http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog Engage ~ Equip ~ Enable ~ Encourage Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:46:36 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Being a writer can be an enlightening, wonderful experience when you’re creating work that you love, but it can also be incredibly frustrating when you get writer’s block or are struggling to find inspiration. There are plenty of places on the web, however, where you can find inspiration and instruction ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1428 In today's economy one might think educators cannot participate in a national conference or learn from well known speakers or teachers from across the county, however, with today's technology, we can! NECC, the National Educator's Computer Conference, (now ITSE Conference) used the technology of today to make many of their ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1376 Schlecty says that students should be authentically engaged in learning something that is valued by society. According to many, our students do not know enough about the geography of the world. Using GPS in education is engaging and students learn about mapping and geography along with problem solving skills. This ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1369 This interactive tour of NASA’s first five decades of exploration features virtual pavilions, clickable models and exhibits, video galleries, astronauts, presidents and a robot guide named Automa. Click Here to Visit Web Site http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1343 Students in both art classes and computer or Web-design classes will love the Museum of Web Art devoted to the finest artistic elements of Web design, counters, buttons and more. For graphic art students, this is an incredible resource with many galleries and exhibits. Check out the Kids Gallery for students ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1341 Integrate Technology into Your Instruction From the U.S. Department of Education, InTime (Integrating New Technologies Into the Methods of Education) offers 400 video vignettes of preK–12 teachers using technology in language arts, math, science and other instruction. A conceptual model for analyzing the use of technology in instruction is among the ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1308 Participate in Authentic Scientific Research NASA and Arizona State University’s Mars Education Program is offering students nationwide the opportunity to be involved in authentic Mars research by participating in the Mars Student Imaging Project (MSIP). Teams of students in grades 5–12 will work with scientists, mission planners and educators at Arizona ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1306 Find Your State’s Stimulus Funding and Allocations Learning Point Associates’ Education Recovery and Reinvestment Center offers the most current information available on recovery funds and resources related to issues arising from the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), including a helpful side-by-side guide to the education funds available to your state ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1303 Flatten Your Classroom in Meaningful Ways Flattening your classrooms is about introducing your students to the world in safe, meaningful ways that will enrich and augment the things that are already working in your school. Seven Steps to Flatten Your Classroom is a free ebook based on an Atomic Learning workshop ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1301 Save Planet Earth At Green Education Network, K–16 teachers, students and parents will find a comprehensive and easy-to-use aggregation of Save Planet Earth curriculum-related information, lesson plans, activities, projects, contests—and inspiration. It’s all at your fingertips using the keyword search box or the topics list on the left-hand side of the ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1299 Experience Moments in American History American Journeys contains more than 18,000 pages of eyewitness accounts of North American exploration, from the sagas of Vikings in Canada in 1000 CE to the diaries of mountain men in the Rockies 800 years later. Read the words of explorers, Indians, missionaries, traders and settlers ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1297 Doodle or Animate DoInk is a free online drawing and animation tool that runs right in your browser. You can use it to do just a quick doodle, or you can take advantage of its layer cloning and vector-based designs to create relatively advanced animations. When done with any creation, you ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1295 Create an Interactive Timeline Using a spreadsheet to create a timeline allows students to fill in cells to designate time periods. Text can be entered sideways to mark the events being represented. Students can enter text inside a drawing, or they can add drawings. This Web site gives step-by-step instructions on ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1293 Help Autistic Children Understand Emotions Need help teaching an autistic child struggling to understand emotions like excited and scared? There’s a game for that—and one that will put that child’s face, voice and favorite colors into the game. A customizable, online autism library with tools like the emotion game is one ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1289 Explore Crisis Communication Tools Everything from natural disasters and catastrophic events to traffic jams and school closings have rendered mass notification systems vital for our health and safety. CDW-G’s Mass Notification Toolkit can help you streamline crisis communication by minimizing uncertainties and preventing missteps as you plan, implement and improve your ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1287 Give Voice to What Matters As graduation day approaches, What Kids Can Do (WKCD) invites students to raise their voice and let others know what matters most to them in this moment and in the years ahead. This year’s theme is Crisis and Hope in These Trying Times. Each of the ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1284 Exchange Tips on Technology eInstructionTM and its partner, Knowledge Delivery Systems (KDS), have announced the Content Meets Technology Sweepstakes. To enter, simply describe the online resources you use that contribute to success in the classroom. Then your name, school, grade and entry will appear on a Google Map of the world ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1282 Soar with Books US Airways has joined with Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) for a second year to celebrate the wonder of reading through the Fly with US. Read with Kids.