Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
LARRY FERLAZZO’S WEBSITES OF THE DAY
A Collection Of Tornado Videos
I’m adding these videos to The Best Resources For Learning About Tornadoes:
A Collection Of Hurricane Videos
Here are some videos I’m adding to The Best Sites For Learning About Hurricanes:
Helping Students Learn About Their Names
I’ve just updated The Best Places For Students To Learn About…Their Names. More suggestions are welcome…
This “Waiting Game” Video From Sesame Street Is PERFECT Follow-Up To Learning About The Marshmallow Test
I’ve written extensively in my books and in this blog about the lessons I use with students to help them want to develop more self-control. And I’ve also shared new videos from Sesame Street highlighting their emphasis on teaching self-control, grit, and respect this season. My high school students love the Sesame Street videos, which I use as a short “refresher” during the year after we do our in
Around The Web In ESL/EFL/ELL
I’ve started a somewhat regular feature where I share a few posts and resources from around the Web related to ESL/EFL or to language in general that have caught my attention: Understanding Language from Stanford has just released a number of resources for ELLs and the Math Common Core Standards. I’m adding them to The Best Resources For Learning About Common Core Standards & English Langu
Google To Start Using Our Words & Faces In Ads — Here’s How To Opt Out
Google has announced it will be starting to use the faces and words of users in advertisements. Here’s an excerpt from a New York Times article about it: When the new ad policy goes live on Nov. 11, Google will be able to show what the company calls shared endorsements on Google sites and across the Web, on the more than two million sites in Google’s display advertising network, which are viewed
New Project-Based Learning Resources
My newest “question-of-the-week” at my Education Week Teacher column is “What’s Your Best Advice On Doing Project-Based Learning?” So it’s timely to make a few additions to The Best Sites For Cooperative Learning Ideas: Essentials For Project Based Learning is from The Buck Institute. PBL For English Learners is also from The Buck Institute.
More On Malala
Here are new additions to The Best Resources On Malala Yousafzai: The victory of Malala Yousafzai is from Salon. Why Malala should have won the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize is by Valerie Strauss at The Washington Post. Pakistani Girl, a Global Heroine After an Attack, Has Critics at Home is from The New York Times. Malala Yousafzai meets with the Obamas in the Oval Office is from The Washington Post. H
Nice Citizenship Video
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has released this video of new citizens taking the rather obscure “Oath of Allegiance” at ceremonies across the United States. I’m adding it to The Best Websites For Learning About Civic Participation & Citizenship.
A Collection Of Good Earthquake Videos
Our ninth-grade English classes are studying a unit on Natural Disasters, and this week we’ve been focusing on earthquakes. Here are new videos I’m adding to The Best Sites For Learning About Earthquakes (some may be viewable in an RSS Readers, others not): Deadliest Earthquakes is a video from PBS. Here’s a video collection from ABC News. Here’s a video collection from the BBC.
Great Critical Infographic On Christopher Columbus
Columbus Day in the United States is coming up, and here’s a great critical infographic on him from The Oatmeal. I’m adding it to The Best Online Resources About Christopher Columbus.
U.N. Chemical Weapons Group Wins Nobel Peace Prize
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has been awarded the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize. It was thought that Malala Yousafzai might win (see The Best Resources On Malala Yousafzai), but I don’t think one can argue with the final decision. You can learn more at The Best Resources For Learning About Chemical Weapons. I’ve just updated The Best Sites To Learn About The Nobel Peace Prize
OCT 10
This Week’s “Round-Up” Of Good Education Policy Posts & Articles
Here are some recently good posts and articles on education policy issues: Top Ten Reasons Not to Contract With Teach For America is from John Wilson at Education Week. I’m adding it to The Best Posts & Articles Raising Concerns About Teach For America. Charter Schools and the Future of Public Education is by Stan Karp at Rethinking Schools. I’m adding it to The Best Posts & Articles Anal
World Food Day Resources
World Food Day is October 16th. You might find The Best Sites To Learn About World Food Day useful….
OCT 09
The Best Resources For Understanding The Debt Ceiling
We don’t have much time until the United States runs up against the federal debt ceiling. Here are a few related resources that might be useful (you might also be interested in The Best Resources To Help Understand The Federal Government Shutdown): The Associated Press has a short video. Interactive | Debt Ceiling 101: A look at the nation’s balance sheet What’s up with the debt ceiling? is a CNN
“LSO Play” Is A Mind-Blowing Way For Students To Learn About Orchestras & Musical Instruments
LSO Play is an interactive experience with the London Symphony Orchestra. Students can learn about orchestras and musical instruments, but it’s hard to explain the many different aspects of the site. Just check it out — you won’t be disappointed!
Do You Teach An English Class Outside The U.S. & Want To Have Your Students Answer Our Questions About Your Country?
