It wasn’t that long ago when we had only five television stations. Along with our limited options, we had to physically get up to change the channel. If the picture was fuzzy, we rigged the “rabbit ears” to rid the screen of static. Today, we have an abundance of channels with a gazillion options for sports, series, movies, and news.
Five channels are no longer the norm, and neither is seeking out the news. The headlines now come to us. “Bring Me the News!” is one example of a subscription news service that brings information to our devices based on personal preferences like: morning news, breaking news, and the weather. Other news apps that receive high ratings are The Skimm, Morning Brew, and The Wire.
Like the many channel choices, there are also a gazillion educational resources. But when do teachers have time to track which of them are research-based, useful, and legit? This is where we come in!
Below is our list of 12 educational resources that rise to the top (in alphabetical order):
Artificial Intelligence is described as a tool to revolutionize every aspect of life. It already has! We are using AI when we rely on tools like: face/voice recognition, sending/receiving money, language learning/translation, navigation/GPS, streaming services, robotics, surveillance, surgery, diagnoses, and much, much more. When specifically considering AI tools for educators, we believe in Magic School! Magic School describes itself as, “The most loved, secure, and trusted AI platform for educators and students.” Sounds like the start of a healthy (AI) relationship!
As kiddos, many of us learned to “work it out” when we had a conflict at school. But as the clever quip goes, “When we know better, we do better” – and because we now know better, most schools include social-emotional learning (SEL) as part of their curricula. What we also know is, social-emotional learning improves mental health, creates self-awareness, strengthens friendships, lowers behavioral issues, and improves academic performance. Talk about a return on investment! The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning aka: “CASEL,” is a place for educators to learn about best SEL practices.
Pronounced: “ISS-tee,” the site is filled with high-quality resources along with standards for digital learning. ISTE standards are used in all 50 of the states and are intended to create “High impact, sustainable, scalable, and equitable learning experiences” for all. ISTE is a place where educators, educational leaders, and coaches can find guidance for using technology with students. FYI: all of our Teaching Channel courses have the ISTE seal!
The Library of Congress is known as the National Library of the United States. We’ve put our heads together and cannot think of a better time for citizens to know about and use the Library of Congress. And speaking of know…we know YOU know, knowledge is power. Libraries and schools are our nation’s infrastructure. The LOC is where to find facts and amazing educational resources!
For children to learn, they must first develop physically. Lookwhatikandu provides the foundational aspects of child development like proprioception, automaticity, midlines, and more. Regardless of grade level, every teacher–and human–benefits from understanding child development and this website brings it in a way that is colorful, engaging, and enjoyable.
Lesson planning, classroom management, conferences, Back-to-School events, after school programs, grading, assessments… Are you hollering, “help”? If so, Padlet TA is here for you! TA stands for Teaching Assistant, and we have to say, not a minute too soon. Padlet TA is an aggregate of AI tools teachers can use to streamline processes, create efficiencies, and to use AI in a way that benefits them most.
Project Zero’s mission is to understand the human nature of creativity, learning, thinking, ethics, and intelligence. The name seems completely counterintuitive because there is so much on the site! So why’d they name it Project Zero? We were curious too, and found: “The state of general communicable knowledge about arts education is zero. We’re starting at zero, so we are Project Zero.” PZ is part of the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University.
In 1619, the ship christened, White Lion, carried 20 enslaved Africans across the Atlantic to Virginia, and marked a pivotal and tragic beginning to slavery in, what would become, the United States. The 1619 Project offers educational materials centered on the experiences of Black Americans throughout history. This video describes the 1619 Project, how to use it in educational settings, and its aim to encourage a deeper appreciation for the contributions of Black Americans.
74 million is the number of children in the United States. The non-profit focuses on student needs through research, opinion, and non-partisan perspectives. Dedicated to the issues affecting our nation’s children, the organization follows a Code of Ethics with journalists aligned to, “Challenge the status quo, expose corruption and inequality, spotlight solutions, confront the impact of systemic racism, and champion the heroes bringing positive change to our schools.”
Based in Montgomery, Alabama, the EJI provides legal representation to incarcerated individuals. Stroll down the street and you will see the Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice. The sites paint a powerful picture of the legacy of slavery. Founder Bryan Stevenson, puts it this way, “We can’t recover from this history until we deal with it.” The Legacy Sites are honest, informative, and life-changing. If you can, go in person. If you can’t, visit the sites online.
Located at the University of California-Berkeley, this wellspring of wellness includes information about psychology, sociology, and neuroscience for educators, parents/families, health professionals, work-place leaders, and researchers. The best way to understand how the GGSC works is to note they value the ‘greater good’ so highly, it is part of their name. We especially appreciate the “School Relationships” tab which includes knowledge about relationships between teachers and students, peers, staff, family/community, and how we can bridge our differences.
Lastly…(drumroll, please!) Review our Teaching Channel K12 HUB! Overflowing with webinars, podcasts, blogs, lesson plans, eBooks, and more, the K12 Hub was designed with you in mind. (Note: although it is the “K12” Hub, there are plenty of resources for early childhood educators, too!) Browse the site to see the variety, all inspired to boost creativity, save time, and lighten your load.
When originally writing this article, we planned to list five of our favorites, but once we got started, there were many more to share! This list is in no way comprehensive, but it includes resources we rely on, are grateful for, and believe in. We know you will find them useful in your work with children and families.
About the Author
Susanne Leslie is a Professional Learning Specialist at Teaching Channel. She holds a B.A. in Sociology and a Master’s in Education. As a former parent educator, Susanne’s specialty is Culture, Wellness, and Early Childhood instruction. In her current role, she writes courses and content, and is an enthusiastic advocate for play and time outdoors as the best teaching tools.
Fun Fact: Susanne has jumped out of two (perfectly good) airplanes!
