UPDATES are Ongoing

Many posts are added to the pages listed at the top of this blog. For example, today's post on hurricanes can also be found on the Science page. SO.......check back often and use the pages or the search box (left column) to find what you are looking for on the blog.  Thank you for your continued suppo...

Read More

Using Fake Tweet Builder in Your Classroom

Thank you to history teacher Ken Halla for sharing this tool on his blog.  A colleague of his set up an assignment here using Fake Tweet Builder, asking his students what Stalin and Hitler would tweet to each other if Twitter existed back then.  You don't have to be a history teacher to take advantage of this terrific tool. For example, language arts teachers could use Fake Tweet Builder when students discuss various authors.&nb...

Read More

27 Sites with Information About Hurricanes

As I sit here on the first of two days off because of an impending hurricane named Sandy, I thought I create a post or two in case I lose power. (I'd rather lose TV, phone and Internet than power!) It seems surreal that in the New York area we are living through what people in Florida are used to: hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding etc. But the reality is that Sandy means business and the gusting winds happening right now are only a prelude of what's...

Read More

What's Your Blood Type?

The Blood Typing Game is an interactive activity where students try to detect the blood type of various patients. After choosing a patient, you are asked to use a syringe and take blood which you then put into three vials. Guessing the patient's blood type is the final step. The Blood Typing Game was the 2012 Winner of the Best Game Category by Swedish Learning Awards. Students will really enjoy this game, which was recommended to me by my colleague...

Read More

A Trusted Online Source: Encyclopedia of Life

The Encyclopedia of Life is a terrific online resource with "information and pictures of all species known to science". Search an animal's name and several tabs are made available, including the overview, details, outside resources on that topic, classifications and names for the animal and so much more. If you are a biology teacher, this is a site you should bookmark for your studen...

Read More

Refraction: A Math Game About Fractions

With support from University of Washington Center for Game Science, DARPA, Gates Foundation, NSF, Adobe, Microsoft and Intel, Refraction was created to teach fractions. According to the website, "In Refraction, the player must partition lasers in order to power spaceships containing various animals who have gotten stuck in space, as shown in the picture. These animal spaceships all require different fractions of the lasers, and the player is given several pieces that split and bend the lasers to reach the animals and satisfy these requirements". ...

Read More

10 Websites to Create Monsters and Creatures

With Halloween arriving next week, I thought it would be great to share some sites where students could create their own monsters and creatures. Teachers can turn the project into a creative writing experience by having the kids write stories about their monsters. You can find a huge listing of other holidays from September to June here on this blog. Thank you to my colleague Norma for telling me about the resources!Alien: Assembly Required-...

Read More

Have You Seen the Google Cultural Institute?

Currently showcasing 42 different exhibits online,  Google's Cultural Institute  is a treasure-trove of photos and videos which cover events over the last 100 years. The current list of exhibitions includes: World Wonders ProjectBringing to life the wonders of the modern and ancient world  Art ProjectThe world’s art at your fingertips  Yad VashemRemembering the Holocaust ...

Read More

Read Books For Free Online

We Give Books is a wonderful site which offers children the chance to read books online for free. Created by the Penguin Group and the Pearson Foundation, the books are divided into the following sections: Classics, Editor's Picks, Featured and New. Every Penguin or DK book read online helps a child receive a book through one of the literacy programs supported by the Pearson Foundation....

Read More

22 Great Places If You Teach Research Skills

If you are a teacher-librarian or media specialist, you are the one responsible for making sure students have learned the proper research skills. Since all students need to how to do research, why are school districts still cutting jobs for our position? Once kids get to middle and high school, they need to know how to do certain things tied to research, including a bibliography, website evaluation, searching techniques and so much more. Below you...

Read More

255,800+ FREE Resources: Share My Lesson

Looking for tons of resources, including lesson plans, discussions and other learning materials? Share My Lesson is expected to be the largest online resource for teachers in the U.S. The site is divided by age group, with K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 and special populations. Sections include a resource calendar, highlights and the latest resources posted. Once you join (FREE) you can upload materials to share with other teache...

Read More

Inspire Your Student Musicians

Usman Riaz is a 21 year old guitarist who taught himself how to play by watching his idols on YouTube. Preston Reed invented a percussive technique for the guitar and performs with Usman in this enjoyable vid...

Read More

Rutgers R.I.O.T. Rocks

Rutgers University has posted RIOT (Research Information Online Tutorial) to aid students and teachers with their research. The 5-part animated tutorial is interactive. Teacher-Librarians can use this to get students started on their research papers. Thank you Richard Byrne (Free Technology for Teachers) for posting this awesome resource for students and teache...

Read More

Award Your Students for Their Accomplishments

Class Badges is an online program which allows you award students custom made badges. Students create an account and teachers can award badges to student accounts when earned. Every kid enjoys being recognized for good work, don't they? At the moment you have to request an invite (I did it this afternoon and am waiting to hear from them...) Here's a sample of a badge I saw on their page which I would like to use with my library-media council mem...

Read More

If You're New to the Blog.....

If this is your first time her, welcome to "A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet". Here are some quick info-bits about the blog:Tabs at the top mark specific pages where information is constantly updated.Recently updated posts include:The 2012 Presidential Election- more resources addedeReader Books- added as a page (top) and updatedLIKE WHAT YOU SEE? Why not subscribe to this blog or follow me on Twitt...

Read More

Banned Websites Awareness Day

Wednesday, October 3, 2012 is a day where we recognize how Internet filtering is impacting our students' learning in school. I've already spoken about how we are blocked from everything in my school, including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, just to mention a few. Even when YouTube created an education link which filtered out objectionable videos, our school did not back down. Does your school district have excessive filtering of sites? As a media...

Read More

NJASL Video Says it All!

Here's a wonderful promotional video produced by the N.J. Association of School Librarians. (NJA...

Read More