TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Aug 18, 2024
Here are this week's features. Clicking the tags in the description area of each listing will present a list of other resources with this topic. | Click here to return to the Featured Sites Archive
Wheel of Names - Mikko Haapanen - Seating Chart Maker
Grades
1 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.
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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Classroom Management: Face-to-Face, Hybrid, & Virtual - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
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Discover many resources and ideas for creating positive and effective learning environments in any classroom using the learning modules provided by TeachersFirst. Choose from modules...more
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Discover many resources and ideas for creating positive and effective learning environments in any classroom using the learning modules provided by TeachersFirst. Choose from modules offered by grade levels, virtual classroom management, or technology that provides specific procedures utilizing age/grade-appropriate classroom management tools and techniques in your classroom. If desired, receive a professional development certificate by signing up and completing the course questionnaire.
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the learning modules shared on this site to learn new classroom management ideas or revitalize your current classroom management procedures. Share this information with peers during your grade-level planning sessions to support fellow educators and collaborate on best practices. If you would like to document your understanding and participation in completing the learning modules, complete the course questionnaire and share it with your school or district's professional learning team to obtain professional learning documentation.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Canvas - Free LMS - Instructure, Inc
Grades
K to 12
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Canvas is a free learning management system that provides tools for delivering instruction through course modules. Use the included features to set up your class, add students, add...more
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Canvas is a free learning management system that provides tools for delivering instruction through course modules. Use the included features to set up your class, add students, add assignments, distribute quizzes, and access the online grade book. Use the included calendar to add assignment due dates, upcoming events, and other important information. Canvas also includes ePortfolios for students to share and display their work as part of the learning process. Be sure to visit the tutorials included on the site to learn how to add classes and assignments, and also to understand how to adjust privacy settings to meet your requirements.
In the Classroom
Use Canvas to deliver remote instruction or as a supplemental tool for in-school instruction. Create courses to differentiate learning opportunities for students. Provide advanced courses for gifted learners, or add additional resources for students that need additional instruction in any content area. As students become familiar with using Canvas, encourage them to use the ePortfolio feature to share their educational accomplishments and reflect upon the learning process.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Duck Soup - Robert Boyett and Andrew McAfee
Grades
K to 12
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Is a paperless classroom your goal? Duck Soup is for you! Instead of making copies of papers to hand out and then grade, upload any PDF or Word document to ...more
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Is a paperless classroom your goal? Duck Soup is for you! Instead of making copies of papers to hand out and then grade, upload any PDF or Word document to your Duck Soup account to quickly turn it into an e-sheet gradable activity. Receive feedback in real time as students complete work. Duck Soup also offers the ability for students to "write" on documents as they would with pencil and paper. Options include setting times to submit responses, set number of retries for incorrect responses, and set values of questions. This site fully integrates with Google Drive making it a "must have" for any Google Classroom.
In the Classroom
Save time and paper using Duck Soup. Start out slowly, perhaps with one or two papers the first week. Choose a paper that is familiar to both you and your students and explore together how to use e-sheets and settings that work best for your classroom. Once familiar with the site, the possibilities are unlimited. Use Duck Soup for homework, centers, and ongoing projects. Instead of sending paperwork home to be completed by parents, create digital versions for a quick response and compilation of information.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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LivingTree - livingtree.com
Grades
K to 12
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LivingTree is an online collaborative tool for teachers, parents, and students. Share messages, photos, files, and more in 100+ languages instantly. Create a shared calendar for all...more
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LivingTree is an online collaborative tool for teachers, parents, and students. Share messages, photos, files, and more in 100+ languages instantly. Create a shared calendar for all members to access and contribute information. Calendars offer the ability for parents and volunteers to easily sign up for events such as conferences and field trips. There are introductory videos, and video guides for teachers, parents, administrators, and organizations. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.
In the Classroom
Use LivingTree to manage and organize any classroom. Maintain a classroom calendar, with automatic reminders, so students can easily find due dates and deadlines for homework and projects. Share information with parents to keep them up to date. Use the discussion feature as a resource for keeping students involved over long holidays or on a snow day.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Classtools Countdown Timer - Classtools.net
Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites
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Spice up any countdown with this versatile, yet easy to use, countdown timer from Classtools. Options include running multiple timers, adding music or video, and saving a web link to...more
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Spice up any countdown with this versatile, yet easy to use, countdown timer from Classtools. Options include running multiple timers, adding music or video, and saving a web link to your timer. Choose the Get Started button to begin and follow prompts to choose included music or select your own from any YouTube video. Click the save icon to receive a personalized URL for sharing.
In the Classroom
There are many uses for this practical online tool. Get out your interactive whiteboard or projection screen (or even the classroom desktop computer) and make sure the speakers are turned up. Use this tool for students to practice speeches, or to limit the time for a quiz or spelling test. Use the countdown feature for timing the rotations from center to center. You can even use the timer for reading fluency exercises or physical education warm-ups! A clever classroom management tool would be to start the visible count-down on your computer screen when you want the class to settle down for directions or to transition to the next subject. Select calming music for quiet times. Students may even want to use this tool for themselves. Kindergarten students can practice counting along with the watch!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Classroom Freebies - Charity Preston
Grades
K to 8
2 Favorites
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The Classroom Freebies Resource Library contains thousands of free materials for grades K-8. Many different kinds of resources are included such as task cards, classroom management...more
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The Classroom Freebies Resource Library contains thousands of free materials for grades K-8. Many different kinds of resources are included such as task cards, classroom management charts, coloring sheets, worksheets, and posters. Use the search bar to find specific content or browse using links to grade level content and topics such as the End of the Year and Common Core Freebies. Follow links for directions about downloading materials.
