Newsline Submission Guidelines

 Inside this Issue

Instructional Technology Update 

E-rate Program

• Funding Year 2006 News

• Funding Year 2005 News

Ed Tech Research, Publications, Resources, Special Events

• New report outlines high school framework for 21st century learning

• 2006 CoSN Compendium released

• AIR announces new high school center web site

• Simple rules to follow to get a school bond passed

Missouri Schools and Programs in the News  

• Congratulations to Zach McCall

CSD Update

• Midwest Education Technology Conference 2007 call for Presentations announced

eLearning for Educators

• The Missouri implementation of the e-Learning for Educators project, a Ready-to-Teach Grant focused on e-Learning and professional development involving public television stations and state departments of education in nine states, is accepting teacher registration for courses.

MOREnet Update

• MOREnet Instructional Technology Conference 2006 October 22-24, 2006

• Summer Professional Development Available From MOREnet

• Summer Camp Schedule

• First Issue of MOREnetworking: Research Released

METPA Update

Regular Featured Items 

• eMINTS Update

• eMINTS Questions

• Copyright Question

• Upcoming Conferences

• Grant Funding Opportunities

• Mark Your Calendar

• From the Mailbag

• Internet Sites

• Newest eThemes

• Updated eThemes

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY UPDATE

Budgets/Grant Programs

Missouri House and Senate pass virtual school bill
On March 30, The House passed HB1275 authorizing the Department of Education to establish a virtual school program by mid-Summer next year. The Senate passed its version of the bill on April 18. The bills call for a virtual school that would use the latest technology to serve up to 500 students throughout the state, allowing high school students to take courses online. The state will contract with appropriate providers that offer services and employ teachers. For more information, see HB1275 at: http://www.house.mo.gov/bills061/bills/hb1275.htm.

E-RATE PROGRAM

USAC released Wave 1 of funding commitment letters on April 26 for Funding Year 2006 (July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007). This wave includes commitments for $126.4 million via 4,599 letters, for Priority One funding (telecommunications services and Internet access).

SLD estimates $3.55 billion in requested funding for schools and libraries seeking discounts for Funding Year 2006. The estimate is based on the dollars requested in 39,416 applications received or postmarked by February 16, 2006, the close of the Form 471 application filing window, and represents a decrease of nearly $100 million (2.7 percent) from the estimated demand for FY 2005 of $3.65. The estimated demand for Priority One funding (telecommunications services and Internet access) is $1.69 billion, an increase of 7.7 percent, while estimated demand for Priority Two funding (internal connections other than basic maintenance of internal connections) is $1.86 billion, a decrease of 10.5 percent. The estimated demand for Priority Two services at the 90 percent discount rate increased by $14 million (1.9 percent), to a total of $755 million.  See: http://www.universalservice.org/sl/. 

USAC released Wave 45 on April 27, consisting of 294 letters and committing $98.55 million. This wave includes commitments for approved Internal Connections and Basic Maintenance funding requests at 86% and above. To-date, over 30,000 FY2005 commitment letters have been issued, totaling $1.633 billion. 

ED TECH RESEARCH, PUBLICATION, RESOURCES, SPECIAL EVENT

New report outlines high school framework for 21st century learning
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills issued a national report, outlining a compelling framework for 21st century learning that focuses on the results which matter for today's high school graduates. "Results That Matter: 21st Century Skills and High School Reform" stresses that for high schools to truly improve learning, achievement, and competencies, they must have a clear understanding of the knowledge, skills and attributes that are increasingly important for every high school student today. The report outlines opportunities for working collaboratively with high school reform advocates to improve high schools, a vision for 21st century learning, a set of principles that are critical to high school redesign, and next steps for taking action. Download the PDF of the full report at: http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/documents/P21_report.pdf. Read the press release at: http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=202&Itemid=64. 

2006 CoSN Compendium released
The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) announced the release of the 2006 CoSN Compendium. The 2006 topics include measuring the value of technology, open technologies, and the emerging role of the chief technology officer, among others. CoSN members can download the information free via myCoSN; non-members can purchase copies through the online CoSN catalog. See: http://www.cosn.org/about/press/040306.cfm.

While at the CoSN web site, check out other “ed tech resources”, such as the Essential Leadership Skills professional development series, the CoSN/Grunwald survey report, Digital Leadership Divide, and the research brief, Does Technology Enhance Inquiry-based Learning?  

AIR announces new high school center web site
The American Institutes for Research (AIR) has created a new web site for its National High School Center, the ED-funded entity that serves as a central source of in-depth knowledge, expertise, and analysis on high school improvement. The center works to identify research-supported programs and tools that can improve high school teaching and administration to better help all students learn. It also aims to develop user-friendly products and technical assistance services to help states implement these programs and tools, drawing on AIR's experience operating national technical assistance centers and kno large-scale evaluations of prominent high school reform efforts. The center's tools and findings are available on its web site, at: http://www.betterhighschools.org

Simple rules to follow to get a school bond passed
Authors claim that paying attention to six relatively simple rules can increase the odds of winning. These steps can improve your chance to be celebrating when polls close: (1) Lay the groundwork now; (2) Build the ballot; (3) Motivate your friends, ignore your enemies; (4) Create a strong inside/outside team; (5) Write clear simple messages that resonate; and (5) Know everything about your project. See: http://www2.districtadministration.com//viewArticle.aspx?articleid=119.

