February 2008

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Home : Division of School Improvement : Education Technology : Newsline

February 2008: Volume 9, Number 4

Newsline Submission Guidelines Inside this Issue Instructional Technology Update From the Director’s Desk DESE Budgets / Grant Programs Technology Plans and Data Collection State and National News MSBA launches daily news program Missouri P-20 Council releases workforce 2025 report E-rate Program Funding Year 2008 Funding Year 2007 Research, Publications, Resources Edweek.org posts 2008 edition of Quality Counts: Tapping into Teaching Checklists for planning technology initiatives Recommended reading: Using technology in the classroom eMINTS Update eMINTS FY09 information and applications available Seeing with their own eyes Registration for eMINTS Winter Conference closes Feb. 11 eMINTS events on the website e-Learning for Educators - Missouri Update e-Learning for Education Registration Continues Cooperating School Districts Update ACT Prep Course And The Winner is... Inside the Artist's Studio 2008 Programs Join Saint Louis Black Repertory Company The Saint Louis Symphony Ochestra offers "Playing Percussion" program MOREnet Update 2008 MOREnetworking Together MOREnet K-12 Bandwidth Upgrate Request Guidelines How to Submit an Upgrade Request Bandwidth Upgrade Deadlines MoDLA Update The 2008 MoDLA Conference "Keeping Pace with Distance Learning" The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) 2008 Annual National Conference SuccessLink Update 6th Annual SuccessLink Technology Innovations Conference SuccessLink Summer Science Institute Proven Practices for Student Success! Missouri Association of Rural Educators Update Annual MARE Conference Regular Featured Items Upcoming Conferences Grant Funding Opportunities Mark Your Calendar Resources From the Mailbag Websites of Interest Recommended Online Projects and Activities Newest eTHEMES Updated eTHEMES Index by Topics Archives
	INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY UPDATE The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education posted in January RFPs for the FY09 Missouri METS School Grants and Safe Schools Grants programs and the federal Title II.D Competitive Grant Program. Applications for these programs are due this spring, for project implementation to begin July 1, 2008, provided the Department receives the grant appropriations. Also look for details regarding February program information workshops. Missouri educators are encouraged to consider serving on application review teams. This is a wonderful professional development experience, where you likely will learn of good ideas or tips about grant writing, project design, and the like, and get insight into other districts and schools, finding that every district has strengths and weaknesses. Department staff will provide training and reimburse travel-related costs. The reviews are conducted in Jefferson City in April or May, depending on the program. To sign up, download, complete, and submit a reader volunteer form – located on each program’s website. -- Deborah S. Sutton
	DESE Budgets / Grant Programs Education Technology Programs Federal Title II.D Competitive Grants FY09 RFP and district eligibility information were posted in January. http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/instrtech/federalfunded/TitleIID/index.htm The purpose for these two-year grants is to help support eligible districts in implementing school-wide eMINTS projects to enhance teaching and increase student achievement. First-year applications are competitive and due March 31 (and Year 2 continuation grants are due May 1). Responsive applications will be reviewed by a panel of Missouri educators in mid-April and informed of tentative funding decisions by mid-May. *Note that grant awards will be made contingent upon Missouri receiving the state funding.* Program Changes – There are two changes to the program guidelines and rules for FY09: districts will compete in four (rather than three) geographic areas and the details for assigning technology needs points have been updated. While the bonus points for economic need will continue to use free and reduced lunch rate data, the technology need points will be based on both Census of Technology and prior EETT funding data. The reasoning behind this change is that grant funding reduces districts’ technology needs, and districts with higher ratios of students to Internet-connected computers and/or districts without recent funding should receive priority status. Workshop – Instructional Technology and eMINTS staffs will host an information workshop on Friday, February 22, in Jefferson City, from 1:00 to approximately 3:30 PM. A copy of the workshop agenda, driving and parking information, and a registration form are posted on the program website. Please complete and submit the workshop registration form by February 19. Attendees are encouraged to print the [downloadable] administrative manual to bring to the workshop. The workshop presentation slides will be posted after the workshop. For more information about the competitive Title II.D grant program, visit the website or contact Instructional Technology staff. For more information about the eMINTS instructional model and available professional development programs, contact the eMINTS National Center or visit the eMINTS website at http://emints.org/. State eMINTS/METS Classrooms Grants Grant recipients are reminded that mid-year progress reports were due January 31. Completed forms are to be submitted to Instructional Technology, as indicated on the form. To access a downloadable form, visit the Department’s program website at: http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/instrtech/100%20eMINTS-METS%20Classrooms/index.html, or the eMINTS-METS Classrooms community website at: http://emints.org/communities/mets.shtml. New FY09 METS School Grants RFP information for the new METS School Grants Program was posted in January. http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/instrtech/METS%20School%20Grant%20Pgrm/index.html In December, Governor Blunt announced additional Math, Engineering, Technology and Science (METS) grants funding to support three sub-grant programs. To build on the 100 technology classrooms in 100 schools created in FY08, Gov. Blunt recommended funding for school-wide grants to help schools implement eMINTS classrooms AND school-wide grants to support implementation of standards-based mathematics and science classrooms. The application deadline date is March 31 so applications can be reviewed by panels of educators in mid-April and tentative grant selections announced by mid-May. *Note that these one-year grant awards will be made contingent upon Missouri receiving the state funding.* Staffs in the Department’s Curriculum and Instructional Technology sections will administer the FY09 METS Grants Program. The goal is to award 36 one-year, school-wide METS grants across the state: 12 eMINTS, 12 Mathematics, and 12 Science grants. Funds will be distributed across four geographic quadrants and three building/grade spans: elementary – grades K-6, middle – grades 5-8, and high – grades 9-12. A district may only apply for one grant (such as an elementary eMINTS or a middle school Science grant). Workshop – METS program staffs will host an information workshop on Thursday, February 7, at the Truman Hotel in Jefferson City. A copy of the workshop agenda, driving information, and a registration form are posted on the program website. Please complete and submit the workshop registration form by February 4. Attendees are encouraged to print the [downloadable] administrative manual to bring to the workshop. The workshop presentations will be posted after the workshop. State Safe Schools Program *FY09 RFPs and district eligibility information were posted in January.* http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/safeschools/index.html. Anticipating funding renewal, the Department has posted FY09 application information. The purpose for these four-year grants is to help support districts in implementing intervention programs and services to address the needs of violent, abusive, and chronically disruptive students. First-year applications are competitive and due April 15 (and continuation grants are due May 15). Responsive first-year applications will be reviewed by a panel of Missouri educators in mid-May and informed of tentative funding decisions by the end of May. *Note that grant awards will be made contingent upon Missouri receiving the state funding.* Program Changes – There are several changes to the program guidelines and rules for FY09 based on an internal review and state audit recommendations. In brief, the changes affect grant amounts, district match, years of funding, use of economic need bonus points, and increased district reporting and program monitoring. More detailed information about these changes is provided in the cover letter and administrative manual posted on the program website. Workshop – Program staff will host an information workshop on Friday, February 22, in Jefferson City, from 10:00 AM to approximately 12:00 PM. A copy of the workshop agenda, driving and parking information, and a registration form are posted on the program website. Please complete and submit the workshop registration form by February 19. Attendees are encouraged to print the [downloadable] administrative manual to bring to the workshop. The workshop presentation slides will be posted after the workshop. Technology Plans and Data Collection Technology Plan State Approval – revised 2008 Score Guide, Approval Checklist DESE Instructional Technology has revised the 2008 district technology plan approval checklist and scoring guide. Revisions were necessary to better align with the Department’s new electronic Planning and electronic Grant (ePeGS) system and to help ensure districts satisfy technology plan requirements under NCLB and Universal Service Fund E-rate programs. Copies of the revised documents are posted on the District Technology Planning website at: http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/instrtech/techplan/index.htm. To learn more about ePeGS, to keep up on what’s being developed, or to provide us with input and feedback, see: http://www.dese.mo.gov/epegs/.

Core Data Census of Technology – to be completed by April 15
Districts are required to complete Core Data Screens 30 and 31 during the April Core Data Cycle. Screen 30 collects district-level data; Screen 31 collects building-level data. All attendance centers must complete Screen 31. The 2008 screens are essentially the same as those completed in 2007, with the following notes/exceptions:

Districts will continue to report the “percent of eight-grade students who are technology literate” via screen 30, item 8. [In the future, MOSIS reporting will populate this item.] The Core Data Manual provides the state’s definition of technology literacy. For guidance as to how districts can make technology literacy determinations, see the document, “Why do schools have to complete the Census? How are the data used, and how are schools held accountable?” – posted on the COT website at: http://www.dese.mo.gov/divimprove/instrtech/cot_article_1_2.pdf.

The Screen 31 computer tables may be revised to ask districts to respond based on the year the computer was purchased rather than on processor specifications. In short, the item asks for the numbers of computers by date and location, with four “date” categories available: purchased in the last year, one to three years old, four to five years old, and six years or older. The revised table aligns with the data the Department needs to report to the U.S. Department of Education (ED).

Note that districts will also be asked to enter 8th-grade student technology literacy information via the Missouri Student Identification System (MOSIS). In essence, districts are asked to enter technology literacy determination along with other achievement-related data that are entered in June – that will be used to test the data collection system, not to report actual data to ED this year. While reporting technology literacy data to MOSIS will be optional, districts are still expected to have in place the necessary policies and procedures that ensure students are afforded opportunity to acquire technology literacy skills – and have adequate documentation supporting the student technology literacy data reported during the April COT and June MOSIS data collections.

STATE AND NATIONAL NEWS

MSBA launches daily news program
In January, the Missouri School Boards’ Association (MSBA) launched a daily news program titled “Education Today with Brent Ghan” over ESGN – MSBA’s Internet broadcast station. This daily 5-7 minute production focuses on educational and legislative topics and current events. New programs air each day, Monday through Friday, at 11:30 AM. Each new program is available for archival viewing for five days (after its first broadcast). To access current and archived editions of the program, free of charge, visit: http://www.msbanet.org/educationtoday.aspx. For more information, contact Andrew Lange, Director, Distance Learning and Information Technology at 573-445-9920 or lange@msbanet.org.

Missouri P-20 Council releases workforce 2025 report
Missouri P-20 Council, comprised of the heads of the departments and boards of elementary and secondary education and higher education, and economic development, was formed by Governor Blunt to help coordinate learning from preschool education to graduate school and the workforce. In December, the council presented the governor with the Workforce 2025 Report that attempts to identify ways Missouri can prepare students now for workforce needs of the future, as well as retain current workers who will make up more than half of Missouri’s workforce by 2025. To access the report, visit: http://www.p-20.mo.gov/workforce2005.html.

E-RATE PROGRAM

Funding Year 2008 –
The FY2008 window will close at 11:59 p.m. EST on February 7, 2008.

