Hot Stuff: Media for Educators

Credit: William Duke

Tag School Reading System [1]

$275 (4-pack) and up

An easy and entertaining way to jump-start young readers, the Tag School Reading System comes with a pocket-size combination pen/stylus (it looks like an oversized pen) that interacts with the specially printed words in the Tag stories. Students can follow along individually or as a class, listening to the characters talk and then responding to questions they pose. The reader is connected to the teacher's computer, allowing for individualized monitoring of progress.

Credit: William Duke

Federal Resources for Education Excellence [2]

Free

With budgets so tight, it's nice to see the feds providing a whole wealth of free (yes, free) and useful material for the classroom. More than 1,500 federally supported teaching and learning resources are packed into this site, ranging in scope from Arctic explorers and data analysis to algebra, geology, exercise, and visual arts. Resources are categorized by sections, with many options to help create learning activities designed to spark invigorating classroom discussions.

Credit: William Duke

Two Million Minutes [3]

$25 and up

An interesting, if somewhat clichéd, look at high schools here and overseas. The film ostensibly compares educational standards in the United States with those in India and China by following high school seniors from each of these countries. The title refers to the amount of time the students spend in high school -- a critical period in which to build their intellectual foundation and prepare for college and career. All the standard characters are here: the bubbleheaded American teens, the fretful hard-studying Chinese and Indian youth. And the message is an important one: If we don't get our act together, educationally speaking, we're in a world of hurt. Still, it leaves you wanting more. For instance: Where does creativity come from? What propels some students (and populations) to become entrepreneurs, while others lag? Nonetheless, it's a provocative film sure to start important discussions.

Credit: William Duke

EZ School Supplies [4]

Free to register; product prices vary

It's a new school year, which means teachers digging into their own pockets to pay for even the most basic classroom accessories. Here's a way to help: Like DonorsChoose.org [5], EZ School Supplies allows teachers to make detailed supply want lists that others in the community can in turn beneficently purchase. The site also offers discounted prices on a number of essential school products. In addition, organizations that enroll with EZSchoolSupplies.com can receive a 10 percent credit of total sales returned in dollars or site credit.