NetHappenings Newsletter October 20, 2004

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Net Happenings Newsletter  October 20, 2004
<http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Community/NetHappenings.html>
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Greetings All,

Welcome to the first Net Happenings Newsletter, launched by the Educational=
=20
CyberPlayGround. This newsletter features a new format with the emphasis on=
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both news and resources. Karen Ellis* Founder of the Educational=20
CyberPlayGround will continue to carry the
sponsorship of Net Happenings Newsletter which is published to all members=
=20
of the NetHappenings Mailing List. Advertisers are welcomed as sponsors of=
=20
the oldest K-12 educational mailing list in the world. If you have any=20
comments or would like to sponsor the NetHappenings Newsletter or mailing=20
list please contact me.

Thanks,

Alan Haskvitz
1997 National Teacher's Hall of Fame Inductee
1999 All USA Today First Team Teacher
1994 National Middle Level Teacher of the Year (NCSS)
[e] newsletter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[w] http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/ringleaders/al.html

Various Sections:
In the News
Research
Resources
Humor

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IN THE NEWS
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Deduction Is Back For Teachers
Congress has extended the $250 tax deduction for out-of-pocket classroom=20
expenses incurred by teachers and paraprofessionals for the 2004 and 2005=20
tax year. There must be an election coming.
<http://www.nea.org/lac/edtax/>


Free educational advise from experts
Part of the cyberplayground=92s offerings in most curriculum areas
<http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/ringleaders/Home_ringleaders.html>


 From the New York Times and DIANA JEAN SCHEMO
    Don=92t have enough money to fund a school project? Need technology=20
improvements? Have needy students? Wonder where the money went? Here is=20
where some of it disappeared.
    An essay written by a third-grade teacher and published in The Portland=
=20
Oregonian that criticized the federal No Child Left Behind law got one of=20
the lowest ratings: a negative 60. An article in The Akron Beacon Journal=20
that credited No Child Left Behind with driving
schools to close the achievement gap was praised, earning a score of 55=
 points.
    The gold medal? That went to a piece that ran in The Seattle Times,=20
signed by Education Secretary Rod Paige himself, who =93specifically credits=
=20
President Bush for championing=94 No Child Left Behind. It got a=
 near-perfect=20
95. =93The article would have rated an ideal 100 points if it had appeared=
 in=20
a more prominent newspaper,=94 said the evaluation of newspaper coverage=20
commissioned by the federal Education Department. The department paid=20
$700,000 to Ketchum, a public relations and marketing firm, to rate=20
newspaper coverage of the education law in 2003 and to produce two video=20
press releases in the format of news articles.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/16/politics/16educ.html?ex=3D1098919698&ei=
=3D1&en=3Da8be84a0b4d1ed22>

Is High School Physical Education being sacrificed on the alter of=20
standardized testing?
By Peter Schworm, Globe Staff
Schools are elbowing aside physical education to cram in more academics is=
=20
a state and national problem, worrying fitness specialists who say the=20
reduced exercise time is increasing the prevalence of childhood obesity.=20
Many younger students now take less than an
hour a week of physical education, teachers say, and even recess has been=20
cut back so students can spend more time on math and English and ideally=20
perform better on high-stakes state tests. In Massachusetts, as in many=20
other states, the problem is the worst at high schools, where students must=
=20
pass state exams to earn a diploma. =93It=92s an unintended consequence of=
=20
education reform,=94 said Kathy Pinkham, director of health and physical=20
education for the Needham schools.
Nationally, less than 6 percent of high schools now require physical=20
education for juniors and seniors, according to the Centers for Disease=20
Control and Prevention. In Massachusetts, 57 percent of high school=20
students last year took at least one physical education class a week,=20
according to the CDC. In 1993, 80 percent did; that same year, the=20
Legislature passed the Education Reform Act, which=20
<http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2004/10/18/schools_let_p=
hys_ed_slip_off_schedule/>

