The Joy of Teaching news

Tech Note

It can be frustrating when you are viewing a web site and have to scroll vertically to see each side of the page. I have tried to revise this page so that it can be seen in one screen, horizontally. However, if you don't see this web page in one screen you might try playing with your screen setting by doing the following:

1. Start

2. Settings

3. Control Panel

4. Display

5. Settings

6. Adjust the screen area

7. Apply to try it out

Integration

Marcia Gross' 3rd grade class @ Arlington completed 4 community maps using Neighborhood Map Machine by Tom Synder. This is an excellent software to use in a one computer classroom to enhance your map skills and community units. Also, consider using this software when studying environmental education as a problem solving lesson for students to determine and demonstrate how a community can be as environmental sound as possible.

Neighborhood Map Machine Lesson Plan (Word 2000)(Right click, save target as to your files)* cancel permission window

NEWSFLASH

Check out the new

Oct. TIPS

to be published Oct. 1.

to find out what's going on in

Fayette County Public Schools

edited & published by Jeff Jones

Be sure to click your refresh button on your internet tool bar to make sure you are getting the most recent information. Check the last date updated at the bottom of the "Joy of Teaching" home page to see if you are getting a recent version.

Literacy First Idea

aEach day assign a student (provide an assignment chart) to use the classroom computer to check for the word of the day. The student reports the word and its meaning and a sentence to the class. A log can be kept of the words using Word. Show students how to minimize screens so be able to type and see the internet site at the same time.

Possible sites to use: Wordsmith Word a Day ** Cool Word of the Day ** Dictionary.com **

New Additions to

"The Joy of Teaching"

Website

Important Date to Remember

Ambrose Schedule

Using Technology to Increase Writing Performance

October 9- 3:45-5:15

Amy Ford and Dayna Lykens

Writing

Integrating technology doesn't always mean you have to be typing on a computer. Try doing a free writing session with your class. Pop in a CD and use the player on the computer to play the music. As students listen they write whatever flows out of their mind. One sentence may not relate to another because mind may wonder as it is listening to the music. This is definitely a prewriting session.

Creating a Pictograph using Excel

by: Kim Overstreet can be found @

http://teach.fcps.net/trt10/Documents/Pictogram.pdf

Sites Recommended by Others

Leanna Prater, TRT- History/Social Studies links for k-12 teachers. This site is large, annotated and imaginative. http://my.execpc.com/~dboals/boals.html

Amy Johns, TRT-You may have seen this before, but I just found a neat program that incorporates geography and writing. Involves writing postcards or sending e-cards to schools around the country and world. It would work well for several classes in one building or a team to do it together. It would be a big endeavor, but could be very cool. Here's the link: http://www.pcg.cyberbee.com/

Newsletter Archive

New Site

J Help your child learn with games, software (most of it free!) and educational activities from Owl & Mouse. This site has software available for preK-K and map study. Download and use for a center for practice.