Lesson Plans
This guide, put together by the Education and Social Science Library, is an excellent starting point for information on finding lesson plans in print and online. If you have physical access to the library, the first two sections outline locating resources in print and microfiche. Of particular interest to remote users will be the third section, Web Sources for Curriculum Guides and Lesson Plans.
Kraus Curriculum Development Library
The ESSL Lesson Plan Guide contains a lengthy section on the microfiche version of the Kraus collection. This valuable resource is also available to remote UIUC users as a searchable online database. Included are curricula, frameworks, and standards bringing together educational objectives, content, instructional strategies, and evaluative techniques for all subjects covered in PreK-12 and Adult Basic Education. The index covers from 1983 to the present, with full-text access to documents beginning in 2001. Note: This resource is only available to authenticated university users. For information on remote database access, see this FAQ.
ERIC, the most comprehensive database for educational research at all levels, includes many lesson plan-related documents. When searching, the following descriptor terms may be helpful:
- lesson plans
- curriculum guides
- state curriculum guides
- instructional materials
- teacher developed materials
- bilingual instructional materials
- study guides
- teaching guides
- learning modules
- units of study
- activity units
- course content
- educational games
- reading games
- educational resources
- mathematics materials
- reading materials
- science materials
- learning activities
- class activities
- activity units
- resource units
- problem sets
You may also limit your search in ERIC to a particular document type--in this case, "Guides for Classroom Use, Teacher" may come in handy. To do this, click Limit (the bullseye icon) on the main search screen, and then select "Guides for Classroom Use, Teacher" under Publication Types. You can also limit to a particular Educational Level on this screen. Once you've made your selections, click Limit Search.
If you find a document that looks useful, you may be able to access its full text online. If the needed document has a ED number (rather than an EJ number), and if that number is higher than 348466, you should be able to download it as a pdf--look for the ERIC Full-text link in the records for these documents.
Children's Literature
Children's Literature Resources and Guides
This extensive and well-annotated guide from the Education and Social Science Library contains a wealth of links to useful web sites covering a variety of aspects of children's literature, from storytelling and fairy tales to bilingual resources and book reviews.
Guide to Research in Children's and Young Adult Literature
Another guide from the Education and Social Science Library, this page contains useful information for researchers in the area of children's and young adult literature. Included are suggestions for locating books, journal articles, and other information sources on your topic.
Selected Web Sites for Student Teachers
Student Teacher Survival Guide
A collection of resources to help student teachers from the National Education Association.
Student Teacher Chatboard at teachers.net
A discussion forum for student teachers. Please note that this is an open board, and therefore its content should be carefully evaluated.
Suggestions for new student teachers "from a 16-year veteran and frequent mentor to new teachers."
Survival Guide for New Teachers
From the U.S. Department of Education, this extensive guide contains suggestions for working with veteran teachers, principals, and parents.
Resources for First-Year Teachers
A collection of useful links, from the Survival Guide for New Teachers.
Teacher Talk: Student Teaching
Teacher Talk is an online publication of the University of Indiana's Center for Adolescent and Family Studies at the School of Education. This edition is dedicated to student teaching, and offers advice and ideas for new student teachers.
What To Expect Your First Year of Teaching
Another Department of Education publication. From the Introduction: "Teachers were asked to describe their most formidable challenges and then offer their advice for overcoming obstacles. Teachers then discussed how principals and administrators could help new educators and how colleges and universities could better prepare teachers for their first year on the job. Finally, teachers offered their thoughts about kids. The closing section of the book includes a bonus-a list of resources followed by tips for first-year teachers from their veteran colleagues."
Classroom Management Resources
From the Educator's Reference Desk, a list of resources on classroom management and discipline.
