+ More Web Sites for Teachers: Diversity & Inclusion

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I just received an ASCD publication, “Connecting Teachers, Students and Standards: Strategies for Success in Diverse and Inclusive Classrooms.”

From Chapter Two, “Supporting the Classroom with Materials for Instruction,” here are some widely varied Web sites for teachers.

Understanding UDL (Universal Design for Learning)

• Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) — http://www.cast.org
• CAST  UDL Lesson Planner — http://lessonbuilder.cast.org/
• Digital Content in the Classroom — http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/toolkits/tk_introduction.cfm?tk_id=41
• DO IT — http://www.washington.edu/doit
• Planning for All Learners — http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/toolkits/tk_introduction.cfm?tk_id=21

Using Dictionaries and Other Aids

• Enchanted Learning Picture Dictionary — http://www.enchantedlearning.com/Dictionary.html
• Franklin Spelling Ace — http://www.franklin.com/handhelds/dictionaries/spell_correctors/
• Internet Picture Dictionary — http://www.pdictionary.com
• Merriam Webster Online — http://www.m-w.com

Embedding Content-Rich Experiences

• Colonial Williamsburg — www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/visit/tourTheTown/NASA:http://search.nasa.gov/search/search.jsp?nasaInclude=virtual+field+trips
• Pandacam at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park – http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/default.cfm?cam=LP2
• Smithsonian Museums – www.mnh.si.edu/panoramas/   

Using Web 2.0 Tools

• Blogs in Plain English — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2I1pWXjXI
• Podcasting in Plain English — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-MSL42NV3c
• Social Media in Plain English — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpIOCIX1jPE&feature=channel
• Twitter in Plain English — http://www.youtube.com/watch?/v=ddO9idmax0o
• Wikis in Plain English – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnL00TdmLY
• TeacherTube – http://www.teachertube.com
• You Tube – http://www.youtube.com

 Other Sites

• Teaching Tolerance — http://www.teachingtolerance.org
• Cooperative Children’s Book Center — http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/books/multicultural.asp
• Multicultural Children’s Literature — http://www.multiculturalchildrenslit.com

source: “Connecting Teachers, Students and Standards: Strategies for Success in Diverse and inclusive Classrooms,” by Deborah L Voltz, Michele Jean Sims, and Betty Nelson. ASCD. 2010.  ISBN: 978-1-4166-1024-3.   Join ASCD or order books at http://www.ascd.org.

tutoring in Columbus OH:   Adrienne Edwards   614-579-6021  or email  aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

+ Web Sites for RTI (Response to Intervention) Resources

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From an article in Perspectives, the IDA quarterly, here are helpful Websites that have reviewed and sythesized information about evidence-based programs for RTI:

• The Center on Instruction – http://www.centeroninstruction.org/
• The Florida Center for Reading Research – http://www.fcrr.org/Interventions/index.htm
• Johns Hopkins University School of Education’s Center for Data-Driven Reform in Education – http://www.bestevidence.org/

 Excellent RTI resources and case studies for training purposes:

• Office of Special Education program-Funded Project Iris — http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/resources.html

source: Fall 2009 issue of Perspectives on Language and Literacy, a quarterly publication of the International Dyslexia Association.  (http://www.interdys.org)  Article by Al Otaiba, Connor, Foorman, Schatschneider, Greulich and Sidler, “Identifying and Intervening with Beginning Readers Who Are At-Risk for Dyslexia: Advances in Individualized Classroom Instruction.” 

tutoring in Columbus OH:   Adrienne Edwards  614-579-6021  or email  aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

+ ESSAY WRITING: Web Sites for Teaching

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The latest from EduHound’s “Classroom Tools & Tips:” sites for teaching how to write an essay.