® campaign, which features the online Read with Kids Challenge and supports RIF programs serving children across the nation. The 2008 Read ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1280 Upgrade Technology in Your Classroom Through its Focus on Learning Grant Program, Samsung Techwin America’s Electronic Imaging Division is offering 50 Samsung 850DX document cameras to K–12 teachers based on need. Any K–12 teacher in a United States school is eligible to apply. Deadline: June 15, 2009 Click Here for More Information http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1278 Foster an Early Love of Reading Target Early Childhood Reading Grants support programs such as weekend book clubs and after-school reading programs that foster a love of reading and encourage children, from birth through age nine, to read together with their families. Most grants average between $1,000 and $3,000. Deadline: May 31, ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1276 Make the Arts Accessible to Children Target funds arts programs that bring the arts to schools or make it affordable for youth to participate in cultural experiences, such as school touring programs, field trips to the theater or symphony, or artists residencies and workshops in schools. Most grants average between $1,000 ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1274 Connect Science to Everyday Life Discovery Education and 3M are calling for entries for the 2009 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. Underlining the importance of communication skills in the science field, the competition challenges U.S. middle school students (grades 5–8) to create a one- to two-minute video about a specific ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1257 Study Game Design In 2007 the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) Foundation established a scholarship program to assist women and minority students who are pursuing degrees leading to careers in Computer & Video Game Arts. This year the foundation has extended this opportunity to graduating high school seniors, doubling the amount of ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1255 Expand ESL Students’ World of Learning The Rosetta Stone Communicate and Connect Scholarship invites high school seniors who have learned English as a second language to write about discovering the world of possibilities that learning the English language opened up to them. Sample essay topics include how learning English enabled excellence ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1253 Integrate Podcasting into the Curriculum K–12 and special education schools in the United States are eligible to apply for the Tool Factory Podcasting Grant. To apply, teachers must develop a lesson plan that demonstrates how they would use podcasting in their curriculum. Grant submissions will be judged by their effective integration ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1249 Encourage Defensive Driving Driver’s Edge empowers young drivers through a combination of classroom discussions and behind-the-wheel defensive driving instruction to erase the “Fast and the Furious” video-game mentality that many of today’s young drivers have and that has skyrocketed automobile fatalities. The program is free for students between the ages of ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1247 Web Wise Kids is partnering with Ask.com and NASCAR in a new, youth-focused Internet safety program called Ask.com Safe Search Schools. The aim of the program is to recognize elementary schools that are teaching Internet safety. The Ask.com Safe Search Schools program is presenting schools that demonstrate an exemplary focus ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1245 Lure Students into Mathematical Thinking Lure of the Labyrinth is a digital game for middle school pre-algebra students. It includes a wealth of intriguing math-based puzzles wrapped into an exciting narrative game in which students work to find their lost pet—and save the world from monsters! Linked to both national and ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1242 Investigate a Pivotal Period in American History From 1861–1865, Americans battled over preserving their Union and ending slavery. The Civil War is the focus of this section of The Price of Freedom: Americans at War, an online exhibition from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. This pivotal and complicated period ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1239 Reflect on 21st Century Literacies Inspired by an educational theory developed in the 20th century by social constructivist Lev Vygotsky, Blog of Proximal Development might sound a tad stiff and academic. Don’t let the name fool you. Written by Canadian teacher Konrad Glogowski, this blog is accessible, insightful and conversational. Concentrating ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1237 Experience the Achievements of Nobel Laureates Your students don’t have to be geniuses to understand the work of the Nobel Laureates. These games and simulations, based on Nobel Prize-awarded achievements, will teach and inspire students, particularly those aged 14–18, while they’re having fun! Students, teachers and nonprofessionals of all ages will ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1235 Explore the Building Blocks of Visual Composition The Artist’s Toolkit: Visual Elements and Principles is an online interactive that allows students to explore the tools that artists use—for example, line, color and balance—to build works of art. In See Artists in Action, students can watch two professional artists using the visual ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1233 Go on an Education Adventure Discovery Education is inviting teachers and students to join them on Discovery Student Adventures, a series of educational and inspirational trips uniquely tailored to bring the world to life. Whether spending the night in a snow cave in New Zealand, camping among ancient Inca ruins ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1166 