MISSOURI SCHOOLS AND PROJECTS IN THE NEWS

Congratulations to Zach McCall, eMINTS teacher from Kansas City School District, on his presentation about eMINTS in Special Education at the CEC Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.The title of his presentation was "A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Digital Universe: Adapting General-Education Technology Programs." Visit Zach's classroom website at: http://www.kcmsd.net/carver/mccall/. Click on the Teachers section to see the materials.

CSD UPDATE

Midwest Education Technology Conference 2007 call for presentations announced
submitted by Nancy George, Instructional Technology, METC Program Manager, Cooperating School Districts

The Midwest Education Technology Conference 2007, scheduled for February 26 - 28, 2007 in St. Louis, MO, focuses on how technology makes a difference in the K-12 classroom.  The program will offer opportunities for educators to share best practices and successes in ten strands – 1) Instructional Technology Integration, 2) Library Technology Integration, 3) Data-Driven Decision Making, 4) Digital Media, 5) Distance Learning, 6) Handheld Computers, 7) Learning from Students, 8) Special Education, 9) Technology Leadership and 10) Technology Nuts & Bolts (technical issues).

The METC planning committee is now accepting presentation proposals and looking for creative, talented and enthusiastic professionals to share how technology changes their teaching and the students learning process.  Share how technology matters in your classroom, library / media center, school and district office, or network infrastructure!  METC Participants include technology specialists, teachers, librarians, administrators, instructional technology teacher, counselors and information technology / network specialists.

Presentation proposals may be submitted online at http://www.techd.com/metc2k7/presentmetc2k7.htm.  Check the conference website http://www.csd.org/metc2007.htm for additional information.

e-LEARNING FOR EDUCATORS: MISSOURI UPDATE
submitted by Christine Terry, Program Coordinator, eLearning for Educators: Missouri

The Missouri implementation of the e-Learning for Educators project, a Ready-to-Teach Grant focused on e-Learning and professional development involving public television stations and state departments of education in nine states, is accepting teacher registration for courses. Online registration is open now and will close May 31, 2006. Visit http://elearningmo.org for registration information and a complete listing of the courses offered along with course descriptions.

The cost is $125 per course for individual teachers. When successfully completed, courses may be applied toward professional development requirements for continuing certification. Discounted course fees are available for groups of three or more teachers in a building who would like to form a professional learning community around a course. Graduate credit also will be available for an additional fee of $100 dollars per credit hour from the University of Missouri - Kansas City, the University of Missouri - St. Louis, and Missouri State University.

For more information about the project, go to http://elearningmo.org or contact Christie Terry by e-mail at terryce@emints.org or by telephone at (573) 884-4233.

e-Learning for Educators: Missouri is funded by a U.S. Department of Education Ready-to-Teach grant. Collaborators leading the effort include KETC/Channel 9 (PBS in St. Louis), Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Missouri State University and the University of Missouri (eMINTS National Center).

MOREnet Update
submitted by Eric Nicklas, K-12 Program Manager, MOREnet

MOREnet Instructional Technology Conference 2006 October 22-24, 2006
http://www.more.net/conferences/fall2006  http://www.more.net

The Missouri Research and Education Network (MOREnet) will host the 2006 annual MOREnet Instructional Technology Conference (MITC) to bring together educators interested in maximizing the opportunities for technology in Missouri schools. This year’s conference offers high-quality professional development sessions that include hands-on opportunities, workshops and roundtable discussions, plus an exhibit hall full of the latest technology tools and expertise. Online conference registration begins August 28—save the date!

Presentation proposals will be accepted until May 3. Registration fees will be waived for one presenter per accepted presentation proposal. Presentation proposal information is available online at http://www.more.net/conferences/fall2006/presentations.html

MOREnet is also accepting proposals for student presentations at the conference. If your students have participated in a technology-related project, we would like to feature them in our Student Technology Showcase. Selected students will have the opportunity to present their projects during the conference to teachers from all over Missouri. Students from all grade levels are welcome and encouraged to participate. To apply for the Student Technology Showcase, call or e-mail MOREnet with a description of your students' projects by May 5, 2006. This is a great opportunity for students to interact with others from around the state, and to show what they're doing with technology. For more information, or to submit a proposal, contact Eric Nicklas at MOREnet at 573-884-7200 or conferences@more.net.

