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CATEGORY: Middle |
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Sally Finley reviews Pearson's Interactive Science Middle School Program, an online science program that uses grade-level textbook and online resources.
Alice Kurtz reviews The Historian's Apprentice, a social studies program that enables students to act as historians as they follow a protocol for examining primary and secondary sources to answer complex questions from American history.
The web-based ST Math: K-5 Integrated Instructional System includes enhanced math content from MIND's ST Math software, as well as new features for math teaching and learning, assessment, and reporting.
Presented by a cadre of nationally known speakers with more than 20 years of product experience, Capstone's professional development program incorporates best practices with research-based products on a range of dynamic topics.
News/Breaking News - Posted 01 Mar 2010
For March 1, 2010: Through a collaboration of several federal government agencies, at the Women's History Month for Teachers website, teachers are presented with a variety of primary source materials to use in their classrooms.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Mar 2010
By
Linda C. Joseph
Collaborations with top publishers, two public school systems, and others growDiscovery Education's library of content to more than 150,000 assets.
News/Breaking News - Posted 19 Feb 2010
For February 15, 2010: Introduce your middle school math students to topics that align with NCTM standards with the click of a mouse at the subscription-based Brainingcamp website.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Feb 2010
By
Linda C. Joseph
The interactive grammar lessons on Promethean Planet are designed to help students develop critical language arts and writing skills.
News/Breaking News - Posted 10 Feb 2010
With these agreements, a total of more than 62,000 K-12 and public library titles are now available for purchase online through parent company Follett's ecommerce sites, Titlewave and TitleTales.
News/Breaking News - Posted 04 Feb 2010
The latest version of the 22-volume encyclopedia includes thousands of new and revised articles across all disciplines and topics. The World Book Web, World Book's online information portal, includes reference collections which offer all the articles in the print edition as well as thousands more from World Book's contributors.
News/Breaking News - Posted 03 Feb 2010
Lexia Learning Systems has expanded its offering of "Lexia Lessons" and "Lexia Skill Builders" as a part of its Lexia Reading program. The program includes targeted practice, embedded assessment, scripted lesson plans, and offline practice to help students at all reading levels achieve proficiency.
News/Breaking News - Posted 03 Feb 2010
For February 1, 2010: Want to create a list of high-quality children's literature or find out if a book has won an award? Search librarian Lisa Bartle's Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Feb 2010
By
Linda C. Joseph
The Challenge offers a chance for middle school students to win $50,000 in U.S. savings bonds.
News/Breaking News - Posted 27 Jan 2010
PreK-12 educators can enter the PBS Teachers Innovation Awards program through March 12 for a chance to win a behind-the-scenes trip to the premier annual PBS event and other prizes.
News/Breaking News - Posted 27 Jan 2010
For Black History Month (February), Gale Cengage has again assembled a collection of activities and information to complement classroom topics.
News/Free Resources - Posted 25 Jan 2010
This newest version of the online standards mastery program offers enhanced assessment, instruction, communication and collaboration tools to help schools maximize their return on investment.
News/Breaking News - Posted 25 Jan 2010
With Time To Know, the teacher guides the class using an engaging curriculum that is integrated with tools for classroom management, planning, assessment, and collaboration.
News/Breaking News - Posted 22 Jan 2010
From the mechanics of writing and grammar to style and research, the Writer's Reference Center online covers the fundamentals of quality writing and provides vocabulary-building reference dictionaries.
News/Breaking News - Posted 20 Jan 2010
For January 15, 2010: The interactive site Fresh from the World ... Where Your Food Comes From presents the history of 15 popular foods as well as how food is grown, processed, and distributed.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Jan 2010
By
Linda C. Joseph
The companies have partnered to create the Heinle Community, intended as a safe and secure virtual workspace designed for learners to practice English through collaboration on projects in an authentic learning environment.
News/Breaking News - Posted 11 Jan 2010
With its new features, Learning Plans on Demand is a more powerful assessment tool that ties directly into hundreds of embedded tutorials for individualized learning, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 08 Jan 2010
The newest version of Inspiration's flagship software is designed to build 21st century communication and thinking skills, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 06 Jan 2010
In a year's time, Charlie Doe's district has placed interactive whiteboards in about 30% of their elementary classrooms and, in doing so, has made interactive whiteboard technology the envy of the district. That sparked his interest, so for this roundup, he takes a brief look at several products that offer a variety of approaches, from full whiteboards to equipment that makes a standard dry-erase whiteboard become interactive.
Educators have begun to shun the monolithic basal approach to teaching reading, opting for a more robust mix of specialized print and technology-based resources that provide intensive, dynamic, motivating methods that children embrace and enjoy. These print and technology tools must use student data as a cornerstone of an approach that intensifies and individualizes instruction. Find out more from Lexia Learning's Bob McCabe.
Podcasting, a morph of the words "iPod" and "broadcast," was first coined by U.K. journalist Ben Hammersley. (In fact, it was declared to be 2005's Word of the Year by The New Oxford American Dictionary, edging out both "Sudoku" and "trans fat" for the philological nod.) The digital medium quickly found its way into the classroom, and why not? After all, it's free, easy, and accessible, and it has the ability to power up education for students from kindergarten to college.
According to the SIIA's Vision K-20 survey, the lowest level for its Five Measures of Progress is in the use of technology-based assessment tools, with an average score of just 46%. Clearly, there's room for improvement! And since knowing more about these tools is a good first step to using them to your advantage, Victor Rivero brings you a sampling of some of the more recent excellent products and services you may find useful when it comes to gaining much-needed assistance with assessment.
Sally Finley reviews Achiever!, a student assessment program.
Susan Hixson takes a look at it's learning, an online learning platform for collaboration, planning, authoring, and the delivery of course materials and courses.
Charles Doe reviews the Read:OutLoud6 text reader from Don Johnston, Inc.
There is an economical way to introduce videoconferencing that involves inexpensive laptop computers and programs such as iChat, Skype, and ooVoo. A technology integration plan shared by a few pioneering districts in the author's area proves this point. Through it, schools have been able to make a serious commitment to the "new wave" of interactive technology at a minimal cost.
For January 1, 2010: Celebrate National Agriculture Day in your classroom or community. Each year the program promotes American agriculture and its essential role in maintaining a strong economy.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Jan 2010
By
Linda C. Joseph
To accommodate various presentation styles and technology integrations, TurningPoint AnyWhere combined with Turning's ResponseCard keypads or ResponseWare, a web-based polling application, creates a wireless response and voting system allowing presenters to ask interactive questions within their preferred presentation application.
News/Breaking News - Posted 04 Dec 2009
World Book’s new approach to reader’s theater provides educators a new tool for building reading fluency and content comprehension.
News/Breaking News - Posted 19 Nov 2009
For November 15, 2009: The Children & Nature Network (C&NN) was created to encourage and support the people and organizations working worldwide to reconnect children with nature.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Nov 2009
By
Linda C. Joseph
Available for purchase in January 2010, Interactive Science enables middle school students to read, write, draw, graph, and self-assess all in one place, actively engaging students with real-world content.
News/Breaking News - Posted 13 Nov 2009
Sally Finley reviews Grzimek's Animal Life, an online animal reference database from Gale Cengage Learning.
Charles Doe reviews RAPS 360, a reading assessment program designed to identify problem areas in all aspects of reading, including phonics, visual and auditory discrimination, word meaning and recognition, fluency, comprehension, eye tracking, and more.
The new Adobe Digital School Collection for K–12 students and educators provides a software bundle that includes Adobe Photoshop Elements 8, Adobe Premiere Elements 8, Adobe Contribute CS4, Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro, and Adobe Soundbooth CS4.
Sonja Plummer-Morgan and Lisa Neal-Shaw are public librarians from Maine who have explored the use of virtual worlds with very young—and not-so-very young—children. They have found sites very helpful in encouraging curiosity and enabling tech-learning behaviors such as online communication, collaboration, composition, traditional as well as 21st-century literacies, and more, to the extent that we wanted to share their insights with our readers in K–12 education settings.
