Bell Ringers from C-SPAN

A Note: This post is primarily geared towards social studies teachers, but I bet some of you crafty English, writing, and ESOL teachers could use this resource too ;)

C-SPAN is often stereotyped as being dull since they just show Congress blabbering. On the contrary, they have wonderful resources for teachers and for a person who loves learning about politics and the inner workings of the US government. Since I live in the DC area, we get C-SPAN on the radio and I love Sunday afternoons since they replay the audio portions of the Sunday morning news shows WITHOUT commercials. I prefer listening to the talking heads rather than watching them :)

The main purpose of this post is to show you a great resource made for the middle school/high school teacher...Bell Ringers. C-SPAN has a growing library of relatively short video clips and study questions that correspond with important topics students learn in most US history and government/civics classes---especially those AP classes. C-SPAN has been uploading their programming to the Internet for free for years, but instead of having to spend time wading through a 90 minute congressional hearing, they have done this work for you!

In order to use Bell Ringers, you will need to create a free account, but I promise it will be worth it! I like how I can share the video clips on Edmodo and add them to my class lessons to help explain challenging concepts.

Here is the link to the video below that explains the history the filibuster in 2 minutes. Here is a video clip explaining the history of the filibuster:

OneLook Reverse Dictionary

Have you ever experienced a time where you had a word on the tip of your tounge, yet you were unable to recall it? You were able to describe the word while, and still your brain would not cooperate..

Well my friends, OneLook is your solution! Simply type in the characteristics of a concept and you will receive a list of related words. If you are a crossword puzzle fanatic, you might find OneLook really helpful.

I can foresee a variety content areas using OneLook in order to have students create word clouds showing how different vocabulary words are related. I have found that if students can make a visual connection between multiple vocabulary concepts, they have an easier time learning, understanding, and internalizing the vocabulary.

13 Websites with FREE E-Books & Textbooks!

I just discovered this great resource that provides 13 websites that offer free e-books and textbooks. Some of the sites have been around for a while, though I did see some new ones. 

My favorite is the Flatworld Knowledge site...great place for FREE college textbooks. 

If you teach science, there looks to be a great one called "Science Books Online" that has a variety of articles and e-texts related to many different science fields. 

I know students in my school read 1984 and The Great Gatsby, thus why not have them download the books to their mobile devices they are already using!

Times Machine from the New York Times

I recently discovered this GEM of a resource. The New York Times (love them or hate them) has a large catalog of newspapers going back to 1851! They put some of their highlights at the opening screen of their webpage...including the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and the sinking of the Titanic.

I foresee using the front pages as a way to get students interested at the beginning of the lesson. If you teach history or journalism, this should be right up your alley!

Here is a sample...

Quizlet Makes Studying Fun. (period added for emphasis)

Those of you who have read my blog in the past already know I am a big fan of Quizlet. Nevertheless, I am dedicating this entry to showing you some of the neat ways you can use it in your "classroom". Over the years, I have discovered that many students do not know what it means to "study" or they do not want to study. One of the reasons I like Quizlet is that it makes studying more interactive, personal, and FUN.

The video above quickly shows you some of the benefits of using Quizlet. The fact that students can play "games" as a way to study vocabulary makes learning more fun. Also, because my school is promoting that teachers use Edmodo this year, you can easily embed Quizlet flashcards into an Edmodo posting, thus integrating these FREE technology assets. Students can study flashcards and play review games directly on Edmodo.

One of the reasons I have become a Quizlet dork is the fact that students can study using a variety of devices. Currently, Quizlet has a free iPhone app--it works well, though you don't have access to creating flashcards directly through the app. For you Android users, unfortunately Quizlet does not yet have a dedicated app, HOWEVER, many free apps exist where you can use Quizlet. Check out the image below for these apps...

Here are a set of videos to help you learn how to get started with Quizlet...most of these videos are under 45 seconds:

1. 1-Minute video showing you the basics of Quizlet
2. Create an account
3. Set up a class
    - Invite students to your class
4. Create a set of flashcards
    - Use the auto-define feature (I use this all the time!)
5. Add images to flashcards
6. Share flashcards (this is how I embed flashcards on Edmodo)
7. Use test mode

There are many more video resources to help you learn about Quizlet. You can find them all here.

