MS Classroom resources
For Students
Academic
Blackboard: The class will be using Blackboard throughout the school year. Students can access assignments, grades, and other classroom information using this site. http://www.blackboard.com/
Interactive Learning Sites: This is an excellent resource for students to use to review and learn material from all different time periods throughout history. This website allows students to engage in a wide variety of learning activities.
http://interactivesites.weebly.com/social-studies.html
Glencoe Textbook Company: This is a great resource for students to use to access their online textbooks, take online quizzes, and find additional support. http://glencoe.com/sites/illinois/student/socialstudies/index.html
Career
Career Cruising: This website allows students the opportunity to explore different career paths and learn the steps needed to reach those careers. http://public.careercruising.com/en/
Education Planner: This is a great resource for students to use to help in discovering different types of careers and the steps to take when searching and applying for schools in the future.
http://www.educationplanner.org/students/index.shtml
Technology
Digital Citizenship Using Technology Appropriately: This is a great site for students to learn the proper way to use technology and provides additonal resources students can use when working with technology.
http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/Home_Page.html
Social/Emotional
Kid’s Against Bullying: An engaging and informative website that helps students understand bullying and what they can do to prevent bullying from occurring in their school.
http://www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.org/kab/
Facts For Teens Conflict Resolution: This is a great read and tool for students to use when dealing with conflicts. The article provides students with the steps to take to resolve conflicts and other helpful resources.
http://herkimercounty.org/content/Documents/File/124.PDF
Community Resources
Village of Rantoul Parks and Recreation: This website provides information of upcoming events and activities those living in Rantoul, IL can participate in. http://www.village.rantoul.il.us/index.aspx?NID=279
Village of Rantoul Youth Center: Here you can browse different activities and programs your child has the opportunity to participate in.
http://www.village.rantoul.il.us/index.aspx?NID=293
University of Illinois General Events Calendar: This website provides and overview of all events at the University of Illinois.
http://illinois.edu/calendar/list/7
For Parents
Academic:
U.S. Department of Education: A great website that provides parents with tips and information regarding all aspects of their child’s education. http://www2.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/partnership-tips.html
NEA Helping Your Child Do Well In School: A great tool parents can use to help their child succeed academically. This website provides information regarding ways parents can engage their child’s learning at home and in school.
http://www.nea.org/home/59842.htm
Blackboard: The class will be using Blackboard throughout the school year. Parents can access assignments, grades, other classroom information, and updates using this website.
http://www.blackboard.com/
Social/Emotional
Edutopia: This is a beneficial website for parents to understand the social and emotional learning of their child. This website provides strategies for at home and at school parents can use to better understand and help their child.
http://www.edutopia.org/social-emotional-learning-parent-resources
Parent Toolkit: An excellent resource for parents with children of all ages. This website provides parents with information and help regarding all aspects of their child’s life including academics, health and wellness, social and emotional development, and much more.
http://www.parenttoolkit.com/index.cfm?objectid=89070AF0-3865-11E4-8D8E0050569A5318
Community Resources
Village of Rantoul Parks and Recreation: This website provides information of upcoming events and activities those living in Rantoul, IL can participate in. http://www.village.rantoul.il.us/index.aspx?NID=279
Village of Rantoul Youth Center: Here you can browse different activities and programs your child has the opportunity to participate in.
http://www.village.rantoul.il.us/index.aspx?NID=293
University of Illinois General Events Calendar: This website provides and overview of all events at the University of Illinois.
http://illinois.edu/calendar/list/7
Rationale
The academic resources I chose to provide students with will aid in their overall academic growth. My classroom will be using the Blackboard website, and this will provide students with all of the information and tools they need to be successful in my classroom. I think this tool will help students stay organize and always have access to important information. The Interactive Learning Site is a great resource for students to continue their learning at home. The website includes a wide variety of topics and provides many different learning activities students can engage in. Because all students learn differently, I think this website is a great tool to help students with all different learning styles. According to Cushman and Rogers' text Fires in the Middle School Bathroom, kids wish to see teachers use different learning strategies and appeal to all different learners (Cushman& Rogers, 124). I also provided the link to the online textbook because it will ensure that students always have access to their textbook, even if they forgot it at school. The website is also a great tool for students to review material.
The two websites I chose to help students with career planning offers students a variety of support when discovering what it is they are interested in. The resources not only provide students with different career paths, but the websites also supply students with the steps needed to reach those careers. According to Cushman and Rogers, students want their teachers to help prepare them for their high school years and future (Cushman & Rogers, 179). I think it is important as a teacher to do everything I can to help my students prepare for their future. By providing these websites, I think I am putting my students at an advantage. They are given tools to give them a jump-start.
Because we are now living in a world consumed with technology and most students are more knowledgeable than their teachers when it comes to technology, I think it is important to provide my students with a resource that shows them how to properly use the technology they have access to. Students need to take responsibility for what they are doing online and how they are using technology. The Digital Citizenship website will help my students learn the proper way to use technology.