Funding Year 2007 –
USAC released FY2007 Wave 36 Funding Commitment Decision Letters (FCDLs) January 29. This wave included commitments for approved Internal Connections and Basic Maintenance requests at/above 83% – and denials at 79% and below. As of this date, Funding Year 2007 commitments totaled $1.9 billion. See: http://www.sl.universalservice.org/funding/y2007/national.asp.

RESEARCH, PUBLICATIONS, RESOURCES

Edweek.org posts 2008 edition of Quality Counts: Tapping into Teaching
Education Week recently posted the 2008 edition of Quality Counts: Tapping Into Teaching, which examines strategies states can use to unlock the full potential of the teaching profession. Examples of some of the feature stories, commentaries, and analyses are listed below. The entire report is free online at: http://www.edweek.org/ew/toc/2008/01/10/index.html.

Human Resources a Weak Spot – by Lynn Olson
“Although student achievement is linked to good teachers, there's no system for attracting, training, and supporting the best people for the job.”

Advancing Pay for Performance – by Vaishali Honawar & Lynn Olson
“States may be able to play a strong role in rethinking teacher compensation systems, including basing rewards, in part, on student gains.”

Working Conditions Trump Pay – Debra Viadero
“When it comes to retaining teachers, studies show that the circumstances of their jobs may matter even more than their salaries.”

State Highlights Reports, which include state-specific indicators on Chance-for-Success and K-12 Achievement

Checklists for planning technology initiatives
In January, techLEARNING featured an article to help school leaders develop effective technology plans. Laxarus Ndiku Makewa provides a number of checklists related to technology policies, new technology initiatives, technology plan development, and technology plan evaluation. See: http://techlearning.com/showArticle.php?articleID=196604916.

Recommended reading: Using technology in the classroom
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal featured Tim Magner, director of the office of educational technology for the U.S. Department of Education. In discussing how the use of technology in the classroom has changed, Magner was asked to recommend books. His picks addressed Web 2.0 tools, creativity and video games, 21^st century literacy, and other current topics. See: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119247579234659595.html.

eMINTS UPDATE
submitted by Monica Beglau

eMINTS FY09 information and applications available New and updated information for FY09 applications is now available. Find grant/funding information, eMINTS equipment specifications and FY09 eMINTS professional development program information. Includes funding information and documents essential to filling out grant applications http://www.emints.org/application

Find detailed information about both federal and state grant opportunities - Title II.D (EETT), Title I and Missouri METS School Grants Program. Missouri grant applications and information are available from the DESE website - http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/instrtech/

Seeing with their own eyes Members of the Missouri Appropriations and Education Committee visited the New Franklin R-1 School District on January 16 to tour eMINTS classrooms. The legislators visited classrooms, talked with students and teachers, and came away with a whole new appreciation for how educational technology can invigorate the classroom.

“We know, and legislators agree, that to be prepared for life, students must have opportunities to learn how to find, evaluate, organize and use information effectively,” said Cynthia Gardner, Curriculum Coordinator for New Franklin Schools and eMINTS Instructional Specialist. “We are proud to share a first-hand view of our students’ and educators’ learning experiences.”
Visitors, including State Representative Kathlyn Fares, Chair of the Appropriations Education Committee, and other legislators enjoyed interacting with students from preschool to twelfth-grade as they worked on collaborative, inquiry-based projects. They witnessed how New Franklin students and teachers are using technology and eMINTS instructional strategies throughout their elementary, middle, and high school classrooms. Special thanks to the eMINTS teachers, students and instructional specialist who hosted the event.

Registration for eMINTS Winter Conference closes Feb. 11 Online registration is open through Feb. 11, 2008 - or until sessions are filled. Join Bernie Dodge, David Warlick, eMINTS staff and program participants in Columbia, MO, Feb. 27-29, 2008, for the annual eMINTS Winter Conference.

The eMINTS conference is open to all educators who are interested in eMINTS topics. The eMINTS instructional model is based on high-quality lesson design using principles of constructivism and inquiry-based learning coupled with the appropriate use of technology for teaching and learning in classrooms and learning communities. Find schedule, costs, session details and online registration from the eMINTS Winter Conference 2008 website – http://www.emints.org/events/winter2008/

eMINTS events on the website Find detailed information about upcoming eMINTS events, links to register or RSVP, and maps and driving directions to event locations, all available from the eMINTS National Center website – http://www.emints.org/events/

e-LEARNING FOR EDUCATORS: MISSOURI UPDATE
submitted by Christie Terry

e-Learning for Education Registration Continues The e-Learning for Educators: Missouri program is part of an eight-state online professional development project scheduled as a five-year effort. The program is funded by a U.S. Department of Education Ready to Teach grant. e-Learning for Educators is a program for developing and delivering high quality online professional development designed to increase teacher knowledge and skills to improve student performance. Experienced Missouri educators facilitate online professional development courses for teachers. Future plans include creating additional online courses geared specifically to the needs of Missouri teachers. Collaborators leading the effort include the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), KETC/Channel 9 (PBS in St. Louis), Missouri State University and the University of Missouri (eMINTS National Center). Registration for Spring courses is now open. Discounts are available for groups of 3 or more teachers taking the same course. Some partial scholarships (paying one-half of the $125 registration fee) are now available on a first-come, first-served basis. Graduate credit is available at the low cost of $100 per credit. See http://www.elearningmo.org/ for details. Teachers in all states are eligible to take courses.

COOPERATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS UPDATE

The ACT Prep Course is being offered by Cooperating School Districts and The Princeton Review via videoconference. For the cost of $140 per student, participants receive The Princeton Review’s ACT Manual of sample questions and drills; 20 hours of professional classroom instruction through videoconferencing; and three practice tests to track progress. Included in this unique videoconference course are test-taking techniques, tips & tactics specific to each section of the test.

Classes meet Monday and Wednesday for five weeks from 3:30-5:30 p.m., in a room with videoconferencing equipment at the student’s school. An experienced instructor from The Princeton Review will be on-site at CSD leading the class through the sessions. In addition to being able to ask questions during the session, students can contact The Princeton Review between sessions via e-mail with any questions about assignments or the upcoming exam. For more information on the ACT Prep Course offered by The Princeton Review thru CSD, Contact Rebecca Morrison at (314) 692-1274 or rmorrison@csd.org. The ACT Prep Course syllabi and enrollment information can be found at http://csd.org/newlinks/ACTintro.htm

And The Winner is…Cooperating School Districts is pleased to announce the winners of the fourth annual Show Me a Movie Contest. The listing and their entries are available at http://www2.csd.org/showmemovie/index.htm. The winning students and their teachers will be recognized at a reception at the Midwest Education Technology Conference on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at the St. Charles Convention Center, sponsored by Apple, Inc. They will receive prizes donated by contest sponsors, Tech4Learning and CyberLink.

Inside the Artist’s Studio 2008 Programs Inside the Artist’s Studio is a free, standards-based, distance-learning education project designed to connect artists from Missouri to students across Missouri. Funded through support provided the by Missouri Arts Council, the School District of Clayton, Missouri, and the St. Louis County Cable Commission, the project is structured to provide student learning across the artistic disciplines of dance, music, theatre and visual arts. Each program will be offered live during the school day via videoconferences, Internet web streaming and broadcast programming.

Join Saint Louis Black Repertory Company, HEC-TV Live! and Roundtrips as they take you behind the scenes of the St. Louis Black Repertory Company. Connect via interactive videoconference, the Internet, and broadcast television to link to professional actors, directors and technicians of the St. Louis Black Repertory Company. Go behind the scenes to see how a production comes to life; meet the people involved in bringing a playwright’s tale to life; increase your understanding of what it takes to create a theatre company. Request the materials via email live@hectv.org or view them online at www.hectv.org. For more details about the St. Black Repertory Company, visit their website.

Program 1: The Black Rep and August Wilson: Being True to the Text
Date: Tuesday, February 5, 2008; please register by Thursday, January 31 for videoconference
Time: 10 a.m. CST
Grade Level: 7-12
Live from the rehearsal space at The Black Rep, program participants will interact with Director Lorna Littleway and members of the cast from The Black Rep’s upcoming production of Radio Golf by August Wilson. Audience members will explore the power of Wilson's language, his development of character, and his voice as a playwright. Viewers will participate as cast members rehearse a scene from the play and discuss casting, staging plot and character development. What do you want to know about August Wilson? About bringing a character to life? About rehearsing a scene? About being true to the text? Join us from America’s largest professional African-American theatre company to find out.

Program 2: The Black Rep and August Wilson: Staging Radio Golf
Date: Thursday, February 14, 2008; please register by Monday, February 11 for videoconference
Time: 10 a.m. CST
Grade Level: 7-12
Join us live from the stage of the Grandel Theatre, performance home of St. Louis Black Repertory Company, to view a scene from The Black Reps’ current production of August Wilson’s Radio Golf. Participants will see the same scene discussed and rehearsed in the previous program, but this time view it as it comes to life on the stage and in costume. Meet Producing Director Ron Himes and members of the design team to discuss how the show came to life from the first phase of design to the final phase of implementation. View the lights, the costumes, and the scenery. Ask questions of actors, directors and designers who are part of America’s largest professional African-American theatre company.

The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra offers "Playing Percussion" program. Two live programs will be available on February 19, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time and 1:00 p.m. Central Time. Additional preparatory materials, including a detailed agenda, related curriculum standards, and pre-program and post-program learning activities, are available for the program. E-mail live@hectv.org to request the materials or view them online at www.hectv.org. For more details about the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, go to http://www.slso.org.

Playing Percussion
Date: February 19, 2008
Time: 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Central Time
Grade Level: Middle School and High School
What does it take to be a professional percussionist? Is playing percussion really as much fun as it looks? How do you create a percussion ensemble? What does it take in terms of cooperation, teamwork and musical talent? Get your answers to these questions and more as you interact with percussion musicians of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Youth Orchestra. Join us live on the Symphony’s home stage at Powell Hall as musicians speak about what it’s like to play in the percussion section, to work both separately and as an ensemble, and to have a career as a musician. Hear the music. Ask your questions. Be part of the ensemble.

To view either videoconference, contact Rebecca Morrison at Cooperating School Districts of St. Louis at rmorrison@csd.org by registration dates. MOREnet will bridge videoconferences. To watch the program live via the web or to watch archived programs via the web, surf your computer to http://www.hectv.org, click on “programs” and then the “interactive” link. To view via broadcast television on Charter Cable in St. Louis County or St. Louis City, tune in to HEC-TV, Channel 26 at the program time. Those joining via web stream and broadcast TV can e-mail their questions during the programs to live@hectv.org. After its live presentation, each program is archived on www.hectv.org for on-demand viewing. A DVD of the program is available by contacting HEC-TV at 314-531-4455.

