Power points (pre made) for teachers;

http://gruebs.com/powerpointforteachers/

http://www.rubrics4teachers.com/

Great site for making rubrics

http://www.worksheets4teachers.com/

Great site for generating worksheets for classroom use.

http://edwebproject.org/k12.html

THIS SECTION offers a collection of the best on-line educational resources available, including teacher discussion groups and administrative services, as well as lesson plans, interactive projects, and interesting places for kids to explore

Webquest sites: http://cwx.prenhall.com/bookbind/pubbooks/technology-cluster/chapter2/deluxe.html Reading and training materials

http://www.mapacourse.com/webquest%20HTML/webquest%20icon.html Map for webquests

Adapting and enhancing existing webquests: http://webquest.sdsu.edu/adapting/index.html

New-2-You (www.news-2-you.com) is a weekly online newspaper for beginning readers and special education students. it exposes them to current events in an easy-to read format while simultaneously building their vocabulary skills.   You might like to "check this out."

http://www.mindohfoundation.org/contest. The contest is a national online contest to help middle and high school students reflect on what it means to have good character. The theme for this year's contest is tolerance, and students can fill out the online survey to win prizes such as a Nintendo Game Cube, a portable CD/MP3 player, gift certificates, games or sports memorabilia. Students can also enter the essay contest to win cash prizes of $500 for first place, $250 for second place and $175 for third place. The school with the most entries wins the grand prize of a new computer and a one-year subscription to MindOH!'s Discipline and Life Skills Series. The second place school receives Project Wisdom's character education materials. Last year's contest involved almost 7,000 students from 37 states and this year's contest is promising to attract even more attention! http://www.mindohfoundation.org/contest

Are your students ready for some good news? YES! is an award-winning ad-free national journal filled with inspiring stories of individuals and communities engaged in creating a more just, sustainable and peaceful world. YES! offers teachers and students inspiring case studies of practical solutions to a broad range of environmental and social justice challenges. By casting a spotlight on the positive, we profile everyday heroes, young and old, at home and abroad, who are making a real difference today. YES! offers hope, inspiration, and will give students a sense of what is possible. YES! is published quarterly by the Positive Futures Network, an independent, nonprofit organization. In honor of the important role educators play in helping young people envision and create a more positive future, YES! offers teachers a FREE one-year subscription. Educators find YES! a powerful tool for informing students about ecological and social problems while also providing hopeful solutions and channels for constructive action. Teachers can sign up online: http://www.yesmagazine.org/education/teacheroffer.cfm

Inquiry Based Into (video)

http://about.myio.org/iointroduction.asp

Environmental inquiry

http://ei.cornell.edu/

The Web-based Inquiry Science Environment (WISE) is a free on-line science learning environment for students in grades 4-12, supported by the National Science Foundation. In WISE, students work on exciting inquiry projects on topics such as genetically modified foods, earthquake prediction, and the deformed frogs mystery. Students learn about and respond to contemporary scientific controversies through designing, debating, and critiquing solutions — all on the World Wide Web!

http://wise.berkeley.edu/pages/intro/wiseIntro01.html

Using the Internet to Promote Inquiry Based Learning

http://www.biopoint.com/msla/links.html

Check out this web site:

 http://www.resumes4teachers.com

If you, or someone you know is looking for a job or promotion in the field of education, these flash resumes are a great way to stand above the crowd. You can even get them on CD-ROM, or hosted online so that they can be accessed from anywhere in the world.

This week's feature is a newly created page at LessonPlans4Teachers.com, and intended for use by any teachers requiring Special Ed. Lesson Plans. The current collection of resources is growing, but feel free to contribute if you are aware of additional sites. This feature can be accessed at http://www.lessonplans4teachers.com

January 20th is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Teachers can browse our featured theme unit page for lessons, worksheets, clipart and other resources related to MLK, all designed to make your planning a little easier. To access the featured site, go to http://www.units4teachers.com

http://www.gradebooks4teachers.com - A complete guide to Electronic Gradebooks

The Biology Guide is an online resource for Middle and High School Science Teachers who are looking for information to use in their lesson and unit planning. Over 40 great resources are found here on one page. For more visit http://www.theeducatorsnetwork.com/main/resourcefeature.htm

Resources for foreign language

http://www.teach-nology.com/teachers/lesson_plans/languages/spanish/

http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/KIS/OHSICS/forlang/spanish/08_lesson.htm

Then search for foreign language site or just search for Spanish lessons

http://www.eduhound.com can access information in English or Spanish; this website is for all grades K-12.

