Still exploring iPad apps…. here’s the latest finds: 3 D Classic Literature provides access to a variety of classic literature in a pleasing visual style that nicely mimics reading an actual book. It is not perfect yet, for example the font size can’t be changed- though it is a larger font that is generally easier on [...]
ESC 11 in Fort Worth is hosting its annual Digital Summer Learning Conference Friday, May 17, and Discovery will be there! Keynote speaker will be Director of Online Community and Social Media Strategy (and Star Wars afficionado) Steve Dembo. He will be speaking on the topic: Building Bolder Schools: It Doesn’t Hurt to Be First on the [...]
Be the first to get a look at upcoming enhancements to Discovery Education! This sneak peek will showcase integration strategies for leveraging new tools, content, and resources, including Discovery Education Student Board Builder and the new Discovery Education Streaming Plus with model lessons, assessments, and digital content designed to address specific Math and ELA Common [...]
I have been a DEN Star and LC member for almost 3 years now and I am always learning something new! I had the chance to attend the first #DENapalooza in McKinney, Texas. I had a chance to listen to some great sessions and connect with some friends F2F (I am all about an online connection, [...]
“Books wait like miracles. Now come along for the ride.” That’s from one of this post’s items: a wonderful book called Little Library Mouse by Stephanie Lisa Tara. I got it as an ebook, but there are print editions also. A mouse enjoys the books in the closed for the night library, imagining himself in various [...]
Getting right to the point, here are some of my recommendations for professional reading: > Machines Are the Easy Part; People Are the Hard Part:observations about making technology work in schools by Doug Johnson With humor, insight and short easy to read chapters, Johnson addresses topics from encouraging job security to the particular needs of [...]
This is Howard Martin, a STAR Discovery Educator and Leadership Council member from Texas. He’s been accepted to attend the DEN Summer Institute July 14-19 in Burlington, VT. Here’s his DEN story: Tell us yours. The main portion of this year’s application is a short (unedited) video that t ells your DEN story. We want [...]
One of my favorite vocabulary games: 7 Little Words has officially released its junior version: 7 Little Words for Kids. Like the original, you must figure seven words from the clues, using the letter blocks. The junior version, however, takes the elementary age players through various worlds, including a scuba adventure, space travel, dinosaur [...]
Texas DEN STAR Ruby Aguilar shared some of her great news with us and we’re sharing it with you. Ruby was selected to participate in the Community Historical and Archaeology Project with Schools (CHAPS) program at the University of Texas Pan American (UTPA) in Edinburg, Texas. This NEH-funded program selected twelve educators from across the Rio [...]
While the other families were out playing football on a holiday afternoon, mine was inside playing Trivial Pursuit or other academic trivia games. The fun of the play encouraged our interest — and thus our learning– of various subjects. It can do the same for you and your students. A recent sampling of my Trivia [...]
Amendment added! I know that it is only February, but there is already SO many things to start marking on your calendar! I just finished with TCEA where one of our own DEN members was selected TCEA Teacher of the Year! Will be doing a blog on that soon! So, here are a few of [...]
Calling all Texas educators! Did you know that the first stop on the 2013 DENapalooza Tour will be in Texas? That’s right – we’re kicking off the tour and bringing the fun to Minshew Elemenatry in McKinney on March 23. This free, full day event for DEN members will be part formal presentations, part unconference, [...]
A logophile is a lover of words (http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/logophile). That is definitely me and it is not coincidence that I love to read also. Vocabulary and reading certainly go together and help strengthen each other. So what are some ways to strengthen vocabulary? Here are a few ideas: Discovery Streaming includes vocabulary development as [...]
We are thrilled to announce an exciting professional development and networking opportunity for DEN members. Join us for the 2013 DENapalooza Tour! The DEN will be touring North America, stopping in ten locations to share the power of making connections through the Discovery Educator Network. Each full day event will have formal presentations in the [...]
As I write this, I’m on a plane on my way back from TCEA. It was a quick trip, but I did get to see a lot of our TX STARs and hang out with some of my colleagues over doughnuts at Gourdoughs. If you’re ever in Austin, you have to check it out. They [...]
Discovery Educator Network TCEA 2013 EveningCon Join the Discovery Educator Network for a hands-on evening of connections, food, prizes, and fun! With special guests Mike Bryant and Texas Leadership Council Members Tuesday, February 5, 2013 6 PM – 8:30 PM Dinner provided Travis High School Library 1211 E Oltorf St Austin, TX 78704 For more [...]
Joli was recently named one of the 3 finalists for TCEA Classroom Teacher of the Year. This award is presented to a teacher who exhibits exemplary use of technology in the classroom. The teacher recognizes and uses a wide variety of technology tools to enhance the learning of all students. The Teacher of the Year [...]
During the summer I am always so caught up on all my social media and everything that is going on. I am sharing, gathering, and redistributing information that I learn. During the first of the school year my social media has to take a break as I get back into the swing of school. Well, [...]
Got an Android OS based tablet and looking for great apps? Here are some blogs and posts with helpful information. http://android4schools.com/ from Richard Byrne of Free Technology for Teachers, this blog is one of the best resources http://mashable.com/2012/08/15/android-apps-school/ “short and sweet” post with 5 free apps to recommend http://www.eschoolnews.com/2012/06/01/new-10-of-the-best-droid-apps-for-education-in-2012/ also check the link within the [...]
There is no doubt in this librarian – technologist’s mind that asking good questions is a skill needed by students – and adults for that matter. One of the first keys in good research — a particular interest area for librarians — is, as the Big 6(http://big6.com/) puts it, Task Definition with the person needing [...]
There are always so many opportunities to attend conferences. I love attending conferences to of course gain new learning… but even more to connect with others throughout the eduverse. I teach in a self contained classroom, so I welcome an opportunity to connect with educators outside the classroom. At the end of September I was [...]
Web Wanderings: being a series on the interesting, curious, humorous and sometimes even helpful items I’ve found on the web . For this first post, some items recommended to me by Linda Rush – DEN STAR, LC Member and DEN Guru: http://sjunkins.posterous.com/collect-student-ipad-creations-with-edmodo – connecting two popular tech resources, the site states “This video outlines how the Edmodo [...]
Just as I tell teachers that Discovery Education is so much more than merely videos, the program is not just for classroom teachers but for all educational settings. That includes the library– my particular setting! This wealth of resources is continued by the DEN, another place with something for all educators, from the core teachers in the regular classroom [...]
The car songs ran through my head … G.T.O., Mercury Blues, Little Deuce Coupe, We’ll have fun fun fun, Hot Rod Lincoln… Discovery Education and the Velocity Channel had come to the Dallas Mecum Auto Auction. I was walking with a group of excited students through rows and rows of cars- muscle cars, classic cars, even a couple of race cars [...]
I just finished my first week of school. I LOVE my classroom, but I am super excited that it is a 3 day weekend this weekend. Gives me a chance to catch up with my giant to do list. First on my list is to sleep late I love teaching, but I also love being [...]
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