Great Ipad Resource for Teachers

Recently, I was chosen to be one of a handful of teachers who will be rolling out our school's use of iPads. Each teacher who participates will receive a cart of 30 iPads to use with their students. I have been playing with my assigned iPad to learn how I will use it in the classroom. It has been hard to fully plan how I will use the iPads with my students since I have no idea when I will receive my class set...perhaps next month? 

Over the past few weeks, I have been researching how other teachers are using iPads in the classroom. I have come across many resources, but I would like to share two of the better ones.

1. iPad As: This simply created website breaks down the apps for the iPad based upon the goals of a teacher. I like the format of this website and the nifty descriptions of each app (including in some cases tips and pros/cons).

2. AP iPad Presentation: This website is similar to the former, though it is geared more towards AP teachers. Nevertheless, ANY teacher will be able to find and discover great apps for their students. 

If you have any iPad apps you consider "must haves" for a teacher, please share!

The Anatomy of a Great Teacher

I came across this nifty visual that shows the The Anatomy of a Great Teacher. I particularly agree with the view that "great teachers" are able to bypass the bureaucracy of school systems in order to emphasize student learning.

I don't think anything in this visual is new to the teaching field, though sometimes seeing messages in a different form can stimulate the brain. Perhaps you will come across a gem below that will motivate you as you teach this week...


Source: Top Teaching Colleges

PBS Learning Media

In the past, I have written about my fondness for many PBS resources (FRONTLINE and PBS Newshour). PBS LearningMedia is treasure trove of teacher resources from all of PBS's different entities. No matter your content area, you will be able to find video clips, lesson plans, primary source documents, and more useful tools to assist in your lessons. In addition, LearningMedia provides professional development resources.

I enjoy how after you make an account you can easily mark items as "favorites", thus making it much easier to find materials in the future. As a social studies teacher, I am excited to use some of their wonderful 2012 election materials with both my AP classes and my ESOL Government classes. I really like this simple, yet nicely done video explaining the general election process.

As always, I hope you are able to find a gem or two from PBS LearningMedia.

Get the Most out of Google

A hat tip to my colleague Kevin Burke for showing me this useful resource  from HackCollege to help students (and teachers) get the most out of using Google. Not only does the site provide tips for using Google as a research tool, in addition, the keyboard shortcuts and "tricks" will be quite useful for you on a daily basis. 

I have been using the "define: (insert word)" trick for a few years. I can personally verify its usefulness!

My Tech Tool Arsenal

Thank You PoliticalCartoons.com

I have been extremely busy over the last month getting back in the swing of things. I am working hard trying to balance teaching and becoming a better teacher, while spending quality time with my family and friends (and getting in some exercise when I can). Thus, I haven't had much time to test out any new websites or software, though I did want to write a post about the technology tools I am currently using on a daily basis. Many of these are tools you may already be using, while some of these items I have written about in previous posts. Nevertheless, perhaps you will find a gem in my list that will make you a more effective teacher.

Here is a list of some of the tech tools I use nearly every day:

- Edmodo: a terrific social networking site for teachers, students, parents and administrators. I am still becoming more adept with Edmodo.

- Dropbox: I love my cloud storage! Dropbox is a very reliable way to save files and open them up anywhere instantly.

- GradeCam: I love grading multiple choice quizzes and tests using my webcam...Even more, I love the incredible data I receive instantly. I am able to analyze which concepts students are struggling with and reteach IMMEDIATELY.

- GoogleDocs: we use Google apps in our school system...I love being able to use the forms to gather information. I also love how students can have access to word processing software for free!

- Twitter: I joined Twitter late, but I love having news articles come to me. I often find relevant articles to use in my classes. I haven't used Twitter much for professional outreach, though I see this becoming more important down the road.

- Quizlet: This is a great resource that keeps getting better. I am promoting my students make flashcards and study their vocabulary using this free website. They came out with a great app that allows anyone to study vocabulary no matter their surroundings.

