Resources and Tools
Below are several websites and tools for teachers.
Websites
Engage NY- https://www.engageny.org
Common Core for Literacy- https://www.engageny.org/sites/default/files/resource/attachments/nysp12cclsela.pdf
Share My Lesson- http://www.sharemylesson.com
Common Core for Literacy- https://www.engageny.org/sites/default/files/resource/attachments/nysp12cclsela.pdf
Share My Lesson- http://www.sharemylesson.com
Resources: Documents
Task Creation
The resources below were provided to me at a PD hosted by the NYC DOE. The Literacy Design Collaborative (LDC) has resources that assist in creating tasks for students that are aligned with the Common Core and rigorous.
The resources below were provided to me at a PD hosted by the NYC DOE. The Literacy Design Collaborative (LDC) has resources that assist in creating tasks for students that are aligned with the Common Core and rigorous.
Task Creation Guidelines by Jay McTighe and the Literacy Design Collaborative (LDC)
Literacy Design Collaborative (LDC) Template Task Collection 2.0 (2013) |
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Question Starters
Below are some resources that I use to generate higher-level questions for students that are based on the Depth of Knowledge resources by Norman Webb and others at the University of Wisconsin- Madison (click here for more). More importantly, I also use these resources to have students create questions for each other, either during Socratic Seminars, class discussions, and to further discussion while groups are presenting on content.
Below are some resources that I use to generate higher-level questions for students that are based on the Depth of Knowledge resources by Norman Webb and others at the University of Wisconsin- Madison (click here for more). More importantly, I also use these resources to have students create questions for each other, either during Socratic Seminars, class discussions, and to further discussion while groups are presenting on content.
Depth of Knowledge "Web Alignment Tool" by Normal Webb and others at the University of Wisconsin- Madison.
Group Presentation Question Starters Question Starters One Pager I enlarged this and hung it on my wall. I also printed out a sheet and put one at each table. Blooms Question Starters An additional resource for creating leveled questions. |
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Class or Group Discussions/Socratic Seminars: "Meaningful Conversations"
This year, I tried to shift the focus from teacher-led instruction to instruction facilitated by students. One way to foster this type of classroom is to have students respond to each other while the teacher steps back and lets the conversation take place. Below are some ways to frame the discussion that helps move the conversation forward. I enlarged this and hung it up in my classroom and also laminated copies for each table. It takes practice on both the teacher's part and the students' to facilitate this, but once you practice it becomes easier.
This year, I tried to shift the focus from teacher-led instruction to instruction facilitated by students. One way to foster this type of classroom is to have students respond to each other while the teacher steps back and lets the conversation take place. Below are some ways to frame the discussion that helps move the conversation forward. I enlarged this and hung it up in my classroom and also laminated copies for each table. It takes practice on both the teacher's part and the students' to facilitate this, but once you practice it becomes easier.
"Meaningful Conversations" Starters
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Unit Plan and Lesson Plan Templates
The templates below were developed with the consultation of many different resources.
The templates below were developed with the consultation of many different resources.
Unit Plan Template
Lesson Plan Template |
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Formative Assessment Tools
Assessing student learning at all stages of the lesson and unit.
Assessing student learning at all stages of the lesson and unit.
Tools for Formative Assessment Developed by K. Lambert
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My Favorite Graphic Organizers
Check out some of my favorite graphic organizers below!
Check out some of my favorite graphic organizers below!
