Summertime

I recently read this article from Parade where Mitch Albom urges us to let our kids be kids for the summer - less structure, more face-to-face contact, and just plain having fun.  The stress of a school year is enough to last for nine months but the summer should be carefree.

Mitch suggests:

The way kids work during the academic year—honestly, you’d think homework was a full-time job—a mental break may be needed. These are young minds, young bodies. Replenishing the juices by kicking back is not a bad idea. And if not in childhood, then when?

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “If we don’t enroll our kids in an activity, all they’ll do is text. Or watch TV (and text) or talk on the phone (and text).

Well, you could prevent that. You could take away the cell phone, the iPod, the Nintendo. Then see if you can get your kid to do four things in a day:

1.  Have a face-to-face conversation with a friend.
2.  Read something.
3.  Build something.
4.  Get wet. A pool. A hose. A sprinkler. Whatever.

Something to consider  . . .

Get Something for Nothing (ASCD resource)

ASCD put out a list of free educational resources that teachers might want to explore during summer break.  Use the article link (above) to access the full article or browse a couple of the resources listed here:

Free Resources for Educational Excellence - http://free.ed.gov
K-12 resources listed at this site are categorized both by subject (Arts & Music, Language Arts, Math, etc.)  and by media type (animations, primary documents, photos, and videos).  A search box allows users to enter their own keywords for finding resources.  When accessing a new categorized resource such as this, it might be helpful to begin by choosing a category and drilling down to see how information is organized and the types of results within each category.

For example, starting with Arts and Music, a user can drill down to Visual Arts, then to Photography to find 34 resources.  Four resources are featured and all 34 resources can be displayed.  One of the topics is Mathew Brady Portraits, which is cross referenced in U.S. History Topics and U.S. Time Periods.  Users are directed to the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and Mathew Brady's Portraits.

Take some time to browse the collections to find quality resources for your students.

Thinkfinity - http://www.thinkfinity.org/
Here is another high quality site where educators can find free lesson plans and educational resources aligned to state standards, provided by partners with expertise in each content areas.  Content partners include National Geographic, Science NetLinks, EconEdLink, ReadWriteThink, LiteracyNetwork, ArtsEdge, Smithsonian's History Explorer, Illuminations (Math), EdSitement and Wonderopolis.  Resources can also provide parents and students with access to educational content in the At Home & AfterSchool area.  Summer might be the time to begin organizing resources to integrate into key lessons for the upcoming school year.  Take some time to explore Thinkfinity this summer!

These two resources could keep educators busy during the summer collecting valuable resources to share with students.  If you are interested in more information like this, click the article link to read the entire ASCD article and access to additional resources.

Summer Goals

Summer is almost here in our district.  Seniors are attending for their last day today and all students are wiggling in their seats anticipating the last day before their release to summer time activities.  As an educator, many of us look forward to a more relaxed pace of life in the summer.  Yet, as professionals we are always seeking to learn more about our students, the process of learning, technology and other relevant educational topics.

The following resources provide me with a "go to" list for summer.  I hope others can use it for their personal goals as well.

• Teacher Reboot Camp offers What Will You Learn This Summer?  26 Professional Development Resources.  Here teachers can choose from free programs, live events (including webinars and online presentations), and free online classes.  
• If you are a teacher interested in blogging, check out Kick Start Your Blogging at the Teacher Challenge site.   Check out the Free Tools Challenge at this site where you can learn more about Web 2.0 tools including Wordle, Glogster, VoiceThread and more for a total of 26 tools.  Currently these challenges are on the left sidebar of the site.
• Edublogger offers Our trips for getting blogs ready for the end of the school year.  If you are new to blogs, this discussion may provide some information about how blogs are used not only during the school year but over the summer, too.
• Edutopia is full of rich resources including blogs, polls, group discussions, videos, articles and connections to other educators.  Topics cover more than educational technology including project-based learning, social and emotional learning, assessment, classroom management, STEM, and the arts.  Here is a direct link to the Summer Professional Development Blog Series.
• If you are curious about all of the talk of iPad use in the classroom, you might enjoy 58 Ways to use an iPad in the Classroom by Tom Barrett - a Google presentation.  The number '58' is a moving target.  I've seen this presentation move from 53 to 56 to 58 in a matter of months.  This presentation offers two things - an overview of iPad use and a nice demonstration of Google presentation.

I will continue to add a few more resources as they come across my desk.  Enjoy your summer and have fun learning within your chosen topic.

Summer Tech Academy Plan

Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau Instructional Technology
Summer Academy 2008

Who: Registration is open to all Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau teachers, paraprofessionals and staff members

When:
Tuesday, August 5
12:15 – 12:30 Welcome
12:30 - 2:00 Block A Classes
2:15 – 3:45 Block B Classes

Thursday August 7
12:15 – 12:30 Welcome
12:30 - 2:00 Block C Classes
2:15 - 3:45 Block D Classes

Where: High School Library computer labs and Galesville Elementary computer labs

Goals:
G-E-T IT classes align with:
Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau District Goal:
Provide sufficient personnel training and materials to maximize the learning environment and achievement of all students.

District Information and Technology Vision:
It is the vision of the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau School District that the community of students, staff and citizens will become life-long learners through the integrated use of information and technology resources as learning tools. Our school district will provide the necessary tools and resources to be effective in developing 21st century skills.

District Information Media and Technology Combined Plan Goal:
Goal 2: Provide leadership and establish resources for research-based practices to assist educators in improving units of study that integrate Wisconsin Model Academic Standards for Information & Technology Literacy and align to 21st Century Skills.

Wisconsin Teacher Standards:
Standard 4: Teachers know how to teach.
The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies, including the use of technology, to encourage children's development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills.
Standard 6: Teachers communicate well.
The teacher uses effective verbal and nonverbal communication techniques as well as instructional media and technology to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom.
Standard 10: Teachers are connected with other teachers and the community.
The teacher fosters relationships with school colleagues, parents, and agencies in the larger community to support pupil learning and well being and acts with integrity, fairness and in an ethical manner.

A $50 stipend will be paid for each afternoon attended. Staff members attending a summer tech academy class will be asked to share information with colleagues at a future staff meeting.

Summer Tech Academy Planned Schedule

Day One - August 5
Intro to Leopard (the new cat in town) - 2 sessions
iLife - Multimedia Dreamland
iWork - Pages, Keynote, and Numbers
SmartBoard Classroom Applications
KidPix projects for Elementary students
Podcasting with GarageBand and iTunes
Collaboration using Google Docs
Blogging in the Classroom
LoTI – Self-Assessment for Level of Technology Integration

Day 2 - August 7
iLife - Multimedia Dreamland
iWork - Pages, Keynote, and Numbers
KidPix projects for Elementary students
Podcasting with GarageBand and iTunes
What I Forgot Over the Summer
PowerSchool Premier Overview