No Bully - It's Time to Take a Stand

Make sure to tweet the message at the end!

      This Thursday join The BULLY Project and CNN for a day of action against bullying! Set your DVR's for 10pm EST, as CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 will be debuting the hour long special “The BULLY Effect", a chronicle of how BULLY as a raw, powerful documentary helped ignite an inspirational, grassroots anti-bullying social movement over the course of a year.

Last spring, tastemakers around the globe joined together to amplify the message that bullying impacts over 13 million children per year.  That action in partnership with Twitter reached over 232 Million People – making it one of the most effective organic actions ever on Twitter. We must continue building on this momentum to help end bullying and this Thursday, we will do just that with your help.  

Be a part of the conversation by getting on twitter and tweeting the following throughout the day on Thursday: 

I’m standing with @AC360 & @bullymovie by joining the movement to end bullying in our generation! RT now bit.ly/feBbaH #bullyeffect

Healthy Playground Makeover Sweepstakes!

Okay - get ready for this info ---- easy to apply!

Win BIG for Your Child's School Discovery Education and the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation are giving away more than $100,000 in prizes and your child's school could be the next lucky winner of a $30,000 grant and a new playground. As part of the Together Counts™ initiative to promote active, healthy lifestyles at school and at home, we invite you to enter the Healthy Playground Makeover Sweepstakes. Anyone can enter to win on behalf of your child's school, so spread the word to other parents and community members. Enter today and every day until March 15, 2013 for your chance to win. Two Grand Prize Winners will receive a $30,000 grant and a NEW playground from Playworld Systems. One of the Grand Prize Winners will be chosen from a special drawing for Title I Schools. Three Second Prize Winners will receive a $5,000 grant.   eSchool News, 7920 Norfolk Ave Suite 900. Bethesda, MD 20814 Phone: 301-913-0115 . Fax: 301-913-0119 CustServ@eSchoolNews.com You are receiving this eMail newsletter at wagner@ctserc.org as part of a free information service from eSchool News. To unsubscribe please click here http://www.eschoolnews.com/unsubscribe   Well - What are you waiting for!!!!

Okay ---- Another Free Webinar ---- Triggers: Instructional Strategies for Student Understanding!

School Improvement Network is offering a free webinar:

Triggers: Instructional Strategies for Student Understanding
Teaching can be complex, but strategies to ignite powerful student learning do not have to be. We will explore an instructional tool to add to your existing “tool belt” that will guarantee to increase learner understanding, motivation, and engagement

Date:  Thursday, February 28th
Time:  2 pm Eastern

You do need to register!   

Free Webinar - Adopting a Blended Learning Strategy - Tuesday, February 26

FYI - from Blackboard K-12:

Adopting a Blended Learning Strategy

Panelists:  Klista Rader, Joplin Schools; Alex Mwangi, Baltimore City Schools; John Canuel, Blackboard

Date and Time:  Tuesday, February 26, 2013 2:00 pm - Eastern Standard Time or  11:00 am Pacific Standard Time - l hour

Description: 

Blended learning, the teaching practice that combines both face-to-face and online learning, offers a model of instruction to engage students in and out of the classroom. It has proven highly effective in helping schools and districts address the challenges of student achievement, limited resources, and the expectations of 21st century learners. Register for this free webinar to hear from two schools that have effectively implemented blended learning strategies, find out how they have addressed the challenges that come with it, and how it has impacted student and teacher success.

Smithsonian Quests!

You have got to check this out!

The Smithsonian has launched a Quests Program to encourage students to discovery and collaborate.

Through the Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies, they have created the Quests Program a digital badge program designed to foster project-based learning and inspire students to explore their own ideas and interests.  Students can earn digital badges by completing a series of online activities and submit their work for review by Smithsonian education experts.  The quests engage students to explore a topic of interest either as part of a formal standards-aligned curriculum or as a student-driven after school activity. 

Check out the Quests Program website and encourage your students to explore and earn the badges!

Young Scientist Challenge!

Come on there has to be some budding scientists out there in CT!!!!!

Okay all you YOUNG SCIENTISTS:  A chance to win $25,000!!!!!

Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge is OPEN FOR ENTRIES!  They are searching middle schools nationwide to find America's top young scientists who will complete for a chance to win more than $25,000 in cash and prizes.  Students are being asked to create a one or two minute video communicating the science behind a new solution to any everyday problems ----- okay ----- thinking caps on!

Check out www.YoungScientistChallenge.com to find out more info on:

New entry topics and guidelines;
Lessons and interactives to use in the classroom;
A letter to send home to your student's parents (in both Spanish and English)!

I wonder if  one of the topics is removing or disposing of snow??????????

Ten finalists will be given the opportunity to work directly with a 3M scientist during an exclusive summer mentorship and bring their ideas to life! 

Best of luck Young Scientists!!!!!

The SERC Library will be CLOSED!

The Library will be CLOSED on MONDAY, February 11th! 

In addition, we are closed on Tuesday, February 12th for Lincoln's Birthday!

Please also note that we will be closed on Saturday, February 16th and Monday, February 18th for the Presidents' Day Holiday.

The SERC Library will be closed Friday, February 8th and Saturday, February 9th due to the winter storm.  Stay safe and keep warm!



We are also closed next Tuesday, February 12th, Saturday, February 16th and Monday, Febraury 18th for Lincoln and Washington's President's Day holidays.


We are open:

Monday, February 11        8:30 am  - 4:30pm
Wednesday, February 13  8:30 am - 6:30 pm
Thursday, February 14      8:30 am - 6:30 pm
Friday, February 15           8:30 am - 4:30 pm

We hope to see you soon!

Resources for Black History Month

Check out iCONN's page for resources at http://www.cslib.org/iconnsitemap/staff/BlackHistoryMonth.aspx  Resources and links will be available for the month of February.

In addition, check out these resources from Edutopia http://www.edutopia.org/blog/black-history-month-teaching-resources-matthew-davis 

Digital Learning Day - February 6, 2013

Digital Learning Day: A Year-Long National Awareness Campaign

Digital Learning Day represents a set of activities across the United States that occur all year long and will culminate in a national celebration in Washington, DC and on February 6, 2013.   Digital Learning Day celebrates teachers and shines a spotlight on successful instructional practice and effective use of technology in classrooms across the country. The inaugural Digital Learning Day boasted tens of thousands of educators  representing nearly 2 million students.

This year's Digital Learning Day is gaining momentum with ongoing activities, ideas, and collaboration opportunities leading up to February 6, 2013. Join the wave of education champions who seek to engage students, celebrate and empower teachers, and create a healthy learning environment, personalized for every child. Sign up today - Participation is free and easy.

Throughout the Digital Learning Day campaign, the Alliance for Excellent Education seeks to promote the use of technology to support teachers in public schools for grades K-12.  The event focuses on teaching practice, rather than on specific technology tools.

In addition - check out the CT WebJunction Site with information on Digital Learning.