Classic Venn Diagram Template
3-Way Venn Diagram 5-Way Comparison Sequence Timeline Graphic Organizer Timeline 2 Cluster Word Web Cluster Word Web (6 Bubbles) Double Duty Log Eulogy Graphic Organizer Series of Reading Graphic Organizers National Archives Cartoon Analysis Sheet Visualizing Worksheet See, Think, Wonder (to be completed with a picture) The Five Senses (for example, I read an excerpt about the Black Death and had students close their eyes and then fill out worksheet) Vocabulary Worksheet 1 Vocabulary Worksheet 2 Vocabulary Worksheet 3 |
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Technology and Other Resources
1. Edmodo
Edmodo is an online education website that I used in my classroom for the first time this year. This website worked well because it allowed students to work online on assignments, which limited paper use and allowed students to learn a new skill of attending an online class. I used this assignment in class also, as I had students use the small group chat feature in class while I monitored their progress. I would put a question on the Smart Board that students would have to answer in their small groups. Sometimes I would pose different questions to different groups which were sometimes leveled and sometimes homogenous. This helped them build the global competency of technology and generating opinions on certain subjects and communicating this information to their peers in an effective, professional manner.
2. Wevideo
Wevideo is an online movie maker that is free to use. In my government class, I had students chose a social justice issue that they wanted to explore and gave them a choice of how they would essentially "teach" the rest of the class about this issue. There was also a research component for this project. Students created the videos in class and at home and then presented them to the class.This helped build their global competency by learning a new way to use technology. The topics themselves helped nurture them as global citizens, as an extension of the project was to expand the issue to the world as a whole. An example of this can be found here.
3. Skype
While Skype is not a new online tool, it was new for me. For those not familiar, it is essentially a service that allows you to make phone calls and video calls online. I was able to set up Skype on my Smart Board in my computer and Skyped with my students while I was in Morocco. I was also able to practice Skype with a classroom in rural Massachusetts. While I have not even fully explored the possibilities of Skype, through my fellowship I met many colleagues I hope to Skype with in the future. This builds the global competencies of learning technology and interacting with people from many different backgrounds. Building relationships with students around the country and world can help build empathy and increase cultural awareness.
4. Newspaper Map
Newspaper Map is a great online resource that allows students to search for newspaper articles by location all around the world. I used this resource in my class when doing my Current Events assignments with my students that are due every week. Some weeks I would require students research a current event from around the world and this was a user-friendly platform for them to do so. This increased their global competency because they had the opportunity to learn about other parts of the world first-hand.
5. The Choices Program
The Choices Program is a series of different professional development resources and workshops for teachers developed by Brown University. While some of their resources have a cost, there are also some great free ones that I have used to teach about current events. For example, this year I used their "Debating the U.S. Response to Syria" (click here) and their "Unrest in Ukraine" (click here) lessons. They often update their website with lesson ideas on current events, which helps broaden students' global awareness.
6. Flocabulary
Flocabulary is an online resource that produces a "Week in Rap" video every Friday that provides a summary of current events for the week, both nationally and globally. There is a small fee associated, but selected videos are free. They also have videos for a host of other topics that I have used. This increases global competency by gaining knowledge about other parts of the world.
Edmodo is an online education website that I used in my classroom for the first time this year. This website worked well because it allowed students to work online on assignments, which limited paper use and allowed students to learn a new skill of attending an online class. I used this assignment in class also, as I had students use the small group chat feature in class while I monitored their progress. I would put a question on the Smart Board that students would have to answer in their small groups. Sometimes I would pose different questions to different groups which were sometimes leveled and sometimes homogenous. This helped them build the global competency of technology and generating opinions on certain subjects and communicating this information to their peers in an effective, professional manner.
2. Wevideo
Wevideo is an online movie maker that is free to use. In my government class, I had students chose a social justice issue that they wanted to explore and gave them a choice of how they would essentially "teach" the rest of the class about this issue. There was also a research component for this project. Students created the videos in class and at home and then presented them to the class.This helped build their global competency by learning a new way to use technology. The topics themselves helped nurture them as global citizens, as an extension of the project was to expand the issue to the world as a whole. An example of this can be found here.