MORENET UPDATE
submitted by Eric Nicklas

The 2008 MOREnetworking Together regional meetings will highlight the latest MOREnet program and service updates, including a legislative update, and offer networking opportunities and the chance to offer MOREnet feedback on the job they are doing for you. Polycom will provide a special presentation during lunch on rich media collaborative applications for voice, video, data and the Web. Institutional Representatives, Technical Contacts, Administrators and other interested staff from all member institutions are encouraged to attend. Keep watching http://www.more.net for upcoming event dates in your area!

Feb. 11 – Kansas City
Kansas City Public Library
14W 10th St., Rm 312
Kansas City, MO 64105

Feb. 12 – Maryville
Northwest Missouri State University
800 University Dr., McKemy Room
Maryville, MO 64468

Feb. 15 – Chillicothe
Livingston County Library
450 Locust St.
Chillicothe, MO 64601

Feb. 19 – Joplin
Joplin Public Library
300 S. Main St.
Joplin, MO 64801

Feb. 20 – Springfield
Ozark Technical Community College
Information Commons Building- Room 108B&C
1001 E. Brower St.
Springfield, MO 65802

Feb. 22 – Warrensburg
Trails Regional Library
432 N. Holden St.
Warrensburg, MO 64093

Agenda:
9:30-10:15 — MOREnet Welcome and Presentation
10:15-11:00 — Member Introductions
11:00-Noon — Member Networking/Roundtables
Noon-1:15 — Lunch (Provided by Polycom)
1:15-2:15 — Member Feedback
2:15-2:30 — Wrap up

MOREnet K-12 Bandwidth Upgrade Request Guidelines MOREnet and DESE want to provide school districts the bandwidth needed to support their mission in a cost effective manner. In order to do so, MOREnet currently provides two opportunities for K-12 to request bandwidth upgrades per year. These upgrade request timelines allow MOREnet to plan and project the overall bandwidth needs and financial impacts on the K-12 program for the year. Districts may request bandwidth upgrades outside of these timelines, but MOREnet cannot guarantee the request will be approved. MOREnet greatly appreciates districts respecting these timelines as it contributes to the overall success of the program.

As part of the review process, MOREnet evaluates the district’s current bandwidth utilization and anticipated bandwidth growth for the next 12-18 months. This information is used to determine if an upgrade is necessary and the amount needed. If the need for additional bandwidth is clear, the upgrade will be approved. Please note a bandwidth upgrade can impact the district’s annual MOREnet fee.

It is very important that as districts increase their use of the Internet by expanding their networks and adding new resources and services that they be aware of the associated impact on bandwidth utilization. Be sure to request bandwidth requirements from vendors regarding their applications and services during the product/service investigation. This will greatly assist in MOREnet’s review of the upgrade request to determine the anticipated bandwidth for the district.

How to Submit an Upgrade Request: Two online forms must be completed to request a bandwidth upgrade.

Connection Information Form: This form provides information about the bandwidth requested, connection location and other pertinent installation information.

Bandwidth Utilization Survey: This short survey provides information about how the district currently uses it bandwidth and also how it is planning to use it bandwidth in the next 12-18 months.

Bandwidth Upgrade Deadlines: For bandwidth to be activated in August-September, districts must to submit their bandwidth upgrade request by April 1 of the prior school year. For bandwidth to be activated in January-February, districts must submit their bandwidth upgrade request by September 30.

Bandwidth upgrade activations times are only estimates. MOREnet will keep districts informed of their upgrade status as information becomes available. Bandwidth upgrades that are initially denied may be revisited at any time if new information becomes available (e.g., consistently high utilization, the addition of new services and applications). For More Information Regarding MOREnet Bandwidth Upgrades, please direct questions to Eric Nicklas at eric@more.net or call 573-882-9785.

MoDLA UPDATE
submitted by Eric Nicklas

The 2008 MoDLA Conference “Keeping Pace with Distance Learning” opens Call for Presentations Don’t miss this opportunity to participate in MoDLA’s 2008 Summer Conference, “Keeping Pace with Distance Learning” July 9-10, 2008, at Tan-Tar-A in Osage Beach. To submit a conference session proposal online through February 20, 2008, visit http://modla.org/survey1/index.php?sid=4. All accepted presenters will receive a 50% discount ($87.50) of the conference registration fee of $175.00. Deadline for submission is February 20, 2008. Notification of acceptance will be received no later than March 7, 2008.

The MoDLA conference attracts attendees from K-12 schools, higher education institutions, non-profit organizations, state government agencies, the military and private industry. As a presenter, you’ll assist in creating an innovative and informative conference and have an opportunity to make valuable contacts. The MoDLA conference is the one place where you will learn who is doing what, what technologies are being used, what works and what doesn’t, and what those special techniques are for teaching and learning at a distance.

The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) 2008 Annual National Conference will be held April 20-23, 2008, in St. Louis, Missouri. The premier event for professionals in the distance learning industry, this year’s conference promises to deliver an action-packed agenda that will bring together distance learning practitioners from across the country to St. Louis, Missouri.

This conference is an opportunity to share ideas, learn about distance learning programs and products, and gain a better understanding of the field. It provides participants with a wonderful opportunity to establish new relationships and contacts with others involved in distance learning.

The format of the event allows attendees to learn about relevant topics from many different points of view. The intimate size makes it possible for attendees to actively participate.

The first USDLA conference, held in Kansas City, Missouri in 2007, brought over 200 participants together to celebrate the 20 year anniversary of the esteemed organization. Attendees from the 2007 conference raved about how valuable the event was both professionally and personally.

You are invited to participate in the USDLA 2008 Annual National Conference which will be held at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark. Find out what makes this conference so special. http://www.usdla.org/2008anc/USDLA2008_Home.htm

SUCCESSLINK UPDATE
submitted by Julie Barchenski

6th Annual SuccessLink Technology Innovations Conference will take place July 17th – 18th at Tan-Tar-A in Osage Beach, MO. Learn how technology in the classroom can be utilized to improve student learning as well as assisting with multiple administrative tasks and responsibilities. Meet other teachers from around the state implementing various forms of technology in their classrooms. Keynote Speaker Deneen Frazier Bowmen will present The Natives Are Restless. Each session will be a "hands-on" experience. There will be sessions for beginner, intermediate and advanced users. Session topics include blogging, handhelds, webquests, and podcasting to name a few. To register go to http://www.successlink.org/handheld or call toll-free at 888-636-4395 or (573) 636-4395.

SuccessLink Summer Science Institute will be held July 12-14, 2008. The 2008 Summer Science Institute's goal is to bring the latest technology, teaching strategies, and activities to Missouri teachers. The focus of this year's Summer Institute includes using the Grade Level Expectations and Course Level Expectations when designing lessons, incorporating formative assessment strategies, identifying students' misconceptions, and improving science MAP scores. Early registration, (before May 1, 2008) is $325.00 per person. After May 1, 2008 the regular fee of $350.00 applies. To register, visit http://www.successlink.org/gti/workshops/msc2008_reg.asp.

Proven Practices for Student Success! Does your school have a "Proven Practice" that you'd like to share? The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and SuccessLink continue to collaborate to identify best practices and programs operating in Missouri’s public schools. These programs have a positive impact on students and/or teachers. The goal is to share information on these practices with schools across the state. This project identifies, recognizes, disseminates, and promotes exemplary and innovative practices which have been developed and successfully implemented in Missouri. Schools receiving the Proven Practices Award will serve as a resource for the state, and the practice is awarded a $2,000 honorarium.
To qualify:

A Proven Practice must have been in place for at least two full years before the nomination date.

The Proven Practice must show clear evidence of success in responding to the particular need addressed by the practice.

The Proven Practice must have capacity for replication by other districts and application or potential application to a wide audience.

The Proven Practice must be aligned with the Missouri School Improvement Program Standards.

For more information about Proven Practices for Student Success, visit http://216.128.25.141/ppss/index.asp. For the printable nomination form, visit http://216.128.25.141/ppss/nom1.pdf (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).

MISSOURI ASSOCIATION OF RURAL EDUCATORS UPDATE

Annual MARE Conference “Rural Schools, Working Together to Make a Difference” will take place March 7 – 8, 2008, at The Resort at Port Arrowhead Lake Ozark, Missouri. Attendance at this conference is open to anyone wishing to attend. MARE membership is NOT required. To register visit http://www.moare.com/.

UPCOMING CONFERENCES

2008	Event
February 21-23	Interface 2008--"Mathematics and Science: Your Ticket to the Future" Interface A: Grades K-6 Tan-Tar-A, Osage Beach, MO http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/curriculum/conference/index.html
February 24-26	Interface 2008--"Mathematics and Science: Your Ticket to the Future" Interface B: Grades 7-12 Tan-Tar-A, Osage Beach, MO http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/curriculum/conference/index.html
Feb. 29-March 1	Practical Parenting Partnerships Family Festival Tan Tar-A, Osage Beach http://www.pppctr.org/familyfest.asp
March 4 - 5	19th Annual Southwest Education and Technology Conferencee Missouri State University, Springfield, MO http://associations.missouristate.edu/rcet/
March 7 - 8	Missouri Association of Rural Educators Conference Port Arrowhead, Lake Ozark, MO http://www.moare.com/
April 2 - 4	Connections 2008 Annual MOREnet Spring Technical Conference Tan-Tar-A, Osage Beach, MO http://www.more.net/conferences/connections/index.html
April 2 - 4	2008 Higher Education Learning and Information eXchange (HELIX) Conference Tan-Tar-A, Osage Beach, MO http://www.more.net/conferences/helix
April 20 - 23	2008 - US Distance Learning Association National Conference Hilton at the Ball Park, St. Louis, MO http://www.usdla.org/html/events/conferences.htm
June 29 - July 2	NECC 2008 The 29th Annual National Educational Computing Conference Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, TX http://center.uoregon.edu/ISTE/NECC2008
July 9 - 10	2008 MoDLA Conference “Keeping Pace with Distance Learning” Tan-Tar-A, Osage Beach, MO http://modla.org/
July 12 - 14	SuccessLink Summer Science Institute http://www.successlink.org/gti/workshops/msc2008_reg.asp
July 17 - 18	6th Annual SuccessLink Technology Innovations Conference Tan-Tar-A, Osage Beach, MO http://www.successlink.org/handheld or call toll-free at 888-636-4395 or (573) 636-4395

GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Due Date	Grant Program
Ongoing	UPS Foundation Education Grants http://www.community.ups.com/philanthropy/grant.html
Ongoing	Build an Outdoor Classroom at Your School http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=pg&p=AboutLowes/outdoor/index.html
Ongoing	Adopt a Classroom Grants http://www.adoptaclassroom.com/
Ongoing	The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation's Education Grants Program http://www.hewlett.org/
Ongoing	Educational Foundation of America Grants http://www.efaw.org/
Ongoing	Robert H. Michel Special Project Grants http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_grants_specialprojects.htm
Ongoing	Toshiba America Foundation 7-12 Math and Science Grants http://www.toshiba.com/tafpub/jsp/about/HowApply.jsp
Ongoing	Motorola Foundation http://www.motorola.com/giving
Ongoing	Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grant http://www.toolboxforeducation.com/
Ongoing	The Starbucks Foundation Arts & Literacy Grants http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/grantinfo.asp
2008
March 7	Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Program Grants http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=HcYhTh9GT0kTMLY88pY9pvkG5vvhQYK1LJZmdXGjMyXMcZq6JR6q!-1060972563?oppId=16580&flag2006
March 10	Kinder Morgan Foundation Education Grants http://www.kindermorgan.com/community/km_foundation.cfm
December 31	Captain Planet Foundation Grants http://www.captainplanetfoundation.org/

For an extensive list of grants, check the Grants Directory from Technology and Learning http://techlearning.com/resources/grants.jhtml.

