Where's the Google Wonder Wheel?

 

Here’s a blog post about it... It’s there...
http://teacherleaders.typepad.com/the_tempered_radical/2010/09/googles-wonder-wheel-isnt-gone.html

Short version... turn off the Instant feature (to the right of the search box) and it will reappear on left side. 

Silly Google!!! What were they thinking!!??!!

Blogging 101: Steps for Success

ARTICLE HERE

These suggestions from Heather Wolpert-Gawron are great food for thought for teachers of middle school or high school students to consider before you start a blog project. The importance of students learning about "netiquette" and blogging "offline" are keys to success as well.

She mentions using Kidblog... and another site good for school blogging, especially at the elementary and even middle school age is Class Blogmeister. High School students may want to try using other more mainstream blog sites such as Google's Blogger (which this blog uses), WordPress, or another you are comfortable with using and managing FIRST.

Then there's the issue of access at school... talk to your Tech Director first... That should really be Step #1 on Heather's list! ;-)

Constitution Day Resources

http://www.flickr.com/photos/caveman_92223/3193229606/ 

 

Happy Constitution Day!

Below are a few resources that teachers can use for studying Constitution Day (thank you Jen M. for the links!):

Slide Shows

http://www.k12.com/events/constitution_day_lessons/
This site has nice slide shows for each grade level.

Constitution Game 
http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/constitution-day/game.html )
Last year I used this Constitution Game and I think it really gave the kids an idea of what the delegates had to go through to write our constitution. I think it could be adapted for the younger grades.
 

Constitution PowerPoints

http://government.pppst.com/constitution.html
This has a bunch of powerpoints and games.

Constitution Facts and Games
http://www.constitutionfacts.com 

Take 5! Integration Update - September 8, 2010 (Vol.2/#2)

Issue #2:

“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!


===================================

Tips and Tools for Teachers - Beginning of year reminders...

• SMART Exchange - SEARCH for lessons and SHARE the lessons you create!

• Do you have a SOCS Teacher page? Or do you have a teacher web page or website that can be linked through the SOCS system? Click HERE to see what options you have available to you.
  

Ponderings

• Participating kids are learning kids! -- Whether using cheap or more expensive "student response systems" (e.g., thumbs up/down, small whiteboards/chalkboards, colored/lettered index cards, or electronic "clickers") the results are in (which you probably already knew)... NEWSFLASH: Kids learn more when they participate! (In other words, active minds are learning minds!)  
• This article specifically discusses the strategy of "preventing the brightest students from putting their hands up," but more specifically, points out the benefits when ALL students get to participate, test their knowledge, or just plain guess at something posed by the teacher. 
• So... in your classroom, do the same few students always respond? If so, are the other students being "active" and challenging themselves to think and learn? How do/will you get them all involved in their learning?

Learning Opportunities

1. District Professional Development Opportunities - Calendar
2. University of Toledo presents Creating a Customized Classroom Management Plan (by Chelonnda Seroyer), Wednesday, Sept. 22 (5-8pm) -- FREE, but space is limited - More info at: http://teachut3.utoledo.edu/speaker.aspx 
3. 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)

• How will you celebrate... Wonderful Weirdos Day tomorrow (the 9th)?, or Video Games Day (12th)?, or Big Whopper Liar Day (18th/3rd Saturday, as not to conflict with schools, perhaps!), or Talk Like a Pirate Day (19th)? And be sure to remember Constitution Day on the 17th! More listings for each month here -- http://www.brownielocks.com/month2.html

Take 5! Integration Update - September 1, 2010 (Vol.2/#1)

Here is your 1st installment of the
Take 5! Integration Update 
for the 2010-2011 school year. 


“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!


===================================

Tips and Tools for Teachers - Beginning of year reminders...

• YouTube -- Did you hear that teachers (JH, HS and soon Elem) now have access to YouTube without being blocked? Just remember to do your searches and screen preparations OFF the projector (not with students watching) in case something unexpected shows up! If there are questionable related videos or you prefer a "clean look," try one of these options:

YouTube XL - http://www.youtube.com/xl
QuietTube - follow directions here - http://quietube.com  

• Thinkfinity - free resources and lessons for teachers from Verizon -- Click on the "New to Thinkfinity" link on the right side to learn more!