In the Classroom
Bookmark Classroom Freebies as an excellent resource for teaching materials throughout the school year. Take advantage of the free printables for use on bulletin boards, for classroom management, and centers. Choose materials from the site to use in substitute folders. Be sure to share this site with your fellow teachers! You might consider finding snow day and vacation day activities to post on your class website for parent and student use.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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GoConqr - ExamTime Ltd
Grades
6 to 12
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GoConqr (formerly ExamTime) is a crowdsourcing site for uploading and sharing class notes, flashcards, quizzes, and more. Free membership offers you access to 3 subjects and 20 public...more
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GoConqr (formerly ExamTime) is a crowdsourcing site for uploading and sharing class notes, flashcards, quizzes, and more. Free membership offers you access to 3 subjects and 20 public resources. Sign up using your email account to begin using GoConqr's features. Be sure to watch the video tutorials for creating resources for your personal page. Use the search feature to find and access resources already designed and shared on the site. If your district blocks YouTube, they may not be viewable.
In the Classroom
Share GoConqr with students to build and use study skills. Although an individual can use the site on their own, it is best to use it as a sharing site for study information. Encourage students to sign up and build a network of friends for creating and sharing resources. Learning support teachers and teachers of gifted-but-disorganized students will want to share the tools and encourage their students to create groups and collaborate with their peers. Have students create review activities and swap them with peers. Use this tool with colleagues to co-create materials to use with content units or materials to use for flipping the classroom. Use this tool for professional development.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
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Classmill - Tariq Rauf
Grades
6 to 12
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Classmill allows you to create your own online classes by uploading videos, links, files, and images. Create your account to start your own class or explore classes already online....more
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Classmill allows you to create your own online classes by uploading videos, links, files, and images. Create your account to start your own class or explore classes already online. When creating a class choose from privacy options such as invite only for attendees. Add content within modules for each class using tabs to upload or embed information. Once your content is complete, use the "Ready" toggle switch to make it accessible to participants. Use the "Invite" button to invite users using their email address.
In the Classroom
Create your course and offer it to your students for greater interaction and learning through community building. Find great ideas from other existing courses. Teachers of gifted can use courses to challenge students in their areas of interest. You can also have gifted students create or collaborate on a student-made "course." Explore the topics yourself for some new, engaging topics to round out your own expertise. Allow students to enroll in a course that would fit into their career goals as an exploratory opportunity in that field.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Teacher Toolkit - The Region 13 Educator Certification Program (ECP)
Grades
K to 12
4 Favorites
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Find many strategies and techniques to keep your class engaged and interested! Many of the strategies are also helpful in adult meetings. View the short video on the home page ...more
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Find many strategies and techniques to keep your class engaged and interested! Many of the strategies are also helpful in adult meetings. View the short video on the home page to get a good overview of what to find and how to navigate this site. Click the View Our Tools button next to the video to see all the tools offered. Not only will all the tools be displayed, but on the left, find a menu with categories to make it easier to find what you are looking for. Most tools now have a video to see the tool in action. There are Opening and Closing Activities, Checks for Understanding, Reading Strategies, and more. There is no sign in to see all the activities. However, by joining the site, you will be able to take and save notes for the different tools of interest. Each tool has an overview of how and when to use it, variations of the tool, and templates (downloaded in Word) for participants to use. Some tools have accompanying videos to show the tool in action. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable; be sure to look at alternatives for sharing the videos on classroom computers.
In the Classroom
Keep lessons engaging and interactive with these Tools. For instance use the Quiz, Quiz, Trade activity to get students up and to interact with questions for review before a test. To structure a meaningful discussion try the 5-3-1 activity. Use the Gallery Walk to review and get students discussing the unit or topic just finished. With the Gallery Walk, student groups could create posters (maybe a picture summary of something just read in class) and walk around observing and taking notes from others' posters. Or, to enhance learning, have students use Genially, reviewed here, to create digital posters that can include maps, surveys, video, audio and more. Then, have students complete a digital Gallery Walk, reviewing posters on each others computers. There are dozens more strategies for you to try at The Teacher Toolkit.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Showbie - Trilby
Grades
5 to 12
2 Favorites
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Showbie is a tool for assigning, collecting, and reviewing student work. You can access Showbie via the web or download the free app to your iPad. Begin by creating your ...more
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Showbie is a tool for assigning, collecting, and reviewing student work. You can access Showbie via the web or download the free app to your iPad. Begin by creating your class list and noting the class code to be provided to students. Add assignments including a due date, and add files, images, or videos directly from your computer. This tool also works with the Pages application used on iPads. Upload these files directly from an iPad onto Showbie. Additional options to add to assignments include text and voice notes. Students use the class code to access assignments and return for review and grading. The free version allows unlimited classrooms and assignments. However, the maximum amount of students you can "enroll" in a class is 35.
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In the Classroom
If you are lucky enough to have an iPad classroom, Showbie is an excellent resource for creating and sharing assignments. However, any device with web access will work fine. Use Showbie in your flipped classroom to provide rich multimedia lessons for students including videos, images, and audio. Share with parents for viewing student work and assignments. Share with other teachers for students to seamlessly view all assignments, including Learning Support and ENL teachers who work with your students. Help your students become more organized with their assignments.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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