Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
LARRY FERLAZZO’S WEBSITES OF THE DAY
Cool Video: “This Amazing School Bag Doubles As A Desk For Students In Rural India”
Dan Pink shared an article in Business Insider about a great project, This Amazing School Bag Doubles As A Desk For Students In Rural India. Here’s a video about it:
Here’s The Outline My Theory Of Knowledge Students Will Be Using For Their Essay
There have been lots of changes in IB Theory of Knowledge classes this year, and I’ve written a lot about them. My students are now finishing up the year writing “practice” essays — IB Diploma candidates won’t receive the official writing prompts from IB until September 1st, so they won’t be able to start on the ones they’ll be submitting to IB until that time. It doesn’t appear to me that the Es
Geography Instagram Videos By English Language Learners
I’ve previously posted about my plans (including student instructions) to have students in all my classes create different forms of Instagram videos as part of their finals (see Using Instagram, Bloom’s Taxonomy & Student Interest As A Fun Part Of A Semester Final). It’s just the latest experiment that I’m trying-out this year using Vine or Instagram (see The Best Resources For Learning To Use
May’s Best Tweets – Part Four
Every month I make a few short lists highlighting my choices of the best resources I 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 post. If you don’t use Twitter, you can
More Memorial Day Resources
Here are new additions to The Best Websites For Learning About Memorial Day: Asleep In Dress Blues: Music For Memorial Day is from NPR. Congress To Award Highest Honor To Army’s Only Latino Unit is also from NPR. Celebrating Memorial Day and Looking Ahead is from The New York Times Learning Network. Bedrooms of the Fallen: Honoring the Casualties of War is a photo gallery from TIME. Presidential
YESTERDAY
“Ways To Develop A Teacher – School Counselor Partnership”
Ways To Develop A Teacher – School Counselor Partnership is my latest post at Education Week Teacher. Today’s post features suggestions from three exceptional educators on how to solidify the teacher/counselor partnership: Dean Vogel, counselor, teacher and President of the California Teachers Association (I am a proud member of CTA); Leticia Gallardo, who works at the school where I teach and who
Infographic: “What Are The Hardest Languages to Learn?”
Explore more visuals like this one on the web’s largest information design community – Visually.
MAY 22
This Is One Of The Best Pieces I’ve Read On Teacher Evaluation: “The Problem with Outcome-Oriented Evaluations”
Thanks to Jack Schneider, I learned about a post by Ben Spielberg titled The Problem with Outcome-Oriented Evaluations. It’s a great piece on teacher evaluation, and reflects important points that are seldom raised in discussions on the topic. He described the value of evaluating inputs, as opposed to outputs. In other words, most teacher evaluation discussion is focused on measuring student outco
More Resources On The Kidnapping In Nigeria
Here are new additions to The Best Resources On The Kidnapped School Girls In Nigeria: 9 questions about Nigeria you were too embarrassed to ask is from Vox. Nigerian teachers protest over kidnapped schoolgirls is from The BBC. U.S. Sends Troops to Chad to Aid Hunt for Nigerian Schoolgirls is from The New York Times and includes a good video. Boko Haram Attacks, Kidnapped Girls Prompt Nigeria’s T
Video: A New Version Of “I’m Just A Bill” That’s More Cynical & More Accurate
Who’s not familiar with the famous Schoolhouse Rock video, I’m Just A Bill? Just in case, though, it’s the second video embedded in this post. The first video is an updated version by Vox that is more cynical and more accurate (I’m not sure of that one will show-up in an RSS Reader).
A Must-Read & A Must-Watch: Ta-Nehisi Coates On “The Case for Reparations”
You may have already heard about, or read, Ta-Nehisi Coates’ article in The Atlantic titled “The Case for Reparations.” It’s an amazing article, and Bill Moyers just aired an interview with him about it, which I’ve embedded below: In addition, Moyers posted These Eight Charts Show Why Racial Equality Is a Myth in America on his site. You might also find The New Republic’s piece, Get Ready for a
Resources On Ending The Year Strong
I’ve got a nice collection of resources called The Best Ideas On How To Finish The School Year Strong…. Readers might find it useful.
Infographic: “Many Languages One America”
I’m adding this infographic to The Best “Language Maps”: Please include attribution FreePeopleSearch.org with graphic. , an infographic from FreePeopleSearch.org
MAY 21
Research Studies Of The Week
I often write about research studies from various fields and how they can be applied to the classroom. I write individual posts about ones that I think are especially significant, and will continue to do so. However, so many studies are published that it’s hard to keep up. So I’ve started writing a “round-up” of some of them each week or every other week as a regular feature. By the way, you mi
Flag Day Resources
June 14th is celebrated as Flag Day in the United States. You might be interested in The Best Sites For Learning About Flag Day.
Father’s Day Resources
Father’s Day is on the third Sunday of June, and you might be interested in The Best Father’s Day Sites. Additional suggestions are always welcome…
The Best Resources Discussing The Importance Of Art In Education — Help Me Find More
Michelle Obama highlighted the importance of art education yesterday, I’m working with one of our art teachers on a joint ESL/art activity this week, and I have an upcoming column on the topic over at Education Week. All these events combined to make me think it was time for a “Best” list. However, I’m not that sure what to include. So, I’m starting off with a few links and hope that readers will
“What Are the Best Ways for Teachers to Work With School Counselors?”
