TeachersFirst - What's Popular
This page shares the 25 resources most frequently marked as Favorites by TeachersFirst Members in the past 60 days. See what tops the list of TeachersFirst's database of well over 15,000+ educator-reviewed web resources. Find out what other teachers are excited about. Not a TeachersFirst member yet? See the time saving benefits of free TeachersFirst membership.
Ford's Theater Podium Points - Jennifer Erdtmann and Jennie Berman Eng
Grades
8 to 12
Podium Points is a lesson plan for secondary classrooms that identifies and teaches the nine elements of effective public speaking defined by Ford's Theater. The lesson includes three...more
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Podium Points is a lesson plan for secondary classrooms that identifies and teaches the nine elements of effective public speaking defined by Ford's Theater. The lesson includes three activities: observation of a well-known speaker, an introduction to podium points, and practice speaking using The Gettysburg Address. Additional resources include a link to a video, student handouts, and a Podium Points Exit Ticket.
tag(s): communication (130), gettysburg address (12), lincoln (67), speaking (26), speeches (23)
In the Classroom
Engage students in these activities by generating presentation slides from this URL using Gamma, reviewed here or Magic School, reviewed here. Edit slides to adjust the wording for use with students as an activity. As an extension activity, create a choice board for students to continue exploring effective public speaking techniques. Include options such as analyzing a TEDTalks, reviewed here, creating a video demonstrating effective body language using Vmaker, reviewed here, or write and share a persuasive speech with peers. Learn more about using choice boards in the classroom by viewing the archive of OK2Ask: Engage & Inspire: Using Choice Boards for Differentiation Part 1, reviewed here.
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Zidbits - Zidbits media
Grades
3 to 12This tool is cool little tidbits of knowledge. The subtitle is "Boldly Exploring Life's Little Mysteries." Zidbits include facts such as "What is the hardest language to learn?" "Do...more
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This tool is cool little tidbits of knowledge. The subtitle is "Boldly Exploring Life's Little Mysteries." Zidbits include facts such as "What is the hardest language to learn?" "Do trees die from old age?" or "What is the most lethal poison?" Find facts for history, science, health, entertainment, and news on this site as well as fun facts. This site doesn't provide just a quick tidbit, but also gives background information and additional details.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): infographics (57), questioning (36), speaking (26)
In the Classroom
This resource is useful to hook your students at the beginning of your lessons or simply to get them reading non-fiction text. Use these as hooks to get your students thinking about content that will be introduced in the lesson. Students can find a Zidbit they are interested in. Poll students about possible answers and then report the actual answer and content needed in order to understand and explain it. Learn a new Zidbit yourself every week. If you teach public speaking skills, have students use these stories as inspiration or "hooks" for informational speeches, as well.How to Deliver a World Class Presentation - Malcolm Andrews
Grades
6 to 12Does giving a presentation make you nervous? Perhaps you envy those who make presenting look easy? This infographic packed with tips and advice provides solutions to everyday concerns...more
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Does giving a presentation make you nervous? Perhaps you envy those who make presenting look easy? This infographic packed with tips and advice provides solutions to everyday concerns about speaking in public. Scroll through to find common problems and how to address them. Other information includes planning, preparation, and delivery tips for getting the most out of any presentation.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): infographics (57), speaking (26), speeches (23)
In the Classroom
Share this infographic with students before class presentations. Include it on your website for reference throughout the year. After class presentations, have students reflect on what they learned through the speech creating and presenting process and ask them to think about what they would do differently next time. Ask students to write a rough draft script for what they want to say (be sure to have them state what they would do differently next time). Then use a tool such as Flip, reviewed here. Flip are video response and reflection tools. This wrap-up for your assignment will help students internalize what they've learned about giving a presentation. Challenge students to create an infographic for something they do well academically, i.e. test taking and studying, writing up labs or research reports, etc. Use a tool such as Infogram, reviewed here.Let's Talk About: Oral Language Development - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12This blog post highlights how the African American Read-In can be a powerful opportunity to strengthen students' oral language development, an essential component of the Science of...more
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This blog post highlights how the African American Read-In can be a powerful opportunity to strengthen students' oral language development, an essential component of the Science of Reading. While foundational skills like phonics and decoding are critical, students also need rich language experiences to become fluent, thoughtful readers. The blog shares creative, tech-friendly strategies across grade levels from elementary students retelling folktales using BookCreator, to middle schoolers podcasting about activism, to high schoolers debating literary themes or building historical timelines of African American poets. Each activity fosters confident speaking, narrative structure, and verbal reasoning, bringing student voice to the forefront as they celebrate African American literature.