- Politicalcartoons.com: As a US Government and Politics teacher I regularly show my students satirical cartoons to present serious issues. The cartoon above is a great portrayal of opportunity cost (and it might make you giggle).

- Screencast-o-matic: I wrote about this website last month, but I love how anyone can publish a video explaining ANYTHING and send it out to the world within minutes. I am traveling this year for weddings outside the USA, and I plan to make screen-casts to help my students stay on task even while I am out of the classroom.

Quick Screen Share Saved the Day!

I have written about Quick ScreenShare in the past, however, I had never used it until today. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the real deal! You are able to view another person's computer screen (or they can view your screen) without downloading any special software.

For instance, I was able to help a student correctly space their citation in their essay from the comfort of my home (and from the comfort of my student's home).

Check out this video that shows how easy Quick ScreenShare is to use.

Guess who was interviewed for a Washington Post Article on technology in the classroom?

I am proud to represent my school and Prince George's County Public Schools in a positive way through my tiny part of this article by Ovetta Wiggins. It's also an honor to be mentioned in an article that includes a photo of Ken Halla (a source of many of my tech ideas).

My 8th year of teaching begins tomorrow and I am just as nervous for the first day as I was back in 2005!

SoundGecko...Convert ANY article into an MP3 for FREE

I recently discovered the awesomeness of SoundGecko from one of my favorite blogs (notanotherhistoryteacher). The image above shows you the simple steps of using SoundGecko. You receive the email containing the MP3 within a minute. You can link your DropBox or Google Drive account to SoundGecko for an instant download. I haven't played with the iPhone app yet, but it looks promising.

I can foresee this wonderful resource helping struggling readers, ELL students, and students with reading/learning disabilities. Since it is free, I have only been able to receive one voice who reads the article, nevertheless, the quality of the recording was flawless on the two different articles I tried out. 

Enjoy!

Tech Resources for the New School Year

The 2012-13 school year begins for me this week as the teachers get ready for the upcoming year, while students will report for school on August 20. Our principal is gung ho about using Edmodo to communicate with students and parents. All teachers will be required to use Edmodo this school year. Based on my previous posts, I am a big fan of Edmodo, though I want to spend some time sharing other great technology resources that will help you during the upcoming school year. I have used and will continue to use all of the resources listed below. I hope they will make your teaching experience a bit better this year!

1. Edmodo: Edmodo is a social media platform that allows teachers and students to connect and collaborate. A teacher can post assignments, share content host discussions, post quizzes, and much more. Additionally, a teacher can join or start professional development groups to collaborate with other colleagues from all over the world. Totally Free.

2. Gradecam: Face it...we are living in an era the puts much emphasis on assessments (especially formative assessments). Gradecam allows a teacher to grade multiple choice exams using any webcam or document camera. I began using Gradecam last year and fell in love with having access to student data within seconds. I was able to find out which questions were giving students more trouble, thus allowing me to be more efficient in reviewing material. Check out their video to learn about the other features. Free (though you need to pay to add more tools).

3. Remind101: This website allows a teacher to text message students and parents in a SAFE way. The teacher creates an account and class. The teacher then shares the class code with their students. The students and parents sign up and can begin receiving text messages from their teacher. Neither the teacher nor the students/parents ever see each other's phone numbers, providing a security barrier. If a student does not have a cell phone, the student can enter their email address and receive updates. Totally Free.

4. Screencast-O-Matic: This is a great resource where you can record a screencast and upload it to YouTube for FREE. If you are unfamiliar with screencasts, they are a video tutorial with audio commentary explaining what is on your screen. Thus, the person viewing the screencast sees your computer screen and can hear your audio comments. Because the screencast is a YouTube video, you can share the screencast quite easily. Totally Free (though you can pay to add more tools).

Get Trained to Use Edmodo in 40 minutes!

It looks like my principal is going to require teachers to either regularly use a website or use Edmodo in their classes. As a teacher who knows a good deal about both resources, I am promoting that teachers use Edmodo. I particularly enjoy how easy it is for teacher post messages, assignments, videos, quizzes, polls for students. Additionally, Edmodo allows teachers to participate in professional learning groups. I particularly enjoy receiving tips for iCivics.org.