3. Skype
While Skype is not a new online tool, it was new for me. For those not familiar, it is essentially a service that allows you to make phone calls and video calls online. I was able to set up Skype on my Smart Board in my computer and Skyped with my students while I was in Morocco. I was also able to practice Skype with a classroom in rural Massachusetts. While I have not even fully explored the possibilities of Skype, through my fellowship I met many colleagues I hope to Skype with in the future. This builds the global competencies of learning technology and interacting with people from many different backgrounds. Building relationships with students around the country and world can help build empathy and increase cultural awareness.
4. Newspaper Map
Newspaper Map is a great online resource that allows students to search for newspaper articles by location all around the world. I used this resource in my class when doing my Current Events assignments with my students that are due every week. Some weeks I would require students research a current event from around the world and this was a user-friendly platform for them to do so. This increased their global competency because they had the opportunity to learn about other parts of the world first-hand.
5. The Choices Program
The Choices Program is a series of different professional development resources and workshops for teachers developed by Brown University. While some of their resources have a cost, there are also some great free ones that I have used to teach about current events. For example, this year I used their "Debating the U.S. Response to Syria" (click here) and their "Unrest in Ukraine" (click here) lessons. They often update their website with lesson ideas on current events, which helps broaden students' global awareness.
6. Flocabulary
Flocabulary is an online resource that produces a "Week in Rap" video every Friday that provides a summary of current events for the week, both nationally and globally. There is a small fee associated, but selected videos are free. They also have videos for a host of other topics that I have used. This increases global competency by gaining knowledge about other parts of the world.
More Resources!
1. Howard Zinn: Zinn Education Project
Howard Zinn was one of my favorite historians because he exposed parts of American History that were not the "sugar coated," "feel good" ones. Through doing this and using it in my classroom, students learn about social justice, the power of dissent, and that they should study history so we can learn from our mistakes. I also believe his history teaches empathy and a focus on humanity, which I feel are vital in today's education.
2. Teaching Tolerance
Teaching Tolerance is an excellent resource for educators to get lesson plans, unit plans, and offers thought-provoking articles. Their materials engage students to look at material in a different way and evaluate every situation through new eyes.
3. Pinterest
Although I have not used Pinterest in my classroom, I have found several great ideas on Pinterest that can be implemented in the classroom. There are endless resources, articles, and ideas that can helpful to any teacher- new or veteran, english or math.
4. Heifer International
Heifer International is a non-profit whose mission is to "work with communities to end world hunger and poverty and care for the Earth." They have a series of activities and lessons that can be used in schools that have a global focus.
5. The New York Times Learning Network
The New York Times Learning Network is an online resource for educators that have subscriptions to The New York Times. They have great lesson plans, age-appropriate articles, and students can also log on and blog.
6. Storyboard That
Storyboard That is an online story-board creator that also has lesson plans. There is a free 14-day trial, and then unfortunately a subscription cost.
Howard Zinn was one of my favorite historians because he exposed parts of American History that were not the "sugar coated," "feel good" ones. Through doing this and using it in my classroom, students learn about social justice, the power of dissent, and that they should study history so we can learn from our mistakes. I also believe his history teaches empathy and a focus on humanity, which I feel are vital in today's education.
2. Teaching Tolerance
Teaching Tolerance is an excellent resource for educators to get lesson plans, unit plans, and offers thought-provoking articles. Their materials engage students to look at material in a different way and evaluate every situation through new eyes.
3. Pinterest
Although I have not used Pinterest in my classroom, I have found several great ideas on Pinterest that can be implemented in the classroom. There are endless resources, articles, and ideas that can helpful to any teacher- new or veteran, english or math.
4. Heifer International
Heifer International is a non-profit whose mission is to "work with communities to end world hunger and poverty and care for the Earth." They have a series of activities and lessons that can be used in schools that have a global focus.
5. The New York Times Learning Network
The New York Times Learning Network is an online resource for educators that have subscriptions to The New York Times. They have great lesson plans, age-appropriate articles, and students can also log on and blog.
6. Storyboard That
Storyboard That is an online story-board creator that also has lesson plans. There is a free 14-day trial, and then unfortunately a subscription cost.