DPS Support Resources for Instructional Continuity During Emergency Closures
DPS Virtual Professional Learning Catalog
Filter by area Digital Teaching & Learning to access online resources/remote teaching PD
DPS Virtual Professional Learning Catalog
Filter by area Digital Teaching & Learning to access online resources/remote teaching PD
General Resources
NCDPI Remote Learning Resources – There’s a lot here. Online Pedagogy offers best practices for teaching remotely. Scroll down on Instructional Resources to find links that offer a wide variety of resources across the curriculum. Due to COVID-19 closure, this website opened 3/13 and they’re updating daily.
Durham County Library – Bull City-NC Slam – Students can access research and homework help, along with ebooks, by logging into Durham County Library website using their PowerSchool number (pin = last four digits of their PowerSchool number)
Scholastic Learn at Home – “Even when schools are closed, you can keep the learning going with these special cross-curricular journeys. Every day includes four separate learning experiences, each built around a thrilling, meaningful story or video. Kids can do them on their own, with their families, or with their teachers.”
ELA
NEWSELA – now offering free access to the entire product suite, no subscription required, for the remainder of the school year.
Math
MangaHigh – “MangaHigh is a math platform that is built on the ethos of collaboration, community, and competition. These elements are ingrained in both the teacher and student experience of the platform. As a teacher, you will get access to a full reporting dashboard and a full account for each student so they can continue their learning at home on any device available to them. You can assign and assess students’ performance online and exchange messages with your students all within the virtual environment.” Free access for teachers and students until schools reopen.
Prodigy – “Prodigy is an engaging, curriculum-aligned math platform for students and teachers from 1st – 8th grade. The platform encourages self-paced math practice for both in and out of school that is leveled based on your students progress. Prodigy meets ESSA Tier 3 in partnership with John Hopkins University. Your students can work through topics based on their levels or you can assign specific skills for them to complete; all while they think they are playing a game!” Free access for teachers and students.
Science
PhEt Colorado – “Founded in 2002 by Nobel Laureate Carl Wieman, the PhET Interactive Simulations project at the University of Colorado Boulder creates free interactive math and science simulations. PhET sims are based on extensive education research and engage students through an intuitive, game-like environment where students learn through exploration and discovery.”
Social Studies
Authentic History Center – “This site compiles resources on American History, but through the lens of popular culture. Rather than reading about the civil rights movement, students and teachers can listen to songs, watch television interviews, and see photos involving that point in history.”
Big History Project – “Big History Project is a free, online social studies course that emphasizes skill development as students draw mind-blowing connections between past, present and future.” Includes World History and general social studies.
Zoom In – Free access for teachers and students. Lessons on American History.
Electives
Experiments with Google Arts & Culture – “Try out experiments at the crossroads of art and technology, created by artists and creative coders with Google Arts & Culture.” Offers interesting lessons/experiments on a variety of art topics from primitive to modern collage to fashion to architecture. Not explicitly vetted for middle school so be sure to preview.
The Spanish Experiment - Well-known children's stories translated into Spanish and spoken by a native Spanish speaker. Read along in Spanish or English.
NCDPI Remote Learning Resources – There’s a lot here. Online Pedagogy offers best practices for teaching remotely. Scroll down on Instructional Resources to find links that offer a wide variety of resources across the curriculum. Due to COVID-19 closure, this website opened 3/13 and they’re updating daily.
Durham County Library – Bull City-NC Slam – Students can access research and homework help, along with ebooks, by logging into Durham County Library website using their PowerSchool number (pin = last four digits of their PowerSchool number)
Scholastic Learn at Home – “Even when schools are closed, you can keep the learning going with these special cross-curricular journeys. Every day includes four separate learning experiences, each built around a thrilling, meaningful story or video. Kids can do them on their own, with their families, or with their teachers.”
ELA
NEWSELA – now offering free access to the entire product suite, no subscription required, for the remainder of the school year.
Math
MangaHigh – “MangaHigh is a math platform that is built on the ethos of collaboration, community, and competition. These elements are ingrained in both the teacher and student experience of the platform. As a teacher, you will get access to a full reporting dashboard and a full account for each student so they can continue their learning at home on any device available to them. You can assign and assess students’ performance online and exchange messages with your students all within the virtual environment.” Free access for teachers and students until schools reopen.
Prodigy – “Prodigy is an engaging, curriculum-aligned math platform for students and teachers from 1st – 8th grade. The platform encourages self-paced math practice for both in and out of school that is leveled based on your students progress. Prodigy meets ESSA Tier 3 in partnership with John Hopkins University. Your students can work through topics based on their levels or you can assign specific skills for them to complete; all while they think they are playing a game!” Free access for teachers and students.
Science
PhEt Colorado – “Founded in 2002 by Nobel Laureate Carl Wieman, the PhET Interactive Simulations project at the University of Colorado Boulder creates free interactive math and science simulations. PhET sims are based on extensive education research and engage students through an intuitive, game-like environment where students learn through exploration and discovery.”
Social Studies
Authentic History Center – “This site compiles resources on American History, but through the lens of popular culture. Rather than reading about the civil rights movement, students and teachers can listen to songs, watch television interviews, and see photos involving that point in history.”
Big History Project – “Big History Project is a free, online social studies course that emphasizes skill development as students draw mind-blowing connections between past, present and future.” Includes World History and general social studies.
Zoom In – Free access for teachers and students. Lessons on American History.
Electives
Experiments with Google Arts & Culture – “Try out experiments at the crossroads of art and technology, created by artists and creative coders with Google Arts & Culture.” Offers interesting lessons/experiments on a variety of art topics from primitive to modern collage to fashion to architecture. Not explicitly vetted for middle school so be sure to preview.
The Spanish Experiment - Well-known children's stories translated into Spanish and spoken by a native Spanish speaker. Read along in Spanish or English.