For November 1, 2009: Need ideas for a science project? Look no further than Science Buddies, a project of The Kenneth Lafferty Hess Family Charitable Foundation.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Nov 2009
By
Linda C. Joseph
Twitter, Blogger, Facebook, MySpace, Ning: How do we help our students learn the social skills needed to understand what it really means to live and participate in a global community? How do we incorporate this into our schools and classrooms? How do we keep ourselves and our students safe? Social networking sites are mainstream media for many tweens, teens, and adults. There are even social networking sites that attract kids as young as 5 years old. This is the reality of the world we live in, and schools should reflect this reality.
The collection includes Photoshop Elements 8 and Premiere Elements 8 to help educators enhance teaching and learning of digital literacy skills, and now offers netbook compatibility support for Photoshop Elements 8 (Windows) and Adobe Photoshop Elements for the Mac platform.
News/Breaking News - Posted 28 Sep 2009
The latest edition of the collection development resource for school libraries lists over 8,000 recommended books, 2,000 more than the previous edition. It also features "short list" indicators for the "most highly recommended" works and more specific grade levels indicators than the previous edition.
News/Breaking News - Posted 18 Sep 2009
Charles Doe reviews the Study Buddy Handheld Tutor, a device that offers electronic multiple choice practice opportunities for students of all ages.
Sally Finley reviews Classworks Web Edition, an online subscription service that provides individualized standards-based instruction in math, reading, language arts, and science.
Susan Hixson reviews Maps101.com, a subscription-based online resource that provides access to thousands of interactive maps, videos, animated timelines, educational games, and educator resources for teaching earth science, geography, history, and social studies.
Collaboration is one of the defining characteristics of the 21st century, but many educators are still searching for ways to embrace this idea in their schools. Some technologies facilitate the creation of a collaborative learning environment better than others, but there are a number of technology tools that can lead to collaborative student and teacher engagement while also addressing budgetary and infrastructure issues. This article offers suggestions for overcoming barriers using simple tools that foster complex thinking.
For August 15, 2009: Explore the wonders of astronomy at the Eyes on the Sky, Feet on the Ground website from the Smithsonian Institution through a variety of activities designed for elementary teachers and students.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Aug 2009
By
Linda C. Joseph
Sally Finley reviews Aha!Science, a supplemental program of instruction, lessons, games, simulations, journaling, activities, and quizzes for grades 3–5 focusing on life science, Earth and space science, and physical science.
Alice Kurtz reviews Discovery Education streaming Plus, a web-based subscription servce that offers digital content and a media resource library service.
The JourneyEd Academic eStore Network (AEN) provides access to more than 15,000 online stores offering thousands of top-tier software and technology products—including programs published by Microsoft and Adobe—at discounts of up to 85% of retail prices to verified education buyers.
For June 1, 2009: Smokey Bear has been around for 65 years promoting the prevention of wildfires. Visit Smokey’s website for some expert information for kids, plus perhaps some nostalgia for you!
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Jun 2009
By
Linda C. Joseph
The resources—websites offering a wide variety of content for all subjects in grades K-12—are presented by the nonprofit organization as it celebrates its eleventh anniversary.
News/Free Resources - Posted 01 May 2009
Alice Kurtz reviews eLibrary, a web-based collection of periodicals, images, learning resources, and teacher tools.
Sally Finley reviews LabQuest Library, a LabQuest-focused toolkit that includes a lab creator, lab organizer, and links to LabQuest device upgrades.
Saywire offers a combination of safe social technology and secure permission-based controls designed to provide “walled garden” social learning networks for K–12 education.
Sharing knowledge: In some form or another, it’s why most educators went into teaching in the first place. But traditional instructional materials don’t lend themselves to sharing between educators. New technologies now allow teachers to share and collaborate locally and globally in ways that generations past could never have imagined. These tools signal what may grow to be true disruptive change in how schools acquire and disseminate instructional and professional development resources. The nonprofit Curriki.org (www.curriki.org) is a 3-year-old organization that offers a large collection of free and open source content and collaboration tools.
Designed for at-risk middle and high school students, the new online diagnostic-prescriptive remediation service delivers a cycle of quizzes followed by personalized review and practice to help students catch up in math.
News/Breaking News - Posted 20 Apr 2009
The collection of web-delivered animated movies, quizzes, and activities is intended to help foster discussion of timely topics to help children understand the financial issues facing the nation and the world today.
News/Breaking News - Posted 09 Apr 2009
Tween's program is designed specifically for the sixth through eighth grade. Included are such skills as binder organization, using a planner, organizing a homework space, using a rubric, self-advocacy for middle school, remembering daily responsibilities, correcting poor homework habits, long term project management, and understanding grade averaging.
News/Breaking News - Posted 06 Apr 2009
For April 1, 2009: At the Arbor Day Foundation website, discover the history of Arbor Day plus a host of ways to incorporate it into the curriculum.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Apr 2009
By
Linda C. Joseph
Developed through a partnership with Montgomery (Md.) College's Computer Gaming and Simulation program and designed in cooperation with NOAA's National Estuarine Research Reserve System for students at the fourth through seventh grade level, "WaterLife: Where Rivers Meet the Sea" provides science instruction through a series of challenges and animations.
News/Free Resources - Posted 19 Mar 2009
Designed for grades 3-5, Aha!Science gives teachers new tools to teach physical, earth and space, and life sciences with science games, simulations, and instruction.
News/Breaking News - Posted 12 Mar 2009
“Inspiring Middle School Literacy: Reading and Writing in Science and History” is the first collection on Teachers’ Domain that focuses exclusively on building literacy skills across content areas. It is comprised of interactive activities that middle school teachers can use to supplement their science, social studies, or language arts curriculum.
News/Free Resources - Posted 06 Mar 2009
Alice Kurtz reviews World Book Student, the redesigned and upgraded version of the World Book Online Reference Center.
Charles Doe reviews PBS TeacherLine Peer Connection, a web-based instructional and professional development resource.
Susan Hixson reviews Learning Plans on Demand, an online program that provides teaching tools for differentiating instruction, constructs response assessments, and offers tutorials and practice activities.
The Learn360 video streaming service for K–12 education now offers a My Learn360 homepage designed to individualize the user experience for educators.
Direct Instruction eSuite is a set of online tools designed to integrate technology into instruction to save daily planning time for teachers and increase student engagement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 19 Feb 2009
Saywire offers a combination of safe social technology and secure permission-based controls designed to provide “walled garden” social learning networks for K-12 schools.
News/Breaking News - Posted 18 Feb 2009
Using the immersive characteristics of digital games, Labyrinth blends a storyline with multi-level puzzle play to build pre-algebra skills in several core areas: proportions - fractions and ratios; variables and equations; and numbers and operations.
News/Breaking News - Posted 09 Feb 2009
The print-on-demand library of thousands of activities across the PreK–6+ school curriculum marks its third year by offering school-site subscriptions that provide educators with the resources they need to support the varied needs of today’s students.
News/Breaking News - Posted 29 Jan 2009
Inspiration Software offers a free Webcast on Jan. 29 titled “Using Visual Learning Techniques to Improve Academic Performance with Inspiration.”
News/Free Resources - Posted 19 Jan 2009
The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) offers the fourth installment in its 2008-2009 Internet & Education Webcast series with “Long Tail Learners: How Technology Transforms Learning” on Jan. 21, 1-2 p.m., Eastern Time.
News/Breaking News - Posted 19 Jan 2009
kidthing and the National Education Association (NEA) extended the submission deadline for the “Dear Mr. President” project to Jan. 27, 2009.
News/Breaking News - Posted 18 Jan 2009
In an effort to foster the development of the next generation of scientists, Discovery Education and 3M have teamed up again to reward students for their science acumen and curiosity, while encouraging them to share that passion by creatively communicating their findings.
News/Breaking News - Posted 16 Jan 2009
The quarterly challenge gives kids aged 8 to 14 a chance to hone their writing skills as they compete for prizes with hundreds of young authors.
News/Breaking News - Posted 05 Jan 2009
Energy is an essential and, at times, a controversial subject. It is important that students learn about energy sources and the impact they have in their own lives, and Linda Joseph's Cyberbee guides you this month to web resources to help them do just that.
