Welcome to Vital Picks. In this section of Teacher's Corner we provide links to resources for a variety of subject areas and grade levels. If you have resources you would like to share with other teachers, we invite you to do so using our online Submission Form.
We also profile teachers who are recipients of our Vital Award for Educators. If you know of a teacher who deserves to be honored for the exceptional integration of technology in the classroom, please submit the online Nomination Form.
Vital Picks are archived at the end of each month. If you are looking for a profile previous to the current month you can access it through the archive link on the left menu. If you are looking for a profile in the current month scroll down to the date you want on this page.
September 6 – 10
"Our greatest natural resource is the minds of our children."
- Walt Disney
As you and your students settle into another school year, reading is sure to be a central component of each instructional day. We have identified some resources from the World Wide Web that will help and your students celebrate a love of reading every day of the year!
Start with a visit to the International Reading Association. This association is committed to promoting high levels of literacy throughout the world. They also have great resources for International Literacy Day. Another organization that supports world literacy is ProLiteracy. Visit their web site and you will find other great resources.
UNESCO first declared International Literacy Day in 1967. Visit their site to find great resources for education. Although their pages for International Literacy Day do not appear to have been updated from 2002, you will find great resources for your classroom!
Other resources for celebrating International Literacy Day can be found at Engender Health, the National Institute for Literacy, and the US Department of Education.
Finally, have a look at our efforts here in New Brunswick to read across the province! We’re confident similar programs exist in your province or state and urge you and your students to become involved! Similar efforts at the national level include Read Across Canada and Read Across America!
Of course, you will be looking for more specific reading resources throughout the year, so don’t forget to visit our Vital Resource Links!
Humor
A group of young children were sitting in a circle with their teacher. She was going around in turn asking them all questions.
"Davy, what noise does a cow make?"
"It goes moo."
"Alice, what noise does a cat make?"
"It goes meow."
"Jamie, what sound does a lamb make?"
"It goes baaa."
"Jennifer, what sound does a mouse make?"
"Errr.., it goes.. click!"
From: Absolutely Clean Jokes
August 30 – September 3
Acquire new knowledge whilst thinking over the old, and you may become a teacher of others.
- Confucius
With the first week of September here, schools are open and teaching is in full swing. At Vital Knowledge, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you continued success in meeting the educational needs of your students. Have a great school year!
If you regularly surf the Internet for resources you will probably be familiar with some of the following sites. The Internet is a virtual treasure chest full of great resources for the classroom teacher. The following are just some of the more popular sites. You may wish to bookmark them for easy access throughout the school year.
Discovery School has a multitude of great resources for parents, teachers, and students of all ages. Find lesson plans, teaching tools, units of instruction and much more!
ABC Teach contains resources for all subject areas. Find teaching extras, fun activities, forms, portfolios, basic skills resources and much more!
Ed Helper contains lesson plans, worksheets, web quests, and more! For all grades and subject areas. Many resources are free, but you must purchase a subscription for others.
The Lesson Plans Page has a variety of lesson plans for the classroom teacher. Broken down by subject and grade levels. Contains a searchable database. Similar resources can be found at A to Z Teacher's Stuff.
Education Place has resources for elementary and middle schoolteachers, students, and parents. Includes Reading/Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies Centers, Intervention, Professional Development, a searchable activity database, educational games, and textbook support.
Billy Bear's Playground is a wonderful site for children. Games, holiday resources, puzzles, storybooks, clip art and much more! Kid's Domain is also loaded with great resources for young children. Games, crafts, clipart, contests and more!
Looking for other great resources? We have only given a few samples of the many wonderful education sites on the World Wide Web. Visit our resource section for a much more extensive listing. We've identified hundreds of sites by grade level and subject area! And be sure to check out our Vital Pick's Archive where you will find other great resources!
Humor
Teacher: Why are you late, Joseph?
Joseph: Because of a sign down the road.
Teacher: What does a sign have to do with your being late?
Joseph: The sign said, "School Ahead, Go Slow!"
From: Teacher Jokes
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