INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES
Standards
Common Core State Standards
Tools
Create a Rubric Home of Rubistar, a free tool to help teachers create quality rubrics fast and easy.
Teacher Tools & Templates
Free & easy templates for assessments, awards, bulletin boards, calendars, organizers, posters,
homework coupons,etc.
Text Complexity Collection: Achieve the Core Finding CCSS grade levels for texts:
Curriculum Unit Planning Design Template
Flash Card Machine#1 Flash Card Maker #2
Vocabulary Resources
1. Lingro
Lingro is a cool tool for both the “wow” factor and for its usefulness. Simply type in a website address on the Lingro website and it instantly turns the website into a clickable dictionary that translates text in 12 languages. Lingro hides in the background until students need it. To use, students simply click on any word and several definitions of the word are instantly displayed. Very useful tool for just-in-time support for English language learners.
2. Lexipedia
Looking for a visual thesaurus? Then Lexipedia is for you. Simple to use. Just type in any word and Lexipedia instantly displays the target word along with other words. It also color-codes the words by both parts of speech and relationships. As you hover over a word, a complete definition is displayed.
Shahi, as described on the website, is a visual dictionary that combines Wiktionary content with Flickr images, and more! An absolute new favorite for me. Besides serving as a nonlinguistic tool, I can also see this as a very useful tool for English language learners.
4. Snappy Words
Similar to Lexipedia, Snappy Words is another visual thesaurus. Teachers may want to introduce several of the thesaurus tools and allow students to select which works best for them. The visually sparse, cleaner display of Lexipedia works better for me.
Check out Webster’s visual dictionary which is simple to use. Type in a single word or choose a theme that also includes many sub-categories from which to choose. Even though Webster’s is simple to use, there is a downside to this tool. After typing in a word search, 4 or 5 Google ads quickly appear above the definitions.
6. Word Hippo
An all-in-one reference tool, Word Hippo does the following: defines a word, provides a meaning, provides a word that is opposite, pronounces a word, provides rhyming words, places the word in many different contexts, and translates the word.
7. Wordnik.com
Wordnik has the look and feel of a traditional dictionary with a twist. Along with the definition, students can see images related to the word, hear related sounds, and even see tweets with the target word highlighted. The “related words” feature is particularly helpful. Wordnik also features a “Word of the Day,” “Random Words,” and pronunciations of words.
Your Dictionary bills itself as providing simple, straightforward definitions and the easiest-to-use online dictionary. That’s about right. Sometimes simple is good. In addition to providing a definition, Your Dictionary also includes a thesaurus and places the word in varied sentence examples.
9. MathWords
Math Dictionary for Kids
Math Words is a simple-to-use online dictionary specifically for math terms and formulas. This dictionary appears most appropriate for intermediate and secondary students.
10. A Math Dictionary for Kids
A kid-friendly math dictionary. I like the simple, bright appearance that includes visual examples of each term. This math dictionary seems to be appropriate for elementary students.
Word Clouds
11. Wordle
Type (or copy & paste) in a chunk of text or individual words and Wordle generates a word cloud of the key vocabulary based on word frequency. Wordle can also be used for many varied purposes – check out these 52 ideas for using Wordle to support learning.
12. WordSift
Similar to Wordle, students type (or copy & paste) in a piece of text and WordSift sorts the text based on word frequency. The visual thesaurus that displays beneath the words is a nice addition in WordSift. With the visual thesaurus, students immediately see how words are grouped semantically.
13. Tagxedo
Tagxedo is a word cloud app with style! Tagxedo provides a good deal of customization for users. For example, if teachers or students want to create a word cloud in a shape such as the apple shown above, then Tagxedo is the right tool for the job. For younger students, Wordle is much more straightforward to use; however, older students will love the customization Tagxedo provides which includes colors, shapes, fonts, and themes.
The Visual Thesaurus is an interactive dictionary and thesaurus which creates word maps that blossom with meanings and branch to related words. Its innovative display encourages exploration and learning. You'll understand language in a powerful new way.
VocabGrabber analyzes any text you're interested in, generating lists of the most useful vocabulary words and showing you how those words are used in context. Just copy text from a document and paste it into the box, and then click on the "Grab Vocabulary!" button. VocabGrabber will automatically create a list of vocabulary from your text, which you can then sort, filter, and save.
Games and Review
16. Flashcard Stash
While I think that flash cards are sometimes poor practice, students can benefit from instant recognition. Fluency, if you will, with a specific set of words. Now, if understanding doesn’t go deeper than instant recognition, students are in trouble. Teachers can sign up for a free account and create flashcards to coordinate with units of study.
17. Vocabulary Games
This website includes a wide assortment of other vocabulary games that can be used on a SmartBoard for review purposes. To make a tool like this more effective, be certain to review the meaning of words as students play games.
