Home
Email this page to a friend

Ideas and Resources for Substitutes:

These ideas are to help both substitute teachers and regular teachers leaving instructions for a substitute.

44 record(s) found - search again
Welcome - A Packet for Substitute Teachers Grade K to 12 - Robert Jackson- 8091 Share
Every substitute must check out this interactive, all-inclusive, helpful, and creative website. This website includes numerous resources for substitute teachers including "Whiteboard Topics," "Bag of Tricks," "Give a Test," "Something Puzzling," and much, much more! Before you enter a classroom - enter this website!

In the Classroom:
This website provides easy, ready-to-go activities! There are activities for every grade level (from kindergarten to high school). This is a priceless resource for any substitute teacher.

Substitute Survival: Tools You Can Use Grade K to 12 - Education World- 8092 Share
This website provides substitutes with practical advice on surviving in a classroom. Most of the tips, websites and lesson ideas are more suitable for elementary or middle school, but many of the tips are practical in any classroom, any grade and any subject matter. New teachers and those headed into student teaching would be wise to read it, as well.

In the Classroom:
Substitutes - don't go into the trenches empty handed, print out this useful survival guide (or make it a TeachersFirst Favorite so you can find it anytime) and be prepared for the unexpected!

Substitute Teaching - Tricks of the Trade Grade K to 12 - Mr. Sturgeon- 7598 Share
While written with a sense of humor, the tips and practical ideas of this site are certain to keep you afloat as a sub (pardon the pun). If you have never subbed or are about to student teach, this is a must-read! In the rankings of respect, substitutes and student teachers rank closer to the bottom as the grade level goes up, so preparedness is vital to your success. God luck...and keep a sense of humor!


Newbies Grade 1 to 12 - TeachersFirst- 160 Share
Find ideas and help for new teachers, student teachers, substitutes, those teaching something new, and their mentors.


NIE Custom Classroom lesson Plans Grade 9 to 12 - NIE Online- 8876 Share
Includes lesson plan Resource aligns to standards These are lesson plans geared to provoke discussion and provide activity for students using current events. Clicking on any of the newspapers listed will take you to "Newspaper Activities for Teaching." In the right-hand column, click on "Go to lessons for grades 9-12" to find 5 activities for the week using the newspaper as a catalyst. You can print them out using the "printer friendly" format offered. Substitutes stranded without plans will love the readily-available lesson plans that are always timely and worthwhile.

In the Classroom:
The actual lesson plans can easily be varied to suit your needs for online sleuthing and discussion on contemporary issues. Remedial reading and ESL/ELL teachers will find these lessons helpful in providing non-fiction reading practice, as well. One of the extras on this site is the ability to go back for a year for more ideas. Using different media websites such as CNN News, MSNBC, ABC, Fox News, NY Times, etc. will keep students working and interested in the world around them. Try assigning students to different types of articles, i.e., a news story, an editorial agreeing with and one disagreeing with it, a cartoon about it, etc. Use this site as instant "blog fodder" to get students writing and interacting with the real world.

New Teacher Hotline Podcasts: Tech Toolbox Grade K to 12 - Glen Moulton, Mike Kelley, Candy Shively- 8655 Share
New teachers, pre-service teacher candidates, student teachers, substitutes, or any teacher seeking ideas and practical advice for using technology as a teaching tool will enjoy the humor and practicality of these podcasts by an experienced teacher and an experienced teacher/supervisor/administrator as they feature TeachersFirst Director of K-12 Initiatives Candy Shively and her "Tech Toolbox" segments. The Tech Toolbox has ideas for all teacher levels of technology expertise, including ideas for overcoming barriers to technology in your school and practical classroom management solutions for technology-based lessons.

Those who join the podcast site (free) can also submit questions that will be addressed in the Tech Toolbox podcasts every other month. Visit the site to listen on your computer or subscribe to the entire podcast series through iTunes syndication.

In the Classroom:
Listen during your drive to school as you ponder how to make technology work for you and for your students as a tool for teaching and learning. Better yet, get together with fellow teachers for munchies and a beverage as you listen --and maybe talk about the ideas and how they might fit your situation. Beat the frustration of trying to find and plan for technology integrated lessons as you relax together with Mike, Glen, and Candy Shively. If you make it a ritual with your friends, you may find the collaboration really helpful in making teaching the career you had hoped it would be. You choose the location to listen, and the podcasts will help with the rest.

New Teacher Hotline Podcasts: Phone Conferences Grade K to 12 - Glen Moulton and Mike Kelley- 8306 Share
Nothing is more frightening than the first time you have to call a parent. New teachers, pre-service teacher candidates, student teachers, substitutes, or any teacher seeking advice on phone conferences will enjoy the humor and practicality of these podcasts by an experienced teacher and an experienced teacher/supervisor/administrator. Those who join the site (free) can also submit questions that will be addressed in the twice-monthly podcasts spanning many new-teacher topics. Visit the site to listen on your computer or subscribe to the entire podcast series through iTunes syndication.

