Teachers/Staff

The following videos – produced or modified by the Illinois State Board of Education – are intended for use by administrators and other interested groups and individuals.

Videos listed on this page are streamed in the Real Video format. We recommend using the most current version of RealOne Player. If your computer does not have the RealOne Player, download the free player from the Real website.

Illinois Commission's Commemorative Celebration of the 50th Anniversary
Brown v. Board of Education

May 17, 2004 Archived Webcast

Health/Well-Being

Healthy Eating Public Service Announcements
Two spots promote the value of healthy eating and exercise.

Easy as ABC (:30)
This PSA captures the ABCs of family health by emphasizing healthy food choices and physical activity as reflected in the newest Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Billy’s First Day (:30)
Big sister guides Billy during his first day at school. Her instructions include eating a good breakfast.

Lost in the Shuffle (14:53)
There is a large homeless population in America, and children are the fastest growing segment of it. In this video, six homeless children and some of their teachers talk about how they live and learn. They attend an elementary school with a program designed especially for homeless students.

School Meals Regulations
This site contains links to eleven videos which address regulatory requirements for school food service professionals and administrators. Topics include: household application approval, verification, meal count edit forms, meal pricing along with traditional and enhanced menu planning.

Table Talk (7:00)
This short and engaging video provides instructions and suggestions for making family-style meal service a rewarding and meaningful part of a child’s first school experience.

Using Universal Precautions in the School Setting (12:52)

Universal Precautions is the term given to specific measures that are used to minimize the likelihood of contact with the blood and body fluids of any person. This program outlines the universal precautions that are to be used on school buses and school property when exposure to blood or body fluids occur.

Mi Escuelita

The Mi Escuelita (My Little School) video series serves to promote, inspire, stimulate and support the development of the Spanish language in preschool children. The first language children acquire is the basis for future learning. Children who develop their first language well, and have that language sustained and reaffirmed, will be able to transfer familiar language skills and conceptual information when learning a new language. In all eighteen episodes, learning takes place in environments that are familiar, colorful and fun. Specific, general and age-appropriate concepts and skills are identified and linked to each episode.

Episode 1
Welcome to Mi Escuelita
Bienvenido a Mi Escuelita

In this first episode, the Mi Escuelita characters are introduced. Rosita attends school for the first time and Motica wishes to become a ballerina. This program helps to develop independence, trust, self-determination and self-esteem. The characters establish new friendships, acquire a sense of belonging to a group, and learn to distinguish between reality and fantasy. Through the use of music, reading, and fantasies, Rosita becomes comfortable in the classroom and Motica learns to use her imagination and pretend to be a ballerina.

Episode 2
Books, Stories, Libraries
Libros, cuentos, bibliotecas

The characters progress from the early stages of pre-literacy including listening, speaking, dictating stories, and learning rhymes and songs to reading books from the library and writing their own stories. They learn that libraries exist in the community, the school and the classroom and are places where they can read, be read to and borrow books of their choice. Tori and Motica create a storybook with original pictures and drawings. They also set up a library where Motica pretends to be a librarian.

Episode 3
All About Us
¿Como somos?

A turtle with three shells? Missing teeth? Tracing bodies with chalk on the playground? In this episode children learn to recognize the parts of the body and their functions; proper dental care; respecting differences and similarities among one another; recognizing the five senses and their functions; and, identifying concepts of direction and spatial relations such as up/down, left/right, inward/outward, and around.

Episode 4
The Family
La familia

Motica thinks that a family consists of parents, brothers and sisters. Tori explains that grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins are also members of a family. Upon viewing the program, children will learn that families are important in our lives, pass on traditions and values, and support and help one another. This episode also shares the message that all families are different.

Episode 5
Brothers and Sisters
Hermanos y hermanas

Are younger siblings sad when they stay at home while older brothers and sisters go to school? Motica and Tori role play at being big brother and little sister. Tori, as an older brother, takes care of Motica and reads stories to her. When he comes home, he tells her about what he has learned in school. Some of the concepts presented in this episode include: a sense of responsibility when brothers and sisters take care of each other; brotherly love is important and is part of family love; siblings can be helpful in caring for a baby; and, younger children learn from older siblings.

Episode 6
How Do You Feel?
¿Como te sientes?

Motica is very upset because she thinks her friends have forgotten her birthday. She lets them know she is very sad. Later, Motica’s friends surprise her with a birthday party and she is very happy. Motica doesn’t think Tori wants to be her friend anymore. But Tori may not be in the mood to play. This program explores feelings of sadness, happiness, and anger and explains how to express these feelings to others. It is also important to learn to recognize and respect the feelings of others.