tag(s): african american (121), blogs (73), digital literacy (18), digital storytelling (156), fluency (30), folktales (36), literacy (122), podcasts (118)
In the Classroom
Use author events (e.g., Jason Reynolds or Stephen Curry on Flip) to spark a conversation about personal strengths. Students can then record a short video using Adobe Express Video Maker reviewed here story about a time they used their "superpower". After reading memoirs like Brown Girl Dreaming or Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom, students can research a personal or social issue and record a podcast using Acast reviewed here. Host a classroom or school-wide poetry slam where students perform original or selected poems by African American authors. Focus on expression, pacing, and audience awareness to develop public speaking confidence and cultural appreciation.Dear Asian Americans - Jerry Won
Grades
7 to 12This podcast features heartfelt conversations with Asian American leaders, entrepreneurs, and community members about identity, heritage, and personal experiences. The podcast host...more
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This podcast features heartfelt conversations with Asian American leaders, entrepreneurs, and community members about identity, heritage, and personal experiences. The podcast host explores immigration, family expectations, career journeys, and social justice through discussions with guests from diverse backgrounds and career paths. Teachers can use episodes to introduce students to diverse Asian American voices, foster discussions on identity and belonging, and encourage personal storytelling. This resource is ideal for middle and high school students studying cultural identity, history, or social issues.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): asia (136), careers (183), identity (37), immigrants (48), immigration (84), oral history (14), podcasts (118), stories and storytelling (63)
In the Classroom
Students can listen to a selected episode and participate in a panel-style discussion, sharing their thoughts on key themes. Assign different roles (moderator, speakers, audience) to encourage critical thinking and public speaking skills. Have students write a letter to their future selves about what they've learned from the podcast regarding identity, heritage, or perseverance. They can include personal goals, reflections, or ways they hope to embrace their own cultural background. Inspired by the podcast's storytelling format, have students interview a family member, friend, or community member about their cultural background, experiences, and challenges. They can present their findings through a written piece or video using moovly, reviewed here or Animoto, reviewed here. Students can then research an influential Asian American leader, activist, or artist discussed in the podcast. They can create a presentation using Google Slides reviewed here, or a poster using Canva Infographic Creator, reviewed here highlighting the person's impact on society.National Forensic League - National Forensic League
Grades
6 to 12The National Forensic League bills itself as the "National Honor Society for secondary and middle school speech and debate." Certainly this site will be familiar if you are a member...more
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The National Forensic League bills itself as the "National Honor Society for secondary and middle school speech and debate." Certainly this site will be familiar if you are a member already, but is useful even if you are not fielding a formal competition team. The site is organized by level and contains information about upcoming competitions. Most useful to non-members, however, are the resources. There are downloads offering insight and instruction on a wide variety of speech and debate topics: how to organize a team, how to link speech and debate to the Common Core State Standards, and how to develop character in an interpretive speech. Access to some of the resources is limited to members; others require you to login to access.
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This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Use the downloadable PDF documents as a resource for students who are developing their public speaking or debate skills, learning to analyze literary characters, understanding the use of humor in speech, or similar topics. Recommend this site to students who may be entering speech competitions, or who may be preparing to give a formal presentation. If you are trying to stage a debate on any topic for your classroom, consider the resources on how formal debate is organized and evaluated.
