Teaching Websites

I am going to start adding websites I find helpful for teaching ideas, lesson plans, decorations, supply ideas, etc.  I hope you all find them as helpful as I did.  I am constantly adding more, so be sure to check back if you don’t find what you need.

• http://exchange.smarttech.com (SmartExchange) This is the link to the official SmartBoard technology website where teachers can post and exchange SmartBoard lessons and games across the world.  It is an incredible resource with great search capabilities so you can find exactly what you are looking for if you don’t have a lot of time to browse.  This website is especially helpful for those who are not too savvy with the SB; they have all sorts of games and picture tricks only advanced users know.
• http://www.pppst.com/ (Pete’s PowerPoint Station) I know most people are using the Smart Technologies applications nowadays, but I am still a big fan of powerpoints.  This website has powerpoints created by teachers all over the globe on ANY topic you could imagine teaching.  Like any free sharing website, there are hundreds of less useful ones, but if you have the time and the patience to weed through them, you will find some great resources or bits to add to your own lessons.
• http://jmeacham.com/ (Jess Meacham) This is the website of an accomplished teacher who is constantly updating the site.  While it may not have every topic you are looking for, the ones on there are loaded with great information and supplementary materials.  One of my favorites is her calendar that she creates for each month… very interactive with the SmartBoard and has been a big hit with the first graders I am currently working with.  Everything can be easily modified.
• http://suzyred.com/ (Kids’ Wings) This is not the most easily navigated website, but poking around on it for five minutes, I found some great ideas and materials for a themed unit I was planning.  It is nicely divided in to subjects, and if you find what you are looking for, you will certainly find a wide variation of materials to choose from.  I especially like the focus it puts on literature.
• gamehinge.com (Game Hinge) This is a website created by a substitute teacher that I have often worked with during my student teaching.  It is not fully developed, but the kids love playing the activities in an around the world fashion.  While some things may be too challenging, the kids seem to enjoy learning the new material rather than growing frustrated.
• http://www.enchantedlearning.com/Home.html (Enchanted Learning) Wow.  I cannot explain how helpful I have found this website.  I’m not sure about the older grades, but so far, it has had resources for every topic we have worked on in first grade so far.  Definitely check it out.  Whole units are planned out!
• http://www.nicenet.org (NiceNet) I have not actually used this with a class before because it is above their ability level, but it is a virtual discussion place.  It is free to sign up, and any teacher can create a “classroom.”  You give the code you are given when you sign up to your students, and they can post in discussion boards.  A professor of mine introduced this as a great way to do book discussion homework or to be able to not miss a thing when there are multiple literature circles going on in a classroom.  I imagine that it could also be used for group projects, discussions, and things of the sort for any subject.  Kids love their computers!
• http://www.brainpop.com and http://www.brainpopjr.com and http://www.brainpop.com/educators BrainPop is amazing.  This was the sole resource I used to study for the GACE, and we use it almost every day in the classroom I am teaching in now.  BrainPop Educators is free to sign up and provides you with very helpful lesson plans.  BrainPop and BrainPop Jr. come with pretty pricy membership fees, but if you google free logins, there are tons of pages that pop up with free usernames and passwords. You didn’t hear it from me.