Edmodo keeps it simple for teachers. As I have learned in my seven years as a teacher, an easier to use technology tool will actually be used by teachers compared to fancy, high learning curve tools. Because Edmodo looks similar to Facebook and requires little user maintenance/organization, I believe more teachers would prefer the Internet learning tool.

I do still use my website, though I don't plan to erase it quite yet. I have many resources that my students and students from all over the world use. Nevertheless, if you are just beginning the process of using technology in your classroom, Edmodo is a great place to start!

If you are seriously considering using Edmodo in the upcoming school year, I highly recommend you set aside 40 minutes and watch this presentation about Edmodo and how it can be used in your classroom!

Supalogo is "Super Cool"!

First off, excuse the dry teacher humor, but I really enjoy Supalogo for creating logos and titles for worksheets and websites. It is super simple to use. Type in a word or words and change the various settings to create your own logo. The only downside is that there is a limit on words you can turn into a logo. Nevertheless, if you are like me and enjoy making your own classroom signs, you will enjoy using Supalogo all year round!


Here is an example of something I created to use on my website:

FutureMe.org...Send an email to yourself in the Future!

I recently came across Futureme.org. This wonderful website allows people to send an email to themselves in the future. As we close out the year, a teacher could have their students write letters to themselves about summer goals or perhaps have students predict who might be president after the November elections. I am contemplating using the website at the beginning of next year for students to write an email that would be delivered either the day before or after they take their AP US Government and Politics exam.

The website is relatively easy to navigate. I highly recommend you check it out!

Screenshot of the website

Edmodo Update...

So far I have had only positive experiences with Edmodo. I am in the process of having my current AP US Government and Politics class use Edmodo...they are my guinea pigs! So far, they have all expressed positive comments. The first words many said when they saw the website was "This looks like Facebook". Through their comments and assistance, we have figure out how to link their Google Docs account and turn in assignments. I particularly like how Edmodo allows my students and me to link our Google Docs accounts in order to share materials.

I posted a message on the AP US GoPo list serv last week asking for feedback from current Edmodo users and the results were overwhelmingly positive. I can see why many teachers like how one can administer and monitor student discussions. I like how I can post written questions, images, videos and request students to respond through their comments. I plan on experimenting with the quiz and poll features this week.

Overall, I am excited with Edmodo and look forward to rolling it out next year with ALL of my classes. I would like to pass on the following Edmodo resources to help you rollout Edmodo in your school or classroom. All of these resources come directly from Edmodo:

- General Rollout Resources
- Training Resources

Edmodo

What is Edmodo? (from Edmodo.com) 

"Edmodo provides teachers and students a secure place to connect and collaborate, share content and educational applications, and access homework, grades, class discussions and notifications. Our goal is to help educators harness the power of social media to customize the classroom for each and every learner."

This video above gives an overview of Edmodo...

I like to use the last few weeks of the school year to experiment with potentially new assignments and technology items in order to get ready for the next school year. A colleague at another high school told me he uses Edmodo with his students and they love it. He sold me by saying how Edmodo has a free App for Iphone and Android and how the website is geared towards students who primarily access the internet via mobile device.  Edmodo also allows a user to connect their Google Docs to their account. 


The interface looks eerily similar to Facebook...something I think is great for students since they are already accustomed to social media websites. I am excited to see how Edmodo works in the coming weeks. A teacher can do polls, create TIMED quizzes, and allow students to submit assignments through EDMODO. The teacher can also allow students to post discussion questions, though this feature can be managed by the teacher. A teacher can post videos, links, and create class calendars...As you can see, there are many wonderful resources. 


Over the next few weeks I will share my experiences...So far, I am impressed!

Edutopia & What's Your Learning Style?

One of my favorite education websites is Edutopia. The website allows for teachers to collaborate on a wide range of education issues. As the image below notes, I found this cool survey that analyzes a person's learning style. As the year winds down and I start to reflect, I am considering having my students do this survey in the beginning of the year.

Another great (and free) feature is their section of Classroom Guides. These guides provide information on many topics facing novices and experienced professionals. For instance, they have guides on classroom management, creating a Facebook group for parents, brain based learning strategies, and many more topics. I plan on perusing these items in the coming months.

