************************************************************** Educational CyberPlayGround http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/ ************************************************************** K12 Newsletters Mailing List K12 Newsletters Mailing List Service <http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Community/Subguidelines.html> Subscribe | Unsubscribe | Change Email Preferences - <http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Community/K12Newsletters.html> ************************************************************** National Children's Folksong Repository www.edu-cyberpg.com Integrate Literacy, Music, and Technology into the classroom. ************************************************************** From: "Education World Weekly Newsletter" <newsletter-weekly@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <gleason@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tue, 27 Apr 2004 17:43:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Education World Newsletter Vol. 8 Issue 17 Education World Weekly Newsletter Volume 8 Issue 17 April 27, 2004 Dear Education Professionals, Welcome to What's New This Week at Education World, published weekly as a free service by Education World®. You are receiving this newsletter because you have signed up to receive updates of What's New at Education World. If you enjoy this newsletter, please feel free to forward it to other teachers. If this newsletter has been forwarded to you, you may sign up at http://www.educationworld.com/maillist.shtml. Education World is the largest *free* resource on the Web for teachers and school administrators. We remain a free resource thanks to the support of our advertisers -- so please click on ads of interest and visit our advertisers' sites. =================================================== ************************* LATEST ARTICLES ************************* ********************************************** LESSON PLANNING ********************************************** Just the Facts: Five Games for Teaching Math Facts http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson339.shtml Practice! Practice! Practice! That?s how most students learn their addition facts or times tables. Rote drill is a popular and proven tool for learning math facts. But it?s OK to lighten up and add some fun to math-facts learning. Writing Bug: Be a Sport http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/writing_bug/writingbug077.shtml Which sport is your favorite? 5-Minute Fillers http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/fillers/fillers036.shtml Quick activities when you have five minutes to spare -- Volume 36. Teacher-Submitted Lesson Plan: Writing a Character Sketch http://www.educationworld.com/a_tsl/archives/04-1/lesson017.shtml Write a character sketch about somebody you know well. Internet Scavenger Hunt: April Showers Bring May Flowers http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/hunt/hunt070.shtml April showers and the water cycle. Work Sheet of the Week http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/worksheets/TCM/lang_arts_3_5.shtml#pggames ?Paragraph Games? -- teaching about main idea. Pet Week Lessons for Every Grade http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson311.shtml It's National Pet Week! Have you been feeling like the proverbial "old dog"? Learn some new tricks with five lessons that bring the delightful topic of pets into the classroom. From feline to fish to fowl, students enjoy learning about the animals that share our homes and our lives. ********************************************** PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ********************************************** Strategies That Work: Family Reading Nights http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/strategy/strategy034.shtml Many schools, in an effort to improve test scores, are placing a renewed emphasis on reading. Planning a special night to showcase student reading and to get entire families involved is a sure way to boost reading excitement and achievement. Dr. Ken Shore's Classroom Problem Solver Students Who ?Bother? Their Classmates http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/shore/shore035.shtml Students ?bother? their classmates in a variety of ways: by poking, tripping, pushing, interrupting, and ridiculing them. Whatever form the bothering takes, if the incidents come to your attention, you might need to get involved -- before a small problem turns into a large problem. Eight tips for dealing with students who pester their classmates. Teacher Feature: Starring Sue Bailey http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/teacher_feature/teacher_feature033.shtml Virtual travelers use tools of technology! Voice of Experience: Gaga Over Google: Photo Images Bring Lessons to Life http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/voice/voice121.shtml You probably know about the Google search tool, but have you made use of Google?s image search engine? Max Fischer thinks Google?s image library is a virtual goldmine. Included: Ideas for using Google?s image search tool to bring lessons to life. Contests and Competitions http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/contests/index.shtml Essay contest encourages social responsibility in technology use. In Search of National Board Certification: One Teacher?s Perspective http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/voice/voice062.shtml Considering a bid for National Board Certification? In this week?s Voice of Experience essay, educator Max Fischer shares his experience. ?It was the most challenging teaching exercise I ever have undertaken. Simultaneously, it was the most rewarding,? says Fischer. Tools for Teaching http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/archives/jones.shtml Dr. Fred Jones writes about classroom management strategies you can use. ********************************************** TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM ********************************************** Educators Review EasyTech http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech190.shtml Recently, Education World reviewers checked out EasyTech, an online program