There are many approaches—and many acronyms—related to ESL studies. Whichever approach or aspect is being considered, ESL resources have increased enormously with the introduction of computer and related electronic technologies. Charles Doe’s article offers some examples of the many fine possibilities available, with a mention of some of their more interesting features.
For January 1, 2009: Need fast facts about energy sources, how they were/are formed, and their environmental impact? Start out at the federal government’s Energy Information Administration EIA Energy Kids Page.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Jan 2009
By
Linda C. Joseph
Sally Finley reviews Adaptive Curriculum, an online library of middle school math and science lessons aligned to national and state standards.
Charles Doe takes a look at Teachscape XL, a Web-based digital database with a search engine and tools to create learning materials.
Susan Hixson reviews Type to Learn 4, a keyboarding program designed for K-12 students at a variety of skill levels.
Greenovation, a sustainable lighting system upgrade with a companion curriculum, turns the classroom itself into a teaching tool.
Today’s students are truly digital learners. Outside of school they are texting, using cell phones, creating social networks on the internet, and playing interactive games online; they often do all of these things at the same time—multitasking. They expect to use some of these tools when they are in school. Teachers can create new learning opportunities for students and turn classrooms into the 21st-century global classroom when they integrate technology into the learning environment. Read on to learn from Sheila Gersh just how teachers can begin to create such environments.
H.W. Wilson announced the electronic and print publication of the “Tenth Book of Junior Authors & Illustrators,” the newest volume in the series designed to acquaint readers with the creators of outstanding young adult and children’s books.
News/Breaking News - Posted 29 Dec 2008
A comprehensive upgrade to the World Book Online Reference Center, World Book Student adds dozens of new research tools, interactive features, and multimedia.
News/Breaking News - Posted 15 Dec 2008
The 2008-2009 Inspiration Software Inspired Visual Learning Awards program will recognize 15 educators and their students for creatively using visual learning in their classrooms.
News/Breaking News - Posted 23 Nov 2008
For November 15, 2008: Try out BookHooks and introduce your younger students to a place where they can share their book reports with other readers in a safe environment.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Nov 2008
By
Linda C. Joseph
Google Apps Education Edition offers a variety of email, calendar, and collaboration tools directly from a computer browser.
Alice Kurtz reviews Timeliner XE, a software program designed to organize data into visual multimedia diagrams such as timelines, sequences, and cycles.
Galeschools.com is hosting Monster Vote 2008, an exercise designed to help students understand the election process and a contest offering one lucky class a chance to win a set of Monsters books from KidHaven Press.
News/Cool Links - Posted 24 Oct 2008
For October 15, 2008: Money and financial planning. Too boring for kids, right? NOT! Have them blast off to Planet Orange to explore the world of money.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Oct 2008
By
Linda C. Joseph
Welcome to Banned Books Week—Sept. 27 to Oct. 4, 2008.
News/Breaking News - Posted 29 Sep 2008
The American Association of School Librarians and the Children’s Book Council released the names of the contributors selected for the AASL Knowledge Quest journal’s “Meet the Author/Illustrator” column during the 2008-2009 school year.
News/Breaking News - Posted 26 Sep 2008
The New York Times/Carnegie Corporation of New York “I Love My Librarian” award program is now open—for the first time—to school library media specialists.
News/Breaking News - Posted 26 Sep 2008
The “Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge” encourages students to create "green solutions"; prizes include regional and national recognition, cash, and an appearance on Discovery's Planet Green television network.
News/Breaking News - Posted 15 Sep 2008
Educational publisher ETA/Cuisenaire is honoring International Literacy Day (Sept. 8) with month-long access to free resources from its new WorldScapes Global Issues book series.
News/Free Resources - Posted 15 Sep 2008
For September 15, 2008: Learn about Henry David Thoreau and his writings at The Thoreau Reader, a comprehensive website featuring online versions of many of his books and lots of links and annotations about his literary works.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Sep 2008
By
Linda C. Joseph
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) presents an “Introduction to Geocaching” Webinar on Sept. 24.
News/Breaking News - Posted 12 Sep 2008
Inspiration Software offers a free Web cast on Oct. 16 at noon Pacific time (3 p.m. Eastern time) titled “Analyzing Close Presidential Races with InspireData: How Might a Different Winner Have Changed History?”
News/Free Resources - Posted 11 Sep 2008
Teachers' Domain is a digital library of free media online resources for teachers, and online professional development courses created by public television station WGBH.
News/Free Resources - Posted 05 Sep 2008
Champion of IDEAS Blue Level, the second part of Ballard & Tighe’s Champion of IDEAS program, is now available for intermediate English language instruction in middle and high schools.
News/Breaking News - Posted 02 Sep 2008
With the 2008 election upon us, there are many websites analyzing the personal attributes and platforms of the candidates as well as examining the political process for electing a president. The news media provides all sorts of information from facts to commentary with a dose of speculation by an array of "expert" panelists. For better or worse, YouTube and blogs allow unfettered participation by individuals. It is more important than ever that your students learn to be discerning readers when researching these sources. CyberBee has selected a variety of places to explore and use with your students.
In the July/August issue of MMIS, Kelly Czarnecki started her "tour of the possibilities" of using virtual environments in K-12 education with a look at two projects based on/in Teen Second Life—Science in Second Life, and Suffern Middle School in Second Life. Here's the rest of the tour, visting Whyville, the River City Project, Quest Atlantis, and McClarin's Adventures.
Sally Finley reviews the NXT Sensor Adapter, a device that enables a LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robotics system to use sensor-based controls.
Charles Doe reviews the Bamboo Fun Pen Tablet, a computer input device.
Charles Doe reviews Animation-ish, a computer program designed to help students create animations.
The ResourceShelf folks recently briefly noted the relaunch of the AskKids search engine and interface, something we’ve been anticipating for quite a while now.
News/Cool Links - Posted 29 Aug 2008
ABC-CLIO offers a new free online History & the Headlines resource, “Presidential Elections: In History & Today.”
News/Free Resources - Posted 29 Aug 2008
Innovation First, Inc. and Autodesk, Inc. offer a new curriculum now included in the VEX Robotics Design System Classroom Lab Kits.
News/Breaking News - Posted 28 Aug 2008
The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) 2009 awards program includes more than $45,000 in funding for awards to AASL members.
News/Free Resources - Posted 11 Aug 2008
The 2009 application for the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) National School Library Media Program of the Year award is now available online.
News/Breaking News - Posted 02 Aug 2008
Alice Kurtz takes a look at two new web sites from the Library of Congress.
Rhonda Clevenson reviews Smart Talk Español, an interactive learning device designed to help students develop vocabulary, oral language, and word recognition skills.
Charles Doe reviews Writing Roadmap 2.0, an online essay scoring tool designed to give students practice in building writing skills.
The 2007 edition of the Horizon Report by the New Media Consortium and the Educause Learning Initiative predicted that in 2 to 3 years, virtual worlds will greatly impact teaching, learning, and creative expression. These scalable and highly creative environments are being used by educators all over the country in a variety of settings and in a variety of ways. This article offers a look at projects using virtual worlds that are currently “happening” in K–12 schools, what we’re learning from them, and what we can continue to learn by charging full steam ahead with these fascinating educational tools.
Sally Finley reviews MIND Research Institute Algebra Readiness, a program that provides a visual learning approach for a comprehensive algebra readiness curriculum for grades 6-12.
Alie Kurtz reivews Learn360, a video streaming service for K-12.
Charles Doe reviews Lexia Reading v5, a collection of three software programs combined with management functions.
Susan Hixson reviews Kidspiration 3, the latest version of the cross-curricular visual learning program for grades K-5.
WriteToLearn 5.0 updates the Web-based learning tool for developing writing and reading comprehensions skills with new text-to-speech capabilities and more.
News/Breaking News - Posted 17 Mar 2008
Bookshare.org and Don Johnston, Inc. are participating in a partnership to provide qualified print disabled students with a free text reader to access electronic books from the Bookshare.org library, beginning in September 2008.
News/Free Resources - Posted 13 Mar 2008
ISTE releases new books on RSS and PowerPoint with an educator perspective.
