While looking for resources for Earth day, I came across this video. It’s an ad for Discovery Channel, but I thought it fit nicely with Earth Day too.
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/V5BxymuiAxQ" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
Maybe you could have your students write their own version of this song…what do they love about our world?
I’ve had a few questions lately about upside down and sideways computer screens. There’s an easy fix to this problem! The following keystroke combinations will change your computer display:
Very simple explanation of my job!
This comes from the 60 Sec Tech site. It has great, short video tutorials on technology, especially the Smartboard!
I finished “A Whole New Mind” a month or so ago, and am still going through many of the resources Daniel Pink included in the book. One resource is called StoryCorps, and it’s located in the chapter where Pink describes Story as one of the six high-concept, high-touch senses needed in the Conceptual Age.
Storycorps in a non-profit organization that specializes in stories…yours, mine, people we love. It records stories in booths all over the United States, and even sends out traveling kits for you to record individual stories. You can listen to some of them in itunes or on their website. What a super idea! In looking at the site, it appears they are going to be in our area next fall…Sept. 25-Oct. 18, 2008 at the WVTF radio station. I’ll have to keep a lookout for more info!
The process of recording a story of a loved one reminds me of something I did in college…a journal for my parents with questions about their lives. I didn’t have much money one Christmas while I was in college, so I bought two blank journals: one for Dad and one for Mom. At the top of each page I wrote questions like
I put a note in the front of the journal asking them to write the answers and give it back to me the following Christmas. They did give them back to me the next Christmas, full of stories. I can honestly say those two journals are my most treasured possessions, especially now that my mom has passed away.
So, what’s your story? What are your parents’ stories? We all have them, no matter our age. Even our students have stories! Wouldn’t be neat to have students record their own stories, or even stories of their loved ones? It could be a writing assignment, but also a lesson in learning to tell a story. I do have 4 or 5 portable mp3 recorders you can use if you are interested in doing this!
The hard copies of the 2007 released items have been re-released. The 2007 items were available awhile back on the DOE Website, disappeared, and are now back!
I have also downloaded the 2007 items to the G drive for your convenience (and in case they disappear again). Just go to G drive > Common > Released SOL Tests 2007.
The 2007 Items are the same ones that are in the EPATs practice tests.
Meg Swecker, an ITRT for Roanoke County, is getting ready to take another scuba diving trip, and she wants to take you with her virtually! Listen to the voice thread below. If your class would like to send her questions for her to answer while she’s there, let me know! I’ll teach you how to use Voicethread![kml_flashembed movie="http://voicethread.com/book.swf?b=78327" width="480" height="360" wmode="transparent" /]
If you haven’t had a chance to set up a del.icio.us account, I highly suggest you do so! It’s probably my favorite tool!
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/x66lV7GOcNU" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]Delicious Handout (pdf)
(A Video from Liz Davis):[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/NGXElviSRXM" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
Click Here to Install Browser Buttons (Internet Explorer)
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/Uyw_wJr3zwQ" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]Whether you sign up or not, you can always look through the bookmarks of other people!
Salem ITRT del.icio.us Accounts
Kelly Baer and the 4th grade Bloggers group at East were interviewed on GenTech Podcast. The GenTech podcast is a weekly conversation about a particular tool or trend, and how it can be used educationally. If you’d like to hear what they had to say, click on the links below!
I attended a bunch of sessions at VSTE with presenter Tammy Worcester, and Instructional Technology Specialist. She has published a variety of books with ready-made lessons for the classroom, but she also has some great free lessons, tips and tricks, and internet resources on her website!
Here’s another place to find resources, this time on Internet Safety: HCPS ISAFE. These activities, ready for you to use in your classroom or in the computer lab, were shared by the ITRTs from Hanover County at the VSTE conference! Check them out!