Episode 7
Rhythm All Around Us
Ritmo en nuestro ambiente

This episode focuses on rhythm. Children will coordinate body movements to musical rhythms; recognize beats and rhythms; identify varying pitches; and develop a sense of rhythm. The program identifies how rhythm is part of our lives and environments. Children will learn to identify different musical instruments and the variety of sounds they create.

Episode 8
Culture in Our Lives
Cultura en nuestras vidas

This program magically transports the characters from the confines of a classroom to locations throughout the city where murals reflect the culture of those who painted them. The episode also addresses the value of social and emotional skills. Children are told that making fun of others is hurtful and should be followed up with apologizes.

Episode 9
Magical Colors
Colores magicos

It’s hard to surprise a friend. Through art, Tori is able to tell Motica that her good deeds and generosity are valued. When art supplies are short, the characters learn about mixing paint colors, reusing recyclable materials and the importance of conserving our environment. Upon viewing, children will learn to recognize primary and secondary colors.

Episode 10
Art and Creativity
Creatividad a traves del arte

Imagining an easel as a boat, painting with potatoes, singing, dancing, puppets – all promote expressions of individual creativity through the arts. This episode helps children develop cognitive and intellectual abilities such as recognizing, identifying and naming colors, along with receptive language abilities such as following directions, responding and communicating. The program also addresses physical skills such as grasping, holding objects, scribbling, drawing and painting.

Episode 11
Shapes and Sizes
Figuras y tamanos

By watching children in a classroom, Tori and Motica learn the concepts of shapes and sizes, classifying and grouping, patterns and measuring. This episode helps children develop fine motor skills and work cooperatively on different projects. They will learn the concepts of longer, bigger, taller, wider, and heavier, circles, squares, triangles and rectangles, and how to measure different objects in the classroom and at home.

Episode 12
Sand and Water
Agua y arena

In this episode, children will learn that animals swim in many different ways. They will learn to recognize geometric shapes such as squares, triangles, ovals, rectangles, circles and stars. Children will practice counting from 1 to 10 and review the primary and secondary colors. While observing fish, they will recognize the need to maintain and care for an aquarium.

Episode 13
Plants and Trees
Plantas y arboles

Tori and Motica want to plant a tree. Before actually planting a seed they learn that; plants are living things, seeds germinate and become plants, many varieties of seeds become a variety of plants, and that plants and trees need soil, water and sunlight to live and grow. Later in the program, the teacher and children plant a terrarium.

Episode 14
Butterflies and Bees
Mariposas y abejas

Maribella, the butterfly is introduced in this episode. Motica and Tori learn how butterflies are born through a process of change called metamorphosis. Adelita, the bee, arrives to share information about bees. She talks about where bees live, what they eat and the work they do. Children will learn similarities and differences among various insects.

Episode 15
Dinosaurs
Dinosaurios

What child doesn’t like dinosaurs? Children will learn about when dinosaurs lived, how fossils are formed and how artifacts are discovered. The young children visit a dinosaur exhibit at the Field Museum of National History in Chicago where they are exposed to real dinosaur bones and skeletons.

Episode 16
Jobs
Oficios

Children take a field trip to a fire station. When they return to school, they talk about what they have seen and learned. They talk about the importance of knowing the 911 emergency phone number, when to use it, and how to stay calm in an emergency. They practice calling this number and saying their full names, home addresses and phone numbers.

Episode 17
It’s Cold, It’s Winter!
¡Hace frio, es invierno!

Weather has an effect on everyone’s lives. This episode shows how weather affects people, animals, plants, trees, lakes and mountains. Children learn the four seasons. They talk about appropriate dress and different outdoor activities for different types of weather. Children also learn how animals adapt to changing seasons and which animals hibernate during the winter.

Episode 18
Discoveries
Descubrimientos

Discovering can be fun and exciting. The characters explore different means of transportation, find places and directions on a map and learn to follow specific directions to get from one place to another. They experiment and discover the outcome of mixing certain elements. The children mix ingredients to create play dough and silly putty.

Reading

Illinois Reading Academy: Continuing to Meet the Challenge
Designed for teachers of kindergarten, first and second grade, the following collection of 54 training videos illustrate and model key components of early reading instruction. Components are categorized in five primary areas: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

Kindergarten

Overview
Introduction (4:11)
Features of Oral Language (9:56)
Learning Centers (4:39)
Oral Language and Vocabulary Overview (1:54)
Sharing Journals (4:06)
Sharing Time (4:28)
Phonemic Awareness
Phonological Awareness (1:31)
Five Levels of Phonological Awareness (5:42)
Word Play (3:30)
Initial Consonant (2:37)
Phonics
Alphabetic Understanding and Phonics (3:54)
Letter Recognition Activities (2:52)
Making and Sorting Words (3:03)
Spelling and Writing Activities (1:44)
Fluency
Overview of Fluency Development (7:53)
Book Knowledge Activities (2:27)
Scaffolding Learning (3:39)
Echo Reading (6:25)
Passage Reading Excerpt (4:00)
Vocabulary
Using Language to Teach Rich Words (6:51)
Comprehension
Read Aloud Sessions (5:00)
Using Questioning During Read Alouds (5:17)
Narrative and Expository Texts (3:41)
Big Books (2:30)
Story Retell (2:15)

