My Hotlist of 40 Educational Links

My Hotlist of 40 Interactive Educational Links
Look for Illinois Learning Standards and Technology Foundation Standards and Performance Indicators for all Students at the bottom of the 40 Links list.


· http://teacher.scholastic.com/clifford1
Interactive storybooks on Clifford the Big Red Dog in both English and Spanish. Meets standards for early childhood and elementary: sounds, letters, words, concentration etc.Provides classroom teachers with great resources.

· http://www.mrnussbaum.com
1000's of lessons for Math, Language Arts, Science and Social Studies. Site for grade 3-4.

· http://www.maps101.com
This site has a free maps101 trial. Maps of the world. Social Studies standards.

· http://cps.k12.il.us/aboutcps/departments/libraries
Lists many websites that students can go online and find resources for in any subject area. Websites like KidinfoBits, English ad Spanish EncyclopediaBrittanica are a few of the wonderful resources for student’s, teacher’s, and parent’s to use.

· http://www.abcya.com/kindergarten_computers.htm
Kindergarten Computer games and Activities geared for alphabet sequencing, uppercase to lowercase letter matching,
catergorizing, mouse manipulation, drawing and more.

· http://www.okalossa.k12.fl.us.bobsikes/student frame.htm
Want to know about Math-Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, Fractions, Measurement and more. A multitude of great interactive math games.


· http://www.apples4theteacher.com/foriegnlang.html
Games are in Spanish, Polish, Gaelick and American Sign Language. Great for Bi-lingual Students-ESL, ELL, AND EFL games.


· http://www.aolatschool.com/students/history
Great resources for History, Science, and Math.
History-World and American History: Black History, U.S.Presidents and Women in History. Links to Science Fair Experts Bill Nye, Janice VanCleave, and Vicki Cobb are provided. Science Fair
resources are given by grade levels and there are wonderful Math Biographies.


· http://www2.storyplace.org
This interactive site is in both English and Spanish. PreK stories are about fairytales. Elementary stories are about everyday life.

· http://www.brainpop.com
This site is in both English and Spanish. Kids who are researching will find a wealth of information in History, Social Studies, Math, Language Arts and Music. Great resources for teachers and parents. State Standards are also provided for each subject matter.

· http://www.infoplease.com
Great site for research information on United States, History and Government, Biographies, Sports, Homework center and much more. Click on Fact Monster and it will take you to a great kid friendly site.

· http://factmonster.com
Fact Monster has Reference Desk, Cool Stuff, and Features. It has a Map of the United States with cool icons and topics to grab the student's attention. Student's can find out what cool things are happening each month.


· http://holidays.net
Just about any religious holiday that you are looking for is here. Listing of dates when they occur are also provided.

· http://www.gigglepoetry.com
There are hundreds of Poems to read and rate on your own. Great for introducing and teaching poems to students. Create an appreciation and
enjoyment in poems.

· http://kidzone.ws/planets/index.htm
Researching about the 9 Planets- Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Actually it's 8 since Pluto is no longer a planet. Kidzone also has information on Animals, Bats, Penguins, Math, Science and more.

· http://sesameworkshop.org/
Sesame street is in English. Soon the site will also be in Spanish. Visit Sesame streets famous muppets that are loved by children all over the world. There are games, stories, art, music, mail, Elmo world, and Tv information. Resources for parents. Children learn their ABC's, 123's, songs, words, and much more through repitition.

· http://www.pbskids.com
Meet your storybook friends here: Arthur, Big Bird, Dragontales, Jakers, Barney and many others.
Listen to music, games, and color. Designed for Students in PreK-2.

· http://northpole.com
Meet Santa's reindeer, elves and the village. Write secret Santa letters for Christmas. Santa even reply's to your letters. Games, Puzzle, activities, and stories to read. There is the Naughty and Nice list for kids. There's also the fun loving interactive Disco dancing Santa that everyone loves.

· http://www.nationalgeographic.com/
News about anything you want to know about the world. Information about Animals, History, Maps, the Environment, People and Places, Photography, Videos and much more. There are great Links to Explore kids,and Little Kids for 3-6 year olds and Most Amazing Pet contest. There is even an interactive climate map.