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From Provocative to Productive - NewseumEd
Grades
4 to 12Turn uncomfortable, sensitive topic discussions in your classroom into a learning tool for developing critical thinking skills with NewseumEd's guidelines for helping you and your students...more
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Turn uncomfortable, sensitive topic discussions in your classroom into a learning tool for developing critical thinking skills with NewseumEd's guidelines for helping you and your students discuss issues respectfully. Topics like racial tensions, politics, and religion can become a classroom learning tool to teach the art of dialogue and to increase respectful public speaking, confidence, engagement, and listening skills. Read and use the four guidelines: confidence in your content, respectfulness of your participants, asking questions, and encouraging debate, and be the best the facilitator you can be. You must be a registered NewseumEd member to access this resource; however, membership is free.
tag(s): character education (81), debate (42), difficult conversations (57), listening (92), speaking (26)
In the Classroom
Have this lesson handy when a controversial or contentious subject emerges. You just never know when that will happen, but you can run with it if you prepare using these NewseumEd guidelines. Share them with students, so they will understand what they need to do to participate successfully in a discussion or debate. Are there no issues at hand? Try finding one using Code Switch, reviewed here. At Code Switch find award-winning journalists from a variety of races to share their perspectives on current issues. Try giving students a choice! Show them several subjects and use Dotstorming, reviewed here, to comment and vote on topics for the discussion. Use the opportunity to hone students information literacy skills by reviewing how to evaluate and cite sources. Once they have researched their topic, and are ready to discuss, use a tool such as Thinkalong, reviewed here, to practice their discussion and argument strategies. With older students, a next step might be to take the debate public using Virtual Debate, reviewed here, which has online examples and resources for conducting virtual debates.Bloom's Revised Taxonomy With Verbs - Mia
Grades
K to 12Find a gem of an infographic with a multitude of action verbs for the different tiers of Bloom's Revised Taxonomy. This colorful, eye-pleasing infographic of verbs starts at the top...more
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Find a gem of an infographic with a multitude of action verbs for the different tiers of Bloom's Revised Taxonomy. This colorful, eye-pleasing infographic of verbs starts at the top of the taxonomy with higher order thinking skills (HOTS). Learn some new HOTS words to use yourself or with students.
tag(s): blooms taxonomy (7), verbs (25)
In the Classroom
Post this infographic in your classroom to discuss higher order thinking skills vs lower order thinking skills and where the task at hand would fall. Keep this infographic handy as you develop projects and new lesson ideas. Embed the infographic on your class website or blog.Duolingo - Duolingo
Grades
1 to 12Duolingo is a free, online language learning class. Sign up with email. Make a selection from Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Arabic, and many others. Earn points on...more
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Duolingo is a free, online language learning class. Sign up with email. Make a selection from Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Arabic, and many others. Earn points on different levels as you work towards mastery. Practice provides both seeing and hearing the words. Your responses require choosing the English translation and also spelling the words in the "new" language. Put your knowledge to work in the immersion section and translate a document or even upload a document of your own. Check the vocabulary you have learned and your progress toward mastery. Track your weekly progress. The discussion section answers individual questions. Duolingo is free for schools. There are free iOS and Android apps for Duolingo.
tag(s): arabic (12), chinese (43), DAT device agnostic tool (146), french (72), game based learning (208), german (46), hebrew (15), italian (30), japanese (54), multilingual (78), OER (43), Online Learning (36), portuguese (22), russian (26), spanish (110)
In the Classroom
Use Duolingo in your world language classes as another form of practice and enrichment. Have students sign up to compete against each other in a fun game of language mastery. Have world language students use the immersion tool to help read and translate authentic text. For an ENL/ELL classroom, provide extra, specific practice in beginning English. ENL/ELL students can also use the immersion section to check their own written documents and connect with other ENL/ELL students. Offer this site as a supplement when you study cultures from around the world. Gifted students are sure to enjoy the challenge of learning some language phrases. Is your class remote learning? Duolingo has a guide just for that! Scroll down the home page and find Duolingo for Schools, then click Bring Duolingo to Your Classroom. Find the Guide for using Duolingo at home at the top right of the page.
