Great+Sites

Content Sites

[|Thinkfinity] From Joyce: This site provides leading-edge, innovative, technology-based approaches to literacy and education. The website includes: ARTSEDGE - the National Arts and Education Network EconEdLink - Council for Economic Education EDSITEment - National Endowment for the Humanities Illuminations - National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Literacy Network - National Center for Family Literacy ReadWriteThink - National Council of Teachers of English Science NetLinks - American Association for the Advancement of Science Smithsonian's History Explorer - National Museum of American History Xpeditions - National Geographic (Thinkfinity is sponsored by the Verizon Foundation)

[|Utah Education Network] We fell across this site completely by accident, during a search for lesson plans on symmetry. As it turns out, the state of Utah maintains a fairly rich collection of educator resources. Here you will find detailed lesson plans and links to online classroom resources.

[|Hoagies Gifted Education Page] Not the prettiest/easiest page to navigate, but there's a lot there

[|Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators] A list of dozens of sites across curricular areas to enhance classroom instruction. Frequently updated. Kathy Schrock is a well-known leader in instructional technology.

[|eThemes] To quote Joyce: eThemes is an extensive database of content-rich, age-appropriate resources organized around specific themes. These resources are created for educators to use in their classrooms. All of the websites listed in the eThemes database are listed both alphabetically and by subject area. 1/2 C used this to create our primary Children of the World SmartBoard unit.

[|Discovery Education] Created by the Discovery Channel, it contains loads of information, activities, streaming media, and classroom content across curricular areas. Appears to be a rich, wonderful resource...likely great for SmartBoard use. Joyce contacted us a while ago about this resource, and gave us a student login so that we could access some of the streaming content. Here it is:

After you are in, click on the ** streaming ** button at the top menu bar. Then you can do a ** subject/grade search **. Videos are broken into segments, so if you don’t want to show the entire video, you can select only the portion/s you want to use.
 * To Login:**
 * Username: spastudent**
 * Password: spastudent**

However, there is plenty of free information we can access without logging in. Use it however you like!

Worksheet Sites

Though worksheets aren't always our most creative, engaging outlet, they do serve a purpose and it is nice to have options available to us that meet a range of skills and abilities. 1/2 C has used the following sites many times.

TLSBOOKS - This has fun worksheets especially those for printing. We like the ones that are similar to Zaner Bloser. Look for other creative worksheets too. [|Worksheet Works] - Instant, customizable, free worksheets that you design. Specify 'difficulty', number of questions, types of questions, etc. [|Super Teacher Worksheets] - Thousands (literally) of free printable worksheets for every possible academic area, many provide for varied levels of academic skills.

Technology

Tami Brass maintains an impressive [|blog]with a plethora of information, and her tags make information easy to find. She also has an amazing [|Twitter].

[|The Technology Integration Matrix] The Technology Integration Matrix (TIM) illustrates how teachers can use technology to enhance learning for K-12 students. The TIM incorporates five interdependent characteristics of meaningful learning environments: active, constructive, goal directed (i.e., reflective), authentic, and collaborative (Jonassen, Howland, Moore, & Marra, 2003). The TIM associates five levels of technology integration (i.e., entry, adoption, adaptation, infusion, and transformation) with each of the five characteristics of meaningful learning environments.

Teacher Sites

[|Resources from Forest Lake Elementary] Forest Lake Elementary in South Carolina is one of NASA's Explorer Schools, and has incredible information available about 'how' to bring Differentiated Instruction to your classroom and school. Great stuff!

[|Mrs. Shannon's Class] Lindsey Shannon is a teacher in Georgia who maintains a site of excellent resources for literacy and differentiation - loads of free inspiration and ideas. Her Guided Reading techniques are impressive!

[|Hello Literacy] Jennifer Jones is a reading intervention specialist with an impressive web presence, including this blog. She appears to be an expert, master teacher of first graders. Wow!

1/2D Blog Check out our classroom blog! This is our main vehicle for communication with our parents.

[|Funky First Grade Fun]

[|First Grader...at last!]

[|Second Grade is Splendid]

Mr. C's Class [|Blog]- some great technology inspiration here!

More classroom [|blogs]

Mrs. Saylor's [|blog]