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4/23/2012
Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers™
Spring is a great time to step out of your usual patterns. This week’s Update includes a contest you can enter to opens doors to learning with new technology in your classroom. We also ask for teacher responses to one of our most popular content features, Globetracker’s Mission. TeachersFirst is a free service for YOU. Why not step out—or step up—to show how technology makes a difference for your students.
Seeking Middle School Science teachers
TeachersFirst is involved in a very exciting technology-based social learning project for middle school science. This project (which will be free) needs some talented middle school science teachers to help us this summer. Yes, they will be paid. Learn more here—and PLEASE tell your science teacher friends. The application deadline is April 30.
Globetracker teachers: we need your help!
TeachersFirst gives away a lot. We need you to give back just a little. Teachers, please tell us what you think about Globetracker's Mission by completing a short survey. We need your assessment of Globetracker's Mission's effectiveness to help us obtain grants. Take the survey here.
Mission debrief
Now that Geo and Meri have completed this year’s Globetracker’s Mission, you can debrief and recap the mission with the REVIEW activities available in the sidebar of the Teacher’s Edition of the final episode. Wrap up the year of standards-based learning about geography, major sites in the U.S., landforms, and more. The review will remain online for you to rewind and recap until the end of May.
Not mega-millions, but a BIG win!
Imagine winning a technology package worth over $300,000 for your school! TeachersFirst’s non-profit parent company, The Source for Learning, is one of the sponsors of the Dream School Challenge from Lifetime’s The Balancing Act. Learn more here, and don’t miss seeing Candace Hackett Shively (TeachersFirst’s Thinking Teacher-leader), together with ISTE CEO Don Knezek on The Balancing Act this Tuesday, April 24 during the 7-8 am broadcast (DVR it!).
Learning for any occasion
Many of you will see your class shrink this week for Take Your Child to Work Day (April 26). Make this “day off” for some into a true learning experience for the whole class with resources and ideas from TeachersFirst. This is also TV Turn Off Week (April 23-29), an ideal time for families to share Special Occasion activities from TeachersFirst. These same Special Occasion activities (great for gifts!) and TeachersFirst’s collection for Mother’s Day will help you recognize moms on May 13. And don’t forget Cinco de Mayo in just a couple of weeks. No matter what the occasion, the TeachersFirst Classroom Planning Calendar has ideas for learning.
May is for math at OK2Ask®
Elementary and middle school math teachers won’t want to miss our OK2Ask® May math offering with an award-winning teacher. Join this free, online teacher professional development “snack session” from any computer -- and earn a professional development certificate. The summer OK2Ask® schedule will be posted in May and will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays mid-July through August.
Energizing Math: ideas, resources, and collaboration for K-8 math teachers
Tues, May 22. ONE session 7-8:30 pm EDT ONLY; Read the details and register
What works for homework?
Which is the most effective way to deal with missing homework?
Click your choice in the weekly poll on the TeachersFirst home page.
Around the World Once a Week (#xw1w)
XW1W for the week of April 22: How do you celebrate birthdays? Across the World Once a Week (XW1W) uses microblogging or blogging tools to share responses about everyday life from any corner of the world. The XW1W FAQ page explains it all. Make today’s instant communications an instant learning experience.
Featured Sites
This week in our Featured Sites, find tools and new ways to “see:”
- A trio of Graphic Organizer tools
- Primary reading treasures
- A new way to view time
- Tech tutorials
- Mythology
- Science sites times two
- A money simulation
- A dramatic presentation tool
- Energy!
And more! Don’t miss our many additional recent additions from the link at the bottom of the Featured sites page.
May your students step out of their usual patterns and give you a positive surprise this week.
Your “teacher to go,”
Candace Hackett Shively
Director of K-12 Initiatives