Content-Specific+Resources

__CONTENT-SPECIFIC RESOURCES__

=Our Rating Scale:= **Resources will be evaluated using the following criteria:**
 * [[image:teachingwithteachnology/GREAT.jpg align="center"]] || [[image:teachingwithteachnology/GOOD.jpg align="center"]] || [[image:teachingwithteachnology/BAD.jpg align="center"]] ||
 * **OUTSTANDING RESOURCE!** MANDATORY TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT || **GOOD RESOURCE!** CONSIDER IT AS AN OPTION || **NOT RECOMMENDED!** YOU MIGHT WANT TO LOOK AT SOMETHING ELSE ||
 * __**Navigability:**__ Information is arranged in orderly fashion, includes organizing tools. Easy to use. Has an attractive design.
 * __**Accuracy:**__ Information is clearly presented and appropriate for the intended audience. Includes references and credits. Information is objectively presented.
 * **__Up-to-date:__** Information is current and regularly updated; links are also up to date.
 * **__Authority-Authorship-Provider:__** Comes from a reputable source. Authors are identified and credentials are presented.
 * **__Effectiveness:__** Suggested activities or strategies are challenging, interesting, and appealing for the intended learners.
 * **__Ad____ditional Content/References____:__** Links to other resources are given and in depth knowledge is promoted.

=Khan Academy = This resource was created by Sal, a former hedge-fund manager, who started making videos on youtube to tutor his family members. Other people started watching and encouraging him to make more and more videos on a variety of topics. This is a revolutionary resource that can change the dynamics of a classroom. Instead of lecturing, a teacher can assign the students to watch a lesson and then take on the role of coaching students by giving them support on material they learn from the video. I set up an account for myself and my students last year. I had my students add me as their "coach" so that I could track their progress. Since I have a computer lab in my classroom, I was able to have students watch the video and then I could assist them and answer questions as they arose. Some students benefitted from this resource immensely. In my experience, the information has been accurate and beneficial for students. I hesitate to give this an excellent rating because I have run into some trouble using it in the classroom. Students do have to create a gmail account which may create hesitation for some people. Also, some students have found his voice to be "annoying". I definitely think it is a resource teachers should be aware of and can at least suggest it as a place to find extra help in explaining concepts. [] []
 * [[image:teachingwithteachnology/GREAT.jpg]]The Science Spot **
 * The Science Spot website developed by Tracy Trimpe is **** a great tool for science te **** achers. The website includes a wide variety of activities, puzzles, labs etc. for any grade level and science course. Each activity comes with either a PDF or Word document of a student handout, a teacher handout, and an answer key. This is the third year that I have been using this website and I absolutely love it. The website is very easy to use. You can search by subject area, topic, or by the type of activity you would like to use. The website even has an area where teachers can share their ideas. **

**Grammar Blast﻿﻿**

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 * Do your students need brush up on their grammar skills? If so, Grammar Blast is the site for you! It is a Houghton Mifflin site and offers grammar activities for grades 2 through 5.**

== = = =**Spelling City**=

Looking for some spelling or vocabulary activities? I have found a great website. It is called Spelling City. All you need is your spelling list. Once you enter your spelling list, there are fun activities your students can choose from to reinforce their spelling and vocabulary. []



Student Created Math Podcasts
These are some examples of real students using podcast as a means to show....What is Math?? []

=3D Solar System Simulator= This site allows students to explore the solar system through a 3-D simulator. This is really great for giving students the general feel for how the different solar bodies of our solar system lay and interact. You also get information about each solar body and its size comparison to Earth when you click on it. This is a great site and very easy to use. []

=Biomes of the Earth Learning Simulation= This is a good site for showing students the different biomes of the Earth and where they lie. You also get a picture and a little information on that biome. Click on a city in that biome and you'll get specific information about the climate of that city. I'd be happy to see more information available however, but this does give a good feel for the different biomes. []

This is a fun site to practice parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs), and then create MadLibs. It's an easy site to use and makes a topic that is normally dry a little more fun to practice. []
 * Panda Mayham **