Take Science Out of the Classroom This summer, Science AdventuresTM summer camps are introducing an innovative new program lineup to inspire a love of science and the environment. Science Adventures programs’ newest camp, Powerful Planet, offers fun and exciting lessons that teach the importance of energy efficiency and the need to ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1164 Rock Around the World Mars scientists are asking students from around the world to help them understand the red planet. Send in a rock collected by you or your students from your region of the world, and the Mars scientists will use a special tool, like the one on the rover, ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1161 Raise Awareness of Rules for Digital Properties Your students interact with music, movies, software and other digital content daily. Do they understand the rules surrounding the appropriate use of these digital properties, and why these issues are relevant? The Digital Citizenship and Creative Content curriculum is a turnkey instructional program made ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1159 Expose Students to Dickens’ Masterpieces No one does Dickens like PBS’s MASTERPIECE, which has been airing lavish, magnificently acted works by Dickens for most of the four-decade history of the series. And no one offers teachers and reading groups better resources than MASTERPIECE—all free of charge and available online. The latest ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1156 Enhance Lessons with Multicultural Content Created in partnership with Kansas State University (KSU), the Negro Leagues Baseball eMuseum features lesson plans and other materials, including photographs and videos, for secondary social studies teachers. The resources are intended to help teachers motivate students, through subjects like baseball, and enhance multicultural content for ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1153 Celebrate National Poetry Month Beginning April 1, Poets.org will send one new poem to your inbox each day to celebrate National Poetry Month. The poems have been selected from new books published in the spring. To receive Poem-A-Day emails, simply enter your email address in the online form at The Academy ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1150 Develop 21st Century Skills The ThinkQuest Narrative Competition 2009, sponsored by the Oracle Education Foundation (OEF), is open to teams of students aged 9–19. The competition is designed to engage students in developing important 21st century skills, such as communication, creativity, teamwork and technology skills. Teams are invited to use OEF’s ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1147 Predict Technology’s Impact on Learning Seven high school students have the opportunity to earn $1,000 scholarships from Samsung Techwin America. The Thinking Ahead high school student scholarship program requires students to submit an essay of 500 words or less, telling about an advance in technology and how it will change learning ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1145 Win a 21st Century Classroom CDW Government, Inc. (CDW-G) and Discovery Education have announced the seventh annual “Win a Wireless Lab” sweepstakes. The program gives K–12 schools nationwide the opportunity to win a 21st-century classroom, complete with tablet or notebook computers, wireless cart, interactive whiteboard, student response system, projector, printer and ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1143 Renew Support for Science Education The American Honda Foundation (AHF) makes grants to K–12 schools, colleges, universities, trade schools and other youth-focused nonprofit organizations for programs that benefit youth and scientific education. Because the current economic crisis has dramatically impacted the nation’s nonprofits, AHF has modified its grant proposal range from ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1110 Get a LEG Up on Funding The LEGO Children’s Fund provides grants to organizations for collaborative programs involving early childhood education, technology and communication projects that advance learning opportunities or athletic programs that concentrate on underserved youth. There are no restrictions on grant amounts up to the quarterly allocation. Typical awards, ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1107 Design a Music Project The Music Is Revolution Foundation offers minigrants of up to $500 for activities designed by teachers to implement, support and/or improve their ability to provide quality music education for their students. Applicants are encouraged to include activities that expose students to genres and styles of music not ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1105 Get Girls into Technology Development Microsoft’s DigiGirlz High Tech Camp works to dispel stereotypes of the high-tech industry and gives girls in grades 7–12 a chance to experience firsthand what it is like to develop cutting-edge technology. During the camp, girls are exposed to executive speakers, technology tours and demonstrations, ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1102 Promote Understanding of Environmental Issues Captain Planet Foundation Education Grants fund and support hands-on environmental projects for children and youths that encourage innovative programs and empower children and youth around the world to work individually and collectively to solve environmental problems in their neighborhoods and communities. Generally, the range of ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1100 Win a Wireless Lab In partnership with CDW-G, Discovery Education will award five grand-prize wireless labs, valued at more than $50,000 each, through its “Win A Wireless Lab” sweepstakes. Each lab includes 20 laptop or notebook computers, an interactive whiteboard, mobile cart, projector, printer, wireless access points, portable document camera, digital ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1097 Test Your Memory Skills Information currently being processed in our minds is temporarily stored in what cognitive psychologists refer to as short-term memory. It is theorized that on average humans can store up to seven items in their short-term memory. But by grouping pieces of information together, we can greatly increase ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1094 