For general information about the conference, visit http://www.more.net/conferences/fall2006 or call MOREnet Conferences at 573-884-7200

Summer Professional Development Available From MOREnet
This summer MOREnet Training will highlight exciting camps in various locations around the state. And if the location isn’t close enough, they will bring the classes to your organization (minimum of eight attendees). Registration is required. Information on how to register is available at http://www.more.net/training/registration.html.Detailed sessions descriptions and objectives are available online at http://solutions.more.net/apps/training/courses/course.jsp?cid=00041 For more information, including the entire schedule, visit http://www.more.net/training/.

Summer Camp Schedule

June 6-8 @ Nevada
	June 6	Basic Troubleshooting Techniques
	June 7	Internet Safety with NetSmartz
	June 8	SMARTBoard
June 19-23 @ MOREnet Columbia Networking Camp
	June 19	Basic Troubleshooting Techniques
	June 20	Networking 1010 (D)
	June 21	Configuring TCP/IP (GW)
	June 22	Bridging, Switching and Routing (D)
	June 23	Intro to Wireless (D)
June 27-29 @ Davies County Library, Gallatin
	June 27	Internet Safety with NetSmartz
	June 28	SMARTBoard
	June 29	Security Awareness/ Mining the Deep Web
June 27 – 28 @ Kirksville TCRC
	June 27	Intro To Wireless LANs
	June 28	Securing Wireless LANs
July 17-21 @ MOREnet , Columbia- Windows Server 2003 Camp
	July 17-21	Windows Server 2003; Windows IIS
July 18-20 @ Poplar Bluff TCRC
	July 18	SMARTBoard
	July 19	Layered Security
	July 20	Exploring Online Resources accessible via MOREnet

First Issue of MOREnetworking: Research Released

The first issue of MOREnet's new research newsletter, MOREnetworking: Research, has been released. This newsletter will provide insights into MOREnet's current research efforts and its plans for the future.

View the newsletter at www.more.net/about/morenetworking-research.  For questions or comments concerning this announcement, please reply to: Ben Colley at ben@more.net

METPA Update
submitted by Chris Rollinson, president, METPA

Greetings from METPA and good luck to you as you close out your school year.  I’m sure your like most of us and find that you are not getting ready to rest, but start working harder so that everything will be ready for next year.  METPA is not unlike this, we are finishing out a pretty good year, and looking forward to a great next year.

Over the last couple of months several things have happened for us.  We had several really good sessions at the MOREnet Spring Technology Conference held at Tan-Tar-A.  It was really nice to get out and get to talk to the many hard working technology professionals in Missouri.  One of the greatest things we find about going to the conferences is meeting new people, and getting new ideas to bring back to our schools.  Along with our sessions at the conference, we also held our annual member meeting.  In a change from tradition, we held our meeting at the resort.  The meeting was very helpful as we had a few new members and several of our established members attend.  It is always good to see new people who are looking forward to taking an interest in the direction of technology in Missouri schools.

One item that came out of our meeting is a request to hire someone to oversee the day to day business of METPA.  As a result, we have hired one of the founding fathers of METPA, John Waite as an service agent.  John will eventually be handling member lists, collecting membership fees, and representing METPA at conferences.  We are very lucky to have John on board and look forward to all the help he can provide.  I really enjoyed talking to everyone and look forward to seeing you again next year.

Looking into next year we are looking for people that would be willing to serve as officers and serve on committees.   We will be providing a one day strand at the Fall MOREnet conference in October.  If you have some topics that you would like to see METPA provide information on, please contact one of us and let us know.  

I am anxious to work with everyone in the upcoming year as METPA takes another leap forward.

eMINTS UPDATE
submitted by Monica M. Beglau, Director, eMINTS National Center

Applications for eMINTS programs and services open May 1, 2006
All schools and districts may apply for eMINTS programs and services for the 2006-2007 school year beginning May 1, 2006. Schools interested in expanding eMINTS to additional classrooms may wish to consult information about the eMINTS4All program at www.emints.org/programs/emints4all Find complete information about programs and services on the eMINTS National Center website, www.emints.org/programs

Schools that need to replace eMINTS teachers can find information at www.emints.org/programs/replacement Specifications for FY07 equipment are available at www.emints.org/equipment

eMINTS Summer Samplers and Summer Institutes
Registration is open for 2006 eMINTS Summer Samplers and Summer Institutes, intensive professional development opportunities for Missouri educators. Space is limited, so register early to secure your preferred date and location. Find complete information and registration forms at www.emints.org/events.

Summer Samplers are available for non-eMINTS teachers, LMS and others who are interested in learning technology integration skills and gaining a basic understanding of what eMINTS is all about.

This year’s topics include:
	The Internet
	Surfing
	Planning a Class Website
	Creating a Website
	Introduction to WebQuests
	Collaborative Projects
	Graphic Organizers: Tools for Thinking
	Productivity Tools

Summer Institutes include a Digital Storytelling Camp and a special two-day Institute for Veteran eMINTS Teachers who may have completed their eMINTS professional development experience several years ago and would like a "refresher."

eMINTS QUESTION OF THE MONTH

Q:  When will the Missouri Title II.D competitive grant awards be made by DESE?