· http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
Videos, Activities, games and stories. Great resources for children of all ages.

· http://atozteacherstuff.com/
Wonderful resources for teachers. There are Themes, Teacher's tools, Teacher's Tips, Lesson Plans, Articles, Printables, worksheets, Instant downloads, links to online Degrees, and Best sites on the web for teachers.

· http://abcteach.com/
A great site created for teachers. Information provided for Subjects, Reading, Research/Reports, Holidays/Months/Seasons, Theme Units, PreK/Early Childhood, Middle School/Junior High, Languages/ESL, Clip Art, Flashcards, Fun Activities, Portfolios and much more.

· http://www.starfall.com/
Great interactive stories for Preschool and elementary aged children. ABC's are about getting ready to read. Learnto Read stories are for early beginners. It's Fun to Read is for Intermediate readers. I'm Reading is for Beginning to Advanced Readers. A multitude of stories to read. This site is designed for Pre-School, Kindergarten, First and Second grade.

· http://www.americanchemistry.com
Elementary Science Education Activities & Games.
National Science Education Standards:
Student's should develop an understanding of properties of objects and
materials.
Student's should develop an understanding of science and technology.
Student's should develop an understanding of Types of Resources and the Science and Technology in local challenges.

· http://www.pocanticohills.org/tubman/tubman.html
Great Harriet Tubman site for student’s. The site was created by Pocantico Hill’s school. I enjoyed reading the Harriet Tubman timeline in picture. It grabs your attention visually and the information is easy to read. I liked how the students had drawn the pictures and
written simple sentences about Harriet Tubman throughout the stages of her life from
childhood to adult. The site has information on Map of Underground Railroad routes,
character profiles and sketches, vocabulary words and more.

· http://kids.discovery.com/games/games.html
Kids discovery site is filled with games and information about what kids are interested in:
Build a coaster and a volcano, Shark smarts, Tutenstein matching game, Fly away with the Wright Brothers, Hierogenerator, Make an animation and others.

· http://www.kidzone.ws./water/index.html
The water cycle is fun to learn with kid like drawings. Great for early elementary student’s. It has some funny sayings too to make the information enjoyable to learn. The information is easy to process for young children who are being introduced to the water cycle.

· http://www.volcanoes.com/
Volcano lovers. This site has a photo gallery, videos, information on volcanoes around the world, volcano news, and has links to other volcano sites.

· http:// http://www.funbrain.com/
Math explosion. A multitude of games to strengthen student’s knowledge of math and skills they are learning. Great for all primary and elementary grade levels. Math games are basic, intermediate and advanced in the area of student’s skill level and mastery. Student’s decide what level they are at.

· http://bensguide.gpo.gov/
Great visual animation of Benjamin Franklin for the opening page. The kite directs the
teacher and student’s to the appropriate grade level. For each grade level
language and vocabulary is appropriately written in order for the student’s to understand the subject matter. Student’s learn about their Nation, Government, and Neighborhood. Symbols of U. S. Government, the ABC’s of the nation ie. A is for the Armed Forces, B is for the Bill, Games and Activities on the states, flag, the liberty bell and are given additional links to U.S. Government websites for kids. Check them all out.

· http://www.kiddiesgames.com/en/sign_language_games.php
Sign Language site for students interested in sign language or sign. All the games are free and interactive. Games on Singing the Alphabet, What is this letter, Counting in sign 0 to 20, What is this number sign 0-20, What is this color sign and What is this shape sign.

· http://www.zeek.com/
Games galore for students to play. When student’s are finished with assignments these games are great for their enjoyment and pleasure.

· http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/index2.html
Games galore for students to play. When student’s are finished with assignments these games are great for their enjoyment and pleasure. Games accompanied with Music.

· http://home.disney.go.com/tv/index
Games galore for students to play. When student’s are finished with assignments these games are great for their enjoyment and pleasure. Games accompanied with Music.