News/Breaking News - Posted 12 Mar 2008
Dynamic Literacy released Foundations, the first of two series in the WordBuild Vocabulary Development System.
News/Breaking News - Posted 03 Mar 2008
Sally Finley reviews LabQuest, a handheld data collection tool that can be used as a stand-alone device or a computer interface.
Susan Hixson reviews DOMA, an Internet-based supplemental math assessment program for use with grades K-12.
Charles Doe reviews WordBuild Elements Level 1, a spiraling vocabulary curriculum for grades 3-12.
Sally Finley reviews Evolver Pre-Algebra for grades 6-12.
The new Teacher One Stop offers documents, tools, and multimedia files with search capabilities, technologies, and resources designed to streamline and simplify educators’ planning activities.
For March 1, 2008: If you are looking for information on the hot topic of biotechnology, for an annotated list of books about agriculture, or if you just need to know the date for National Cream Puff Day or International Pickles Week (!), then look no further than the American Farm Bureau Foundation's Educating for Agriculture website.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Mar 2008
By
Linda C. Joseph
Geocaching, using GPS technology, is loads of fun, and it offers lots of educational opportunities as well. Yes, even in the media center. Media specialists are good at making curricular connections, and, says Mary Alice Anderson, the curriculum connections with geocaching are easy to see. Don't believe it?? Read and learn.
With agricultural commodities so readily accessible in the U.S., it is easy to forget how the baked ham, green beans, pineapple, and rolls with butter arrive on the dinner plate in some countries, but not in others. Learning about agricultural practices, economics, and the importance of farming will go a long way in helping students understand one aspect of global interdependence. Prepare your students for a trip to a working farm by visiting these websites, all vetted by Cyberbee, aka longtime MMIS columnist and educator Linda Joseph.
Three new topics will be added this spring to ABC-CLIO’s History and the Headlines collection of free online resources.
News/Free Resources - Posted 26 Feb 2008
The SMART document camera enables teachers to display detailed images and video of any physical object and instantly incorporate that material into digital lessons using the SMART Board interactive whiteboard and Notebook collaborative learning software.
News/Breaking News - Posted 14 Feb 2008
The first GenevaLogic Visionary Grants were awarded by the GenevaLogic Foundation in late January.
News/Breaking News - Posted 14 Feb 2008
The company's new EasyTech lessons and activities support middle school students to learn critical skills in blogs, podcasts, online communicating and more.
News/Breaking News - Posted 07 Feb 2008
For February 1, 2008: It's winter, and the height of the cold and flu season, time to meet The Scrub Club in their quest to encourage effective hand washing to avoid infections.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Feb 2008
By
Linda C. Joseph
The new, free website helps teachers and parents match the right book to the right child based on four different reading level systems, interests, and previously enjoyed books.
News/Breaking News - Posted 30 Jan 2008
SMART Technologies announced the addition of 100 SMART-created lesson activities to the Curriki global education and learning community, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing free education materials.
News/Breaking News - Posted 29 Jan 2008
The new online system uses interactive math and science activities to boost academic achievement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 25 Jan 2008
The new Pokémon Learning League program provides lessons on internet safety and media literacy for lower and upper elementary level students and includes teacher and parent resources.
News/Breaking News - Posted 25 Jan 2008
The MIND Research Institute’s visual math courseware programs for grades K-12 are now available in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
News/Breaking News - Posted 24 Jan 2008
enVisionMATH combines digital animations and visual learning to build an innovative program for 21st century learners.
News/Breaking News - Posted 23 Jan 2008
Vernier Software & Technology offers free hands-on workshops designed to help educators learn ways to integrate computer and handheld data collection technology into any science or math curriculum.
News/Free Resources - Posted 23 Jan 2008
To help celebrate the recently announced ALA Awards (Newbery, Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, and others), Teachingbooks.net has announced it is offering free access to a great batch of original short movies and readings by the award winners.
News/Free Resources - Posted 17 Jan 2008
Reinventing Project Based Learning: Your Field Guide to Real-World Projects in the Digital Age offers educators a practical guide for maximizing the benefits of project-based learning in today’s technology-rich learning environment.
News/Breaking News - Posted 17 Jan 2008
Projects should be designed to increase knowledge of scientific phenomena and provide opportunities for the application of that knowledge to environmental issues relevant to the students. Approximately $4 million in grants will be awarded.
News/Breaking News - Posted 16 Jan 2008
For January 15, 2008: There are times when we simply have to "hold" a resource, touch it, and see it firsthand. The Library of Congress’ Primary Source Tool Kit website can make this possible!
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Jan 2008
By
Linda C. Joseph
Enhancements to the new versions of these databases include an "Analyze" section that helps students examine key dilemmas in history, grapple with issues, and build historical inquiry skills.
News/Breaking News - Posted 14 Jan 2008
Educational video publisher School Specialty Media offers its new online Learn360 video streaming service for K-12.
News/Breaking News - Posted 05 Jan 2008
Do you still remember the thrill of receiving a summer postcard from your teacher? How exciting it was to open the mailbox and find that personal piece of mail waiting—and to realize that your teacher was thinking of you. Perhaps the photograph on the face of the card led you to the encyclopedia to learn more about a particular place, while a handwritten line or two described a cultural experience, unusual food, or new language. Travel postcards, sent by thoughtful teachers over the years, have broadened the world of many a child. Yesterday’s postcards have gone high-tech. Weblogs, or blogs, enable today’s teachers to send a new kind of post, sharing their travel experiences as they unfold. Blogs provide an up-to-the-minute opportunity for teachers to continue to educate their students through semester breaks, to interact with their school communities, and to share experiences and locales that encourage understanding of the broader world. And those 21st century postcards come complete with the ability to upload and publish journal entries, photos, slideshows, audio, video, and educational links.
Rhonda Clevenson reviews GeoSafari Quiz Bowl, an interactive electronic educational game that simulates a television game show in the classroom.
Charles Doe reviews Fluent Reading Trainer (FLRT), a Web-based program that helps students increase reading speed while improving or maintaining reading comprehension.
Susan Hixson reviews Knowledge Adventure Activity Builder, an online teacher tool.
Sally Ride, America’s first woman in space, founded Sally Ride Science in 2001 to create programs and products designed to educate, entertain, engage, and inspire.
The encyclopedia includes access to The World Book Web, World Book's suite of online publications, featuring all the articles in the print edition as well as thousands more from World Book's contributors and access to additional resources.
News/Breaking News - Posted 14 Dec 2007
Soliloquy Reading Assistant 4.1 updates the reading fluency program with easier software installation, support of Windows Vista, and more.
News/Breaking News - Posted 12 Nov 2007
The Decision ’08 resource, designed specifically for classroom instruction, offers up-to-the-minute presidential election news through a video-on-demand user interface, allowing teachers to customize their lesson plans with compelling and relevant content to bring the election process and political issues to life, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 06 Nov 2007
With end-of-grade, back-to-basics, multiple-choice testing for the masses and mechanical instruction methods, there’s growing concern that children are not learning to problem solve as much as they are mastering memorization of isolated facts in order to answer test questions. Yet, when they get home from school, children eagerly devour new information and concepts through the virtual environments of video games. In what I call a stealth-learning environment, children develop skills that connect and manipulate information in the virtual worlds of video games without really knowing that they’re learning.
Sally Finley reviews Tool Factory Podcasting, a Windows-based program that provides the tools needed to create and publish podcasts.
Charles Doe reviews a DVD-based program designed to illustrate editing techniques and principles.
Susan Hixson reviews Rapid Resources, an online teacher's tool for differentiating instruction.
Charles Doe reviews the tool package that includes Encarta Premium, Encarta Kids, Microsoft Math, Learning Essentials and more.
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) released “Differentiating Instruction with Technology in K-5 Classrooms,” a book written by Grace E. Smith and Stephanie Throne.
News/Breaking News - Posted 22 Oct 2007
Don Johnston Inc. announced the release of SOLO Writing Coach, a writing implementation framework designed for at-risk students writing at or below proficiency levels.
