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How
can I help you?
February is a great time to think about those special
qualities each of our students possess. What a perfect time to
plan a differentiated lesson to show case those unique abilities and
interests. Do the words "differentiated instruction" bring terror
to your heart? It's actually not that difficult to differentiate
instruction in your classroom. In fact, you are probably using
some classic methods of differentiation right now - and just don't
realize it. While using technology
alone does not mean you are differentiating; technology does support many different learning
styles. I would be happy to help you with differentiated
instruction. Just email me at:
Research Indicates....
You cannot count on students to learn
valuable instruction or computer skills on home computers. In a
report to the Markle Foundation, Wartella, O'Keefe, and Scantlin
(2000), found that it is the content that makes a difference in
learning from interactive media. Students need teachers to
provide content and guidance to provide quality learning
experiences on the computer.
Wartella, E., O'Keefe, B.,
Scantlin, R. (2000). Children
and interactive
media, a report to the Markle Foundation., The Markle
Foundation, New York.
Tech Tip:
Computers
are a GREAT way to prepare those Valentine's Day class lists.
Older students can type their own list of class names in Word or on an
Excel spread sheet. With younger students, you can have each
child type just their own name on a Word document or Excel spread
sheet. You can set up the computer as a center and have the
children take turns typing their name. Either way, the students
are learning while doing the work... and there is more "free" time for
the teacher. |
Upcoming
Staff
Developments
The following dates are
tentative. Please keep checking the staff development page to
sign-up for these awesome classes.
February
15th- Help! I am
being observed! Finding Technology Based Lesson Plans That Are
Guaranteed To Have A Positive Impact On Learning. (Rescheduled
from January.)
~~ Walk away with a CD full of lesson plans that you can use the very
next day!
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.)
Basics of
Physics: Exploring Sound
Sound: A
First Look (17:00)
Breaking the
Silence: An Introduction to Sound (27:00)
Basics of
Physics: Exploring Light and Color
Stage One Science: Light and Color
Understanding Shadows (04:55)
Biology: The Science of Life: The World of Plants (20:00)
Civil War (15:00)
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Weather Smart: Forecasting and Weather
Instruments
Plant Parts We Eat: Leaves and
Flowers Plant Parts: Roots, Stems, Leaves, Flowers, Fruit, and Seeds
(01:36)
The Water Cycle (17:00)
Magnets: A First Look (15:00)
This is Our
Government (18:00)
Long Ago, Yesterday,
and Today (15:00)
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<>
Wonderful
Web Sites
(Do I have your attention
yet? I know this catches mine)
All
About Chocolate
This site
is designed for kids to learn about chocolate regarding
chocolate-making process, history of chocolate, fun facts, and games.
Chocolate Manufacture Diagram
See this
diagram showing the steps in the production of chocolate.
International
Cocoa Organization
The
International Cocoa Organization has extensive information. Click on
"Videos" to watch fruit ripen.
How
Chocolate Works
A good
explanation complete with photos showing how the cocoa bean is used to
make chocolate. Click to the second page for a table describing the
different types of chocolate. NOTE: This site includes ads.
Cadbury Australia
Click on
"Learn" and then "What is Chocolate?" to learn more about how chocolate
candy is made and distributed. Select Virtual Factory Tour, Making
Chocolate Blocks, and Making Easter Eggs to learn about chocolate
making process. An interactive game lets you design your own candy bar.
Good Cocoa
A simple
science lesson using cocoa mix to demonstrate the movement of
molecules.
Discovering
the Sweet Mysteries of Chocolate
An
illustrated story about chocolate that includes information about
chocolate cravings and how chocolate affects the nervous system.
Exploratorium: Exploring Chocolate
This
extensive site on chocolate includes real audio and video. Topics
include where cocoa is grown, a video tour of a chocolate factory,
health issues relating to chocolate and an activity for kids.
Thinking Fountain: Cacao
Learn how
many beans are in a pod and see a map of where cacao grows. "Cultural
Connection" tells about the Mayans and how they used chocolate.
Name That Candybar
Identify
the candybar from the picture and click on it to see if you are right.
Click "see more candybars" for more pictures.
The
Cocoa Tree
This is a
fun site that explains how cocoa beans are made into chocolate.
Types
of Chocolate
Read a
brief description of the different types of chocolate.
Candy
USA
Read an
article documenting the history of chocolate.
Chocolate Making Process
Watch an
interactive illustration to learn about chocolate making process.
I  2 Read
February is the I 2 Read month;
and I know many schools are planning special activities to celebrate
reading. If you are looking for a guest reader, please call on
me. I know I am not as wonderful as some of your big time guests
but it would be my pleasure to read books, or electronic books to your
class. Just send me an e-mail to set up a time! Below are some
online talking ebooks created by children. If you would like to
do this with your class, please email me.