In the Classroom:
Listen to this podcast before you make that first parent call-- or afterward to find out what you could do to make the next oe better! Get together with other newbie teachers for munchies and a beverage as you listen --and maybe talk about the ideas and your related experiences. Make it a ritual to beat the isolation and frustration of being a new teacher as you relax together twice monthly with Mike, Glen, and some in-person peers for the entire podcast series. You will find the collaboration really helpful in making teaching the career you had hoped it would be. You choose the location to listen, and the podcasts will help with the rest.

New Teacher Hotline Podcasts: Sponsoring School Activities Grade K to 12 - Glen Moulton and Mike Kelley- 8305 Share
New teachers, pre-service teacher candidates, student teachers, substitutes, or any teacher seeking advice on sponsoring school activities will enjoy the humor and practicality of these podcasts by an experienced teacher and an experienced teacher/supervisor/administrator. Those who join the site (free) can also submit questions that will be addressed in the twice-monthly podcasts spanning many new-teacher topics. Visit the site to listen on your computer or subscribe to the entire podcast series through iTunes syndication.

In the Classroom:
Listen to this podcast if you are considering sponsoring a school event or have been asked to take over responsibility for an existing one. Get together with other newbie teachers for munchies and a beverage as you listen --and maybe talk about the ideas and how they might fit your situation. Make it a ritual to beat the isolation and frustration of being a new teacher as you relax together twice monthly with Mike, Glen, and some in-person peers for the entire podcast series. You may find the collaboration really helpful in making teaching the career you had hoped it would be. You choose the location to listen, and the podcasts will help with the rest.

New Teacher Hotline Podcasts: Fire/Emergency Drills Grade K to 12 - Glen Moulton and Mike Kelley- 8304 Share
New teachers, pre-service teacher candidates, student teachers, substitutes, or any teacher seeking strategies and advice on handling fire and emergency drills will enjoy the humor and practicality of these podcasts by an experienced teacher and an experienced teacher/supervisor/administrator. Those who join the site (free) can also submit questions that will be addressed in the twice-monthly podcasts across many new-teacher topics. Visit the site to listen on your computer or subscribe to the entire podcast series through iTunes syndication.

In the Classroom:
Listen before any planned drills or just because it is a good idea to have mentally prepared for these "alarming" times. If you make it a ritual to listen to the entire podcast series with your new-teacher friends, you may find the collaboration with Glen, Mike, and your buddies really helpful in making teaching the career you had hoped it would be. You choose the location to listen, and the podcasts will help with the rest.

New Teacher Hotline Podcasts: Classroom Management Grade K to 12 - Glen Moulton and Mike Kelley- 8303 Share
New teachers, pre-service teacher candidates, student teachers, substitutes, or any teacher seeking pro-active classroom management strategies and advice will enjoy the humor and practicality of these podcasts by an experienced teacher and an experienced teacher/supervisor/administrator. Those who join the site (free) can also submit questions that will be addressed in the twice-monthly podcasts across many new-teacher topics. Visit the site to listen on your computer or subscribe to the entire podcast series through iTunes syndication.

In the Classroom:
Listen during your drive to school to set a positive tone for the day. Better yet, get together with other newbie teachers for munchies and a beverage as you listen --and maybe talk about the ideas and how they might fit your situation. Beat the isolation and frustration of being a new teacher as you relax together with Mike, Glen, and some in-person peers. If you make it a ritual to listen to the entire podcast series with your friends, you may find the collaboration with Glen, Mike, and your buddies really helpful in making teaching the career you had hoped it would be. You choose the location to listen, and the podcasts will help with the rest.

New Teacher Hotline Podcasts: Lesson Planning Grade K to 12 - Glen Moulton and Mike Kelley- 8302 Share
New teachers, pre-service teacher candidates, student teachers, substitutes, or any teacher seeking lesson planning strategies and advice will enjoy the humor and practicality of these podcasts by an experienced teacher and an experienced teacher/supervisor/administrator. Those who join the site (free) can also submit questions that will be addressed in the twice-monthly podcasts across many new teacher topics. Visit the site to listen on your computer or subscribe to the entire podcast series through iTunes syndication.

In the Classroom:
Listen during your drive to school as you wonder how to make your lesson plans work. Better yet, get together with other newbie teachers for munchies and a beverage as you listen --and maybe talk about the ideas and how they might fit your situation. Beat the isolation and frustration of being a new teacher as you relax together with Mike, Glen, and some in-person peers. If you make it a ritual with your friends, you may find the collaboration with Glen, Mike, and your buddies really helpful in making teaching the career you had hoped it would be. You choose the location to listen, and the podcasts will help with the rest.

New Teacher Hotline Podcasts: Mistakes New Taachers Make Grade K to 12 - Glen Moulton and Mike Kelley- 8301 Share
New teachers, pre-service teacher candidates, student teachers, substitutes, or any teacher seeking problem-solving ideas and proactive strategies to avoid common teaching mistakes will enjoy the humor and practicality of these podcasts by an experienced teacher and an experienced teacher/supervisor/administrator. Those who join the site (free) can also submit questions that will be addressed in the twice-monthly podcasts across many new teacher topics. Visit the site to listen on your computer or subscribe to the entire podcast series through iTunes syndication.

