.chat
Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites
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Collaborate, share, teach, and interact with students using Whiteboard.chat. Use the teaching mode to create, assign, and teach live lessons. The teaching mode also includes uploading...more
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Collaborate, share, teach, and interact with students using Whiteboard.chat. Use the teaching mode to create, assign, and teach live lessons. The teaching mode also includes uploading a multipage PDF document and assigning multiple pages as workbooks to individual students. Use the collaborative method to work within a collaborative workspace with other users. After entering the teaching mode, use the toolbar to access drawing tools, upload images and documents, and manage the look and content of your board. Once students enter a whiteboard session using a shared code or link through Canvas or Google Classroom, they can download any shared workbook pages. Student tools include an area to raise their hand to receive help, request a break, indicate work is finished, or request to speed up or slow down the lesson. Observe students using the grid view that provides a thumbnail view of individual student whiteboards. Additional features include a timer, a list of participants, options to create breakout rooms, and settings to lock students from updating boards prematurely. Registration isn't required; however, it allows you to manage and save boards for later use.
tag(s): collaboration (139), differentiation (100), iwb (29)
In the Classroom
Use Whiteboard.chat to collaborate with students to share and organize information instantly. This tool even allows educators to auto-correct all boards with a single click! Use the PDF document feature to differentiate instruction with groups of students or individuals. Use the breakout feature to conduct small group meetings or provide personalized instruction to individual students. Allow students to create collaborative drawings as responses to literature. They can map out the plot or themes, add labels, create character studies, and more. Have a group of students create a drawing so that another group can use it as a writing prompt. Use Whiteboard.com as a brainstorming or sketching space as groups (or the class) share ideas for a major project or for solving a real-world problem. Use this site in a computer lab (or on laptops) to draw the setting in a story as it is read aloud. As an assessment idea, have students draw out a simple cartoon with stick figures to explain a more complex process, such as how democracy works. If you are lucky enough to teach in a BYOD setting, have a blended classroom, or are distance teaching, use Whiteboard.chat to demonstrate and illustrate any concept while students use the chat and drawing tools to interact in real-time. If you are studying weather, have students diagram the layers of the atmosphere and what happens during a thunderstorm, for example. Introduce this tool to students who are working on group projects. Alternatively, have students use this to work as partners or as a small team within a breakout area to complete complex math problems or equations.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Whiteboard.fi - Digital Teaching Tools Finland Ltd
Grades
K to 12
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Whiteboard.fi is a temporary whiteboard tool created specifically for educators and for classroom use. Free accounts offer you the ability to create and use a whiteboard and the accompanying...more
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Whiteboard.fi is a temporary whiteboard tool created specifically for educators and for classroom use. Free accounts offer you the ability to create and use a whiteboard and the accompanying tools without registration. Temporary rooms are deleted following two hours of inactivity. Choose the option to start a new class and follow the steps to begin a session. Options allow you to create a waiting room where students have to be allowed into the whiteboard area and include a save mode that adapts for participants with limited internet strength. Once the room is created, share the URL or QR Code with students. The whiteboard tools include text, drawing, images, and more. When finished, use the included options to save your whiteboard as an image file or PDF document.
tag(s): collaboration (139), iwb (29)
In the Classroom
Use Whiteboard.fi to collaborate with students to share and organize information instantly. Use the whiteboard as a brainstorming or sketching space as groups (or the class) share ideas for a major project or solve a real-world problem. Use this site in a computer lab (or on laptops) to create a drawing of the setting in a story as it is read aloud. As an assessment idea, have students draw out a simple cartoon with stick figures to explain a more complex process, such as how democracy works. If you are lucky enough to teach in a BYOD setting, have a blended classroom, or are distance teaching, use this whiteboard tool to view students' whiteboards in real-time. For example, if you study weather, have students diagram the layers of the atmosphere and what happens during a thunderstorm. Introduce this tool to students who are working on group projects. Alternatively, have students use this to work as partners or as a small team to complete complex math problems or equations.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Who Runs the World? Girls - Women as Changemakers - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
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This page is part of the TeachersFirst Help! I Lost My Library/Media Specialist series reviewed here and shares activities and book lists for teaching...more
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This page is part of the TeachersFirst Help! I Lost My Library/Media Specialist series reviewed here and shares activities and book lists for teaching about women as changemakers. After viewing a short introduction and background information, visit the activities portion of the site to Read and Do activities based on books featuring Malala Yousafzai, Jane Goodall, Greta Thunberg, and other women changemakers. Extension ideas include how to become a changemaker, a biographer, compare women changemakers, and learn about good trouble. Information includes correlation to ISTE and AASL standards.