Edutopia has a listing of corporate, nonprofit, and government grant-making institutions, periodicals with grant information, and more. For more information, visit http://www.edutopia.org/foundation/grant.php.

Public Education Network posts a listing of Existing Grant Opportunities (updated each week) at http://www.publiceducation.org/newsblast_grants.asp.

Grant writing and funding resources are available at http://www.libraryspot.com/features/grantsfeature.htm.

The School Funding Center is a subscription based database for federal, state and foundation grants for schools. Included in the subscription is Dr. Deborah Porter's SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL GRANTS, a step-by-step grant-writing manual by one of the foremost grant writers in the country. http://www.schoolfundingcenter.info/(xzvsqo2g4qqxuc55s0mcdmyy)/index.aspx

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

2008
February 7	METS School Grants Program workshop 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Truman Hotel & Conference Center 1510 Jefferson Street Jefferson City, MO See the program website for the workshop agenda, directions and registration form. Reservations required http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/instrtech/METS%20School%20Grant%20Pgrm/index.html
February 20	Articles for Newsline due
February 22	Safe Schools Grant Program Workshop 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Room 450 Governor Office Building 200 Madison Street Jefferson City, MO See the program website for the workshop agenda, directions and registration form. Reservations required http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/safeschools/
February 22	Title II.D Grant Program workshop 1:00-3:30 p.m. Room 450 Governor Office Building 200 Madison Street Jefferson City, Missouri. See the program website for the workshop agenda, directions, and registration form. Reservations required http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/instrtech/federalfunded/TitleIID/index.htm
March 1	Newsline published online
April 14 – 17	Title II.D Grant Review
April 15	Technology Plans due to Department
April 15 – 17	METS School Grants Review
May 9	Tech Plan Review
May 19 – 21	Safe Schools Grant Review

RESOURCES

From The Center for Summer Learning comes a new report, How Did You Spend Your Summer Vacation? What Public Policies Do (and Don’t Do) to Support Summer Learning Opportunities for All Youth by Ron Fairchild, Brenda McLaughlin, and Brendan P. Costigan. This paper analyzes the current landscape of public policies that directly or indirectly support summer learning opportunities for young people in kindergarten through twelfth grade. http://www.summerlearning.org/

Data Privacy Resources On January 28, 2008, the United States and 27 European countries celebrated Data Privacy Day together for the first time. Designed to raise awareness and generate discussion about data privacy practices and rights, Privacy Day activities in the United States reached out to privacy professionals, corporations, academics, and students across the country.

More than 55% of American teenagers have profiles on social networking sites, and many more use the Internet every single day to communicate and interact with others. Teens are among the most innovative and creative users of the Internet, but they are also among the most vulnerable. For example, a recent study concluded that 49% of social network users say they use social networks to make “new friends,” and 32% of online teens have been contacted by strangers online. It is vital that these students learn how to protect the privacy of their personal information online, and how to engage in social networking safely and responsibly.

Consistent with Intel’s long tradition of advancing education with effective use of technology, they have created materials that provide guidance for teenagers (grades 7-12) to enable them to protect their personal information while participating in social networks, such as MySpace and Facebook; the importance of privacy policies and how to read them; and general information about protecting against online security risks.

Intel encourages you to visit http://www.privacyassociation.org, (follow links to Data Privacy Day 2008 and Educational Presentations), download the materials, and discuss data privacy issues with your class. Please make your fellow teachers aware of these resources and encourage students and parents to review these helpful guides. For more information on Intel in education, please visit http://www.intel.com/education.

Improve Your Life with Geography in 2008 The U.S. News & World Report has included geography as one of the “50 Ways to Improve Your Life in 2008” http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/50-ways-to-improve-your-life/2007/12/20/your-mind-quick-picks.html. A “quick pick” in the “Your Mind” section, the feature encourages readers to “Get lost in the art of geography.”

My Wonderful World, the National Geographic-led campaign to expand geographic learning in school, at home, and in the community and give students the power of global knowledge, http://www.mywonderfulworld.org/index.html applauds U.S.News & World’s recognition of the value of learning geography in a recent press release.
“The set of skills and a body of knowledge that comes with learning geography prepares one to understand and succeed in the world. Our friend Caitlin Snaring (2007 winner of the National Geographic Bee) said it best: ‘Geography is not just learning something that you will forget…It will help you for the rest of your life.’ Luckily, there’s plenty you can do to start thinking geographically! Matt Rosenberg of About.com: Geography http://geography.about.com/ recommends that people use an atlas like they use a dictionary. ‘When you read or hear a place name you don’t know, look it up!’ We think this is an excellent idea, especially since the 2006 Roper Poll http://www.nationalgeographic.com/roper2006/findings.html indicates that less than one in three households has an atlas.

My Wonderful World recommends teachers check out the following online atlas tools:

National Geographic “Map Machine” http://plasma.nationalgeographic.com/mapmachine/

National Geographic “Map Machine” student atlas http://java.nationalgeographic.com/studentatlas/

Google Earth http://earth.google.com/

ArcGIS Explorer http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/explorer/index.html

National Geographic People and Places http://www3.nationalgeographic.com/places/index.html

MSN Encarta Atlas http://encarta.msn.com/mediacenter_10/Atlas.html#tcsel

From YouthLearn

Youth Programs Resource Center and Clearinghouse To help smaller youth programs, the Finance Project and its partners (including the Forum for Youth Investment) have created a clearinghouse of information and resources related to supporting and sustaining youth programs, initiatives and policies. Find data, tools, financing and funding strategies, policy guides and technical assistance. http://www.financeproject.org/index.cfm?page=31

Simulation Nation: The Promise of Virtual Learning Activities In a recent article in Edutopia, Marc Prensky writes about "how and why yet another technology that could be enormously powerful for our kids' learning is getting short shrift in our educational system -- despite the successes we can, in fact, find and cite. Simulation is not just another in the long line of passing fads (or short-term opportunities) in educational technology. It is, rather, a real key to helping our students understand the world. Computer-simulation technology is a way of looking at objects or systems that encourage a learner not only to wonder, 'What would happen if …?' but also to try out those alternatives virtually and see the consequences. It is my strong sense that in America's K-12 educational system, simulations are being used only in isolated and nonsystematic ways compared to other teaching tools such as textbooks, videos, and traditional science manipulatives. This meager usage is detrimental to the education of our twenty-first-century kids, and must change." http://www.edutopia.org/simulation-nation

New Study Shows Quality Afterschool Programs Bring Academic Gains The new Study of Promising Afterschool Programs is making waves in the education community and getting attention from opinion leaders nationwide. Afterschool Advocate editors interviewed the study's lead author, Deborah Lowe Vandell, who chairs the education department at the University of California, Irvine, about the findings and what they mean. Says Vandell, "This study showed that, for disadvantaged elementary and middle school students, regular participation in high quality afterschool programs is linked to significant gains in standardized test scores and work habits. These gains help offset the negative impact of lack of supervision after school." Further, she noted that "They were not just doing homework, not programs where there was a lot of drilling... The reason we get these gains, I think, is that they were offering children a chance to learn in a different way.” http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/news_events.cfm?story_id=4000757

How to Develop a Thematic Unit with Accessible Activities This concise guide, especially suited for educators working with younger children, explains how to come up with themes, choose tools and materials, and create accessible activities. The creator notes, "Adapting activities for kids with special needs is easier if you first choose a theme, then brainstorm the content and materials; start with materials you already have, and build on them!" http://www.exceptionalcomputing.com/Curriculum%20pdf/ThemeGuide.pdf

YouthLearn's Techniques for Encouraging the Sharing of Ideas In traditional classrooms, kids sit in classes of 20, 30, 40 or more students, yet they largely work as individuals, taking tests in silence, competing for grades and constantly hearing things like "keep your eyes on your own paper," "stop talking" and "do your own work. Learn to instill an atmosphere of community effort and sharing in the classroom. In today's networked world, teamwork is more than just a laudable goal—it's a required skill. If you're going to create a truly collaborative environment, you have to model, inculcate, and reinforce the sharing of ideas. http://www.youthlearn.org/learning/teaching/sharing.html

The 2008 Technology in the Works competition is now open.
The National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI) invites collaborative researcher-vendor teams to submit proposals for this unique competition. Technology in the Works promotes collaboration between researchers and developers to study a K-12 intervention or technology over a short period of time and provide a current "snapshot" of its effectiveness. NCTI will offer up to five awards of $15,000 each for "quick turnaround” research efforts that inform the development of innovative assistive and learning technologies for students with special needs. Visit http://www.nationaltechcenter.org/index.php/funding/2008-rfp/ for more information.

From FINE (Family Involvement Network of Educators) http://www.finenetwork.org published by Harvard Family Research Project

Policy: Kentucky CPAC Report The Commissioner's Parents Advisory Council (CPAC) has submitted its report, The Missing Piece of the Proficiency Puzzle, to the Kentucky education commissioner. The report sets state standards for parent involvement, issues recommendations for implementing them, and includes a rating tool to evaluate parent involvement. http://www.education.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/45597738-F31B-4333-9BB9-34255F02BC6D/0/PACtheMissingPiecev2.pdf

Articles and Reports: The Family: America’s Smallest School A new study conducted by the Education Testing Service (ETS) examines factors that influence learning gaps, beginning in early childhood and persisting into adulthood, and found large discrepancies in home life variables and achievement. The authors suggest that reform efforts focus not only on improving schools, but also on improving home and community learning environments. http://www.ets.org/familyreport

FROM THE MAILBAG

From the Missouri Center for Safe Schools - Threat Assessment CD An excellent interactive CD threat assessment training tool is available from the US Department of Education and the US Secret Service. The CD, entitled “A Safe School and Threat Assessment Experience: Scenarios Exploring the Findings of the Safe School Initiative,” can be ordered as publication ID: ED002738C by e-mail at http://edpubs.ed.gov/EDPubsMenu/AboutEDPubs.aspx

To properly use the CD, schools should also have the publication “Threat Assessment in Schools: A Guide to Managing Threatening Situations and to Creating Safe School Climates” available at http://ercm.ed.gov/views/documents/ThreatAssessmentinSchools.pdf

Read 'Round the World NASA’s Distance Learning Network (DLN) invites students to take part in the DLN's Read 'Round the World activity, planned to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday in accordance with Read Across America.

