Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day!  This is the day to celebrate American workers!  So ..... enjoy some casual reading about the day and some links to fun facts and activities!  Enjoy the day!

Check out the U.S. Department of Labor's web site for history and additional information.










Check out the History Channel site for yes, more history and information!

10 Labor Day Facts from Forbes.

Labor Day History:  11 facts you need to know
 

 

 

 

Free Math Apps for Middle School Students!

Okay ----- just in time for the start of school ------

Check out these two free math apps ---- yes FREE ---- you know how we like FREE!

MayaNumbers - a brief historical explanation of how the Mayan people used

math is given and players will use tap, swipe and tap-and-hold gestures to add dots, dashes, and shells to represent 1, 5, and 0.  These three numbers were used by the Mayans for addition and a form of multiplication.  The Mayans used a base-20 system for counting instead of the standard base-10 we use today.  Check out the app to learn math like the Mayans!

Buzz Math - is a free app that offers 3,000+ problems aligned to the Common Core for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students.   The app offers teachers a way to provide their students with practice that builds their conceptual understanding of mathematics.  There is a premium version for teachers for a fee. 

Free Webinar from Education Week - August 21, 2013 2 pm to 3 pm ET

A Steep Climb: One Classroom’s Journey Into the Common-Core English/Language Arts Standards How school districts move the Common Core State Standards from the central office into classrooms can make or break the undertaking. Education Week spent six months reporting on how the District of Columbia’s vision of the common-core English/language arts standards is being put into practice in one 8th grade classroom at Stuart-Hobson Middle School on Capitol Hill.   In the first three parts of the series, Catherine Gewertz explored the instructional resources the district has developed for its unusually aggressive and comprehensive implementation of the common core. She watched as its messages—and its hopes—trickled down to one school, through the district’s instructional coach, to the administrators, the 8th grade English/language arts teacher, and to students. Two of the people she followed for this series—the classroom teacher and the district’s chief of teaching and learning—join her for this webinar to share the work of translating the common core into reality. Guests: Brian Pick, chief of the teaching and learning office, District of Columbia Public Schools Dowan McNair-Lee, 8th grade English/language arts teacher and department chair, Stuart-Hobson Middle School, District of Columbia This webinar will be moderated by Catherine Gewertz, series author and lead common-core reporter, Education Week.   Underwriting for the content for this webinar has been provided by the GE Foundation. Register now for this free live webinar.

Webinar Date: Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2 to 3 p.m. ET Can't attend? All Education Week webinars are archived and accessible "on demand" for up to four months after the original live-streaming date.

Free webinar - Equipping English Learners to Access Common Core Mathematics

ASCD is offering a free webinar:  Equipping English Learners to Access Common Core
Mathematics, on Wednesday, August 14the at 3 p.m. EDT. 

You do have REGISTER for this webinar!

Presenters are Maria Montalvo-Balbed and Denise Huddlestun.

The Common Core State Standards present both challenges and opportunities for English language learners (ELLs) to become active participants in the mathematics classroom.

The Standards for Mathematical Practice focus on active engagement that allows students to become mathematically proficient through a variety of language-rich experiences. For ELLs, those demands require teachers to understand the linguisticdemands of academic language and Common Core mathematics.

Through this webinar, participants will be able to understand the language demands of Common Core mathematics by engaging in a mathematical task, identifying the language demands of the task, and determining literacy practices to equip ELLS to successfully complete the task.

JAM World Record 2013

Are you ready to JAM?  The SERC Library participated last year and had great time doing so!  SO we CHALLENGE YOU to sign up and JAM with us!  Let's get this WORLD RECORD!

Check out the JAM World Record 2013 site!

 

SAVE THE DATE and SIGN UP NOW

September 26

10:00 A.M.

your local time

wherever you are

A Campaign to Motivate EVERYONE to be Active Every Day

 

2nd Annual - Record to break: 1,302,187

We are gearing up for JAM World Record 2013 and are excited to have the Alliance for a Healthier Generation* teaming up with us.  Sign Up Now.  Registration is open.  Sign up your group. Mark Your Calendars. Save the date and start planning how you can make your participation memorable for the people who you influence. Keep Checking the Site.  You will find flyers (both English and Spanish) you can use to promote, a media piece you can use to attract local coverage like so many did last year, and a new video with athletes and celebrities. Win Cash.  Lead Your State and Our Nation.  We need state leaders to rally their states.  The top three states earn cash and the winning state can host a recognition ceremony.  Reply to this email or Click Here.         Spread the JAM.  Pass this email to everyone you know.   Thank you for leadership in a campaign that brings people from everywhere together to create social change!  Sincerely, Patti Howell  JAM School Program

 

* About the Alliance for a Healthier Generation  The Alliance for a Healthier Generation works to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity and to empower kids to develop lifelong, healthy habits. The Alliance works with more than 17,000 schools to increase access to healthier foods and physical activity for students and staff. Learn more: Click Here.

Caine's Arcade and the Cardboard Challenge!

About Caine's Arcade:

9-year-old Caine Monroy spent his summer vacation building an elaborate DIY cardboard arcade inside his dad’s used auto parts store, and asked people to play. The entire summer went by, and Caine had yet to have a single customer, until one day, a filmmaker named Nirvan Mullick stopped to buy a door handle. What happened next inspired this movie, and launched a movement to foster imagination and creativity in kids everywhere.  Check out Caine's Arcade.

Check out the Cardboard Challenge and the Imagination Foundation that started as a result of Caine's Arcade movie by Nirvan Mullick.

The Global Cardboard Challenge
Inviting the world to play.
Our first Global Cardboard Challenge took place on October 6th, 2012 (the 1 year anniversary of the flashmob that made Caine’s day), with over 270 Events in 41 countries, celebrating creativity and community around the world, while raising funds for various causes. Our next Global Cardboard Challenge will be October 5th, 2013. Start planning now! Visit the Imagination Foundation at www.imagination.is and sign up to the mailing list for updates.