Favorite Websites

If you're an upper-grades teacher, you probably already know about 3-6 Free Resources blog.  If not, you NEED to check it out!  What you may not know is that they do a "Show Me Sunday" every first Sunday of the month.

This past Sunday, it was about favorite websites.  Here are some of my favorites:

• PlanbookEdu :  This website has practically saved my life this year.  Yes, it's not free, but it's worth every penny.  You can input your state standards above your lessons and it keeps track of how many you've covered in your lessons.  You can attach files that you need.  You can print and email the whole plan book or a selection.  In a word, priceless.
• Online Timers :  You set the amount of time and choose what type of timer you want (egg timer, countdown, bomb, etc.).  I project these on the screen to help students keep track of the time while working in pairs/small groups.
• Classroom Booksource: You put your ISBN numbers into an online database, and it allows students to check out books from your classroom library.  It shows the AR, small group, and grade level of the books.  It allows students to search for books.
• What Should I Read Next?:  This website allows students to type in the title or author of their favorite books and it recommends other titles based on the style of that book or author.

What websites do you use that save your time and sanity?  I'd love for you to link up at the Show Me Sunday post.  I can't wait to see all your great websites!

The Little Website that Could

Chrisi at Ms. Fultz's Corner inspired me to check out Symbaloo. 

This is a FREE website that makes little icons for the different websites you frequent.

I plan to use it exclusively for use in my classroom.  I currently have boards for Virginia Studies, Language Arts, Science, and Math.

What's Symbaloo got that Pinterest doesn't, you ask? Well, for one thing, it's a direct link to the website. For another, you can organize and color-code/group ideas within the board more than with Pinterest. For example, everything that has to do with prewriting/graphic organizers are in green within the Language Arts board.

Do you use symbaloo in your classroom?