In the Classroom:
Listen during your drive to school to head off common mistakes or find out how to fix them. Better yet, get together with other newbie teachers for munchies and a beverage as you listen --and maybe talk about common mistakes and your experiences with them. Beat the isolation and frustration of being a new teacher as you relax together with Mike, Glen, and some in-person peers. If you make it a ritual with your friends to listen to this twice-monthly series on a wide range of topics, you may find the collaboration with Glen, Mike, and your buddies really helpful in making teaching the career you had hoped it would be. You choose the location to listen, and the podcasts will help with the rest.

Young Artist Workshop Grade K to 6 - Kevin Collier- 9705 Share
This resource requires Flash With this site, you don’t need to be an art teacher to teach some very easy art and illustration techniques to your students. Kevin Collier, an acclaimed artist, demonstrates simple drawing ‘classes’ for your students via video on his blog. He also answers questions about art from his young audience. Check out his archive for more art lessons. When you watch him draw, you will need to fight the urge to pick up a pencil and paper.

There is a “Sign In” option, but all features appear useable without registering at the site. This site requires Flash. Get it from theTeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
If you find your art teacher is out for the day and there is no substitute, let Kevin teach art to your class via an interactive whiteboard, projector, or individual computers. This site could be used in language arts class to illustrate a story, social studies class to add depth and drawings to a project, or other subject areas. Differentiate for your visual/spatial students by providing the link to these tutorials when they choose to create visual book reports or research products.

Educator's Reference Desk of Lesson Plans Grade K to 12 - Information Institute of Syracuse- 8391 Share
Includes lesson plan Over 2000 lesson plans are at your fingertips when you visit this site. Find lesson plans on these topics: Arts, Computer Science, Foreign Language, Health, Information Literacy, Interdisciplinary, Language Arts, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physical Education, Science, Social Studies, and Vocational Education.

In the Classroom:
Some of the lesson plans are actually units designed for a week or more of study. The site allows for printer-friendly versions of the plans to make printing them a neat option. When you need quick plans for the substitute--or if you are a substitute-- this site is a must-have.

Teaching Tips Grade K to 12 - Dr. Kathie Nunley- 8024 Share
Find over a hundred great and practical tips for classroom management, inexpensive materials, handling classroom challenges, and more in this list compiled from teachers all over the country.If you are a new teacher-- or just looking for a new way to solve an old problem-- this site has treasures.


First Days of Middle School Grade 5 to 9 - Middleweb- 7595 Share
Middleweb provides an outstanding list of ideas and links to help the new middle school teacher, many of which apply for teachers at all levels. Ideas include classroom management, communicating with parents, advice from administrators, and first day ideas. This is a must for student teachers, new teachers, and substitutes!


Mark's Guide to Whose Line is it Anyway Grade 7 to 12 - - 7090 Share
This site has an A-Z listing of all the games played on the popular TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway? as played in the original show in Great Britain and the American version hosted by Drew Carey. For the simplest games, there is just a description. For the ones that need further explanation, there are links to click on and a sample shows as the game was played with the actual script as it happened.

In the Classroom:
This can be a great lesson starter, particularly on those dreary days when kids don't want to work. For lower level kids, it is a brain exercise for such things as the alphabet game (which is more difficult than it first seems!). For higher level kids, you can substitute characters from literature with a situation from the story itself or from history with imaginative "what if" dialogue for actual events.

Pop Portraits Grade 6 to 12 - Ann Ayers, Coral Spring HS (FL)- 6807 Share
Includes lesson plan Resource aligns to standards Take a high-tech approach to student self-portraits using digital cameras instead of the traditional mirrors. This lesson plan, part of Apple's Digital Edge Learning Exchange from nationally certified teachers, is a very effective way to use technology as a tool instead of an add-on. Windows users may need to substitute Microsoft Photo Editor or a similar product for iPhoto, but the overall plan is easily adaptable for both computer platforms. If you are not sure which tools to use, ask one of your tech genius kids to show you for extra credit or use an online photo editing tool such as Pixenate (reviewed here) or Pixlr (reviewed here) See each stage of the lesson in the video clips on the this web page (requires Quicktime). Note: the videos may be a bit slow to load,so be patient.

In the Classroom:
Launch a new way of teaching, then share this idea at your next department meeting. Include the completed portraits in a back to school slide show or share them on your class web page or wiki! Be sure to have students annotate their portraits, as well.

Incredible Art Department Grade 1 to 12 - Ken Rohrer and Judy Decker- 6371 Share
Includes lesson plan Resource aligns to standards Art teachers will find a plethora of resources on this site that offers lesson plans, networking opportunities, interactive games and activities, ideas for substitute teachers, self-correcting tests, and so much more. There is something for every grade level on this site, but it is not a searchable resource, so take some time to poke around to find the gem that will spice up your art classroom. Lesson Plans are aligned to standards.


The Cook’s Thesaurus Grade 6 to 12 - - 6263 Share
This online encyclopedia provides definitions, pronunciations, descriptions, and uses for nearly every imaginable ingredient and kitchen tool – beyond the most basic - that students may encounter in a cooking class. Viable substitutions are also discussed. Use this site as the basis for a recipe-specific Web hunt before turning them loose in the kitchen. Search by keyword or category.


