“I Learn, You Learn, We Learn” Blog

Here’s a really great resource for learning about the 8 strategies for reading comprehension:  Using Prior Knowledge, Making Connections, Questioning, Visualizing, Inferring, Summarizing, Evaluating and Synthesizing. There are activities, lessons, audio clips, videos and professional development videos. 

Although the site is geared towards K-4, teachers who teach literacy at any level can get some really great ideas. 

Website: http://reading.ecb.org/

Literacy is one of those ‘hot topics’ in the realm of education today.  Here’s a site you can add to your list of links to help students with writing and grammar. For you teachers, check out the drop down list  of PowerPoint presentations you can use with your students.

 Here in Schenectady, we are lucky to have the best of both - DEstreaming and PowerMediaPlus.  I don’t know what our teachers would do if they didn’t have access to DEstreaming. However, in all fairness, Discovery’s other video on demand product, PowerMediaPlus, is worth some time to browse the content contained within.  Here is a listing of what is included in PowerMediaPlus.

• 3,300 full-length, up-to-date, curriculum-based videos (and growing!)
• 23,000 core concept video clips
• 6,000 curriculum-oriented audio files
• 25,000 high-resolution photographs, illustrations, and clip art images produced for the classroom
• 5,000 print resources, including teacher’s guides and worksheets
• 4,000 online resources related to specific titles
• 15,500 quiz questions and 1,100 pre-made quizzes
• Podcasts and episode publishing tools
• Programs correlated to state and national standards
• Current content for all K-12 subject areas: social studies, science, language arts, literature, math, guidance, health, professional development, and more—plus the largest collection of music, art, and children’s literature titles in the industry

Learn More

If your district doesn’t have PowerMediaPlus, it may be worth talking to your administrators about.

Did you know Discovery has another media on demand service called PowerMediaPlus?  Schenectady receives PowerMediaPlus from WMHT, our local public television affiliate; and the NY Lottery.
I know there are other districts across the country that have access to PowerMediaPlus as well. In an effort to share features of PowerMediaPlus, I will be posting entries every so often about the product and how it can be used in your classrooms. Please feel free to comment on how your district uses PowerMediaPlus  and what you like about it.

Until the next post, learn more about Power Media Plus by visiting http://www.discoveryeducation.com/products/PowerMediaPlus/.

Cross posted from Nicole Brondum’s Blog
Have you received a document that was created in Microsoft 2007 that you couldn’t open?  The solution is simple.    Go to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads . 

Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008 
DEN Virtual Conference Presentations 

Keynotes:
Lost in Translation, presented by Lance Rougeux
Revenge of the Digital Immigrants, presented by Hall Davidson

Virtual Breakouts:
Building a Bigger Builder, presented by Matt Monjan
The Bionic Lesson, presented by Mike Bryant
50 Ways to Spin a Digital Story, presented by Steve Dembo

Bonus:
DEN in Second Life demonstration, presented by Lori Abrahms of the DEN Second Life Leadership Council

On Saturday, Feb. 2, Schenectady was host for an in person event as part of the first DEN Virtual Conference. The presentations were fantastic (as always) the food was great, the people were terrific (both in person and in cyberspace) and,of course, the sharing and learning couldn’t be beat.  Below are some blog posts where you can read all about the days events.

A huge thank you to the Discovery family for an awesome Saturday. I would also like to thank my colleagues and their guests for attending the event in Schenectady.  And a  HUGE thank you to Sal DeAngelo for assisting with the event  and taking photos of this spectacular opportunity.

Blogs about the DEN Virtual Conference:
Pennsylvania DEN
Susan Dornberg’s Blog
Maine DEN

Time is running out to register for the best virtual conference of the year! Go to http://blog.discoveryeducation.com/tstandhart/category/professional-development/ for all the information you need to register for this event! If you are not near the Schenectady venue, click on the registration link to find a venue near you ( dozens to choose from).  Even if you aren’t near any of the venues, you can attend in the comfort of your own home - all you need is an Internet connection.

Have fun and enjoy the show!

Today almost all teachers teach “literacy”.  The  links below offer relevant research, such as the impact of hypertext upon reading skills, teaching resources and materials, an international discussion forum and a forum on critical issues. Links to other online literacy resources are included.
Websites:
International Reading Association
Reading Online

Does blogging really increase student learning by motivation for assignments? Are deeper thought processes evident?  Is a blog a relevant teaching tool?  Find out in this study initiated by Jeff Felix, Superintendent of Bonsall Union School District in Bonsall, CA.
Study Website: http://bonsall.schoolwires.com/1512109262125477/cwp/view.asp?A=3&Q=277322&C=55071
Visit Jeff’s Blog: http://www.suptfelix.blogspot.com/

“Interactive Whiteboards are phenomenal tools. ” And so is this website!  It is chalked full of information and resources for teachers who are novices as well as experienced in using whiteboards as teaching and learning tools in their classrooms. There is something for everyone.

Website: http://www.fsdb.k12.fl.us/rmc/tutorials/whiteboards.html

 Need help learning about literacy in the classroom? DEstreaming provides 31 full length videos, 59 video segments, 19 images, 68 articles and 7 events. 17 of the videos fall under the category “Instructional Strategies and  Assessment”.

A sampling of titles include: Literacy and Learning: Using Symbols, Literacy and Learning: Mathematics Grade 8, and Literacy and Learning: Anticipation/Reaction Guides and Discussion Groups; to name a few.

To find these videos and supplemental resources just log in to your DEstreaming account  and type in “literacy”in the search field.