DEN Blog Network

Join us for a free webinar about DE streaming Canada - a comprehensive collection of educational media assembled specifically for K-12 Canadian classrooms.  Click here to register today!

• Thousands of full-length video programs
• Hundreds of Canada-specific topics:
  • Canadian geography
  • Canadian history
  • Canadian culture
  • Canadian attractions
  • Famous historical figures
• Professional Development
• Access to the DEN Community

Register at: http://links.discoveryeducation.com/canadawebinar

The White House blog’s topic last week was “Education in Focus” and they posted this question:

What does a 21st century education mean to you?

This is an excellent opportunity for the DEN community to share the power of educational technology and the importance of dedicated funding for educational technology and state leadership in ed tech for a 21st Century education!

Details on how to provide input are available at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/03/02/white-house-asks-0

Hey! The National Conference on Science Education is coming up March 18-21 in Philadelphia. You probably already figured out the we’ll be there, but did you know Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell will be there too? He’s going to be part of the first-ever Science Matters National Town Hall Meeting on Science Education on Friday, March 19, at the Millennium Hall in the Loews Hotel. At this National Town Hall, science educators, school administrators, and other invited guests will engage with Governor Rendell and other panel members about the state of science education. They will also address key initiatives that are helping teachers to prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century.

To register for the conference and attend the town hall, visit http://www.nsta.org/philadelphia

Hope to see you in Philadelphia!

I’ve heard of some schools that relax their dress codes during state-wide tests or exams and allow students to wear pajamas to school. I know this may make students feel relaxed and I’m all for that. We all love casual day, right? Well, I’ve also heard of of schools who encourage their students to “Dress for Success” during important tests. There is something to be said for that too.

Whether your school goes for casual or not, you should encourage COMFY! Here are a few suggestions:

• Layered clothing that can be put on and taken off  depending on temperature
• Natural fibers like cotton seem to breathe better than synthetic materials
• Loose clothing that doesn’t bind

photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24328644@N08/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

Connect the Thoughts!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
9 AM to 4 PM ET
Cost?  FREE
Register today!

All times ET.

9 AM
Connections, Conversations, and Collaborations: Creating a Personal Learning Network That Works For You
Lee Kolbert, DEN Guru, Palm Beach County, FL

Thanks to the influx of social tools on the Internet, educators are becoming increasingly empowered to control their learning environment.  We are no longer limited by the physical proximity of colleagues to discuss issues and develop professionally since the wisdom of the masses is as close as a computer.  Social networks, such as the Discovery Educator Network, can be synchronous or asynchronous and allow us to connect with each other.  In this session, we will explore the DEN, as well as, Twitter, FaceBook, Ning and other online tools where you can reach out to connect and build your own Personal Learning Network, tailored to your needs.

10 AM
Homework Gone Digital
Matt Monjan, Discovery Education, Silver Spring, MD

Learn how to differentiate your instruction and connect with your students using the Discovery Education Student Center.  We’ll start by creating quizzes, assignments and writing prompts using the Builders in DE streaming.  Then we’ll create a classroom and show you how to assign content to your students.

11 AM
When You’re Not the Smartest Person in the Room
Dean Shareski, Digital Learning Consultant, Prairie South School Division, Moose Jaw, SK, Canada

The moment you bring an internet connection into the classroom, you open up you and your students to a vast world of knowledge, possibilities and connections. Many teachers are beginning to realize this but are struggling to make it a reality. This session will explore  and reflect on the current barriers that prevent teachers from reaching out and more importantly provide reasons and examples that clearly make the case that everyone needs to be a networked learner.

12 PM
Cell Phones, Internet and Oprah:  How the US Presence in Iraq Has Affected Women’s Lives
Christina Asquith, Author of “Sisters in War: A Story of Love, Family and Survival in the New Iraq”

What do Muslim women think about America? Journalist Christina Asquith spent five years living and reporting in the Middle East. For her new book, Sisters in War, Asquith lived in the Baghdad home of two Iraqi sisters, visited the beauty salons, attended women-only weddings and hid from suicide bombers cruising the neighborhood.  She will describe how life changed for Iraqi women, for better and worse, after the US invasion of 2003, and explain how restrictive Islamic traditions for women are being challenged by the arrival of cell-phones, internet and Oprah.