that merges technology training and instruction in core curricular areas. The reviewers used EasyTech in actual classroom situations, rated it on a scale of 1-4, and shared their thoughts about the program's strengths and weaknesses. Read what they had to say! Sites to See: Careers http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/sites/sites030.shtml Online Career sites can help young people make informed decisions as they explore career opportunities, choose a college major, or make the transition from school to work. Career sites offer job related information, as well as opportunities to practice such job related activities as interviewing and resume writing. A Techtorial: Save Time with Macros http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/techtorial/techtorial057.shtml A macro is a shortcut that allows you to perform a task simply by pressing a combination of keys on the keyboard or by clicking a single button on the toolbar. You can create macros to fill in commonly used phrases, create consistent formatting, or combine several tasks into one command. Cool School of the Week http://www.educationworld.com/cool_school/2003/honor_roll_042104.shtml Mariposa Elementary School, Oakwood, Ontario, Canada. The Inter-Activity Center http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/interactivity/index.shtml ExplorA-Pond offers hands-on lessons in pond ecology. Cyber Study Hall: A Guide to Homework Help Online http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech061.shtml Cyber-savvy students can have their own personal e-homework helper just a mouse click away -- if they just know where to look! Education World writer Glori Chaika hones in on online homework help resources that your students will find useful. Cinco de Mayo WebQuest Includes a Fiesta! http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech019.shtml Offer students a lesson about another culture and technology with a teacher-designed WebQuest! Music, food, and a piñata help make learning about Cinco de Mayo fun! Included: Bernie Dodge offers tips for Education World readers in "WebQuest -- Seven Steps for Getting Started." ********************************************** SCHOOL ISSUES ********************************************** A ?Nuts and Bolts? Approach to Classroom Successes http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/chat/chat102.shtml A former teacher, Dr. Jane Bluestein turned her pages of tips for teachers about classroom management and organization into a book and then a business. She works with educators seeking new ways to improve their teaching and interactions. Stopping School Violence http://www.educationworld.com/a_special/school_violence.shtml While some of the shock associated with major school shootings, such as the rampage at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999, has subsided, school safety remains a concern for most educators. Many continue to search for more reliable ways to identify and stop violent students before they act. Education World has compiled resources to help school staff members keep violence out of their schools. No Educator Left Behind: State Assessments http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/NELB/NELB070.shtml State assessments sound like they could take a lot of time and effort. What will be gained by them? Inclusion Teaches Kids Who Struggle How to Succeed http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/soapbox/soapbox008.shtml Math teacher Cossondra George -- a former special ed teacher -- makes a strong case for inclusion, saying including special education kids in ?regular? classes motivates them to succeed. The Weekly Survey http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/survey/survey013.shtml Who most influenced your decision to become an educator? Last Week's Survey Results http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/survey/survey012.shtml Would you transfer to a "school in need of improvement" for more money? News Scoops: Education News Headlines for Busy Educators http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/archives/edscoops.shtml 1. Gifted Students Use Both Sides of Brain Better -- The right and left halves of the brains in teens with above-average math skills are better at integrating information than brains of average students, according to a new study. 2. Monitoring Children's Media Usage -- The National PTA and Cable in the Classroom issued a report, "Navigating the Children's Media Landscape: A Parent's and Caregiver's Guide." It includes tips for supervising children's media usage. 3. "Running" Restaurant Teaches Life Skills -- Some fifth graders from Oak Park Elementary School in Minnesota spent weeks training for a stint running a restaurant for a night. Students employed math and interpersonal skills. 4. Teachers Helping Teachers -- The U.S. Department of Education has launched the Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative, which recruits the nation's best teachers to share effective teaching practices with other teachers during summer workshops and roundtable discussions. 5. Martial Arts Program Combats Gangs, Bullies -- A martial arts program at Longwood High School in Middle Island, New York, is teaching students to defend themselves -- and how to stay out of trouble. Teaching self-respect can help students reject gangs, school officials hope. A Call for Better Middle School Transitions http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/issues/issues326.shtml The move from elementary to middle school, often at grade six, can be stressful and jarring for some youngsters. The National Association of Elementary School Principals and the National Middle School Association issued a position paper calling on teachers, parents, counselors, and administrators to make the change a smooth one. ********************************************** ADMINISTRATOR'S DESK ********************************************** School Stores Teach Lifelong Skills http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin353.shtml This ?local shop? can stock merchandise ranging from pencils to tasty snacks, and sell its wares to students, teachers, principals and even the occasional visitor. A school store, however, is