So many Resources

Who would have thought that teachers like to share?  Just kidding, I know we all love to bounce ideas off of each other, and the internet just proves that, there are ideas EVERYWHERE!  I don't know how teachers got by before the internet.  Sure there were some creative ideas my teachers had when I was in elementary school, but the possibilities now are endless.  Some teachers are more art savvy, and some aren't.  But throw some dish soap, water, and paint together, blow some bubbles, put it on paper and you have a masterpiece that was easy and fun to make. http://www.playbasedlearning.com.au/
This website had so many fun artsy ideas, it made me want to go make some right now.  Go figure, it's a play based learning website.



Want to go to the planetarium but it costs too much?  Just visit http://www.exploratorium.edu/neverlost/#/navigation/planetarium  One of the many science links on the Exploratorium page.  Students can dissect a cow's eye without the smell and scalpels.  This was one of the links on "The Top 101 Web Sites for Teachers" http://www.assortedstuff.com/top101/

There's a more personal feeling when going to http://mscofino.edublogs.org/ where Kim Cofino tells about her tips for teaching.  It's nice to have another teacher's point of view, but it almost feels intrusive to read her blog.  She's writing about people she knows that I don't.  I do like her tech tools.  Sometimes websites give you things that teachers won't really use in the classroom, but these tools already have been used with the kids, and have been successful.  My favorite idea was to make different students in your class "experts" that way their peers can go to them for help first.

At first, I thought "A Passion for Teaching and Opinions" sounded like a great blog to read, but when I clicked on it, I was instantly reminded of a news page.  Thankfully, upon reading, I found out that it was a blog about a newscaster who was retiring.  Although it lacks the jazzy colors and fun illustrations, this blog has some information that is funny.  Well, his sarcasm amuses me. 

"In an absolutely shocking study, teachers that were efficient with class time actually had students that did better on standardized tests. Apparently not wasting the student’s time might actually help the student become more focused, more engaged, and in the end, possibly more learned.  Wow.  What an incredible surprise."  http://ukiahcoachbrown.blogspot.com/

Although all of these blogs have something to share, I think "The Top 101 Web Sites for Teachers" http://www.assortedstuff.com/top101/ is one I'll follow for a while, and "Irresistible Ideas for Play Based Learning"
 will be one that I reference when I need a creative idea.