A great site for integrating technology; offers tutorials, Internet policies, webquests and project based learning as well as rubrics and many other helpful ideas.

http://www.4teachers.org/intech/index.shtml

100+ Lessons and Units for K-12 - "Curriculum Connections are lessons and units that have been developed by teachers in Richland School District One for teaching core curriculum objectives. Select your grade level from the list on the left for connections tailored to that grade".. The lessons can be found by visiting http://www.theeducatorsnetwork.com/main/lessonfeature.htm

Rona's Teacher Tools - Teaching Copyright to Kids

  This week we feature two great tools for teaching copyright to students. One is an online interative 'Question and Answer' session, set up in the form of a classroom (great for students) and the other is a 9 page lesson plan. Have a look at these by visiting http://www.theeducatorsnetwork.com/main/toolfeature.htm

This month's featured book at www.books4teachers.com is from edgarandellen.com

  Edgar and Ellen “Rare Beasts” is the 1st in a 6 book series that teaches children to use their imagination, lessons of consequences and accountability for their actions. It’s a fun yet educational read and children adore it. A teacher’s guide that contains great topics for lesson plans along with other games and cartoons can be found on their website. For more visit www.edgarandellen.com

Savings4Teachers.com - Blue's Clue CD-ROM

  We have connect with MyTeacherSoftware.com to bring you some great educational cd-roms at no-cost. All you have to pay for is the mail to get it to you home or school. And unlike the previous offer which only shipped to the US and Canada, these cd-roms will be sent to anywhere in the world. This week we feature a Blue's Clue cd, but other are available at http://www.theeducatorsnetwork.com/main/savingsfeature.htm 

Graphic Organizers web site

http://teacher.scholastic.com/lessonplans/graphicorg

http://www.merlot.org/Home.po

MERLOT is a free and open resource designed primarily for faculty and studentsof higher education. Links to online learning materials are collected here along with annotations such as peer reviews and assignments.

http://www.leapfrogschoolhouse.com/home/index.asp

INTERACTIVE BOOK SERIES FOR STRUGGLING READERS
LeapFrog SchoolHouse announced the expansion of the “Read-It-All” series of high-interest, low-level books for struggling readers in grades 3-5.  This series of interactive books is used in tandem with the multisensory Quantum Pad classroom learning system, designed to appeal to upper elementary students.  This touch-and-talk technology provides students with audio support that models the immediate assistance a teacher would provide. The Read-It-All series motivates struggling readers with high-interest nonfiction books that include content from respected educational publications such as Ranger Rick, the award-winning kids magazine published by the National Wildlife Federation.  Each book contains five articles packed with the reading instructional support that research indicates struggling readers need in order to become fluent, successful readers. The engaging, interactive Read-It-All books provide targeted instruction in the areas most critical to fluency and comprehension including strategic reading, word attack, vocabulary, and phrasing.  Because the reading instruction is integrated within the context of subject matter learning, the Read-It-All books allow students access to critical content area knowledge in addition to helping them to become proficient, self-regulating readers

SMITHSONIAN LAUNCHES NEW EDUCATION WEB SITE

The Smithsonian Institution announces the launch of www.SmithsonianEducation.org, an exciting new Web site for educators, families, and students. Featuring content from 16 Smithsonian museums, the National Zoo, and the Smithsonian's world-class research centers, SmithsonianEducation.org includes: (1)Separate areas designed for educators, families, and students, (2)Nearly 1,000 educational resources, searchable by grade, subject, and museum, (3) Interactive activities that engage students through rich graphics and animation, and (4) Lessons, activities, and teaching tools aligned with national

education standards. Content is aligned with national education standards, developed with input from teachers, and based on Smithsonian scholarship. Educators can quickly download lesson plans or search by subject or grade level for nearly 1,000 publications, Web sites, field trips, and other teaching tools. The site also lists professional development opportunities, special events for teachers, and a step-by-step guide to planning field trips to the Smithsonian and other museums. SmithsonianEducation.org was produced by the Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies, the central education department of the Smithsonian Institution.

LEARNING.COM TECHNOLOGY CURRICULUM ADOPTED IN ARKANSAS

Learning.com announced that its EasyTech application was adopted by the Arkansas Department of Education as part of the state's K-8 Tech Prep 2004-2010 adoption.  This decision means that 310 Arkansas districts can now implement the award-winning EasyTech application in more than 950 elementary and middle schools. EasyTech includes a management system to support Arkansas teachers as they integrate technology into their daily teaching practices, as well as an award-winning technology curriculum built around the core subject areas to help students solve problems in their everyday class work. EasyTech has been adopted in Oklahoma, Alabama, Idaho, Louisiana, West Virginia, Utah and Arkansas, and is under adoption consideration in Florida, Texas, Kentucky, and Mississippi.  It is also being used in numerous local school districts in non-adoption states throughout the country, including California and Michigan. Interested educators can find out more information about EasyTech by phoning Learning.com at 800-580-4640 or by signing up for a free trial on the company's Web site (http://www.learning.com).

www.clickandlearn.com.  It has lots of maps to print off in order to explain different areas of the world. Can use to incorporate Art into the classroom.

Take your students on a field trip right in their own classroom. Your students can gather information about areas in the world that would have been impossible for most of them to see. Visit zoos, Egypt, deserts, historical places and the people that lived there, oceans, and more!" Find out more at http://www.theeducatorsnetwork.com/main/toolfeature.htm

Much of what we learn about our world comes to us through our sense of hearing. Hearing is important not only for learning about the world, but also for communicating with other humans and animals". This 60-page unit on Sound is professionally created and in PDF format.  Visit http://www.theeducatorsnetwork.com/main/unitfeature.htm

For new teachers, assuming control of a classroom for the first time can be a daunting experience. Recognizing that beginning educators often need additional support, the folks at Scholastic have unveiled a free online resource that provides "ideas, activities, and support for your first years in teaching." The company's "New Teacher" web site provides a score of resources for the inexperienced educator, from a monthly roster of lesson plans and information about child literacy, to helpful advice and support from long-time classroom veterans. The site even has a section that lets its visitors assess their teaching styles individually and provides tips toward employing more effective classroom methods. For additional support, the site is linked to Scholastic's articles archive, where teachers can find all sorts of information about individual learning levels, student assessment, lesson planning, and classroom organization. http://www.scholastic.com/newteacher

http://teacher.scholastic.com/professional/futureteachers/professional_port.htm

The Professional Portfolio Website by Scholastic Very good information

http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/instructor/everykidcan.htm

A website for helping meet the needs of EVERY CHILD, including special needs

http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/instructor/together.htm

A website for building a positive community

http://teacher.scholastic.com/professional/backtoschool/first_morning.htm

Ways to “form” your classroom community

http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/instructor/brain.htm

Left brain/right brain info A quiz is included for you to figure out what you are, too.

Brain Connection is dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality information about how the brain works and how people learn. Many discoveries are being made in areas that relate to the human brain, including language, memory, behavior... We believe that access to this information can provide practical tools for teaching and learning as well as valuable insights into almost every aspect of our daily lives." Find out more at: http://www.theeducatorsnetwork.com/main/resourcefeature.htm

A link to top quality software for K-12 instructional programs.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/resources/surveys/editorial/rca/k12soft/

http://www.proteacher.com/

All kinds of ideas for activities, lesson plans, and much more

First Day Icebreakers : My introduction to the students is sharing a part of my interests and self by taking a small white paper bag (lunch bag size) with my name written in crayon and decorated with stickers, sequins, etc. I place about 5 - 10 different items that tell about myself. Chocolate Hershey bar (I love chocolate...what teacher doesn't?), picture of my animals, sea shells, NY Yankees pennant (favorite baseball team), favorite book, a little potted plant, (enjoyment of gardening), a baby rattle & picture of my new baby, etc... After sharing this with the students, I pass out these same types of bags and direct the students to bring no more than 10 items depicting their interests and likes (must fit in the bag!) They then will take turns explaining their items - sometimes I video the presentations to be used later on in the year (can be used on a web page or avid cinema presentation). The students learn a lot about each other as well as provide you with their interests on which to use and build on during the school year for motivation and/or conversation. (from www.teachnet.com )