There are countless more resources for teachers at Edutopia. I hope these two I listed above help you!

Quoted in the Washington Post

Michael Allison Chandler just published a story in the Washington Post analyzing how free materials are affecting the textbook industry. It's a great article showing different perspectives behind the changes currently happening between schools and textbook companies.

As my quote states, it can be overwhelming for a teacher having so many wonderful resources at one's fingertips. Nevertheless, I am not complaining :) I would rather have more resources than less.

In previous posts, I have written about the free FlatWorld Knowldge Ebooks (and ancillaries), as well as Hippocampus.org's FREE online classes in various subjects. I use Hippocampus' site to help my students review content for the AP exam. My students like how you can view/listen to a multimedia presentation and/or read information. Both of these websites make up a big backbone of my AP US Government and Politics class.

Happy Reading!

The 20 Biggest Reasons You Should Read...Great Article from Edudemic

Above is a poster I created two years ago. I hope it reminds students why it is vital for them to READ.

I was reading one of my favorite blogs put out by Ken Halla, and he recently wrote a post highlighting a fabulous website all about education and technology called Edudemic. It is a great site that explores various issues about infusing technology in the classroom.

After only spending a short amount of time perusing the website this morning, I stumbled across this great article about reading. Last year I decided to make a big effort to promote reading more in my social studies classes. Education philosophers can debate about the merits of making lessons rigorous and student centered (and whatever other popular buzzwords are currently popular), however, the bottom line is that children need to be able to read and understand what they are reading. In my experiences, students of all backgrounds struggle with reading and comprehending what they are reading. With Common Core coming down the pike, all content area teachers will be teaching reading whether they like it or not.

The article focuses on how reading literature can improve creativity, develop critical thinking skills, and help one become more adept concentrating, along with 17 other reasons why reading is important. In my experiences, the biggest obstacle deterring students from enjoying reading is the fact that they are often forced to read literature that means little to them. I can remember questioning the books I read as a teenager, though some I ended up enjoying even though I assumed they would be awful. Perhaps if we let students occasionally have the option to choose what to read, they would become intrinsically motivated to read.

You might be asking yourself why this blog is focusing so much on reading...where is the technology??? Well here you go...I highly suggest you try 60second Recap. I stumbled across this website a few years by accident. Purists might argue that using video clips to help review a novel gives students an easy way out of reading, however, I feel that using clips to help reinforce comprehension and analysis can sustain student interest and motivate students to keep reading to see how the novel progresses.

Freakonomics in the Classroom!

As a teacher I should say I have read the actual book Freakonomics. Alas, I have not, though I have seen the film based on the best selling book. In recent years, the creators of Freakonomics have begun publishing podcasts, as well as creating their stellar website. The basic idea of Freakonomics is taking weird/interesting economics questions and using data to solve and/or analyze them.

In the past, I have used part of their documentary about how names of children can affect a person's life. The students loved the 10 minute video and we had a great discussion about race, stereotypes, and the concept of "opportunities". Here is a sample this great video...

As we get closer to the end of the school year, I try to create interesting lessons to keep students interested in coming to class rather than ditching school for the local mall. The Freakonomics website has lots of free materials, though you may want to invest in purchasing the DVD, though if you have Netflix, you may be able to stream the documentary!

Another video that will deftinitely motivate your students to participate in a class discussion and/or writing prompt is whether students should be paid to earn good grades. You can show this 3 minute video to you students and see where the class goes...

Coursera...FREE College Courses from Prestigious Universities

I apologize for not posting for a little while, but I have been catching up on a variety of 

professional and personal projects. 

While listening to NPR the other morning, I came across Coursera. This new nonprofit is all about offering college level courses for FREE from professors at world class universities. As of now, they are just starting up, though they plan to offer more courses in the future. Check out the short video above that explains the basic idea of Coursera. 

