Creative Solutions to Technology Funding

Suppose you’ve found a specific technology resource for your classroom but you lack the funds to make a desired purchase. ? When confronted with a cost barrier, there are helpful resources you can use to still access available funds:

• DonorsChoose.org allows teachers to create a profile for their classroom, stating what they need, the cost, and enables other users (i.e. other teachers, parents, members of the community) to make donations. Partner funding is also available.
• For Leadership Teams, ASCD has steps to cost-effectively strategize ideas like integrating technology into the schools mission.
• PowerUp WHAT WORKS has resources for how to implement technology in schools, including specific resources on how to do so while watching your budget.
• You can also visit the TechMatrix and download our Consumer Guides – decision-making tools to help schools make informed technology purchases.

Lesson to Learn: Lesson Plan Resources Online

The internet continues to be an increasingly invaluable resource for educators – from online PD opportunities, free lesson plans, interactives, and downloadable/printable classroom materials, there are a wealth of free resources available to you.

Planning a lesson on PowerUp WHAT WORKS and looking for some inspiration?

• PBS LearningMedia has lesson plans searchable by grade and subject; with free sign up, lesson plans can also be organized according to Common Core standards.

• DiscoveryEducation allows educators to download lesson plans in PDF form, which list core standards and are searchable by grade and subject. Lessons can also be previewed by most popular.

• Federal Resources for Educational Excellence has various lesson plans broken down by subject and specific sub-category, with topics ranging from math to state history to music.

• Scholastic's lesson plans are searchable by keyword, content area, and grade. Resources include lesson plans, teacher guides, unit guides, and printable lesson worksheets for class use.

Utilize these great resources and build upon the PowerUp Classroom model:

to create strong, effective, technology-supported lessons that address the needs of all your learners!

Resource Roundup: Common Core Standards

Each month, we'll feature a Resource Roundup on a key topic in technology integration and teaching and learning with digital materials. This month's topic: Common Core Standards! 

As states shift towards full integration of the Common Core Standards, educational resources and lesson plans aligned to the Common Core have sprung up around the web. A quick online search for Common Core lesson plans yields an overwhelming number of results, so we’ve waded through them and put together a few of our favorites:

• The Teaching Channel Common Core videos
• Core Commons – resources for states, policymakers and the public on the implementation of the Common Core Standards.
• North Carolina Common Core Instructional Support Tools
• Videos from the Hunt Institute explaining the various elements of the Common Core Standards.
• New York Times Common Core Lesson Plans
• Free iPhone app for the Common Core Standards!

Be sure to check out PowerUp WHAT WORKS for more lesson, strategy, and teaching ideas aligned with the Common Core Standards!