6 Free Resources for Teacher
Teachers are required to create, plan, and implement lesson plans weekly for their classes. This is just the beginning of their work since they also need to grade papers, clean, and organize their room, attend meetings, and so much more. That is why I am sharing 6 free resources teachers can use to get inspiration, worksheets, and even basic lesson plans to help same time!
1. Teachers Pay Teachers
Teachers Pay Teachers title tells us you need to pay for resources but there are free options for K-12 as well for Pre-K. These can be used or manipulated for public schools, preschool, child care centers, or even day care centers. To find free resources you can go their page, create a free account, search the topic you want to find resources for, and then click the “free” box on the left-hand side of the page under “Prices”. You can find handouts, digital prints, worksheets, e-books, and more.
2. Pinterest
We have all been on Pinterest for new recipes or hair style inspiration, but it can be a great tool for teachers as well. It is as simple as creating a free account and search for what you need. You can “pin” ideas on to boards to save them for later, or to go back to year to year. When you click on the link to a pin you are interested in, it will take you to another website where the resource is located, so be careful and use your best judgement before downloading anything. I have successfully printed worksheets, mini lessons, and have received a lot of great ideas for experiments and graphic organizers.
3. The National Audubon Society
“The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation.” (About Us page, Audubon.org) The Audubon Society has online resources teachers can use to help lead conversations about animal science and environmental conservation. With 18 offices and chapters, and 2 centers and sanctuaries in Ohio, including Cleveland, Akron, and Mentor, there are opportunities to take field trips and get hands-on learning experiences. Here is the link to their bird friendly activities and DIY projects for you and you class.
4. NASA
NASA’s website has resources for K-12 educators that include conferences, videos, STEAM activities and challenges, and printable worksheets and handouts. Teachers can also request speakers to come to their classrooms or events. The learning never stops with their informal learning tab where you can have students continue the learning and conversations at home with their families. NASA’s Out-of-School learning tab provide curriculum activities and digital connections. Glenn Research Center outside of Cleveland in Ohio has opportunities for STEAM challenges and essay contests, to take learning outside of the classroom.
5. Scholastic
Scholastic is a core memory from elementary and middle school year for a lot of people, but they also support teachers through free resources! They have free leveling charts to help guide educators to the right books for them based on the grade level they teach. They also have leveling stickers that teachers can print and add to books already in their library to help students choose books that are right for them. Scholastic has a fund schools can apply for to receive grant money to purchase necessary books and materials for their classrooms. They also offer cheaper book options and always post teacher friendly tips on their website.
6. Local Libraries
Yes, libraries! They are most obvious answer for free resources but often forgot about. Most libraries have teacher cards where they can check out more books than a typical card holder. They also have movies, CD’s, magazines, e-books, online videos, and even hands-on games and activities you can check out with your library card. Akron-Summit County Public Library offer a lot of the above services and more. They have “books in boxes” where there are multiple copies of the same book so each student can have their own in class. Akron’s library also has technology teachers can utilize including a vinyl cutter, recording studio, green screen room, design computers, and more! There are also cheap lessons in a box like this one.
I hope educators from daycares to K-12 schools find these resources helpful, and use them to make lesson planning easier and more fun! Leave us a comment and let us know which one you are going to use first!
