Beg, borrow & steal (but give credit). That's the creed of a teacher. You can't create it all, so don't waste your time trying. If you get a great idea, see if someone else has something that's similar. Then you can personalize as you like. These are great sources I've been using, and still use, for ideas. They are all free services available to anyone with an internet connection. Search around these places for inspiration!
Join a listserve! The best resources you have are your colleagues. They share ideas and answer questions freely. I'm a member of one for science teachers that I love, but there is an impressive list at CataList if you don't teach science.
Gooru: This is a free learning management system, which offers existing content you can alter to fit your needs or you can design your own. You create a classroom, invite students, design/remix coursework, then assign assessments. You can see how students are doing on the assessments in real time, or students can work at their own pace. Here are their video tutorials to get you started.
Khan Academy: Lots of premade video explanations of math, science & more. Nice for fillers, review or flipping your classroom.
News Sites: Current events aren't just important in social studies or English - literacy is important to every subject. So, have students find articles on relevant subjects and summarize them! For science, we like to have students pick an article and identify the variables, procedure, conclusions, etc. My favorite source is Science News for Students, because they are written for students and include a glossary, videos and links to further reading. CNN Student News is good for social studies.
Newsela: I found this site recently as I was looking for more articles written for struggling readers. They take articles from various sources - CNN, LA Times, Scientific American, Washington Post, etc. - and rewrite them for different grade levels. They include all topics, from sports to war & peace. Each article also includes a short reading comprehension quiz at the end and some are written in Spanish! You can read articles, set up a class & assign articles for free. If you want to see student results, though, you need to purchase Newsela PRO. Personally, I just print the articles to PDF (with full citation) and add them to my course resources.
Podcasts: Many people make great videos that can supplement your teaching. I downloaded the Podcasts app for iPad, and love MinuteEarth. I just link my iPad to the board to show them. There's a list of other podcasts here.
SchoolTube: This is a more classroom-friendly version of YouTube. You don't have to worry about possibly inappropriate ads or videos showing up during you class. Like YouTube, you can create your own & upload or link to someone elses work. However, there is a max size that is smaller than YouTube. No one under 13 can post, unless an adult allows them access to their account. Honestly, I tend to use Chrome as my browser, with the AdBlock extension, so I can use YouTube without worry.
TED Talks: Videos, usually with very good speakers, that can inspire or educate. Teachers have the option of creating a free account and linking quizzes to videos. Here's an example of a TEDed lesson you could assign your students.
YouTube: You can either make your own videos or use others' in your class. Good for fillers, review or flipping your classroom. I made a channel for my notes at http://tinyurl.com/q42guog. Also good for songs to mix up class a bit, or for clips from shows like Frozen Planet.
Gooru: This is a free learning management system, which offers existing content you can alter to fit your needs or you can design your own. You create a classroom, invite students, design/remix coursework, then assign assessments. You can see how students are doing on the assessments in real time, or students can work at their own pace. Here are their video tutorials to get you started.
Khan Academy: Lots of premade video explanations of math, science & more. Nice for fillers, review or flipping your classroom.
News Sites: Current events aren't just important in social studies or English - literacy is important to every subject. So, have students find articles on relevant subjects and summarize them! For science, we like to have students pick an article and identify the variables, procedure, conclusions, etc. My favorite source is Science News for Students, because they are written for students and include a glossary, videos and links to further reading. CNN Student News is good for social studies.
Newsela: I found this site recently as I was looking for more articles written for struggling readers. They take articles from various sources - CNN, LA Times, Scientific American, Washington Post, etc. - and rewrite them for different grade levels. They include all topics, from sports to war & peace. Each article also includes a short reading comprehension quiz at the end and some are written in Spanish! You can read articles, set up a class & assign articles for free. If you want to see student results, though, you need to purchase Newsela PRO. Personally, I just print the articles to PDF (with full citation) and add them to my course resources.
Podcasts: Many people make great videos that can supplement your teaching. I downloaded the Podcasts app for iPad, and love MinuteEarth. I just link my iPad to the board to show them. There's a list of other podcasts here.
SchoolTube: This is a more classroom-friendly version of YouTube. You don't have to worry about possibly inappropriate ads or videos showing up during you class. Like YouTube, you can create your own & upload or link to someone elses work. However, there is a max size that is smaller than YouTube. No one under 13 can post, unless an adult allows them access to their account. Honestly, I tend to use Chrome as my browser, with the AdBlock extension, so I can use YouTube without worry.
TED Talks: Videos, usually with very good speakers, that can inspire or educate. Teachers have the option of creating a free account and linking quizzes to videos. Here's an example of a TEDed lesson you could assign your students.
YouTube: You can either make your own videos or use others' in your class. Good for fillers, review or flipping your classroom. I made a channel for my notes at http://tinyurl.com/q42guog. Also good for songs to mix up class a bit, or for clips from shows like Frozen Planet.