5 Clue Challenge

WEBSITE ↬ 5 Clue Challenge

AUDIENCE ↬ students

CONTENT ↬ research

GRADE LEVELS ↬ middle school & high school

I remember hearing about the 5 Clue Challenge years ago, but I somehow lost track of it only to be stumble upon it again recently. It is just as fun as I remember! Michael Soskil created this idea to encourage students to practice research skills and have a little fun along the way. The way it works is you watch the video and use the clues in the video to help you research. The quicker you can guess the location the more point you earn.  

HOW CAN TEACHERS USE THIS RESOURCE?

I can see teachers using this as a warm up for class or even when you find that you have a few extra minutes. For more of a challenge, you can team students up to work together or make it into an individual challenge. After your students are comfortable, you might even encourage them to create their own 5 clue challenge to share with the class.

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Finding Flow Solutions (Truth for Teachers)

WEBSITE ↬ Finding Flow Solutions

AUDIENCE ↬ teachers

CONTENT ↬ all

GRADE LEVELS ↬ middle school (Grades 6, 7, 8) & high school (9-12)

This resource is amazing! Created by Angela Watson - of Truth for Teachers - to help teachers help their students. We all know students have to be willing participants in their learning or it won't happen. As a classroom teacher, I am frustrated with the lack of engagement and the behaviors that cause disruptions and take my attention away from those who want to learn. I am hoping to utilize Unit 1 soon in my classroom.

As of December, 2024 - there are 6 units ready for middle school (grades 6-8) and 6 units for high school (grades 9-12). Elementary units are noted to be coming soon. It's also important to note - the first unit is available completely FREE! 

HOW CAN TEACHERS USE THIS RESOURCE?

I can see teachers using this in their classrooms for sure! I'd recommend being strategic with the lessons. I'm sure you can repeat them, but I'd think a building-wide approach would benefit all students. With 6 units, it'd be ideal to assign them to grade levels so there is a wholistic approach. 

Licenses can be purchased for more than one teacher, too. 

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Questions to encourage students to use intuition

WEBSITE ↬ Questions to encourage students to use intuition

AUDIENCE ↬ teachers

CONTENT ↬ all

GRADE LEVELS ↬ all grades

I came across this PDF on Twitter and held onto it. It isn't glamorous. It isn't pretty or fancy. But I believe it is powerful and can help all teachers. Two pages of questions teachers can ask their students for many different purposes but all stretch their thinking. This gathering of was published by Tracy Zager in her book, Becoming the Math Teacher You Wish You'd Had: Ideas and Strategies from Vibrant Classrooms.  

HOW CAN TEACHERS USE THIS RESOURCE?

I can see teachers using this to push their students' thinking. To challenge them. The PDF can be kept on hand and used at various times. No preparation is needed. Teachers might also embed specific questions in lessons to purposefully encourage students to use their intuition.

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Digital Inquiry Group: Reading Like a Historian

WEBSITE ↬ Digital Inquiry Group: Reading Like a Historian

AUDIENCE ↬ teachers

CONTENT ↬ History, ELA

GRADE LEVELS ↬ all grades

I cannot tell you how I connected with this website, but am I glad I did! Wow!!! I had a conversation with a SS teacher in my school about teaching her students to read historical material and help them make sense of it and the very next day, I received an email highlighting this activity. (Ironic?) This site works on that very skill! I really wish I had this when I was teaching history! Amazing! The two big sections are US History and World History, and then you can dig in by era. 

HOW CAN TEACHERS USE THIS RESOURCE?

I can see teachers using this to teach students how to better read historical material. It will also allow teachers to introduce students to historical material and provide a better understanding of events of the past. This is a bookmark for sure!!! 

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A Soft Murmur

WEBSITE ↬ A Soft Murmur

AUDIENCE ↬ teachers

CONTENT ↬ all

GRADE LEVELS ↬ all grades

Ok. At first, I kind of did an eye roll when I came across this website. Then I started playing with the ambient noises and I realized how helpful it can be. I cranked up the chirping birds along with some waves and took a deep breath. Ahhhh, relaxing. Which is your favorite? 

You can set a timer so the sounds turn off. And you might miss it at first, but there is a little squiggle line to the left of the play button. It is the "meander" function which will randomly change the volumes of various sounds.  

HOW CAN TEACHERS USE THIS RESOURCE?

I can see teachers using this as background noise for their classroom. I know there is a place for silence and a place for noise. Sometimes our students need help regulating this. I think this site can help - possibly on their own, possibly for the entire class.

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Seterra - The Ultimate Map Quiz Site

WEBSITE ↬ Seterra - The Ultimate Map Quiz Site

AUDIENCE ↬ students

CONTENT ↬ history, geography

GRADE LEVELS ↬ 4-12

I am going to give the credit for this resource to my 7th grade daughter. She was recently telling me how she had to learn all the African countries and she showed me how she was studying for her test. Wow! There are so many different collections for students to study - maps, countries, capitals, bodies of water, and many more!  

HOW CAN TEACHERS USE THIS RESOURCE?

I can see teachers using this for students to learn countries, capitals, flags and more. One link for all of the games! 

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Peer Feedback: Making It Meaningful

WEBSITE ↬ Peer Feedback: Making It Meaningful

AUDIENCE ↬ teachers

CONTENT ↬ all

GRADE LEVELS ↬ aimed at grades 3 & up; modification might work for younger students

Feedback is important for both the creator and those giving the feedback. I've realized in recent years, honest & real peer feedback can go much further than teacher feedback. I am incorporating more peer feedback in various ways in my own classroom this year and really appreciate Catlin's choice board. I believe most students struggle to frame the feedback in an appropriate way - they don't want to be mean or they simply don't know how to take their thoughts and frame it in a way to make it valuable to their peer. Catlin's choice board can really help with both.

HOW CAN TEACHERS USE THIS RESOURCE?

I can see teachers using this across all content areas and for a variety of activities. I recently had my students complete a project and they had to provide feedback for each other. Comparing this choice board to the feedback form I had, this one wins, hands down! Since it's shared via a Google Doc, you can easily tweak it to best fit you and your students.

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