Take 5! Integration Update (Vol.1/#5)

Here is your 5th installment of the Take 5! Integration Update.
“Take 5” is now a weekly email update containing information related to teaching and learning for today and beyond...

Take just 5 minutes (or less) to look over these resources and see what might be helpful for your and/or your students. Better yet, set aside at least 15 minutes a week to focus on finding resources and ideas that will improve student learning and prepare them for their future!

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Tips and Tools for Teachers 
1) Spelling City – (ads on pages, but a neat review tool!) -- Thanks to Jen Lewis for suggesting this site! I know many elementary teachers already use this... If not, check it out! Provide an online spelling list with a “Test Me”, “Teach Me”, and “Play a Game” options as well as generates a printable spelling list.  http://www.spellingcity.com  

2) Tag Galaxy – find pictures (in a solar system search format — you have to see it to really understand...)  And click in the lower right corner for the full-screen effect!
http://www.taggalaxy.de/   (Thanks for sharing this site, Kristen Vargo – IH, GL) 

3) Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling – Thinking about having students create a project? How about digital storytelling? Lots of information here to get you started! Email me if you’re interested in a Digital Storytelling summer workshop!http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/index.html

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Ponderings
Short (or Long) Read 

Brain Rules Book: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Home, Work, and School
I mentioned this book before, but here’s the direct link for the 12 rules, many relating to learning:

http://www.brainrules.net/the-rules  LOTS of videos and information here for FREE!!!
(Download a PDF of the 12 Rules here - http://www.brainrules.net/pdf/12brainrules.pdf ) 

The 12 Brain Rules (by John Medina) 

• Exercise - Rule #1: Exercise boosts brain power.  
• Survival - Rule #2: The human brain evolved, too.  
• Wiring - Rule #3: Every brain is wired differently.  
• Attention - Rule #4: We don’t pay attention to boring things.  
• Short-term memory - Rule #5: Repeat to remember.  
• Long-term memory - Rule #6: Remember to repeat.  
• Sleep - Rule #7: Sleep well, think well.  
• Stress - Rule #8: Stressed brains don’t learn the same way.  
• Sensory integration - Rule #9: Stimulate more of the senses.
• Vision - Rule #10: Vision trumps all other senses.  
• Gender - Rule #11: Male and female brains are different.  
• Exploration - Rule #12: We are powerful and natural explorers.

Point to Ponder...
Which of these rules will you share with your students? 

Learning Opportunities 

1) REVS’ trainings and workshops calendar (March sessions) - http://ed-tech-integration.pbworks.com/Workshops 

2) Kristie Hughes, NWOCA Educational Technologist (March and April visits) - Sign up here: http://training.nwoca.org/hughes 

MARCH (Confirmed)
Thursday, March 18 (EP, JH, HS) 

Wednesday, March 24 (IH, GL) 

APRIL (Confirmed)
Wednesday, April 7 (EP, JH, HS)                
Wednesday, April 14 (IH, GL)

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Just for Fun! ;-) 

A NEW section for a little comic relief... And for those of you creative types who can find a way to make a lesson out of this stuff! Here you go: Tater People – In honor of St. Patrick’s Day (Irish potatoes & all...) Which one(s) are you? http://www.frontiernet.net/~shelby304/specials/sweettators/  

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