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How
can I help you?
I'm dreaming of a tech-rich
classroom,
Filled
with 21st century learning going on;
Where
kids are listening,
minds
engaged, eyes glistening,
Using
all their higher thinking skills.
I'm
dreaming of a tech-rich classroom,
Collaborating
with learners around the world;
Sharing
lessons and podcasts,
streaming
media on Smart Boards,
My
students want much more than I know.
I'm
dreaming of a tech-rich classroom,
Where or where should I even begin to start?
My I-T-R-T will know how to help me,
Working together we'll make every day count.
Merry Christmas,
Melanie and Gail
E-mail:
mlewis@amherst.k12.va.us
gmoore@amherst.k12.va.us
Research
Indicates:
Cohen, V.
(1997). Learning styles in a
technology-rich environment. Journal of Research on Computing in Education, 29(4), 338–350.
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We hope you enjoy this month's newsletter. Gail and I tried to
fill it full with useful ideas for incorporating technology into
your
daily instruction. Enjoy!
Upcoming Staff
Developments
Look for
the following after Christmas:
Help! I am
being observed! Finding Technology Based Lesson Plans
That Are Guaranteed To Have A Positive Impact On Learning.
Inspiration:
An Incredible Tool For Incredible Learning
Hope this holiday season
brings you lots of joy
May the blessings of the season
be yours to enjoy
Sending you glad tidings
with loads of good cheer
Know that you are always
in my heart held near
Merry Christmas!
 
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TECH TIP
Give Your Computers a Holiday Break
I have seen many
teachers doing the same thing I use to do, keep their computers on all
the time, even overnight. Did you know computers NEED to be shut
down regularly? Heavily used computers that visit many websites
or show video need to be shut down daily. Lightly used computers should
be shut down at least twice a week. Why? Your computer has to be
shut down to recycle Random Access Memory (RAM). A computer can
only do so much remembering without a rest. Don't we all have
that same problem? So pamper your computers and they will run
better for you!
Downloadables
and Lab Lessons
These would make great lab lessons that
could be completed in one sitting or you could use these as center
tasks. We have really combed our files and brought out everything
we could find to support you as are are planning for the next nine
weeks. Keep these ideas on hand for those sub days. NOTE: If
these downloads do not work for you, please email me and I will make
sure that you get your files.
Want
to peak inside our file cabinet?
"Why don't we teach our children in
school what they are? We should say to them, 'You are unique... you
have the capacity for anything. You are a marvel.''
Charles Handy
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Wonderful Web Sites
THE KEY TO EARTH SCIENCE STANDARDS:
ALL
GRADES: This site was developed by UK and has GREAT resources for
teaching science. Lisa and Gail, I deserve a pat on the back for
finding a science resource.
SCREEN
TIMER
STAFF:
The use of timers have long been recognized as a successful learning
strategy to use with students. This is a FREE program to use on your
computer.
A NEW VIEW OF
THE NEWS:
STAFF
& INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS: This is absolutely one of the most
interesting presentations of the news.
INVENT A
HOLIDAY
ALL
GRADES: This lesson Plan provides a creative way to build
language and critical thinking skills. The lesson could be easily
modified to be developmentally appropriate for almost any age!
This would make a fun lesson to do as the Winter Break approaches!
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF VIRTUAL
MANIPULATIVES FOR INTERACTIVE MATHMATICS
ALL
GRADES: This just might be the BEST math site I have ever
seen! It includes geoboards, charts, graphs, base ten blocks,
pattern blocks, and much more. I found that I need to play around
with some of the manipulatives to see how they worked, but this is a
GREAT teaching tool! A special thanks to Jason Crist (Central)
for sharing this SUPER site!
TEACHERS' CLOSET
STAFF:
A wealth of helpful ideas, lesson plans, printables, links to
freebies, classroom management strategies, and lots more!
Mrs. Lewis' December Page
EVERYONE:
Pageful of links sorted by December holidays and age levels.
TATE THE CAT ADVENT
CALENDAR:
Everyone:
Tate the
French cat is back this year, beginning December 1st with an online story that students can
click on each
day until
December 25th. This unique advent calendar is
available in
several different languages, with an archive
of previous
years' stories. Great for ESL classrooms!
Reindeer and More
Preschool and
Kindergarten: Reindeer
activities for the classroom. Your littles will love these poems,
felt board stories, and crafts.
Printable
Reader Theater Scripts from Reading Lady.com
United Streaming
Some movies you
might use for this month:
(Hint: When
you go to the site, copy the title from here and paste the title into
the search box.)
Christmas
Tales from Foreign
Lands: An Untold Miracle
Holiday Facts and Fun:
Hanukkah
Holiday Facts and Fun: Kwanzaa
Holiday Facts and Fun: A Multicultural Christmas
Christmas Tales from Foreign Lands: Busy Befana
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Magical
Mother Nature: The Four
Seasons
Sound: A First Look
Stage One Science: Sounds O.K.
Ssssh! We're Writing the Constitution
Our Constitution: The Document that Gave Birth to a Nation
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If you have a
website that you think is wonderful, please email it to me. I
will pass it on.
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Fourth & Fifth
Grades
