Teacher Talk

Student Competition

On Your Mark. Get Set. Doodle.

Doodle 4 Google is giving U.S. students in grades K-12 the opportunity to design a doodle (see samples here) for the Google homepage. Students will be asked to draw a doodle that best represents the theme "What if...?" We ask ourselves this question every day when we build our products, so we thought we would ask the same of the future doodlers.

Check out www.google.com/doodle4google for more details. All that's needed to get started is a teacher or principal to register the school. Registration closes on 3/28/08, and entries must be postmarked by 4/12/08.

Vogt, Mary R. The Artist. MorgueFile. 

I'm a Twit

If one who twits is a twitter then one who twitters must be a twit. Twitter is well, it's a site where, well, it's...okay, I don't quite know yet (I believe this also qualifies me for twit-status).

According to Twitter.com:

It is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?

Why? Because even basic updates are meaningful to family members, friends, or colleagues—especially when they’re timely.

• Eating soup? Research shows that moms want to know.
• Running late to a meeting? Your co–workers might find that useful.
• Partying? Your friends may want to join you.

With Twitter, you can stay hyper–connected to your friends and always know what they’re doing. Or, you can stop following them any time. You can even set quiet times on Twitter so you’re not interrupted.

Twitter puts you in control and becomes a modern antidote to information overload.

I'm not convinced that Twitter has any redeeming value. That said, I've recently committed to sticking with it in an effort to give twittering a fair shake.

In the meantime,

• Mom does want to know if I'm eating soup but is comfortable with asking me about it on the telephone.
• I'm more apt to be running late because of Twitter than meeting with anyone who uses it.
• Please consider joining me and we'll call it a Twitter Party. See you at www.twitter.com/epaxton

 

Gymnastics for the Mind

Gymnastics for the mind, entertainment for the soul and training for the hands is how Oriland describes the art of origami. My much less elaborate description is "beautifully intricate and really, cool looking."

From an educational perspective:
Origami creates creates conditions of intensive interaction of the brain’s hemispheres and effectively allows development of motor skills of both hands, intellectual and creative abilities.

On a somewhat related note, no one sheet of paper can be folded in half more than seven times. Go ahead, try it.

Image: http://morguefile.com/forum/profile.php?username=sideshowmom

Child Safety

Over 3 Million Children are Safer

Thanks Yello Dyno!
When a child's life is at stake, this is what works.

The Yello Dyno Method™ is scientifically based on Nobel Prize-winning and internationally acclaimed research. Yello Dyno Methods™ activate children's "fight or flight" response. In fact, 80.8% of students demonstrate an increase in knowledge after one cycle of the Yello Dyno curriculum.

Generate proven results through the Yello Dyno curriculum and materials. Please visit the Yello Dyno web site to learn more about empowering the children in your arch/diocese's care take action. Safe & Sacred's children's curriculum partner, Yello Dyno, is an amazing influence in the lives of children ages 4 - 12.

"Unless children recognize deceptive behavior of Tricky People who mean them harm, it doesn't matter what safety rules they're taught."

- Jan Wagner, Founder of Yello Dyno

Safe environments provide a paramount foundation for learning. Children simply cannot learn, nor can teachers teach, if they do not feel safe.

Click here to learn about Professional Learning Board's
Partner in Safety

FREE Teacher Toolbar

FREE TOOLBAR

---

Download this FREE Teacher Toolbar and keep the latest teaching and learning information at your fingertips. Updated automatically when you go to the Internet.

Click here to get the Teacher Toolbar today.

Got a suggestion for tools, web sites and other resources to be added?
Let the Toolbar Team know at toolbar@professionallearningboard.com.

Awesome for Autism

The previous post highlighted Google's 3D Warehouse, SketchUp Software and Project Spectrum. Here is another awesome tool and resource for enhancing teaching and learning and focusing on students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

The Wrist-o-Picwww.wrist-o-pic.com) is a way cool product invented by Gail, a veteran special education teacher in Minneapolis Public Schools. Gail spent years researching this product and has just officially launched the Wrist-o-Pic last month.