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AI Planet - AI Planet
Grades
K to 12AI Planet's Lesson Plan Generator is a free tool that helps teachers create customized lesson plans quickly and easily. Educators can enter details such as subject, grade level, learning...more
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AI Planet's Lesson Plan Generator is a free tool that helps teachers create customized lesson plans quickly and easily. Educators can enter details such as subject, grade level, learning objectives, and preferred teaching methods, and the tool generates a comprehensive, ready-to-use lesson plan that aligns with these specifications. By offering this resource at no cost, AI Planet aims to save teachers time while supporting a more tailored and effective approach to classroom instruction.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (188), differentiation (86), Teacher Utilities (201)
In the Classroom
Use this tool to tailor lesson plans with interactive activities that captivate student interest, such as projects, discussions, or group tasks based on their interests. It can also be helpful to create differentiated lessons or advanced materials for students ready to deepen their understanding, promoting independent study and critical thinking skills. Use this tool to refresh your lessons with new and engaging ideas.Lesson Plan Generator - Polymath
Grades
K to 12The Lesson Plan Generator offers a free Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool that helps teachers create structured, customized lesson plans in just a few clicks. Teachers simply fill...more
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The Lesson Plan Generator offers a free Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool that helps teachers create structured, customized lesson plans in just a few clicks. Teachers simply fill out details like grade level, subject, and lesson topic, and the generator provides a plan that aligns with Bloom's Taxonomy. Teachers can integrate this tool to streamline lesson planning, particularly when planning for diverse needs. This is an excellent tool for differentiating in your classroom.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (188), blooms taxonomy (7), Teacher Utilities (201)
In the Classroom
The Lesson Plan Generator can produce additional activities or discussion questions that enhance engagement. Teachers can review the generated lesson and pick elements that suit their class's needs, adding variety to familiar topics. Teachers save time on lesson prep, giving them more bandwidth to focus on student engagement and classroom interactions. Teachers can maintain a consistent approach to lesson planning, incorporating essential elements like warm-ups, main activities, and assessments. This tool helps to create a predictable classroom routine that students can rely on.Curipod - Curipod AS
Grades
3 to 12Curipod creates interactive lessons using AI (artificial intelligence) technology. Tasks include features for making word clouds, adding polls, questions, and more. Visit the Discover...more
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Curipod creates interactive lessons using AI (artificial intelligence) technology. Tasks include features for making word clouds, adding polls, questions, and more. Visit the Discover link to browse through ready-to-use templates or create an account, then copy and edit a lesson using a template or build one in just a few seconds using your prompt and instructions. When creating a new lesson, start with a blank slide or use templates that include a brain break, exit ticket, multiple choice, or complete lesson. The brain break generators include several stress-free tasks, such as Would You Rather questions, and fun writing and drawing prompts. To create new tasks, add a topic and include standards if desired. Another option allows you to import PowerPoint presentations and PDFs when creating new activities. When ready, share lessons with students using the provided QR code or the join code for students to access at curi.live. View statistics in your dashboard, including the number of times played and player results. Free accounts currently include unlimited players, five private Curipods, a shared workspace, and all core features.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (188), assessment (146), blended learning (36), differentiation (86), Online Learning (36), remote learning (54), slides (43), social and emotional learning (110), Teacher Utilities (201), teaching strategies (52)
In the Classroom
Use Curipod as a starting point for creating lessons and student activities, then modify the content to fit your curriculum and students' abilities and needs. The Brain Break activities are an excellent starting point for using Curipod in your classroom. Select an activity from the Brain Break options, then choose a grade level and follow the prompts to share a short mental break with your students. Copy and paste standards when creating a lesson as a starting point to add content for the lesson. When using any AI technology, verify the information provided is accurate before sharing it with students. Use Curripod as a flipped or blended learning activity, share the join code with students, and ask them to complete the activities within a designated period before reviewing together as a class. Easily modify any template to differentiate instruction for different groups of students. For example, when introducing decimals, provide a basic introduction with vocabulary and instructional content to one group of students but add more challenging content, such as adding decimals for students already familiar with this topic. Coordinate with other teachers to create cross-curricular activities or when planning units together.Project Zero's Thinking Routines Toolbox - Project Zero Harvard Graduate School of Education
Grades
K to 12Support student understanding and develop routines that support learning through the use of Thinking Routines and the specific information offered by Project Zero. Scroll through the...more
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Support student understanding and develop routines that support learning through the use of Thinking Routines and the specific information offered by Project Zero. Scroll through the site to find Core Thinking Routines, Digging Deeper into Ideas, Introducing & Exploring Ideas, and several other topics. Use the filters to find thinking routines by subject area, thinking disposition or competence, or project. After selecting, choose the resource link to view an in-depth explanation of the routine, including a stated purpose, application, and tips for launching the activity. Some links also include student handouts and an educator guide.
