Halloween at the WCC Family Tech weekend....we were treated with the smiles!
Monday, October 31, 2005
Monday, October 17, 2005
General: History: Virtual History Exhibit
http://www.hbook.com/exhibit/
The Horn Book Virtual History Exhibit In honor of the 75th Anniversary of The Horn Book , the premier magazine of children's literature, the editors have assembled memorabilia, correspondence, groundbreaking articles, interviews, letters, and more. Highlights include Laura Ingalls Wilder's recipe for gingerbread, an original Beatrix Potter illustration, and Johanna Hurwitz' membership card to the now defunct "Horn Book League" for budding child authors. There is also a brief history of the founding of Horn Book . A site for all fans of children's literature to peruse.
The Horn Book Virtual History Exhibit In honor of the 75th Anniversary of The Horn Book , the premier magazine of children's literature, the editors have assembled memorabilia, correspondence, groundbreaking articles, interviews, letters, and more. Highlights include Laura Ingalls Wilder's recipe for gingerbread, an original Beatrix Potter illustration, and Johanna Hurwitz' membership card to the now defunct "Horn Book League" for budding child authors. There is also a brief history of the founding of Horn Book . A site for all fans of children's literature to peruse.
Children's Literature Database
Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature (view record) -->Search this database to locate award winning juvenile books that fit your criteria. Many features can be specified including age, genre, award, ethnicity of protagonist, gender of protagonist, historical period, and more. Produced by librarian Lisa R. Bartle.
http://www.dawcl.com/ Topics: Librarianship, Literature & Books, Magazines
http://www.dawcl.com/ Topics: Librarianship, Literature & Books, Magazines
Book Reviews Quarterly: The Five Owls
http://www.fiveowls.com/index.html
THE FIVE OWLS
A quarterly online publication that helps librarians, teachers
and other professionals select the best new children's books
published. Our blue-ribbon committees of librarians evaluate
more than 3,000 books each year, but select only 60-80 titles. Check out the
list of books of merit http://www.fiveowls.com/reviews/reviewssearch.html
The links section http://www.fiveowls.com/links.html is an excellent resource.
THE FIVE OWLS
A quarterly online publication that helps librarians, teachers
and other professionals select the best new children's books
published. Our blue-ribbon committees of librarians evaluate
more than 3,000 books each year, but select only 60-80 titles. Check out the
list of books of merit http://www.fiveowls.com/reviews/reviewssearch.html
The links section http://www.fiveowls.com/links.html is an excellent resource.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Commentary: Sotir: Just When You Thought...
The one thing I know about technology is that it can always surprise me. Today I was reading Edutopia (http://www.edutopia.org/) Yes, this mag is produced by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, but this is not some science fiction blockbuster. These are real, though sometimes not yet available, products for learning. The new products include one that is wonderful and another that is simply amazing, and that I can't wait to try. The wonderful one is something I think students have forgotten about, but hopefully will rediscover.
Visual Thesaurus (http://www.visualthesaurus.com/) is $29.95 for a desktop edition (Hybrid PC/Mac CD), or $19.95 a year or $2.95 a month online. It's animated and truly seems to make language come alive. Type in a word and a host of related terms pop up on the screen. There is a visual trail to follow, uncovering dozens of linguistic links. A trial version on the website is available where you can input any word and see how the program works. I was absolutely fascinated seeing the word develop beyond the uses normally associated with it. For example, I typed in 'fantastic' and was immediately shown an array of words from 'phenomenal' to 'wondrous'. It will pronounce the base word, and you can click on any of the words to make it the base word as well. There are definitions and uses included. It is 'marvelous' tremendous' and 'extravagantly fanciful', but hardly 'foolish'. Perhaps it can even excite children (and adults) to expand their use of language again.
My choice for 'simply amazing' is the Fly Pentop Computer (http://www.liveonthefly.com/). Go to this site and you can try it out for yourself. It's about $100 but that buys a lot of wow for your money. It's a combination of pen and...paper. So how is this a computer? By giving audio feedback as you write and draw on special Flypaper, of course. For example, you can draw a calculator, touch the handwritten digits and functions with the device to perform an operation, and then hear the answers announced. Or draw drums or a piano keyboard and record your own tunes. You can even add Flyware cartridges to add games and adventures. What kid isn't going to want one of these (and Santa...if you're reading this...at least one adult would like this in her Christmas stocking too...) This is way too much fun for just kids!
Visual Thesaurus (http://www.visualthesaurus.com/) is $29.95 for a desktop edition (Hybrid PC/Mac CD), or $19.95 a year or $2.95 a month online. It's animated and truly seems to make language come alive. Type in a word and a host of related terms pop up on the screen. There is a visual trail to follow, uncovering dozens of linguistic links. A trial version on the website is available where you can input any word and see how the program works. I was absolutely fascinated seeing the word develop beyond the uses normally associated with it. For example, I typed in 'fantastic' and was immediately shown an array of words from 'phenomenal' to 'wondrous'. It will pronounce the base word, and you can click on any of the words to make it the base word as well. There are definitions and uses included. It is 'marvelous' tremendous' and 'extravagantly fanciful', but hardly 'foolish'. Perhaps it can even excite children (and adults) to expand their use of language again.