Experience the Culture of China—Virtually A new, cost-free Web-based role-playing game aims to help students and adults learn more about the culture and languages of China. Called Zon/New Chengo, the multiplayer game was created by Yong Zhao, Michigan State University distinguished professor of educational psychology and technology. A native of a ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1092 Explore the Moon—and Beyond Lockheed Martin, the Space Foundation and SpaceClass have launched a strategic online education collaboration called Orion’s Path. The interactive virtual classroom project will form a link between teachers, students and NASA’s human space exploration program known as Constellation. Orion’s Path is an interactive lesson on SpaceClass, a ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1090 Follow the Monarch’s Migration The Journey North program engages students in a global study of wildlife migration and seasonal change. Students share field observations with classmates across North America. They track the coming of spring through the migration patterns of monarch butterflies, bald eagles, robins, hummingbirds, whooping cranes, gray whales and ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1087 Assist Hispanic Parents in Navigating the School System The ToolKit for Hispanic Families, provided free of charge by the U.S. Department of Education, helps the parents of Hispanic American children navigate the education system. The toolkit, written in Spanish, was developed with guidance from more than 1,800 Hispanic parents at Parent ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1085 Help Students Explore Nontraditional Careers In an effort to support the work that states are doing to help local education agencies increase the participation and completion of students in nontraditional CTE programs, the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE) Education Foundation, in partnership with Career Communications, Inc., has developed a ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1083 Go on a Math Mission Tabula Digita has released a new version of the educational video game Math Evolver: Virus Origin, which teaches pre-algebra skills. This engaging math program has an ESRB Rating of E10+ (Everyone 10+) for mild fantasy violence and is suitable for children in grades 6–9. The game ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1080 Get Up to Speed in Technology Concepts Nortel LearniT offers free, educator-created and classroom-tested technology tutorials for teachers and students. These short videos (about four minutes each) are a quick way to get up to speed in specific technology concepts. The videos provide the basic “getting started” steps and concrete examples, ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1078 Create a Tessellation The World of Escher Tessellation Contest gives students an audience for their tessellation drawing talents. Pictures must model the symmetry artworks of M. C. Escher and can make use of watercolor, colored pencils, pen and ink, marker or computer-generated mediums. Submissions must be in .jpg format. The top ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1075 Interview a Celebrity Teen Ink is a national teen magazine, book series and Web site devoted to teenage writing and art. Written by teens for teens, Teen Ink has published the work of more than 25,000 teens since 1989. Students can enter the Teen Ink Interview Contest and win an opportunity ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1073 Bring Butterflies into the Classroom The Live Monarch Foundation Educator Outreach Program provides funding for teachers throughout the United States to enroll in the national campaign to bring monarch butterflies into the classroom. This program provides education and materials to strengthen the monarch’s 3,000-mile migratory route within North America by creating ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1071 Use Tech Tools to Help Develop Human Potential The National Cristina Foundation provides computer technology and solutions to give students at risk and economically disadvantaged persons the opportunity, through training, to lead more productive lives. The foundation works to recycle computer technology resources, giving them a second life as tools for ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1069 Get Answers to Everyday Mysteries Have your students ever wondered why a camel has a hump? Of if they can really tell the weather by listening to the chirp of a cricket? Or why their joints make popping sounds? These questions deal with everyday phenomena that are often taken for granted, ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1067 Bolster Children’s Oral Vocabulary “Martha Speaks,” the new animated series from the WGBH creators of “Curious George” and “Arthur,” and Vancouver’s Studio B Productions, premieres on September 1, 2008 on PBS KIDS (check your local listings). The series stars Martha, a beloved family dog, who accidentally is fed alphabet soup that ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1065 Blog About Books Presented by National Geographic for Kids, DogEared is a blog about books—good books, funny books, adventure books; books about animals, friendship, pirates, faraway places . . . every kind of book that kids enjoy. Why is the site called “DogEared”? You know when you read a book and ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1062 Find Out What Works for English Language Learners The U.S. Department of Education’s Teaching Literacy in English to K–5 English Learners provides videos, slideshows and tools for teaching reading to K–5 English learners. The site’s resources are based on five research-based recommendations: screen and monitor students’ progress; provide small-group reading interventions; ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1060 Discover the Stories of New Americans The New Americans Web site offers an educational adventure for students in grades 7–12. The site supplements the PBS documentary series, which explores the immigrant experience through personal stories. Interactive sections of the site allow students to explore the immigration experience through a timeline, maps ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1058 Listen to Significant Historical Speeches Many people are talking about the Democratic and Republican national convention