Phase III of MNet's Research Study - Teachers' Perspectives

How digital technologies are being integrated into Canadian classrooms

[Download study here - PDF] .

"MNet has released the Phase 3 findings of a new study: Young Canadians in a Wired World. The latest, "Teacher's Perspectives", examines how digital technologies are being integrated into Canadian classrooms, how they enhance learning, and how they impact on the teacher-student relationship. MNet began with focus groups with teachers who were identified as having been successful in creating excellent learning environments in their classrooms. These teachers were asked about the role played by digital technology in their lives and their professional practice."

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100 Greatest Kids Books - is your favourite here?

Scholastic Parent & Child magazine ranked the 100 "Greatest Books for Kids"

http://www.scholastic.com/100books/

"To create our list, we asked several highly respected literacy experts, educators, and parents for suggestions. (See "Contributors" on our bookshelf.) They came through in a big way — nearly 500 books were in the running. We used a variety of criteria to narrow down to 100 and then rank our titles, including diversity of genre, topic, format, ages and stages, authorship, and cultural representation. Factors such as literary and/or illustration excellence, popularity, and longevity or innovative freshness were all qualities of books in the final round."

A more linear listing: http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/story/2012-02-14/100-greatest-books-for-kids/53095042/1?csp=34life

Using Google Earth, or want to?

Tutorial Resources for Google Earth

(explains what teachers and students might want to do with Google Earth)

• http://sitescontent.google.com/google-earth-for-educators/classroom-resources
• http://www.google.com/earth/learn/
  
  

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"Connect your classroom" - read chapter One online

Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds: Move to Global Collaboration One Step at a Time by Julie Lindsay & Vicki Davis

[Read Chapter one online]

"The new school of education is global collaboration. Whether you want to become a teacher or add to your teaching toolbox, when you connect globally and have contacts around the world, you become a more valuable teacher to your school. The "Flat Classroom 15" challenges bring even the beginner into the exciting world of social media in the classroom in a way that any teacher (elementary, middle school, high school, or college) can use. Connect your classroom and fall in love with learning again!"

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Creating an EBSCO Journal email alert

Get an email reminder every month!

[Video tutorial that explains how]

If you want to follow a magazine that is available in EBSCO, and get a reminder with a clickable link whenever the new issue comes out, you can now set up a what is called a "journal alert". EBSCO will send you a reminder that will allow you to stay on top of the latest content. Scholastic Science News, Teen Tribute, the Hockey News, Rolling Stone, Style at Home, PC World, Consumer Reports, Vegetarian, or the Smithsonian...whatever your magazine preference! [link to some PDF issues.]

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For lovers of language: Wolframalpha site

Word facts made easy

http://www.wolframalpha.com/

"Wolfram Alpha gives you the common meaning, pronunciation, first known use, origin, inflected forms, and general usage of a word with examples. The word definitions also cover synonyms, antonyms, similar terms, rhymes, and phrases. If you are the statistical sort, you can also view the frequency of its usage throughout history. "

Read this MakeUseof post to see what is possible!

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-cool-wolfram-alpha-read-write-english-language/

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Reading Better - Reading Smarter - read Chapter 1 online

"Scaffolded Reading" in the classroom

http://www.heinemann.com/products/E04240.aspx

"Deborah Appleman and Michael Graves combine the theory and research behind the Scaffolded Reading Experience (SRE) to create this very practical guide showing preservice and inservice teachers how to use this flexible approach to ensuring that each and every student can read and learn."

Chapter One Link (PDF)

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The concepts and application of essential aspects of good writing

10 Things Every Writer Needs to Know - (Stenhouse Publishers)

by Jeff Anderson (Read the overview and first chapter online)

http://www.stenhouse.com/shop/pc/viewprd.asp?idProduct=9512&r=sb120210b

"Whether writing a blog entry or a high-stakes test essay, fiction or nonfiction, short story or argumentation, students need to know certain things in order to write effectively. In 10 Things Every Writer Needs to Know, Jeff Anderson focuses on developing the concepts and application of ten essential aspects of good writing—motion, models, focus, detail, form, frames, cohesion, energy, words, and clutter."

(Ordered for DRC Collection)

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