One of the variety of classes I teach every year is a Geography course for Beginning and Intermediate students. As we study different countries and regions, my students are videotaping questions they have and sharing them with English classes in those areas of the world. Students in both of our classes get experience with an authentic audience, and my students generate more geography knowledge. O
The Best Resources On Malala Yousafzai
The winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize will be announced on Friday, and Malal Yousafzai, the youngest nominee ever, is considered by many to be the frontrunner. Here are a number of useful resources on her (you also might be interested in The Best Sites To Learn About The Nobel Peace Prize): You can see a lesson on her for English Language Learners that I posted in The New York Times. Last n
“What’s Your Best Advice On Doing Project-Based Learning?”
What’s Your Best Advice On Doing Project-Based Learning? is the latest “question of the week” at my Education Week Teacher column. Feel free to leave your responses here or there…..
Resources On The Hajj
Millions of Muslims make the annual pilgrimage, called the Hajj, to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar based on the motion of the moon, the time of the Hajj is different time each year in terms of the Gregorian calendar. In 2013, it takes place between October 13-18. You might be interested in The Best Sites To Learn And Teach About The Hajj.
Higgs Boson Resources
The scientists who first suggested there was a Higgs Boson, also know as the “God Particle,” were just awarded the Nobel Prize. You might be interested in The Best Resources For Learning About Higgs Boson, The “God Particle.”
OCT 08
October’s (2013) Best Tweets — Part Two
Every month I make a few short lists highlighting my choices of the best resources I shared through (and learned from) Twitter, but didn’t necessarily include them in posts here on my blog. I’ve already shared in earlier posts several new resources I found on Twitter — and where I gave credit to those from whom I learned about them. Those are not included again in this post. If you don’t use Twit
Fun Theory Of Knowledge Lesson To Examine The Role Of Gestures In Language
Today, in our IB Theory of Knowledge class, students had to build towers with two sheets of paper, a 10 inch piece of tape, ten paper clips, and a scissors — without talking, and complete it in twenty minutes. We were studying what ideas could — and couldn’t — be communicated with gestures. Afterword, students discussed what ideas were easy or hard to communicate, and if complex ideas required us
“The 21 Luckiest People In The Entire World” Is A Great GIF Collection For ELLs
The 21 Luckiest People In The Entire World is a pretty amazing GIF collection from BuzzFeed. Show these to English Language Learners and have them describe what they are watching, perhaps alternating with the Back-To-The-Screen exercise I use with videos (read about it here). I guarantee that you’ll have a highly-engaging lesson…
Tell The NY Times How You Feel About “Teaching To The Test”
The New York Times will be publishing a “Sunday Dialogue” this…Sunday on the idea of “teaching to the test.” Responses must be submitted by this Thursday. You can read the Invitation to a Dialogue: Don’t Teach to the Test here. You might also be interested in The Best Posts On How To Prepare For Standardized Tests (And Why They’re Bad).
The Best Resources On The Importance Of Saying “I’m Sorry”
I’ve written several posts, and discussed in my books, the importance of saying “I’m sorry” to students. I just discovered another useful related article, and thought readers might find it helpful if I brought all of those posts together. Here are my past posts on the topic: More On Saying “I’m Sorry” To Students The Importance Of Saying “I’m Sorry” To Students “But Teachers Never Apologize” Quot
OCT 07
Special Edition Of “Links I Should Have Posted About, But Didn’t” — October
(Usually, I just post a weekly version of this regular feature. However, sometimes I post an extra “Special Edition” when I have more good links than usual) I have a huge backlog of resources that I’ve been planning to post about in this blog but, just because of time constraints, have not gotten around to doing. Instead of letting that backlog grow bigger, I regularly grab a few and list them he
Create “Playlists” Of Educational Videos, Websites & Google Docs With HippoCampus
I’ve previously posted about HippoCampus a number of times, and it’s on several “The Best…” lists. It has pretty extensive video collections in a number of subjects, and I’ve often used their U.S. History resources. I’ve just learned from Beth Pickett, a HippoCampus staff member, that it now lets teachers easily create “playlists.” Here’s what she wrote me: OER website HippoCampus.org also allows
Learn About Punctuation Through Soccer
Learn about punctuation through soccer in my latest New York Times post for English Language Learners. It includes a student interactive and teaching ideas. You can see all my New York Times posts for ELLs here.
