Take 5! Integration Update - January 11, 2011 (Vol.2/#13)

Issue #13

“Take 5” is a weekly 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 15-30 minutes a week (yes, that's been increased from last year!) to focus on finding resources and ideas that will improve student learning and prepare them for their future!


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HAPPY 1-11-11-11-11 (one less 1 than in November later this year!)

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Tips and Tools for Teachers 

• Scribble Maps – (Thanks, Shelley B.) - A "quick and easy way to create and share maps"... including being able to write (or scribble) on them! More “how to” and samples at their blog - http://scribblemaps.blogspot.com/  And there's WOW maps too! (World of Warcraft) 

• Math Playground – A site full of quick review games and online practice for elementary and middle school math. One negative... lots of ads, but some good, free tools/practice otherwise. The image below is just one area... of many!

Ponderings

• Animates: "Visualized Speeches" - Check out these "animates" of edited speeches by famous authors or thinkers of today. The pondering comes as you listen to not only the words being said, but the images created that help solidify the auditory content/message. Each one is about 10 minutes long... ALL are VERY GOOD (so make time to view each one)!

  
  Sir Ken Robinson – Changing Education Paradigms
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U
  
  Dan Pink: Drive (about motivation)
  http://www.youtube.com/user/theRSAorg#p/u/2/u6XAPnuFjJc
  
  Barbara Ehrenreich: Smile or Die (the power or pain of “positive thinking” vs. realistic)
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5um8QWWRvo

  
  

Learning Opportunities

• 1. In-District Professional Development Opportunities - COMING SOON!
• 2. Ohio FreeTech Conference (hosted by SmartEd Services) - It's FREE and held in "Toledo" (Sandusky) (Jan. 25 & 26), Cincinnati (Feb. 2 & 3), Columbus (Feb. 9 & 10), and Cleveland (Feb. 17 & 18). Ashland grad credit is also offered. See the sessions HERE.
• 3. NWO's STEM Education Inquiry Series (at Rossford High School!) - Thurs., January 13th - a low-cost, local opportunity for elementary teachers and JH/HS science, math, and technology teachers offered 7 times from September 23 - April 14, 2011.
•  4. In the right margin of this blog, enter your email to receive future postings into your email Inbox (Take 5s and more!) -- plan on 1-3 posts per week.

;-) Just for Fun! (and a little learning, perhaps)

This one should really be under the heading "Learning, Fun, & Serendipity." Learn things you never thought you needed to know (or never knew you were even missing) from the Instructables website. Share some with your students and see what they come up with -- for cooking, outdoors, organization, health, and more! Here are a few samples:

Add a snuggle-tight pocket to a binder:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Duckduct-tape-Folder-Book-Pocket/

Re-purpose that old whisk:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Multi-purpose-holder-from-kitchen-whisk/

Cheap iPad cover/holder:
http://www.instructables.com/id/iPad-Notebook-Safe/

For your New Year’s resolution to exercise AND work more:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Fancy-Ikea-Treadmill-Desk/

Snow sculpting idea for our next big snow:
http://www.instructables.com/id/SpongeBob-SquarePants-Snow-Sculpture-in-Color/