tag(s): critical thinking (137), professional development (393), thinking skills (17)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site and frequently visit as you prepare lesson plans to enhance student learning and understanding of content. This site provides excellent information for professional development, either personally or with peers. Consider exploring one topic monthly throughout the school year to explore and integrate it into classroom routines.
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Why All Secondary Teachers Need to Add Science of Reading to Their Lessons - TeachersFirst
Grades
6 to 12Think 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 (73), fluency (30), reading comprehension (152), 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.Podcast- Adobe - Adobe
Grades
3 to 12Adobe Podcast offers a platform for recording podcasts with high-quality audio. This tool is ideal for teachers who want to incorporate multimedia projects into their classrooms due...more
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Adobe Podcast offers a platform for recording podcasts with high-quality audio. This tool is ideal for teachers who want to incorporate multimedia projects into their classrooms due to its ease. The website provides tools for clear audio enhancement, automated transcription, and easy editing, making it simple even for beginners. Teachers can use Adobe Podcast to guide students in creating podcast episodes for assignments, sharing research, or building communication skills. The ease of use makes it an excellent resource for all learning levels. When the podcast is complete, it can be downloaded and shared.
tag(s): digital storytelling (156), multimedia (55), podcasts (118)
In the Classroom
For younger students, Adobe Podcast can be used for storytelling, oral reports, or fluency checks. Middle school students can conduct interviews, record debates, or use it for research-based assignments. Book reviews, investigative pieces, or class discussions can be recorded for older students.Respondo! - Ian Byrdseed
Grades
4 to 12Bring some creativity into your literature lessons using this site that goes way beyond rote answers. Choose skills from drop boxes, identify one or two stories to analyze/compare,...more
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Bring some creativity into your literature lessons using this site that goes way beyond rote answers. Choose skills from drop boxes, identify one or two stories to analyze/compare, choose your thinking skills, and decide what the final product will be. For example, "Substitute The Giver's setting for A Wrinkle In Time's setting. Dramatize how this would affect A Wrinkle In Time's plot. Create a skit," or "Rearrange Oh The Places You Will Go's plot. Analyze how this would affect its tone. Create a photo essay ." Choose whatever book(s) are relevant to your class. Experiment with different ideas easily until coming up with the perfect response question for your class or individualize easily for different student responses. The creator of this site does admit that it is a rather new site with a few kinks. His email is provided if you see any issues. Our review team noticed nothing unusual, and all options were functioning properly, at the time of this review.