First Grade

Overview
Introduction (4:11)
Cultural and Linguistic Diversity (6:22)
Implementing Small-Group Instruction (5:37)
Phonemic Awareness
Phonological Awareness Continuum (4:30)
Linking Phonemic Awareness to Print (3:59)
Letter Knowledge and Letter-Sound Correspondences (4:25)
Phonics
Making and Sorting Words (8:12)
Using Assessment to Inform Instruction (7:25)
Word Study Strategies (9:22)
Writing Conference (3:52)
Fluency
Overview of Fluency Development (2:38)
Building Fluency (6:06)
Vocabulary
Using Language to Teach Rich Words (9:04)
Comprehension
Comprehension Overview (5:26)
Discussion and Questioning (3:51)
Using Graphic Organizers (7:48)

Second Grade

Overview
Introduction (4:11)
Phonemic Awareness
Activities for Struggling Readers (3:29)
Graphic Organizers: Reading/Writing Connection (3:10)
Phonics
Phonics and Word Study Overview (4:29)
Making Words (8:34)
Grouping for Instruction (3:21)
Fluency
Fluency-Building Activities (7:58)
Measuring Fluency (3:24)
Vocabulary
Vocabulary Development (4:57)
Promoting Wide Reading (9:13)
Comprehension
Comprehension Overview (4:27)
Questioning, Discussion and Graphic Organizers (9:13)
Previewing and Self-Monitoring Understanding (6:25)
Main Idea and Summarizing (9:05)
Inferencing (11:00)

Illinois Reading Kit Videos

Since the fall of 2000, ISBE has produced several staff development videos which model appropriate reading techniques and strategies. The programs are designed for use by teachers of Pre-K through grade 8 – in addition to teachers whose students are bilingual or who need additional reading support.

Illinois Reading Sampler (37:38)
This program contains excerpts from four videos - Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2.

Pre-Kindergarten Reading Video (21:14)
Teachers in Kankakee and Dallas City share stories and gather information about animals found in a zoo.

Kindergarten Reading Video (22:49)
Students in Chicago and Freeport develop their writing skills.

Grade 1 Reading Video (26:09)
Segments recorded in Urbana, Evanston and Chicago include word walls and group writing activities.

Grade 2 Reading Video (23:37)
In Anna and Centralia, writing activities and word games help develop writing skills.

Grade 3 Reading Video (22:00)
Books, group reading and other activities are featured in Kankakee, Marion and Springfield schools.

Grades 4 & 5: Codes

Grades 4 & 5: Reader’s Theatre

Classroom Activity (18:31)
Teachers Comments
Description of readers’ theatre activity (:39)
Various ability levels (:33)
Value of using readers’ theatre (:48)
Readers’ theatre works in many curriculum areas (:40)
Readers’ theatre and fluency (:25)
Modeling fluency (:34)
Fluency is key (:31)
Fluency links word recognition and comprehension (:26)
Advice for teachers (:28)

Grades 4 & 5: Think Aloud

Classroom Activity (22:40)
Teachers Comments
Description of think aloud activity (1:42)
Value of think alouds (1:25)
Various ability levels (:42)
Daily read alouds and think alouds (:40)
Reading strategies (:51)
Think aloud flexibility (:46)

Grades 4 & 5: Three Column Note Taking

Classroom Activity (22:47)
Teachers Comments
Description of three column note taking activity (3:38)
Value of think aloud activity (:11)
Reading spans all curriculum areas and ability levels (1:16)
Various ability levels (:59)
Questions drive lessons and prompt research (:46)
Advice for teachers (1:58)

Grades 4 & 5: Vocabulary

Classroom Activity (23:12)
Teachers Comments
Description of vocabulary activity (:34)
Steps for the activity (2:27)
Follow up activities (:32)
Activity works for science and social science (1:16)
Language arts in mathematics (:59)
Various ability levels (:57)
Advice for teachers (1:54)

Grades 6, 7 & 8: Fine Arts

Grades 6, 7 & 8: Foreign Language

Grades 6, 7 & 8: Language Arts

Classroom Activity (17:58)
Teachers Comments
Description of RAFT (1:14)
Books in the classroom (1:28)
RAFT activity (:23)
PowerPoint activity (:25)
Middle school readers (:31)
Advice for teachers (:40)

Grades 6, 7 & 8: Mathematics

Grades 6, 7 & 8: Physical Development & Health