more than a ?convenience store;? its shelves also are stocked with the materials for building academic and lifelong learning skills. Eliminating Lunch Money Messes http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin354.shtml Probably every day in every classroom, a teacher hears, ?I lost/forgot/spent my lunch money,? sparking phone calls home, IOUs, or food collections. Pre-paid lunch programs can end the problems of missing money, and save parent and teacher time. Teacher Training: Web Resources for Staff Development http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/teacher_training/teacher_training008.shtml A first year teacher feels overwhelmed. A principal needs an evaluation rubric for integrating technology. You?re looking for a listing of summer workshops for teachers in your area. Where do you turn? How I Handled Reviving Interest in Our School-Wide Literacy Effort http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/how_i_handled/how_i_handled033.shtml Our school?s ?Book of the Month? program had sailed along smoothly for a couple of years. In its third year, though, the program hit some rough spots. Students and parents began to lose interest. How could we revamp the program to bring back the enthusiasm it once had enjoyed? Principal Profile http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/pprofile/pprofile024.shtml Mary Goedert, Village Oak Elementary, Novi, Michigan. Grants http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/grants/index.shtml Urban Challenge Grants designed to bridge the digital divide. Conventions and Conferences http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/conventions/ What's coming up? Join the Conversation http://forums.educationworld.com/index.php?t=msg&th=79&start=0&rid=0&S=0621926987dc4f27ff228ff309901bfb Do you have a school motto, creed, or pledge? Making Teacher Evaluations Work http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin224.shtml Evaluating teachers is one of the most difficult jobs in any school district. The Montgomery County (Maryland) Public Schools handle teacher evaluation by incorporating it into an in-depth, wide-ranging approach to teacher learning called the Professional Growth System. Education World takes a close look at the system's practical elements and how it works. Mission Statements With Vision: Where Is Your School Going? http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin229.shtml What is your school's mission? If you have to search through your handbook or you can't recall the entire lengthy statement, you probably aren't making the most of your school's mantra! How can you make your mission statement more meaningful? Bring it into the classroom and give it vision! If You Had a Choice, Would You Still Be a Principal? http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/chat/chat099.shtml What draws some educators to become school principals? What keeps them on the job? That's the question Education World asked our Principal Files principals this month. Perhaps some of what they have to say will inspire you as you go about your daily routine. Sixty-Five Ways to Recognize Teachers During Teacher Appreciation Week -- and All Year Long http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin308.shtml Have you special plans for Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2-8)? Are you searching for new ways to show your teachers how much you appreciate their efforts? Education World's "Principal Files" principals share some things they have done to show their appreciation. ********************************************** SITE REVIEWS ********************************************** Robert Louis Stevenson Web Site http://www.educationworld.com/awards/2004/r0404-19.shtml With e-texts, including the complete poems. American Dreams http://www.educationworld.com/awards/2004/r0404-21.shtml Companion site to the NBC TV show set in the Vietnam War era. Native Access to Engineering Programme http://www.educationworld.com/awards/2004/r0404-23.shtml Site on engineering, aimed at Aboriginal youth, but of interest to all. ********************************************** SIGN UP FOR OUR OTHER NEWSLETTERS ********************************************** Have you signed up to receive the... Education World ADMINISTRATORS DESK NEWSLETTER? Each week, Education World's Administrators Desk Newsletter shares with school leaders all the new content of interest posted to Education World in the previous week. You will find news articles on wide-ranging topics; the weekly How I Handled? feature, in which a principal shares a recently solved problem; a new or archived "Principal Files" article in which principals share practical ideas about real issues; a principal profile; and much, much more. Would you like to see a sample of the Education World Administrators Desk Newsletter? If so, simply click the link below: http://www.educationworld.com/newsletters_images/admin_sample.shtml If you would like to subscribe to the Education World Administrators Desk Newsletter, simply click the following link: http://www.educationworld.com/maillist.shtml If the Administrators Desk Newsletter is not of interest to you, do you know somebody else who might benefit from it? Perhaps you could pass this information along to that person. ==================================== Education World® http://www.educationworld.com/ newsletter-weekly@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ==================================== Education World 1062 Barnes Road Suite 301 Wallingford, CT 06492 ==================================== <>~~~~~<>~~~~~<>~~~~~<>~~~~~<>~~~~~<>~~~~~<>~~~~~<>~~~~~<>~~~~~<> EDUCATIONAL CYBERPLAYGROUND http://www.edu-cyberpg.com Net Happenings, K12 Newsletters, Network Newsletters http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Community/index.html FREE EDUCATION VENDOR DIRECTORY LISTING http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Directory/default.asp HOT LIST OF SCHOOLS ONLINE http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Schools/default.asp Educational CyberPlayGround Services http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/PS/Home_Products.html <>~~~~~<>~~~~~<>~~~~~<>~~~~~<>~~~~~<>~~~~~<>~~~~~<>~~~~~<>~~~~~<>