April 2006
Vol. 2, No. 8

Happy Spring!
 

Paula Whitmer and Leanna Prater are
District Wide Technology Resource Teachers who can help
out with your technology needs.  We hope in this newsletter
you might find some interesting ideas, websites
 and lessons to keep you up to date with technology integration. 

Favorites from
 Riverdeep's Classroom Flyer

  ASSESSMENTS FOR READING AND WRITING:

There are a wide variety of sample reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing, and representing assessments and checklists included here, with techniques on what teachers can look for. Emergent skills are also covered.

Creative Publishing

Check out these how-to's to make circle books, accordion books, book in a box and tons more!

Rubric Labels

Using mailing or address labels, students are required to self-assess their papers and assignments, based on teacher requirements, before turning them in for grading. Using the same rubric labels, teachers will circle the number they feel the student attained; find further directions here.

History Teacher.net
If you are looking for history resources for your class-
room teaching, try the numerous materials collected here.

Techie Tip from Kim Overstreet
 

• Open your Outlook calendar.

• Choose File

• New

• If you choose Appointment that will just be for your calendar. If you choose Meeting Request, you will be able to invite others to attend.

• Enter the date and time and if you want a reminder, be sure to check that box and put the amount of time before the meeting that you want the reminder to happen.

• Enter the people you want to send the meeting request to.  You can choose these the same as you would address an email.  You can even choose a distribution list (like your entire staff).

• In the large space toward the bottom, you can enter a message if you need to explain the meeting (or put in an agenda).

• If it has a recurring time (i.e. First Tues. or every Mon.) click the Recurrence button to enter that information.

• Then click Send.

• For the reminder to show up for others you invite, they will have to open the request when they get it in their email and click the Accept button.  That will add it to their calendar and prompt the reminder when it's time.

  New Favorite

  Voting Buttons in Outlook Email

  You can send an email to other Outlook users that will allow for the recipients to vote by using buttons.  And it will track the results of the votes for you. 

  • Open a message

  • Click on Options (on your toolbar)

  • check the box for Use Voting Buttons

  • Select the buttons they have from the list, or type in your own, separating with a semicolon

  • If you want to save the message in somewhere other than sent messages, change that.  That's where the responses will show up.

  • Then type your message and send the email.

  • Now you can go into sent message (or wherever you saved the message) and when you open your sent message, you will see a tab at the top that says Tracking.  You will see the results as people vote, there.

  This is a quick and easy way to find out if your team wants to meet before school or after school.  Or if they want chocolate or vanilla ice cream at the meeting.  :)

Developed by Fayette County Art Teachers!

Looking for more literature ideas?  Check out our Literature Guide Page.

 

Do you have a student who has written a proficient or distinguished piece of writing worthy of publication?  We are looking for submissions for our spring edition of Fayette County Literary E-zine (online magazine).

DEADLINE IS FRIDAY
APRIL 21st

Questions?  Please contact Leanna Prater
 

Activities to Celebrate Earth Day
The website states, "Education World offers two dozen classroom activities for use across the grades. Help keep Earth Day alive for another generation with these cross-curriculum activities! "

Earth Day Resources from ABC Teach

You'll find certificates, writing prompts, mazes and word searches here!

Earth Day Activities and Ideas from EcoKids

Pyramid Notes (pdf)
Check out this new organizer that focuses on developing main ideas, supporting details and developing details.

Creating a Line Masterpiece
Students will recreate works of art by analyzing their lines.
 

Improv for Kids

The Theatre Book: Drama and Theatre Source Book