Ponderings

• Article summary - 9 Things Teachers Wish Parents Knew 

Learning Opportunities

1. 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.
2. District Professional Development Opportunities - Calendar 
3. NWOET's Scanner Newsletter - pdf (August 2010) - includes listings for fall PD opportunities (online and face-to-face)

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

• Jigsaw Land (may have pop-up ads...)

Education Nation by Milton Chen

Watch the 60-minute webinar from August 2010 and various resources about Milton Chen's new book, "Education Nation: Six Leading Edges of Innovation in Our Schools." Milton is the senior fellow, The George Lucas Educational Foundation (who funds Edutopia).

The Six Edges of Innovation are:

1. 1. Thinking - from either/or to "both/and"
2. 2. Curriculum and Assessment - social/emotional, global, and bilingual learning
3. 3. Technology - 1:1, intelligent text, assistive tech, universal design, serious games
4. 4. Time/Place - where learning "occurs"
5. 5. Co-Teaching - mentorships, collaborations, etc.
6. 6. Youth - their world and realities

9 Things Teachers Wish Parents Knew

From Good Housekeeping... (For more details, visit the complete article from Yahoo Shine http://shine.yahoo.com/event/backtoschool/9-things-teachers-wish-parents-knew-2342257/ )

1. Don't be a stranger!
2. Learning doesn't stop at 3:15.
3. Stay involved — even when you don't know the material.
4. Keep your child organized.
5. Let your child make mistakes.
6. Raise a good reader.
7. If the teacher deserves a good grade, give her one.
8. The teacher's on your side — give her the benefit of the doubt.
9. There is a secret to better grades.

My only suggestion would be for #4... To revise to “help keep your child organized” rather than doing it for them. But they do need examples and role models, which often falls on the classroom teacher — at ALL grade levels!
 
Which of these (or others) do you share with parents? (add your comments below!)

Teaching Social Studies Resources

Thanks to Chuck Cox (HS) for these links!

Teaching Tips Index - great for ALL subject areas!
http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/teachtip.htm#syllabus

Powerpoint Palooza
http://www.pptpalooza.net/ 

Annenberg Media - Social Studies
http://www.learner.org/resources/browse.html?discipline=7

Ohio Treasure Chest of Technology Resources
http://www.ohiotreasurechest.org/cgi-bin/course_list.pl?content_area=CSS

 

Excel Calendars

Below is a link to calendar template files made in Excel that you can download free for personal use (no selling them, please!!!!)  ;-)  Just to mention, these do contain macros, so check with your tech staff BEFORE using, if there are concerns.

http://www.vertex42.com/ExcelTemplates/yearly-calendar.html

Shelley & Brittany's ISTE Adventure Blog

If you have a couple minutes, check out Shelley Bertsch's and Brittany Fenderson's (aka - Shel & Brit) blog about their adventures at the ISTE educational technology conference in Denver. Notice that they made their blog with Wordpress, while this one is done with Blogger (a Google tool).

http://isteadventure2010.wordpress.com/


For more information about ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), visit the ISTE website... LOTS of great resources, including the NETS (National Educational Technology Standards) for students, teachers, and administrators.

 

Teaching & Learning 2.0 Institute

On June 21-22, eight teachers representing each of Rossford's five schools attended the first Teaching and Learning 2.0 Institute. Although from various grade levels and subject areas, TL2 Institute participants still found common ground with their experiences in teaching students today, including how they can continue to work to help students be successful in the classroom and future pursuits.

Outcomes for the T&L 2.0 Institute included:

• Explore the NETS-S, 21st Century Skills, and the Ohio Academic Content Standards and how they can be integrated to meet student needs
• Identify tools and alternatives that allow students to meet educational goals and prepare them for their future
• Begin (or continue) the process to develop a life-long learning plan and practice for meeting your professional goals
• Develop lessons and assessments for 21st Century Learning
• Find and use online resources for curriculum and lesson development

This wiki site shows some of the topics, tools, and lesson ideas that participants worked on (and continue to work on throughout the year). Look for more opportunities similar to this during the 2010-11 school year and next summer!