A:  DESE expects to announce the awards in mid-May. The list of awards will be posted on the Instructional Technology web site at:
     http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/instrtech/federalfunded/TitleIID/index2.htm 

COPYRIGHT QUESTION OF THE MONTH

Q:  May an educator (e.g., administrator, classroom teacher, substitute teacher, or student teacher) other district employee, volunteer, or others read and translate a work into a student’s native language and create an audio tape?

A:  No   Translation of print materials from one language to another or to an audio format creates a derivative work.  This is the exclusive right of the copyright owner.

Note: Permission to change print materials to audio format must be requested from the copyright owner.

UPCOMING 2006 CONFERENCES

GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

FROM THE MAILBAG  

MSBA and Netchemia Alliance to Promote Special Education Software

Netchemia TM, provider of data-driven, Internet-based software and services for K-12 educational organizations, has entered into a strategic alliance with the Missouri School Boards’ Associate (MSBA) to promote Netchemia’s software and services for the K-12 education market. The alliance includes co-development of a marketing plan and joint effort to promote Netchemia’s netIEP™ special education management solution and Netchemia SchoolRecruiter™ recruitment management system to Missouri school districts. The alliance will help school districts across Missouri to standardize on MSBA-endorsed special education software, and will boost Netchemia’s presence throughout the state - a core market area for the Midwest-based technology company.

The Netchemia-MSBA alliance will be of particular interest to K-12 special education and human resource administrators, who seek technology solutions to K-12 special education challenges. Netchemia’s software transforms existing paper-based processes into secure, powerful and easy to use web-based applications.

National Business Education Alliance offers Extreme Technology Makeovers

The National Business Education Alliance (NBEA) recently secured corporate funding to offer the LoTi Lounge web portal at no cost to all public and private schools throughout the United States commencing on July 1, 2006.  

On May 10-11, 2006, the National Business Education Alliance will be hosting the Extreme Technology Makeovers™ Institute at the Sheraton Suites Philadelphia Airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They cordially invite their education  colleagues to get involved with this intensive institute focusing on comprehensive school reform models and the initiatives set forth by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills The institute will be held at the Sheraton Suites Philadelphia Airport in Philadelphia, PA, on May 10-11, 2006.  It will focus on transforming scripted and teacher-centered lesson plans into sculpted, vibrant and engaging learning opportunities for students using existing classroom technology resources and the tools available at not cost in the LoTi Lounge.

The Extreme Team of LoTi-certified national trainers has all of the online tools, expertise, content knowledge, and instructional resources to assist educators with the process of their technology makeovers.  All lesson plan makeovers will emphasize higher order thinking processes, authentic and relevant performance tasks, valid and reliable scoring guides, and, of course, strategies for differentiation. The Extreme Team of institute facilitators includes: Dr. Chris Moersch, Daniel Cherry, Todd Fishburn, Melissa Ramos, and LeeChel Ondracek.

To register for Extreme Technology Makeovers™ or for more information on what constitutes an Extreme Technology Makeover™ , please access the website at: Extreme Technology Makeovers™ http://www.loticonnection.com/extreme_technology_makeovers/

Riverdeep^® offers demo of New Learning Management System

Riverdeep is unveiling an advanced Learning Management System that transforms its award-winning Destination Success™ teaching approach into a custom-built reading and math solution for every district.

The browser-based portal solution allows administrators and teachers to track student, class, school, and district data, aggregate and disaggregate the data, and produce detailed reports in compliance with NCLB requirements.  The comprehensive data also helps educators and district and school administrators make more effective decision about curriculum and instruction.

LMS 3.0 allows districts to better support individual state standards and prepare students for high-stakes tests. Educators can generate customized, formative assessments using an item base of over 14,000 reading and math questions. LMS 3.0 creates a single centralized location for student data management, assessment and tracking that sharply reduces the cost of ownership for the district.

The advanced browser-based technology in LMS 3.0 offers a number of important new benefits for districts:

• Anywhere, anytime learning: LMS 3.0 allows schools to extend the learning day by delivering standardized content to anyone with an Internet connection, whether at school or home, via LAN or dial-up connection.
• Improved productivity and efficiency: The system facilitates district-wide data management from single location.
• Flexible delivery: Curriculum can be managed from any location, so teachers can review student achievement and make assignments without having physical access to servers.
• Cost effective: Centralized district deployment which requires minimal hardware. Single-point administration and maintenance greatly reduces total cost of ownership.

To access the Destination Success Demo Site, click on http://www.riverdeep.net/portal/page?_pageid=414,1&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL and chose a topic to explore.
For more information or to set up a customized demonstration, contact: Chad Thompson, Regional Missouri Manager, Riverdeep, Inc. LLC., 888-242-6747 Ext. 3541, cthompson@riverdeep.net

Consortium for School Networking Initiatives and Publications
http://www.cosn.org/

The mission of the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), one of the country’s premier voices in education technology leadership, is to serve K-12 technology leaders who use technology strategically to ultimately improve teaching and learning. CoSN provides products and services to support and nurture leadership development, advocacy, coalition building, and awareness of emerging technologies.

