Jill Berry Login: Elm I am the media resource center director. I graduated from the College of Wooster in Ohio and went to the University of Michigan for my Master’s degree in library science. My File Cabinet serves as the home page for students at my elementary school. It is organized by each grade level as well as special topics. I’ve been building it since 2005, so it has pages for each major project for every grade level. Teachers often suggest Web sites for me to add. MindUniversity is a wonderful way to guide students to good Web sites, which teachers love. Parents appreciate this resource for their children.
Jeanne Brunworth Login: jbrunworth I have more than 30 years of experience in public education. I became a National Board Certified Teacher in 2004. In 2007 I was the IEA's candidate for the NEA Foundation in Teaching Excellence Award. State testing is important for all grade levels—visit my state testing binder where you’ll find helpful strategies to make testing fun and reduce student stress. There are resources for cultural units in Latin and South America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
I am a 27-year veteran teacher. I currently teach third grade in Edwardsville, Illinois. In addition to teaching, I serve on the board of directors of the Illinois Education Association. My File Cabinet includes lessons that incorporate Language Arts and content area subjects.
Mary Creek Login: mcreek I am a National Board Certified Teacher with my specialty area as an early childhood generalist. I am a library media specialist in a fourth- and fifth-grade elementary school. In my online File Cabinet, I share my favorite lessons and ideas that have evolved over my 20-year career. Some of them include science fair ideas, novel and literature studies, technology teaching tricks and tools and some terrific Web sites.
Diana Doglio Login: msdoglio Currently, I serve students in grades one through six as a Title I reading teacher, a position I enjoy immensely. An enthusiasm for Web surfing ensued as an effect of required research for graduate coursework. It led to an education-based favorites list that an esteemed colleague once referred to as incredible. If you have a little time and some curiosity, visit if you dare!
Brenda Foster Login: fosterbr I am a 27-year fifth-grade teacher. In 2001, I achieved National Board Certification as a Middle Childhood Generalist. In my File Cabinet I share some teaching practices in the area of technology-integrated curriculum that involves students in multi-media, multi-disciplinary projects where they problem-solve and make decisions across many disciplines.
I am currently a seventh-grade Language Arts teacher at Alexander Graham Bell Elementary, a Chicago Public School. I have been teaching for five years in the intermediate and middle school grades. Besides using primary sources within my Social Studies teachings, I have also been able to integrate primary sources into my Language Arts curriculum. I have been involved in several Library of Congress projects, including the Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) and Picturing Chicago projects. I am a member of the Illinois Council for Social Studies and have presented workshops at several conferences.
LESSONS AND VIDEO CLIPS (Note: 1st video clip introduces the lesson; 2nd clip provides tips for implementation)
Course/Grade/Skill Level: Language Arts/US History, Elementary, ALL
Time: One period
Joyce Ouechani Login: mrso I am a retired special education and regular education teacher. My File Cabinet contains ideas for elementary regular education classes. I include lots of tips—those ideas that make you say “Why didn’t someone tell me that?” Hopefully they will keep you from having to learn things the hard way. As you will notice as you go through my File Cabinet, I loved teaching language arts. I did try to include a few math, social studies and science ideas—usually tied to literature. I hope you enjoy my ideas and find them useful. Good luck in your teaching career!
Pat Potthast Login: mrspotthast I taught grades five and six and intermediate special education for 34.26 years. I presently sub often at the intermediate level. My online File Cabinet is a work in process and has an emphasis on language arts, social studies and math. Some lessons in my File Cabinet may be dated before you were born! Enjoy.
Karen Powell Login: kpowell I currently teach fourth-grade, all subjects. I also have the responsibility of being the choral director for the fourth- and fifth-grade classes. In 2001 I obtained my National Board Certification in Middle Childhood Generalization. This has opened many avenues that have allowed me to share my teaching techniques with my peers, pre-service teachers and teachers from other communities. My File Cabinet has lesson plans for math, social studies, science and language arts. I have posted many lessons that are interactive and hands-on.
Ruthann Smetana Login: RSmetana I have been teaching for more than 15 years. I received my National Board Certification in 2002. I spend lots of time searching out great Web sites by teachers. In my File Cabinet, you will find many resources for second grade. Many of the folders and documents have not been created by me, but are shared by the wonderful teachers who have posted their work on their own Web sites or have posted their documents online to share.
