Resources

Looking for a way to regenerate, or a feel good teaching story, or to bring something new to the classroom? Browse these helpful websites, books, and articles.

Autism

More and more we are working with autistic students in our classrooms and schools. Use these excellent resources to learn more about autism:

• Animals in Translation, by Temple Grandin. This author has autism and writes about the connection between animal and autistic behaviour. It is a very informative and entertaining read that truly helps the reader gain insight into the complex world of autism.
  
  
• Autism Is a World is a fascinating documentary written by Sue Rubin, a young, intelligent, and articulate woman with autism who didn’t begin to communicate with her family until she was 13. This is the perfect kind of tool to use in the classroom to challenge the assumptions students have about people who are "different" and what they are capable of. You will also find an online diary from Sue and her mom about living with autism.
  
  

The Educator’s Reference Desk

The Educator’s Reference Desk is a major website developed by the people who brought you askERIC. It contains endless lesson plans, classroom management techniques, subject material, counseling information and more.

Troubled Students
Youth Change is a great site for finding material that will engage troubled students who are struggling with ADHD, violence, trauma, motivation, bad attitudes or apathy.

Choir
Are you wanting something new for your choir to sing? Ben Harper’s “My Own Two Hands” is a wonderful song from his “Diamonds on the Inside” album that celebrates an individual’s ability to make a difference in the world. It would easily lend itself to including hand gestures and there is a slightly softer version of this song (a duet between Jack Johnson and Ben Harper) on the Curious George soundtrack. Read the lyrics.

Health
Teaching health to girls and you’re not sure how to discuss the complexities of body image in today’s society? Check out Just For Girls (1999, 2003) and When Girls Feel Fat: Helping Girls Through Adolescence (1997, 2000) by Sandra Friedman. These are inexpensive books with worksheets, discussion topics and handouts, and are ideal tools to help your girls gain a healthier appreciation of themselves and each other. Sandra’s website is a wealth of information and lists the various community education sessions and professional training workshops she does.

Accountability in Education
“The Price Of Accountability” by Richard Elmore, professor, Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, offers solutions to meet the increasing demand for academic quality and accountability in education, while detailing why this is so difficult in the current reality of the education system.

News
The CNN Student News site is an excellent tool for junior high and high school students. CNN produces 10 minute news segments for students accompanied by transcripts, a set of 10 questions to answer individually or as a group and a Friday quiz. These news video clips are pre-recorded daily so they can be played at your convenience. You can even view recordings from previous days. This is a great tool to develop students’ listening skills, their familiarity with news programs and their awareness of global events. As it is an American program the content may reflect this. More details about how to use the site.

Math and Science
Need a tool to get girls interested in math, science and technology? Visit www.girlsgotech.org.

Or how about a site to get both boys and girls interested in math, science, and technology? The Jason Project offers a variety of resources and tools to do this, among which are real time science expeditions for middle school students that offer the opportunity to participate in real research directed by leading scientists.

If you know of a great resource that we should add to this page, tell us about it.