I foresee a couple of potential opportunities. First, teachers can show high school students what "college" lectures look like. I feel like high school students are so accustomed to the passiveness of many high school classes, that they are blown away when they arrive at college and discover it is up to them to actively learn. Second, I feel teachers can take courses through Coursera in order to boost up their professional development resume. For instance, the University of Pennsylvania is offering a course on Healthcare Policy and the Affordable Care Act in June. Since this is something I teach in AP US Government and Politics, I could gain some new insights and learn about the complex law. Check out a video explaining the course below.

Bigfuture...College FAQ's for Students, Parents, and Educators

The word "college" can bring feelings of excitement, worry, and confusion to high school students. The current education mantra is for students be to "College and Career Ready", however, many high schools do not offer courses and/or seminars explaining the process of applying, paying, and making the most of being at a college. Though, college fairs and seminars do happen outside of school day in many districts and schools.

Bigfuture is a website created by the College Board that presents answers to student, parent, and educator questions about college. I am not exaggerating when I say Bigfuture has tons of resources about everything one would need to know about anything related to "college". I particularly enjoy how the website uses a mixture of videos and text to educate people. I also like how many of the resources are explained in Spanish. I teach many students who are English Language Learners--a large majority of them are native Spanish speakers.Even though my students might be able to speak and understand English, many of their parents do not speak English, thus resources in different languages are always beneficial.

I do not have enough space to explain all of the resources available, though I will focus a bit on their Paying for College resources. I often come across many students who struggle with paying for college. Many students have no idea what FAFSA is and why filing for FAFSA is necessary to receive federal and private financial assistance. Bigfuture provides many resources to explain FAFSA, financial aid facts, and scholarship information.

Many wonderful websites exist beyond Bigfuture. I have been promoting Cappex to students for a few years too. Unlike Bigfuture, Cappex is more focused on helping students find a college and scholarship that matches student interests. Additionally, a teacher or guidance counselor can monitor student searches and communications with colleges and scholarship opportunities.

I hope you are able to spread the resources of Bigfuture to your students. As the year winds down and teachers often fight to make lessons that interest students, I recommend spending a day or more teaching students about the college application process.

ScreenLeap...Share your Computer Screen!

ScreenLeap is a neat tool that you can use to share your computer screen with anyone in the world. You do not need to download any special software, and you can share with multiple people easily.

I foresee countless uses of ScreenLeap. If a student is having a hard time finding a website or completing an assignment, you can literally view their screen and show them how to resolve their problem.

The directions are simple. View them below.

Dropbox Saved My Life!

Oh Monday...so I get to work this morning and begin setting up my desk like normal. But wait...something goes terribly wrong! My MacBook Pro refuses to turn on. After spending 15 minutes trying different ways to turn the computer on, I realized I have a big problem.

Dropbox to the rescue! Because I use Dropbox to save my files, all of my files were/are backed up automatically to the Dropbox website and to my computers connected to Dropbox. What could have been a big disaster turned out to be a bump in the road thanks to Dropbox. I went on with my day a bit dejected that my relatively new MacBook Pro needs to be fixed, but I wasn't that depressed since my files were/are safe and sound :)

I have written about Dropbox before (see the hyperlink above). If you haven't started using Dropbox to store your files, you are missing out. Because Dropbox saves your files to their site, as well as to your connected computers, you never have to worry about losing your valuable files. Additionally, you can share certain folders with people, making it easy to collaborate.

By the way, it's FREE!

Pinterest...What is this thing?

Pinterest is receiving much buzz these days. The idea is simple, a user can post an image on a virtual pinboard to share with the world or your students. This website lists 37 ways teachers can use Pinterest. I am rather new to Pinterest. I plan on playing with it more over Spring Break. Let me know if/how you use Pinterest with your students.


The video below does a pretty good job explaining how you can use Pinterest in your classroom.

Looking for Statistics?

I enjoy including relevant statistics in my lessons. Students need to be able to create arguments that infuse logos like statistics. As we all become teachers of the Common Core, we will need to teach our students to become better persuaders. FedStats can provide you and your students with a centralized source of data from over 100 federal agencies. I encourage my students to back up their claims with valid data. To me, a passionate argument is not as effective compared to an argument based upon logic and reason.

 No matter your content area, you will be able to use something from FedStats to supplement a future lesson!