· http://www.nick.com/
Games that are based on story books that student’s are reading: SpongeBob, Avatar, Jimmy Neutron, Fairly Odd Parents and more. Games accompanied with Music.

· http://www.aolatschool.com/
Fabulous!!! Resources for student’s, educator’s, school’s and parent’s. Games and poems on phonetics and sounds. Student’s can submit poems online. Parents are given a wealth of information with Homework help search, assessment tools, information on learning disabilities, helping in the classroom, finding reference materials for their child/ren, parenting tips, among other things. For teacher’s and student’s AOL@school/junior has information on topics such as America, Art & Music, The Earth, History, Math, People & Places, Reading, Writing, Science and Technology. Great reference resources.

· http://kids.aol.com/kol-jr
Student’s can go and sign on this cool site. Educational games, stories and music for preschoolers.

· http://www.teachervision.fen.com/
Website created for teachers for all subject matters and grade levels. Topics about Grades, Subjects, Lesson Plans, Themes, Classroom management,
Newsletters, news and tips for teachers. An array of material at a teacher’s fingertips. Example: For Primary, Connect the dots, Practice numbers and
the alphabet. For Intermediate, Parts of Speech are reinforced, and Matching idioms with their correct definitions.

· http://www.storylineonline.net/
Stories read aloud by actors & actresses. Site created by the Screen Actors Guild. Actors and Actresses are filmed reading stories aloud through Video format. The stories are also in picture book form so the student’s can visually see, hear and read along too.
A great way to draw children in to listen to their favorite stories.

· http://activityvillage.co.uk/
Games, Holidays, favorite pages, crafts, Themes, kids puzzles, parenting articles and more. 120 fun Sudoku games to play. Sudoku develops your child’s reasoning skills and concentration.



· Illinois Learning Standards for PreK-4 are addressed in all subject matters relevant and related to sites listed.
· Technology Foundation Standards for all Student’s:
Basic operations and concepts
Student’s demonstrate a sound understanding of the nature
and operation of technology systems.
· Student’s are proficient in the use of technology.
Social, Ethical and human issues
· Student’s develop positive attitudes toward technology
Uses that support lifelong learning, collaboration, personal pursuits, and productivity.
Technology productivity skills
· Student’s use technology tools to enhance learning, increase
productivity, and promote creativity.
Technology communication tools
· Student’s will use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences.
Technology research tools
· Student’s use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect
Information from a variety of sources.
Technology problem-solving and decision making tools
· Student’s use technology resources for solving problems,
and making informed decisions.
· Student’s employ technology in the development of
strategies for solving problems in the real world.






· Performance Indicators for all Student’s PreK -4:

1. Use input devices (eg. Mouse, Keyboard, remote control) and output devices (eg. Monitor) to successfully operate computers, VCR’s, audiotapes, and other technologies.
2. Use a variety of media and technology resources for directed and independent learning activities.
3. Communicate about technology using developmentally appropriate and accurate terminology.
4. Use developmentally appropriate multimedia resources (elementary encyclopedias, interactive books) to support learning.
5. Work cooperatively and collaboratively with peers and others when
Using technology in the classroom.
6. Demonstrate positive and ethical behaviors when using technology.
7. Practice responsible use of technology.
8. Use technology resources (eg.puzzles) for problem solving, communication and illustration of thoughts, ideas, and stories.

Evidence Based Posting # 2- May 7th

Dangers of the Internet and Safety


Teaching students’ about the dangers of the Internet is important. Though the internet is a valuable tool for life, it is also a very destructive tool when used inappropriately. Today, student’s are faced with online bullying from their peers, identity theft, online predators, pornography, and games that have sexually explicit content. In our schools there is increasing online bullying that is taking place. Predators are always waiting for children in chat rooms. Through identity theft student’s are loosing their personal information because they are knowingly placing it out on the internet. Computer games are graphically staturated with sex and student’s are stumbling into adult pornographic sites when incorrectly spelling words at search engines. What is really frightening is that anyone using the internet can give false information. For example, people lie about their age and sex. Student’s must never place personal information out on the web where people can access, view and abuse it. Student’s usually do not heed the warning signs until they are in a dangerous situation.