speeches. The American Rhetoric Web site provides a way to connect today’s enthusiasm to America’s speeches of the past. The Web site hosts “The Top 100 Speeches,” which includes the most significant speeches in American ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1047 Promote Science Readiness SID THE SCIENCE KID is a new educational animated television series using comedy to promote exploration, discovery and science readiness among preschoolers. The 40 half-hour episodes, co-produced by The Jim Henson Company and KCET/Los Angeles for PBS KIDS® , debuted on September 1, 2008. The series uses music ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1045 Encourage Youth Conversation and Action Chat the Planet provides a new vision of how television, the Internet and a network of global partnerships can create not only compelling television programming, but also a vibrant global community of youth conversation and action. Each show connects two groups of participants 15 to 25 ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1042 The National Dairy Council has a great website with tons of relevant and downloadable tools for schools to teach good nutrition! http://www.nationaldairycouncil.org/nationaldairycouncil/tools http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1040 Sign the U.S. Constitution On the American Bar Association’s Web site, students can show their support for the U.S. Constitution by adding their signature to those of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and James Madison. Click Here to Visit Web Site http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1037 Explore Constitutional History Centuries of Citizenship: A Constitutional Timeline is an online experience highlighting some of the key dates and events that mark more than 200 years of our constitutional history. The timeline entries, taken as a whole, tell the evolving story of the U.S. Constitution and the continuing role that ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1035 Celebrate the Birthday of Our Government On September 17, 1787, the U.S. Constitution was signed by 39 brave men who changed the course of history. Now Constitution Day (September 17) is a time to continue their legacy and develop habits of citizenship in a new generation of Americans. The National Constitution ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1033 If you or your kids are attending college, you may be eligible to get the full Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 suite for the bargin price of $59.95. Visit the link below for more information. This offer is not made by BISD or endorsed and this link is provided merely as ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1029 Experiment with Science PBS’s Design Squad is a contemporary, inspirational resource for ‘tweens and teens of all backgrounds. Presenting content in a fun and hip format, the site introduces visitors to the world of engineering and empowers young people and adults alike to learn about and experiment with science. The visually ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1027 Connect Young Thinkers Around the World Developed through a collaborative effort by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth and eight partners, Cogito.org is aimed at children gifted in the mathematics and science fields. True to its tagline of “Connecting young thinkers around the world,” the site profiles young scientists ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1024 Support Educators New to the Teaching Profession Discovery Education has joined forces with Walden University, mimio, Adobe Systems, Inc., Elmer's Products, Inc. and CDW-G to launch New Teacher Survival Central, featuring an array of classroom tools designed to welcome and support educators new to the teaching profession. In the Technology 101 ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1022 Develop Students’ Media Literacy An offshoot of the Annenberg Public Policy Center’s FactCheck.org, FactCheckEd.org helps students become savvy media consumers. The nonpartisan site turns a critical eye toward political statements of all stripes, scrutinizes misleading advertising claims and gives youth pointers on evaluating information found online. It also provides a dictionary. ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1019 Learn About the Birth of the Internet NSF and the Birth of the Internet is a multimedia story of the creation of the Internet. Learn about the individuals who began connecting computers in the 1960s. Listen to Vint Cerf, often referred to as “the father of the Internet,” describe their work. ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1017 Organize Your Teaching to Improve Student Learning A practice guide titled Organizing Instruction and Study to Improve Student Learning was developed by an expert panel convened by the Institute of Education Sciences. The guide offers a set of seven research-based recommendations, with a summary of the research evidence and a level-of-evidence ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1015 Inspire Students’ Vision of the Future TEL•A•VISION is a new way for youth to bring their dreams to life using technology. The free tools on the site help youth worldwide easily create a vision story of who they want to be and what they want to do in the future, inspiring ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1012 Involve Families in Science Learning At-Home Astronomy, from the UC Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory, offers 10 hands-on science investigations that can be done at home. The entire family can collaborate on projects such as “Where Is the Sun?” “Building a Lunar Settlement,” “Shadow Dance” and “Making a Simple Astrolabe.” Click Here to ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1010 Tap into Science Learning SPIGOT Science Magazine is published online five times per year in September, November, January, March and May. This free magazine aims to help students become more aware of science and to encourage them to pursue study in this field. The magazine is named SPIGOT to bring knowledge ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1008 Free, printable Young Novelist Workbooks will get students’ creative juices flowing. Inside each workbook—one for elementary school, one for middle school and one for high school—you’ll find worksheets and activities that will spark your