This live, interactive distance learning event allows students to interact with NASA to find out why reading skills are important to astronauts and other personnel in the aerospace field. NASA personnel will talk about how important reading skills are, share one of their favorite books, and answer students’ questions. During the videoconference, students will have the opportunity to talk with a special studio guest.

Get ready for a unique LIVE interactive distance learning event at 12:00 CST on March 3, 2008. Target Audience: Student grades K-4, 5-8, 9-12.

Additional information is available at: http://dln.nasa.gov/dln/content/catalog/details/?cid=360. To participate in this program, your school must have videoconferencing capabilities. For more information on technical requirements: http://dln.nasa.gov/dln/content/techinfo/

From Bernajean Porter and CSD (Cooperating School Districts) Storytelling is an ancient craft that can now be distributed literally to the world though the digital media. Here are three authentic “publishing” opportunities for your students to participate in while practicing their art of storytelling.

Video Contest: Be a Video All-Star Make a Public Service Announcement sharing why digital learning tools are important to your school or curriculum. Hurry – this one came out fast but the prizes and tasks are worth putting the pedal to the metal so to speak! http://www.21centuryconnections.com/videocontest

The Veteran History Project is calling for participation either as a veteran with a story or as an interviewer helping to collect local stories. What a great way to engage students in both developing their digital storytelling skills and experiencing their worth with authentic community work that will make a difference to families, communities, and the men and women who have served our country. http://www.loc.gov/vets/stories/thewar/

Quantum Shift TV is challenging students from grades one to twelve across the United States and Canada to participate in the "Be the Change! Share the Story!" School Video Contest. Students are invited to work on a social or environmental project of their choice, and document their progress in two short videos to be uploaded on the Web. Through this contest, Quantum Shift TV is building an online community focused on socially conscious, solution-oriented videos. http://quantumshift.tv/schools/press

ISTE News

Apply to ISTE-Johns Hopkins Online Graduate Program ISTE and Johns Hopkins University (JHU) School of Education are offering an 18-credit online graduate certificate in Administration and Supervision with an emphasis on educational technology. This program will prepare aspiring administrators and supervisors with effective strategies and tools for ensuring that all students succeed, including those with diverse learning needs. This one-year program kicks off at NECC 2008 http://center.uoregon.edu/ISTE/NECC2008/ in San Antonio and culminates at NECC 2009 in Washington, DC. Application deadline is April 11, 2008. Learn more at http://education.jhu.edu/otherspecializations/iste/

ISTE Seeks PK–2 Educators for the Kay L. Bitter Vision Award Nominations open on January 21, 2008,
for the Kay L. Bitter Vision Award for Excellence in Technology-Based PK–2 Education. This award recognizes
and presents a scholarship to a PK–2 educator who has demonstrated vision and creativity in a project or program that effectively integrates technology into his or her classroom and/or school. Submission deadline is March 7, 2008.
Learn more at http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Membership/Member_Resources/
Awards_and_Recognition/Kay_L_Bitter_Vision/About_the_Award_and_Nominations/About_the
_Award_and_Nominations.htm.

ISTE SIG Media Specialist Technology Innovation Award New for 2008 Sponsored by Library Media Connection and Follett Software Company, this annual award will be presented to teams of a school librarian and a collaborating teacher who have conducted an exemplary technology program extending beyond the library to meet the needs of classroom students and teachers. Nominations open on January 15, 2008, and close on March 8, 2008. For more information, contact Terra Sieberman at tsieberman@iste.org.

Nominate an Outstanding School District for the Sylvia Charp Award The Sylvia Charp Award for District Innovation in Technology, presented jointly by ISTE & T.H.E. Journal, recognizes a U.S. school district that exhibits effectiveness and innovation in the application of technology district wide. Submission deadline is March 14, 2008. Learn more and apply online at http://www.thejournal.com/the/istecharpaward/

ISTE Opens Call for Outstanding Teacher and Leader Award Nominations Affiliate representatives from around the world are encouraged to submit nominations for ISTE's Outstanding Teacher and Outstanding Leader Awards. This hallmark annual program recognizes and honors one leader and one teacher who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in implementing technology to improve education. Submission deadline is March 24, 2008. Learn more at http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Affiliates&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=19&ContentID=2092

SIGTel Seeks Pioneering Educators for 2008 Online Learning Award Since 1991, ISTE's Special Interest
Group for Telelearning (SIGTel) has recognized creative educators for their pioneering use of telelearning activities to provide innovative learning opportunities for students in grades K–16. If you and your students have been involved in an original, online learning activity, enter the 2008 SIGTel Online Learning Award competition. Nominations open on February 1 and close on March 31, 2008. Learn more at http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Membership/SIGs/SIGTel_
Telelearning_/SIGTel_Online_Learning_Award/2008/2008_SIGTel_Online_Learning_Award_Compet.htm.

Election 2008 Classroom Resources from Education Week http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/01/23/20electclass.h27.html?tmp=889411177

Annenberg Public Policy Center’s Classroom Fact Check offers materials to teach students to “see through the spin” of the presidential elections, including lessons to analyze political advertisements and claims made by candidates during the debates. http://www.factchecked.org/

CNN’s Election Center 2008 website features maps, summaries of the key issues, tallies of campaign contributions, blogs, podcasts, and video coverage. http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/

C-SPAN Classroom resources provide explanatory guides, lesson plans, student activities, and video clips. http://www.c-spanclassroom.org/Campaign2008_Resources.aspx

Kids Voting USA has information on state and local affiliates for a program that provides curriculum and mock-election events designed to engage students in the democratic process. http://www.kidsvotingusa.org/

The Constitutional Rights Foundation features “Election Central” that offers historical resources related to democracy and elections. http://www.crf-usa.org/election_central/election_central.htm

Pearson’s Election Kit offers free materials from the publisher including an online catalog of classroom activities, free printable posters and maps, and links to Internet resources on the presidential candidates. http://www.phschool.com/sales_support/marketing_websites/election_kit/index.html

Countdown to Election 2008, a website sponsored by Scholastic includes interactive election map, news coverage from student reporters, lesson plans, puzzles, and online discussions of the campaign. http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/indepth/election2008.htm

Make writing a group effort with these resources from Google and Weekly Reader Google Inc. and Weekly Reader have teamed up to offer free tools and materials to help educators teach "digital buddy writing," in which two or more students work together from different computers to write and revise the same paper at the same time. “Revision writing is a critical piece of the writing process, and more and more, teachers are using the concept of working with a ‘writing buddy’ to help make writing more fun and collaborative, and to teach students the importance of having support throughout the creative process,” explained Cristin Frodella, product manager for Google’s education initiatives, in a recent blog post describing the partnership. The free lesson plan, available on Google for Educators, contains tips and checklists—culled from teachers all over the country—for incorporating digital buddy writing into the classroom, using Google’s free Google Docs online word processor. With this new curriculum, students can work together online to review each others’ work simultaneously and watch as their peers’ comments and edits appear instantly and legibly across multiple computers, Google says—whether they are in the same lab or in completely different locations anywhere around the world. http://www.google.com/educators/weeklyreader.html

From Science News for Kids Weekly e-Letter, offering timely articles for kids of all ages. Check it out at www.sciencenewsforkids.org.

Environmental Report Card Through Earth Day--April 22--students can participate in polls and activities at Scholastic.com that will introduce them to hands-on science experiences with real scientists and genuine artifacts from the collections of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. After Earth Day, answers to the polls will be posted as the first ever Kids Environmental Report Card. Go to: http://www.teacher.scholastic.com/activities/explorations/kerc, and http://www.teacher.scholastic.com/activities/explorations

Juice Box Geometry Juice boxes with different dimensions--height, width, and depth--can carry the same amount of beverage. Figure out which company uses the smallest amount of box material to deliver a given quantity of juice. http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20080130/LabZone.asp

From EduHound The premier issue of Classroom Tools & Tips, a brand new EduHound newsletter has been released. Classroom Tools and Tips includes features from EduHound Weekly -- plus exciting new offerings that provide valuable ed. tech. resources to incorporate into K-12 curriculum. Educational topics, preformatted templates, technology tutorials, and practical tips are featured. To subscribe, visit https://newsletters.1105pubs.com/nl/THE.do?NL=5483&PC=EWNLF

Topic: News Writing By focusing on who, what, when, where, why, and how questions, students will learn to thoroughly analyze and create effective news pieces.

GIST: A Summarizing Strategy for Use in Any Content Area This lesson comprises a series of activities in which students are introduced to the GIST summarizing strategy. They read newspaper articles obtained from newspaper websites and identify the "5Ws and H" of journalism. http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=290

Creating a Classroom Newspaper This lesson provides students with the opportunity to write authentic newspaper stories. http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=249

"5 W's + 1 H" Lesson Students will approach a familiar story (Goldilocks and the Three Bears) from the perspective of a newspaper reporter and apply the 5 W's + 1 H to it. http://www.kidzone.ws/plans/view.asp?i=60

What's in the News? Summarizing a Novel Using the 5 W's Students will use important events from a novel to create a 2-page newspaper featuring news articles about each event. http://its.guilford.k12.nc.us/act/grade8/act8.asp?ID=1092

PBS: Newspaper Reporting and Writing In this PBS lesson, students author a newspaper about Hemingway's life, especially his interests and travels. Students identify the many characteristics of a newspaper and create a published document. http://www.pbs.org/hemingwayadventure/class2.html

The Whole Story: Learning to Write Informative and Thorough News Articles By focusing on who, what, when, where, why, and how questions, students learn to thoroughly analyze and report on important world events. http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20030314friday.html

Tutorial: Technology Applications Tutorials from Jefferson County Schools in Tennessee feature an excellent collection of topics such as: Classroom Newspapers, Curriculum Designer, Excel, Form Letters & Mail Merge, Internet Resources, PC Basics & Networking. PhotoShop, PowerPoint, Publisher, Web Design & FTP, Word & Works, and many more! http://jc-schools.net/tutorials/index.html

Template: Kathy Schrock's Assessment Rubrics A collection of assessment rubrics and graphic organizers that may be helpful to you as you design your own. http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/assess.html

The International Documentary Challenge Returns to Hot Docs Registration for the 3rd annual Doc Challenge, held March 6-10, 2008, is now open. For this competition, young filmmakers, age 14-18, from around the world have just 5 days to make a short non-fiction film. Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival, the Presenting Partner, will once again host the theatrical premiere of the finalists and the awards ceremony during the Festival.