tag(s): book lists (166), help article (47), women (191)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the book suggestions on this page to find additions to your classroom library. Consider adding women as changemakers at one of the stations when doing station rotations. Extend learning using the 4-Circle Venn Diagram Creator provided by Canva, reviewed here. Canva shares many templates and ideas for different versions of Venn Diagrams to compare and contrast information. Use these ideas to compare and contrast women changemakers' actions, background, and information.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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Whodunnit? - Bringing a Little Mystery Into the Classroom - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 8
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TeachersFirst Help! I Lost My Library/Media Specialist series, reviewed here, brings you this article with book suggestions and activities featuring...more
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TeachersFirst Help! I Lost My Library/Media Specialist series, reviewed here, brings you this article with book suggestions and activities featuring the genre of mysteries. This article begins with background knowledge on the advantages of including mystery books in classrooms in any reading program. The activities include recommendations for picture books and novels and lesson ideas that utilize technology and online resources to enhance knowledge and comprehension. Additional extension activities that encourage students to explore the mystery genre are available further down the page. They include writing projects and video book reviews. Information includes correlation to ISTE and AASL standards.
tag(s): book lists (166), mysteries (28)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the book suggestions and lists to find mystery books to include in your classroom library and as a designated mystery reading center. Integrate reading mystery books and stories with other content areas to discover mysteries waiting to be solved. Create mystery stories on any subject to share with students using one of the many artificial intelligence (AI) tools available to educators. ReadTheory Passage Generator, reviewed here generates reading passages for all grade levels based on your prompt. When teaching about the Civil War, try a prompt asking for text about the mysteries of the Civil War and select a grade level. After generating a story that "looks good," ReadTheory generates editable comprehension questions to accompany the text delivered to your email inbox.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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WHODUNNIT? Bringing a Little Mystery into the Classroom - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 6
22 Favorites
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This readaloud collection is part of the Help I lost my library/media specialist series. Although nothing can replace the specialized knowledge of a teacher-librarian, this collection...more
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This readaloud collection is part of the Help I lost my library/media specialist series. Although nothing can replace the specialized knowledge of a teacher-librarian, this collection of books and activities was created by an experienced elementary library/media specialist for fall read alouds and class discussions as Halloween and "mystery season" bring a chill to the air. The list of books to read aloud and accompanying activities include puzzles and stories that challenge their thinking. Of course we include Lexiles where available.
tag(s): book lists (166), halloween (45), reading lists (79)
In the Classroom
Use mysteries as an opportunity to learn some specialized vocabulary, a new story/text structure, to practice making inferences, and to synthesize information and make predictions. If your library does not have the books you want from this list, try using the ISBN numbers to borrow them on interlibrary loan from a public library nearby.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Whole-to-Parts Phonics Instruction: Teaching Letter-Sound Correspondences - ReadWriteThink
Grades
K to 2
1 Favorites
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If you are a new teacher or brushing up on your teaching of beginner reading skills, Read Write Think has put this lesson together for you! When you reach the ...more
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If you are a new teacher or brushing up on your teaching of beginner reading skills, Read Write Think has put this lesson together for you! When you reach the page, you will be in the preview; just above that, find tabs for Standards, Resources & Preparation, Instructional Plan, Related Resources, and Comments. In this lesson, students use Jack & Jill to identify words that belong to the -ill family using analogy onset-rime and substitute consonant sounds to form new words. In addition, there are several links to use like "Copy Change" worksheets, a computer-assisted program, "Construct a Word," which focuses on onset-rime analogies, and others.