1 PM
Connecting Language Learners to the Curriculum through Digital Media
Lindsay Hopkins, Discovery Education, Los Angeles, CA

2 PM
Rock OUR World!
Carol Anne McGuire, STAR Discovery Educator, Anaheim, CA

Is global collaboration an educational reality?  Or just a buzzword?  See how K-12 students have rocked
their world by solving real problems while composing music, making movies and learning about each
other in live video conferences.  What a great time to be an educator!  The walls of the classroom are
coming down!  Learn how to bring the world to YOUR students!

3 PM
DEN in Ten
Lance Rougeux, Discovery Education, Mechanicsburg, PA

The Discovery Educator Network (DEN) is a global community of educators passionate about teaching in the 21st century.  In this session we’ll explore all of the benefits the DEN offers and take a look at the many events planned for 2010.  If you aren’t part of the DEN yet we’ll show you how to join the community.  If you are part of the DEN, we promise this session will show you a few things you didn’t know about the DEN.

Sometimes students just need to get their wiggles out! I’ve heard some teachers suggest getting students moving before a test while others suggest doing so after testing is done. Whichever time works best for your class, exercise is a great stress reliever.

Here are a few resources in DEstreaming you might want to check out:
Rainy Day Recess: Intermediate Grades (grades 3-5)
Search for “Deskercise” (grades K-4)
Exercises and Teamwork (grades 5+)

Do you have any favorite exercises to do with your students?  Share them in the comments.

 photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapeverything/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

We have an amazing lineup of events for our STARs at NSTA as well as a fantastic list of sessions.

Also, we want to let the DEN know that Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell will be part of the first ever Science Matters National Town Hall Meeting on Science Education on Friday, March 19 at the Millennium Hall in the Loews Hotel.  At the National Town Hall science educators, school administrators, and other invited guests will engage with  Governor Rendell and other panel members about the state of science education and key initiatives that are helping teachers to prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century.

In addition to Gov. Rendell, the panel will include Carlos Contreras, US Education Director, Intel Corporation and invited guests from the Department of Education and the National Science Foundation.

To register for the conference and attend the town hall, visit www.nsta.org/philadelphia.

Enjoy the DEN Weekly Update for March 5, 2010.

We have a variety of networking opportunities planned for our STARs during NSTA’s national conference in Philadelphia, PA (March 17-21).  Even if you are not attending NSTA, but are a STAR who wants to join the fun check out these opportunities.

Wednesday, March 17
Pre-conference Dinner with our STARs
City Tavern
5:30-8:00 PM
RSVP to Brad Fountain (brad_fountain@discovery.com).  We only have a couple spots left.

Thursday, March 18
LIFE Screening - the landmark sequel to the award-winning series PLANET EARTH, narrated by Oprah Winfrey

Where - The Franklin Institute
When - Doors open at 5:45 PM, Screening begins at 6:15 PM
Reception to follow
Register today!

Friday, March 19
IMAX(R) presents two exclusive screenings of HUBBLE
Pick up your FREE TICKETS at the Discovery Education Booth # 1025 starting Thursday, March 18th.
Tickets and seating available on FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED basis!
Where - The Franklin Institute
When - First screening at 6 PM, Second screening at 8 PM

But wait, there’s more…

Teachers attending NSTA can enter to win a free “Ultimate Science Field Trip” to Ecuador and Galapagos Islands from Discovery Student Adventures!  Come by the Discovery Education Booth #1025 to learn more about our teacher-lead student trips and to enter for your chance to win.

All-inclusive trip includes all lodging, airfare, ground transportation, meals and fees.  Travel dates are July 10 - 23, 2010.

One way to help your students reduce stress is to practice relaxation techniques.

Encourage students to breathe deeply and slowly.

They can also tense and relax the muscles throughout their body to reduce stress.

Here’s a link to some classroom activities for relaxation. There are four different activities here appropriate for a variety of ages. Do you have any classroom activities you like to do with students to practice relaxation? Share them in the comments.

photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/h-k-d/ / CC BY-ND 2.0