I am regularly asked for recommendations on different teaching resources, online training, online job application sites and links available to teachers. As a teacher myself, I’m always on the look out for new interactive, engaging sites or resources to use in my classroom.

As a result I’ve put together a list of recommended teaching resources and links that I’ve either personally used (in most cases) or which have come highly recommended to me by people I trust and work with.

I will add to these lists as I come across new resources or links that I enjoy, so don’t forget to check back often for new material.

Interactive & Engaging Links

This has potential to be a long section. I love an interactive game/quiz or an engaging and motivating approach. These links will be broken down into different subjects and will include links to websites that I have used, and found beneficial, personally.

Hit the Button– my absolute FAVOURITE game for practicing the Times Tables in a fun, interactive way! It also has a section for number bonds, doubling & halving and division facts. It’s a big hit in my classroom.

Nrich– a fantastic website, with fully prepared, “out of the box” mathematical investigations. These activities really encourage the children to think, work together and boost their problem solving skills. A big thumbs up from me!

White Rose Maths– I couldn’t but hear about White Rose Maths through social media and through word of mouth. I had to check it out! This website offers an approach which fosters higher order thinking in Mathematics. What I like about this approach, is that it takes into account that all children have different starting points in different topics in Maths and allows all children to make progress.

Toy Shop Money Game– an excellent game for revising and familairsing children with money. The site allows you to change the currency too, depending on where you teach. This game challenges children to select the correct coins to make certain amounts, as well as giving change. I just love how easy it is to use really!

Topmarks– I’ve referenced two games from this site already above, but this site is jam packed with lots of wonderful, interactive games that can suit a range of Maths topics. Check it out!

Mangahigh– What a website! This site allows you to create log ins for all your students, set homework/classwork/challenges and children can also compete against other children across the globe. The activities really work well in connection to the areas you’re covering in Maths and the children LOVED it! It also provides you with an analysis of how your children are doing, meaning you know which areas they need support with. A very useful and informative site for teachers in terms of activities and assessment!

Times Tables Rockstars– This site allows practice of Times Tables in paper form or online. Times Tables Rock Stars is a carefully sequenced program of daily times tables practice to boost the children’s recall speed. Each week concentrates on a different times table, meaning their knowledge of the Times Tables is constantly progressing. The website offers a free trial, so get over there and give it a go!

The Literacy Shed Blog– If you follow my blog posts or Instagram, you’ll know how valuable I think this resource is. This blog is one of the most ‘content rich’ blogs, in terms of English, that I’ve come across. Using the Reading Vipers has truly changed my children’s comprehension skills for the better. It’s an approach that’s colorful, creative and most importantly- PURPOSEFUL! Cannot recommend this site enough for its ideas, thought-provoking clips and teaching techniques!

Vocabulary Ninja– Another fabulous, fabulous site which focuses on the teaching of vocabulary. The site is equipped with vocabulary packs for different topics, along with my favorite- Word of the Day. The advance of the technological world is fantastic, but it’s seeing an impact on the lack of vocabulary our children know. With this fun resource, children can be exposed to rich vocabulary and their vocabulary bank will broaden as a result.

Talk4Writing– This has been an absolute god sent for our writing this year. The technique of encouraging children to TALK before they write seems so simple, but my oh my, the results are outstanding. We were not fortunate enough to receive training on T4W due to tight budgets, but we did buy the book and used the website’s free resources where possible! If you’re looking to change up how your children write in school, then T4W is the way forward!

The Teach Hub– a fountain of resources for Whole Class Guided Reading! What I like about this site is that the packs are ready to download and teach with little to no prep involved! They’re challenging and engaging for the children and my class have for a lot out of the units we’ve tried. I’m an affiliate for this company, if you use code REBECCA at checkout, you get 10% off. See my review here.

Phonics Play– I have been a teacher in the upper school for the last number of years, but while on placement, this website was my go to! It has a wealth of resources from lesson plans to interactive games. It promotes the “Revise, Teach, Learn, Apply” technique, which I always found successful for children retaining phonics.

Pobble365– This is an excellent resource and a site I use regularly. “Everyday, you’ll find an interesting picture, writing prompts and philosophical questions to spark a lesson. Use on your smartboard screen, or print them out with our easy-to-use PDFs.” These images or prompts can be used in your writing lessons or in your Guided Reading lessons- they’re very useful and versatile! We were also lucky enough last year to receive training from the wonderful staff at Pobble. Check them out!

Tig Tag– This is a lovely site that aim to support teachers in teaching outstanding Science (and Geography) lessons, that brings the subject to life. The site has a wealth of film clips, resources and plans to aid you in making your Science lessons the most effective.

STEM– If you haven’t heard of STEM, then you must be living under a rock. Anytime I search for engaging science resources online, the word ‘STEM’ jumps out at me from the search results. STEM aims to get children INVOLVED in every part of their science lesson. “From enrichment activities to finding volunteers, find out how STEM Learning can support you.”

