List of Teaching Aids

Teaching aids, or classroom academic materials, facilitate children's learning without having to rely on textbooks or mundane seatwork. Resources for teachers address multiple learning styles, themes, grades and academic skill levels. Teachers find these aids at educational supply stores, websites or as supplements to curriculum materials ordered by their school district or department. Such resources can make teaching--and learning--a rewarding experience.

Workbooks

Specific grade and subject workbooks reinforce material or skills taught in class, such as handwriting, math and science, and language arts (spelling and reading). Workbooks provide effective review questions and test-preparation exercises, and may feature creative activities or informative vignettes that encourage further exploration of a topic or subject area. The School Zone Publishing Company offers workbooks for pre-K to sixth-grade students.

Printables

Membership or fee-based websites such as edHelper.com and TeAch-nology reinforce existing curriculum with printables--worksheets to download and print. Focusing on a particular theme or subject, printables can cover math facts, spelling exercises, mini history lessons, writing prompts, or reading and comprehension questions.

Games

Academic games provide an interactive way for students to learn and retain information in any subject, from math flash cards to Bingo spelling to history trivia games. Computer games are increasingly interactive and educational, and can match any child's academic skill level. Games such as Brain University and Britannica Brain Games Platinum can boost critical thinking, reasoning and cognitive development in students.

Posters and Bulletin Boards

Posters and bulletin boards generally come in sets that reinforce learning material in a way that appeals to visual learners. Posters can also reinforce teacher expectations and rules, particularly for pre-K to fourth-grade students, providing behavioral incentives and setting academic goals. For older students, bulletin boards offer constant reminders of daily lessons and facts needed for tests. The Carson-Dellosa Company, for example, provides teachers with bulletin board activity sets for pre-K through sixth-grade classrooms.

Computer Software

Technology plays a big role in reinforcing classroom lessons, and engages students as they learn. Academic software covers all subject areas and can automatically chart students' progress, save their data and tailor lessons to their particular level until they are ready to move on. Elementary and middle school students can benefit from subject-geared software programs such as JumpStart, Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing and School Zone software. High school students benefit from Kaplan's SAT, ACT, and PSAT test prep sites, which provides testing strategies, comprehensive reviews and practice examinations.

References

• edHelper: Printables
• TeachChildren: Teacher Supplies and Materials
• TeAch-nology Website

Resources

• The School Zone Website
• All Educational Software Website