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. 

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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!

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SCRATCH This!

Okay, I must admit that I'm itching to play with SCRATCH, to create interactive animations, stories and games!

Local students at St. Paul Public School's Expo for Excellence Magnet School have been betatesting new software from MIT Media Lab, a programming language that lets kids create their own games, interactive arts and animations.

Kid's can program a dance, create a chase game and animate their name.

Plus, it's FREE and translates into many languages

If you think this is intriguing, there's more. . .

Find SCRATCH at MIT Media Lab web link at http://scratch.mit.edu.
Or DOWNLOAD SCRATCH now as a free download!

The Perfect Gift

20 Reasons Books are the Best Gifts!
by Ruth Smith, Director UBAH

 

20. Books don’t need to be assembled.
19. Books don’t need batteries.
18. Books never come in the wrong color or size.
17. Books don’t need to be serviced by a dealer.
16. Books won't need replacement parts.
15. Books are easier to gift wrap than footballs.
14. Books don’t bite, scratch, or kick.
13. Books don’t need watering or fertilizing.
12. Books don’t irritate your allergies.
11. Books don’t go out of style.
10. Books look good with any decor.
9.  Books don’t get aphids or attract ants.
8.  Books aren't noisy and won't annoy family, friends, and neighbors.
7.  Books don’t shrink, stretch, or fade.
6.  Books don’t need extension cords.
5.  Bookswon’t scratch the coffee table.
4.  Books don’t cause cavities or get stale.
3.  Books take you places without even leaving home.
2.  Books are gifts which can be opened again and again.
1.  Books, no matter how much you use them, are never empty.

Order before December 15th and receive before Christmas!

FREE Children's Books!

Earn FREE Usborne children's books. Here's how:

1. Host an online eShow
   • Complete this form.
   • Pick an end date.
2. Contact your friends, neighbors, colleagues, etc.
3. Have them visit this site, click on your eShow and purchase books.

The orders are totaled up for all the people that placed an order for your eShow and your allowance of free books is calculated based on this chart.

We can even schedule an online chat enabling your guests to learn about Usborne books' unique qualities, ask questions and get help while selecting the best books for their children.

I'm so excited about this!

This month, and still in time for the holidays, I've begun selling Usborne Books.

"Huh? What are Usborne Books and why am I excited?" you  might ask.

Let me explain...

Usborne books are more than pages with text. They encourage interactivity and draw children of all ages into the content enabling them to experience the text. A huge selection of non-fiction material (animals, transportation, machines, careers, etc.) keeps my pre-schoolers enthralled.

As a teacher, I've found Usborne books to be one of our schools' best resources for learning to read and absorb subject matter content. As a new parent, I am thrilled to be able to bring these products into my home and share them with friends, relatives and colleagues.

Please visit my online store and let me know how I can help you pass along the gift of learning. I'll write more about this as it develops but feel free to set-up an eShow, schedule a fund-raiser, purchase gifts or make a Wish List today. And, as always, if you have any questions, comments, tips, etc. please let me know.