As part of their ongoing strategic focus, CoSN has recently released a variety of publications. Titles range from Digital Learning Spaces 2010 (emerging technologies report) Data Driven Decision Making (Essential Leadership Skills professional development series) to Telling the Technology Story: PR Strategies for School Leaders (Essential Leadership Skills professional development series).

Other titles include: Wireless LANs, From Vision to Action, Handheld Computing, ELS Smart Budgeting, Hot Technologies, ELS Technology Planning, Digital Learning Spaces, ELS Measuring Success, Vision to Know and Do, ELS D3M, ELS PR Strategies.

To find out more about these publications and the initiatives they support, visit the CoSN web site at http://www.cosn.org/

Explore Gizmos
http://explorelearning.com/

ExploreLearning offers a catalog of modular, interactive simulations in math and science for teachers and students in grades 6-12 called Gizmos.

F, easy to use, and flexible enough to support many different teaching styles and contexts, Gizmos are designed as supplemental curriculum materials that support state and national curriculum standards; in addition, Gizmos help teachers bring research-proven instructional strategies to their classrooms.

The best way to get a feel for the ExploreLearning Gizmo experience, called the "A-ha!" moment, is to watch one of the demonstration movies. In particular, the "Introduction to ExploreLearning" movie is perfect for the first-time visitor to ExploreLearning. (It runs about eight minutes but covers everything.)

In addition, there are five Teaching with Gizmos movies that show how to teach a specific lesson using Gizmos. Each of these movies focuses on one Gizmo and highlights how that Gizmo enhance student learning.

ExploreLearning has a catalog of over 400 Gizmos with accompanying curricular materials, all with the aim of sharing the "A-Ha!" moment with teachers and students. Check it out by signing up for a free, 30 day trial of the complete ExploreLearning experience.

iSAFE announces New Features
http://www.ilearn.isafe.org

i-SAFE is hard at work developing a tool box of materials and information to heighten awareness of Internet safety issues. It’s not too late to join the elite group and become a Certified Train the Trainer.. Log on to http://www.ilearn.isafe.org and register to view the i-LEARN Online program.

The tool box resources include:

Activity/ Resource Page
i-SAFE's activity/resource pages offer educators additional educational and fun resources to supplement the i-SAFE lessons, as well as helpful resources for teachers. Simply download and print any of the worksheets or reference stories to use as an expansion lesson, free time option, or even as a reward. The site includes a variety of activities for all grade levels, including word searches, crosswords, graphic organizers, and more. All worksheets and stories are available in PDF form. Go to http://www.isafe.org and look under the Quick Link section for Education Resources. Click on the Education Information link.

Your Personal Page
In an ongoing effort to simplify the i-SAFE experience, the user’s Personal Page immediately appears when you log into your account and be able to accomplish a myriad of tasks! Your Personal Page includes sections on upcoming and past events relative to the user. Edit event schedules, view registrants and notify registrants automatically. The page maintains the user’s event history, and allows the user to submit an Implementation Plan and access free materials and support.

i-SAFE Newsroom
See what i-SAFE has been up to in communities and states across the Unites States. Get information on Chat Abbreviations, Internet Safety Tips, Cyber Bullying and more. Go to http://www.isafe.org Quick Link section and click on the Newsroom link.

Nasa's New Kids' Club Web Site is Entertaining and Educational
www.nasa.gov/kidsclub

NASA's new Kids' Club Web site features animated, colorful, entertaining and educational activities for children in kindergarten through fourth grade. Interactive games on the site include exploring and learning about space, building and launching rockets, exploring Mars, keeping airplanes on schedule and helping a comet travel through the solar system. The site serves a dual purpose. Children can play games at home for entertainment, and educators can use it as a fun way to reach students in the classroom, the library, during after-school programs or anywhere children and computers are together.

"Our goal with the Kids' Club is to provide a medium that encourages children's interest in exploring the subjects important to developing early skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics," said Angela Phillips Diaz, NASA's acting assistant administrator for education. "The Kids' Club combines entertainment with NASA's unique mission content and educational resources."

NASA's Educational Technology Services team at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL., developed and maintains Kids' Club. The site was designed in accordance with the 2004 National Education Technology Plan "Toward a New Golden Age in American Education." The plan encourages digital content aligned with education standards that customizes learning to students' individual needs.

"We've developed games, engaging multimedia visuals and educational activities at five different skill levels on the site," said Jeff Ehmen, education programs specialist at Marshall. "We want students to explore and learn more about science, technology, engineering and mathematics. These materials support various national education standards in these subjects at each skill level."

