Technology Tidbits Newsletter From your TRT Leanna Prater

September 2005 Vol. 2 No. 1		Welcome back to a great school year! 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.
Do you want to be on the cutting edge of technology integration? Intel’s Teach to the Future program combines online Thinking Tools with standards based instructional units. Come and learn how to use the tools and develop a unit to use with your class. The program consists of 24 hours of PD spread over several weeks; including job embedded, whole group and independent study time. Space is limited to 30 participants. To register, e-mail Paula Whitmer or Leanna Prater . .	Hurricane Katrina Resources and Service Projects from Riverdeep's Classroom Flyer Time for Kids Time for Kids offers news updates and reports on the dis- asters brought by Hurricane Katrina, including how hurri- canes form, stories on Katrina, the aftermath, and how to help We've Got Your Back Service Project- Collect Backpacks filled with school supplies FEMA for KIDS-Hurricanes A curriculum resource from FEMA for elementary students, this site offers explorations on the history of hurri- canes, how to track a hurricane, major disasters, hur- ricane disaster math, intensity scales, videos, photos, and protection tips Printable Book for Kids on Hurricanes (PDF file) Hurricane facts
	AlphaSmarts and Success With Keyboarding Are you a third grade teacher? Are you a teacher who would like for their students to brush up on keyboarding skills? Success with Keyboarding is a great instructional tool that helps students learn how to touch type. Paula or Leanna can come and model the first lesson for you! AlphaSmarts are available for checkout on a first come, first serve basis. E-mail Leanna Prater to reserve some for your class.
Interested in communicating with other schools in Lexington, within the state, US or even internationally? Forums are a great communication tool and easy to use. Leanna will be more than happy to set them up for you and has several ideas for using them within your own classroom. Kids of all ages love them and e-communication is quickly becoming a life skill.	More Back To School Helpful Sites: Seating Chart template for PowerPoint 2003 Classroom Rules template for PowerPoint 2003 Literature Guides: The Best School Year Ever by Barbara Robinson Literature Activities from Nancy Polette Mini Quiz Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Study Guide from Glencoe Website with questions and activities Cross Curricular Activities View all Literature Guides
	Arts and Humanities Links Timeline of Art History According to the website: The Timeline of Art History is a chronological, geographical, and thematic exploration of the history of art from around the world, as illustrated especially by the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. The Museum's curatorial, conservation, and education staff—the largest team of art experts anywhere in the world—research and write the Timeline, which is an invaluable reference and research tool for students, educators, scholars, and anyone interested in the study of art history and related subjects. First launched in 2000, the Timeline now extends from prehistory to the present day. The Timeline will continue to expand in scope and depth, and also reflect the most up–to–date scholarship.
Techie Tips from Kim Overstreet
Old Favorite How to add an auto signature to every email that you write (see mine below for an example). Many times I have received an email from a teacher asking for help and, without digging, I don't know where that teacher is located. Sharing your contact information can be as easy as adding it to every outgoing email, and you only have to set it up once. Open Outlook Choose Tools Then Options Select the Mail Format tab at the top of the window. Click the Signatures button at the bottom Choose New Enter a name for the signature Click Next Type in the signature that you want to show up in your email Then Finish, OK and OK again. You might want to send yourself an email as a practice run to see if it shows up and looks the way you want it to. You can always go back in and edit it.	New Favorite (for those who want to move beyond the basics) How to hide Outlook when it's minimized so that it's still running, but not cluttering up your task bar I came across this one on accident when I updated my Outlook to 2003 last year and at first it was a nuisance, but now I can't live without it. If you are a multi-tasker and want your task bar to be less cluttered, there is a way that you can hide Outlook even when it's still opened. You will still see the little pop-up notifications of new email from the system tray (if you have it set to do that) and your email will still be open, just running behind the scenes. All you do is simply: Open Outlook Right click the Outlook icon in the system tray (lower right hand corner where the clock is) Choose Hide When Minimized Now you should have a neater task bar! :)
Take lots of digital pictures throughout the year. You can use them for sorting in centers, power points, and even a class digital story about the school year. They make wonderful writing prompts as well. Need help with how to use your school's digital camera? Drop us an e-mail and we will be happy to show you and/or your students.