Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

TeachersFirst Reading Treks create a virtual field trip of resources about a piece of literature or text using the My Maps feature of Google Maps. This Reading Trek provides inspiration and suggestions for using the trade book Lost and Found Cat, the True Story of Kunkush's Incredible Journey. This picture book is the true story of one cat's journey to be reunited with his war-torn family and shows how ordinary people can help with compassion and hope. Use our robust Instructional Guide with students in grades PreK-3. Content correlates to Common Core Standards, ISTE Student Standards, and National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies. Find the entire collection of Reading Treks here.

tag(s): iraq (26), preK (270), virtual field trips (128)

TeachersFirst Reading Treks create a virtual field trip of resources about a piece of literature or text using the My Maps feature of Google Maps. This Reading Trek provides inspiration and suggestions for using the trade book Harriet the Spy. Harriet Welsch is an 11-year-old girl living in New York's Upper East Side. One day she starts writing her observations about everyone she knows in a notebook. Then someone finds her notebook and exposes its content, which is very critical. Use our robust Instructional Guide with students in grades 4-7. Content correlates to Common Core Standards, ISTE Student Standards, National Core Arts Standards for Visual Arts, and National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies. Find the entire selection of Reading Treks here.

tag(s): new york (24), virtual field trips (128), women (151)

TeachersFirst Reading Treks create a virtual field trip of resources about a piece of literature or text using the My Maps feature of Google Maps. This Reading Trek provides inspiration and suggestions for using the trade book Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. Peter Hatcher is a fourth-grader with a two-and-a-half-year-old brother who is a handful. Read about the exasperating situations Peter finds himself in because of his little brother. Use our robust Instructional Guide with students in grades 3-5. Content correlates to Common Core Standards, ISTE Student Standards, National Core Standards for Visual Arts, and National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies. Find the entire selection of Reading Treks here.

tag(s): 1950s (8), new york (24), novels (34), virtual field trips (128)

TeachersFirst Reading Treks create a virtual field trip of resources about a piece of literature or text using the My Maps feature of Google Maps. This Reading Trek provides inspiration and suggestions for using the trade book, A Long Way from Chicago. During the time of the Great Depression and the beginning of WWII, Joey and Mary Alice, city children from Chicago, spend a week each August with their eccentric Grandma Dowdel in her rural home town. Over the eight years the story takes place, they learn to appreciate their Grandma's spunkiness and get to experience many situations that their parents would never allow them to encounter. Use our robust Instructional Guide with students in grades 4-8. Content correlates to Common Core Standards, ISTE Student Standards, National Core Art Standards, and National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies. Find the entire selection of Reading Treks here.

tag(s): 1900s (72), 1920s (6), 1930s (20), 1940s (14), family (51)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from April 2020. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Join us for this light-hearted session where you take the role of a student working on a real-world connection project. Learn to use Google search tools like a Ninja as you prepare and submit your project. The tips and tricks presented in this session will help empower your students as they use research strategies to locate information and resources for projects and other creative work. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand how effective search strategies assist with student research; 2. Plan for the introduction of search strategies in the classroom; and 3. Create a project exemplar to share with students. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): digital citizenship (85), Google (47), media literacy (109), professional development (385), Research (87), search strategies (22)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from April 2020. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Integrating visual and written content can increase the impact of the writing that your students do. As students learn to use imagery to illustrate critical points in an argument or visualize the action in a storyline, they become better communicators. Join this session and help your students develop the ability to communicate clearly and creatively. Model and nurture creative expression while providing a new way for your students to reflect on what they have learned. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand the components of a visual essay; 2. Explore a tech tool that can be used to create visual essays; and 3. Create a visual essay exemplar to share with their students. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): essays (21), professional development (385), visualizations (11)

TeachersFirst Reading Treks create a virtual field trip of resources about a piece of literature or text using the My Maps feature of Google Maps. This Reading Trek provides inspiration and suggestions for using the trade book If You Lived Here, Houses of the World. Use our robust Instructional Guide with students in grades 1-4. Content correlates to Common Core Standards, ISTE Student Standards, and National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies. Find the entire selection of Reading Treks here.

tag(s): cross cultural understanding (173), family (51), homes (5), virtual field trips (128)

TeachersFirst Reading Treks create a virtual field trip of resources about a piece of literature or text using the My Maps feature of Google Maps. This Reading Trek provides inspiration and suggestions for using the trade book, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Edward Tulane is a special, porcelain rabbit, custom-made by 10-year-old Abilene Tulane's grandmother. Abilene treats him like a human. Then one day, while vacationing on the RMS Queen Mary, he falls overboard. Edward learns that real happiness comes from opening his heart to friendship. Use our robust Instructional Guide with students in grades 3-5. Content correlates to Common Core Standards and ISTE Student Standards. Find the entire selection of Reading Treks here.

tag(s): 1930s (20), character education (79), emotions (49), virtual field trips (128)

Take your remote teaching activities to the next level with these research resources for grades 3-5. Each suggestion includes information about the online resource and how to get started. Additional resources include links to TeachersFirst blogs and other primary source links with ideas for classroom use.

tag(s): professional development (385), Research (87)

Remote teaching involves a different mindset than in-classroom lessons. This collection shares tips, resources, and assessment tools to get remote learning off to a successful start. Follow the advice to encourage continued interactions with students through the use of digital tools. Use the instructional tools to provide interactive learning activities. Follow up learning activities using the assessment suggestions offered in the collection. Extend learning with continued use of the shared resources following your return to your regular classroom routines.

tag(s): branches of government (65), capitals (16), maps (220), professional development (385)

Augment your remote teaching resources with this collection of instructional tools and tips for sharing ELA resources for students in grades 3-5. Take advantage of the General Tips provided to plan and implement remote teaching activities. The Instructional Tools section includes several free resources for finding and sharing ELA lessons and activities. Have students "Show What They Know" using the formative assessment ideas contained in the collection.

tag(s): differentiation (84), Formative Assessment (74), independent reading (81), professional development (385)

If you are teaching remotely on short notice, this collection is for you! The simple tips and tools share free resources to get started with providing social studies instruction to our youngest students. Browse through to find ideas on using 'listen and read' activities along with a plan for students to share what they know.

tag(s): animals (294), careers (156), communities (35), preK (270)

Sometimes educators need short notice ideas for student projects that try to fill in instructional gaps with limited guidance or teacher support. This collection shares ideas and resources to get you started with student projects, especially in remote learning situations. Browse through to find a variety of tools for students to "Show What You Know" for web-based formative assessment.

tag(s): assessment (147), Formative Assessment (74), professional development (385)