Jobs in the Future Could Require Less Education, Pay Less
228 Analysis of Wisconsin Employment by Job Title 2002-2012
By Dennis W. Redovich October 2004
The great numbers of high paying jobs of the future that are claimed to=20
require college graduation and high academic skills for all high school=20
students are a hoax. The majority of the jobs of the future in Wisconsin=20
and the United States are low or average paying jobs
that require short term or moderate-term on the job training and do not=20
require high-level academic skills in any academic areas, particularly in=20
higher mathematics. Technology makes jobs simpler not more difficult and=20
makes workers more productive. The great majority of the jobs of the future=
=20
are the same jobs of the 20th Century with new technological tools making=20
these jobs easier to do. A majority of jobs require only short or moderate=
=20
length training or experience. The great majority of jobs in 2012 require=20
short term on the job training or experience or moderate length on the job=
=20
training, experience or education.
<http://www.jobseducationwis.org/228%20%20Analysis%2020022012%20Wisconsin%20=
Employment.doc>


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RESEARCH
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Rewards for Students: What Works?
Edward Deci did an analysis of 128 recent studies on the effects of=20
extrinsic rewards on intrinsic motivation. His findings indicated that=20
tangible rewards significantly reduced intrinsic motivation. Meanwhile,=20
positive feedback for tasks completed works and improves the
younger student=92s self-interest. Young students responded differently than=
=20
college students to rewards.
Psychological Bulletin, Vol 125(6), 627-668

Book Reviews
Patchen, Martin. (2004). Making Our Schools More Effective: What Matters=20
and What Works. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas
http://edrev.asu.edu/reviews/rev305.htm

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TECHNOLOGY
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Searchable Subject Index of Blog-Related Sites
This is just one of many, but this one has a nice search engine and man=20
location blog directories as well as those by age, and more. Worth a look.
http://www.lsblogs.com/

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RESOURCES
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NATIONAL CHILDREN=92S FOLKSONG REPOSITORY
A good project to get involved with, this collection is expanding. Check=20
out the audio of songs from the collection.
http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Culdesac/Repository/NCFR.html

One of the more useful books the education department has created, Teaching=
=20
Our Youngest is puts together some good advise for parents and teachers on=
=20
how to create a learning environment. Downloadable.
<http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/early/teachingouryoungest/index.html>

ReadWriteThink Student Materials
This is an exceptionally great resource that brings together technology and=
=20
Bloom=92s taxonomy. The interactive tools can be used to introduce=
 technology=20
in motivating students to produce more interesting literacy related work.
http://www.readwritethink.org/student_mat/index.asp

What Works Clearinghouse (WWC)
Gathers studies of the effectiveness of educational interventions and=20
reviews them.
http://www.w-w-c.org/

Changing Minds
The site includes research on why and how minds are changed. The categories=
=20
include disciplines, techniques, principles, explanations, and theories. A=
=20
must see is the list of sites that relate to advertising, brainwashing,=20
cults, negotiation, romance, and trust. Don=92t be put off by the bland=20
opening page. Explore it.
http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories/academic_references.htm.

NCTM Illuminations: Math
An awesome resource that uses interactive menus and excellent graphics to=20
help students understand and explore math concepts at all grade levels. A=20
must see for math teachers. Over 50 tools provided.
http://illuminations.nctm.org/tools/index.aspx

HISTORY
The British view of history is here and with it a great new way to get=20
students involved in their studies of the past. Sign up for the newsletter,=
=20
too.
http://www.thinkinghistory.co.uk/resources/impactofnormanconquest.htm

Hebrew Picture Dictionary
You click on a variety of pictures and see the Hebrew writing.
http://www.milon.co.il

TRAVEL
If you have the money, this might be fun. Sponsored by ELEFENCE this=20
Educational African Safari visits Zambia, South Luangwa National Park, and=
=20
Victoria Falls during the summer of 2005. If you are into elephants this is=
=20
for you and your credit card.
http://www.education.elefence.org/

FREE PRINTABLES

Free, downloadable, uncopyrighted printables are an invaluable resource to=
=20
help students learn, to provide more depth or remediation to a topic or=20
just to have around for inclement weather or quiet time.