Linda Walcher Login: lindawalcher I am a retired teacher and I taught kindergarten, second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-grade over the course of my 33-year career. I am proud to have been awarded the PTO-Early Childhood Classroom Teacher Award in 1994 and the Emerson Electric Educational Excellence Award in 2000. I have also been included in the Who's Who Among America's Teachers Book editions in the years 2002 and 2005. My online cabinet is directed to the early childhood teacher. It includes classroom center ideas, theme activities, book selections, behavior management, teacher tips and words of wisdom. Come to my File Cabinet, browse, enjoy and take something with you when you leave!
Sue Williams Login: smwilliams I have taught 27 years; I recently completed my ninth year of teaching third grade. Prior to that, I taught band and primary music in the same district. In 2005, I passed the National Board for Professional Teaching and hold a National Board Middle Generalist Certificate. You will find my File Cabinet to be geared toward grades three through five. I have included a segment for organization and discipline. I have also included lessons in reading, writing, math, science and social studies.
Education Student, Special Education Paulette Beard Login: pbeard My name is Paulette Beard. I have worked for 11 years as a Teacher Assistant in an Early Childhood Program with children with special needs. In my File Cabinet I have listed some lessons that we have used and worked well with our students. I have also listed some recipes and ways to adapt toys for students with special needs.
Librarian/Media Specialist Julie White Login: mswhite I am currently a library/media specialist. Prior to this position, I taught in elementary schools. My online File Cabinet is directed to students in grades pre-kindergarten through fifth grade and the teachers and parents that instruct them. Folders encompass language arts, math, social studies and science for each grade level. Teachers and parents often ask for Web sites that will help their children; my folders provide Web site recommendations and brief summaries. I also use the online File Cabinet to post my newsletters, monthly activities, library reference skills and special projects.
Math Janet Kilgus Login: mrskilgus I taught mostly math at the middle school/junior high level for 33 years in Normal, IL. I have co-authored math materials, have been on the ICTM board of directors, the IEA board of directors, on the ISBE ISAT math committee. I also served as an editorial referee for SCTM. I present math workshops around the state. My File Cabinet has teaching tips and resources useful to all teachers in grades 3 through 9, and has a focus on math. Enjoy and good luck!
Reading Dale Shaw Login: dshaw I am in my 13th year of teaching, and I am a National Board Certified Teacher. Currently I teach grades 7 and 8. My online File Cabinet has detailed plans you can use for weeks of teaching or you can pick and choose from the units. I also included reading analysis activities and will add more writing and reading ideas. I hope to hear from you with any questions or comments you may have about my lesson plans.
Reading Melissa Baez Login: msbaez My File Cabinet is diverse and has some great resources. It has general advice for the beginning of the year and resources I found helpful as a new teacher. The focus of my File Cabinet is middle school reading. I had to develop my own curriculum my first year teaching and I tried many things—the things in my File Cabinet are those that worked. It includes bell ringers, vocabulary and a reading textbooks unit.
Science Dave Kilgus Login: davekilgus I retired after teaching high school science for 37 years. I was also the trainer for the athletic teams for 30 years. I organized my File Cabinet with general information and individual courses in the high school science curriculum. Because my degrees are in biology, you'll find more under that course that the others. Within each course I have filed items on how they are used, such as labs, notes, demonstrations, etc. I hope you find my ideas and entries useful.
I was born and raised in Rock Island, Illinios, and received my Bachelor of Arts in History from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri in 1991. I received his Master of Arts in the Teaching of History from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1994. As of 2009, I have has fifteen years of teaching experience including seven years at Woodstock High School in Woodstock, Illinois and eight years at Maine Township High School West in Des Plaines, Illinois. My current classes include History of the Western World, U.S. History, and AP U.S. History at Maine West.
LESSONS AND VIDEO CLIPS (Note: 1st video clip introduces the lesson; 2nd clip provides tips for implementation)
Course/Grade/Skill Level: US History, High School, Regular
Time: One class period
US History and Government Dan Fouts Login: dmfouts I am a 14-year veteran teacher of US history and government. In my File Cabinet, I posted several Web site resources that can help you save research time. All of my resources are organized within unit folders—from Colonization through today. Also, I have several Socratic seminar readings and questions for classroom discussions. I also designed several “virtual field trips”—interactive Web-based lessons that allow students to explore US history. Enjoy your visit to my File Cabinet!
I teach three different classes each year, 9th grade Regional World Studies Combo (World History combined with 9th grade English--There is an English teacher in this class too), US History (typically 10th grade but occasionally I will teach 11th and 12th graders in this class), and International Relations (11th and 12th grade). I teach at Normal Community West High School in Bloomington, Illinois. Regarding teaching social studies, my philosophy is simple: Keep it relevant. As you will see in my two lessons, I've taken historical concepts and tied them to something of relevance today.
