Last Thursday, I came home from school to discover (much to
my dismay) that our Internet was not working. I’m assuming that stormy weather
late Wednesday into Thursday caused the issue. At first, it was just annoying,
then it was an inconvenience, and now it is definitely a hassle. Yes. Day six
and we are still without Internet. Because my roommates and I rent the
doublewide trailer that we live in (yep, it’s a classy place), we are not the
ones who handle things like Internet service. In fact, I have still yet to
figure out who our Internet provider is.
I am really not writing this to complain (I promise!), just
to relate my realization of how much I take advantage of Internet access. It’s
a big deal! There is so much I do on the Internet that I don’t really stop to
think about. Sending emails, checking facebook, searching for recipes, Skyping
with friends and family. All with the click of a few buttons. It’s amazing, really.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I needed to buy a plane ticket to go
home in May and I had to stop at a Panera to buy it (free wifi)! I needed to
access Dropbox and couldn’t. I got home after school today and realized that I
would need to wait until I was back at school to submit this blog post.
All this to say: I am reminded of how privileged I am to
have access to Internet. It’s something I take for granted that is really a
luxury.
There are a few websites that I normally spend quite a bit
of time on that I wanted to share (on the off chance that any of you hadn’t
heard of them):
Teachers Pay Teachers: This website is one of my absolute
favorites! A huge community of teachers that share resources…. anything from
craft project templates to math centers and science activities to phonics
worksheets. Not only is there a variety of subject matter posted, but also you
can find resources for any age group. As the name of the site implies, most of
the resources cost a few dollars to download; there are many free resources,
though (this is where I ‘shop’; with the ‘free’ filter on :) )
Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR): Many of my first
graders started the year barely knowing how to read. For any of you teachers of
younger elementary, I’ve found awesome research-based (free!) phonics centers
and small group activities on the Florida Center for Reading Research website. I’ve seen my first graders’ reading skills grow by leaps and bounds after some
basic phonics practice from this website!
Pinterest: Okay, don’t laugh. Everyone knows about
Pinterest. This one is a no-brainer, but I wanted to include it because, before
becoming a teacher, I saw Pinterest as just a waste of time. All my friends had
accounts, but I didn’t get one until about two years ago. If you don’t have an
account, you need to get one. There are so many creative people (teachers!) in
the world. I have found so many awesome craft projects and center ideas on
Pinterest. I love getting the insight of others in order to spice things up in
my classroom.
Those are just a few of my favorites, but I would love to
hear about any websites where you find good materials for the classroom!
Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteThat must be frustrating to have flaky internet at your home, but I am sure it makes you appreciate it more when it is working. Teachers Pay Teachers has been a huge help this year! Recently I have been really into these interactive science stations made by the Science Penguin. They cost like $5, but are well worth it because it offers a variety of skills for students to practice and it's very hands on! Thanks for your post!
Great post Elizabeth! We have had some issues throughout the year with our internet as well, and I totally understand what you mean. It is one of those things that you don't really understand the value of until you no longer have it. I also get what you mean about Pinterest and TPT: two resources that seem very simple, but actually have so much to offer. Great insights!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these great resources with the class. Your comments on the access to Internet made me think about those students and families that do not have this access. The digital divide is still a problem for some.
Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteI was just telling some teachers at my school this week how Pinterest is the best! FOR EVERYTHING! Some of them didn't get it, so I explained to them it is basically like a digital file cabinet, you can find lesson ideas, videos, and room ideas for your classroom AND post recipes and other interests for yourself. I personally have a board for each grade and I usually post links to example of each art project we do there. This way, each year if I forgot what a project looked like the year before I know exactly where to go find a picture.