To help my students socially and emotionally grow, I wanted to provide resources that I know would impact their schooling experience. Unfortunately, bullying is present in most schools. Emmer and Evertson explain in their text, Classroom Management for Middle and High School Teachers that teaching students social skills is just one of the many strategies students can learn to reduce the presence of bullying (Emmer &Evertson 191). The website I have provided gives students examples of what bullying is and ways they can help prevent bullying from occurring. I think it is important students be aware and informed on the consequences of bullying and how they can make their school a better place for all. In chapter 9 of Emmer and Evertson’s text, the authors focus on the importance of communication within the classroom. Because communicating is key for a successful classroom environment, I provided my students with a website that focuses on how to positively resolve conflicts. During middle school, adolescents experience many relationship changes. The resource provided can help my students through this difficult stage and teach them how to effectively communicate and resolve problems.
The websites I provided parents include numerous amounts of information and tips that can help parents help their students academically. It is important for parents to be involved in their child’s schooling and be present to help them with work at home. In Cushman and Roger’s text, many students explained their feelings towards parents’ involvement in schooling. One student wrote, “Parents should care a little more, because a lot of kids are feeling that their parents aren’t trying to help them in school” (Cushman & Rogers 152). Because many students want their parents help, these websites can provided parents with information on ways to help their students grow. I also provided the link to the class’s Blackboard site because I think it is important for parents to have access to what their children are learning and working on in school.
While being involved in a child’s schooling is important, it is just as important for parents to be aware and understand their child’s social and emotional development. In order to help their child succeeded academically, parents need to be present for all other aspects of their child’s life. The two websites I provided gives parents tools and tips on how to help their young teens through the challenges of adolescents. Both websites focus on strategies parents can use at home and how parents can be more involved with their child’s schooling as well. If parents show involvement in their child’s development, the child will feel supported and will be successful both in school and life.
I believe that it is important for both parents and students to be actively involved in their school and community. Participating in activities will help build relationships with peers and supply both parents and students with great memories. Cushman and Rogers explain that it is important for teachers to reach out to parents and help parents become active in the community. Parent involvement will help students to stay on the right track and succeeded socially and academically. Because involvement is important, I provided both Rantoul’s as well as the University of Illinois' websites to provided parents with information on upcoming events and programs. These websites can help parents find different activities both themselves and their children can participate in.
Academic
Blackboard: The class will be using Blackboard throughout the school year. Students can access assignments, grades, and other classroom information using this site. http://www.blackboard.com/
Interactive Learning Sites: This is an excellent resource for students to use to review and learn material from all different time periods throughout history. This website allows students to engage in a wide variety of learning activities.
http://interactivesites.weebly.com/social-studies.html
Glencoe Textbook Company: This is a great resource for students to use to access their online textbooks, take online quizzes, and find additional support. http://glencoe.com/sites/illinois/student/socialstudies/index.html
Career
Career Cruising: This website allows students the opportunity to explore different career paths and learn the steps needed to reach those careers. http://public.careercruising.com/en/
Education Planner: This is a great resource for students to use to help in discovering different types of careers and the steps to take when searching and applying for schools in the future.
http://www.educationplanner.org/students/index.shtml
Technology
Digital Citizenship Using Technology Appropriately: This is a great site for students to learn the proper way to use technology and provides additonal resources students can use when working with technology.
http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/Home_Page.html
Social/Emotional
Kid’s Against Bullying: An engaging and informative website that helps students understand bullying and what they can do to prevent bullying from occurring in their school.
http://www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.org/kab/
Facts For Teens Conflict Resolution: This is a great read and tool for students to use when dealing with conflicts. The article provides students with the steps to take to resolve conflicts and other helpful resources.
http://herkimercounty.org/content/Documents/File/124.PDF
Community Resources
Village of Rantoul Parks and Recreation: This website provides information of upcoming events and activities those living in Rantoul, IL can participate in. http://www.village.rantoul.il.us/index.aspx?NID=279
Village of Rantoul Youth Center: Here you can browse different activities and programs your child has the opportunity to participate in.
http://www.village.rantoul.il.us/index.aspx?NID=293
University of Illinois General Events Calendar: This website provides and overview of all events at the University of Illinois.
http://illinois.edu/calendar/list/7
For Parents
Academic:
U.S. Department of Education: A great website that provides parents with tips and information regarding all aspects of their child’s education. http://www2.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/partnership-tips.html
NEA Helping Your Child Do Well In School: A great tool parents can use to help their child succeed academically. This website provides information regarding ways parents can engage their child’s learning at home and in school.
http://www.nea.org/home/59842.htm
Blackboard: The class will be using Blackboard throughout the school year. Parents can access assignments, grades, other classroom information, and updates using this website.