FREE Practice AP, SAT, PSAT Exams

Through my school district, I was able to order the 2012-13 AP US Government and Politics review book. Inside the front cover is a link to free practice exam questions that they promise to update regularly. Overall, I found the questions fair, and I enjoyed how after taking the 25 question exam that they provide an explanation for every answer.

If you do not teach an AP class, I highly recommend you show your students the free SAT and PSAT practice questions.

For the past five years I have been teaching AP US Government and Politics. Part of the challenge and fun of teaching an AP course is becoming familiar with the content and types of questions students need to know. Compared to many state curriculums, the College Board does not provide a "list" of content that students need to know for the annual exams. Therefore, I have found that McGraw Hill's 5 Steps to a 5 review books are a great resource for helping students get ready for AP exams in May. The books do a great job explaining complex concepts, while also providing well written practice questions. You can purchase a new version of their review books for approximately $10, though you can buy older versions from sites like Amazon for just a few bucks (and the information is pretty much the same!).

Frontline...A Great Source for Free Documentaries!

For many years I have used the wonderful resources released by Frontline. Not only do they offer documentaries on contemporary issues, but they also provide teacher resources with most of their programs. Because they received more funding over the last few years, Fontline is realeasing more terrific documentaries. As technology becomes better, their newer works can be embedded into websites and wikis. If you were thinking about creating a Webquest or an Internet scavenger hunt, you could find some great resources from Frontline. 

A documentary I have used for many years is called The Storm. The 50 minute documentary shows the slow response from all levels of government before, during, and after Hurricane Katrina. I used their teacher resources to help me with an observation. Watch this clip below...

Whether you teach English, social studies, science, arts, or mathematics, I bet you will be able to find an amazing documentary to assist with a future lesson!

Here is a list of other Frontline documentaries I have used with my government classes:
- The Plea
- Obama's Deal
- Hot Politics

Watch The Storm on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.

Save YouTube Videos to Your Computer!

A colleague of mine asked me if there was a way to download and save a YouTube video in order to use the video without connecting to the Internet. After checking some of my sources (tip of the hat to Mr. Ken Halla), I came across saveyoutube.com. The website works well and it is relatively easy to use.

Directions/Tips for Saving a YouTube Video:
1. When you are viewing your YouTube video, copy and paste the URL into the box (image is above), then click on the download button.

2. On my MacBook, I have to click on a window to allow the website to have access to my computer. I am not sure if you will need to do this on your Windows device.

3. After allowing the website to have access, you will need to select the format of the file. I recommend you download the video as an MP4. An MP4 video file can be played on Quicktime and any IOS device. However, if you have a Windows computer, a FLV file (Flash Player) might work better for your needs.

4. Finally, depending on the size of the file you will wait for the YouTube video to download. After downloading the file, open to file to see if the video plays.

Good Luck!

GradeCam Update...Thumbs Up!

In a previous post, I discussed GradeCam. I am not going to waste time explaining how it works with my words.  The short video above above can explain GradeCam better. I have only used the free version. The paid version has more bells and whistles.

I used GradeCam yesterday to grade an 24 question multiple choice exam. It worked perfectly! I noticed I made an error on the answer key after I scanned the exams, and I was able to fix the answer key and rescan the forms quite easily. I LOVE how I can get item analysis on questions immediately, helping understand where I need to spend more time reviewing. I LOVE that I can print the bubble forms on plain paper rather than using EXPENSIVE scantron sheets.

As you know, we teachers are told that we need to be using data to shape our instruction and GradeCam makes this practical and relatively easy. The image below is from their website and simply states the main features of GradeCam.

Simple Visual Showing GradeCam's Main Features

Keep the following information in mind:
 - Before you can scan an exam, you need to set up classes. This can be rather tedious, though you can upload a .csv file of each class or you can type in the names and ID numbers individually.

- As noted above, in order for GradeCam to work you must input a number to represent each student. I used the student number assigned via our school district, though you can make your own.

Overall, I LOVE GradeCam! I hope you try it out and find it useful in your classroom. GradeCam will definitely make student assessment more useful and helpful in your teaching.