tag(s): blooms taxonomy (7), characterization (19), creative fluency (5), creativity (87), critical thinking (137), debate (42), literary devices (13), literature (221), plot (15), setting (5), stories and storytelling (63)
In the Classroom
Use this site to create unique lessons and literature responses that require critical thinking responses from your students. Share with students and allow them to create their own response at the end of a unit when comparing two books or reflecting on one book. Use this site as a resource for incorporating different levels of Blooms Taxonomy into your classroom and for differentiation among students. Have students make a multimedia presentation using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge tools reviewed here. Some tool suggestions are (click on the tool name to access the review): Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, Vevox, Animatron, Renderforest, and Canva Inforgraphic Maker.Padlet TA - Padlet
Grades
K to 12Padlet TA is a helpful assistant for creating many educational work documents without requiring registration for most tasks. Options include lesson planning, worksheet creation, text-leveling...more
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Padlet TA is a helpful assistant for creating many educational work documents without requiring registration for most tasks. Options include lesson planning, worksheet creation, text-leveling tools, and more. After choosing a tool, complete the form that asks for information like grade level, topic, and additional context. Add a file, content from Google Drive, a link, or a YouTube video. Adding content from Google Drive requires logging in to a Padlet account. After adding information, click the bright colored bubble next to the form to generate content. When finished, copy the text to a document, export it to Google Docs or PDF, or use the share link to share the URL of a view-only version of your prompt and output.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (188), assessment (146), images (263), qr codes (19), quizzes (90), rubrics (36), Teacher Utilities (201), worksheets (71)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save Padlet TA as a handy tool for creating professional and classroom resources. As always, verifying the accuracy of AI-generated content is essential. Share Padlet TA with parents and caregivers to create quizzes, worksheets, and leveled text as a study aid at home. Use the Smart Group creator to create random groups for station rotations or class projects and the Name Picker to choose student names for multiple purposes or as part of lessons on probability. Generate AI images for creative writing projects or as a tool for creating presentation images.
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Excel Easy - E-Learning
Grades
K to 12Do you need some help with Excel basics and functions? Excel Easy uses fully illustrated tutorials to walk you through Excel sheets from start to finish. Use the links at ...more
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Do you need some help with Excel basics and functions? Excel Easy uses fully illustrated tutorials to walk you through Excel sheets from start to finish. Use the links at the top of the site to select from options starting with the basics, functions, and data analysis. Choose the 300 Excel Examples to find tutorials on any topic quickly. Each tutorial includes step-by-step directions, including images to guide users through each portion of the directions.
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tag(s): computers (109), data (150), Microsoft (79), spreadsheets (23)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site for your use and for student use on classroom computers. Make it easy to find sites with tutorials by creating a Padlet, reviewed here, to share with students. Use columns to sort tutorials and other helpful sites by topic within your Padlet. If you don't find a tutorial that you need, extend student learning by asking them to create their own using Free Online Screen Recorder, reviewed here, or by creating an explainer video using FlexClip, reviewed here.TeachThought - Teachthought
Grades
1 to 12TeachThought stretches teachers to think beyond the norm, and try new exciting ideas such as learning in a digital world, flipped classrooms, project based learning, and simulations....more
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TeachThought stretches teachers to think beyond the norm, and try new exciting ideas such as learning in a digital world, flipped classrooms, project based learning, and simulations. A few examples of the articles include: 10 Team Building Games that Promote Critical Thinking, 25 Reading Strategies That Work In Every Content Area, 55 Free Apps For iPads, 249 Bloom's Taxonomy Verbs for Critical Thinking, 14 Brilliant Bloom's Taxonomy Posters For Teachers, and 20 Things You Can Do in 10 Minutes For A Smoother Running Classroom. Join in the conversation, add your opinion, or ask a question. Sign up for TeachThought's newsletter.
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tag(s): blooms taxonomy (7), classroom management (118), critical thinking (137), flipped learning (9), professional development (393), reading strategies (97)
In the Classroom
Think beyond your everyday lessons to something that makes you a teacher that kids always remember. Interesting ideas challenge you to do what you want the most in your teaching, inspire and motivate. Subscribe to the newsletter and follow the latest articles. Use the resources for enrichment or information. Share with colleagues and the collaboration begins. Share at a professional development meeting for many relevant ideas.
