SIRS

SIRS: What a great tool! With Common Core standards readily available at the top, research tools along the side to aid students and topics easily searched, this database is one to be bookmarked.
In middle school the students are asked to write a persuasive essay. If they were to go to SIRS they would find topics of interest in many subjects with questions already asked--they just need to answer yes or no. Articles are provided which provide information to support their opinions. Each entry has an icon in the margin to indicate the format of the original information, reference book, magazine, newspaper and media. If a student had no idea where to start this is a great place to begin. A list of topics is readily available with pros and cons of an issue. In order to begin a student would need to read the articles, analyze, synthesize and evaluate, all part of the common core standard for language arts:

Indicator 5: Students can access, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate informational texts.

The research tools help to organize the research to begin the writing process. The educator resources link, found at the bottom of the SIRS home page provides great information for teachers as they prepare lessons. In fact, the common core and ProQuest datasheets are going to given to the teachers in our building because as I was looking at this site I was thinking of ways to share this information. These resources are a perfect way to share the value of this site with our teachers.

Now, I will investigate some more, read more articles and learn!