Edutopia - August/September 2008 - (Page 23)

HeadofClassJHotStuff FieldTrips Tag School Reading System $275 (4-pack) and up leapfrogschoolhouse.com An easy and entertaining way to jump-start young readers, the Tag School Reading System comes with a pocket-sized combination pen/stylus (it looks like an oversized pen) that interacts with the specially printed words in the Tag stories. Students can follow along individually or as a class, listening to the characters talk and then responding to questions they pose. The reader is connected to the teacher’s computer, allowing for individualized monitoring of progress. August 21 Steps to 21st Century Learning Institute 18–19, Lambertville, New Jersey Eager to begin a one-to-one laptop program in your school? Then get yourself to Jersey for this event, which will show you how to get started. Leadership at Every Level Institute 19–21, Denver Leadership—easy to say, but hard to perform. This three-day workshop features practitioners and case studies to show the hows and whys of building great and sustainable leadership. Grants 101: Professional Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Federal Resources for Education Excellence Free free.ed.gov With budgets so tight, it’s nice to see the feds providing a whole wealth of free (yes, free) and useful material for the classroom. More than 1,500 federally supported teaching and learning resources are packed into this site, ranging in scope from Arctic explorers and data analysis to algebra, geology, exercise, and visual arts. Resources are categorized by sections, with many options to help create learning activities designed to spark invigorating classroom discussions. 20–22, Ann Arbor, Michigan Follow the money with courses in professional grant writing. Now, with educational budgets so tight, securing grants is more important than ever. September Pyramid Response to Intervention Workshop 8–9, Denver 24–25, Seattle How do we educate every student, including the most challenging? That’s the focus of this pair of events, which will help educators create a support system for struggling students. Bridges to Understanding: Teaching That Matters for English Learners Two Million Minutes $25 and up 2mminutes.com An interesting, if somewhat clichéd, look at high schools here and overseas. The film ostensibly compares educational standards in the United States with those in India and China by following high school seniors from each of these countries. The title refers to the amount of time the students spend in high school— a critical period in which to build their intellectual foundation and prepare for college and career. All the standard characters are here: the bubbleheaded American teens, the fretful hard-studying Chinese and Indian youth. And the message is an important one: If we don’t get our act together, educationally speaking, we’re in a world of hurt. Still, it leaves you wanting more. For instance: Where does creativity come from? What propels some students (and populations) to become entrepreneurs, while others lag? Nonetheless, it’s a provocative film sure to start important discussions. 23–25, Los Angeles Connecting with ELL students has become an increasingly critical part of the school day. Come to LA to discover new ﬁeldtested methods of classroom engagement. Council of Urban Boards of Education Annual Conference 25–28, Las Vegas The challenges of connecting urban communities with their schools and students is at the heart of this important event. Just don’t get distracted by the slot machines. The Help Group SUMMIT 2008: Advances and Best Practices in Autism, Learning Disabilities, ADHD 26–27, Los Angeles Educators and parents discuss common questions and share sustainable solutions for students with learning disabilities, ADHD and autism. Also included: info on the latest research in neurodevelopment. October EZ School Supplies Free to register; product prices vary ezschoolsupplies.com It’s a new school year, which means teachers digging into their own pockets to pay for even the most basic classroom accessories. Here’s a way to help: Like donorschoose.org, EZ School Supplies allows teachers to make detailed supply want lists that others in the community can in turn beneficently purchase. The site also offers discounted prices on a number of essential school products. In addition, organizations that enroll with EZSchoolSupplies.com can receive a 10 percent credit of total sales returned in dollars or site credit. Breakthrough Strategies to Teach and Counsel Troubled Youth 9–10, Portland, Oregon If students have a poor attitude or are frequently late or absent, it can seriously affect their academic performance or their desire to stay in school. Learn how to save the kids who are right on the edge of falling off an academic cliff. GO AFIELD Find links to event Web sites at WILLIAM DUKE edutopia.org/events-aug-sept-2008 EDUTOPIA.ORG EDUTOPIA 23 http://leapfrogschoolhouse.com http://free.ed.gov http://2mminutes.com http://ezschoolsupplies.com http://EZSchoolSupplies.com http://edutopia.org/events-aug-sept-2008 http://EDUTOPIA.ORG

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Edutopia - August/September 2008

Edutopia Contents Up Front Feedback Dispatches Sage Advice Ask Ellen Head of Class Cool Schools Design: Building on Disaster What's Next Full-Service Schools In the Trenches Moral Aptitude Serious Gaming Behaveyourself.com Media Is the Message The Way of the Wiki A Match Made in Cyberspace Hail to the New Chief Rise of the Robots Disrupting Class As Others See Us Heart & Soul Pop Quiz: Moby

Edutopia - August/September 2008

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