tag(s): phonics (53), preK (328), reading strategies (87), science of reading (36), spelling (92)
In the Classroom
Share this resource with your student teacher when introducing a beginning reading lesson. Also, share with parents on your teacher's web page or in a newsletter for practice at home. Use workstations for the worksheets, and allow students to work at their own pace.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Whooo's Reading - Whooo's Reading
Grades
K to 8
2 Favorites
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Whooo's Reading is an alternative to traditional reading programs by offering short response options to book quizzes instead of multiple choice answers. After reading, students answer...more
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Whooo's Reading is an alternative to traditional reading programs by offering short response options to book quizzes instead of multiple choice answers. After reading, students answer three quick higher-level questions, that are automatically scored, and earn coins for correct responses to spend on personalized "owlvatars." Teachers receive scores in real-time and have the option to provide feedback through conversations with students within the program. In addition to quizzes, Whooo's Reading also offers standards aligned journal activities for use in between quizzes and book recommendations upon completing quizzes. Teachers can choose what type of quiz their students take. The choices are Open-ended only, Mixed quiz (2 fill in the blank, one open), and Advanced Quiz (3 fill-in-the-blank and 2 open).
tag(s): classroom management (147), reading comprehension (146), reading strategies (87)
In the Classroom
Although recommended for students in grades K-8, teachers of younger students should review questions and consider writing ability levels before including them in the program due to the written responses required. Consider using Whooo's Reading as an alternative to Accelerated Reader due to the use of short response answers instead of multiple choice questions. After reading books, substitute paper and pen journals by asking younger students to create a blog using a tool like Penzu, reviewed here, to share a book review with fellow students. Engage older students, or literature circle groups, by having them create a poster for the book using a tool like DesignCap, reviewed here, and then upload the poster to their blog about the book. A great blogging tool for older students is Telegra.ph, reviewed here. With Telegra.ph have students click on an icon to upload related images, add a YouTube or Vimeo link. This blog creator requires no registration. For all age students, enhance learning by creating a class book review site using Gravity, reviewed here, where students create short video book reviews and can comment on each others reviews.Edge Features:
Includes an education-only area for teachers and students
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Requires registration/log in (NO email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
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Why All Secondary Teachers Need to Add Science of Reading to Their Lessons - TeachersFirst
Grades
6 to 12
1 Favorites
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Think reading is just the English teacher's job? Think again! This blog post from TeachersFirst's Infusing Technology Blog urges all secondary educators to embrace the Science of Reading,...more
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Think reading is just the English teacher's job? Think again! This blog post from TeachersFirst's Infusing Technology Blog urges all secondary educators to embrace the Science of Reading, especially the often-overlooked skill of fluency. Many students in middle and high school silently struggle with comprehension because their reading fluency hasn't been nurtured. The post offers practical ways to integrate fluency checks into any subject, such as one-minute oral readings or short recorded assignments. These simple strategies can help teachers across disciplines support literacy and unlock deeper learning for all students.
tag(s): blogs (82), fluency (32), reading comprehension (146), science of reading (36)
In the Classroom
Read this post and then put the ideas into action! Have students take turns reading a short passage (related to your content area) aloud for one minute. Pair them with a peer to time, track errors, and provide supportive feedback. Rotate passages weekly to build confidence, fluency, and content knowledge. After fluency practice, have students reflect in journals about what they read--summarizing key points, identifying challenging words, and noting how fluency affected their understanding. Consider writing the journals digitally using a resource like Book Creator reviewed here or Google Slides reviewed here. Ask students to record themselves reading passages from your subject (e.g., a science explanation, a history speech, or a math word problem) using tools like Vocaroo reviewed here. Have them submit recordings monthly to show progress. Include self-assessment rubrics to promote ownership of growth.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Why Can't Teachers Be Funny in School? - Trainers Warehouse
Grades
3 to 8
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This blog post from Trainers Warehouse explains how using classroom humor can make learning more engaging, memorable, and enjoyable for students. The article encourages teachers to...more
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This blog post from Trainers Warehouse explains how using classroom humor can make learning more engaging, memorable, and enjoyable for students. The article encourages teachers to include funny activities, jokes, games, and playful routines to help students relax, participate more, and feel comfortable taking risks while learning. Suggestions include using silly introductions, humorous writing activities, improv games, movement breaks, funny prompts, and lighthearted classroom challenges to keep energy high and attention focused. The post also notes that laughter can reduce stress, improve mood, strengthen relationships, and help students remember what they learn, making humor a powerful tool for building a positive classroom environment.
