We are not saving daylight any more, but we hope TeachersFirst is still saving you time as November rolls into parent conferences and the home stretch to Thanksgiving.

Team Members Wanted
Wanted: experienced, techno-savvy classroom teachers (K-12) to work part time (a few hours per month) from your own computer writing web site reviews for TeachersFirst.com. Minimum five years classroom experience required. Skills needed: creativity, strong writing skills, fresh ideas for implementation of technology for LEARNING, self-discipline, organization to meet commitments, familiarity with broad or specialized areas of K-12 curriculum, ability to envision effective ways to use both education and non-education web resources in a classroom environment. Knowledge of web 2.0 tools and related safety issues a must. Interested? Contact our webmaster account for more information.

Parent Conferences?
Have no fear; we have the handouts and suggestions to help during this busy time. TeachersFirst’s Ideas for Working Together with Parents and Resources to Share with Parents at Conferences can help you communicate constructive suggestions and ways for home and school to work together.

Veterans’ Day
November 11  will be here before you know it. Take some time now to find an appropriate Veterans’ Day activity that fits within your curriculum. TeachersFirst’s Veterans’ Day resource page includes ideas across grade levels and subjects to honor those who serve and who have served to protect all of us. Do something meaningful to thank a vet.

It’s OK2Ask
November’s free OK2Ask offering is the perfect after-school pick-me-up. OK2Ask free online “snack sessions” for teacher professional development and exploration run for just over an hour but last for a career. If you can click around a web page, you can enter our “classroom” where we are ready to help you. You can even earn professional development certificates. Register now or read more:

Find It, Use It: Exploring the Resources of TeachersFirst to Plan Effective, Technology-Infused Lessons - Tuesday, November 17, 2009, at your choice of two time slots. Read the details and preregister here.  Note: This is a repeat of a previous OK2Ask session, back by popular request.

Cast a Spell
Although formal spelling instruction has changed dramatically, the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee continues to attract more media attention each spring, even live television coverage! Whether you teach word study or social studies, spelling can be an interesting portal into the words, meanings, and the many rich contributors to the English language. TeachersFirst offers many resources to learn about words, spelling, and language. Try searching spelling in our keyword search for activities you can use in class or make available for individual spelling scholars. We remind you that now is the time to plan for your local preliminary to the National Spelling Bee.

Last Chance to be in on a First
Seasoned teachers can smell a good lesson idea, sense student difficulties, and anticipate classroom challenges with ease. New teachers are often quite comfortable about technology. What happens when you mix seasoning and techno-ease in the same bowl? You get our special November 12 OK2Ask offering: Spinning Success: Planning a student-centered, technology-infused project for grades K-8.  We have a few seats remaining in the 4 pm (Eastern) session of this special offering. To share in this ground-breaking project, learning together with current and future K-8 teachers, read the details and register here.

This Week's Question of the Week
Toys have become more and more sophisticated and often are marketed to parents as ways to improve their child's academic achievement. If you were to recommend ONE toy that will really help a child learn now and later in school, what would you choose -- and for what age(s) would you recommend it? Secondary teachers should weigh in, too! Share your response to this Question of the Week. Remember to check "anonymous," if you wish. See what other teachers have to say, as well. You can always see responses to past questions by clicking to see the Question archives.

Featured Sites
This week’s featured sites include sites for young and all:

• Calculators for EVERYTHING!
• Two terrific sites on the environment and energy
• Word Searches ready to-use or customized
• Fairy tales
• Biology animations
• Issues to spark debate -- and research
• and more, as well as other “recent additions” (click at the bottom of the page)

Make a friend’s day by sharing TeachersFirst with a fellow teacher this week. You will be saving double time!

Your “teacher to go,”
Candace Hackett Shively
Director of K-12 Initiatives