Seaside Live! Grade 5 to 12 - - 4681 Share
This resource requires Flash Here’s a really nice site that offers 3-D models of marine species that students can rotate and manipulate for detailed examinations. If you don’t have a supply of crabs and mollusks handy, this site is a great substitute. Along side you’ll find lots of descriptive, explanatory text. This one could be integrated into a variety of secondary biology or marine environment units.


101 Ideas for a Great Start Grade K to 12 - Iowa State University- 1474 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files This site offers 101 ideas for a Great Start to your school year, semester, or even January doldrums. (Okay, actually there are 111 with the 10 bonus ideas). The ideas are broken down into sections: Creating a Welcoming Atmosphere, Set a Positive Tone, Encourage Active Learning, Encourage Students to Keep Up and Do Well, Provide Support for Students, Be Efficient and Effective with Your Time, Gather Feedback on Teaching, and the Bonus 10. Some of the tips are more suitable for college professors, but teachers of all levels can find numerous ideas at this site. There are a few links to other sites (at Iowa State University). Some of the sites are relevant; others are not. Some require Adobe Acrobat. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use these activities at the beginning of the year (and throughout) to help your students acclimate to the new classroom. These tips are also very useful for substitutes or for teachers presenting at professional meetings.

The Enigma Device Grade 6 to 12 - - 51 Share
Here's a puzzle to challenge even the most adept word workers. This daily puzzle from WordZap lets players unscramble a phrase using letter substitution. It sounds simple, but the process is more complex than one might imagine. This is a great site to challenge "out of the box" thinkers.

In the Classroom:
Be sure to include this site on your teacher web page for students to access outside of class for a daily challenge. Also consider sharing this site with your teaching colleagues who work with your gifted students.

Baptism by Fire: 100 Essential Tips and Resources for Student Teachers Grade K to 12 - Christina Laun- 9536 Share
Are you getting ready for your first year in the classroom or student teaching? Are you a substitute? Feeling a bit overwhelmed? This simple and useful site provides 100 tips for new teachers and student teachers to use in (and out) of the classroom. Topics include flexibility, planning, working with parents, rules, blogs for student teachers, links for lesson plans and classroom activities, classroom management, resume tips, and much more!

In the Classroom:
Use this site (and its many resources) to prepare for your first experiences teaching in the classroom. Check out the links for resume and interview tips before you start looking for a job. There are lists of professional organizations - great for student teachers (and new teachers) to join. Visit the forums and find support for your new life "in the trenches." Don't forget to mark it as one of your TeachersFirst favorites using your free membership here. TeachersFirst will always have it handy for you -- along with many other resources!

Logic and Reasoning Games Grade K to 12 - Math Playground- 7785 Share
This resource requires Flash Use this website to "clear out the cobwebs" in your students' minds. The site offers several interactive logic activities. Many require no reading. A few examples include Tetris, Rubik's Cube, Sliders, Towers and more. All activities require JAVA and FLASH. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use one of these on an interactive whiteboard as a brain warm-up at the beginning of class or as student enter the room. If you have a difficult group in a study hall, this site could keep them busy in a positive way. Substitutes will also love it! Include this link in your class's newsletter, classroom computer, or teacher web page for extra challenges and enrichment. Teachers of gifted can challenge their students to write "how to" directions for how to solve these puzzles, once they have figured them out!

The Science of Cooking Grade 7 to 12 - Edinformatics.com- 10289 Share
Interested in the chemical changes that occur during cooking? Have food related cooking questions? Find your answer here on this free site. Learn proper food cooking techniques and identify the science behind them. Teachers should caution students to ignore the ads along the margin of the site.

In the Classroom:
Identify the various techniques and science behind them. For example, browning meat is called the Malliard reaction. Understanding why this brings out the best flavor in the meat is interesting. Learn about sugar substitutes, its use in cooking, and relationship to flavor. Identify taste and how we are able to sense tastes at the molecular level. Follow discussion of techniques with actual use of the technique and resultant taste tests. During a cooking lesson, why not have cooperative learning groups try something they learned? Video their “experiment” and share with the class (and parents) using a tool such as TeacherTube reviewed here.

Educational Videos for kids Grade K to 12 - NeoK12- 10185 Share
Includes lesson plan This resource requires Flash This incredible site is a database of videos on an abundance of topics! They are arranged by topic and very easy to access. The general subjects include physical science, life science, earth and space, social studies, math, English, and the human body. Each of the subjects includes 10+ topics. And each of the topics includes countless videos. You truly have to see this collection to believe it! There are lessons “ready to go” on video: Civil Rights Movement, Ice Age, Allergies, Subtracting Negative Numbers, Electricity, and MANY others.

NOTE: Although the videos are listed on this site, they actually “live” elsewhere on the Internet, so some videos may be blocked in your school (those on YouTube, for example). Always pretest to be sure the video you hope to use is accessible at school!

In the Classroom:
Share these videos on your interactive whiteboard or projector. This is a great site to use when planning for substitute teachers, as an introduction to a new unit, or even as additional information on a specific topic.

Challenge cooperative learning groups to create their own videos about topics being studied in social studies, science, math, or nearly any other topic. Share the videos using Teachers.TV reviewed here. Include this link on your class web page for students to access outside of schools for reinforcement and further exploration of concepts.

