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Issue 34, Volume 7
May 3
, 2007
Thought for the Week
It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge. -- Albert Einstein
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! May 7th-11th
Not just this week, but every week, of every month, of every year, teachers work incredibly hard to educate the children of American. The Calcasieu Parish Technology Department wants to say a heartfelt, "THANK YOU! " for your dedication and commitment to the future of our community....our children.
Sheryl Abshire
Administrative Coordinator of Technology
"Advancing Quality Education Through Technology"
NEA celebrates National Teacher Day! Thousands of communities will take time out on Tuesday, May 8, 2007, to honor their local educators and acknowledge the contributions they make to our lives. "Great Teachers Make Great Public Schools" draws attention to the crucial role teachers play in making sure every child receives a quality public education and conveys the hard work they do each day to make public schools great for every child: http://www.nea.org/teacherday/index.html.
Featured Blackboard Site
The featured Blackboard site was created by Terri Simpson, an English/Language Arts teacher at Maplewood Middle. Mrs. Simpson created the site to serve as a resource for all of her students as well as a communication resource with parents. Visit Terri Simpson's site.
Best Free Resource
Looking to hook kids’ interest with an entertaining resource? Brainpop Jr. is a free Web site filled with online animated movies for math and other core curricula for grades K through 3—all aligned with standards. The online movie introduces a topic and explains it clearly. The site also lets teachers download paper and online quizzes to use in school or to give to students to try at home. It’s a great teacher tool for the classroom!” Try it now at http://www.brainpop.com/; free for a limited time.
Apply Now For These Digital Technology Grants!
ToolFactory has several grants for which teachers can apply. In fact, they have just launched a new Podcasting Grant for education. There are three grant contests and thirty-five winners. It's easy to enter. Just submit a description of your intended project, and a budget. The deadlines for the next submissions are June 30, 2007. Printable flyers are available for each contest. K-12 and special education schools in the US, its territories, and Canada are eligible to apply. You can apply online at http://www.toolfactory.com/olympus.
Inspired Learning Community
Inspiration Announces the New Inspired Learning Community web site!
It's free! Join and participate in the Inspired Learning Community and help to build a vibrant, dynamic community dedicated to exploring and advancing visual learning in education.
When you join the Inspired Learning Community and become an Inspired Member, you can do all of the following:
- Find Inspiration, InspireData and Kidspiration lessons, examples and ideas.
- Share your own lessons, examples and ideas.
- Participate in discussions about visual learning and Inspiration Software products, such as classroom projects and tips & tricks.
- Read news, topics and opinions about visual learning, technology, education and Inspiration Software in a blog from key thought leaders at Inspiration Software.
- Comment on and rate lessons posted by other Inspired Learning Community members. Easily locate training resource materials.
Inspiration is giving a free gift when you join and share! For a limited time, when you upload three or more examples or templates, you will receive a special thank-you gift commemorating our 25th anniversary. Visit the Inspired Learning Community: http://www.inspiredlearningcommunity.com/
Inquiry-Based Project Grant From Toshiba
The mission of Toshiba America Foundation (TAF) is to promote quality science and mathematics education in U.S. schools. Grants are made for programs and activities that improve teaching and learning in science and mathematics, grades K-12. The Foundation focuses its grant making on inquiry-based projects designed by individual teachers, and small teams of teachers, for use in their own classrooms.
Since 1999, TAF has offered grants of up to $1,000 for teachers of Kindergarten through six grade. Any K-6 teacher in a public or private (not-for-profit) school is eligible. TAF also contributes to the quality of science and mathematics education by investing in projects designed by classroom teachers to improve instruction for students in grades 7-12.
The Foundation strongly encourages projects planned and led by individual teachers or teams of teachers for their own classrooms. Many successful grantees have designed projects that tap into the natural curiosity of their students, enable students to frame their own scientific questions, and incorporate the expertise of community partners. The next large grant applications are due August 1st, 2007. For more information and past grants, visit http://www.toshiba.com/tafpub/jsp/home/default.jsp.
