July O5 Belmont Education Newsletter

Belmont Education Newsletter Vol. 2 -Summer 2005
	Blogs in the classroom What is a blog? Blogs, short for webblog, are like an online journal, that uses a new, tool called a webblog which publishes comments, or journal entries directory to the internet. With webblog software, It isn't necessary to learn HTML or any programming languages -- just input your text, click and your entry is online. Blogs are the newest creature in the evolution of the Internet, with tens of thousands springing up on every conceivable topic imaginable, including of course, education. How are blogs being used in education? Here are some examples: Blogs being used by Teachers and Schools Elementary School Blog Blog of school librarian Norma Jean Smith who works in Austin , Texas . Includes sites designed for elementary school teachers and librarians. http://www.elementary-school.blogspot.com/ Ms. Frizzle The adventures of a science teacher in a small public middle school in the Bronx . http://msfrizzle.blogspot.com/ First Grade Teacher Keeping parents informed with a blog http://www.butlerville.net/1a/ 3^rd grade class blog http://www.mrwrightsclass.com/ School blog http://lewiselementary.org/ First year of teaching http://firstyearteacher.blogspot.com/ One of the most prominent bloggers for education is Will Richardson, self styled ‘blogvangelist' and Supervisor of Instructional Technology and Communications at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in Flemington , NJ . If you haven't seen his Blog yet, it is well worth a look -- http://www.weblogg-ed.com . Richardson , is a true blogvangelist as the name implies, gives workshops and presentations regularly on what he calls the ‘transformational potential' of blogs. While he may be right that blogs are transformational, at a more concrete and down to earth level, Blogs reach kids where they are at and with a medium they use everyday. From Richardson 's Blog: "About a year ago, I asked my first year composition students whether they did much reading and writing outside of class. Most of them said, "No." But when I asked them if they wrote emails, used AOL IM, and surfed the Internet, they almost unanimously said, "Yes." To them, the Internet and other forms of electronic discourse were not associated with their concept of "reading and writing" in the school sort of way. I imagine that this difference might be because one is "fun" and the other is "work." But regardless, I've come to feel that reading and writing the Web is a way for me to tap into a writing space that students already use--and more importantly, want to use." Full Article >>>
Reading? or Writing?
	If you don't want to read about teaching this summer, you might want to consider writing! Thousands of people, many of them teachers are writing ebooks and marketing them online. If you don't think this is for you, think again. Former teacher and Vice Principal Glenn Dietzel, now author and President of Teacher eBooks, provides everything you need for finding the author within! His website, www.teacherebooks.com, is well work visiting. Visit Teachers Ebooks
Because LD and ADHD Do Not Go Away at Three O'Clock
	A Guide for Students, Parents, and Teachers By Fern Goldstein, MS, Teacher of Children with Learning Disabilities, President of G. Whiz Educational Resources, and Author of Looking Glass Spelling and G. Whiz I Finished My Homework! Education for young people does not occur only in school, so the results of any intervention will be limited unless there is carryover and cooperation between home and school, because LD and ADHD do not go away at three o’clock. When parent and teacher efforts and responsibilities coincide, much can be accomplished, and the skills taught in school can and should extend to the home. Students need consistent adult supervision until they can internalize the skills being taught. They must also have a clear understanding of expectations for meeting educational and behavioral requirements. Here are some ideas that will help you foster school-home cooperation for students with LD and make everyone’s lives a lot easier.	G Whiz Educational Resources Spelling, Grammar, Homework, Study Skills & More for Students with Learning Disabilities, ADHD, and Dyslexia, At-Risk Students and Home schoolers Visits Ferns Website www.gwhizresources.com/
	People with LD are no less talented and unique than individuals without LD; however, there are certain weaknesses that are generally more prevalent in the learning disabled population and in people with ADHD. In order to affect positive growth for children with LD and ADHD, we need to examine these areas of weakness and how to remediate them at school and at home. Difficulties with the greatest impact on academic and professional success include: poor organizational skills, poor time management, impaired processing of language, poor impulse control, and poor memory. Difficulty with organizational skills manifests itself throughout the school day and at home. Students are frequently unprepared for class with either no homework or homework that is incomplete. Notices, permission slips, and class notes are misplaced or languish at the bottom of a book bag. Lunch money is lost, or lunch is forgotten. At home, this disability affects the children’s ability to keep their rooms clean, maintain teacher-parent communication, and initiate and complete chores. Parents and teachers become frustrated and students are embarrassed and sometimes angry or withdrawn because of their inability to find important papers or materials essential to negotiating their day. Teachers have developed a variety of tools to help students develop organizational skills, including charts, check-off lists, folders, special notebooks, and assignment planners. By designating a place for each item and a method for accountability for task completion and materials, teachers provide external organizational structure for students who lack the internal one to do it for themselves. These tools are only as useful, however, as the follow-up and support they receive from home. Full Article >>>
Becoming a Better Teacher		Teaching Fractions
	Where to Start? Summer is here and its a great time to catch up on reading and look back on the last year and think about successes and failures, what worked and what didn't work. This is a valuable exercise for any profession. To assist teachers, this is the first in a series of articles which explore becoming a better teacher. For the first in the series, I thought I would do begin with a review of material available on becoming a better teacher. Bookstores and the Internet have dozens, even hundreds of books on how to become a better teacher and they all seem pretty much the same as the next one on the shelf. Do the authors that write these books know what they are talking about? Have the ever been in a classroom? Difficult to say. I had a good look around and recommend a book by veteran teacher Christine Morrison, who has spent 30 years in the classroom and seen every imaginable classroom situation possible. Christine's book, Teaching Secrets, is well worth a read for any new or experienced teacher, is available at her website, http://www.teaching-secrets.com	Subscribe to our weekly Math tips. Every week you receive tips on teaching fractions to elementary school students. Includes tips such as: Exploring versus Telling Why are fractions difficult? Ideas for teaching fractions Teaching activities
Equivalent Fractions -- Supplementary Materials
	According to a recent study, "The practices of demonstrating how to do math problems and of setting students to work on worksheets and textbook exercises were still much more common—and nearly universal—in the United States than they were in other countries." Fractions are something that students should explore and discover by themselves, rather than 'be told' or 'have explained.' At Math Lessons we provide teachers with tools to engage students in learning about fractions and discovering the underlying concepts for themselves. Subscribers to our newsletter can now purchase these innovative and creative lessons plans, manipulatives and ideas for teaching fractions at a special subscribers page.