Voki Grade K to 12 - Oddcast- 10113 Share
This resource requires Flash Teachers First Edge Review: For slightly adventurous technology users. Create a free, animated speaking character that represents yourself for a blog, wiki, or any website. Voki can also be emailed to others and downloaded to phones. Appropriate for student use in grades 6-12 but for teachers at all levels.

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: Create an account on the Voki website (email required.) Access to a microphone is required to record a voice. There is an option to use text to voice (however, it does not have great sound.) Import audio from a file or use a cell phone instead to capture audio. Only one minute of audio can be recorded so be brief. Students need to carefully think of their narrative before recording. Users must be able to copy and paste html code for use in an external site.

To use this site: After creating your login, use the controls to create your character's style, click customization to further refine your character, change your background, and add your voice. Keep in mind that animated backgrounds may take longer to load on your site. When done, click publish to view and copy the embed code which can then be used on a blog, wiki, or web pages.

Safety/Security: Monitor all aspects of student production and use for appropriateness and copyright. If concerned about using student email, consider creating a class account for students to use. Tip: rather than using your personal or work email, create a free Gmail account to use for memberships. If you plan to have students register individually, you may want to create your own Gmail account with up to 20 subaccounts for each group of students (by code name or number) within your classes. Here is a blog post that tells how to set up GMail subaccounts to use for any online membership service. Be sure that students understand not to change the Voki of other students if using a class account. Check your school district policy about using emails or identifying student information on the Internet.

Classroom use: Introduce and share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Use this free site to record a greeting for students that can be seen on the start page of your blog, wiki, or website. Record online assignment information that is spoken by the Voki (always more pleasing to look at than the teacher!). Use this to share homework assignments, a message from you (via a substitute), and more. Use a character that is interesting or matches the assignment you may be leaving. Use Voki to record two different opinions or viewpoints and create a poll of students to view reactions. Use the Voki in Math by posing possible solutions to problems and create a class discussion or poll to determine which one is the actual answer. As students are working on projects, create a Voki that provides hints and tips for students. Allow students to use Voki to provide peer assessment to others. Consider using Voki in place of other assignments such as "What I did this summer vacation..." or "Here is information about me..." Use in any language class to record narratives or translations. Students can create a variety of Voki recordings over time which can show their learning of a language over time. Create classroom newscasts using student(s) on a rotating basis. Use Voki for vocabulary exercises which can be created by students or the teacher. The possibilities for this tool are endless. The quick and engaging nature of this tool offers unlimited uses.

Brain Breaks Grade 4 to 12 - Dave Sladkey- 10012 Share
This resource requires Flash Here is a useful blog created by a high school teacher who saw the value of "Brain Breaks" in his own classroom. Many of the activities could be used with older elementary and middle school students. The blog contains postings from several teachers. Each posting consists of a write-up of the activity as well as a video of the actual activity. The link provides practical uses and allows you to add your own as well. Breaks are archived so you can look at previous months. You can also download them. There are some great “breaks” at this site. The site does require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
"Brain Breaks" is an Learning Focused Schools ™ buzzword, but we all know students sometimes just need a 5-minute break with a built-in way to refocus at the end. Brain Breaks can be especially helpful when teaching on block schedule with longer classes. Here are some ideas to do that. Share one of the examples on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Take a 5-minute “brain break” and have cooperative learning groups brainstorm additional “brain break” ideas to use within your classroom.

Woices (beta) Grade 4 to 12 - Woices Enterprise, S.L.- 10000 Share
This resource requires Flash TeachersFirst Edge Review: for moderately adventurous technology users. This site, still in beta, offers a FREE service that allows you to create and share "echoes." Echoes are words (audio recordings), left by anyone at any place, and can be played over and over by any visitors who find them. Listeners will feel as if they are really there! Echoes can be anything from personal memories, personal messages to a class, history or art related annotations of a place, music to accompany that place, or any kind of audio you can connect to a location. The audio recordings are linked to geographic locations or real-world objects (in the place where they are located). Echoes could also be fictitious accounts "placed" somewhere in the world to tell a story. Woices states that the goal of the site is to "extend reality by creating a new layer of audio information, what we call the echosphere, that will make the world a more interesting place."

You can create your own "echo" or listen to various "echoes" created by others from around the world. Click Explore to hear the echoes of the world (in every language imaginable). You do not need to join to explore and listen to others' echoes. The site uses Google Maps to share the world. Echoes are also labeled with an "e-code" for easy access by URL and listening via mobile phone. Completed echoes can be shared as an embedded device in a wiki or web page, via email, or by URL link (click Share). Here is a sample echo created by the TF Edge team. The site also includes tools for comments, blogs, forums, and other "social" aspects. This site does require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

Note: Future plans for Woices (remember, it is still in beta) include integrating it to work with GPS-enabled mobile phones, so you could "listen" to locations as you visit them without knowing or searching for the e-codes -- right on your mobile phone. Imagine touring the Gettysburg battlefields or a museum with an audio guide on your mobile phone, created by other Woices users.