• CollegeBoard.com: College Essays/Writing Tips — Includes sample college essay questions, recipe for a draft, and three steps to a great college essay.  http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/essay-skills/index.html
• Essay Writing Resources — This module introduces you to the process of essay writing, from analyzing the question through to the final redrafting and editing.  http://www.jcu.edu.au/office/tld/writingskills/essay/
• Writing Essay Exams — Details how to create a well-written answer to an essay question.  http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_essay.html
• How to Write an Essay — Strategies for writing assessed essays in the first year and in the second year of an English course.  http://www.english.bham.ac.uk/staff/tom/teaching/howto/essay.htm
• Writing Tips: Essay Builder –  Explores the parts and provides step-by-step directions for writing essays. http://www2.actden.com/Writ_den/tips/essay/index.htm 
• Essays and Other Writing Activities for Early Writers –  For early writers, these one-page printouts — with writing prompts — should be enough writing space for a short essay.  For more advanced writiers, extra pieces of lined paper will be necessary to finish an essay.  http://www.enchanted/learning.com/essay/

 source:  EduHound’s “Classroom Tools& Tips” newsletter, which provides valuable edtech resources to incorporate into K-12 curriculum.  Educational topics, preformatted templates, technology tutorials and practical tips.  Let Judi Rajala know what topics you’d like covered; or send her your templates (JRajala@eduhound.com 

tutoring in Columbus OH:   Adrienne Edwards   614-579-6021  or email  aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com    

+ Web Sites for Teaching Harpers Ferry

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From EduHound’s “Classroom Tools & Tips, this week’s topic is Harpers Ferry.

On October 16, 1859 John Brown, along with 21 followers, came to Harpers Ferry, Virginia, to strike a blow against slavery.  The raid failed and Brown was hanged in December.  Sixteen months later, the country erupted in civil war.

• John Brown’s 1859 Raid on Harpers Ferry – Anniversaries provide unusual opportunities to draw attention and stimulate interest in historic figures and events.  This observance will provide an unprecedented opportunity to reflect on and revisit the life of John Brown as it relates to the larger context of slavery, the abolitionist movement, and the American civil rights movement.  http://www.harpersferryhistory.org/johnbrown.htm
• Harpers Ferry National Historical Park — for Teahers (US Natl Park Service) –  Resources include: Plan a Field Trip, Curriculum Materials, Professional Development, Traveling Trunks, NPS Focus, Additional Resources.  http://www.nps.gov/hafe/forteachers/index.htm
• National Geographic Xpeditions: John Brown and the Underground Railroad – This lesson asks students to analyze John Brown’s attitudes and actions against slavery and the differences between his views and those of other people who were active in the Underground Railroad and the abolitionist movement.  http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/17/g912/undergroundrail.html
• The American Experience: John Brown’s Holy War – Learn how John Brown led a righteous crusade against slavery, born of religious conviction — and carried it out with shocking violence.  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/brown/
• History Now.  From the Teachers Desk: John Brown – This lesson attempts to introduce middle school students to John Brown and to separate history from myth and the man from the legend.  http://www.historynow.org/09_2005/lp3.html

EduHound also offers this tip:

eFIELDTRIPS.org (visit http://efieldtrips.org )

• Trip Journal – First, the teacher downloads and gives students copy of a printed Trip Journal.  It is a simple one page fill-in-the- blank-type worksheet that helps to keep the students focused and provides a way for the teacher to grade student participation, if desired.  Students fill in the Trip Journal while they are completing the next component.
• Virtual Visit – An interactive Flash movie that teaches the students about the eFieldTrip topic.  It can be completed at any time, and at the student’s own pace.  Typically, it takes about 15 minutes for a student to go through the Virtual Visit.
• Ask the Experts – After completing the Virtual Visit, students  have an opportunity to interact with the experts.  Students can ask questions via an “Ask the Experts” web form, and receive an answer in 1-2 days.
• Live Chat – Another way students can interact with experts is by participating in a live web chat at a scheduled time.   

