The following internet sites offer valuable resources and tools
for use in the classroom and for designing dynamic and engaging learning plans.
for use in the classroom and for designing dynamic and engaging learning plans.
Teen Librarian Toolbox
Part of School Library Journal (SLJ.com), Teen Librarian Toolbox (TLT) is a professional development website for librarians and teachers working with the teenage population that boasts an impressive staff and competent teen reviewers. Featuring resource sharing, book reviews, book lists, discussions, and adaptable lesson programs, special attention is paid to discussing and understanding teen issues in young adult literature and engaging readers in the upper elementary grades.
I first stumbled upon TLT when searching for fiction books featuring female characters whose abilities in science, technology, engineering, and math figure prominently in the storylines, and found an entire list of current fiction that my students would actually be interested in reading. Such books could easily be incorporated into science courses as well as literature courses as part of a curriculum that provides equal attention to the female perspective. Additionally, such literature empowers females to internalize a more positive frame of reference regarding field of study that are typically male-dominated.
Part of School Library Journal (SLJ.com), Teen Librarian Toolbox (TLT) is a professional development website for librarians and teachers working with the teenage population that boasts an impressive staff and competent teen reviewers. Featuring resource sharing, book reviews, book lists, discussions, and adaptable lesson programs, special attention is paid to discussing and understanding teen issues in young adult literature and engaging readers in the upper elementary grades.
I first stumbled upon TLT when searching for fiction books featuring female characters whose abilities in science, technology, engineering, and math figure prominently in the storylines, and found an entire list of current fiction that my students would actually be interested in reading. Such books could easily be incorporated into science courses as well as literature courses as part of a curriculum that provides equal attention to the female perspective. Additionally, such literature empowers females to internalize a more positive frame of reference regarding field of study that are typically male-dominated.
Drexel University College of Medicine - Vision 2020
Not the first place one would expect to find teacher resources, Drexel University College of Medicine's Institute for Women's Health and Leadership website features a Youth Education page with access to ready-made lesson plans with a central focus on gender equality, leadership, and civic education, featuring women's contributions to American history. Part of the Vision 2020 educator's initiative, the site provides free downloadable pdf lesson plans: "Remember the Ladies" - a lesson about Alice Paul and the passage of the 19th amendment; "I knew it could be done . . . and I did it" - American women explorers from 1800 to 1950; and Public Demonstration to Achieve Civic Goals: Picketing at the White House.
Also of note, the Vision 2020 Educator's Guide is a comprehensive collection of lesson plans focused on engaging students in dialogue about equality and, specifically, women's contributions to history. Full lesson plans provide class starters, activities, assessment tools, and culmination activities. With 95 pages of instruction and supplementary materials, including quality images of primary sources, the guide makes it easy to incorporate lessons about gender equality and learn about women as major contributors to history rather than as sidenotes in the margins. Though featured primarily as supplements to history classes, the lessons are easily adaptable to literature courses as introductory background information or theme-related extension activities.
Not the first place one would expect to find teacher resources, Drexel University College of Medicine's Institute for Women's Health and Leadership website features a Youth Education page with access to ready-made lesson plans with a central focus on gender equality, leadership, and civic education, featuring women's contributions to American history. Part of the Vision 2020 educator's initiative, the site provides free downloadable pdf lesson plans: "Remember the Ladies" - a lesson about Alice Paul and the passage of the 19th amendment; "I knew it could be done . . . and I did it" - American women explorers from 1800 to 1950; and Public Demonstration to Achieve Civic Goals: Picketing at the White House.
Also of note, the Vision 2020 Educator's Guide is a comprehensive collection of lesson plans focused on engaging students in dialogue about equality and, specifically, women's contributions to history. Full lesson plans provide class starters, activities, assessment tools, and culmination activities. With 95 pages of instruction and supplementary materials, including quality images of primary sources, the guide makes it easy to incorporate lessons about gender equality and learn about women as major contributors to history rather than as sidenotes in the margins. Though featured primarily as supplements to history classes, the lessons are easily adaptable to literature courses as introductory background information or theme-related extension activities.
