Spice Up Service Learning

Teachers, now you can add some recognition to your service learning by using President awards.

When I was coordinating the Blue Planet Society after school the students did it for fun and for learning too. If I had the chance, I would have signed up then as a partner on this new program and given each student an award.

Kinda cool, and something they can keep … plus ….. an experience they’ll never forget.

Check it out at http://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/

Happy Tuesday, Jack

I have a bunch of new service links here too:  http://www.educationreporting.com/#service

Social Meida – useful in a classroom?

TED is one of my favorite resources for class.  The speakers are top notch and they cover stuff that I’ve not found anywhere else.

This clip is another example, the fella is talking about how blogging and other social media expands our ability to perceive, think, and understand the world around us.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/james_surowiecki_on_the_turning_point_for_social_media.html

Have  great week, Jack

Check out the new design layout on my site at http://www.educationreporting.com

Math Treasure Chest

I stumbled upon a real teaching wonder today.  This site have been a leader of math programs and teaching tools for over a decade.  I guess all math teachers know about … but they never told me.

If you aren’t as sharp at math as you wanna be (me) or want some fresh tools for class this is your place.

BTW,  it has more than 500 direct resources that I counted…..

http://www.educationreporting.com/edtools/lisitng-subject.htm#math (last one on the page)

Happy Wednesday, Jack

Resource is gold

This site is so good, teach using real world examples for science, math, and technology in primary and secondary schools. For example, using the zoo to teach math. There are hundreds of free video clips that show real world scenarios teaches can use in a variety of ways.  Check it out at… http://www.thefutureschannel.com/index.php

Another hot day at the beach, Jack

PS: check out all the new logos, and the learning cartoon, on my Ed Tools Directory ….. http://www.educationreporting.com/edtools/

Grant money – expires April 24

Here is great opportunity to get some teens involved and get grant money to do it ….

The Institute for Global Education and Service Learning has funds available that will provide training grants to local education agencies interested in bringing a team of students to the National Urban Service Learning Institute.

Click here to get the scoop – deadline is April 24.
http://www.educationreporting.com/edtools/lisitng-service.htm

Wishing you the best, Jack

Twitter for Academia

Here’s a great post by a K12 teacher who used twitter in a class assignment for the first time….. and the results.

Also on this page are additional links to ideas and programs that use twitter in class.

…. it’s a new week starting tomorrow …… a perfect time to start using a new idea for a lesson!

What would your students say if you told ‘em they’d be tweeting for the next assignment?

Check out the twitter tips here….
http://www.educationreporting.com/edtools/lisitng-software.htm#twitter

Have a great week, Jack

FIVE STARS – Earth Day Lesson Ideas

Earth Day is around the corner and hopefully every class can spend 15 minutes next week just covering the concept….

…or, hopefully a full blown lesson !

In my classes I found that students are interested in doing something about the environment because they see the results …. they directly impact something in a positive way and that’s a mega boost no matter what the scio-economic class floor is.

Courtesy of the Wilderness Organization ….. here are some cool activity ideas – RELEVANT to REAL LIFE -  and the materials to get ‘em done with class.

Teachers lounge (materials) http://earthday.wilderness.org/teachers/classroom.htm

Here’s what some teachers have done in the past: http://earthday.wilderness.org/teachers/postings.htm

Best link list I’ve seen for Earth Day: http://earthday.wilderness.org/links.htm

Happy teaching!  Jack

PS: check out my green school RSS feed at
http://www.educationreporting.com/greenschool.xml

National Environmental Ed Week

Three mind expanding lesson resources and ideas that are relevant – have to check ‘em at http://ping.fm/TZ6xJ

K12: Good News & Teaching With The Lights On

It’s more fun to talk about the reality of teaching …. ya know … hard working – honest folk who are ready to take some action based on their belief for the good of the cause….

For starters, teachers in the UK … I luv their gusto and bravado….. have had enough!  Haven’t all teachers in every country?

…. but the UK folks are saying so out in the open …. and they are ready to do something – a novel idea!! Kudos to them!

1.  They are threatening to strike over being fedup with the low pay and testing requirements ….
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/7600563.stm

2. Apparently some schools hire bouncers to be in classes that substitutes teach because of unruly students ….
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/7996146.stm

Next in the room with the lights on…..a national curriculum …. the issue has been raised again in the UK.  I can’t remember when it’s been discussed in the USA …. I guess it’s more enriching and costs less to have each state do education a different way ….boy, I betcha if a national curriculum bill ever hit that floor for a vote it’d have some serious pork on it.

Until going to graduate school and studying education I was always AGAINST a a national curriculum …. but I now think it’s a main strength of getting the USA out of the quagmire that education now is.  Read more about the UK debate here … http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/7982215.stm

…and now the good news ….. for all USA teachers….
Jamba Juice is donating 20% of all sales to the school of your choice between April 13 and May 24 … so visit this URL and tell ‘em where to send the check …. http://www.jambajuice.com/school_bananananza/

Hope your week is off to a brilliant start!  Jack

PS: check out the best class resource center on the web at http://www.edtoolsdirectory.com/

Your digital practices….

Let’s face it ….

The digital world is here to stay.

Teachers use it or lose face … your students are already there and hearing you boast about how you  don’t need to twitter, or that your blogless…. even that you don’t have a myspace or facebbok …. only makes YOU LOSE credibility.

Instantly.

If you don’t like that – too bad.  This is a new world.

Get in or get out.

Now, here is my point … an excellent news source ….

Mashable, the social media guide … this is so complete with info – it will open doors for everyone …. no longer how long you’ve been doing – or not doing – your digital practices.  Check it out at http://mashable.com

Have a great weekend!  Jack

Ed Tools  Directory – now boasting discounts on over 8,000 classroom products and free shipping too…
http://edtoolsdirectory.org/