Lazy days of summer? You probably are already asking where the lazy part went. We watch the traffic on TeachersFirst every month, and we know that about July 15, teachers start coming back to prepare for the fall. I hope you have the luxury of starting out slowly and doing only the FUN part of planning: imagining new approaches and getting excited about them. The nitty-gritty can wait for a few more weeks.
Thank You, Techie Teachers
Thank you to the many teachers, technology coordinators, professional development experts, and others who spoke with me or saw my presentation at NECC this past week. There are so many outstanding teachers around the U.S. and the world doing wonderful teaching with technology as a tool. To those of you who learned about TeachersFirst and are joining us for the first time, welcome! I hope you will take the Two Minute Tour linked from our home page to help find your way around. I guarantee that it’s easier than the San Antonio convention center venues.
Wondering About Wikis?
If you are just logging onto your computer after a relaxing holiday weekend, you may be in the mood to play a little and explore some tools and ideas to change your classroom in the fall. If you have never had students create projects online, the easiest (and safest) place to start is the TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through. Your “wiki” space can be completely private (open only to invited students and visitors, such as their parents, and – of course-- your principal). Do you teach about “our town” and communities? Have your elementary students create a tour of the town, complete with digital pictures. Then invite the mayor (or somebody else important) to “take” the tour and share some feedback with your class. They will never forget what “community” means. Find many other ideas for a wiki, including the very basics of what a wiki IS and how to get started at the Wiki Walk-Through. Thousands of teachers have tried it and tell us the walk-through made it easy and understandable.
Summer Schedule
TeachersFirst never goes on vacation, but we are going to lighten our schedule during July while most of you are taking a break. The Update (this email) and Featured Sites, will come out July 7 and 21, then resume weekly publication in August. Brain Twisters changed/will change July 4 and 18, with a full schedule resuming in August.This schedule should give you some time to go to the beach or snooze in the hammock and know you can “catch up” when a rainy day has you back on the computer.
This Week’s Question of the Week
Teachers deserve a great vacation. If you had the choice of an all-expense-paid vacation, which of following would you choose, and why? Your choices: a seven day cruise, a week in a mountain cabin, or a week in a luxury hotel in a big city of your choice. Share your response to this Question of the Week. Remember to check "anonymous," if you wish. See what other teachers have to say, as well. You can always see responses to past questions by clicking to see the Question archives.
Featured Sites
This week’s featured sites include some great options for summer exploration, including some Edge tools:an excellent site about First Ladies
- a primary game about the states
- a way to “listen” to wild places
- two powerful tools to explore the heavens
- an incredible, interactive exploration of the National Archives
- an art tool to download and AMAZE you
- an Edge tool for creating your own SAFE social network for education
- and many other TERRIFIC “recent additions” (click at the bottom of the page)
As you enjoy a few days at home this summer, take time in your local community to watch for “teachable places.” Every town, no matter how humdrum or economically depressed, has features that make it special: some wise residents, some local history, a forgotten cemetery, or a stream with incredible micro-organisms. Summer is a good time to think about how you can “take learning local.” There is no place like home.
Your “teacher to go,”
Candace Hackett Shively
Director of K-12 Initiatives |