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: No special skills are needed to listen to echoes. Just click Explore. To create your own echoes, you must register. Registration does require an email address and activation via a link sent to your email. To create your own, visit the Create link and follow the detailed instructions. The instructions include three simple steps (Put it on the Map, Give it a Name, and Send It). Step one requires you to click your location on the map. Then click Proceed to go on to the next step. At Step Two you add the title, description, tags, your photo (optional), language, and then you RECORD. Simply use your computer's built-in microphone and the site's "record" button. You can record more elaborate mp3 files using other software for later upload as an echo. You have TEN minutes of FREE recording time. Finally, click to Send It, and your new echo is on the web. The link is visible in your computer's address bar or can be emailed by clicking Share. You can also combine echoes created by you or various members of a group to form a "walk" of related echoes. Completed echoes can also be shared as an embedded device in a wiki or web page.

Note that using music or sounds from other sources could be a copyright violation. TeachersFirst editors remind you to use copyright-free music or -- better yet -- record your own.

Safety/security concerns: This is a public site, so once an "echo" is created, any user can access the information. If you are considering having students create their own echoes, you will want to be certain to adhere to your school's Acceptable Use Policy and obtain parental permission. If you are having students register independently (which may not be the best option), why not consider creating a free Gmail account with up to 20 subaccounts for each group of students (by code name or number) within your classes. This will allow you to control the accounts. Here is a blog post that tells how to set up GMail subaccounts to use for any online membership service.

This site also includes various social features (Community section) and advertisements. This is a great opportunity to teach basic Internet Safety in the context of a productive lesson. If students are working independently, be sure to have clear expectations and consequences spelled out -- then monitor activities. And remember, anything that is posted on this site, is available to any visitor on the web. There is no way to make the "echo" private. Take advantage of the Comments feature for students to respond to each other's echoes or to invite parents and others to respond. For example, if students create a local history tour, share it with older adults in the community to comment with their memories about the sites.

Possible Uses: The possibilities at this website are endless! Even the youngest of students can use this site (with assistance). In world language classes, have students LOOK for echoes from other countries, and even make some to practice language as they narrate cultural highlights of countries where their language of study is spoken. Make echoes about places you study in geography or history class. Have students create an echo tour or your own hometown and the important local historical sites (be sure to protect the identify of yourself and your students). Make a fictional echo "story" in real settings, using a sequence of links to echoes for the events in the story. Create a teacher-made echo treasure hunt of important locations for cooperative learning groups to explore. Make echoes about environmental sites or issues. Make a literary "walk" of a poet's geographic area with readings of his/her poetry "placed" in the places they describe, such as Emerson's account of Lexington and Concord. Make a mapped, narrated "walk" of the botanical species or animal habitats in your area. Make echoes about landforms. Create whole-class "I wonder" echoes about places they begin to study, ex. narrating the pueblos and asking about the people who once dwelled there. Then add more echoes as you learn. Use this site to record directions, questions, or prompts about places they should research and links they should use; then have them access the echoes at learning stations or with a substitute. Create "Echo" audio newsletters to share on your class website, connecting to the various "places" your class has been studying. Teachers could also record echoes about locations on a map to teach about map reading skills or have ELL/ESL students record echoes about places where their primary language is spoken to share with classmates. Have the students make the echoes, of course. Have students create their own echoes as "electronic" gifts for family and close friends. Why not create one celebrating moms for Mother's Day? Use this site to celebrate dad, grandparents, and other care givers also! Be sure to list this link (and relevant safety concerns about the site) on your class website for students to use at home. Include it as long breaks approach so students can work with their families, creating echoes about places they visit during family vacations or reunions.

Vocaroo Grade K to 12 - Vocaroo- 9921 Share
This resource requires Flash Teachers First Edge Review: For slightly adventurous technology users. Record a message and embed it into your favorite site or provide a link to share for free. Send to a friend by entering your email and the email of the recipient. Here is an example of a Vocaroo created by the Teacher’s First Review Team, explaining a biology concept for high schoolers. Recording the message is easy and embedding into a site such as a wiki or blog has never been simpler! No login or registration is needed. Although, if you choose to send a message via email, you must choose a password to use at the site. Vocaroos are stored on their server. Created messages can also be downloaded to individual computers. Visit their FAQ's for frequent questions and responses. The Vocaroo recording service requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: Users need to be able to navigate controls on the website and sound levels on their computer. Copy/pasting embed codes is also a necessary skill for insertion in a website. Email the sound clip very easily.

Safety/security concerns: Future saving of Vocarros is unsure depending upon server space. Before using with students, you may wish to obtain permission from administration and/or parents. Be sure to check your school’s acceptable use policy. Students should be made aware of acceptable use and consequences of misuse of the service.

Possible uses: Record snippets of information as reminders on your class web site or instructions for students to follow. This is terrific for learning support students or non-readers! Have students describe aspects of classroom learning experiences to share with others, such as what they learned from a science experiment or found out about life in colonial America. Record a quick message for an absentee and email the link to him/her explaining how to catch up on missing work. Create tutorial pieces that students can use as study aids (or have them create them for each other). Use this site in world language classes or for ELL students: have students record and listen to their own pronunciation or send short messages to each other to translate. Have students use this site to practice speeches before the presentation to hear their speed, tone, and words. Use this site for research presentations, instructions for a substitute, or many other possibilities. With younger students, read a short story on Vocaroo, and have student follow along using a picture book. Or have the students read their own stories into Vocaroo and email the readings to their parents! For Mothers Day, why not have students record messages for mom or grandma? Another idea: create a class wiki where parents can "find" the entire selection of Vocaroos for Mother's Day (or another holiday). Record Vocaroos of each student talking about the importance of Moms for Mother's Day or how grateful they are for certain things at Thanksgiving. Embed them all in a class wiki to share with parents. Just email the URL for the collection.