OCT 06
Delicious Unveils New Redesign
I continue to be a fan and regular user of Delicious as a place to save and organize links (though I actually bookmark sites with Diigo, who then a automatically forwards them to Delicious — it’s always good to have a back-up). Delicious has just unveiled a new redesign. You can read about it at TechCrunch and watch a video here (though I’m not sure if it will show up in an RSS Reader):
Two Helpful Resources On Social Emotional Learning
Here are two new helpful resources I’m adding to The Best Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Resources: Mind in The Making has developed a very useful list of children’s books divided up by the different SEL skills that are taught through them. They would be great for younger students and for English Language Learners. Teaching the Whole Child: Instructional Practices That Support Social-Emotional Le
Another “Round-Up” Of Good Posts On Education Policy Issues
Boy, good posts and articles on education policy issues have been coming in fast and furious. Here’s the latest “round-up”: Brown signs bill delaying exams despite Duncan’s threat is from Ed Source. Are The Startup Fellas Hellbent On Destroying Education Even Literate? is from The Awl. Paying Economists by Hair Color? Thoughts on Masters Degrees & Teacher Compensation by Bruce Baker is one of
More Resources On Learning & The Brain
Photo Credit: Kai Schreiber via Compfight Here are some new additions to The Best Resources On “Brain-Based Learning”: Foundations of Professional Development is by Geoffrey Caine and Renate N. Caine. Strategies to Prevent the Neurotoxic Impact of School Stress is by Judy Willis. Which is Better? is by Eric Jensen.
This Week In Web 2.0
In yet another attempt to get at the enormous backlog I have of sites worth sharing, I’ve recently begin a regular feature called “The Week In Web 2.0.” It’ll be a short compilation of new decent sites that are worth noting, but maybe not necessarily worth a separate post and generally — though not always — not worthy of being on a “The Best…” list (let me know if you think I’m wrong in my assess
This Week’s “Links I Should Have Posted About, But Didn’t” – October
I have a huge backlog of resources that I’ve been planning to post about in this blog but, just because of time constraints, have not gotten around to doing. Instead of letting that backlog grow bigger, I regularly grab a few and list them here with a minimal description. It forces me to look through these older links, and help me organize them for my own use. I hope others will find them helpful
OCT 05
Supporting Resources For My 2013 K-12 Online Conference Keynote
I’ll be giving a keynote at the K-12 Online Conference, and here are supporting resources for my presentation. You’ll be able to view my keynote there in late October. The title of my presentation will be “Developing Leadership in Classrooms, Schools and Communities.” Here are supporting resources: Dancing Guy: Why teachers should ignore his advice The Best Resources For Doing A “One-Sentence Pro
“Writing Instruction & the Common Core – Part Three”
Writing Instruction & the Common Core – Part Three is my latest post over at Education Week Teacher. It’s the final post in my three-part series on writing and CCSS, and includes guest responses from Amy Benjamin and Alice Mercer.
Second Quote Of The Day: “David and Goliath”
I’ve previously posted about Malcolm Gladwell’s new book, David and Goliath. This morning, I was listening to an interview that Dan Pink did with Gladwell and, while he was talking about the battle between David and Goliath, he made an important point that’s known and used by community organizers, and is also something worth remembering by those of us fighting against many of the harmful efforts o
Video: “Sesame Street: Usher’s ABC Song”
I’m adding this fun video to The Best Sites For Learning About The Alphabet: Thanks to Alexander Russo for the tip.
Around The Web In ESL/EFL/ELL
I’ve started a somewhat regular feature where I share a few posts and resources from around the Web related to ESL/EFL or to language in general that have caught my attention: The Top 10 Reasons To Use Songs In The Classroom is by David Deubelbeiss. I’m adding it to The Best Music Websites For Learning English. How To Teach English Using Music is from English Lane. I’m adding it to the same list.
Quote Of The Day: “The Sham & Shame Of Best Practices”
Larry Cuban has just published an important post titled The Sham and Shame Of Best Practices. He discusses how the concept of “best practices” is adapted from the medical world, where it has also been criticized. Here’s a key paragraph where he describes an analysis done of the concept in health care: According to Groopman, experts who recommended “best practice” treatments (and their advice becam
October’s Infographics & Interactives Galore — Part One
There are just so many good infographics and interactives out there that I’ve begun a new semi-regular feature called “Infographics & Interactives Galore.” You can see others at A Collection Of “The Best…” Lists On Infographics and by searching “infographics” on this blog. I’ll still be publishing separate posts to individually highlight especially useful infographics and interactives, but you
OCT 04
See Where All Your Food Comes From With “Map Your Recipe”
As the site says: Map your Recipe does a simple thing: enter the ingredients of a recipe and it will show you where the vegetables that went into it were first domesticated. It’s pretty neat — you’re shown a world map with the original sources are identified. It could make for a nice geography lesson. Thanks to Google Maps Mania for the tip.
Halloween Resources
I’ve just updated The Best Websites For Learning About Halloween. Feel free to offer additional suggestions…
Infographic: “Twitter For Teachers”
I’m adding this infographic to The Best Resources For Beginning To Learn What Twitter Is All About: Twitter for Teachers