News/Breaking News - Posted 28 Sep 2007
Literature Criticism Online provides access to hundreds of volumes from 10 Gale literary series.
News/Breaking News - Posted 27 Sep 2007
ABC-CLIO expands its free “History and the Headlines” online resources with “Double Victory—Minorities and Women During World War II,” material designed to support the Ken Burns and Lynn Novick PBS/WETA documentary, “The War.”
News/Free Resources - Posted 22 Sep 2007
FileMaker Pro Basics provides a comprehensive downloadable set of free training materials designed to help K-12 educators learn the essentials of creating FileMaker Pro databases.
News/Free Resources - Posted 21 Sep 2007
InspireData 1.5 is the first update to Inspiration Software’s InspireData program designed to help students in grades 4-12 explore and understand data.
News/Breaking News - Posted 12 Sep 2007
The Sally Ride Science blog features a series of science-themed entries designed to help elementary and middle school teachers illustrate real-world applications of science concepts and spark classroom discussions.
News/Free Resources - Posted 08 Sep 2007
In this article, Part 5 of his series of reviews, Robert Congleton continues his conversations with representatives of vendors--in this case, ePals, LearningExpress, and Teen Health & Wellness--about how they are addressing the growing K–12 classroom reliance on electronic resources, the products they currently offer, and what new resources they plan to release in the near future. The article also describes updates on enhancements and new products that have been released in the last year by five of the vendors previously reviewed in this series: Gale, Greenwood Electronic Media, TeachingBooks.net, World Book, Grolier Online/Scholastic, Inc.
John Drag, Jr. reviews Simon S.I.O. (Sounds It Out), a tutor-led phonics intervention program for students of all ages who may be experiencing difficulty in mastering phonological awareness.
Sally Finley reviews Holt Virtual Investigations, a science simulation available in middle school and high school editions.
Charles Doe reviews TeacherFilebox.com, an online collection of instructional resources for PreK-6 educators.
Susan Hixson reviews World Book Advanced, designed for use in high school and beyond. This database also has been used successfully in middle schools.
The National Air and Space Museum offers a variety of classroom resources, including online activities and teaching materials, designed for use in learning across the curriculum.
News/Free Resources - Posted 08 Jul 2007
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History offers a free online slide show titled “Wilberforce, Lincoln, and the Abolition of Slavery” and other online resources for teachers and students.
News/Free Resources - Posted 07 Jul 2007
The “social networking” generation is writing, and this writing is important to them. Schools must find a way to merge these informal writing activities with the writing activities found in classrooms. It’s possible that the use of social networking technologies with classroom writing programs could make writing in school interesting enough to motivate students to tackle the more formal writing needed for college, business, and other activities in adult life. Charles Doe's latest "Look At ... " article examines some of the software and Webware possibilities inspired by social computing as well as some of the newer computer- and Internet-based writing tools.
Susan Hixson reviews an online math curriculum for middle school students.
Sally Finley reviews Science Online, a comprehensive subscripton database from Facts On File, Inc.
The software provides 2,400 explicitly leveled vocabulary words that build background knowledge and contribute to improved reading comprehension. These “Core Literacy” vocabulary words are reinforced with high-quality audio pronunciations of all words and definitions.
News/Breaking News - Posted 27 Jun 2007
A key feature of World Book Advanced is its integrated content, allowing students to search across a vast collection of primary source documents, e-books, and encyclopedia articles as well as multimedia elements, editor-selected Web sites, current magazine selections, and more.
News/Breaking News - Posted 25 Jun 2007
The Franklin Institute Science Museum presents online materials designed to extend the experience of the museum’s King Tut exhibit with activities geared to the K-12 science curriculum.
News/Free Resources - Posted 22 Jun 2007
ST Math Algebra Readiness, for students in grades 6 to 8, takes a building-block approach to providing mathematical problems and exercises aligned to the foundational math concepts and skills needed to learn algebra.
News/Breaking News - Posted 29 May 2007
“Blue Vinyl: The World’s First Toxic Comedy,” a documentary directed by Judith Helfand and Daniel B. Gold, takes a charming look at a chilling situation with worldwide implications.
News/Cool Links - Posted 26 May 2007
Charles Doe reviews The Bridge of Vocabulary, a program that includes a book with 100 vocabulary activities and a companion CD-ROM that provides more than 300 additional activities.
Sally Finley reviews InspireData, database software focused on the concepts of visual learning and data literacy.
Susan Hixson reviews Study Island, an online program that delivers curriculum content and assessment features tied to state standards.
This month, ngm.com examines the global fishing crisis from a number of perspectives.
News/Free Resources - Posted 01 Apr 2007
Don Johnston’s Start-to-Finish series now includes "Giant Hurricanes and Tornadoes," available in a variety of formats, including paperback book, computer book, and audio book.
News/Breaking News - Posted 29 Mar 2007
Math FACTMASTER for grades one through six is now available in an online edition.
News/Breaking News - Posted 04 Mar 2007
AutoSkill International now offers an optional SpanishTutor module for its Academy of MATH intervention software.
News/Breaking News - Posted 02 Mar 2007
Charles Doe reviews Great Source iwrite, a free Web-based writing resource for grades 5-12.
Alice Kurtz reviews Virtual History - Ancient Egypt, a CD-based computer simulation designed to allow students to experience life in the Egypt of 4,000 years ago.
Sally Finley reviews First in MATH, a Web site that provides access to the 24 Game series, mathematics fact practice, test preparation, and critical thinking skills activities.
Susan Hixson reviews WebLesssons, an online multimedia resource that replaces the typical browser window with a student learning path.
Three new GenevaLogic Vision Kits provide individual classrooms and entire schools with classroom management tools for effective computer teaching.
Applications will be accepted until March 1 for the AASL School Librarian's Workshop Scholarship.
News/Free Resources - Posted 20 Feb 2007
H.W. Wilson announced the addition of 28 science education journals to its Science Full Text Select database.
News/Breaking News - Posted 17 Feb 2007
The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) is gathering data for a longitudinal survey of school library media programs.
News/Breaking News - Posted 16 Feb 2007
GenevaLogic now offers three new education kits designed to provide individual classrooms and entire schools with classroom management tools for effective computer teaching.
News/Breaking News - Posted 07 Feb 2007
Hotmath.com now offers nearly 1,000 video lessons that teach and explain math homework topics.
News/Breaking News - Posted 29 Jan 2007
HP and Scholastic offer a new curriculum titled “Get in the Technology Loop,” designed to teach students in grades 4-6 about environmental responsibility.
News/Free Resources - Posted 27 Jan 2007
This is the first in SafeSchools’ Online Safety Series, which covers the various means of communication as well as the growing dangers that can entrap students when they’re online, including cyberbullying, predators, and threats of violence.
News/Breaking News - Posted 19 Jan 2007
Discovery’s online science supplement helps science educators improve instruction and meet the latest NCLB requirements, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 18 Jan 2007
The new database combines authoritative research sources, inquiry-based teaching and study tools, and integrated current events aligned to social studies standards and curriculum.
News/Breaking News - Posted 16 Jan 2007
By Kids For Kids Co. (BKFK) and Mattel are partnering for the third annual “Invent-A-Toy” World Games competition for youngsters ages 5-19.
News/Breaking News - Posted 07 Jan 2007
The National Geographic Web site, Ngm.com/, explores a variety of subjects--and many corners of the world--in the month of January.
News/Free Resources - Posted 05 Jan 2007
The first new author program features an interview with British writer and illustrator Lauren Child, the creator of the Clarice Bean books, the Charlie and Lola series, “The Princess and the Pea,” and “Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Book,” among others.
News/Breaking News - Posted 04 Jan 2007
The “Make a Plan” tool gives students a choice of eight plan types, including an outline, an idea web, and templates for specific types of essays, such as compare/contrast and cause and effect.
News/Breaking News - Posted 03 Jan 2007
John Drag, Jr. reviews Math'scool, a pre-algebra program that can be used with students in grades 3-8.
Sally Finley takes a look at the Super Size Me: Educationally Enhanced DVD, a combination of the award-winning documentary and interactive learning features for students in grades 6-12.