What Are the Best Ways for Teachers to Work With School Counselors? is the latest question of the week at my Education Week Teacher column. Feel free to leave responses there or here….
How We Can Develop a Culture of Success in Schools Is Topic Of My New BAM! Radio Program
What Can We Do to Develop a Culture of Success in Schools? is the title of my latest BAM! Radio program. Heather Wolpert-Gawron, Chris Lehmann, and I have a ten minute conversation about the topic. Look for their written contributions in a future post at my Ed Week blog.
MAY 20
Around The Web In ESL/EFL/ELL — Gold Mine Included!
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: I’m starting off with a goldmine. Check out this tweet and go the link — you won’t regret it: Stanford Ed. School releases trove of #ELL resources online that were previously used for teacher training http://t.co/CA6VJVb5R
Even More World Cup Resources
Here are even more additions to The Best Sites For Learning About The 2014 World Cup In Brazil: Soccer Fever: Learning About the World Cup in Brazil is from The New York Times Learning Network. The Newest #RioProblem: Olympic Sailing Events to Take Place In Polluted Dump is from The Atlantic. World Cup 2014: technology set for striking role in tournament is from The guardian. This Brazilian graf
More Great Commencement Speeches
Here are some new additions to The Best Commencement Speeches: Charlie Day’s Commencement Speech Is the Only One You Need to Hear is from Slate. What We Learned From The Best Commencement Speeches Ever is from NPR and includes a data base of 300 of them. The Greatest Commencement Speech Ever is from The Washington Post.
MAY 19
The Best Commentaries On The 60th Anniversary Of Brown vs. Board Of Education
Boy oh boy, have there been a lot of commentaries published about the recent 60th anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education. I’ve been less than impressed by most. Here are the ones I thought were particularly useful (note that I linked to some of them in a recent “round-up” of ed policy posts): Five myths about Brown v. Board of Education is from The Washington Post. Sixty Years After Brown V.
May’s Infographics & Interactives Galore – Part Three
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
Learn About Synonyms & The World Cup In My Latest NY Times Post For ELLs
Learn about synonyms and the World Cup in my latest New York Times post for English Language Learners. I’m adding it to The Best Sites For Learning About The 2014 World Cup In Brazil. You can see all my previous 40 NY Times posts here.
MAY 18
This Week’s Best Posts & Articles On Education Policy Issues
Here are a few relatively recent useful posts on educational policy issues: 60 years later, desegregation of schools not done is from the Associated Press, as is Segregation gains ground 60 years after Brown. How to help students of color, 60 years after historic Brown v. Board ruling appeared in The Washington Post. Brown v. Board at 60: Why Have We Been So Disappointed? What Have We Learned? is
Video: “We are one World Cup anthem with subtitles”
Thanks to David Deubelbeiss for subtitling this video that I’m adding to The Best Sites For Learning About The 2014 World Cup In Brazil. By the way, look for my New York Times post tomorrow, which is also on the World Cup… We are one World Cup anthem with subtitles from David Deubelbeiss on Vimeo.
Book Excerpt: “Letting Go of the Punish, Behave, Reward Cycle”
I’m lucky today to publish an excerpt from a top-notch book, Passionate Learners: Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students, by Pernille Ripp. I’ve referred readers to Pernille’s blog a number of times over the past few years. Pernille is a 5th grade teacher in Middleton, Wisconsin where she gets to inspire students to take control of their learning journey on a daily basis. She is also the crea
‘Help Students Be Organized By Being Organized Yourself’
‘Help Students Be Organized By Being Organized Yourself’ is Part Two in my Ed Week series on classroom organization. This post highlights the thoughts of two teachers — Debbie Diller and Leslie Blauman — as well as comments from readers. You might also be interested in Part One. Here are excerpts from today’s post:
New York 9/11 Museum Opens — Here Are Related Resources
President Obama spoke at the opening of the New York City 9/11 Museum, and it’s opening to the public this week. Here are some related resources I’m adding to my massive list, The Best Sites To Help Teach About 9/11: Here’s a photo gallery of the museum from the Boston Globe. The New York Times has several multimedia features: Obama Dedicates 9/11 Memorial Museum At 9/11 Museum Dedication, Remem
TED-Ed Video: “What Is The World Wide Web?”
TED-ED has a new video (and accompanying lesson) on “What Is The World Wide Web?” I’m adding it to The Best Sites To Learn About The Internet.
MAY 17
“Quill” Could Be A Very Useful Tool For Reinforcing Grammar Concepts
Thanks to Richard Byrne, I recently learned about Quill. It provides well-done interactive exercises to reinforce grammar exercises and the real advantage is that you can create virtual classrooms to track student progress. And, it’s free. I’m adding it to The Best Sites For Grammar Practice and to The Best Sites That Students Can Use Independently And Let Teachers Check On Progress. Here’s a vid
Infographic: How Long Will Our Natural Resources Last?
I’m adding this infographic to The Best Interactives Showing How Long Our Non-Renewables Will Last: Explore more visuals like this one on the web’s largest information design community – Visually.