Learnist - similar to Pinterest except for educational content!

Okay are you confused ---- don't worry about it!  Learnist is a new product that lets users take educational content from websites such as YouTube and Wikis and post them to a board. The product is similar to Pinterest.  The site's format, according to its creators, helps prevent against misinformation found on websites yet still gives users access to resources they need. 

Check out the article "Grockit wants to build a Pinterest for Learning" at http://mashable.com/2012/05/23/learnist/.

App that lets teachers know students are confused in class!

Wow ----- it is amazing what some techies can come up with!  A graduate of the University of Toronto has developed a mobile application that enables students to let teachers know when they do not understand the material being presented in class.  The app explained at Understoodit.com and in the article link below, lets students click a red Confused button when they do not get the concepts presented  or the lesson or a green Understood button when they have gotten it.  An anonymous message and a graph is sent immediately to the teacher's computer.  Check out the article here at http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1173277--don-t-get-what-the-prof-s-talking-about-there-s-an-app-for-that and click on Understoodit.com to get to the web page.  Not sure there is a charge, at least check it out.  I would have loved this in Algebra class way back when.....!!!!

FREE WEBINAR on Common Core's Literacy Standards!

Oh yes, our favorite - FREE --- as long as you register!!!!!

Eye on Education is offering a free webinar ---- 5 Things Every Teacher Should Be Doing to Meet the Common Core's Literacy Standards - Tuesday, May 22nd 4:30 pm ET ---- for content area teachers (6-12), literacy coaches, instructional leaders ---- well for anyone interested in learning practical ways to implement the Common Core State Standards!

In this interactive webinar presented by Lauren Davis, who will be provide insight on five things you can be doing with your students right now to meet the standards.  Lauren will offer ideas for teaching more complex texts, guiding students toward higher-level discussions, teaching argument instead of persuasion, creating authentic assignments and more.

So what are you waiting for ---- for more information and to register: http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Online-Resources/Webinars

Oh, did I forget to mention ------ LIMITED Seats Available!

Session 3: Allies Not Foes: School - Family Partnerships Webinar

Okay --- we are already at Session 3 of our Reducing Achievement Gaps by 4th Grade:  The PreK-3rd Approach in Action Series which will take place on Wednesday, May 16th from 3 - 4:30 pm in the SERC Library Community Room.

Session 3 is all about families and the critical roles they can play in closing achievement gaps, but schools often underestimate what it takes to create meaningful partnerships with a wide range of families to improve children's academic, social, and educational progress.  Research--and common sense--tell us that to engage families in their children's learning, educators should be partnering with families as early as possible and sustaining that involvement beyond the first few days or years of school.  To learn more come join us at the webinar!
   
RSVP by email to Cathy Wagner at wagner@ctserc.org  Space is limited so it is important to send your email.  If you would like to participate independently, please register at
http://prek-3rdgradenationalworkgroup.org/node/3

MyVoice app enables speech!

This is awesome!!!!  Two students at the University of Toronto have developed an app which is helping give voice to individuals with disabilities who are nonverbal.  The MyVoice app now has more than 12,000 users worldwide.  The app allows individuals to type sentences that are then relayed using computer-generated speech.  The app also features GPS technology that allows the generation of vocabulary that is unique to a user's location! The app is available through the APP Store and is $189.00 and is designed for iPhone and iPad.

Check out the story:  http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2012/05/04/f-myvoice-speech-aid-disability.html

Happy Exceptional Children's Week!

Please join the SERC Library and CEC as we celebrate Exceptional Children's Week, May 6-12, 2012!

CEC initiated Exceptional Children's Week as a means to educate the public about children with exceptionalities and to garner support for special education.  Since it inception, this week has served to spotlight the capabilities of children and youth with exceptionalities and the programs and people that support them.

For more information visit, www.exceptionalchildrensweek.org

Free Web resources for teaching gifted students

Recently Tamara Fisher, who is a blogger and gifted-education specialist, posted information on Education Week Teacher - Teacher Blog - on more than 100 publicly available LiveBinders ---- these are free tools for compiling and storing documents, videos, links and other resources in the cloud related to gifted education.  Fisher highlighted in her post several that offer useful resources on differentiating instruction for gifted students.

Check out her blog post here http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/unwrapping_the_gifted/2012/04/differentiation_livebinders.html and click on LiveBinders either here or above to check out the LiveBinders listed below:

Differentiation for High Ability Learners
 Leslinks - Differenciation

Identifying Gifted Learners