Kindergarten:
Where In The World?
Kdgn-1st:
A Tour of the White House
Primary:
Our Trip to the Apple Orchard
More
online reading links.
Aesop's Fables
Aesop's Fables WebQuest (1st & 2nd
Grade)
American Folklore
BBC Books
Childrenstories
Famous Poems and Poets Scavenger Hunt
Internet Public Library - Reading Zone
Room 108 - Very Interactive!
Storybook On-Line
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Teacher
Brag Spots
Cathy
DiCenza from Central Elementary School decided to have her fourth grade
students put together a PowerPoint to demonstrate what they learned
from her recent history unit. As they completed their assignment
she pulled each student aside to give a brief verbal quiz on the
content they included in their PowerPoints. She used the quiz
students would be required to take the following week. On plastic
tiles she had numbers that matched the quiz numbers. These tiles
were laid number side down on the table. Students chose a tile
and showed the number to Cathy. She then read off the question
that matched that number, showed the student the question and recorded
with a simple check if the student had answered correctly. Click
here to download a template
of her record keeping form. Feel free to tweak it to meet your
class's needs. Ask for help if you would like to do something
similiar in your room.
Scott Strang from TES had second grade students research Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. He provided them with a cube to record certain
facts he wanted them to focus on. Click
here to download a template you can use to have students research a
famous person. With February being Black History Month, this
would be the perfect time for this project.
Celebrate Black History Month
A
Literary Perspective on Black History Month
This site
starts with a brief introduction to Black History Month, then continues
to include authors, titles of books, and activities that would help
celebrate it.
Enchanted Learning: Black History Month
Here are
links to many biographies, printouts, and quizzes for Black History
Month.
Gale Group's Information on Black History Month
This site
has many links on the left side of the page that relate to Black
History Month. Includes biographies, literary reviews, a timeline, and
an interactive quiz. There is also a link for activities, which are
arranged by age groups.
The
African-American Mosaic Exhibition
This is a
listing of the Library of Congress's holdings on black history. Topics
include colonization, abolition, migration and WPA. Entries include a
wide range of books, periodicals, maps, and graphs. Click on any of the
links to get entries for a particular time period.
BrainPOP: Brown Vs. Board of Education
Click on
"Social Studies," and then "Brown V. B.O.E." Watch this movie to learn
about the landmark case in which segregation was declared
unconstitutional. There is also a BrainPOP video on Civil Rights. NOTE:
The website is available by subscription only.
Timeline
of African American History
A more
in-depth timeline on the history of African Americans. The census data
from certain years is included. This site was developed by the Library
of Congress.
The Emancipation Proclamation
This site
is about the Emancipation Proclamation. It includes an audio clip and
pictures of the primary documents. The text itself is geared more to
older students.
Culture and Change: Black History in America
This site
contains a variety of information for grades 3-8. Includes an
interactive timeline, biographies, and research topics. Find out more
about African American inventors.
Scholastic: African American Articles
An
archival site from Scholastic, this page has many articles about
African American history. Be sure to scroll to the bottom for more
resources on Black History Month, including book titles for various age
groups. NOTE: The website includes a link to websites with ads.
Time for
Kids: Black History
Explore
this website to find an interactive timeline, biographies of
African-American artists, famous speeches regarding civil rights, and
more.
Kodak: Powerful Days in Black and White
View one
man's photographs taken during the Civil Rights era. Includes
photographs of demonstrations, Martin Luther King, Jr., Ku Klux Klan
members, and more.
eThemes Resource: Historic Documents: Emancipation
Proclamation
These
sites have information about the Emancipation Proclamation signed by
Abraham Lincoln in 1863. See the actual document and read about its
impact on slavery and the Civil War. Includes a timeline with important
events. There are links to eThemes Resources on slavery during the
Civil War, the slave trade, and the Underground Railroad.
eThemes Resource: Missouri Compromise
These
sites are about the Missouri Compromise and its influence on the United
States. Find out about Henry Clay and his role in this decision.
Includes maps and some online quizzes. Includes a Missouri Heritage
video about Missouri becoming a state, plus links to eThemes Resources
on the Civil War.
eThemes Resource: Slavery: Slave Trade
These
sites provide information on the slave trade that involved the United
States and Africa. See maps of the sailing routes and read first-hand
accounts of slave life. Take part in a simulated slave auction. There
are links to eThemes Resources on slavery during the Civil War, the
Emancipation Proclamation, and the Underground Railroad.
eThemes Resource: Famous African Americans
This
eThemes Resource has biographical information on African Americans.
View paintings and photographs and take an online quiz.
eThemes Resource: Baseball: Negro League
These
sites have information about the teams and players in the Negro
Baseball League. The history of the league is explained in text and
timelines. Many sites have photos and biographies of these players.
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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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