If you choose to have students email one another (or their families), rather than using personal email accounts consider creating a teacher Gmail account and set up subaccounts for up to 20 students to register (by code name or number). Here is a blog post that tells how to set up GMail subaccounts to use for any online membership service.


Ten Creative Writing Activities Grade 4 to 12 - Traci Gradner- 9157 Share
This site offers ten widely-varied creative writing activities that range in level from upper elementary grades through high school. In some way, they all help the students be invested in their writing by making the topic personal, from "found treasures" to "show and tell" which works as well (although differently) with high school students as elementary ones.

In the Classroom:
These are great activities to have at the tip of your fingers for days when inspiration just runs dry or you are looking for a new approach to creative writing. You might have each student bring in one thing for your "found treasures" bag and then pull them out at random for a class story. The "jumble story" idea is also great because you can substitute current events or topical characters or settings.

HippoCampus Grade 9 to 12 - Monterey Institute for Technology and Education- 8721 Share
This resource requires Flash Find multimedia content and lessons ready to go, and customizable by your preferences on this incredible, free, online learning site. Whether you need a comprehensive curriculum for selected high school courses, a way to differentiate instruction, or materials to reinforce challenging topics, this site has it. The current subjects include Algebra, American Government, Biology, Calculus, Environmental Science, Physics, Religion, and U.S. History. The subjects extend through high school and into AP and college level material. Open a course at the left and browse the topics, especially the multimedia offerings. A free instructor account allows you to select the modules you want your students to see and share them via a unique URL for assignments or at-home review. Since the content is offered collaboratively from multiple sources, the courses each have their own "look." The ones our review team explored all included audio-- a real plus for ESL/ELL or low level readers.

Requires Flash and Quicktime. Get them from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Explore the curriculum topics for your subject area and select some options for students to use in class or for review. This is also an excellent option for leaving plans for a substitute who may have no expertise in your subject area! Many of the multimedia modules are well-suited for interactive whiteboard or projector (or for students to navigate at an individual pace on laptops). Have gifted students? Allow them to "compact" new content and extend into higher levels using this site. Be sure to share a link from your teacher web page for students who need an alternate presentation of material or for absentees.

Learning Vocabulary Can Be Fun Grade 1 to 8 - www.vocabulary.co.il- 8659 Share
This resource requires Flash Find engaging ways to teach vocabulary to elementary and middle school students--and their ESL/ELL classmates. The numerous games: picture matching, oral pronunciation, scrambled words, crosswords, quizzes, hangmouse(!), and word searches are available in varying levels. All the games start by choosing a word category. The site creators are constantly adding new words. At the time of this review, "there are now 219 topics and 10,353 words in the vocabulary database." SUbstitutes who find themesleves without lesson plans will also love this site. It requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
These activities are ideal for individual computer time on laptops, classroom computers, or computer clusters. Use the word topics for students to build spelling and vocabulary skills; individualize their lists by category choice or choose a topic that fits the science or social studies unit you are currently studying. Speech and language teachers will like the variety of ways to develop language skills, as well. ESL students will find the variety of spelling and word lists a refreshing way to add to their vocabularies.

Icebreakers, Games, and Fun Group Activities Grade K to 12 - icebreakers.ws- 8552 Share
Start the first day of school or a new marking period with a getting-to-know you activity from this great, searchable collection. The activities are designed for all ages, so some will not work well with very young ones (such as writing things on slips of paper). The site is easy to navigate and sorts ideas by group size and activity level for easy retrieval. You are also invited to submit your own ideas. Since the site is designed for general use, not for schools, some ideas may be impractical in a classroom setting but could be easily adapted.

In the Classroom:
New or veteran teachers who want students get to know each other as they enter a new school (starting middle school, for example), want to observe them so YOU get to know them, or need to build better team skills with a challenging class or club, will find ideas to try. Mark this one as a Favorite so you can find it again, since "first day" activities tend to get lost in the flurry ---and in the fading memory-- during the year.

Brainteasers and Jokes Grade 2 to 6 - Woodlands Junior School- 8334 Share
This website offers some unique brainteasers and "kid-created" jokes. Most of the activities are quick and could be adapted to use with all elementary grade levels. Use the brainteasers to "clear the cobwebs" and refocus your students. This resource could save your life as a subsitutue with a fe minutes to "fill."

In the Classroom:
Use this resource as a daily group activity or focusing strategy. Challenge your students to create their own brainteasers. Have students make a wiki page where students can submit their own curricuum-related brainteasers to a class collection for use as a review and reward. Not sure how to make a wiki? TeachersFirst can help.