Susan Hixson reviews Rand McNally Classroom, a Web site designed for teaching the K-12 curriculum in social studies, history and geography.
Charles Doe reviews WriteBrain, a Web-based multimedia writing program.
Podcasting is emerging as one of those technological diamonds in the rough that has the potential to reshape the way we look at the Internet, mass media, and ourselves. With a multimedia computer, easy-to-use recording software, and some storage space on the Internet, everyone can build a podcasting production center of their very own. Podcasting is headed for a classroom near you, so read Dan Schmit's feature to be ready for it!
Multimedia online technologies now offer an unprecedented ability to enable every student, teacher, and even every family to "meet" the authors of books they are reading. If you have ever seen an author speak or have hosted authors in your school, you have experienced the impact meeting an author has on a personal relationship to a book. It humanizes the book, it reveals the person and personality that created it, and more. This article highlights specific ways you can replicate these personal connections to authors and illustrators by optimizing a variety of multimedia and online technologies.
A new HP initiative will award grants totaling $3.9 million in cash and HP equipment to K-12 public schools in the United States and Puerto Rico.
News/Free Resources - Posted 28 Dec 2006
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association, announced the launch of a new open discussion list, YA-MUSIC.
News/Breaking News - Posted 17 Dec 2006
Vantage Learning’s MY Access! Home Edition gives parents the tools they need to help their kids boost their writing skills and confidence levels, the announcement states.
News/Breaking News - Posted 06 Dec 2006
EBSCO Publishing introduced a new way for users to learn about EBSCOhost interface enhancements.
News/Breaking News - Posted 02 Dec 2006
For December 1, 2006: Fact Monster, a great, free research, homework help, and just plain fun site from Information Please, provides loads of features targeted to students.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Dec 2006
By
Linda C. Joseph
Comprised of concise, balanced original articles, primary source documents, diaries, speeches, and interviews, the database is targeted to grades 7 and up, the announcement states.
News/Breaking News - Posted 28 Nov 2006
Virtual Economics 3.0, a CD-based program from The National Council on Economic Education (NCEE), provides more than 1200 activity-based economics and personal finance lessons for K-12.
News/Breaking News - Posted 28 Nov 2006
For November 15, 2006: At the Nutrition Café, "where nutrition information is fun,"students get to learn about and demonstrate their knowledge of nutritional facts.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Nov 2006
By
Linda C. Joseph
A team of Canadian educators who are specialists in their content areas worked with Thinkronize to identify and evaluate high quality resources that specifically support Canadian teachers and students.
News/Breaking News - Posted 14 Nov 2006
netTrekker now includes access to Teachers’ Domain, the result of a partnership between Thinkronize, the developer of the netTrekker educational search products, and WGBH Educational Foundation, the producer of Teachers’ Domain.
News/Breaking News - Posted 13 Nov 2006
The folks at the ReadWriteThink Web site—a partnership between the International Reading Association (IRA), the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), and the Verizon Foundation—have an excellent collection of resources of their own making, plus links to many more, to use during National American Indian Heritage Month.
News/Free Resources - Posted 06 Nov 2006
Don Johnston, the founder and leader of the multimedia company that bears his name, has written an autobiography designed to inspire struggling students to become self-learning advocates and to take charge of their own learning process.
News/Breaking News - Posted 03 Nov 2006
Schools and districts can now purchase access to Hotmath.com as a content upgrade to netTrekker d.i.
News/Breaking News - Posted 01 Nov 2006
Reviewer Sally Finley takes a look at Blue Zones: Quest for the True Fountain of Youth, the latest online exploration from Questmaster Dan Buettner.
Reviewer Alice Kurtz takes a look at American History Online, a database for 7th grade - high school learning.
Reviewer John Drag, Jr. reviews Straight Curve Mathematics Series 2, a Web-based math program for grades 3-5.
The CultureGrams report series provides an insider's perspective on the daily life and culture of countries across the globe, including background information on customs, lifestyle, and country-specific recipes.
Cyberbee is positioned this month--Globally Positioned, that is--with resources to help you and your students map trails, find treasure caches, and solve problems by using the Global Positioning System technology made possible by 24 U.S. military satellites orbiting Earth that transmit signals to a GPS receiver.
The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) offers a variety of free online resources for K-12 educators and students, including curriculum information, lesson plans, bibliographies, and teacher workshops.
News/Free Resources - Posted 26 Oct 2006
There are more than 150 new video, DVD, and CD-ROM titles for grades K-12,
including animated series, now available in the Discovery School line of products.
News/Breaking News - Posted 18 Oct 2006
For October 15, 2006: “You never know where a science fair project will take you.” That’s the philosophy behind the creation of the School Science Fairs Web site! Cyberbee says the site should be your first stop when looking for science fair project ideas.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Oct 2006
By
Linda C. Joseph
The new version includes Web delivery, advanced reporting capabilities, and
speech-recognition enhancements.
News/Breaking News - Posted 13 Oct 2006
Educators can now help their students gain a deeper understanding of the world by blending unitedstreaming’s broadband videos on historical, geographical, or other subjects with Google Earth’s cutting-edge geography content.
News/Breaking News - Posted 12 Oct 2006
Criterion v6.2 includes a number of upgrades to ETS’s proprietary e-rater scoring engine, including the ability to detect run-on sentences and missing commas; expanded sentence fragment detection; and analysis and feedback regarding the technical quality of a student’s thesis statement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 11 Oct 2006
The Virtual History - Ancient Egypt multi-level, 5 – 7 day module is intended as a capstone to a traditionally taught section on ancient Egypt.
News/Breaking News - Posted 06 Oct 2006
MaxData is designed to teach students all aspects of data handling, from the first steps of simple representation of data, to learning database concepts such as fields, field types, records, tables, and filters.
News/Breaking News - Posted 06 Oct 2006
The new feature in World Book’s Online Reference Center is intended to help students and their parents better understand the issues around global warming, from the science to the politics.
News/Free Resources - Posted 04 Oct 2006
The National Science Foundation (NSF) offers an online collection of lessons and Web resources, most of which come from the National Science Digital Library (NSDL).
News/Free Resources - Posted 29 Sep 2006
The Bridge of Vocabulary, a book and CD set available November 13, offers an explicit vocabulary intervention program developed for general and special educators.
News/Breaking News - Posted 28 Sep 2006
The daily 10-minute broadcast on Headline News can be downloaded free from the CNN Web site.
News/Breaking News - Posted 27 Sep 2006
All content from the upcoming 19th edition of Children’s Catalog is now available on WilsonWeb.
News/Breaking News - Posted 16 Sep 2006
The upgraded edition of TechKnowledge, the online interactive technology literacy program for students in PreK-6th grade, offers a variety of new features.
News/Breaking News - Posted 15 Sep 2006
Susan Hixson reviews Let's Go Learn/Reading, a K-12 diagnostic assessment program.
Reviewer Sally Finley writes about MathAmigo 4, a standards-based math software program.
The site now offers homework help for 150 math textbooks. Free access to some content is available through January 2007.
News/Breaking News - Posted 30 Aug 2006
The site now offers homework help for 150 math textbooks. Free access to some content is available through January 2007.
News/Breaking News - Posted 30 Aug 2006
“Prosper for Shining Star” combines an assessment system with a standards-based English Language Learner curriculum.
News/Breaking News - Posted 18 Aug 2006
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) released the second edition of the popular book, “Spreadsheet Magic” by Pamela Lewis.
News/Breaking News - Posted 13 Aug 2006
Curriculum Associates released Passwords: Science Vocabulary for students in grades 3-12. The program is part of a series designed to help students develop academic language.
News/Breaking News - Posted 31 Jul 2006
The Web-based tool is designed to build writing and reading comprehension skills through essay writing and summarization practice.
News/Breaking News - Posted 06 Jul 2006
WriteBrain, from Sunburst Technology and DigitalXperts, offers a comprehensive Web-based writing program for grades 2-8.
News/Breaking News - Posted 06 Jul 2006
Sally Finley takes a look at Simulation Explorer, a collection of six science simulations presented at two levels of difficulty based on variables.
The Holt Science & Technology Lab Generator CD-ROM aids the planning and management of science labs for grades 5–8.