Teaching Tolerance
Affiliated as a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, the website is a valuable resource for educators seeking to learn about and incorporate tolerance for diversity in their schools and classrooms. Resources include a free magazine, a blog with links to current articles and the latest tolerance resources, professional development support, classroom resources, and listings of relevant publications. Classroom resources include extensive offerings for lesson plans for all age levels on all diversity-related topics, each lesson indicating its anti-bias domain for easy of reference.
Most useful is the site’s link to Perspectives, a literacy-based curriculum that combines diversity and equity content with Common Core standards for students, teachers, and principals. For teachers, Perspectives is a free service for building a learning plan with an anti-bias framework that incorporates texts, media, tasks, rubrics, and strategies already aligned with Common Core standards.
Affiliated as a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, the website is a valuable resource for educators seeking to learn about and incorporate tolerance for diversity in their schools and classrooms. Resources include a free magazine, a blog with links to current articles and the latest tolerance resources, professional development support, classroom resources, and listings of relevant publications. Classroom resources include extensive offerings for lesson plans for all age levels on all diversity-related topics, each lesson indicating its anti-bias domain for easy of reference.
Most useful is the site’s link to Perspectives, a literacy-based curriculum that combines diversity and equity content with Common Core standards for students, teachers, and principals. For teachers, Perspectives is a free service for building a learning plan with an anti-bias framework that incorporates texts, media, tasks, rubrics, and strategies already aligned with Common Core standards.
Anti-Defamation League - Education & Outreach
The Anti-Defamation League is dedicated to fighting all forms of bigotry and promoting civil rights, and the website comprehensively addresses all aspects of these causes. The Education and Outreach menu contains a wealth of resources for educators including anti-bias education and curriculum resources. Of particular note are the ready-to-go lessons plans featuring recent current events, such as Freddie Gray and the unrest in Baltimore and Caitlyn Jenner’s gender transition, and an online bibliography called Books Matter of over 700 recommended children’s books about bias, diversity, bullying, and social justice.
These are excellent resources for teachers to be able to quickly access relevant books by topic, age group, and a brief description in order to choose the most appropriate and modern titles for curriculum planning; books regarding every aspect of multicultural education and equity pedagogy are included. As I believe the best way to engage students in their own education is to relate curriculum to what is relevant in their lives, the lesson plans featuring current events are extremely useful as bridge activities.
The Anti-Defamation League is dedicated to fighting all forms of bigotry and promoting civil rights, and the website comprehensively addresses all aspects of these causes. The Education and Outreach menu contains a wealth of resources for educators including anti-bias education and curriculum resources. Of particular note are the ready-to-go lessons plans featuring recent current events, such as Freddie Gray and the unrest in Baltimore and Caitlyn Jenner’s gender transition, and an online bibliography called Books Matter of over 700 recommended children’s books about bias, diversity, bullying, and social justice.
These are excellent resources for teachers to be able to quickly access relevant books by topic, age group, and a brief description in order to choose the most appropriate and modern titles for curriculum planning; books regarding every aspect of multicultural education and equity pedagogy are included. As I believe the best way to engage students in their own education is to relate curriculum to what is relevant in their lives, the lesson plans featuring current events are extremely useful as bridge activities.
Grammar Girl: Quick and Dirty Tips
Grammar Girl is an excellent resource for quick, clear tips about grammar and writing skills that students (and adults!) often find confusing. Topics range from using semicolons and common writing mistakes to word origins and malapropisms, and have the appeal of being concise, humorous, and contemporary. New topics are introduced as language and technology continue to evolve, with references to pop culture and classic literature that make it a user-friendly source for middle school and high school teachers.
For the classroom, these are ideal bell ringer activities for the start of class as each tip can be covered in just a few minutes, and each lesson may stand on its own or serve as segue to a longer lesson. Grammar Girl is also offered as a podcast and useful for auditory learners.