Brainteasers, Puzzles, and Riddles Grade 2 to 8 - NIEHS- 8085 Share
This resource requires Flash This site invites visitors to explore different parts of the brain where certain abilities can be found then use that brain to enjoy a wide variety of puzzles and brain teasers. For students who enjoy word, math, and pictorial puzzles, this site is a must! Also included are quizzes and proverbs as well as links to other brainteasers. Several games require the Flash plug in. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
This site is excellent for enrichment. Include it on your teacher web page for students to access both in and out of class. Give students extra credit for creating their own puzzles to share with the class, especially puzzles on topics you have been studying, such as "rock riddles" or "triangle trivia." This site is also a great safety net for substitutes looking for an educational "filler."

Algebasics Grade 7 to 12 - - 7297 Share
Includes lesson plan This very complete site provides audio tutorials with visual cues as the voice explains the steps. The topics span across a comprehensive Algebra I curriculum, from basic order of operations and absolute value to quadratics. If your students can turn on the audio, they can see a narrated walk-through of almost any problem type they select from menus of examples. The problems do not include word problems.

In the Classroom:
List this site as a homework helper on your teacher web page and provide it as an alternate teaching tool for learning support teachers who work with your algebra students. You may also want to include it as a resource for any substitutes in your classroom to use. The site REQUIRES FLASH. Don't forget to hook up and turn on the speakers!

Algebra Help Grade 5 to 11 - algebrahelp.com- 6844 Share
Includes lesson plan This website is basic - but provides lesson ideas, detailed descriptions and calculators for students and interactive worksheets for student practice in all dimensions of algebra.

In the Classroom:
If your students need extra practice, the interactive worksheets would be a great activity on computers in class or at home. Include a link for this one on your teacher web page, as well.

ROOTY's ROOT-A-WEEK Grade 1 to 12 - Vocabulary University- 6721 Share
Find new puzzles each week to teach three major root words of the English language. Over the course of the school year, your students will master 384 words. The site also has links to top SAT vocabulary words, primary grade word walls, seasonal word games, and several other word puzzles and games for vocabulary-building. ESL teachers and learning support will like the thematic word lists. Although the site is very simple the content is solid. There are even vocabulary lists to help students with over different 100 books.

In the Classroom:
Visit this site regularly or use it as an emergency plan for substitutes and days when your other plans fall through. Of course, a link from your teacher web site would help students who struggle with vocabulary to practice at home.

LearniT: Technology Videos Grade 4 to 12 - Nortel- 6719 Share
For teachers or students who have not had the opportunity to learn technology skills from a real person, these video tutorials can be very helpful. They can also fill in gaps in basic computer knowledge. Topics range from Internet safety and Netiquette to more advanced video production, digital imaging, and web page creation. For your students doing independent projects, for basics before you launch into a full-class technology production, or even for teaching yourself as a teacher, these tutorials are approachable and fairly up-to-date. Make sure you choose the right level(s) for your students, since they may have better skills than you think. You can differentiate easily with the multiple skill levels available. This one takes a longer time to open, so be patient.

In the Classroom:
Include this link on your teacher web page or in Favorites in your computer lab or on a classroom machine for students to use as a reference. This can be a great help for students who move in and do not have the same background knowledge as the rest of the class or as a challenge to your techno-whiz or gifted student. These also can make excellent ready-to-go projected tutorials a substitute could show in preparation for an upcoming project.

Chemistry Grade 9 to 12 - Normal Community High School- 5742 Share
This extensive resource was put together by high school science teachers and is filled with materials to help students with their chemistry classes. There is quite a bit to investigate, but the homepage organizes the resources into levels of chemistry instruction. Each menu has extensive resources, including PowerPoint presentations, handouts, demos, and more Some of the features include formula calculators, the periodic table, a solubility chart, and links to related online sources. You must use Internet Explorer to view the animated features.

In the Classroom:
Preview this site before you start a unit, and try substituting some online interactives for your students instead of lectures. You will certainly want to include this link on your teacher web page for students to review concepts or see an alternate presentation of material for reinforcement if they are uncertain, were sick, or simply need another "angle."

NEW STUDENTS, NEW SEMESTER - How to Remember Names and Faces Grade K to 12 - Myron Jaworsky- 2106 Share
This seven-step guide, helps teachers (both new and seasoned), learn the names of their new students. Whether you have 15 students all day or over 100 students each day, you are certain to find some tips to help you learn the new names. Help your students know that you care enough to know each individual name. And use this site to make your job easier! This is a quick and easy site to read and utilize in your classroom.

In the Classroom:
Preview this site a week or so before the new school year begins. Save the site in your favorites so you can revisit the site and ideas every school year. You could also use some of these activities to help students learn EACH OTHER'S names.

Cool Quiz! Grade 6 to 12 - TheWebPro.Com, LLC- 134 Share
This site offers a strangely captivating collection of trivia, factoids, and other information served up in a way that keeps users asking for more. There are daily word and fact selections, as well as quizzes and other games to challenge students' knowledge of off-beat facts. Great site for energetic brains, or well-read students who want to show how much they know. There are a lot of advertisements on throughout this site; warn younger students to avoid them.

In the Classroom:
Share this site on your teacher web age for students to access for some intellectual fun outside of class. Include it in your collection of links for one or two minute fillers when an activity ends early or to inspire curiosity during supervised study halls.

TeachersFirst.com • The web resource by teachers, for teachers.
Copyright © 1998, 2008 by The Source for Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.
Home| How to use TF | Terms of Use| Contact Us | Site Map