http://www.blackboard.com/
Social/Emotional
Edutopia: This is a beneficial website for parents to understand the social and emotional learning of their child. This website provides strategies for at home and at school parents can use to better understand and help their child.
http://www.edutopia.org/social-emotional-learning-parent-resources
Parent Toolkit: An excellent resource for parents with children of all ages. This website provides parents with information and help regarding all aspects of their child’s life including academics, health and wellness, social and emotional development, and much more.
http://www.parenttoolkit.com/index.cfm?objectid=89070AF0-3865-11E4-8D8E0050569A5318
Community Resources
Village of Rantoul Parks and Recreation: This website provides information of upcoming events and activities those living in Rantoul, IL can participate in. http://www.village.rantoul.il.us/index.aspx?NID=279
Village of Rantoul Youth Center: Here you can browse different activities and programs your child has the opportunity to participate in.
http://www.village.rantoul.il.us/index.aspx?NID=293
University of Illinois General Events Calendar: This website provides and overview of all events at the University of Illinois.
http://illinois.edu/calendar/list/7
Rationale
The academic resources I chose to provide students with will aid in their overall academic growth. My classroom will be using the Blackboard website, and this will provide students with all of the information and tools they need to be successful in my classroom. I think this tool will help students stay organize and always have access to important information. The Interactive Learning Site is a great resource for students to continue their learning at home. The website includes a wide variety of topics and provides many different learning activities students can engage in. Because all students learn differently, I think this website is a great tool to help students with all different learning styles. According to Cushman and Rogers' text Fires in the Middle School Bathroom, kids wish to see teachers use different learning strategies and appeal to all different learners (Cushman& Rogers, 124). I also provided the link to the online textbook because it will ensure that students always have access to their textbook, even if they forgot it at school. The website is also a great tool for students to review material.
The two websites I chose to help students with career planning offers students a variety of support when discovering what it is they are interested in. The resources not only provide students with different career paths, but the websites also supply students with the steps needed to reach those careers. According to Cushman and Rogers, students want their teachers to help prepare them for their high school years and future (Cushman & Rogers, 179). I think it is important as a teacher to do everything I can to help my students prepare for their future. By providing these websites, I think I am putting my students at an advantage. They are given tools to give them a jump-start.
Because we are now living in a world consumed with technology and most students are more knowledgeable than their teachers when it comes to technology, I think it is important to provide my students with a resource that shows them how to properly use the technology they have access to. Students need to take responsibility for what they are doing online and how they are using technology. The Digital Citizenship website will help my students learn the proper way to use technology.
To help my students socially and emotionally grow, I wanted to provide resources that I know would impact their schooling experience. Unfortunately, bullying is present in most schools. Emmer and Evertson explain in their text, Classroom Management for Middle and High School Teachers that teaching students social skills is just one of the many strategies students can learn to reduce the presence of bullying (Emmer &Evertson 191). The website I have provided gives students examples of what bullying is and ways they can help prevent bullying from occurring. I think it is important students be aware and informed on the consequences of bullying and how they can make their school a better place for all. In chapter 9 of Emmer and Evertson’s text, the authors focus on the importance of communication within the classroom. Because communicating is key for a successful classroom environment, I provided my students with a website that focuses on how to positively resolve conflicts. During middle school, adolescents experience many relationship changes. The resource provided can help my students through this difficult stage and teach them how to effectively communicate and resolve problems.
The websites I provided parents include numerous amounts of information and tips that can help parents help their students academically. It is important for parents to be involved in their child’s schooling and be present to help them with work at home. In Cushman and Roger’s text, many students explained their feelings towards parents’ involvement in schooling. One student wrote, “Parents should care a little more, because a lot of kids are feeling that their parents aren’t trying to help them in school” (Cushman & Rogers 152). Because many students want their parents help, these websites can provided parents with information on ways to help their students grow. I also provided the link to the class’s Blackboard site because I think it is important for parents to have access to what their children are learning and working on in school.
While being involved in a child’s schooling is important, it is just as important for parents to be aware and understand their child’s social and emotional development. In order to help their child succeeded academically, parents need to be present for all other aspects of their child’s life. The two websites I provided gives parents tools and tips on how to help their young teens through the challenges of adolescents. Both websites focus on strategies parents can use at home and how parents can be more involved with their child’s schooling as well. If parents show involvement in their child’s development, the child will feel supported and will be successful both in school and life.
I believe that it is important for both parents and students to be actively involved in their school and community. Participating in activities will help build relationships with peers and supply both parents and students with great memories. Cushman and Rogers explain that it is important for teachers to reach out to parents and help parents become active in the community. Parent involvement will help students to stay on the right track and succeeded socially and academically. Because involvement is important, I provided both Rantoul’s as well as the University of Illinois' websites to provided parents with information on upcoming events and programs. These websites can help parents find different activities both themselves and their children can participate in.