Science Sparks– Looking for inspiration in science experiments? This site contains numerous different experiments to compliment your science topic. They even have a search bar, stating “what are you looking for?” to bring you to the experiment that’ll suit your lesson best. They believe: “Science based activities offer endless creative learning opportunities and are a great way to spend time with your children. We’ve had some of our best chats while drawing on filter paper and making patterns in milk.”

If like my, you like to get the children to research certain topics to create informative posters, it might be worth taking a look at this page to ensure children know how to find real facts! It’s worth them knowing that the internet isn’t always factual! Develop your children’s research skills- it’s a skill in itself!

Music

I have recently started using Dabbledoo Music to teach my Music lessons. When I say it’s a god sent, it’s a god sent! I am useless at teaching Music, but this site combines interactive, engaging activities for the whole class that requires NO prep from you!

What I like about this site is that they mention which curriculum objective you’re covering on each module, leaving it easy to add to your planning! My children now ADORE Music lessons and I feel so much more comfortable knowing that they are getting valuable Music content each week. I’m an affiliate for this company too.

Review/videos here.

Where and how you apply for your teaching post abroad is crucial! I’ve gone into detail about which sites to use and which to avoid in my post: A Review of #TeachAbroadSites. Check it out and please don’t rush into a job- the nightmare schools do exist!

Buying Individual Teaching Resources

• Teachers Pay Teachers – My recommendation for general teaching resources is pretty clear –  For the last number of years, I’ve bought multiple resources from this site. From fonts, to creative art packs, to displays, to scaffolding resources. TpT has it all and it is also the resources platform of choice of most teachers today.
• TESResources– a site filled with free and paid resources. Some excellent subject specific content here, however, it’s mainly tailored towards the British Curriculum.
• MrsMactivity- this is a fabulous site with lots of different resources across all subjects. What I like about this site is that it is very reasonably priced and the resources are very multi-sensory orientated (big plus in my eyes). There is a wealth of themed resources too, which can be super useful for means of activities or displays around that theme. For sure, check out this site and to get 10% off your joining fee, use the code REBECCA at checkout. This is an affiliate link! See my full review here!
• Twinkl– this site is growing and growing as time goes on. It’s excellent for displays and differentiated resources if looking for challenges for your pupils. However, I feel their PowerPoints and lesson plans can be very ‘wordy’ and monotonous! Just my opinion- apologies! I guess that’s why they say as teachers we need to adapt things to fit the needs of our class.
• Mash.ie – another site filled with free and paid resources. It’s relatively new and if you’re teaching in Ireland, it’s the “go-to” site in my opinion. Some really enthusiastic sellers on there, with a real personal touch to the products on sale!
• LessonPlans.ie– another excellent Irish site filled with an array of products ranging from primary to secondary school. What I like about this site is how easy it is to use, making your search more successful and your precious time saved. Big fan of this site too! For any lesson plan, teacher training advice or blog posts related to teaching- check them out!

Top Blogs to follow

• The Literacy Shed Blog– (reasons why mentioned above).
• The Training Space– A great blog filled with fantastic ideas in teaching and planning English.
• Irish Primary Teacher– THE blog to follow if you teach/are training to teach in Ireland. Super informative in many areas from lessons, to “the goings on” in Irish Education, to applying for jobs in Ireland. Truly, a great blog to follow!
• The Teaching Booth– My reference point for all things ‘Whole Class Guided Reading’. I have this blog to thank for making the switch from Guided Reading Carousel.
• Whizz Pop Bang– a great blog for inspiring scientific curiosity in children!
• Life on the Wedge– THE blog to follow if moving to Qatar. I cannot tell you how many restaurants, buffets etc I’ve tried on recommendation to Rachel over on ‘Life on the Wedge’. Check her out!
• Sorcha Coyle – This is a fabulous blog based on empowering expat teachers. Sorcha goes through the ins and outs of teaching abroad, supporting teachers in every way. She talks a lot about ways to save and does video tutorials frequently, sharing tips and tricks on saving. Her Facebook group ‘Empowering Expat Teachers’ is a super group, filled with support and advice for teaching around the globe. Follow, like, subscribe- you won’t regret it!

 

Top Twitter Accounts to Follow

• @primaryteachew  – My favorite twitter account to follow. Full of fabulous ideas, particularly on teaching reading. A must follow!
• @pastelteacher – Another great account, with the most engaging displays and written work. Always get inspiration from this page.
• @Mr_K_Teacher  – A very inspirational, motivating account with a #whyIloveteaching hashtag.
• @MissStanleyYr6 –This lady is the QUEEN of teaching writing. The inspiration I get from this account for writing alone is phenomenal. I’m sure that her Year 6’s can write better than me. Really inspirational account.
• @MissCooper0803 – Another fabulous account, with the most amazing ‘double page spread’ writing. Between Miss Cooper and Miss Stanley, I am 100% using this approach next year in my writing lessons. Miss Cooper is the Maths lead in her school too and provides lots of engaging, interactive ideas for teaching Maths Mastery!

That’s all for now, I will aim to update this page regularly as I try out new resources. If you have any AMAZING resources, websites or games that you feel I’ve missed, please let me know in the comments.

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