LESSONS AND VIDEO CLIPS (Note: 1st video clip introduces the lesson; 2nd clip provides tips for implementation)
Course/Grade/Skill Level: US History, High School, ALL
Time: Seven class periods (flexible)
Social Studies Jenny Bores Login: tpsvirtualfieldtrips I have been teaching for six years and primarily teach world cultures, world cultures ESL and US history. Currently I am working with the Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) project through the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities and have compiled Web-based lessons called Virtual Field Trips (VFTs). VFTs enable teachers to create and use meaningful online lessons that incorporate digital resources from the Library of Congress. Explore these Virtual Field Trips and see for yourself the exciting new resources available to teachers.
English and Speech David Bishop Login: mrbishop I taught high school English and speech for 37 years. I also participated in high school theater and coached the speech team. My File Cabinet offers advice, plans and lessons in American studies, American literature, English composition and speech. These areas have attachments you can use in class. You will find information on finding and using study guides for English classes. I will add more to my library; so come back and visit my site often.
English and Speech Nikki Maurer Login: nlmaurer I’m an English teacher in my eighth year of teaching. In my File Cabinet, you will find study guides for novels, fun activities and projects, essay assignments, as well as speech requirements and rubrics. These materials can provide the basics to new teachers or new ideas for experienced teachers. I compiled a list of my favorite Web sites I use when I need to construct a new unit or refresh an old lesson plan.
English Ron Harrell Login: mrharrell I taught high school English and journalism for 32 years, advised the school newspaper and yearbook, ran the high school's gifted and talented program, co-directed the school's Student Assistance Program, helped produce several literary magazines, advised the school's honor society and mentored student teachers. In my File Cabinet student teachers and cooperating teachers will find a variety of helpful documents, articles and Web sites. I also included a few teaching treasures.
Spanish and French Barbara Englebert Login: Benglebert Hi, hola and salut! I have been a teacher for 19 years and have taught all language levels from beginners to AP. As you look through my files, you will notice that I use my File Cabinet for a number of purposes. I post homework assignments, upcoming tests and lab days. There are also links to videos, music and commercials which I regularly update. I hope you will find my site useful, and if you have questions, ideas or suggestions, I’d love to hear them. Email me at benglebert@maine207.org
Media Specialist Lou Ann Jacobs Login: msjacobs I am a retired library media specialist with 33 years of experience. I am a former IEA region chair and served on the IEA board of directors in the 1990s. I also served on several IEA committees, and am still active with the IEA Retired chapter. My File Cabinet is directed to secondary teachers and students. I have assembled a variety of materials my colleagues and I have used in our schools. My passion is to make our teachers and students better users of knowledge. I hope that my cabinet will be an aid to you in helping students to be better and more discriminate users of information.
Music/Media Specialist Deborah Campbell Login: mrsdebbycampbell I am a retired teacher who taught music and was a school librarian/media specialist for 36 years. The advent of computer technology, especially the internet, changed my job radically. In addition to teaching library research, I taught internet search skills. My File Cabinet is directed to the beginning high school librarian or new teachers. I included tips and aids, ways for librarians to collaborate with teachers, and ways to integrate the library into the curriculum.
Freedom Museum Courtney Brouwer Login: freedommuseum I am the student and teacher programs manager at the McCormick Freedom Museum. The Freedom Museum provides middle and high school students an opportunity to explore their constitutional freedoms and better understand the role First Amendment plays in an ongoing struggle to define them. We offer a host of free educational resources for both teachers and students in the realm of social studies, civics, government, journalism and law. The museum offers free field trips all year, as well as a transportation scholarship program that can be leveraged by eligible schools to reduce or entirely eliminate the cost of a field trip. Each September, the Museum hosts a free teacher resource fair. To learn more about these and additional programs and resources at the Freedom Museum, I encourage you to explore our File Cabinet and our Web site at www.FreedomMuseum.US.
Dirksen Congressional Center Frank Mackaman Login: DirksenCenter I am a staff member at the Dirksen Congressional Center in Pekin, IL. The center is a nonprofit organization interested in helping people, especially students and teachers, better understand the United States Congress. Our File Cabinet provides information about the Center, introduces historical materials like civil rights legislation and links you to today’s information about Congress. We also include lesson plans, elections, history and powers and processes. Please email me if you have questions. fmackaman@dirksencenter.org
