Online Resources for OCLC Tutors

List of Annotated Websites for Tutors

NOTE: This list is to be used as a guide for preparing materials for your OCLC student. The list is not comprehensive, and other sites can be found by searching the web with your favorite search engine. Thanks to tutor Jill Hallenbeck for the initial list of links and annotations.

Lesson Planning

www.lessonplanspage.com -This is a website that catalogs lesson plans submitted by teachers and education students that can spark your imagination. Adapt what is available for your adult learner. K-12, all core areas, including computer literacy. Free monthly e-newsletter if you register. Also gives information on writing your own "quality" lesson plans.

www.pacificnet.net/~mandel -This is a lesson planning website that I have used for years. All the core subjects are here, with all levels represented. There is a section on "Special Education" with tips for tutors with students with leaning disabilities.

www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/teachers/ -This site changes with the tv season, but it has excellent lesson materials to accompany the science series NOVA.

lessonplanz.com -This is a searchable directory of free on-line lesson plans and lesson plan resources for grades Pre-K-12 in all core subjects, including computer literacy. There is a free e-newsletter if you wish to register. Check out the songs for teaching science! There is also a section for games to play with your student to increase learning, although most would be better with a group.

www.lessontutor.com -This is another searchable site of free lesson plans, but I find this one missing a lot of the middle grades materials. Of course, what you need and what I need might be totally different!

Puzzles and Games

www.1stchoiceproducts.com/LearningWithPuzzles/mainpage.html -This site provides interactive and pencil games and puzzles at two skill levels covering multiple topics (general, math, Bible, biographies, history, holidays, geography, language arts, and science). You can choose a pre-computed puzzle or submit questions and clues and the website folks will send you a themed-puzzle (I have not tried this.)

biblewordgames.com -This site provides interactive and pencil Bible word games (including crosswords and word search). Kid and adult versions are available for some puzzles.

puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com -Great site for creating your own puzzles (including hidden message word search, regular word search, mazes, criss-cross (crossword))! Solutions are also available for printing. I use this for word play and for reinforcing vocabulary.

Tools

dictionary.com - Free on-line dictionary and thesaurus functions

encyclopedia.com and en.wikipedia.org -Free on-line encyclopedias, well-linked and well-researched. Wiki chooses a daily featured article, selected anniversaries and current events links.

www.smcps.k12.md.us/mbms/writing/graphorg.html -Ideal for teaching writing or reading comprehension, graphic organizers have many uses. This site provides free printable graphic organizers. Students may find that using an organizer helps them "stick to the story" or "find the main idea" a little easier. A story web might make writing an essay or story easier. An organizer to chart main characters and plots may help with reading comprehension.