Miscellaneous+Resources

​  =Miscellaneous Resources =

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Here is a list of resources that apply to all areas of the curriclum. The sites have been reviewed and rated by our K-5 Educators ====== Contemplations of a Future Teacher []  **Resources:** j4luck offers discussions on several different topics including behavioral management, classroom setup, teaching tip book suggestions and ideas on areas of the curriculum. She also offers links to other excellent educational blogs. Reviewed by Lauren Garman
 * Purpose:** Contemplations of a Future Teacher is a blog set up by an aspiring elementary teacher. The author, j4luck, posts blogs that are of her opinion based on news articles and shares useful links and advice for beginning teachers. I think this site is helpful because as a first year teacher, it is nice to read advice and opinions of others who are just starting out. 
 * Evaluation:** Coming from a teacher in the process, I think the information that she posts is very beneficial, especially for 1st year teachers. You can relate to a lot of the information presented and can take the ideas into the classroom. The site is organized in a manner where information is easily found according to a specific topic or curriculum area.
 * Rating: **

** The teaching books.net blog ** []

** Purpose: ** Sharing the love of books and reading seems to be the perfect motto for this site. Catchy key phrases such as Help students read more...and enjoy it, and Bring authors into your classroom. Online. Anytime., sum up the theme of the site. With over 24,000 resources and the ability to specify grade level and curriculum needs, this site is useful to teachers, parents, and students alike.
 * Resources **: Reading list resources, how to pronounce author's names, web 2.0 tools, blogs, author websites, an educator area, and so forth, are all useful links that are easy to navigate and use. One specific blog, Poetry Friday, shares a particular piece of poetry and useful tags. Links to poetry readings, characterization, videos, and more add emphasis and justification to this blog site. This site is useful for all teachers in all content and extra curriculum areas such as music, art, and more.
 * Evaluation: ** I am an avid reader; I enjoyed sifting through the blog posts and the accompanying media and outside links. The site is easy to read, easy to navigate, and provides many useful links. The blog is only one element to this incredible site; the book search is a wonderful tool to assist teachers, parents, and students. As an educator, finding trade books to enhance curriculum is so easy to do with this site. Tags provide useful information about appropriate grade levels and related curriculum subjects.
 * Rating: ** [[image:http://www.fotosearch.com/bthumb/CSP/CSP058/k0588415.jpg width="36" height="30"]][[image:http://www.fotosearch.com/bthumb/CSP/CSP058/k0588415.jpg width="36" height="30"]][[image:http://www.fotosearch.com/bthumb/CSP/CSP058/k0588415.jpg width="36" height="30"]][[image:http://www.fotosearch.com/bthumb/CSP/CSP058/k0588415.jpg width="36" height="30"]][[image:http://www.fotosearch.com/bthumb/CSP/CSP058/k0588415.jpg width="36" height="30"]]

Reviewed by Jennifer Falk

EduPirate []

EduPirate covers all aspects of education. They claim, “We want to figure out the best ways to make learning easier, better, and dangerous. Yarr, Mateys.” (edupirate.com) This blog provides interesting information (not necessarily good interesting), but some of it is worth checking out. Rating:

The Mailbox Magazine Blog ** http://blogs.themailbox.com/mailbox This blog was developed by the creators of Mailbox magazine. The blog gives the opportunity to discuss a variety of teaching topics among educators. The blog is user friendly and a nice forum to find helpful ideas for K-5 teachers. The ideas shared on this blog are creative and would be useful to any teachers looking try something new.

Reviewed by Michelle McKain
 * Rating: ** [[image:http://www.fotosearch.com/bthumb/CSP/CSP058/k0588415.jpg width="36" height="30"]][[image:http://www.fotosearch.com/bthumb/CSP/CSP058/k0588415.jpg width="36" height="30"]][[image:http://www.fotosearch.com/bthumb/CSP/CSP058/k0588415.jpg width="36" height="30"]][[image:http://www.fotosearch.com/bthumb/CSP/CSP058/k0588415.jpg width="36" height="30"]]

**Caution: Minds at Work! **

 * []**

= Purpose : This blog features a collection of motivational posters designed to motivate your students. It contains links for free downloadable samples and orders for the posters.= = Resource: This collection of motivational posters are original designs that carry positive classroom messages. These posters feature motivational messages such as, "Learning is a Team Sport", and "Caution, Minds at Work". They should be displayed throughout the classroom at all times. Free downloads of samples are available and ordering is made easy, as well. Once the order is placed, you will receive an eBook that has 25 posters for educators to use.= = Evaluation: I think this site will well serve teachers who are interested in raising self-esteem within their students. These posters are great at encouraging students to always try their best in everything that they do. The site is easy to use and the downloadables are easy to access.= Rating: Reviewed by Charina Pitts

Keep Up With It All [] Rating
 * __ Purpose: __** This site is a clearing house for the latest new in the education world. Issues that affect our classroom are reported on and discussed. This site is administered by the Scholastic Company.
 * __ Resources: __** Staff development, curriculum and instruction, education funding, are just a few of the many topics that information and resources can be found here.
 * __ Evaluation: __** A great resource for all things education.

Reviewed by Jim VanArsdale

** The Innovative Educator ** http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/ Rating:
 * Purpose: ** This blog was created by Lisa Nielson to share information, ideas, and resources with other educators. She uses this blog to create a community of innovative teachers enabling them to share innovations in the education of students.
 * Resources: **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Nielson’s blog has a variety of information pertaining to the education of children. The blog is supported by social network, wiki, and Twitter feed. Nielson states that this helps to reinforce its content.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Evaluation: **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;">The blog has very useful information. It is professionally done with a variety of contributors due to the tools used to reinforce the accuracy of the content.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Reviewed by: James Cooke

2¢ Worth [] ====<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; msothemecolor: text1;">**Purpose:** David Warlick created this blog as a resource for educators to explore the newest advances in teaching. His goal is to pose questions that will challenge his readers. ==== ==== <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"> **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Resources: **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Warlick shares his current thoughts on education with his readers. The title of the blog sums up its contents perfectly - it is Warlick's "2 cents worth". Also included on his page are a podcast and photos of the places he has visited. His posts appear to receive a lot of comments, creating an interesting dialogue. ==== ==== <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"> **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Evaluation: **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;">This blog offers an interesting perspective on many of the latest ideas in education. Since it is a blog made up of Warlick's latest thoughts, the information can be quite random, but usually quite interesting to read. The design of the website is very nice. If you are looking for interesting reading on education, this is a great blog. Unfortunately, it is not necessarily the most useful as a resource site. ==== <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; msothemecolor: text1; text-align: center;"> Rating: <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1; msothemecolor: text1;"> Reviewed by Fallon Bassin