We set out to do one post to show the diverse set of creative resources for high school teachers that are available on TpT. One post, we thought. Au contraire, my friends. It was quickly evident that one post would simply not suffice.
So instead, here’s our first post about high school resources on TpT.
TpT Is Right for High School Teachers (and Your Students) Because With It You Can:
1. Change the world.
Dr. Ellen Weber, TpT Teacher-Author and Director of the MITA International Brain Based Center observes: “While adults fight over Common Core standards and articles are written about the dwindling public purse — teens are dropping out. It doesn’t have to be that way. We can change the discourse and usher in a new day for bored teens — if we simply exchange lectures for quality active learning tools.” But where to find those quality active learning tools? Ellen thinks, and we agree, that TpT is the answer.
2. Grab and hold students’ attention.
Science Stuff says, “high school kids are easily ‘turned on’ and they are just as easily ‘turned off!’ We have to grab their attention early and be sooooooo excited about our subject that it rubs off on them. So my tips to new teachers (and old ones, too) is… love kids, love your subject, and teach like the topic is the most exciting thing you have ever done!”
3. Access a support system.
“I’ve heard feedback from a lot of first year teachers who are not in collaborative teams or provided supportive mentors in their schools. TpT in many ways can take the place of these support systems by providing a wealth of proven successful resources,” says Students of History. “A simple search turns up so many choices, each with feedback, the opportunity to ask questions, and free previews. It’s something I only wish I had during my first year teaching 3 preps in a diverse, low-income school in Tampa!”
4. Use your classroom time fully.
Mrs Brosseau’s Binder knows that “high school teachers have a lot of curriculum to cover. It used to be that students would spend a lot of time copying from the board or overhead to get them prepared to go off to college. The reality is that the colleges and universities have moved away from copying notes to PowerPoint slides and workbooks. It’s okay to do this in high school too! You’ll be able to cover the curriculum faster and deeper with many more fun learning activities if you use your time wisely.”
5. Serve all learners.
Open Classroom says, “What strikes me most about TpT is the variety and quality of HS offerings that effectively meet different learners’ needs while still being creative, engaging, and Common Core aligned! TpT is also a great resource for teachers who want to add a fresh perspective to a text or who want to liven up materials taught year after year.”
6. Post assignments the right way.
Tracee Orman offers, “I teach in a 1:1 high school and even though many schools aren’t 1:1 yet, a majority may require their teachers to post assignments/handouts online for students and want to move to paperless to cut costs. So…
- We need more products that can be shared electronically with students without violating copyrights.
- We also need more activities that are project-based and student-centered. And, again, online and paperless.
I think these are the biggest challenges sellers (and textbook companies) will face trying to supply materials for high school teachers. But I think we here at TpT are ahead of the curve! I have numerous products for 1:1 and sharing legally.”
7. Step beyond the textbook.
“Secondary teachers are always looking for supplemental materials to the textbook,” says spanishplans. “TpT sellers offer unique, high quality materials that are classroom ready. I used to spend hours searching for resources. TpT is such a time-saver.”
8. Make learning real-world relevant.
Ana Zuniga explains, “As a high school math teacher I’m always looking for ways to make learning more relevant for my students. I like projects and activities that students can work on together that make them think about how the concepts they learn in class are really used in the real world.”
9. Give your students a new challenge.
“I love using TPT to find new ways to do things: new puzzles, new presentations, new things to do with technology,” says Jennifer Lamb. “For example, I didn’t realize what QR codes were before I checked out some resources on TPT. Now I’ve tried them in my classroom and my students love them!”
10. Push your teaching to the next level.
“Go outside your comfort zone!” encourages 4 the Love of Math. The ideas on TpT have been tried before and have worked for some teacher — you’ll never know if they’ll work for you unless you try it!”
Take a look at these Teacher-Authors resources for high school — and stay tuned for more posts.