SirsiDynix and INFOhio, the Information Network for Ohio Schools, announced that 140 librarians and educators in Ohio are creating content for SirsiDynix SchoolRooms.
News/Breaking News - Posted 26 Jun 2006
Imbee.com is a blogging site for children ages 8 to 14. What!!??? you're saying. Not safe!! Well, with all the concern over kids posting and publishing to the Web, it's worth reading the EContent article by Jared Bernstein to see how the imbee.com folks create an environment they say is safe even for kids that young. (From Information Today, Inc.’s EContent magazine)
News/ITI Cross Links - Posted 13 Jun 2006
The newly updated unitedstreaming video-on-demand service will include new multimedia assets, live curriculum-based Web seminars led by education technology experts, and hundreds of additional educational video titles.
News/Breaking News - Posted 12 Jun 2006
For June 1, 2006: The USDA's Sci4Kids Web site is a series of stories for students ages 8-13 illustrating the work of the Agriculture Department scientists. Learn how satellites determine where cows Moo-ve (roam) and why that is important, how food might be grown in space, and lots more.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Jun 2006
By
Linda C. Joseph
Workbooks from Prentice Hall and Web-based literacy tools from Pearson Knowledge Technologies offer middle school students tools for building reading and writing skills.
News/Breaking News - Posted 11 May 2006
The Summer Reading Buzz site will have cool activities and contests for kids, informative tips and tools for parents, and downloable materials for librarians to make summer reading enjoyable and fun, according to Scholastic.
News/Breaking News - Posted 08 May 2006
Crick Software's Clicker 5 K-6 writing and creativity tool is now available in a Mac edition.
News/Breaking News - Posted 03 May 2006
The new program is research-based and designed to deliver engaging, targeted reading intervention for students in grades 3-6.
News/Breaking News - Posted 02 May 2006
The Development of the Industrial U.S. Reference Library, published by UXL, covers the history of America during the second half of the 19th century, a time when the country began its march toward the role of the wealthiest and most powerful industrial nation in the world.
The Education Desktop is a customized Internet portal for teachers and students that provides access to education-appropriate applications and tools.
Science Diagrams is a drawing program that provides access to more than 200 pre-constructed and edit-ready science-related diagrams, as well as the tools to create new diagrams.
Math, computers, and the Internet make a wonderful combination that seems to be producing better, more effective, and more interesting math educational materials every day. Internet technology—driven by speedy DSL access, increasing flexibility of use, and a large (and growing) potential audience—is providing an exciting forum for the development of some really outstanding math resources. Charlie Doe takes a look at the territory in this math roundup.
This month, Cyberbee sets his and your sites on water, streams, and creeks, where your students can experience great adventures. Discover all sorts of creatures and plants that live in this aquatic habitat, investigate the health of the creek and its impact on the overall environment, and lots more. Prepare for your journey by visiting these Web sites for information and lesson ideas.
Twenty new science movies and a Spanish version of BrainPOP are currently launching.
News/Breaking News - Posted 12 Apr 2006
The new version of the integrated writing, graphics, and publishing tool for students in grades K-8 features dozens of refinements.
News/Breaking News - Posted 12 Apr 2006
For April 1, 2006: Each spring when the falcons nest, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources sets up the Ohio Peregrine Falcons site, using a live cam on the 41st floor of the Rhodes Tower in Columbus.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Apr 2006
By
Linda C. Joseph
netTrekker d.i. now includes readability ratings for its bank of online classroom resources.
News/Breaking News - Posted 25 Mar 2006
EBSCO Publishing launched two free Web-based resources for school libraries: History-It’s Happening! and It’s a Reading Rave!
News/Free Resources - Posted 24 Mar 2006
The broadband educational video service has been designed for “kids
who live and learn online.”
News/Breaking News - Posted 15 Mar 2006
For March 15, 2006: Life re-emerges as we spring into spring! Take frogs, for instance. At the Something Froggy Web site, choose from the Primary (K-3) or the Junior (4-8) version to learn about frogs and their life cycle.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Mar 2006
By
Linda C. Joseph
Thomson Gale provides free online access to a variety of Earth Day-related materials, including experiments, information on the environment, related Web links, tools for teachers and parents, and environment-focused Thomson Gale titles.
News/Free Resources - Posted 12 Mar 2006
BrainPOP offers free online movies on topics related to Earth Day throughout the month of April.
News/Free Resources - Posted 10 Mar 2006
The online formative assessment is designed to measure and improve student writing progress in grades 6-12.
News/Breaking News - Posted 07 Mar 2006
Freedom on the Move, Continuing the March Toward a More Perfect Union offers students a multimedia experience focused on the important historical events associated with the civil rights movement, as well as an exploration of the issues of discrimination, prejudice, and bias.
Handheld Computers and Smartphones in Secondary Schools
provides guidance and activities to help educators learn how to use this new
technology effectively to meet curricular goals.
News/Breaking News - Posted 01 Mar 2006
Susan Hixson takes a look at updates to the math portion of ST Math + Music from MIND Institute.
Learning Essentials for Microsoft Office, a software tool that provides education-specific scaffolding for students and teachers using Microsoft Office applications, is reviewed by Charles Doe.
Inspiration 8 updates the visual learning program launched nearly 10 years ago for grades 6–12 with new and improved capabilities designed to help students visualize, think, organize, and learn.
For March 1, 2006: Ah, yes. March! That transitional, traditionally windy month. What you need is Kite Flying, a complete lesson on kite flying for all age levels.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Mar 2006
By
Linda C. Joseph
Linda Joseph's CyberBee this month helps you and your students transform your schoolyard into a launchpad; experiment with aerodynamics, Newton's laws, and Bernoulli's principle; create geometric kites and sleek paper airplanes; measure distances; determine the best flying designs and discover why they were successful; and more ... by guiding you to some terrific kite- and paper-airplane-related math and science Web sites.
The program for the Florida Educational Technology Conference (FETC) includes a closing session focused on the Texas Instruments “We Use Math Every Day” initiative, based on the popular CBS television series “NUMB3RS.”
News/Breaking News - Posted 20 Feb 2006
For February 15, 2006: Electric Universe is "a universe of information about electricity, how it affects our lives, and how to harness its power safely." Check out "Louie's Space" and other electrifying spots on the site!
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Feb 2006
By
Linda C. Joseph
“Artopia is a comprehensive Web-based arts experience designed for middle school students, covering the visual and performing arts.” (from the Artopia Web site) And … it’s really fun!! (from MMISXtra)
News/Free Resources - Posted 06 Feb 2006
With the Merit Text Talker, all of the passages, questions, answers, tips, and explanations students view on the screen in Merit reading, grammar, and vocabulary improvement programs can be spoken aloud.
News/Breaking News - Posted 03 Feb 2006
Play Index, applauded by Reference Quarterly as “the preeminent play-finding index,” is now available as a WilsonWeb online reference.
News/Breaking News - Posted 03 Feb 2006
The new version of Inspiration offers expanded visual capabilities, increased support for writing, and new resources for curriculum integration.
News/Breaking News - Posted 02 Feb 2006
Read&Write 8.0 GOLD enables students in grades 3 and up who struggle to read and write to use mainstream classroom software alongside their peers, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 31 Jan 2006
The Raptors in the City program resumes in February with the start of the nesting season of the Peregrine Falcon.
News/Breaking News - Posted 27 Jan 2006
The semester courses are designed to help schools meet diverse learning needs for distance learning and credit recovery.
News/Breaking News - Posted 26 Jan 2006
The new courseware was developed specifically to meet the instructional reading needs of students in the “tween” years.
News/Breaking News - Posted 25 Jan 2006
Custom Inspiration and Kidspiration graphic organizer templates will support Zaner-Bloser’s Strategies for Writers program.
News/Breaking News - Posted 11 Jan 2006
The site is designed to help students, teachers, and families celebrate the month.
News/Free Resources - Posted 05 Jan 2006
CyberBee, aka Linda Joseph, takes a tour of Web sites all about puzzles in this issue, covering puzzle history, puzzles for learning, puzzle generators, and more.