Vocabulary Spelling City includes many more game-like activities useful for reviewing words. A number of teacher-made lists are included such as analogies, compound words, math words, and many more. The free version seems to include about 5 activities and teachers can save lists. “Teach Me” pronounces words and uses each word in context. Teachers can use pre-selected sentences or create their own. Vocabulary Spelling City is a useful tool for students, teachers, and parents. While there is both a free and paid version, Vocabulary Spelling City seems like a natural for PTA funding. The classroom paid version allows students to practice in school and at home as well.
19. VocabAhead
VocabAhead is a useful tool for secondary students and teachers. Short videos – 30 to 60 seconds – accompany each word and make this tool stand out among others for secondary students. The Study Lounge, for students, features leveled word lists (grades 6-12) and SAT word lists. Students can view videos, hear pronunciations, practice, take quizzes, play games, track performance, and more. In addition, teachers can create their own word lists for students. Custom word lists can be embedded in a blog or class website which makes integration and review a snap. Apple and Android apps are also available for free download.
At Free Rice, students can practice matching words to the correct definition, and donate rice at the same time. For each correct answer, the United Nations World Food Programme donates 10 grains of rice to a country in need. How’s that for combining word learning with social goodness? When a student plays, there is a visual display of rice (see image) which is added to a bowl each time the student makes a correct response. Free Rice includes subject area lists in Geography, Science, Math, and others. It is leveled so students can play at just the right level of challenge for them. Note of caution: Free Rice may be addicting to you and your students.
21. ThingLink
ThingLink is a tool for making images interactive. To use, simply upload an image, identify hot spots on specific parts of the image, and add text or web links to the image. In the classroom, teachers could use ThingLink to launch a unit by introducing students to key vocabulary or students could design interactive images as they become more familiar with vocabulary. There are many possibilities.
22. TrackStar
TrackStar, a free online program, allows teachers to collect a series of websites and annotate them so that students can follow an online journey. With a little work, teachers can create a visual vocabulary field trip for students. Teachers determine topics which support units of study. TrackStar is a great way for students to experience multiple exposures to words in varied contexts (a characteristic of effective vocabulary instruction).
Reading and Writing Resources
Close Reading Resources
Close Reading Exemplars Lesson plans demonstrating how to teach a close reading lesson.
Close Reading Observations How to do a Close Reading Close Reading Generic Worksheet
A Close Reading Assignment Template Guide to Creating Questions for Close Analytic Reading
Common Core Text Complexity Collection
Reading Inventory
This is a free assessment to determine a student's reading level.
Library Thing and Good Reads and Shelfari
Allows you to find information about books, keep track of the books you have read or want to read, add comments and/or reviews, and exchange ideas about what your are reading.
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TeenLitAn interactive forum for students interested in writing and publishing for an audience.Common Errors in English Usage Guide to Grammar & Writing Vocabulary Building Games
RESEARCH RESOURCES
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Guide to Citing Sources
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A citation generator to help you to cite sources. (MLA format only.)
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A citation service to help you cite sources. MLA, APA & Chicago formats)
Free Plagiarism Checkers
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Science Resources
Science Content Standards
Science Curriculum Framework
The Period Table of Videos
Short videos charting the periodic table of elements.
Science Games and Puzzles
Interdisciplinary interactive games in science.
The Scale of the Universe 2
This is an interactive video of (size comparison) that includes the entire universe.Created by Cary Huang, a 14-year-old ninth grader from Moraga, Calif., with technical help from his twin brother Michael.
National Science Digital Library
The nation's online portal for education and research on learning in
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
Social Studies Resources
Social Studies Standards
Social Science Framework
Calisphere
Free website that offers educators, students access to more than 200,000 primary sources such as photographs, documents, newspapers, political cartoons, works of art, diaries, transcribed oral histories, and other cultural artifacts. These materials reveal the history and culture of California and its role in national and world history
CIA World Fact Book
Provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities. Includes: maps of the major world regions, as well as Flags of the World, a Physical Map of the World, a Political Map of the World, and a Standard Time Zones of the World map.
DocsTeach
Thousands of primary sources from the National Archives with documents and activities to help you teach the history of the US and it government.
DocTeach Toolbox
Analysis worksheets for analyzing written documents, artifacts,cartoons, maps, motion pictures, photographs, posters, sound recordings, etc.
The Constitution in Action
An interactive comprehension activity.
The Charters of Freedom
An interactive study of The Bill of Rights, The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution.
Video Conference Workshops
Introduce your students to the power of primary sources through a video conference from the National Archives and Records Administration!
Math Resources
Webgraphing
Intelligent® Function Graphing Calculators that deliver complete graphs : with Automatic Worked-Out Solutions for Algebra, Calculus, and PreCalculus, Including Intercepts, Domain, Range, Symmetry, Maxima & Minima, Asymptotes, Points of Inflection, Concavity, Derivatives, Discontinuities, Holes
Math Homework Helper
Resources to help students master the basics of mathematics of numbers and number operations. Videos and tutorials explain basic operations and help with the mastery of math skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division--essential building blocks for success in mathematics.
National Science Digital Library
The nation's online portal for education and research on learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
Math Common Core Collection Contains digital learning resources that address concept and skills components of the Math Common Core State Standards. The collection is organized by grade level and domain.