tag(s): blogs (82), classroom management (147), humor (24), teaching strategies (85)
In the Classroom
Use content-based humor activities like Mad Libs, limericks, or funny captions related to the topic you are teaching. For example, students can fill in missing words in a paragraph about the lesson or write a humorous rhyme using vocabulary terms. Begin a lesson with a funny introduction activity, such as having students introduce themselves using emojis, memes, or silly voices. Incorporate movement-based humor activities like funny walks, freeze poses, or short dance breaks.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Why Phonological Awareness is Important to Reading - Glean Education
Grades
K to 6
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This podcast includes a 22-minute conversation between Jessica Hamman, the founder of Glean Education, and Melanie Schuele, a leading literacy and speech-language pathology researcher....more
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This podcast includes a 22-minute conversation between Jessica Hamman, the founder of Glean Education, and Melanie Schuele, a leading literacy and speech-language pathology researcher. The discussion focuses on phonological awareness and methods for explicit phonological awareness instruction. Listen to this podcast online, download it to your device, or read and print the available transcript.
tag(s): literacy (123), phonics (53), preK (328), professional development (298), science of reading (36)
In the Classroom
Include this podcast with your other bookmarks and professional development resources for literacy instruction. Share with peers during professional development activities. Use information from this podcast and others to share the research behind literacy instruction methods with parents. Consider adding a short section to your class newsletter or website each month that includes information about literacy research and tips for at-home activities to encourage the practice of literacy skills at home. Find many free books, games, and activities to share with parents at We Read, reviewed here.
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Whyville - Mundeon
Grades
4 to 10
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Enter the interactive virtual world of Whyville, where students explore STEM, art, culture, and digital citizenship through hands-on simulations and creative activities. After...more
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Enter the interactive virtual world of Whyville, where students explore STEM, art, culture, and digital citizenship through hands-on simulations and creative activities. After creating a customizable avatar, learners can participate in science challenges, design experiments, practice math and physics concepts, create art, and take part in collaborative community events. Many classic features remain, such as the Zero Gravity Chamber for exploring force and motion, the Rocket Design and Engine Labs for testing scientific ideas, and public-health simulations that teach students how diseases spread and how communities respond. Students can also navigate vector fields in balloon races, join global art scavenger hunts, or choreograph dances in the studio. Throughout the world, they earn clams, collect salaries, manage a bank account, read the daily news, and experiment with responsible online behavior in a moderated, safe environment. While logging in with an email is required for full participation, many areas are available without registration. Whyville continues to be an award-winning platform that blends learning, creativity, and digital citizenship in a way that feels like an adventure for students
tag(s): aircraft (26), animals (283), dance (42), diseases (59), logic (176), money (114), motion (56), puzzles (176), recycling (48), social skills (23), vectors (16)
In the Classroom
Reinforce safe online behavior as your students explore opportunities for learning. The chat feature is a perfect opportunity to practice safe interactions. Demonstrate this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Use as a reward in your classroom or to extend and enrich concepts learned in math and science. Offer Whyville as a safe enrichment tool for students to use at home. Encourage all students to join in the educational activities. Have students explore a Whyville simulation, collect data, and connect the experience to a real-world science concept.
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WHYY I Like This Book - WHYY Philadelphia
Grades
K to 12
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WHYY I Like This Book is an initiative of the Philadelphia PBS channel to promote student literacy in their community. View 60-second videos created by the finalists exploring what...more
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WHYY I Like This Book is an initiative of the Philadelphia PBS channel to promote student literacy in their community. View 60-second videos created by the finalists exploring what motivates readers.
tag(s): book lists (166), literacy (123)
In the Classroom
Share these videos with students as an example of how to create and share a book talk for other readers. Before creating videos, enhance student learning by using a storyboard creation tool like Story Map, reviewed here, to plan and arrange your story. Use ScreenPal, reviewed here, to extemd student learning and share video book talks and suggestions with classmates.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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