Around the World in 80 Schools

Check out this website on how you can connect with 80 or more schools as you circle the globe with your students.  Learn about different cultures by having your students communicate with other students in different countries.  

Lewis and Clark (and others) Cross this Majestic Land

This is a very good website which is educational and has pictures, timelines and videos (you have to be a registered user). Wow, can you imagine what it was like for that group of people? I would love to walk across America, when it was still untouched by our sinful hands and see all of her breathtaking beauty. All the wondrous colors and smells. All the flora and fauna. Flocks of pigeons so large it would take hours for them all to fly over our heads. The rivers and streams overflowing with fish. Herds of animals thundering by. The Grand Canyon, Yosemite Valley, Mount Shasta, all as of yet "undiscovered".

Are you a 21st Century Teacher or are you Medieval?

Do you surrender yourself to your student's knowledge? Are you an inclusive leader? Find out.

Great Valentine's Day Activities

Need something to do on Friday? Check out these great ideas!

Really Cool Pics

Larry Ferlazzo does it again. Another list of really good websites, this time of pictures. Basically an extensive library of links to the year-end photograph collections of major media outlets, national and worldwide. I like the pictures from the San Francisco Chronicle, which has surreal animal pics and Rueters, with its international touch.

Good Hispanic Heritage Month Websites as recommended by Larry Ferlazzo

The Biography Channel's website is really cool. It has interactive trivia games, bios and a nice history lesson as well. Did you know Hispanic Heritage Month began in 1968 as a week long celebration. In 1988, it was extended to a month. " September 15th was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18." (Courtesy of U.S. Census Bureau) The Smithsonian Website has audio files and concise biographies. The Scholastic Website and the Smithsonian Institute are good for younger ages.

Maintaining a "Good" class!

Essentially, you have to treat your students like human beings. According to Larry Ferlazzo, you have to engage them and make your instruction fun. Which for me is actually the hardest part of teaching. Use stress balls. Take deep breaths when you feel the need to resort to punishments, which I think I need to try. Buy them a book, he recommends Amazon. Ask them how they feel after a successful day. Help them get to know feelings of success. And as always model, model, model.