Roghnú múinteoirí
In this section we invite readers to get in touch and share their three favourite educational websites with us. A number of really useful links have emerged from this. Here are some recent submissions:
Alex Wilson
Deputy Principal, Whitechurch NS, Dublin 16
CRANN - Education and Outreach
Introduces the exciting new field of nanoscience and contains details on how to apply for their excellent NanoWOW Resource Pack for teachers of 5th and 6th class.
Topmarks
Contains lots of up-to-date educational resources which work well on interactive whiteboards, organised by subject, age group and category to make them easy to find.
Anaphylaxis Ireland
Has a link to a wonderful resource for helping teachers manage pupils with asthma, epilepsy, diabetes or anaphylaxis – ‘Managing Chronic Health Conditions At School’.
Damien Fegan
Teacher at Wicklow Educate Together
Skype - Classroom
Students can talk to Antarctic explorers, authors, magicians and other interesting characters through this free site.
The Mystery Skype, section has undoubtedly been the highlight of our year. With some advance planning, you can arrange to meet up with a class group somewhere in the world. They have to guess where in the world you are and you have to guess where there are. A yes no format works the best, ie Are you in Europe, are you in the north, has your country a coastline etc. Students use atlases, or digital devices to race to be the first to get the right answer. If one school guesses the other’s country first, you can challenge them to find the county, town and name of the school. Google Maps and Streetview makes this whole process very exciting.
Geo Guesser
Fun travel and learning game that's fit for all age groups. This game drops users somewhere in the world, and players have to figure out where they are based on clues. Your virtual self can walk around the area that you're dropped in, visit streets and people, and try to guess where you are using. It drops you somewhere in the world and Google maps.
Every once in awhile a unique game that's harmless and educational fun comes along. Right now, GeoGuessr is that game!
Shane Cadigan
Teacher at Holy Rosary NS, Firhouse, Dublin 24
Click News
Suitable news stories for children in a safe environment. Irish site.
Geo Guesser
Users are 'dropped' somewhere in the world and they have to guess where they are.
Manga High
Maths website with lots of games and activities suitable for use in the class.
Anne-Marie Ryan
Teacher at Our Lady Queen of Peace, Janesboro, Limerick
Hwb
Excellent resource for teaching the story of number. Large selection of rhymes and games available.
Oxford Owl
Free online ebooks available. A class login can be created so the children can access the books at home. The site also provides practical advice for parents.
Top Marks
Large selection of graded English and Maths games available.
Paul Kelly
Teacher at Beneavin College, Finglas, Dublin
Wingclips
Movie Clips that will help explore and explain themes to your audience.
Visuwords
Online graphical dictionary. Look up words to find their meanings and associations.
Wonderopolis
Fun website providing "Wonders of the Day" articles and videos which also contain a vocabulary list that provides a learning base for each lesson.
Rosemarie Atkinson
Teacher at St Patrick's NS, Tuam, Co Galway
SEN Teacher
Great selection of worksheets and allows you to customise your own.
Active Village
Excellent site for craft ideas and seasonal and topical activities.
ixl.com
Interactive based resources for the Maths curriculum. Ideal for the IWB.
Niamh Kingston
Non-teacher. Scoilnet reader from Dublin area.
Moo Crew
Educational programme around the importance of the milk, yogurt and cheese food group.
Kids National Geographic
Highly visual and so very ‘current’.
Our World in Irish Affairs
Irish Aid programme to increase awareness and understanding of global development issues.
Blaithín Fitzmaurice
Vice Principal at St Patrick's NS in Greystones, Co Wicklow
Edmodo
Edmodo is a whole little world of its own. Helps connect all learners with the resources needed in education. Works something like a social networking site and allows teachers connect with students. Requires registration and sign up.
Scoilnet
Portal for Irish education. Contains more than 13,000 resources across all subjects. Very popular in Irish schools.
CESI
The Computers in Education Society of Ireland is now in its 40th year. Contains some great nuggets in the middle of lots of technical information.
Sinéad Counihan
St Damian's NS in Dublin 12
National Library of Virtual Manipulatives
Virtual Manipulatives for Maths for use with a projector or IWB.
Woodlands Resources
A primary school site which has compiled 100s of links to different interactive games available on different websites.
Primary Science
Irish website with great resources for the teaching of Science and hands-on Maths activities in primary schools. Lesson plans and activity sheets for hands on experiments using everyday objects and many of them also have accompanying activity movies.
Joe Cunningham
Maths teacher, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
Math500
500 interactive maths problems with step by step instruction and feedback. Each problem is supported by a worked example. Works well in the classroom or individually at home. As this tool is designed by an Irish teacher with Irish students in mind there is a request for what content should be covered next (possibly with a project maths approach).
Manga High
High quality new maths games including Intermediate, Middle and High School math games. Free to play online.
Cool Math
Cool Math has free online maths lessons, maths games and fun maths activities.
Ita Archer
Coldwood NS, Co Galway
Starfall
Brilliant for phonics as well as onset and rime.
Communication 4 All
Good supply of colour teaching aids.
Yvonne Ward
First Class teacher, St Patrick’s NS, Celbridge, Co Kildare
Class Dojo
Fantastic 'free' classroom management tool for the IWB.
Learn English - British Council
Brilliant website for teaching all aspects of English.
BBC Bitesize
Contains excellent literacy and Maths games.
Louise Mullane
NQT/substitute teacher, Co Tipperary
Phonics Play
Fun phonics games to develop vocabulary, word sounds and blending.
NGfL Cymru
Great resource for Maths. My favourites are the early years resources. Also good for other subjects.
BBC Science Clips
Great for reinforcing Science experiments.
Susan Duffy
Games, stories and early years activities. Very visual site – requires registration but contains free resources.
Priory Woods Resources
The resources on this UK school’s website are fantastic. Check out the Switch and Touch Screen Videos.
ICT Games
This site has been around a while but has great games linked to the UK National Curriculum for English.
Bríd Uí Mhaoluala
Gaelscoil Eoghan Uí Thuarisc, Carlow
SEN Teacher
Provides free resources for students with special needs and learning difficulties.
OTPlan
An activity idea search engine for pediatric occupational therapy activities. Match skills you want to work on, with materials you have, to a detailed occupational therapy treatment activity.
The School Bell
Website run by a retired teacher in America. It is really a database of activities listed alphabetically.