Complete details and entry forms can be found online at http://www.docchallenge.org/ Check out Hot Docs at: http://www.hotdocs.ca. The Doc Challenge is produced by Doug Whyte of KDHX Community Media and sponsored by Hot Docs, the International Documentary Association, the Documentary Organization of Canada, SILVERDOCS, the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, Film Action Oregon and the creators of the 48 Hour Film Project. The International Documentary Challenge: Real Life. Filmed Real Fast.

Teacher Workshop Opportunity: African American Lives 2 On February 6 and 13, 2008, at 8:00 p.m. KETC/Channel 9 will premiere a new, four-hour documentary series titled African American Lives 2. Hosted by renowned scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., the series tells personal stories as it traces roots through American history and back to Africa. Combining personal interviews, historical investigation, and cutting-edge scientific research, Gates and a team of experts will set out to uncover the unique and powerful family histories of the eleven notable African American guests.

KETC/Channel 9 invites St. Louis area educators to a special professional development workshop based on this groundbreaking public television series. This opportunity is open to middle and high school educators on Saturday, February 9, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at KETC/Channel 9, 3655 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63108.

Register online at http://www.ketc.org/teach/africanamericanlives2/ Space is limited and registration is required. If registration is ‘full’ when you register, and you would like to be added to a wait list, please call 314-512-9032. You will receive a confirmation and additional information via e-mail. Attendance certificates will be mailed to participants after the program. Registration check-in and continental breakfast will be provided from 8-8:30 a.m.

Have you taken a look at the Cable in the Classroom website lately? You may be surprised by how much is new. American Life Network, TV One, mun2, and Fox Sports Network are among the new networks that are airing Cable in the Classroom programming. The Weather Channel has a new Weather Channel Kids website for teachers, parents, and kids. Cable in the Classroom is podcasting, vodcasting, and supporting research on media in education. Visit the new Nickelodeon site designed to help students understand the national elections and the candidates at http://www.nick.com/kpp/. Take a while to explore Cable in the Classroom’s website http://www.ciconline.org/home and see what's new!

The February 2008 issue of the Cable in the Classroom magazine features articles focused on Articles about History and Democracy in Action http://www.ciconline.org/cicmagazine-Feb08

Putting the Story Back into History Technology and the Web bring the past to life in three creative class projects. History and technology go hand in hand today, as teachers and students discover new tools and methods to delve deep into the past, preserve primary source materials, and share their new knowledge with fellow students, family, community members, and -- potentially -- a worldwide audience. Here, four teachers talk about history projects done by their middle and high school students that combine Internet research with website creation, podcasting, and other multimedia resources and easily could be adapted to your own school setting.

Making History Looking for lesson ideas to help students understand the 2008 presidential campaign? How can teachers effectively use technology tools and websites to help their students better understand the current presidential campaign and the candidates? Here are some lesson ideas using some of the best, unbiased sites and Web 2.0 resources.

Playing Politics Can you run a presidential campaign better than the pros? Try your hand at this free, online game. Teachers have long used role-playing exercises to engage students in schoolwork. That's why, four years ago, Cable in the Classroom worked with CNN Student News and The History Channel to develop eLECTIONS: Your Adventure in Politics, a free, nonpartisan, online game that simulates the presidential-election process. Based on feedback from educators, from our cable partners, and on advances in technology, Cable in the Classroom will soon launch a new version of the eLECTIONS game that includes new features, additional content, supplemental classroom materials, and a new partner, C-SPAN.

That’s News to Me Where do today's kids learn about current events? Young people, it seems, are getting the news from non-print sources such as the Internet and from Comedy Central's Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. And for many young people, online news is as accessible as their cell phones are.

Then and Now Broadband Tools: Websites to help students connect past and present. With a wealth of historical websites and current-events resources to pull from, tying the past to the present is easier than ever. Each of the pairs of websites here allows students to compare and contrast themes, events, and issues from the present to related themes throughout history to see how their daily lives have been affected by events and innovations long past.

Issues, Answers, and Access How can we make elections come to life? Since his textbook did not cover local politics, social studies teacher John Hanson came up with a hands-on project that fit the bill. Hanson, a 2007 winner of a Cable's Leaders in Learning Award created Coffee Break Debates to help his seniors understand local and state issues and realize the importance of voting.

The Winter 2008 issue of Threshold: Exploring the Future of Education features articles focused on taking advantage of the informal-learning opportunities at your local museums and libraries, produced in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services http://www.imls.gov/

The Sparks, The Skills, and the Pathways Eric J. Jolly discusses why informal learning is an essential ingredient for academic success.

Outside the Box Dennie Palmer Wolf looks at how districts and communities can support informal-learning opportunities at home, in the field, and at school.

Informal Learning: A Threshold Forum Marsha L. Semmel, Michael DiMaggio, Alan J. Friedman, Martín J. Gómez, and Beverly K. Sheppard discuss how museums and libraries work best with schools.

Building Bridges for Learning How one community’s museums and libraries leverage on-site field trips and distance-learning technology to provide a wide range of informal-learning options to area schools.

Surviving the Information Age Ruth V. Small explores what it means to be literate in the 21st century and looks at how libraries are leading the way by providing critical educational services to help people become independent consumers of information.

New Models, Merging Missions Pamela Carter-Birken discusses how schools are using technology and innovative programming to bridge and support formal- and informal-learning opportunities with the nation’s museums and libraries.

Explorations: Strengthening Connections Among Schools, Libraries, and Museums Cable in the Classroom’s Helen Soulé and the Institute of Media and Library Services’ Anne-Imelda M. Radice on the challenges and opportunities of bridging formal and informal learning.

Other news from Cable in the Classroom

The Weather Channel and its new website for kids, www.theweatherchannelkids.com, are partnering with the By Kids For Kids (BKFK) organization for the "Going Green Challenge," a national competition that challenges America's teens to create and invent new methods to improve man's interaction with the environment. The challenge will run through December 31 and is open to all youth 19 years and under, with a Grand Prize of $10,000.

Point Smart Click Safe Today’s kids know how to use the technology, but do they understand internet safety concerns, cyber ethical dilemmas and how to think critically about the media and technology they use? PointSmart.ClickSafe, http://www.ciconline.org/pointsmartclicksafe a new cable initiative, helps you teach them how to be smart, safe and savvy in the digital world.

Listen to CIC Podcasts Want to hear from educators, policymakers, cable network personalities and cable industry leaders about how new technologies and content are being used to help better prepare young people for the 21st Century? Tune in – and subscribe to – Kids, Cable, Learning, http://kidscablelearning.blogspot.com/, the official podcast channel of Cable in the Classroom (CIC). Currently home to more than 20 CIC podcasts, the channel is now broadcasting new content each month!

Holocaust Resources Paper Clips is the moving and inspiring documentary film that captures how a group of students responded to lessons about the Holocaust-with a promise to honor every lost soul by collecting one paper clip for each individual exterminated by the Nazis. An unforgettable lesson of how a committed group of children and educators can change the world one classroom at a time. http://www.paperclipsmovie.com/. Visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum website. http://www.ushmm.org/ and the Holocaust Memorial and Education Center http://www.cilc.org/search/content-provider.aspx?id=107 for curriculum connections and videoconferencing opportunities.

NASA Explorer School Opportunity Through the NASA Explorer School (NES) launched in 2003, is designed to support educators' use of NASA's engaging mathematics, science and technology with students, and families through sustained professional development, exciting student learning opportunities, integration of technology, and involvement of parents or care-givers. Through the NES project, NASA establishes a three-year partnership with up to 50 school teams each year. School teams consist of teachers and education administrators of under-served students in grades 4-9 from diverse communities across the country.

Educators and students in a NASA Explorer School become involved in the excitement of NASA research, discoveries and missions through participation in engaging NASA learning adventures and scientific challenges. See http://explorerschools.nasa.gov for more information.

Science Buddies supports hands-on scientific investigations, acknowledged to be the best way to teach science literacy, by providing free science fair project ideas, answers, and tools to teachers, parents, and students from all walks of life. By reducing the hassles of doing a science fair project, Science Buddies aspires to improve project quality and increase science fair participation, turning a good learning experience into a great one.

Science Buddies offers a number of resources for students and teachers:

The Science Fair Project Guide is an online encyclopedia for how to do science research and science fair projects. It includes step-by-step guidance, actual sample assignments, photos of science fair projects, tips for success, and self-grading checklists for students.

The Topic Selection Wizard (TSW) is an interactive tool that helps students to explore different topic areas for their science fair project. First, the tool leads students through a series of questions to help them determine science fields of true interest to them. Then the tool analyzes student responses to provide a custom-tailored selection of science fair Project Ideas. Project Ideas are developed either in house by Science Buddies' staff scientists or by science professionals who collaborate with Science Buddies. Each Project Idea includes a description of the subject matter, bibliographic references, locations of Internet-based public domain tools and/or real-time scientific data, and suggestions for experiments.

Ask an Expert (AAE) is a monitored, online forum staffed by volunteer scientists and talented science students who help students anywhere, on a drop-in basis, with their project questions. AAE also offers a searchable database of past questions and answers so that other students may benefit from past discussions.

Science Buddies also conducts the Classroom Scientists Program, formerly called our Ask an Expert Mentoring Program, where 2–3 volunteer mentors are matched with a specific classroom of students and they work together over the science fair season in a private mentoring forum. Please note: The Classroom Scientists Program will not be in operation during the 2007-2008 school year.

The Teacher Resources section includes information to help teachers guide their students to do research projects or conduct a science fair.

Find Science Buddies at http://www.sciencebuddies.org/

American Stars Awards are designed to recognize one outstanding classroom teacher in each state and the District of Columbia who is representative of the many teachers across the country who employ innovative and effective instructional approaches to improve the academic outcomes of students in their classroom. Teachers who are celebrated represent a wide range of curricular areas, grade ranges, years teaching and mode of instruction. The nomination deadline is March 31, 2008. Visit http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/tools/initiative/index.html, for more information. The nomination forms are at http://www.t2tweb.us/AmStar/About.asp. The American Star recipients will be honored in surprise events during the Fall of 2008.

New Shodor Teaching Tools Unveiled:
Shodor has released a new set of tools to help teachers, parents, and students use a more dynamic approach to assess student achievement in math skills. The "Interactivate Assessment Toolkit" is available at http://www.shodor.org/interactivate. More than 50 Explorers, Games, and Quizzes allow students to tailor their assessment activity by selecting a problem type, level of difficulty, and allowed time for solution. These assessment tools will also "keep score" so students will be able to track their progress as they improve their computation skills and basic understanding of math concepts. Shodor has developed the Computational Science Education Reference Desk (CSERD) as a Pathway portal of the National Science Digital Library (NSDL) to help transform learning through computational thinking. More information is available at http://cserd.nsdl.org.