NewsHour Extra

A "long time ago" a college professor told me that the PBS Newshour was the best newscast on American television because it delves into the issues without all the fluff found on the 24/7 cable networks. Since then, I regularly watch the PBS Newshour and use the great resources found on their NewsHour Extra website.

No matter your content area (social studies, science, English, health, math/economics, arts), you will be able to find great articles, videos, and lesson plans to make your lessons more relevant to the lives of your students on the NewsHour Extra website.

The PBS Newshour uploads quality videos of their nightly news clips. Not only can you link to the videos, but you can embed the clips into your website. Note that most clips are at least ten minutes in length, thus I often show pieces to correspond with my lesson.

One of my goals as an educator is to try daily to show how what I teach my students matters to their lives. Using current events is the best way to show students why what we teach matters. I teach three sections of ESOL government, and I love how the writing in the articles is written in an easy to read way, without watering down the content.

Since I do emphasize in my blog that I like sharing pragmatic resources, I would bookmark the NewsHour Extra website on those days when you need to create sub work. You can print an article (in PDF format) and comprehension/discussion questions that correspond to the article. A tip, I copy the questions, paste them into a Microsoft Word document in order to format the questions and add other questions.

A video from a recent PBS Newshour episode about a scientist who puts an interesting spin on health and population statistics.

Watch Rosling Brings Life, Sword-Swallowing to Health Statistics on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

Plagium...A FREE Plagiarism Checker!

In a previous post, I wrote about duplichecker.com. I have found that plagium is much better! It is simple and easy. Copy and paste the work of a student and after a minute, Plagium will inform you if selected text from the student is plagiarized.

Please note that the free search is limited 25,000 characters. If you want more, you will have to pay.

I caught one student plagiarizing today. Plagium worked like a charm!

eSchoolnews.com...My New Favorite Website

I have come across eSchool News and I am in love with it! If you notice the right side of my blog, you will see the new widgets that update technology news and new grants.

As you know, there are a zillion websites with education news. However, I believe that eSchool News is one of the best. Besides putting up great news articles and best practices from other teachers, I am a big fan of their list of grants, scholarships, and other awards.

When I hear the word "grant", I usually think about large amounts of paperwork. Some grants do require lots of info, however, there are many grants listed that don't take much time to complete. Like many of you, I spend my own money to purchase classroom resources. There is lots of money out there to help you purchase items to create your ideal learning environment.

Let me know if you find any cool grants :)

Send Text Message Reminders to Students with REMIND101

I just discovered Remind 101. Simply put, this resource allows you to send text messages to students and/or parents anytime you desire. The student/parent never see your actual phone number, and you (the teacher) never see the actual phone number of the student/parent. If you want to know more about Remind 101, check out the 3 minute video above.

As a teacher who informs students of tests at least a week in advance, as well as putting homework assignments and other information on our class website, it drives me nuts when students tell me they forgot or didn't know something was due!

I have heard of teachers using text messages to reach students before, but I was wary until now. Remind101 is easy to set up and use.

I setup my classes this morning and plan to begin using Remind101 today. I will comment in the future about my experiences with Remind101.

Another Annenberg Website Full of Great Resources

*Note: Much of this blog post is dedicated to teachers who teach social studies, however, if you teach about writing arguments and analyzing data, you will find some great lessons too.


The wonderful folks at Annenberg have a wonderful website dedicated to teaching civics. There are great  and relatively short videos highlighting many topics we teach in non AP US Government and AP US Government. Beyond the videos, I particularly love the "Critical Thinking Lesson Plans" and "Critical Thinking Resources" that I am excited to use with my classes (I write more about this in a bit). The website also includes an RSS feed of news headlines that can be handy when you cover current events with your students.

When you go to the website, please check out the amazing resources listed at the bottom. I wish Annenberg would highlight these with a larger font since these resources (including interactive games, background information on controversial issues, and more cool stuff) are of high quality and made to be easy to use in your classroom. The list of lesson plans will impress any civics teacher.

To those of you who teach writing, especially argumentative writing, you should check out this fantastic lesson plan. This lesson helps students understand how to build a strong argument. As we focus more on Common Core implementation, we will need to help students learn about becoming better persuaders.

I hope you are able to use these resources to help your students.