My choice for 'simply amazing' is the Fly Pentop Computer (http://www.liveonthefly.com/). Go to this site and you can try it out for yourself. It's about $100 but that buys a lot of wow for your money. It's a combination of pen and...paper. So how is this a computer? By giving audio feedback as you write and draw on special Flypaper, of course. For example, you can draw a calculator, touch the handwritten digits and functions with the device to perform an operation, and then hear the answers announced. Or draw drums or a piano keyboard and record your own tunes. You can even add Flyware cartridges to add games and adventures. What kid isn't going to want one of these (and Santa...if you're reading this...at least one adult would like this in her Christmas stocking too...) This is way too much fun for just kids!
Monday, September 26, 2005
Reading: Fairy Tales
A fun website about a select few Hans Christian Andersersen's fairy tales can be found on www.AndersenFairyTales.com. You can read a fairy tale, and then do a fun game. I read about the Emperor's New Suit, and then I did the game where you get to pick out the clothing you want the king to wear. It was cute!
posted by Kristy Laurx
posted by Kristy Laurx
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Web Site: Hurricane Sites for Kids
http://www.miamisci.org/hurricane/disasterquilt.html Miami Science Center "healing quilt:" I love that a science center remembered that storms, while intellectually interesting from far away, affect the real lives of children who live through them. On these pages, kids who have experienced natural disasters tell their stories.
http://www.wildwildweather.com/hurrican.htm Lots of good stuff, including hurricane names, learning activities, and the Safford-Simpson scale (Categories 1-5).
Not just for kids, but interesting, is http://hosted.ap.org/specials/neworleanssatellite/: Here you can view before-and-after maps and satellite images of New Orleans. If you click "View labeled map" you can see where the levees were breached and how much of the area was flooded.
http://www.wildwildweather.com/hurrican.htm Lots of good stuff, including hurricane names, learning activities, and the Safford-Simpson scale (Categories 1-5).
Not just for kids, but interesting, is http://hosted.ap.org/specials/neworleanssatellite/: Here you can view before-and-after maps and satellite images of New Orleans. If you click "View labeled map" you can see where the levees were breached and how much of the area was flooded.
Gas Math
Gasoline Prices
http://www.gaspricewatch.com/new/
Get your child involved in scouting out cheap gasoline with this web site. They can type their zip code and the distance you're willing to travel ("radius" - use a map and a compass to explain how the term "radius" is the same one they've learned for the distance from the center of the circle to the outside) and get a list of stations with the lowest prices in your area. If there are savings a few miles away, have your child figure out how much you'd save on a whole tank by paying, say, five cents less per gallon. Figure out how much gas you'd use to drive to the far station, and whether or not you'd actually save enough to make it worth the trip.
http://www.gaspricewatch.com/new/
Get your child involved in scouting out cheap gasoline with this web site. They can type their zip code and the distance you're willing to travel ("radius" - use a map and a compass to explain how the term "radius" is the same one they've learned for the distance from the center of the circle to the outside) and get a list of stations with the lowest prices in your area. If there are savings a few miles away, have your child figure out how much you'd save on a whole tank by paying, say, five cents less per gallon. Figure out how much gas you'd use to drive to the far station, and whether or not you'd actually save enough to make it worth the trip.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
History/Current Events: Today's Front Pages
Today's Front Pages
http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/
Each day, Washington D.C's Newseum museum site brings you front pages from newspapers around the world - over 400 of them. See how the same story is covered in different places or compare news from different regions. Roll over each thumbnail to see a larger image, click on it to see one large enough to read the headlines. PDFs are available if you want to read the part of an article that's on the front page (Acrobat Reader software required). This is an interesting way to get discussions on current events in the classroom. Since there are over 400 front page resources available, students can read about it from their home town or country.
http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/
Each day, Washington D.C's Newseum museum site brings you front pages from newspapers around the world - over 400 of them. See how the same story is covered in different places or compare news from different regions. Roll over each thumbnail to see a larger image, click on it to see one large enough to read the headlines. PDFs are available if you want to read the part of an article that's on the front page (Acrobat Reader software required). This is an interesting way to get discussions on current events in the classroom. Since there are over 400 front page resources available, students can read about it from their home town or country.
Reference Tools
Reference Tools --------Some of these can be used for grant writing as well as information.
REFDESK - In a library, if you don't know where to look for a reference book, you go to the Reference Librarian. On the Internet, if you don't know where to look for answers, you go to Refdesk.com. At first glance, the sheer amount of useful links on the Refdesk home page can be overwhelming. But it's really quite well organized and useful.