WEBSITES OF INTEREST

Edheads has created unique, educational Web experiences designed to make hard-to-teach concepts understandable using the power and interactivity of the Internet. Visit edheads for virtual hip and knee surgeries and other simulations such as:

The Compound Machine Learn how forces and simple machines can work together to create The Compound Machine.

Simple Machines Activities Learn about simple and compound machines while you explore the House and Tool Shed.

Weather Activities Learn how to report and predict the weather at the underground W.H.E.D. weather caves.

Crash Scene Investigation Help the highway patrol recreate a deadly crash by examining the evidence and calculating the forces.

http://edheads.org/

Dr. Seuss's Hooray for Diffendoofer Day! is the book Dr. Seuss was working on before his death. So many felt so strongly about his message the book was finished and published by a group of Dr. Seuss’ friends. There are many different uses for this book…reader's theater performance, discussion about school and teachers and a host of others. Some use it as a way to discuss MAP testing. This link to the Dr. Seuss site describes a way to use the book as a choral reading activity, http://www.seussville.com/titles/diffendoofer/guide.html, this link has lyrics and other resources. http://www.teachingheart.net/hooraydday.html Here are more great ways to use this book. http://216.128.25.141/gti/gti_lesson.asp?lid=2956

New resources at FREE, the website that makes teaching resources from federal agencies easier to find. http://www.free.ed.gov/

Biology explores biological molecules, self-assembly, and DNA. Zoom in on the macromolecules from which living things are made. Discover how, on the molecular level, things can assemble themselves. Learn how genetic information stored in DNA is read by cells and used to build proteins that cells need. http://free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=2016

Chemistry presents online simulations of thermodynamics, states of matter, water, and reactions. See interactive visualizations of Brownian motion, diffusion and osmosis, ion transport, distillation, motion of greenhouse gases, liquid-solid comparisons, intermolecular forces, chemical reactions, explosion, and more. http://free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=2015

Case Method of Teaching Science features case studies for use in teaching anatomy, chemistry, environment, evolution, medicine and health, microbiology, molecular biology and genetics, physics and engineering, plant science, psychology, and other sciences. Cases focus on dozens of topics, including carbohydrates, cloning, diabetes, drug dosages, energy drinks, global warming, heart attacks, irradiation, the nervous system, nuclear power, pesticides, skin cancer, wetlands, and others. http://free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=2012

Energized Learning offers lessons to help students use the Home Energy Saver --an online tool for analyzing energy use and calculating potential savings in homes and other buildings. http://free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=2021

Microbial Life focuses on the ecology, diversity, and evolution of micro-organisms. Learn about marine microbes and extremophile microbes that live in inhospitable environments. Explore the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone and the red tide through case studies. Find out about microbial observatories and extreme environments, including Mono Lake (in California's Eastern Sierra), Octopus Spring (in Yellowstone National Park), and others. http://free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=2013

Nanotechnology shows animations of molecular crystals, material strength experiments, shockwaves, interatomic interactions in soft and hard materials, a microscopic model of friction, atomic motion across a liquid-solid interface, water molecules moving through carbon nanotubes, nanobud (a newly discovered material), nano machinery, nano differential gears, a molecular sorter, a nano conveyor belt, and more. http://free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=2017

NOAA Discovery Kits presents tutorials, lessons, and multimedia activities for learning about corals, estuaries, ocean currents, tides, and pollution from diffuse sources. Learn about corals and threats to them; causes of ocean currents and how currents affect people's lives; estuaries, the waters and habitats where rivers meet the sea and form some of the world's most productive ecosystems; and geodesy, the science of measuring and monitoring the shape of the earth and the location of points on its surface. http://free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=2018

Physics provides more than 40 online interactives that demonstrate concepts in mechanics, fluid mechanics and dynamics, electromagnetism, and quantum physics. Watch simulations of a pendulum, suspension bridge, charged particle in a magnetic chamber, hourglass, Archimedes' Principle of Buoyancy, electrical fields, gears, light-matter interactions, Newton's Cradle, pulleys, springs, water flow when a dam collapses, and more. http://free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=2014

Tides and Water Levels examines the complex systems that govern the movement of tides and water levels. Learn what causes tides, what determines their frequencies and variations, and how they're monitored and measured. Find lessons on forces that affect tides and how lunar cycles affect living organisms. Use the "roadmap" to find data and predictions regarding water levels and coastal currents -- information on which maritime activities throughout the world depend. http://free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=2019

Social Bookmarking in Plain English: A how-to for social bookmarking Common Craft http://www.commoncraft.com/ has created a video that explains how to use social bookmarking sites such as Furl http://furl.com/ and del.icio.us http://del.icio.us/. While most teachers and administrators are familiar with the concept of bookmarking or saving one's favorite sites to one's own hard drive, social bookmarking allows you to utilize the web to save and share bookmarks. http://techlearning.com/edge/showArticle.php?articleID=196604846

SAFE Center is an online resource developed by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and the eSchoolNews Network (eSN), with contributions from other relevant education organizations and solution providers. The SAFE Center is for educators and education officials responsible for safeguarding the students, staff, and infrastructure of K-20 education. http://www.eschoolnews.com/safe-center/

Show Me.... Missouri's list of “World's Largest Things” Want to add a little “fun” to those social studies lessons? Then turn to this listing of the World’s Largest Things, organized by state. Listings include web addresses where available. Find out the how and why of the giant goose in Sumner, the 8 ball in Tipton, and others. http://www.worldslargestthings.com/missouri/missouri.htm

From ResourceShelf Newsletter http://www.resourceshelf.com/
Resources of the Week: Election 2008 and Voting, a collection of resources that provide voting information and information about the electoral process in general.

Overseas Vote Foundation (OVF) helps overseas and military voters participate in federal elections by providing public access to innovative voter registration tools and services. Look for information on how to register to vote if you are a U.S. Citizen residing or traveling overseas, a member of the active duty uniformed services, or a spouse or dependent, and Election Official Directory to locate election office addresses, telephone, fax, email and websites. And the state specific voter information directory to learn about state-by-state filing deadlines, options for how to send and receive voting information, and contact info for state-level election officials. The site also provides links to “nonpartisan, independent organizations which provide candidate information.” https://www.overseasvotefoundation.org/overseas/home.htm

Find the full text of the Uniformed And Oversees Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) at the U.S. Department of Defense’s Federal Voting Assistance Program website http://www.fvap.gov/index.html. Includes websites for the Secretaries of State and/or Directors of Elections to check results.

USA.gov offers a large section of Voting and Elections information, http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Voting.shtml including how to contact elected officials, info and educational materials about voting and elections in the United States, info about registering to vote and voting, and how to volunteer and/or otherwise contribute to the voting process.

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) http://www.eac.gov/index_html1 was established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). EAC is an independent, bipartisan commission charged with developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, and serving as a national clearinghouse of information about election administration.

The Voter Information Center http://www.eac.gov/voter has information about becoming a poll worker, how to design an effective polling place and how to file an election-related grievance in your state. Also includes Research, Resources and Reports section.

The U.S. Government Printing Office’s Ben’s Guide to Government http://bensguide.gpo.gov/ has a special section on the election process. Under the Politics and Law topic heading, find the Voting and Elections subtopic, which provides links to information from various government agencies. Also includes a link to the General Printing Office.

Project Vote Smart http://www.vote-smart.org/ provides a succinct list of State Presidential Primary and Caucus Dates.

The U.S. Department of State Foreign Press Center http://www.fpc.state.gov/ offers a large amount of information about the 2008 elections, http://www.fpc.state.gov/fpc/c21250.htm including everything from transcripts of briefings to how to make hotel reservations for the Democratic and Republican conventions. Includes a list of links to resources about the U.S. elections process.

From HotChalk's LessonPlansPage.com Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Lesson Plans and Resources

Martin Luther King, Jr., 16 brief activity ideas, links to worksheets/coloring pages, and a reading list. http://www.lessontutor.com/belm16.html

Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm X. Were they ideological opposites? Where did they share common ground? http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/liberation_curriculum/malcolmx/index.htm

Martin Luther King, Jr., and the power of nonviolence. http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=326

Lesson plans, printables, an art project, and other resources. http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/Themes/Martin_Luther_King__Jr_/index.shtml

“Identifying with a Hero” is the title of this great lesson plan. http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=257

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day / Black History Month Lesson Plans--a very large collection of 50 great lesson plans, ideas, and unit components for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Black History Month at http://www.lessonplanspage.com/BlackHistoryMonth.htm

Lesson on Youth and the Civil Rights Movement, a four part unit on youth and the Civil Rights Movement written for grades 6-8, includes rubrics and links to websites on the Civil Rights Movement. http://www.lessonplanspage.com/SSLACIOMDBlackHistoryYouthAndCivilRightsMovement68.htm

APlusMath features all kinds of great math resources like flash cards, worksheets, a homework helper for simple math equations, and 20 or so interactive math games. http://www.aplusmath.com/

From TeachersFirst http://www.teachersfirst.com/index.cfm, a rich collection of lessons, units and web resources, offering their own professional and classroom-ready content along with thousands of reviewed web resources, including practical ideas for classroom use. Busy teachers, parents, and students can find resources using our subject/grade level search, keyword search, or extensive menus. Find Martin Luther King Day Resources including lesson ideas and full units that will work well to meet curriculum needs to observe this day at http://www.teachersfirst.com/holiday/mlk.cfm.

Need Science Fair ideas and help? Check out this site from the folks at Elmer’s for project ideas, help with planning, resources and supply lists. http://www.elmers.com/sciencefair/index.asp

Welcome to Giggle Poetry, a website devoted to funny poetry for children. Get ready to laugh while you explore! http://www.gigglepoetry.com/

Changing the Face of Medicine Discover the women who have changed the face of medicine, presented by the National Library of Medicine. The site gives several ways to learn about each woman. In Setting Their Sights learn about their triumphs over the stumbling blocks placed in their way as they fought for their place in medicine and their struggles to be accepted as practitioners. Making Their Mark shows how women brought new perspective to the medical field. Women focused on caring for communities, the social and economic costs of medicines, helping others get medical educations and even making discoveries that have changed the way medicine was thought of and applied. Changing Medicine, Changing Lives discusses how women in the medical profession have shaped the way we receive care as they balance their professional and personal lives. Taking the Lead shows a glimpse into the future as more and more women are at the top of their fields, influencing change and helping shape how things are done. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/changingthefaceofmedicine/

RECOMMENDED ONLINE PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES

Landmark Primary (Elementary) and Landmark Challenge (Upper Elementary and Middle School)
URL: http://kidspace.kidlink.org/start.php?HoldNode=1430&HoldNav=25955 AND http://kidspace.kidlink.org/start.php?HoldNode=25955&HoldNav=1430
Who It's For: Students and teachers working to use interdisciplinary methods to teach social studies concepts.
What It Costs: Free
Description: Choose a Landmark any where in the world. Have your students research facts concerning the landmark and compose nine interesting clues. Three clues per week will be posted by the landmark moderator to the Kidproj listserv over a three week period. All registered teams can ask one yes or no question per week of each team in the game. At the end of the three weeks the team which guessed the most landmarks will be declared the winner! School teams may choose to participate in one of the levels. The games will be carried out separately, but on the same timeline.
Timeline: Registration opens January 12th. The specific start, finish, and deadline dates will be set on the project page once teams are registered.

