Interesting Finds

In the Marshall Memo it mentioned three different websites that I thought you might find useful. Let me know if you do.

CLASSROOM LIBRARY ORGANIZER – This free software http://classroom.booksource.com creates a web-based inventory of classroom libraries. Teachers can enter a book’s ISBN by scanning it or adding it manually, and then use custom data fields to organize and display titles. Students can use the system to check books out and return them, and can also view the entire library list. Teachers can look at students’ checkout history and see patterns by Lexile levels. 

“News to Use: Taming the Library” in Middle Ground, October 2012 (Vol. 16, #2, p. 6)

ELECTION WEBSITES– These online tools help students understand the U.S. election process, focusing on this year’s presidential contest:

            • Rand McNally’s Play the Election: http://education.randmcnally.com

            • S-SPAN Classroom: http://www.c-spanclassroom.org

            • Scholastic Magazine: http://magazines.scholastic.com/election-2012

            • Time for Kids: http://www.timeforkids.com/minisite/election-2012  

“News to Use: Teaching About the Election” in Middle Ground, Oct. 2012 (Vol. 16, #2, p. 7)

 

COMMON CORE WEBSITE – ASCD has launched EduCore http://educore.ascd.org to provide support on the Common Core State Standards. The math resources come from the Shell Centre and include ideas on formative assessments. The literacy resources come from the Literacy Design Collaborative and include a template task bank that content-area teachers can use to work toward literacy standards.

“ASCD Community in Action: Product Spotlight” in Educational Leadership, October 2012 (Vol. 70, #2, p. 95)