students’ imagination and guide them through their “noveling” journey. Click Here to Access Free Workbooks http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1006 View Historical Electoral Maps 270toWin combines an interactive Electoral College map for the current presidential election cycle with historical maps and information for all prior elections. It educates its audience on the electoral college system and the integral role it plays in electing the U.S. president. Select any other election between ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1004 Explore the Science of Light Optics for Kids offers activities for budding scientists that provide a valuable resource for a variety of ages, especially for families and educators working with younger audiences. Children and adults alike will appreciate the Optical Illusions showcased on the homepage and in their own area of ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=1002 Go on a Learning Quest Quest Atlantis (QA) is an international learning and teaching project that uses a 3-dimensional multi-user environment to immerse children, aged 9–15, in educational tasks. Developed by an Indiana University professor, QA combines strategies used in the commercial gaming environment with lessons from educational research on learning ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=999 Set Inventive Thinking in Motion Invention at Play, based on a Smithsonian Institution’s traveling exhibit, explores the playful side of invention and the inventive side of play. On the Lemelson Center’s Web site, students can learn how play—the ordinary and everyday “world of childhood”—connects to the creative impulse of both historic ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=996 Build Children’s Literacy PBS and The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) have launched PBS KIDS Island, the centerpiece of the new PBS KIDS Raising Readers Web site, which provides free reading games and activities for children, parents, caregivers and teachers to use at home or in the classroom. PBS KIDS Island ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=994 Get the Week’s News—Rapped The creators of Flocabulary have launched The Week in Rap. Every Friday, Flocabulary’s hip-hop artists produce a two-minute music video summarizing the major news stories of the week. The classroom-safe videos are posted online. The idea is that students who spend the majority of their time listening ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=992 Explore Creativity Through Technology KerPoof is a free online multimedia software that allows children to explore their creativity by drawing, making animated movies, writing and illustrating stories, producing pictures and cards, and more. The software is intuitive and easy to use, giving children—even those who aren’t proficient in art—an opportunity to ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=990 Build a Simple Robot The TeRK Web site provides “recipes,” or instructions, for some simple robots that can be built with off-the-shelf parts. TeRK, which stands for Telepresence Robot Kit, is a project of the Community Robotics, Education and Technology Empowerment (CREATE) Lab at Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute. The aim ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=988 GooglePreview is a tool that enables you to quickly see a visual representation of the search engine results within your browser window. It inserts preview images (thumbnails) of web sites into the Google and Yahoo search results pages. Thumbnails are created and provided by GooglePreview servers. By seeing a visual image ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=983 Creative teachers can use music to teach content across the curriculum – to students of all ages. We offer thousands of children's songs, lyrics, sound clips and teaching suggestions. You can also sign up for the free newsletter on this site. http://www.songsforteaching.com/ http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=980 This site offers help for internet safety, text harrassment, cyber bullying and more. Set with a Jr. High - High School theme - very young, hip and relevant for current safety concerns. http://www.thatsnotcool.com/ http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=975 Get help in the face of financial challenges and budgetary constraints. The Troxell Communications’ Education Scholarship/Grant Rebate Program can help make technology dreams come true in your ELL classroom. Click Here for More Information http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=973 Do your students think they could create the perfect world? Here’s their chance to try. With the World Builder, they call the shots. As they work their way through each of the creation screens, they must make their choices wisely; only certain conditions will ensure their planet is a successful ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=971 Zoom Through Space Journey to Planet 10, where your students can explore the planets, comets and asteroids on an interactive virtual fly-through. In the Solar System interactive, students can zoom in close on a particular planet or choose a different orbit view to see the whole system from afar. The data ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=969 Swim in a Sea of Sounds Immerse your ESL students in Ocean Odyssey, a comprehensive and interactive site that leads children through the main concepts of sound through a game. The evil Sea Serpent has stolen the voice of Mel Scale the mermaid, and students need to investigate the science of ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=967 Dive into the SEA Dive into the Shedd Educational Adventures (SEA), a treasure trove of aquatic science resources in English and Spanish for K–12 teachers and students. You’ll find Interactives, Lesson Plans and Explorer’s Guide related to Plants and Animals, People and Cultures, and Places: Land and Sea. You can browse ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=965 SPOTLIGHT! On the Roots of Reading Literature, in all forms, is an easy way to familiarize your ESL students with science concepts. For example, if your students are studying a unit about plants, you could go to the school library and assign them books to read, for homework, that illustrate some ... http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/blog/?p=963