Legacy Project: Listen to a Life
URL: http://www.legacyproject.org/contests/ltal.html
Who It's For: Students ages 8-18 and their grandparents or "grandfriends"
What It Costs: No Cost. Prizes awarded for best entry.
Description: What can you learn when you listen to a life? Young people can become more aware of their own dreams and goals when they hear the real-life stories of older adults. The Listen to a Life Essay Contest is also an opportunity to build closer connections between young and old. To enter the Listen to a Life Contest, a young person interviews an older person about their hopes and goals through their life, how they achieved goals and overcame obstacles, or how dreams may have changed along the way. What life advice can they share? The young person then writes a 300-word essay based on the interview. Each team consists of a young person 8-18 years with a grandparent or grandfriend 50 years or over (co-entrant cannot be a parent; they can be a grandparent, older friend, mentor, neighbor, nursing home resident, etc.).
Timeline: Essays due March 31, 2008.

Video Contest: Be a Video All-Star
URL: http://www.21centuryconnections.com/videocontest
Who's It For: K-12 students
What It Costs: Free. Prizes awarded.
Description: The 21st Century Connections program invites K-12 students to participate in the launch of its first multimedia video contest. The competition, open to all K-12 students, challenges you to make 21st century technology a movie star in your own public service announcement. Students who create the most compelling videos win a laptop from Lenovo featuring Intel® Centrino® Pro processor Technology and Adobe Digital School Collection software.
Timeline: Submit video entries between January 11, 2008, and February 29, 2008. Fill out an entry form for your video, sign the authorization form and be sure to include your description of why technology is important to learning on the entry form. Videos must be received by midnight, February 29, 2008.

NEWEST eTHEMES

Animals: Unusual Animals Learn about unusual animals on these websites. Some are rare, strange, or frightening. Discover strange creatures that live at the bottom of the ocean, nocturnal primates, or hairless rodents that live in colonies like ants. Includes eThemes Resources on bats, snakes, and gila monsters. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002190.shtml

Author Study: Charles Dickens Learn about the author Charles Dickens and his works. Includes biographies, timelines, family trees, primary documents, and photos. There are also lesson plans, games, animated bibliography, and activities that go along with the author study unit. There is a link to eThemes Resource on Literature: A Christmas Carol. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002185.shtml

Chemistry: Mixtures and Solutions These sites provide information about the chemistry of mixtures and solutions. Learn what mixtures and solutions are made of, what their properties are, how to separate components of mixtures, and methods of separation. There are examples of mixtures encountered in daily life, classroom activities, experiments, interactive games, and animations. There is a link to eThemes Resources on Chromatography. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002198.shtml

Decade: 1940-1949 Learn about America during the decade of the 1940's. Read details about Pearl Harbor, World War II, and the Great Depression. Learn how women were needed in the workplace to replace men who had gone off to war and how this affected fashion. Includes eThemes Resources on the Holocaust. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002192.shtml

Literature: "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens Learn about the book, "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. Includes story elements, lesson plans, classroom activities, games, quizzes, and more. There are links to eThemes Resources on Author Study: Charles Dickens, Holiday: Christmas Traditions in America, Holiday: Christmas Around the World, and Performing Arts: Drama. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002186.shtml

Literature: "Tonight on the Titanic" by Mary Pope Osborne These websites are about the book “Tonight on the Titanic" by Mary Pope Osborne. Includes book reviews and activity ideas. There is also information about the author, Mary Pope Osborne, including interviews, books, and photos. Includes a link to eThemes Resources on "Titanic." http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002200.shtml

Math: Geometry: Parallel Lines and Transversals On these sites you will find information about the angles and relationships formed by parallel lines and transversals. Learn about alternate interior angles, alternate exterior angles, corresponding angles, and consecutive Interior angles. Lesson plans, sample problems, and proofs are included. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002177.shtml

Protest Movements & Music Learn about American protest movements through music. These links include several audio clips and highlight musical protests from WWI to today. Learn about how music is used as a form of protest in various contexts. Includes eThemes Resources from Decades: 1960-1969. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002178.shtml

Quilts: Underground Railroad These sites are about the Underground Railroad and the secret codes it used. Here you can find background information, a glossary of code terms, maps, and interactive features. Students can design their own quilt blocks and learn about African American quilting traditions. Included is an eThemes Resource on the Underground Railroad. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002187.shtml

Renaissance Faire for Middle School These sites contain resources to help plan a school Renaissance Faire. There is information on daily life in the Renaissance, proper speech, music, food, costume tips and patterns, and more. Included is an eThemes Resource on the Renaissance. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002189.shtml

United States Female Politicians These links address current and former female politicians in the United States. Read their personal biographies and accomplishments in and outside of politics. Includes eThemes Resources on Susan B. Anthony. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002180.shtml

Writing: D'Nealian Cursive Handwriting These sites are about D'Nealian cursive handwriting. They provide printable worksheets, charts, and flash cards for practicing D'Nealian cursive handwriting. Includes tracers and guidance for writing. There are sites for creating customized worksheets for students. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002196.shtml

Updated eThemes

Animals: Desert Animals These sites are about the different animals that live in desert habitats. These creatures can be found in deserts in North and South America, Africa, and Asia. Sites include images, video, and audio. eThemes Resources on desert habitats, desert survival, and food chains are included. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000179.shtml

Animals: Earthworms These sites are about the anatomy of earthworms, what they eat and why they are beneficial. Includes activities and advice on keeping worms in the classroom. Composting with worms is also covered. Included is an eThemes Resource about producers, consumers, and decomposers. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000453.shtml

Animals: Zoo Animals Visit zoos around the nation and learn about the animals who live in these man-made environments, including lions, tigers, elephants, and more. Includes a virtual zoo, interactive games and quizzes, animal videos and sounds, lesson plans, and craft ideas. Don't miss the Cyber Tiger site, where students act as a zookeeper, and Switcheroo Zoo, which allows students to create their own animals. Several eThemes Resources on animals and their habitats are also included. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000647.shtml

Continent: Antarctica Learn about life in Antarctica including the climate, explorers, animals, geographic features, and current scientific expeditions. Take a virtual tour of this cold continent and view 360-degree images. Includes an eThemes resource on penguins and two eThemes Resources on the arctic. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000004.shtml

Country: Italy These sites introduce the country of Italy. There is information on Italy's history, culture, art, traditions, cuisine, cars, and more. You can listen to a recording of the National Anthem, take a virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel, view an interactive map, or read about the history of pizza. There are several videos that show how to speak basic Italian. Also included is information about what it's like to be a kid in Italy. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000048.shtml

Dragons Learn about dragon myths and legends from the Eastern and Western worlds. There are descriptions of different types of dragons, Chinese customs, and images. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000416.shtml

Famous People: Jackie Robinson Learn more about Jackie Robinson, his achievements in sports, and his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. Includes biographies, photographs, and interviews. There are also some audio and video clips, plus links to eThemes Resources on the Negro Baseball League, famous black Americans, and a book about Jackie Robinson. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000807.shtml

Famous People: Rosa Parks Read about Rosa Parks and her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. Learn the truth behind some of the myths surrounding her story. Includes biographies, photographs, and interviews. There are links to eThemes Resources on the Civil Rights Movement and famous black Americans. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001073.shtml

Holiday: Earth Day These sites are about Earth Day. Includes classroom and community activities to celebrate this holiday. Many sites explain how to protect the environment and conserve energy. There are links to eThemes Resources on recycling, pollution, and Arbor Day. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000072.shtml

Holiday: Mardi Gras These sites are about New Orleans's Mardi Gras festival. View a live shot of Bourbon Street or browse the many photographs showing the costumes and floats. Learn about the history of the parades and other fun facts. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000304.shtml

Holiday: Martin Luther King Day Learn more about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his leadership in the 1960s American civil rights movement. Take a virtual tour of his birth home. There are photographic essays on the marches and protests, interactive timelines about King's life, and audio and text files of his speeches. Includes links to an eThemes Resource on the civil rights movement. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000101.shtml

Math: Exponents These sites explain what exponents mean and how to use them. Learn about powers, scientific notations and their use. There are online calculators for converting numbers into scientific notation. Includes many practice questions. Some sites are for elementary students and some are more suitable for junior high students. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001214.shtml

Medieval Feudalism Explore these sites and learn what it was like to live during the Middle Ages. Topics include serfs, kings, monasteries, and more. There are links to eThemes Resources on castles, knights, and children's books that took place during the Middle Ages. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000411.shtml

Physics: Static Electricity These sites explain what static electricity is and how it works. The topics of atoms, electrons and protons are covered. There are several illustrations, an animated movie, lesson plans, and many hands-on science experiments. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000609.shtml

Renaissance These websites are about the Renaissance in Europe. Find out about the artwork, inventions, science, and people of the time period, including information about the Renaissance in Italy, France, and the Netherlands. There are videos, games, activities, quizzes, and more. Includes links to eThemes Resources on Leonardo da Vinci, Shakespeare, and Renaissance Faires for Middle Schools. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001530.shtml

Slavery: The Underground Railroad These sites are about the Underground Railroad movement that helped runaway slaves escape to Canada. Learn about Harriet Tubman and other influential leaders. Listen to songs and read the lyrics that secretly told the escape route. Play a game that allows you to face the same decisions the runaway slaves faced. Includes maps and historic photographs, plus a link to an eThemes Resource on the slave trade and quilts. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000715.shtml

Water Cycle: Hands-On Experiments These sites have hands-on experiments and projects about the water cycle and water purification. Learn how to make it rain in your kitchen and how to build your own water cycle environment. There are many other activity ideas, including a script for a play. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on water cycle explanations and illustrations. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000329.shtml

Winter Solstice These sites have information about the winter solstice - the first day of astronomical winter. Students can learn how the Earth's tilt and orbital motion influence the length of days and nights. Students can also find the history of pagan and Christian traditions and rituals of celebration that day. The sites include photographs, schematics, animation, and eThemes Resource on Winter, Summer Solstice, and Seasons. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001376.shtml

DESE 3370-67 2/08

Revised: February 04, 2008

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