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Introducing South Africa - Google Arts and Culture
Grades
4 to 12Explore beautiful landscapes and visit famous South African sites with this Arts and Culture presentation from Google. Scroll through the page to take a 360-degree look at Cape Peninsula...more
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Explore beautiful landscapes and visit famous South African sites with this Arts and Culture presentation from Google. Scroll through the page to take a 360-degree look at Cape Peninsula and Table Mountain. Learn about the Cape of Good Hope and Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias. Additional images share the flora that is unique to the country and more snippets of history. On a more serious note, visit Robben Island, home to the imprisoned African leader Nelson Mandela from 1964 - 1982.
tag(s): africa (170), civil rights (219), Nelson Mandela (10), south africa (15)
In the Classroom
Engage students with this interesting site by asking them to explore it independently to introduce your unit on African countries or when learning about Nelson Mandela and his home. Be sure to show students how to use the arrows to view images from the many different angles provided. As students begin your lessons, create a Figjam, reviewed here to share interesting information learned from students' explorations. Use their notes to guide students toward enhancing learning by choosing specific areas to explore further. For example, some students may want to learn more about the geography found in South Africa, while others may want to learn about animals or famous people. Have students share their research findings by writing blogs using edublogs, reviewed here, or use Google My Maps, reviewed here to create virtual tours around South Africa that include links to images, videos, or student writing projects to tell the story of the country.Teaching Nelson Mandela: Learning Experiences and Lessons to Support Grades 7-12 Classrooms - Canadian Museum for Human Rights: Brock University
Grades
7 to 12Teaching Nelson Mandela: Learning Experiences and Lessons to Support Grades 7-12 Classrooms offers a variety of lessons about Nelson Mandela and South Africa. Some lessons include Apartheid...more
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Teaching Nelson Mandela: Learning Experiences and Lessons to Support Grades 7-12 Classrooms offers a variety of lessons about Nelson Mandela and South Africa. Some lessons include Apartheid as a Social Policy, Apartheid Laws and Resistance, Documentary and Biography: A Lens for Studying Life Stories, Communicating a Message, and more. Each lesson gives the grade level, time, objectives, procedure, list of materials, and links to resources. Some lessons include follow-up activities and questions to reinforce learning.
tag(s): Nelson Mandela (10), south africa (15)
In the Classroom
Students can use Padlet, reviewed here to share one fact that they learned about Nelson Mandela. Students can use the Time Graphics Timeline Tool, reviewed here to create a timeline of events for apartheid. Finally, students can create a word cloud using WordClouds, reviewed here to share a word associated with Nelson Mandela.AFT Human Rights Resources: The Legacy of Nelson Mandela - AFT Human Rights Resources
Grades
9 to 12The Legacy of Nelson Mandela is a free lesson that explores his life and career. The lesson is divided into four steps: Hook, The Meaning of Leadership, Videos and Other ...more
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The Legacy of Nelson Mandela is a free lesson that explores his life and career. The lesson is divided into four steps: Hook, The Meaning of Leadership, Videos and Other Teachers' Resources (including Standards-Based Exercises and What Students Can Do). In the Standards-Based Exercises, there are multiple activities including: Lesson in Leadership, Mandela: Hero or Villain?, Comparing the Words of Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., and more. At the bottom of the website, you will find Additional Resources to learn more about Nelson Mandela.
tag(s): Nelson Mandela (10)
In the Classroom
Students can use Google Drawings, reviewed here to compare and contrast Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. Students can use Padlet, reviewed here to post whether they believe Nelson Mandela is a hero and why. Finally, students can use TagCrowd, reviewed here to create a word cloud to define leadership.GenAI Chatbot Prompt Library for Educators - AI for Education
Grades
K to 12Designing effective and productive chatbot prompts requires understanding how generative AI tools work. This site provides many time-saving prompts for educators' and students' needs....more
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Designing effective and productive chatbot prompts requires understanding how generative AI tools work. This site provides many time-saving prompts for educators' and students' needs. The prompt library is broken into several categories: assessment, lesson planning, and communication, and the prompts work with GenAI chatbots, including ChatGPT, reviewed here, Claude, reviewed here Perplexity reviewed here, and others. Each suggested prompt also includes examples and suggestions for modifying the prompt to fit individual needs.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (188), assessment (146), behavior (43), blooms taxonomy (7), chat (41), gamification (86), multilingual (78), parent conferences (21), professional development (393), quizzes (90), rubrics (36), social and emotional learning (110), Special Needs (52), Teacher Utilities (201), thanksgiving (24)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this terrific prompt library for any number of uses when using generative AI chat tools. Find ideas and activities for lessons, quickly create and edit assessments, and develop rubrics. Consider using a curation tool such as Wakelet, reviewed here to bookmark this site and others that provide AI resources and to collaborate with peers on how to use AI resources. Be sure to visit the student prompts on this site that share resources for creating flashcards, translating text for multilingual learners, and other helpful study resources. Consider sharing some student prompts, such as the flashcard or "explain it to me like..." with parents for at-home practice and to reinforce classroom content.OK2Ask: Engage & Inspire with More Thinking Routines - TeachersFirst
Grades
1 to 12This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from April 2025. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.