Harry Potter in the Classroom		Harry Potter Lesson Plans
	Harry Potter in the classroom Program combines reading and science Friday, July 8, 2005 Charlene Haviland will teach an after-school program in the fall that combines reading with the study of science in the Harry Potter books. NORFOLK, Virginia (AP) -- When the students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry fly off on broomsticks, most Harry Potter fans think "magic." Charlene Haviland thinks "aerodynamics." And when Professor Albus Dumbledore snaps his fingers to turn on the lights, the middle school teacher gets excited -- at the prospect of explaining how a remote control works. Haviland will get her chance this fall, when she teaches an after-school remedial program for eighth-graders that will combine reading with the study of science in the Harry Potter books. She'll use one book per quarter, so the students won't get to the latest -- the sixth in the series, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," which is due out July 16. Full Story at CNN.com>>> Potter's magic spell turns boys into bookworms JK Rowling's latest is launched as a new report shows that her books are inspiring children to read again, reports David Smith Anyone old enough to count knows there are only six days to go. Just after midnight on Saturday, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is to go on sale to millions of eager children. And the good news, in an era of iPods and PlayStations, is that Harry will cast an improving spell on young minds. The Harry Potter books boost children's reading ability and encourage them to read more widely, according to both pupils and their teachers. Indeed, many teachers cite JK Rowling's work as being a valuable educational resource, and more than a third reckon that it is more effective than the government's National Literacy Strategy. Full Story At The Observer >>>	This lesson explores the Hero Journey of Mythology and applies it to Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. Includes: 31 page Students Book 14 page Teachers Guidebook A complete lesson plan for teachers including: Complete package for teachers Saves time Use over and over Numerous student worksheets Crossword puzzle Self Evaluation Multi disciplinary approach - Creative Writing, Art, Drama Complete materials and information in one booklet. Information for teachers to introduce, and guide discussion Adaptable program for high or low levels Adobe PDF format BONUS ! Harry Potter Encyclopedia included at no charge. Claim your copy ON SALE for only $9.99
		Harry Potter Characterization
		Characterization in Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone This innovative and interesting Lesson plan for teachers examines characterization and character and then looks at the various characters in Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. Includes: 33 page student book 14 page teachers book Claim your copy ON SALE for only $9.99
Rime of the Ancient Mariner Lesson Plans
	Veteran teacher and creator of the Ancient Mariner Unit, Peter Stocker, describes his creation, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is very dry and difficult to understand. I wanted to make it understandable to my students." The Unit integrates all aspects of Language Arts, including exercises for representing, reading, writing, poetry, speaking, exploring structure, and viewing. "Literature, or any story that deals with the great themes or universal themes of human life speak to students at a very deep level, and their comprehension increases dramatically," Peter continues, "All of the themes in the Rime of the Ancient Mariner are explored very deeply." Approaching a subject from many different angles, such as written, orally, and representationally, as well as exploring themes in depth, incorporates Gardner's 1983 theory on Multiple Intelligence. The Intelligences Gardner recognizes include: verbal-linguistic, math-logic, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intra personal and naturalist. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Unit, as well as accompanying Dore Graphics package, are available at a special price to newsletter subscribers www.literature-enrichment.com
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	Math Lessons Lesson Plans, manipulatives, and resources for teaching fractions and equivalent fractions. Literature Enrichment Rime of the Ancient Mariner Unit and well known fairy tales in Play format. Teacher Ebooks Ever thought of writing but don't know where to start? Glenn Dietzel will show you how to get it out in 29 days…Guaranteed! Characterization Lesson Plans on Character, including Characterization in Harry Potter, building character and more.. Becoming a Better Teacher Tips and tricks, classroom secrets and more from Veteran teacher Christine Morrison.	You can see your product, service or website profiled here! Let us know -- newsletter@pedagog.org

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