EduHound’s “Classroom Tools & Tips” is a newsletter offering valuable ed tech resources to incorporate into K-12 curriculum.  Educational topics, preformatted templates, technology tutorials, and practical tips are featured.  Contact Judi Rajala at JRajala@eduhound.com with your suggestions for topics; share your templates and tips.

tutoring in Columbus OH:   Adrienne Edwards   614-579-6021  or email  aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

+ Web Sites for Teaching About National Archives & Records

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From EduHound’s “Classroom Tools and Tips,” here are sites to learn about our National Archives & Records Administration:

• 75 Years of National Archives & Records Administration  (NARA) History – Find out about defining moments in the agenciy’s history through the decades with photo galleries, personal stories, and notices of events throughout the nation.  http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2009/summer/history.html
• NARA: Teaching With Documents – Contains reproductible copies of primary documents from the holdings of the National Archives of the US; teaching activities correlated to the National History Standards and National Standards for Civics and Government; and cross-curricular connections.  http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons
• NARA: Educators and Students – Explore vast resources and find a treasure trove of reproducible primary sources, lesson plans correlated to national standards, and cross-curricular connections from the National Archives.  http://www.archives.gov/nae/education/
• NARA: Online Exhibits – Explore NARA’s extensive collection of online detailed exhibits.  http://www.archives.gov/exhibits-list.html
• National Archives Experience: Digital Vaults –  Browse through the hundreds of photographs, documents, and film clips and discover the connection between some of the National Archives’ most treasured records.  http://www.digitalvaults.org
• Our Documents: 100 Milestone Documents from the National Archives – This site is filled with photos and info on all 100 featured documents.  http://www.ourdocuments.gov

   Topical: STEM Resources (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Directed at Girls

The EduHound Newsletter also highlights the National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP).  Their Web site  (http://ngcproject.org/index.cfm) is designed to reach and bring together STEM organizations which serve girls.  These organizations, across the US and Puerto Rico, are committed to informing and encouraging girls to pursue careers in STEM. 

It provides a database that lists organizations and programs so they can  network and share program descriptions; it lists resources available within each program, program needs, and contact information.

source: EduHound Weekly’s “Classroom Tools and Tips,” which provides valuable ed tech resources to incorporate into K-12 curriculum.  Educational topics, preformatted templates, technology tutorials, and practical tips are featured.  To suggest topics or share your templates email Judi Rajala: JRajala@eduhound.com 

tutoring in Columbus OH:   Adrienne Edwards   614-579-6021   or email  aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com   

+ Web Sites for Teaching About Hawaii

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On August 21, 1959, President Eisenhower made Hawai’i Statehood official by signing the proclamation that welcomed Hawai’i as the 50th state of the union.  He also unveiled the new fifty star flag.

Here, from EduHound’s “Classroom Tools & Tips” newsletter, are some sites for teaching about our 50th state.

• 50th Anniversary of Hawaii Statehood –Features perspectives concerning Statehood and island history.   http://hawaii.gov/statehood/ 
• HawaiiHistory.org — Developed for anyone who wants to learn more about Hawaii or is interested in contributing to a broader understanding of our island home.  http://www.hawaiihistory.org
• Hawaii @ 50States.com — Find Hawaii State symbols, capital, constitution, flags, maps, song, and more!   http://www.50states.com/hawaii.htm
• Hawaii Alive — The Hawaii Alive project is a cooperative work led by the Bishop Museum to share from their collections, library and archives with the general public, especially teachers.  It gathers resources to teach Hawaiian language, history and culture.   http://www.hawaiialive.org
• USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) — Contains information about Kilauea, Mauna Loa, and other volcanoes in the Hawaiian Islands; eruption reports, Volcano Watch articles, earthquakes, types of volcano activity.   http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov
• Find Your Hawaiian Name –To find your name in Hawaiian, please type it in the space provided and press the find button.  http://hawaiiannames.hisurf.com/

source: EduHound’s “Classroom Tools & Tips” newsletter.  You can subscribe (or offer suggestions for topics, or share teaching templates) by contacting Judi Rajala at JRajala@eduhound.com      

tutoring in Columbus OH:   Adrienne Edwards   614-579-6021   or email   aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

+ Web Sites for Teaching Poetry

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This week’s “Classroom Tools & Tips” from Eduhound.com offers sites for teaching poetry. 