Dive deeper into...more
Dive deeper into...more
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from April 2025. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.
Dive deeper into Project Zero Thinking Routines to focus on perspective-taking strategies that build empathy and social-emotional skills. This workshop explores innovative ways to help students think about their thinking, listen with understanding, and take responsible risks. You'll learn how to integrate digital tools and AI technologies to transform perspective-taking routines into engaging, interactive experiences. Discover practical techniques for fostering empathy, critical thinking, and meaningful classroom discussions that encourage students to see the world through diverse lenses. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand perspective-taking thinking routines and their impact on developing students' empathy and social-emotional skills. 2. Develop strategies to help students reflect on their thinking processes and listen with understanding and empathy. 3. Integrate digital tools and technologies to enhance perspective-taking thinking routines. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
Dive deeper into Project Zero Thinking Routines to focus on perspective-taking strategies that build empathy and social-emotional skills. This workshop explores innovative ways to help students think about their thinking, listen with understanding, and take responsible risks. You'll learn how to integrate digital tools and AI technologies to transform perspective-taking routines into engaging, interactive experiences. Discover practical techniques for fostering empathy, critical thinking, and meaningful classroom discussions that encourage students to see the world through diverse lenses. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand perspective-taking thinking routines and their impact on developing students' empathy and social-emotional skills. 2. Develop strategies to help students reflect on their thinking processes and listen with understanding and empathy. 3. Integrate digital tools and technologies to enhance perspective-taking thinking routines. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
tag(s): critical thinking (137), differentiation (86), empathy (37), professional development (393), social and emotional learning (110)
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Once registered, find additional reference materials, tutorials, and how-to information to help you review or extend your knowledge from the session in the handout posted on the session landing page. Resources may include additional ideas and examples on integrating the tools and strategies shared in classroom instruction. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Plan My Lesson Tool - Yourway Learning
Grades
K to 12Planning lessons that provide engaging activities and meet curriculum standards can be challenging. The Plan My Lesson Tool uses AI to match both objectives in just a few seconds. After...more
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Planning lessons that provide engaging activities and meet curriculum standards can be challenging. The Plan My Lesson Tool uses AI to match both objectives in just a few seconds. After selecting start, complete the form by adding grade level or band, subject, and learning outcome and selecting to generate the result. After creating the document, use additional features to edit and adjust the activity to fit your needs. You can also choose sections of the document to request changes by chatting with Beans, this site's chatbot. Find options to download or export the finished document by visiting the Manage Content dropbox at the top of the page. You do need to create a free account to access this feature.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (188), professional development (393), Teacher Utilities (201)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of this lesson generation tool to create new lessons or improve your current lessons. Use this tool to generate a lesson in just a few minutes, then browse through the lesson plan to find new ideas and resources to include with your current plan. In addition to the lesson activity, plans include extension activities and additional resources to include in your planning. When writing the prompt to create a lesson, include as much information as possible to generate results that work for you. Items to include are class size, type of activities to include, and differentiation needs. Visit the archive of OK2Ask: AI for Creating Learning Objects, reviewed here to find many ideas for creating learning objects that accompany your lesson plan.Edge Features:
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage