Educators give publishers their wish lists
To engage today's students and get them to learn, information must be more than just words on a page, educators told publishers at a recent forum: Instead, students need relevant and interactive material, as well as resources and activities that can provide real-life experiences.
Author : WebAdmin@eschoolnews.com
Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:08:52 EDT

Schools grapple with teachers' Facebook use
As social networking web sites such as Facebook and MySpace become increasingly popular channels for student communication, schools are struggling to define the rules for whether, and how, it's appropriate for teachers to interact with their students through these media.

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Introducing the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC, a new notebook designed just for 1:1 computing programs. It's scaled down in size and weight, but it's huge in features--including one of the biggest keyboards in its class, an 8.9" diagonal screen and wireless capability. Learn more now.
Author : WebAdmin@eschoolnews.com
Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:08:52 EDT

On the way: Nation's first tech-literacy exam
For the first time ever, technological literacy will become part of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nation's Report Card, the test's governing board has announced.
Author : WebAdmin@eschoolnews.com
Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:08:52 EDT

Wall Street crisis hits higher education
Schools and colleges across the nation are scrambling to develop new plans to pay their bills after an investment fund that serves about 1,000 colleges and private schools last week partially froze withdrawals amid the current credit crunch.
Author : WebAdmin@eschoolnews.com
Publ.Date : Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:08:52 EDT

Celebrities and kids join to set reading record
Reading to her daughter has become a staple of Sheri Johnson's pre-bedtime regimen. Johnson and her 8-year-old daughter, Maya, joined more than 400 elementary school students at Washington Nationals Park Oct. 2 for the third annual Read for the Record national event, created by Jumpstart, a national organization that promotes literacy, especially among low-income families.
Author : WebAdmin@eschoolnews.com
Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:08:52 EDT

Editorial: Wake-Up Call
Sometimes I think my mother should have named me Johnny...Johnny One Note. Reason: Every time I turn around I see more evidence of our general inability as a nation to make a genuine commitment to education--and to vital education-enablers such as school libraries.
Author : WebAdmin@eschoolnews.com
Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:08:52 EDT

How to survive another e-Rate season
If you're applying for the 2009 e-Rate, the $2.25 billion-a-year federal program that provides discounts on telecommunications services to eligible schools and libraries, you won't find many new additions to this year's program, e-Rate officials say. Instead, you'll find live training sessions, online videos, and other web-based resources designed to help you become more comfortable with the e-Rate application process.
Author : WebAdmin@eschoolnews.com
Publ.Date : Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:08:52 EDT

 

 

OUR CALENDAR IS AVAILABLE IN
TWO STYLES
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Click on the calendar style you prefer. Each calendar features 500+ web resources that tie monthly events with web resources and the New York State learning standards.



Graphic version featuring mouse drawn
graphics by Cute Colors



Stylistic version
(will load faster on slower networks)

MAY ISSUE



Click on image to go to the site.
FUN & MOTIVATING

Celebrate Father's Day by learning about the history of Father's Day at the History.com website.
---------------------------
Check below for a motivational
thought that changes daily.



NCTE's Recommendations for 21st-Century Literacy

In February 2008, the National Council of Teachers of English adopted a new definition of 21st-century literacies. According to the NCTE Executive Committee, "The 21st century demands that a literate person possess a wide range of abilities and competencies, many literacies. These literacies—from reading online newspapers to participating in virtual classrooms—are multiple, dynamic, and malleable.

"More specifically, NCTE believes that 21st-century readers and writers need to:

  • Develop proficiency with the tools of technology
  • Build relationships with others to pose and solve problems collaboratively and cross-culturally
  • Design and share information for global communities to meet a variety of purposes
  • Manage, analyze, and synthesize multiple streams of simultaneous information
  • Create, critique, analyze, and evaluate multimedia texts
  • Attend to the ethical responsibilities required by these complex environments.

    SOURCE: www.ncte.org/about/gov/129117.htm

Proficiency Using the Tools of Technology

So...What are the tools ot technology in the educational realm? These are some of the hardware tools that came to mind...

Technology that Helps Students Build Relationships with Others

  • Skype
  • Instant Messaging
  • E-mail

Technologies that can be Used to Share information for Global Communities

Technology Strategies that Help Students Manage, Analyze, and Synthesize Multiple Streams of Simultaneous Information

Technology Strategies that Help Students Create, Critique, Analyze, and Evaluate Multimedia Texts


Attending to ethical responsibilities that Exist in Our More Complex Environments

And so we reach the true challenge! How do we teach ethical responsibilities and determine best practice AND keep our students safe as we allow more open access to these complex environments? The following resources may provide some insight as you begin to consider the measurese we need to take as educators:
TUTORIALS

Learn how other educators use our site!
---------------------
Access our Online Tutorials. Watch the tutorials for tips and strategies that will help you navigate and use our calendar.
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Click on the reporter bug to download a form students can use to become Daily Reporters.

 

As you browse through the hundreds of annotated resources included in our calendar this month you will find biographical information for 100+ artists, writers, scientists, sports figures, historical figures, mathematicians, etc. You will also find the following "special"
web resources:

BONUS SITES
24 - Resource sites that include Lesson Plans
40- Interative sites that include games, puzzles, etc.
14 - Webquests (extended activities that students can work on as individuals or cooperatively)
33 - Sites that include access to audio clips or video clips

17 - Sites that include virtual tours

8 - Sign up for free items or download free items from the associated link.
10 - Look for a live webcam when you visit the associated link.
8 - A podcast is available when you explore the associated link.

Customize your Browser Toolbar - Did you know you can customize your browser toolbar by right-clicking on an empty area of the toolbar? Right-click and select the "Customize" option. Follow the directions that appear in the customize window to select the options that best suit your browsing needs.

Change font sizes/colors when Browsing - If you are visiting a website or having trouble reading an e-mail due to color of the page or the font size, you can change the font and color to improve visability. Use the tips below for easier visability:

  • Select the Tools option from the top of your Explorer window and go to the Internet options. Select the General option tab and then click on the Accessibility button on right lower of the dialog box. Change the status of checkboxes marked "Ignore font sizes specified on Web pages" and "Ignore Colors specified on Web pages." Click OK.

  • To change the font size in Explorer select the View option from the top menu and go to Text size option to change it.
FEATURED BONUS SITES





Click on image to go to the site.



Word of the Day

Article of the Day

Quote of the Day

Spelling Bee
difficulty level:
score: -
please wait...
 
spell the word:

Match Up
Match each word in the left column with its synonym on the right. When finished, click Answer to see the results. Good luck!

 

FEATURED
CURRICULAR SITE

Click on image to go the site.

MOON PHASES

Check below to see the current phase of the moon in the Northern Hemisphere.

CURRENT MOON
Calendar researched, designed, and developed by Jen Farr



Copyright 2007© - All Rights Reserved
Farr-Out Links, Inc.™

Disclaimer: Although all links are verified at the beginning of the month, please be aware that changes beyond the designer's control can occur. If you find a dead or inappropriate link please contact Jen Farr and a correction will be made as quickly as possible.