RefDesk - http://www.refdesk.com
LIBRARY SPOT - Convenient links to popular online Almanacs, Calculators, Dictionaries, Directories, Encyclopedias, Historic Documents, Quotations, Statistics, and Thesauri. LibrarySpot - http://www.libraryspot.com
REFDESK - In a library, if you don't know where to look for a reference book, you go to the Reference Librarian. On the Internet, if you don't know where to look for answers, you go to Refdesk.com. At first glance, the sheer amount of useful links on the Refdesk home page can be overwhelming. But it's really quite well organized and useful.
RefDesk - http://www.refdesk.com
LIBRARY SPOT - Convenient links to popular online Almanacs, Calculators, Dictionaries, Directories, Encyclopedias, Historic Documents, Quotations, Statistics, and Thesauri. LibrarySpot - http://www.libraryspot.com
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Skills 1- 8+: Funbrain
http://www.funbrain.com/ Funbrain is a site that uses games and arcades to teach skills, including: Art Geography History Languages Math Music Science Technology in grade levels 1- 8+. Lots of fun for rainy days.
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Educators/Parents: Reading Rockets
http://www.readingrockets.org/ This site is for educators and parents who wish to help children learn to read, and for those with children struggling to read. There are good articles that could be used for a Family Literacy discussion group, as well as some things to assist parents with their search for reading activites for children, such as:
Summer Reading Tips and Resources: You'll find terrific tips, amazing activities, and important information in our newly updated Summer Reading section. There's even a free webcast from the Center for Summer Learning on what to do to keep kids reading this summer.
This site is part of the PBS TV show Reading Rockets, and if the shows are not available in your area, some are available online. I especially liked:
Al Roker of NBC's The Today Show, hosts Empowering Parents, http://www.readingrockets.org/tv/empower.php a primer for parents whose child is struggling to read. The 30-minute program, the seventh episode of the award-winning PBS series Launching Young Readers, airs on public television stations across the country beginning April 2005. An online version of the program is available from this site, and it can also be downloaded for future use. It also promises a free downloadable parent guide coming soon.
Rita Moreno also has a PBS program (http://www.readingrockets.org/tv/bilingual.php#clips called Becoming Bilingual, also available online and downloadable. Each year, schools across the country welcome large numbers of students who don't speak English. Find out what it takes to teach six-year-olds whose primary language is Spanish, Russian, or Hmong how to read in English.
One last section of this site that I liked was the Spanish/English site for bilingual readers called Colorin Colorado http://www.colorincolorado.org/ . This site has information, activities and advice for Spanish-speaking parents and educators of English language learners.
Summer Reading Tips and Resources: You'll find terrific tips, amazing activities, and important information in our newly updated Summer Reading section. There's even a free webcast from the Center for Summer Learning on what to do to keep kids reading this summer.
This site is part of the PBS TV show Reading Rockets, and if the shows are not available in your area, some are available online. I especially liked:
Al Roker of NBC's The Today Show, hosts Empowering Parents, http://www.readingrockets.org/tv/empower.php a primer for parents whose child is struggling to read. The 30-minute program, the seventh episode of the award-winning PBS series Launching Young Readers, airs on public television stations across the country beginning April 2005. An online version of the program is available from this site, and it can also be downloaded for future use. It also promises a free downloadable parent guide coming soon.
Rita Moreno also has a PBS program (http://www.readingrockets.org/tv/bilingual.php#clips called Becoming Bilingual, also available online and downloadable. Each year, schools across the country welcome large numbers of students who don't speak English. Find out what it takes to teach six-year-olds whose primary language is Spanish, Russian, or Hmong how to read in English.
One last section of this site that I liked was the Spanish/English site for bilingual readers called Colorin Colorado http://www.colorincolorado.org/ . This site has information, activities and advice for Spanish-speaking parents and educators of English language learners.
Reading: Storybooks Online
http://www.magickeys.com/books/ The title is 'Children's Storybooks Online' but some of the stories could work with low reading level adults as well. Some stories are read aloud, and can be read word by word. This is another site that you need to spend some time looking at to determine its best use, but there are some real gems in here. These are complete children's books. In a group setting with an LCD projector, this could be a fun day of reading for a Family Literacy program.
Friday, July 22, 2005
Math Challenges for Families
http://www.figurethis.org/challenges/challenge_index.htm requires an Acrobat PDF reader (free download) From figurethis.org. These are fun challenges for families that can be downloaded and printed. The challenges can be used by families with children at all skill levels. This is also available in Spanish.
Grades 1-6: Houghton Miflin Mathemetics
http://www.eduplace.com/kids/mhm/ Kid's Place Mathematics from Houghton Miflin gives students the choice of a topic: test prep, test quest and brain teasers, and then the correct grade level from 1-6. The brain teasers are word and critical thinking problems, and include directions, questions, hints and a solution. The test prep checks the answers and gives points for initial correct answers and lesser points for subsequent correct answers. Test Quest gives the children strategies for better test taking and then gives examples of the strategy. This is an audio aid (needs shockwave plugin) and is an animated teacher explaining the skills, such as ruling out the wrong answers. The sound and animation are both good, and clearly explain how the strategy works. Even though this is a site that supports the HM texts, it is also good as a stand alone site that can be used for reinforcing skills and self practice.
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