April is National Poetry Month, inaugurated in 1996, and brings together publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, schools and poets around the country to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture.

• Poets.org: Curriculum & Lesson Plans – Contains teacher-developed units; lesson plans tested in their classrooms. Many of the units use visiting poets or writers-in-residence.  http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/87
•  Poetry Archive: For Teachers — Features poetry lesson plans, activities, and resources for all key stages and for the inclusive classroom.  http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/teachersHome.do
• poetryclass: Poetry Lessons — Features lessons, by age, to help equip students with fresh ideas and methods for making the most of poetry in the classroom.  http://www.poetryclass.net/lesindex.htm
• Poetry 180 — Designed to make it easy for students to hear and/or read a poem on each of the 180 days of the school year.  http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/
• Favorite Poem Project: Lesson Plans — Seeks to improve poetry’s place in American classrooms by encouraging active, engaging poetry lessons that emphasize a direct, vocal connection to poems.   http://www.favoritepoem.org/lessonPlans.html
• Guide to Poetry & Literature Webcasts — Use this guide as a resource for locating streaming video of poets, fiction writers, and critics as they read and discuss their own and each other’s work.  http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/webcasts/index.html
• Poetry Writing : Scholastic.com – Study the genre of poetry by taking part in step-by-step workshops with favorite authors.  Includes teacher’s guide.  http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/poetry/index.htm
• Poets’ Corner — Features a user-friendly library that spans thousands of works by hundreds of authors covering thousands of years.  http://www.theotherpages.org/poems/

source: Eduhound’s “Classroom Tools & Tips,” a newsletter that provides valuable ed tech resources to incorporate into K-12 curriculum.  Educational topics, preformatted templates, technology tutorials and practical tips are featured.  Judi Rajala asks you for tips on topics to cover — or your tech tips and templates to share.   Email  her at jrajala@eduhound.com

tutoring in Columbus OH:  Adrienne Edwards  614-579-6021  or email  aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

+ Web Sites for Teaching About NATO @60

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From EduHound’s “Classroom Tools & Tips” this week, the topic is NATO at 60 years. 

This year marks the 60th anniversary of NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; the alliance of 26 countries from North America and Europe committed to fulfilling the goals of the North Atlantic Treaty signed on April 4th, 1949.

• NATO’s 60th Anniversary 1949-2009 – Features historical information and interactive timelines containing additional resources relating to NATO.  http://www.nato.int/60years/index.html
• NATO: Education — Offers an array of background material to help teach NATO and security-related issues.   http://www.nato.int/education/home.htm
• NATO: Virtual Exhibits — On a regular basis, NATO organizes exhibitions at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, which they also invite you to vist “virtually.”  http://www.nato.int/events/events.htm
• EDSITEment: The Formation of the Western Alliance, 1948-1949 — This lesson traces the Berlin Blockade and airlift of 1948-49 and the establishment of NATO.  http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=687
• NATO and Russia: Will the Expansion of NATO Cause a New Cold War?  — This role-playing lesson encourages students to explore the history and purpose of NATO and of the Soviet Union and Russia in order to determine the effect of the past on contemporary European politics.  http://score.rims.k12ca.us/activity/nato_russia/
• nationalgeographic.com: Xpeditions, International Alliances – This lesson has students learn the history, mission, function, and geographical range of six international alliances.  It then asks them to research opposing viewpoints concerning these alliances and to consider the reasons why some people want to reform or disband these organizations.  http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/12/g912/eurounion.html

source: EduHound’s “Classroom Tools& Tips” Newsletter, which offers valuable ed tech resources to incorporate into K-12 curriculum.  Also educational topics, preformatted templates, technology tutorials and practical tips.  To receive the newsletter, to suggest topics or to offer your own templates, email Judi at  JRajala@eduhound.com .

tutoring in Columbus OH:   Adrienne Edwards  614-579-6021   or email  aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

+ New York at 400 Years: Web Sites for Teaching

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The latest topic from Eduhound’s “Classroom Tools and Tips” is New York, which is celebrating its 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson and Samuel Champlain’s voyages along the river and like that bear their names. 

