Teacher Update: How to Maximize Hands-On Learning

[Howard Hartman]

Sign Up for this free e-newsletter.
Republishing of Teacher Update e-newsletter and access to articles courtesy of edweek.org

	September 3, 2009
New Blog! TOP Road Diaries: Teacher of the Year We are pleased to welcome National Teacher of the Year Anthony Mullen as our newest Teacher blogger. Mr. Mullen, a former New York City police officer, is a special education teacher at an alternative high school in Connecticut. As Teacher of the Year, he will travel the country, speaking to educators and reformers about what he sees as the greatest problem in American education: this country’s high dropout rate. In his first entry, he tells the story of his meeting with President Obama. See all Teacher blogs. Top Stories TOP Get these and other stories at: www.teachermagazine.org. (Note: Links to AP stories expire in 30 days.) Teacher Leaders Network + Teaching Secrets: How to Maximize Hands-On Learning Anthony Cody offers advice on managing hands-on learning projects at the start of the school year. + What Teachers Need to Know About Race to the Top A multi-billion dollar grant progam for states centers around changes affecting the teaching profession. + Top-Notch Teachers Found to Affect Peers A new study’s findings have implications for how schools are staffed and educators are paid, researchers say. (Education Week) + N.Y.C. Schools to Offer Free Swine Flu Vaccinations The nation’s largest school district will offer free swine flu vaccinations to more than one million students this fall. • Related Story: Schools Urged to Prepare for Swine Flu (AP) + Teachers Furloughed To Save School Money Teachers, once among the groups exempted from furlough days, are being forced to take unpaid days off amid massive state budget cuts. • Related Story: Recession Woes Cast Pall as Schools Open (AP) + Ind. Teachers’ Union Insurance Fund Files Lawsuit The lawsuit from the union’s insurance fund alleges that former officials and financial advisers mismanaged a long-term disability trust. (AP) Interview + Lighting Fires With Rafe Esquith Renowned educator Rafe Esquith discusses his latest book and his philosophy on helping students thrive. + Homework: The Necessary Evil With school starting, concerns about the value and purpose of student homework are renewed. (AP) Upcoming Chat TOP Emerging Mobile Technologies for K-12 Classrooms Thursday, September 3, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Eastern time Because of their low cost and ubiquity, an increasing number of educators are considering the use of mobile devices, such as cellphones, netbooks, GPS systems, digital recorders, and MP3 players, in the classroom. When harnessed properly, supporters say, these devices can open up new educational opportunities for students. But some critics feel such devices are more of a distraction or annoyance than a learning tool. Our guests will discuss which mobile technologies are best for the classroom, when they should or should not be used, and which emerging mobile technologies will have a significant impact on K-12 education. Sign up now for an e-mail reminder. Teacher Blogs TOP Blogboard Teacher's look at what's new and noteworthy in educator blogs. Recently: Back-to-School Blues, Ice-Breakers, Classroom as Entertainment?, and more. Living in Dialogue The Attorney General in Calif. blasts the Education Department’s proposed Race to the Top guidelines, saying they favor “top down, Washington driven standardization. …” The Book Whisperer Donalyn Miller pays tribute to Reading Rainbow, the 26-year-old PBS reading program that aired its final episode last Friday. Teaching Generation Tech Teacher Katie Hanifin has taken a job instructional designer on a video game for learning. But what does that mean? A Place at the Table Susan Graham wonders whether the government's plan for addressing the H1N1 influenza this fall aligns with the reality of what schools can do. Unwrapping the Gifted? Tamara Fisher wonders if the Response to Intervention model overlooks the needs of gifted students in favor of those who struggle academically. Education Week's Spotlight Series TOP Spotlight on Charter School Leadership Charter schools depend on a range of factors for success. One critical element for many is effective leadership. This “Spotlight” examines the ways schools cultivate new leaders and the many strengths and skills those leaders must draw upon. Check it out now. View the complete collection of Education Week’s Spotlights here. Professional Development Resources TOP Advance Your Practice Looking for professional development ideas and activities for the new school year? Browse the Teacher Professional Development Sourcebook's exclusive resource directory. Check out listings in English/Reading, Differentiated Instruction, Effective Teaching Strategies, At-Risk Students and more. Providers: Update or submit your listings now for inclusion in the fall issue of the Teacher Professional Development Sourcebook. Education Week Leadership Forums TOP Smart Ed-Tech Strategies For Tough Times http://www.edweekevents.org September 17, 2009: Chicago, Illinois September 25, 2009: Jersey City, New Jersey Mark your calendar and join us at this one-day Education Week Leadership Forum to learn about the ed-tech strategies that will make a difference to your district RIGHT NOW. Click below for the full agenda: http://www.edweekevents.org/agenda Bring a colleague to lock in extra savings. Register two or more people and EACH of you will save $50 off the already low registration rate! http://www.edweekevents.org/register	Advertisement Web Watch TOP Our Web Watch feature is now a daily blog! Get the latest and most provocative education news for teachers. Comments welcome. Ramping up New-Teacher Support A training program in Mass. aims to give new teachers more hands-on support during their first year. Reading to the Test? Parents in Durham, N.C., worry that a new, district-wide reading curriculum may dampen kids' enthusiasm for books. Advertisement View All Top School Jobs + Special Education Teachers, Hawaii Department of Education, HI + Literacy Education, Assistant Professor, Tenure Track, Teachers College, Columbia University, NY + Reading Specialist, Center City Public Charter Schools, Inc., Washington, DC + Certified Math, Science, & Special Education Teachers, Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, Los Angeles, CA + Middle School Teachers: Math, Science, Art & Spanish,, Consortium of Catholic Academies, Washington, DC + Faculty, Educational Administration,, University of Washington Tacoma, Tacoma, WA Advertisement Reader Poll TOP Swine Flu Preparation Do you feel your school is prepared to handle the swine flu? Add your vote to our online poll. See the results of previous polls. Advertisement Education Week Events Emerging Mobile Technologies for K-12 Classrooms Chat Sept. 03, 11:00 a.m. Eastern Sign up for e-mail reminder. Smart Ed-Tech Strategies for Tough Times Live Event Sept. 17, 8:30 a.m. Eastern Chicago, IL Register now. Smart Ed-Tech Strategies for Tough Times Live Event Sept. 25, 8:30 a.m. Eastern Jersey City, NJ Register now. Advertisement K-12 Industry Solutions White Papers Credit Recovery: Exploring Answers to a National Priority  Blackboard Creating a Visual Learning Environment Using 21st Century Die-Cutters Varitronics Smart Options: Investing the Recovery Funds for Student Success  Coalition for Student Achievement
[Education Week] [Teacher Magazine] [Digital Directions] [Research Center] [TopSchoolJobs]
This free e-newsletter is a service of Editorial Projects in Education, Inc., 6935 Arlington Road, Suite 100, Bethesda, MD 20814. EPE is the publisher of Education Week, Digital Directions, Teacher Professional Development Sourcebook, edweek.org, teachermagazine.org, DigitalDirections.org and TopSchoolJobs.org. Copyright © 2008 Editorial Projects in Education.