Here are some interesting sites that I’ve found this week, thanks to my PLN. As a teacher, I feel we have to keep up to date concerning research in our field and current issues in the education system. I hope some of these inspire you, inform you, and even have you asking questions. Thank you for coming by and visiting!
Note: Each resource is labeled with a level and subject area to make it easier to use.
Levels: E: Elementary; M: Middle; H: High; G: General, all levels; SN: Special Needs; T: Teachers
Subject Areas: LA: Language Arts, English, Reading, Writing; M: Math; S: Science; Health; SS: Social Studies, Current Events; FA: Fine Arts; Music, Art, Drama; FL: Foreign Language; PE: Physical Ed; C: Career; A: All
The Guide to Pinterest for Educators – created by USC Rossier's Masters in Teaching program; “Over 500,000 education-related pins are saved to Pinterest every day. That number is expected to grow with the launch of Teachers on Pinterest — a collaborative effort between Pinterest, education experts such as Edutopia, and a collection of teacher bloggers. The platform's creation of their own education-focused Pinterest community demonstrates the value and power of using this tool in the classroom. Recognizing that power, we've teamed up with noted author and education expert Leah Anne Levy to create The Guide to Pinterest for Educators — a handbook designed with today's digitally literate educators in mind. This handbook provides teachers and administrators with the tools needed to not only navigate Pinterest, but also to use the social platform as a powerful learning tool for both teachers and students.” (L:T; SA:A)
Talk to Books – “In Talk to Books, when you type in a question or a statement, the model looks at every sentence in over 100,000 books to find the responses that would most likely come next in a conversation. The response sentence is shown in bold, along with some of the text that appeared next to the sentence for context.” (L:G; SA:A)
Orkin Science Education – “At Orkin, we’re passionate about the science of bugs. That’s why our entomologists and pest control experts worked together to create fun, interactive resources to help children become as passionate about science as we are.” (L:E,M; SA:S)
Nature Journaling – “For me, nature is a stimulus for creative thought and, as a result, better writing. By the time I am home again and facing my computer, I am usually free from whatever was blocking my flow of ideas … even if I’m not specifically writing about nature. I return more in tune to my surroundings and aware that I am a part of something much larger than myself. Being out in the natural world reminds me of who I am … and that keeps me from trying to be something I’m not. And I think that’s the key to good writing … conveying your thoughts in an authentic voice that’s true to who you really are. I agree…So here goes… pick a writing prompt you like and make it your own.” (L:G; SA:LA,S)
The Ultimate Parent Guide for Protecting Your Child on the Internet – “In this comprehensive guide, we outlined eight areas that you should pay attention to as you navigate this complex online world. Depending on the ages of your children, not all of it will apply to you. Think of it not only as guidelines for what you should do now but what you should pay attention to as your children grow.” (L:G; SA:A)
Plum's Creaturizer – free app; “Go on a nature adventure with Plum's Creaturizer! Kids and families can build wild creatures, then head outdoors to photograph them right in their own backyard. It's part of PLUM LANDING, a PBS KIDS project that helps kids develop a love for this amazing, beautiful, and dramatic planet we call home. The app provides opportunities for kids and their families to interact with nature in a thoughtful way and have fun exploring together.”
Original photo by Pat Hensley