The Kids' Club Web site was designed for easy student accessibility. The site is compatible with screen readers and other assistive technology, allowing use by students with special needs. In addition to Flash-based games, the site features versions of content accessible in locations with slower Internet connections and computer equipment.

NASA's education programs motivate and engage students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics by supporting activities in the nation's schools, and distributing information through instructional and outreach products.

The Thinking Classroom: Using Inspiration^® to Meet Curriculum Standards http://www.inspiration.com/productinfo/inspiration/inspiration8/index.cfm?fuseaction=book

Designed to support teachers as they help students develop their critical thinking strategies, each of the book's six sections includes an overview of a key cognitive strategy and its application in the major curriculum areas of language arts, science and social studies. This innovative teacher resource book takes a new approach by offering in-depth explanations of visual learning's role in mastering fundamental thinking skills; determining cause and effect, making comparison, decoding ideas, generating questions, and evaluating information

Each of the six sections of the book provides teachers with a summary of a specific cognitive strategy, examples of templates and diagrams that students can use to apply the strategy to a wide-range of topics, and finally a sample lesson of the thinking skill in language arts, social studies and science. Lesson plans for each subject area provide all the information teachers need to model a thinking skill and help their students practice the strategy.

Kidspiration ^® Workshop Resources
http://www.inspiration.com/prodev/index.cfm?fuseaction=kidsrec

This online resource center contains a variety of support materials for Kidspiration workshops and trainings. Find links to training videos, example diagrams, downloadable lesson plans and more.

Not the Usual Summer Workshops for Teachers
http://www.t2tweb.us/Workshops/Schedule.asp.

This summer the U.S. Department of Education will hold 14 Teacher-to-Teacher regional workshops for teachers to learn from fellow educators who have had success in raising student achievement. A number of workshops will focus on enhancing teaching skills in math, science and critical foreign languages, subjects central to the American Competitiveness Initiative. The 14 workshops will be held across the country from June through August. Four will cover the whole range of subjects taught in elementary and secondary schools; three are cosponsored by the National Park Service and will be dedicated to math, science and history; four are cosponsored by TechNet Partners and are geared to math and science; two will focus on the teaching of foreign languages; and one will focus on the teaching of reading and English as a Second Language. The workshops are part of the Department's Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative, designed to support teachers, keep them informed of the latest strategies, and disseminate research that helps their students meet high standards.

INTERNET SITES OF INTEREST

Kids' Gardening Book
http://www.whitneyfarms.com/guide/kids/

Explore this printable gardening book for elementary students that includes parts of plants, information about garden creatures, composting instructions, mazes, wordsearches, and more.

St. Louis Science Center Slates Summer Exhibit
http://www.slsc.org/

An innovative partnership between BJC Healthcare and the Saint Louis Science Center brings together fitness activities and health information in a unique dynamic setting. The BJC SportsWorks opens Saturday, June 3, so come ready to play! Experience BJC SportsWorks, one of the largest interactive sports and science exhibitions in the world. The exhibit features dozens of interactive exhibits and health related activities that will test your mind and your body, there's literally something for everyone.

Start their Engines – The Science of Racing
http://www.scienceofracing.com/

The Science of Racing is an innovative education program that takes advantage of the visibility and excitement of motorsports to get kids interested in math and science.

Last month, in its first year, the Science of Racing Team made it all the way to the final round of the International Hot Rod Association Nationals, held in San Antonio. Find out more about the program and team at their website.

Motivate Students to Read Over the Summer with RIF Suggestions
http://www.rif.org/educators/advicetips/tip.mspx?View=28

Start planning early for a summer reading program, and try to unite your efforts with other teachers in your school and/or districts, as well as parents and the students themselves. Find numerous suggestions to help you out.

From YouthLearn
http://www.youthlearn.org/join/subscribe.html

Youthlearn is a project designed for youth development, professionals, teachers, educators and other caring adults. YouthLearn provides resources and tools for developing effective learning programs enhanced with technology, particularly in out-of-school settings.

Entries Invited for Technology in Education Essay Contest
http://www.hopeforeducation.com

Samsung Electronics America launched the 'Hope for Education' essay contest in 2004. Hope for Education is a distinctive educational philanthropy program designed to better educate U.S. elementary, middle, and high school students through the delivery of new digital technologies and software. Teachers, administrators, parents, and students may enter the contest by writing a 100-word essay on why their school and students are in need of digital technology in the classroom.

TILT Episode 10 - Beginning Excel in the Classroom
http://tilttv.blogspot.com/2006/04/tilt-episode-10-beginning-excel-in.html

Most teachers I've talked to want to use Microsoft Excel with their students but don't know where to begin. This episode guides you through a simple but interesting project with Excel which involves doing a real-time survey, entering that data into Excel, and very quickly and easily turning that data into a pictograph."

