Assignment #2 Age/Subject Resources

Classroom Tools

Classroom tools serves as my misc. section for classroom and teacher resource links. With any grade, although I have to assume especially with my first graders, setting a timer will be a useful tool for classroom management and student organization, for that reason a link to an online timer is a great resource to ensure that I will never be without one. I recently discovered Google calendar, an excellent resource that can be customized to my classroom. Google earth will be another fun addition to my classroom. Not only will we use this when we are studying different places (answering those questions: "Is Africa close to Carnation?" and "How big is China?"), but it will also be a fun resource for discovery of the universe thanks to its recent expansion. The Smart Board resource contains numerous downloadable templates, lessons and games for my much hoped for Smart Board.



First Grade Student Resources

I loved finding resources for this section! There are so many fun and educational websites for children. In my dream classroom, where every first grader has access to a computer throughout the day, this list is a perfect starter list for favorites that students may access.

Highlights is filled with a plethora of activities for early elementary students. One of my favorites is the Build a Robot feature where they can create their own robots and then print them out. A perfect rainy day recess activity, this is not only fun for the students but familiarizes them with technology and allows them to manipulate size and color.

I love Reading Planet! What an amazing fun and colorful site for kids that is brimming with educational merit. I will introduce my students to the read along stories and song section, which includes stories in both English and Spanish. I would even consider having this be an individual literacy center, where students watch and hear the story on their own, and then answer some short questions.

Our Community
This section of my resource list caters directly to the individual school and students I am serving. Since I am currently student teaching at Carnation Elementary School I set up this section to serve those students. This would be an area on my blog where students in my class could find information on their community. I have included the school and district websites, a link to local weather information, the city of Carnation homepage, King County Library System and Artsonia, a very cool website where schools, like Carnation Elementary, can post their students artwork.

Professional Development
It may seem strange that I have only one resource under professional development, but in this case it really is one stop shopping. The OSPI website contains a wealth of information necessary for all teachers in Washington state. Only in my first semester of the teacher education program, I have already come to rely on this site quite heavily. EALRS, GLES, lessons plans, WASL and NCLB information, school statistics, programs, and support are just a few of the topics available on this site. This will without a doubt be my most used website.

Teaching Resources
The web is absolutely filled with teaching resources! Some of my favorites are included here. I already love using these for lesson plan ideas, however beyond that you find numerous resources as well as support at these websites.

The majority of these vast websites are separated into sections and one of my favorite sections is Education World's Technology Integration. Being the self-professed "scared of technology" teacher that I am, I love any sites that provide support, ideas and even more links for help with the integration of technology in the classroom. Education World also has sections on lesson planning, professional development, administrator's desk and school issues.

Teacher Vision is filled with amazing lesson plans, printables, classroom management tips as well as an area devoted to professional development. One area of this site I know I will use it the thematic units. By clicking on Diversity Month, just one example of many, you are provided with numerous articles on teaching diversity, information on different cultural holidays, music, art and folktales, immigration, conflict and war, as well as keeping peace. Each of these topics includes a number of teaching tools and topics.

This sites have opened my eyes to just how many resources are available to educators on the web. They have served to further inspire me and get me excited for teaching. I know I will be using them in many ways in my own classroom.