Grammar Girl is an excellent resource for quick, clear tips about grammar and writing skills that students (and adults!) often find confusing. Topics range from using semicolons and common writing mistakes to word origins and malapropisms, and have the appeal of being concise, humorous, and contemporary. New topics are introduced as language and technology continue to evolve, with references to pop culture and classic literature that make it a user-friendly source for middle school and high school teachers.
For the classroom, these are ideal bell ringer activities for the start of class as each tip can be covered in just a few minutes, and each lesson may stand on its own or serve as segue to a longer lesson. Grammar Girl is also offered as a podcast and useful for auditory learners.
Animoto
Animoto is a user-friendly video creation website that allows students to easily upload photos and video clips, set them to music, add captions, and produce a completed video in just a few minutes. Students may personalize their video to match a particular style or theme ranging from educational, personal, and business formats to seasonal or event themes. Educators may also apply for a free Animoto Plus account specifically for use in the classroom.
Incorporating technology into classroom activities is a surefire way to keep students interested and engaged. Animoto helps students tap into their creative genius and allows educators to expand lessons beyond pencil and paper activities and assessments. Creating an Animoto video pairs very well with writing memoirs in the English classroom, as it lets students add a visual element to their narrative writing. Not only does it help students match visual imagery with their words, but it also serves as a reminder of the importance of descriptive imagery when telling a story.
Animoto is a user-friendly video creation website that allows students to easily upload photos and video clips, set them to music, add captions, and produce a completed video in just a few minutes. Students may personalize their video to match a particular style or theme ranging from educational, personal, and business formats to seasonal or event themes. Educators may also apply for a free Animoto Plus account specifically for use in the classroom.
Incorporating technology into classroom activities is a surefire way to keep students interested and engaged. Animoto helps students tap into their creative genius and allows educators to expand lessons beyond pencil and paper activities and assessments. Creating an Animoto video pairs very well with writing memoirs in the English classroom, as it lets students add a visual element to their narrative writing. Not only does it help students match visual imagery with their words, but it also serves as a reminder of the importance of descriptive imagery when telling a story.
Quizlet
A free service, Quizlet features learning tools such as tests, flashcards, and study games as supplementary study tools for students. Teachers can create study sets that are automatically applied to all tools on the site so the student may study in a variety of ways and according to their personal preference. Students also need not have their own account; they may access a teacher's account through the Search feature via personal computer or the mobile app.
For English class, this is an invaluable tool for studying vocabulary and literary terms throughout the year. Students especially enjoy the Scatter game of moving cards with terms onto their accompanying definition; a correct answer makes the set disappear, and students are timed for how quickly the task is completed. An upgrade from the standard flashcards, Quizlet's ease of use and variety make it a learning tool students actually want to use, and a website teachers can quickly learn to use.
A free service, Quizlet features learning tools such as tests, flashcards, and study games as supplementary study tools for students. Teachers can create study sets that are automatically applied to all tools on the site so the student may study in a variety of ways and according to their personal preference. Students also need not have their own account; they may access a teacher's account through the Search feature via personal computer or the mobile app.
For English class, this is an invaluable tool for studying vocabulary and literary terms throughout the year. Students especially enjoy the Scatter game of moving cards with terms onto their accompanying definition; a correct answer makes the set disappear, and students are timed for how quickly the task is completed. An upgrade from the standard flashcards, Quizlet's ease of use and variety make it a learning tool students actually want to use, and a website teachers can quickly learn to use.
PBS Learning Media and POV
PBS Learning Media offers a plethora of media resources for educators, complete with accompanying lesson plans and discussion guides. Lessons are searchable by content standards, grade, subject, clips, or a general search and cover a wide range of subject areas with a focus on contemporary topics that help teachers connect curriculum in the classroom to what is happening in the world. Similarly, POV, an extension site featuring documentaries is searchable by subject, grade, and theme. Though media is often used in the curriculum, educators may not always address how the visual medium enhances, changes, or informs what is presented. This site, however, offers Media Literacy Questions to help educators better engage their students with an awareness for the medium of film.
