Felicia Davis
SLM 521 - Spring 05
Elective #5: Teacher Sites
TEACHER-MADE
WEB SITES
Site #1: Mrs. L-F's World at Wickford
Middle School
This web site was created
by a 7th and 8th grade science teacher. This site contains many useful
sections. The standard sections focus on the grade-level curricula with
links to other sites that contain activities and information about the scientific
topics taught. The section on internet projects includes an activity
where the students are shown how to evaluate websites. The Educator's
Corner includes links to scientific demonstrations and activities for any
science teacher to use. The student photo gallery and student work
sections promote student participation and interest in the website.
<http://www.geocities.com/mrsscienceteacher/>
Commendations:
1. The site is organized. All sections are clearly titled. The
links are obvious and work correctly.
2. The site includes a variety of student
work samples as well as links to other content-related sites.
3. The Parent's Corner includes links to sites
about adolescent issues and internet safety.
Recommendations: 1. Explain
what the Lynx Team does and who is allowed to be a member.
2. The introduction paragraph should have more specific information
about the monthly topic.
3. The site could contain information regarding classroom
policies, grading standards, school calendar, etc.
Site #2: Mr.Andexler's Third Grade
Web Site
This web site was
created by a third grade teacher. The site is useful to both students
and parents. The parents can quickly find book report due dates, project
ideas, calendar information, and the class schedule. There are live
links to both the school website and the PTA website. He also includes
a spelling section that lists this week's words as well as the cumulative
word list for the year. The monthly newsletter is also available. For
the kids he has links to sites for skills practice, concept reinforcement,
and fun and games. < http://staff.norman.k12.ok.us/~erica/>
Commendations: 1.
This organized site has current information (up to the week!) and is
easy-to-use.
2. The site has all pertinent information
readily available (school address, phone numbers, e-mail adresses, and his
picture).
3. The site has an appopriate amount of graphics that reflect
the current themes and topics.
Recommendations: 1. Use
dark colored letters on lighter backgrounds so that the information is easier
to read.
2. Either delete the music that plays
on the home page or have it only last briefly as an introduction.
3. Include a section that showcases
some of the students' writings, drawings, and projects.
Conclusion: When I began this search I expected it
to be very arduous. However, by patiently perusing the top sites of
my Google search, I was able to find an article about teacher-made sites that
included some samples. Then I did an advanced Google search using the
key words TEACHER, CLASSROOM, and WEBSITES. Fom there I was able to
find sites that act as a clearinghouse for teacher-made websites, Busy Teacher
Cafe (http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/class_links.htm#fourth)
and Sandlot Science ( http://www.sandlotscience.com/Schools/schools_frm_main.htm
). Each of these sites has long lists of mostly current teacher sites
with the option of adding your own teacher site at no charge. I also
found the Palos Verdes Peninsula School District site ( http://www.pvpusd.k12.ca.us/teachweb/)
that lists all the teacher sites for the district. The teacher sites
were organized by grade level and were very well done. Using just those
three sources I had access to over 100 teacher-made classroom websites.
*Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com