According to Wrist-o-Pic promotional materials, "Fill it with favorite images" and use as:

- Picture Schedules
- Behavior Reward Charts
- Organizers
- Memory Joggers
- Communication and
- Choice Boards
- Transition Indicator
  first this (picture), then that (picture)
- Mobile sticker chart
  (add a pic for good behavior at church, the store, etc.)
- Friendship bracelet
  display and trade mini-school pictures with friends
- Visual Cueing System
- Chore Board
- Task Organizer
- Goal Achievement Indicator
- Collectables Display
- Homwork Organizer
- Bible School Scripture Verse Memory Reminder>

While I am not an expert, at all, in Asperger or Autism, I do have a knack for finding (or as my husband claims, things just seem to 'find me') and am excited to share this information.

Locally, here in Minnesota, both Fraser Academy and a newly approved charter school in Robbinsdale, Lionsgate Academy (sponsored by Adler Graduate School, Lionsgate Academy and to serve grades 6-12.) serve students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Please tell your local education specialists in this field about it as well.

Google ANSWER Engine

Many folks know Google as a robust Search-engine.

Project Spectrum (http://www.google.com/educators/spectrum.html) is an example of how Google is also an elaborate Answer-engine.

Google's responsiveness and work with families to create career opportunities and enhancing communications for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is quite impressive. Check out Project Spectrum and try SketchUp (http://sketchup.google.com/), the FREE 3D design software for yourself.

Click here to see how easy it is to use, get  Google SketchUp Tutorials (http://sketchup.google.com/sptutorials.html) and even Download Lesson Plans (http://www.google.com/educators/learning_materials/Project_Spectrum_Manual.pdf)

Current Events in Education

There are few things more exciting than what I percieve to be outstanding use of technology in education. Andrew Pass' blog The Current Events in Education demonstrates such use.

Discussion Starters for both young and older children provide prompts that present often difficult subject matter in an enlightening manner and more elaborate vocabulary is called out for study.

Mr. Pass' has a gift for designing inquiries that draw thoughtfulness and debate while refraining from sharing his own opinions. Very commendable. We can learn a lot from his suggestions as well as from the manner in which he conducts himself. Thank you!

Get this widget!

Nuts for this Preschool Site

Pre-school age children are going nuts for this recently discovered site. The Little Animals Activity has a little bit of everything for nearly everyone's little one. Despite the cheezy graphics that make me believe even I can draw the simplicity of this site provides good, clean, learning fun.

Phonics & Rhyme
Preschoolers learn and practice letter sounds and rhymes with Digby Mole and these word games.

Music & Rhyme
A listening and watching activity garners attention and the rhyming story is just sweet with owl's that say "woof" and earthworms with claws.

Stories
The Storybear section features online books that include an option to toggle sound off/on. A nice feature is audio and written directions that tell users where to click.

Puzzles
I'm not sure if it's a lack of understanding due to age (the riddles and jokes just didn't work for me or my children) or perhaps language (British vs American English). Regardless, I'm not impressed with Puzzlesnuff and his stuff.

Math
The number games led by Count Hoot the Owl introduce addition and subtraction. While I'm not an early childhood expert by any means, as a parent I'm really impresed with the different levels eg. items to count as well as numerals to recognize.

Printable Activities
Mazes, recipes, dot-to-dots and crafts are all part of Micky Maker's activities.

Background Checks

BACKGROUND CHECKS

---

The world is no longer a simple place where everyone knows everyone in their hometown or even in their neighborhoods. The world has changed and one reality of the many changes is that teaching and safeguarding children includes performing background checks for all employees and volunteers who work with or near children.

You may be surprised to learn that there is a large range of services offered by companies conducting background checks. Make sure that your're doing everything possible to protect the children entrusted in your care.

Professional Learning Board recommends MYB Inc. as a cost-effective and school-focused resource for organizations to perform background checks. MYB Inc. is trusted by districts, schools and states across the country. Click here to visit the MYB Inc. web site and learn more about how you and your organization can better safeguard all children with background checks from a company that understands the unique needs of education.