Don’t forget to check out the tabs. 

There are links to all kinds of

fun and helpful websites!!!

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There are so many amazing tools out in the world our students live in.   The kids know lots of them, swimming out past the waves, and I am just dabbling my toe in a tidepool on the beach.  The good thing is that most kids will share what they know.

Then I just need to know enough to try to guide my kids to places where it’s safe and productive to be.  This means being at least only slightly behind, although ahead would be good.   Discouragement comes when I think about this part. 

For example, I have spent a good part of my Saturday trying to learn how to use Google Documents, (https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=writely&passive=true&nui=1&continue=http%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2F&followup=http%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2F&ltmpl=homepage&rm=false - can’t find a shorter way to get you there.) and barely got started.  It’s a great way to work together with a student on a writing project, or to create an online test or survey.

I can write the document or the survey, but don’t know how to distribute it yet.  Exactly.

Alas and boo hoo.  I think I’m going to make a shirt now instead.  I bid you all a temporary (I hope) farewell.

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I was homebound like my kids for a while and got discouraged, but then went to the Podstock Southwest Conference, which was sponsored by TCEA.  Of course I  got inspired again.  Here is a link to the website.  It has a LOT of great information about free technology for teachers, websites, etc: http://podstock.wetpaint.com/page. ONce you get here, search for podstock southwest.

It is so important to me that we join our kids in their world; it can be such a great place to visit. I am so SLOW and behind.  Oh, well, we can but do our best, yes?  Anyway (Boo Hoo) Here I am inspired again, hoping someone can use some of this stuff.  I am resolved to start again.  My newest attempt is Plurking, which I haven’t exactly got the hang of yet. Hopefully the Angel is still there!

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The U. S. Department of Education has a new website called

Doing What Works 

at http://www.dww.ed.gov/ 

This site has resources and links to these subject areas, with more coming.

Early Childhood Education

English Language Learners

Math and Science

 Plus articles and videos about those topics, and a tour of the site.

Here’s part of what the overview says: “Doing What Works (DWW) is an exciting new website sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. DWW is dedicated to helping educators identify and make use of effective teaching practices. …
and interventions to let the education community know what is likely to work. For each practice, it issues a guide and/or an intervention report that describes what the practice involves and what the research says. … DWW provides examples of possible ways educators might apply those research findings….

Since I am deluged by beginning-of-the-year stuff,

Please Share what YOU think.

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Don’t forget to check out the tabs. 

There are links to all kinds of

fun and helpful websites!!!

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I am supposed to be calculating grades and putting together student folders.  (All due TOMORROW.)  I am getting to it, really. But I noticed that I haven’t posted in forever, and I thought, “Oh No!”  I am neglecting the blog!!!  This is an emergency.  Plus, I found an exciting summer reading list for teens, which will be included in the Reading section soon.  (Probably today, since I have hours and hours before tomorrow.)

Am I not excellent at avoidance? 

What’s your strategy?

Even more important, what is the strategy you non-procrastinators use to … well… to NOT procrastinate?

 In hopes that the District will suddenly announce that we don’t have to post grades, I am wishing everybody a happy & safe last day of school. 

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Time to stop complaining and get back to the good stuff. 

 Look what Edutopia showed me!!

I put this on the Science and Math pages although there is help for writing as well. 

Wow, I love the Internet!

 Thank you Massachusetts Institute of Technology

and Edutopia.org.

 Highlights for High School. This is Massachusetts Institute of Technology!  Open for you.  Including Build Stuff | Save the World | Write Better | Labs | Competitions | Demonstrations on Video.  http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/hs/home/home/index.htm 

Or if you’re really serious visit the main OpenCourseWare site at http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/home/home/index.htm

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Today was the NCLB-mandated standardized test for math, so, once again,  I sat in my student’s home while she worked on, and on.  And on.  Sixty questions.   Although she is too ill to go to school, she is a cheerful and philosophical soul.  She’s also extremely bright, so my docile compliance with state testing requirements isn’t as painful as it often can be. Read more »

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We are getting ready for the last of our TAKS administrations for the school year.  (I was going to say the last of how many, but I can’t count that high. )  TAKS is our attempt to  comply with the NCLB assessment requirements.

You may be one of the 5 or so people who aren’t affected and don’t have any idea what an exciting and all-encompassing event this is.  So, today, I thought I would write about what it looks like from my point of view.   Read more »

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Today I discovered Everyday Mysteries  at http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/ .  It has a lot of science (kind of)  questions already answered and organized by subject.  (For example, “Why do bats live in caves?”)

It also has a link to the Ask a Librarian service of the Library of Congress.  From here, you can find out almost anything, if you’re tenacious enough.  So, go forth and seek knowledge!

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