Today’s Teaching Tip: Promoting Group Behavior:
In my room, we have individual, group and whole class behavior guidelines and expectations. One of the class favorites for group behavior is the Space Race. During the 3rd quarter, we study the solar system. As one of the class bulletin boards we have a large solar system poster (with all 9 planets and the Sun represented). I tell the class that we'll be participating in the Space Race. They are seated in groups of 5. They get to work collaboratively and come up with a team name (Ex: The Fantastic 5). I give them 5-15 minutes to create a team emblem and post it (with a thumb tack) on the bulletin board where the Sun is located. I then explain that each team, over the next few weeks, will race towards Pluto. Whichever team makes it to Pluto first (according to their behavior, teamwork, and sportsmanship) will win a fabulous prize. Whenever I catch teams working diligently, cooperating or working out a problem, I reward them with advancement of a planet. So when The Fantastic 5 is doing something right, I would move their emblem to Mercury, then Venus and so on.
It is important for the children to realize that they are a part of a family, a team. They have to be able to get along with others and function no only individually but as a team. The Space Race is a great way to chart group behavior. It also has many perks - The winning team that reaches Pluto first wins a homemade sauce & Spaghetti Luncheon in the classroom with their teacher! ( from http://www.teachnet.com/how-to/manage/spacerace031300.html )  

The internet is a treasure trove of deep, rich instructional resources. It's also a cesspool of inappropriate material and a mountain of undifferentiated content. Before the awesome educational potential of the web can do your teachers and students much good, somebody has to toss out the trash. Somebody has to sift through what remains for those nuggets of content. Somebody has to organize the web's vast wealth into a system that is easy to retrieve, certified for instructional merit, and presented in ways most likely to advance learning. Surprise: Somebody has been hard at work to do all that. Check out the FREE resources in our critically acclaimed eSN Resource Center on Enhancing Your Curriculum with Web-enabled Resources. Visit: http://www.eschoolnews.com/resources/reports/enhancingcurriculum/

Visit: http://www.eschoolnews.com/resources/reports/enhancingcurriculum/

At this FREE eSN Resource Center, you'll discover: · An educator-certified search engine providing access to more than 180,000 high quality, pre-screened, and educationally relevant K-12 online resources. · A web site of royalty-free works that aims to give educators and students access to content that will unleash their creativity without running afoul of current copyright law. · 20 Sites to Help You Jump-Start Web Projects proven models for online collaborative projects that have been improved and honed over a number of years and iterations. · News you can use, about testing requirements and federal mandates · Loads of links online resources from Research Groups, Government Agencies, Foundations, Think Tanks, and Education Associations

Software sites:

http://www.educate-me.net/

Created by teachers for teachers. You can search software by age and subject. There is also a section for audio visual software.

http://www.superkids.com/

Gives educational ratings, value, kid appeal and ease of use. Also gives a price survey for PC and Mac. A little hard to search by content area. Good for reviews.

http://www.kidsclick.com/

Can search by clicking on grade level or subject area. Very easy to find information.

Links are provided as well as detailed descriptions.

Rubrics4Teachers.com - 40 K-12 Rubrics

  The following is a collection of 40 rubrics to evaluate student work. "Some are based on the excellent rubric template found at the Rubric Collection web site, while the majority are based on the ingenuity and creativity of Region 20 teachers." Find these at http://www.theeducatorsnetwork.com/main/rubricfeature.htm

Choose from over 50 lesson activities compiled by the Library of Congress. Lessons are targeted towards students from Grade 4 to 12, and specific topics are varied and cross-curricular. These can be found at http://www.theeducatorsnetwork.com/main/lessonfeature.htm

http://www.lessonplans4teachers.com/

Great site for lesson plans K-12

http://www.myteachersoftware.com - No-Cost Educational Software for Teachers

http://www.dvds4teachers.com - get educational dvds and teaching guides for 30 days at no cost

http://www.gradebooks4teachers.com - Now Featuring the "Pretty Good Grading Program"

http://www.eduhound.com has everything for education K-12-even can get it in Spanish. Has US dept. of education website and testing for states. Can also create your own FREE educational web page here. Has clip art also.

Contact the
Education Division

Email: bgray@ac.edu
Phone: 864-262-2143