As puzzle-making sites go, I really like this one; not only is it easy to use, but offers a great variety too! Puzzlemaker offers ten different types of puzzles, including word search and crossword (which they call criss-cross.)
Create and print customized word search, crossword, math puzzles, and more-using your own word lists.
A Learning Outcomes Assessment Resource Library-Free!
A variety of information including articles, presentations, reports, books, and helpful websites are located within this searchable library database. Search information by Title, Author, Description, Publication Date, Organization, and Keyword. Many of references are published in the last five years.
Topics range from Accountability, Portfolio, and Student Affairs…plus dozens more!
I love anything that helps teachers stay organized, especially if it doesn’t cost money (or very little). Here’s some DIY for the elementary teachers out there! From the blog, BuzzFeed life, comes twenty-nine of the best do-it-yourself ideas to save time and money in your classroom.
I’m pretty sure I’ll taking a few of these ideas home!
Direct web link: http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/clever-organization-hacks-for-elementary-school-teachers#.heRlLw4V6
With so many school districts having access to iPads (through grants, etc.), many teachers are looking to the latest, greatest apps to introduce or synthesize common core. As I’ve said before in previous posts, if you haven’t subscribed to Free Technology for Teachers written by Richard Byrne, do so today! Here is another post from his blog I checked out; it is a home run for those instructors that have access to iPads and want to utilize portfolios in their classrooms.
SeeSaw, a powerful and popular iPad app for creating digital portfolios, is now available as a Chrome web app and as an Android app. The new apps allow students to create and add content to digital portfolios.
“Through SeeSaw students can add artifacts to their portfolios by taking pictures of their work (in the case of a worksheet or other physical item), by writing about what they’ve learned, or by uploading a short video about things they have learned. The SeeSaw apps students can add voice comments to their pictures to clarify what their pictures document. Students can create folders withing their accounts to organize content from multiple subject areas.”
Resources are free to students, teachers, and parents; the site does offer an upgraded account for parents at a VERY minimal yearly cost, when you consider the added benefits.
Direct Web Link: http://web.seesaw.me/
Looking for a cool idea for decorating lockers? I love this for middle or secondary schools!
A group of teachers and volunteers are turning the 8th grade English hallway into an “Avenue of Literature” by painting the 189 unused lockers—which had been sealed shut for security reasons for more than 15 years—to look like the spines of popular books.
Direct web link: http://mentalfloss.com/article/65686/teachers-transform-lockers-book-spines
I stumbled across this site a couple years ago and must share again. Coursera is an education platform that partners with top universities and organizations worldwide, to offer courses online for anyone to take, for free. Even greater, many of the courses offer certification for a minimal fee, so if your organization requires a verified certificate, this is an option. Most of the courses allow you to work at your own pace, and connect with fellow learners.
Choose from hundreds of courses created by the world’s top educational institutions. Courses are open to anyone, and learning is free.
*Here’s some examples of current courses being offered:
*Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects
*Introduction to Public Speaking
*Chinese for Beginners
*Calculus One
Just an overall mixture of great courses, from academic, to improving job skills. Some of the top universities from across the United States and world have joined together to bring these courses to anyone who wishes to improve their life through knowledge and a love for learning.
Direct site link: https://www.coursera.org/courses
This website is definitely one of my top five, free resources for teachers. I’ve used other “test generators,” but easy TestMaker allows educators to create, print and publish your tests online, like its name…easily! This site makes it easy for you to perfectly format multiple question types, print alternate versions, and publish to the web for online tests!
Key features with the free plan:
If you are a teacher or parent who home schools, you’re going to love this free, k-6+ resource: I Love That Teaching Idea.
I discovered this great website several years ago and have used it numerous times. I have never actually submitted an original lesson of my own, but the process seems fairly simple. The resources are free and available without becoming a member or providing an email.
The goal of I Love That Teaching Idea, is to provide elementary school teachers creative, practical and effective ideas and techniques to enhance students enjoyment and performance in the classroom.
There are approximately twenty different academic categories, including ideas for substitute teachers.
Direct link: http://www.ilovethatteachingidea.com/
Here’s a great (and free) resource for teachers, parents, and students: a company called ACALETICS® is offering free web-based math flashcards to help students improve their computational fluency.
The Flashcard Concepts include:
Direct link: http://www.acaletics2.com/flashcards/
freeresourcesforeverythingthatseducation 