Whatever it Takes: Reconnecting Out-of-School Youth
http://www.aypf.org/publications/WhateverItTakes.htm

This new report documents what committed educators, policymakers, and community leaders across the country are doing to reconnect out-of-school youth to the social and economic mainstream. It provides background on the serious high school dropout problem and describes in-depth what 12 communities are doing to reconnect dropouts to education and employment training. It also includes descriptions of major national program models serving out-of-school youth.

Tech Lesson of the Week: Poetry Slam PowerPoint Style
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/techlp/techlp018.shtml

Students select poems, create PowerPoint presentations that use graphics and text to enhance those poems, and then display their presentations as they read their poems aloud.

National Neighborhood Day Short Film Contest: Call for Entries
http://www.neighborhoodday.org

The mission of National Neighborhood Day is to inspire, build, and sustain the neighborhood relationships that provide the foundation for civic action and the building of stronger, more caring and effective communities. The vision establishes National Neighborhood Day as an annual day to recognize and reinforce the relationships that are the fabric of our communities. To promote National Neighborhood Day's mission and vision, we are hosting our second annual National Neighborhood Day Short Film Contest. This is an awesome opportunity for filmmakers to use technology and creativity to tell the nation 'What Neighborhood Means to Me'. The deadline for entries is June 15, 2006.

"Film Your Issue" Submissions Due - May 21, 2006
http://www.filmyourissue.com/index2.html   (requires Flash installation)

Film Your Issue, an unprecedented 'issue film' competition, is inviting young Americans 18 to 26--including seven million college and university students on 1,200 campuses nationally--to add their voices to the public dialogue on contemporary issues via 30- to 60-second films. The Millennium Development Goals are included as one of five "suggested sub-categories," which will offer additional presentation platforms to winners. George Clooney and Walter Cronkite have each written an open letter urging young Americans to engage in the pressing social issues of our times.

Special Session 2006 UNESCO Young Digital Creators
http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=30690&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

International Call for Participation: "Scenes and Sounds of My City," Special Session 2006, Deadline May 3,2006. "The UNESCO DigiArts Team invites young students and teachers to reflect on the theme of " Scenes and Sounds of My City " and to send to UNESCO a joint project proposal in group work that focuses on a specific topic or issue in relation to their urban environment or their experiences within urban surroundings. This project will be realized
through a running session of the Scenes and Sounds of My City web-based learning application, which is designed for young people (12-18 years old) to collaboratively use creative digital tools in expressing their visions on urban topics."

Facilitating Video Projects with Youth - a YouthLearn Activity
http://www.youthlearn.org/learning/activities/multimedia/video.asp

Given the many opportunities cited in this newsletter for young people to showcase their own films, it might be useful to review some tips on facilitating video projects with youth. We have found that working with video isn't something you can just jump right into. Children must be prepared for it with preliminary excursions into concepts like storyboarding and photography. Each stage can be made fun and educational, and at the end of the project, the youth will understand how all the pieces come together to make a video they're proud of.

NEWEST eTHEMES

Literature: "A Jar of Dreams" by Yoshiko Uchida
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001820.shtml

These sites are about Yoshiko Uchida, her book "A Jar of Dreams," and the Japanese American internment camps during WWII. Included are eThemes Resources on graphic organizers, Japan, and the decade of 1930-1939.

Literature: Genres
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001813.shtml

Learn about the genres of literature. These sites are about the many different genres: fantasy, historical, realistic, science fiction, biography, reference, reporting, folk tales, plays, and poetry. Some sites have recommended reading lists. Included are eThemes Resources covering a large variety of genres.

Poems and Songs: Rivers and Ponds
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001802.shtml

These sites are a collection of songs and poems for elementary students. The songs and poems are related to animals living by, habitats in, and activities on rivers and ponds. Lesson plans, samples of songs, and history of river songs are included. There are links to eThemes Resources on Habitat: Ponds and Lakes, Poetry: Simile and Figurative Language, Poets and their Poetry, and Writing: Poetry.

Teaching Tips: Team Building Activities for Elementary Students
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001819.shtml

Here are suggestions for games, activities, and lesson plans to encourage team building among elementary school students. There are indoor and outdoor activities, and cross-curricular lesson ideas. Many of these activities can be adapted for different age groups. Included are eThemes Resources on cooperative learning and cooperative problem solving.

Writing: Poetry for Upper Grade Levels
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001788.shtml

These sites are about poetry and writing poems for upper grade level students. There are many examples of poetry, including audio recordings of poets reading their work or people reading and talking about their favorite poems, as well as textual resources. There are lesson plans and activity ideas. Students can write their own poems, write a poem collaboratively, or organize a poetry slam. Includes the eThemes Resources on poetry for elementary grade levels.

UPDATED eTHEMES

Aging
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000396.shtml

These sites include information on aging and the effects on the human body. Discover why our bodies age. Learn how aging affects appearance, exercise, and eating habits. Includes interactive quizzes, an animation, and face changing images.