Students are typically excited to view films in class, and the media featured on PBS, a trusted source for quality programming, is both entertaining and educational. Even for English class, rich connections to literature can be discovered, spurring discussion and thinking on a level where deep learning is taking place.
PBS Learning Media offers a plethora of media resources for educators, complete with accompanying lesson plans and discussion guides. Lessons are searchable by content standards, grade, subject, clips, or a general search and cover a wide range of subject areas with a focus on contemporary topics that help teachers connect curriculum in the classroom to what is happening in the world. Similarly, POV, an extension site featuring documentaries is searchable by subject, grade, and theme. Though media is often used in the curriculum, educators may not always address how the visual medium enhances, changes, or informs what is presented. This site, however, offers Media Literacy Questions to help educators better engage their students with an awareness for the medium of film.
Students are typically excited to view films in class, and the media featured on PBS, a trusted source for quality programming, is both entertaining and educational. Even for English class, rich connections to literature can be discovered, spurring discussion and thinking on a level where deep learning is taking place.
Edutopia
Edutopia is an online community that focuses on all things teaching for K-12 educators. With a main focus on discussion of core strategies such as teacher development and technology integration, teachers have access to the latest articles, discussion, resources, and videos to implement the best teaching practices. Joining the Edutopia community is free and once registered, members can search for discussions by topics and grade level, join in on the conversation, and even start a new conversation. It is truly a collaborative effort of educators who care passionately about their profession.
As a resource for professional development, Edutopia is very user-friendly. The articles and discussions are thorough without being too lengthy or academic, and resources such as rubrics often accompany the discussions. For both the beginning English teacher and the seasoned veteran, there are myriad resources to help engage reluctant readers, differentiate instruction, and incorporate technology. With Edutopia, an educator never need feel left out of the loophole of the current conversations in Education.
Edutopia is an online community that focuses on all things teaching for K-12 educators. With a main focus on discussion of core strategies such as teacher development and technology integration, teachers have access to the latest articles, discussion, resources, and videos to implement the best teaching practices. Joining the Edutopia community is free and once registered, members can search for discussions by topics and grade level, join in on the conversation, and even start a new conversation. It is truly a collaborative effort of educators who care passionately about their profession.
As a resource for professional development, Edutopia is very user-friendly. The articles and discussions are thorough without being too lengthy or academic, and resources such as rubrics often accompany the discussions. For both the beginning English teacher and the seasoned veteran, there are myriad resources to help engage reluctant readers, differentiate instruction, and incorporate technology. With Edutopia, an educator never need feel left out of the loophole of the current conversations in Education.
Google Docs
An online word processor similar to, and compatible with, Microsoft Word, Google Docs boasts features that make it ideal for classroom use. The format is very similar to Microsoft Word, but Docs allows students to create, collaborate, and edit documents online and in real time without ever having to hit the "save" button. Documents may be created on Google Docs, or a Word document may be uploaded and converted.
Because Google Docs continually saves changes, students don't need to remember to save the document and may access it from any computer, not just the classroom laptop. Students may also collaborate on documents in real time from anywhere and view their revision history. This feature is especially useful in English class where students are always writing and revising their work. Students may also share a link to their document with the teacher so the teacher can view, edit, or comment on the work. While paper and pencil still have their place in the classroom, Google Docs certainly makes writing and editing essays easier for both the teacher and the students.
An online word processor similar to, and compatible with, Microsoft Word, Google Docs boasts features that make it ideal for classroom use. The format is very similar to Microsoft Word, but Docs allows students to create, collaborate, and edit documents online and in real time without ever having to hit the "save" button. Documents may be created on Google Docs, or a Word document may be uploaded and converted.
Because Google Docs continually saves changes, students don't need to remember to save the document and may access it from any computer, not just the classroom laptop. Students may also collaborate on documents in real time from anywhere and view their revision history. This feature is especially useful in English class where students are always writing and revising their work. Students may also share a link to their document with the teacher so the teacher can view, edit, or comment on the work. While paper and pencil still have their place in the classroom, Google Docs certainly makes writing and editing essays easier for both the teacher and the students.