Enchanted Learning
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/Home.html
Cards
A+  Math Flashcard Creator Great flash card site
http://www.aplusmath.com/Flashcards/Flashcard_Creator.html
ESL Kids Flashcards
http://bogglesworld.com/cards.htm
Flashcard Exchange Over a million flashcards
http://www.flashcardexchange.com/index.jsp
Math and science
Free Math Worksheets
http://teacherszine.tripod.com/teacherszine/MathWorksheets.html
The Periodic Table
http://science.widener.edu/%7Esvanbram/ptable.html
Print and Learn for Kids Math printables
http://www.brobstsystems.com/kids/
TeacherTime Saver
http://members.aol.com/ggallag958/default.html/worksheet.html
A giant site that includes posters, science and math printables
Educational Pages from ActivityVillage
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/educational.htm
Pages that include Chinese New Year, maps, puzzles
Printable Keyboard
http://www.teachnet.com/powertools/neattools/keyboard/index.html
Printable Worksheets
http://www.nvnet.org/nvhs/edresource/hubpages/Worksheets.html

SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS

For an excellent collection of grants go to
http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Teachers/grants.html

SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS

- For an excellent collection of grants go to
http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Teachers/grants.html

- Boyer Best Practices Award 2005 for Elementary schools
  $10,000 per award
Deadline: December 1, 2004
The Boyer Best Practices Award 2005 recognizes exemplary learning practices=
=20
that connect curriculum and community.

- Clarence Olander Grants for Elementary schools
$2,000 per award
Deadline: December 3, 2004
The Mathematics Education Trust will award a maximum of $2,000 to=20
elementary school staffs for in-service education. Costs may include=20
honoraria and expenses for consultants, materials, substitute time, and=20
conference or workshop registrations.

- Beware
Before you go to other sites, check out these sites to see how scholarship=
=20
offers are being used as a gimmick.
http://www-cgi.cnn.com/US/9810/28/briefs/scholarship.fraud/
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/scholarship/
http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/scams.phtml

- Federal Student Aid Information Center
1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)
=93FedMoney.org is the most comprehensive FREE full-text online resource on=
=20
all U.S. federal government student financial aid programs. Here you will=20
find detailed and up-to-date information about (1) who can apply, (2) how=20
to apply, (3) full contact info, and much more... for over 130 government=20
loans and grants (scholarships, fellowships, training) related to education!
http://www.fedmoney.org/

- A free listing of hundreds
http://www.grandpajunior.com/Grants2.shtml

- Grants and fellowships
http://www.grantsnet.org/

- Federal Government Aid
This requires a registration
http://www.govspot.com/shortcuts/financialaid.htm

- The Financial Aid Information Page
=93The Financial Aid Information page, maintained by the author of a=20
scholarship and fellowship guide book, is full of pointers to sites that=20
help students navigate the world of financial aid.=93 Registration required
http://www.finaid.org/

- FastWEB- tailored scholarship search of over 180,000 scholarships,=20
fellowships, loans, and grants, available to students for free. Requires=20
registration/.
http://fastweb.monster.com/

- U.S.A College Scholarships
Colleges and universities throughout the United States, free college=20
scholarship and financial aid searches, SAT and ACT test preparation tips,=
=20
and more. This is a large link site with a variety of services offered.
http://www.college-scholarships.com

- International scholarships
A variety of countries and no registration
http://www.schoolcolleges.com/college/intl_schol.htm

- Huge list of minority scholarships
http://www.blackexcel.org/100minority.htm

- Hispanic scholarships
http://www.hispaniconline.com/edu&/ss_ix.html


CONFERENCES

United States Conferences
http://dir.yahoo.com/Education/Conferences/
International Conferences
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/conflist.htm
November Conferences
http://www.theconferencecalendar.com/default.cfm

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HUMOR
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This site is loaded with educationally related
cartoons. Lots of
copyrighted fun.
http://www.danscartoons.com/education_cartoons.htm

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ABOUT THE HOST
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For those who do not know me, my name is Karen Ellis
http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/AboutUs/aboutus.html
I moderate several mailing lists including: Net
Happenings, K12 Newsletters and Network Newsletters
http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Community/index.html
As well as hosting the HotList Of K-12 Internet School
Sites which was also started in 1993.
http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Schools/default.asp
Founder of both the Educational CyberPlayGround and
the National Children's Folksong Repository.
http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/

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NetHappenings Newsletter =A9 2004
Educational CyberPlayGround
http://www.cyberpg.com
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