In Teaching with the Internet K-12: New Literacies for New Times in Chapter 2, page 69, Deborah and Donald Leu and Coiro mention steps to ensure students’ safety on the internet. “These steps are “(1.)Building awareness of the risks and benefits of Internet Use, (2.) Building and updating your school’s Acceptable Use Policy, (3) Using Internet filtering tools, (4) Encouraging students to obtain an Internet Driver’s License, (5) Having students use the Back Button when they feel uncomfortable, and (6) Using search engines designed for children.”[1]
Besides schools teaching student’s about internet safety, schools also need to teach and inform parents. Equipping parents with knowledge about the dangers that their children could be faced with and giving them resources to fight back with makes them powerful. In student’s homes’ parent’s should keep the computer in an open area, for example the living room, where they can view and monitor computer usage and see what sites their child/ren is surfing on the internet. Some ways that parents can be actively involved is by book marking and blocking sites, use filtering software, reading and screening their child/rens emails, and contacting the school or the police when inappropriate emails are sent by other students as forms of harassment or threats. Everyone needs to be accountable.

In Teaching with the Internet K-12: New Literacies for New Times in Chapter 2, page 73, Deborah and Donald Leu and Coiro mention that “despite intensive efforts, it is impossible to completely protect children from viewing inappropriate sites. Thus in the long run, it is best to educate children, parents and guardians, and teachers about how to use the Internet safely.”[2] Listed below are a few example of websites that are helpful resources: http://www.netsmartz.org/, http://www.ou.edu/oupd/kidsafe/inet.htm,
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/net_safety.html, and
http://www.kidscomjr.com/games/safety/safety.html.

In the Article called “Internet Safety” written by Steven Dowshen “he explains how student’s can incorrectly misspell words and get taken to adult websites. Dowshen also lists several things that parents should do in the home when children are on the computer. By taking an active role in your child's Internet activities, you'll be ensuring that he or she can benefit from the wealth of valuable information the Internet has to offer, without being exposed to any potential dangers.”[3] When parents are involved, children are safe.





[1] Leu, Donald and Deborah and Coiro, Julie Teaching with the Internet K-12: New Literacies for New
Times Chapter 2, page 69
[2] Ibid Chapter 2, page 73

3. http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/net_safety.html
Updated and reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD Date reviewed: April 2005

Site of the Week # 1 - April 16th

The site for the week is http://www2.storyplace.org/.

This creative and interactive site is for Pre-school and Elementary students. All the stories are Repetitive. Repetition is an important tool that reinforces learning in the early childhood & elementary years of a child. Repetition and Reinforcement go hand in hand. The stories on the site are in both English and Spanish. Student’s that are Bi-lingual can hear and see stories in both languages. Spanish speaking students who are learning English hear and see the English stories repetitively, learn words faster and visa-versa. Stories for Elementary students are about Colors, Numbers, Transportation, Animals, Firefighters and pertain to everyday life. For example, the story about “Firefighters” talks about safety, “New Fish on the Reef” is about being a friend to a new classmate, and “I will not tak e a Bath,” is about how a young boy does not want to take a bath. Real issues about life.
For Pre-school aged children there are Dinosaurs, Sports, Cars, Dragons and Animals. Pre-school stories involve fairytale characters and magical creatures.
What's interesting about Storyplace is that people and animals both speak. In real life animals do not speak, only people do.

National Technology Standards for Students
1. Basic operations and concepts.
Students are proficient in the use of Technology.
Performance Indicator-(1) Use input devices (mouse, keyboard) to successfully
operate computers and other devices.
2. Social, ethical and human issues.
Student’s practice responsible use of technology systems, information and
software.
Performance Indicator-(2) Demonstrate positive social and ethical behaviors when
using technology
3. Technology productivity tools
Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity and
promote learning.
Performance Indicator (3) Use technology tools (presentation, web tools)
for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing
activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the
classroom.