It’s also the 200th anniversary of Robert Fulton’s successful steamboat voyage, which inaugurated steam commerce on the Hudson River.

• Explore New York 400: Hudson Fulton Champlain – This site engages the public, as well as civic, education, environmental, cultural and heritage organizations; the goal is  to develop and support related plans and activities that focus attention on the history, culture, and natural resources of New York State.  http://www.exploreny400.com
• NY State Education Department Champlain/Hudson/Fulton Commemoration — Explore 10 standards-based, interdisciplinary elementary, middle and commencement level instructional modules; also 3 scholarly overviews that focus on the broad historical themes of encounters between peoples, global trade, and commerce.  http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/chf/chf.html
• Teaching the Hudson Valley — Their growing collection of free K-12 lesson plans uses significant Valley sites to teach math, science, history, art and other important school subjects.  http://www.teachingthehudsonvalley.org
• Learning About the Hudson River Valley — Features a variety of lessons developed by our associates and through our summer teacher workshops.  http://www.hudsonrivervalley.org/learninghome.php
• Navigating the Champlain Valley: Quadricentennial Curriculum — Multi-disciplinary curriculum to help educators of all kinds to bring this topic into the classroom.  http://www.lcmm.org/navigating.htm
• Robert Fulton, Hudson River Steamboats, and the Clermont Steamboat — Contains descriptions and details of Robert Fulton’s life and his first steamboat voyage to Albany.  http://www.hrmm.org/steamboats/fulton.html

Eduhound’s “Classroom Tools & Tips” is an EduHound newsletter that provides valuable ed tech resources to incorporate into K-12 curriculum.  Educational topics, preformatted templates, technology tutorials, and practical tips are featured.  Judi Rajala says she wants your help; let her know what topics you’d like covered, or offer templates of your own.   email jrajala@eduhound.com

tutoring in Columbus OH:   Adrienne Edwards   614-579-6021   or email  aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

+ Web Sites: December Holidays

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From “Classroom Tools & Tips,” and EduHound newsletter, here is the list for December holiday sites. 

December Holidays Clipart & Awesome Clipart for Educators –  Find holiday clipart, coloring pages, backgrounds, fonts, icons, lines, worksheets and more. 

• Hanukkah — http://www.awessomeclipartforeducators.com/cat.cfm?cat=Hanukkah&sec=Holidays      
• Christmas – http://www.awesomeclipartforeducators.com/type.cfm?feature=Christmas&sec=Holidays
•  Kwanzaa — http://www.awesomeclipartforeducators.com/cat.cfm?cat=Kwanzaa&sec=Holidays

December: A Month of Multicultural Holiday Celebrations — Do your students celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Three Kings Day?  maybe they celebrate St. Lucia Day or Ramadan.  December offers great opportunities for teaching about our multicultural world.  http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson246.shtml

History of the Holidays at The History of Channel — Learn the history of the holidays at the History Channel’s online exhibits.

• Hanukkah:  http://www.history.com/minisites/hanukkah
• Christmas:  http://www.history.com/minisites/chritmas
• Kwanzaa:      http://www.history.com/minisites/kwanzaa

A Hotlist on December Holidays — In addition to using books and magazines to find out about December Holidays, why not also use the power of the Internet?  http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/list/pages/listdecemberms.html

source: EduHound’s “Classroom Tools & Tips”  Newsletter.  Find valuable ed tech resources to incorporate into K-12 curriculum.  Educational templates, technology tutorials, and practical tips are featured.  Also, let Judi Rajala know what topics you’d like to cover at jrajala@eduhound.com  

tutoring in Columbus OH:   Adrienne Edwards   614-579-6021   or email   aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com