Animals: Identifying Bones
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000786.shtml

These sites are about how to identify different animal bones. View pictures of animal skulls and see how they differ. Includes online games and hands-on activities. There are links to eThemes Resources on dissecting owl pellets, invertebrates and vertebrates, and fossils.

Animals: Spiders
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000358.shtml

These sites are about spiders and their habitats, identification, bites, and more. There are some colorful illustrations, photos, videos, and interactive games. There is also a link to an eThemes Resource about insects.

Animals: Working Dogs
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001787.shtml

These sites are about working dogs. There is information about the different kinds of jobs dogs have. There are printable worksheets, a slideshow, video files, and interviews with people who work with these specially trained dogs. Several eThemes Resources are included on dogs, guide dogs, German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Saint Bernards, and the Iditarod.

Assembly Line Production
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000484.shtml

Learn about assembly lines and how they work. Read about Henry Ford and his Model T assembly lines. These sites cover the principles of mass production and industry. Includes movies of assembly lines and historical photos of workers. There are links to two eThemes on economics.

Chocolate
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000406.shtml

These sites cover many aspects of chocolate, including the history of chocolate, cacao plantations, how chocolate is made and why many people crave chocolate. Also includes a virtual tour of a chocolate factory as well as photos, illustrations, interactive games and audio and video files. Includes the eThemes Resources for the book, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl.

Country: China
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000064.shtml

Learn about China's geography, language, culture, food, and history. Take a virtual tour of the Great Wall or view numerous photographs of Chinese people and places. Try writing Chinese characters or listen to audio files of Chinese word pronunciations. Includes many craft and classroom activities, plus interactive quizzes. There are sites for students of all ages. Referenced is an eThemes Resource on panda bears.

Decade: 1930-1939
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000267.shtml

These sites are about the history and events of the 1930s. Learn more about the causes and effects of the Great Depression. There are many primary documents, including oral histories, photographs, newspaper articles, and audio files. Also includes maps and timelines. There are links to eThemes Resources on books set in the 1930s, Amelia Earheart, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Health: Sleep and Dreams
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001027.shtml

This resource contains sites about sleep and dreams. Discover the different stages of sleep and the importance of sleep. Includes reasons for dreaming, symbols found in dreams, and nightmares. There are also activities and experiments to record and interpret dreams.

Holiday: Earth Day
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000072.shtml

These sites are about Earth Day. Includes classroom and community activities to celebrate this holiday. Many sites explain how to protect the environment and conserve energy. There are links to eThemes Resources on recycling, pollution, and Arbor Day.

Holiday: Mother’s Day
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001033.shtml

Find out how this holiday began and the founders who established it as a yearly celebration in May. There are reading comprehension and math activities that have a Mother's Day theme. Also includes quizzes, e-cards, certificates, crafts, and games.

Iditarod
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000042.shtml

Learn more about the Iditarod Dog Sled race in Alaska. Read about the history, teams, dogs, and much more. Some sites offer ideas for classroom activities. Includes a link to eThemes Resources on Alaska.

Literature Theme: Bullying
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001270.shtml

These sites are about bullies and include tips on how to deal with them. There are lists of recommended children's books that have a bullying theme, a printable pledge against bullying, and an animated movie. Includes eThemes Resources on several books with this theme.

Natural Disasters: Floods
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000027.shtml

These sites explain what floods are and how they occur. View videos and photographs of these natural disasters and learn the effects they have on the land. There are links to eThemes Resources on the 1993 Midwest floods and relief efforts.

Ozone
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000426.shtml

These sites are about the ozone, a form of oxygen. Sites include information about what ozone, the ozone layer, why it is important, ozone depletion, and UV protection. Learn what can be done to help protect the ozone. Includes eThemes Resources on the greenhouse effect and Earth's atmosphere.

September 11
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000515.shtml

Explore several children's news sites about the September 11 tragedy and America's response. Includes interactive maps, timelines, videos, and a listing of recommended children's books. There is information about the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Osama Bin Laden. Also includes an animated movie about anthrax. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on Afghanistan, the September 11^th  anniversary, and coping with terrorism.

September 11: One Year Later
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000767.shtml

These sites have lesson plans for activities relating to the September 11 anniversary. There is also a comprehensive list of all the victims of the attacks, plus videos made in memory of police officers and firefighters. Listen to a song written about 9-11, vote on the proposed memorials, read children's poetry, view their artwork, and browse through a list of recommended books for kids. Includes links to eThemes Resources on September 11, Afghanistan, and coping with terrorism.

Writing: Mysteries
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000286.shtml

These sites are about the genre of mysteries, including activities for writing mystery stories and samples of stories written by students. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on mystery books.

Writing: Poetry for Elementary Grade Levels
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000021.shtml

These sites provide examples of different forms of poetry written for kids, including haiku, acrostic, concrete, limerick, free verse, couplet, and cinquain. Students can read the examples and then create their own original poetry. Audio and video files are featured on some sites. Includes a link to eThemes Resources on poets and figurative language.

 

DESE 3370-46 5/06