For Teachers

On this page: Library subscriptions | Support from the Librarian | Library Classroom | Booklists & Guides | Lesson Planning | Screencasting | Web Tools & Classroom Apps | Remote Teaching Resources (2020)

Library subscriptions: Getting Started

New York Times [subscription]
All staff and students have personalized access to the New York Times through our school-wide subscription. Here are instructions for accessing your account.

Sora: eBooks and Audiobooks [subscription]
All staff and students have access to Sora, a reading app from Overdrive that offers free ebooks and audiobooks for students to borrow. More info is here about Sora and how to access your account, as well as info about other ebook and audiobook providers.

Canva for Education [subscription]
Canva for Education is a free online design tool that helps teachers create engaging lessons and students express their ideas visually. Unlike the free version, Canva for Education gives you access to all premium features like amazing photos and fonts. Find the activation link on this Google doc (@mvrhs.org). Looking for more free design help? SlidesCarnival is another site that offers free PowerPoint and Google Slides templates for your presentations.

WeVideo [subscription]
Our subscription to WeVideo allows you and your students to create and edit videos on their Chromebooks. They can also collaborate on group video projects.

Interactive Science [subscription]
Through this Gale database, students can manipulate and explore 3D interactive models to visualize and understand concepts in biology, chemistry, earth and space science.

Visit the MVRHS Library Research page for a full list of subscriptions, including our state-funded databases from Gale.

Support from the Librarian

Kevin McGrath (the MVRHS librarian) offers a variety of services to support you in incorporating information literacy skills into your curriculum. The librarian can help with designing lessons involving information and media literacy and selecting appropriate resources. This could involve creating custom resource guides (examples), assistance for your students during and outside of class, and direct teaching of media literacy skills alongside you in your classroom. For instance, the librarian can provide instruction on using online databases, creating citations in different styles (MLA, APA, Chicago), and evaluating the credibility of sources.

Library Classroom / Reading Space

The library classroom has comfortable seating and lighting for reading, discussion, or small classes.  There’s room for about 15 students.  You can reserve the space depending on availability.  The calendar is here and on the library webpage.  If you’d like to reserve it, just let Kevin McGrath know.

Booklists and Guides

Booklists
Curated lists of books in the MVRHS library to support lessons and assignments and on a variety of topics of interest.

Library Guides
Select resources from library databases and the web to support specific lessons and research projects.

Guidelines for Citing Sources and Ethical Use of Information
This guide to academic integrity and ethical information use at MVRHS (including AI) outlines the importance of citing sources to give credit, avoid plagiarism, support arguments, and allow for verification.

Import a Google Calendar with the MVRHS block schedule
Some find it helpful to have the individual blocks in their Google calendar.  Here’s help doing that!

Anti-Racist Resources (Courtesy of Lynn Ditchfield and the MV Diversity Coalition)

Lesson Planning Resources

New York Times Learning Network
Daily classroom, learning, and engagement resources that connect to articles and other multimedia published on NYTimes.com. All staff and students have access to the New York Times through our school-wide subscription.

PBS Learning Media for Massachusetts Educators
GBH and PBS have curated free, curriculum-aligned videos, interactives, lesson plans, and more just for Massachusetts teachers.

TED Ed
Create lessons around any TED-Ed Animation, TED talk or YouTube video.

Digital Public Library of America
DPLA brings the wealth of U.S. libraries, archives, and museums to your classroom. Check out their guide for educators for more info.

Borders to Bridges (Creativity-Based Immigration Curriculum)
Designed by a team of MVYPS educators, and led by Lynn Ditchfield, Borders to Bridges promotes dialogue in schools and communities by engendering deeper understanding and discussion about immigration to counter the myths, bullying and fears that negatively affect our learning institutions, and engage students on issues that touch their lives and communities.

Gale OneFile: Educator’s Reference [subscription]
Database of professional books and journals on just about every topic in education.

ERIC
ERIC, the Education Resources Information Center, is a large, searchable database of education research and information.

Screencasting

Loom
Loom is an easy and free screen recorder for Mac, Windows, and Chromebooks. Record your camera and screen with audio directly from your Chrome browser and share.

Screencastify
Record, edit, and share screencasts.

Web Tools and Classroom Apps

EdPuzzle
Share videos with your students and embed questions and/or voiceovers to engage them. Track your students’ answers and progress. Free to use for the first 20 lessons.

Padlet
Create collaborative message boards for your students. The first three boards are free. Otherwise, it requires a subscription.

Epic eBook of Web Tools and Apps
A fantastic guide crowdsourced by educators.

Google Classroom and G-Suite Tutorials
Open the slide and click on the one best for you.

Remote Teaching Resources (From 2020)

EdTechTeacher Workshops
Offered by Greg Kuloweic of EdTechTeacher in August 2020, this three-part workshop included 1) Teaching & Learning Online, 2) Creating and Designing Online Learning with GSuite, and 3) Creating Engaging Instructional Videos. Use to link to access recordings of the workshops, slide decks, and overviews.