For January 1, 2006: Students will be fascinated by Henry Box Brown, who mailed himself to freedom. His story is told in UNC Chapel Hill's Documenting the American South digital publishing initiative.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Jan 2006
By
Linda C. Joseph
Voyager’s new reading intervention program uses print, Web, and DVD technology to reach struggling middle and high school students.
News/Breaking News - Posted 22 Dec 2005
The growth measure informs instruction and prepares districts and states for upcoming NCLB accountability provisions, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 21 Dec 2005
askSam Systems keeps on adding to its free, searchable collection of literature works online.
News/Free Resources - Posted 16 Dec 2005
For December 15, 2005: At the RIF (Reading is Fundamental) site, the focus in on developing children's as well as family literacy programs. RIF's Reading Planet is full of fun activities that lead the way!
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Dec 2005
By
Linda C. Joseph
The program’s new teaching system and management tools will have greater impact on helping older struggling readers, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 14 Dec 2005
Last week's Internet Scout Project Scout Report gives you the basics on this interesting, charming, and ultimately useful project and literature resource. See what new perspectives it might bring to your students' reading or literature study.
News/Free Resources - Posted 05 Dec 2005
For December 1, 2005: Examine four different sculptures to discover how modern artists use different methods and materials to convey ideas at the Art Interactive site from the Hirschhorn.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Dec 2005
By
Linda C. Joseph
askSam continues to expand its free, searchable collection of important works online.
News/Free Resources - Posted 21 Nov 2005
Holt Social Studies: World Geography/World Regions 2007 is standards-based and provides content that is accessible to all learners through integrated research-based reading instruction.
News/Breaking News - Posted 18 Nov 2005
Expanded book and author online resources will help connect students to reading through technology, according to the TeachingBooks.net announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 17 Nov 2005
The new Teachers’ Guide provides tutorials, tips, online and print resources, and specific curriculum-based projects in which U.S. teachers can participate to establish school-to-school global interaction on the Internet.
News/Free Resources - Posted 15 Nov 2005
The new edition includes coverage of timely new topics of interest to middle school students and educators, as well as expanded coverage of Web resources, periodicals and graphic novels.
News/Breaking News - Posted 11 Nov 2005
Multimedia curriculum kits are being provided free to all 15,000 U.S. middle schools.
News/Free Resources - Posted 09 Nov 2005
Over 40 new features and refinements are included in this release of the integrated writing, graphics, and publishing tool for students in grades K-8.
News/Breaking News - Posted 01 Nov 2005
For November 1, 2005: Explore Newton’s Castle, a “stimulating journey into the revelations of Sir Isaac Newton,” where you can learn about his discoveries … and secret life! Learn about color, optical illusions, and lots more ... such as why dogs chase cars! (Did they have cars in Newton's day??)
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Nov 2005
By
Linda C. Joseph
Databases can inspire novel approaches to creating curriculum. As teachers become familiar with them, their thinking about lesson planning and student research often moves in innovative directions. In this article, Sarah Cooper describes five projects through which librarians can take the lead in helping history and English teachers see the potential of this new world of sources. Included is coverage of database resources from Accessible Archives, Country Watch, EBSCO, Gale, JSTOR, LexisNexis, NewsBank, The OED Online, and ProQuest.
Districts nationwide are assessing progress toward achieving technology goals through a beta program that uses Learning.com's TechLiteracy Assessment.
News/Breaking News - Posted 28 Oct 2005
The companies have announced a collaboration that combines Inspiration visual learning software with Great Source’s reading comprehension materials.
News/Breaking News - Posted 26 Oct 2005
Discovery Health Connection now includes 16 curriculum programs, three Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) Model Programs, correlations to every state’s educational standards, and more than 100 new literacy lessons, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 26 Oct 2005
The educational award program will recognize the student-created Global SchoolNet Web projects that best teach others about the importance of international affairs and diplomacy.
News/Breaking News - Posted 21 Oct 2005
PLATO Earth and Space Science includes multimedia lessons and activities that use animation, experiments, investigations, video, and audio to bring science concepts to life, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 17 Oct 2005
For October 15, 2005: Miami Museum of Science's Atoms Family Web site presents a seasonal way to explore energy forms, hosted by the likes of Wolfman, Count Dracula, and their ilk.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Oct 2005
By
Linda C. Joseph
The standards-based activities are organized by state, subject area, grade level, and keyword for searching on SMART’s new Web site for educators.
News/Breaking News - Posted 14 Oct 2005
The Web site will look at 14 American-involved wars and allow users to compare the military, economic, and social aspects of each conflict. A 30-day free preview is available.
News/Breaking News - Posted 13 Oct 2005
For October 1, 2005: Here's a quick reference on organizing a science fair project for your students to use.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Oct 2005
By
Linda C. Joseph
The individual scenes are divided into separate documents in the database, allowing users to easily search and locate scenes pertaining to specific topics, according to askSam Systems.
News/Free Resources - Posted 21 Sep 2005
For September 1, 2005: Just right for the upcoming Constitution and Citizenship Day, Centuries of Citizenship: A Constitutional Timeline introduces key historical events while allowing students to think about the issues.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Sep 2005
By
Linda C. Joseph
Linda Joseph's CyberBee offers a wide assortment of resources to help you with activities for your class in support of Constitution and Citizenship Day, coming up this month.
The very nature of science as an ever-changing discipline requires timely and updated tools to deliver instruction within the science classroom. Technology programs provide the perfect solution to engage today’s students in scientific inquiry. This article covers science software in the categories of standards-driven teaching, simulations, inquiry, and science tools.
In this story, Mike Lambert and Margaret Carpenter, educators at Hong Kong International School, outline a range of approaches that “harness the power of images” in their teaching. Among the article subheads: Digitize ... Then Verbalize; Iconize ... Then They’ll Memorize; Use Visual Prompts to Encourage Creativity and Lateral Thinking. There’s also a sidebar of some brief stories from vendors whose products tap into visual learning.
For August 15, 2005: At the Memorial Hall Museum Online, explore the history of New England through artifacts and historic documents … even a “magic lens”!
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Aug 2005
By
Linda C. Joseph
Pearson Educational Measurement (PEM) will implement a pilot program of online testing for 6th grade English Language Arts and Social Studies tests administered as part of the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP).
News/Breaking News - Posted 08 Aug 2005
For August 1, 2005: Glorious to look at and a breeze to navigate, the Children’s Butterfly Web site is a great exploration starting point for students.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Aug 2005
By
Linda C. Joseph
JASON Adventure: Lost City Hydrothermal Vents will be available this fall.
News/Breaking News - Posted 29 Jul 2005
The new Web site was specifically designed for tweens, to engage, entertain, and educate them about the features of the new FLY pentop computer.
News/Breaking News - Posted 28 Jul 2005
For July 15, 2005: Coolmath4kids is loaded with thinking games that will keep kids occupied for hours, so it can make a good break from outside activities on a hot summer day.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Jul 2005
By
Linda C. Joseph
Being from the National Geographic Society, this news site is wide ranging, and both educator and student friendly.
News/Free Resources - Posted 15 Jul 2005
The FLY pentop computer offers a range of innovative applications for tweens (grades 3-8) to learn, communicate, and game.
News/Breaking News - Posted 06 Jul 2005
The company has added an authoring and game-sharing system to the Classroom Jeopardy package.
News/Breaking News - Posted 06 Jul 2005
SMART Ideas concept-mapping software 5.0 is designed to improve student comprehension and retention; the new version streamlines planning, teaching, and assessment, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 06 Jul 2005
The partnership, an extension of the Adobe Digital Kids Club program, is intended to make it easier for K-12 educators to take advantage of digital cameras and photo editing software in the classroom.
News/Breaking News - Posted 06 Jul 2005
For July 1, 2005: Too hot? Check out polar bears and other critters cooling it in their simulated natural habitats at the San Diego zoo.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 01 Jul 2005
By
Linda C. Joseph
A review of Predictive Assessment Series, an assessment tool for K-12.
A review of Differentiated Instruction: Success for Every Student, a free online professional development resource.
A review of the companion Web site for the PBS/NOVA "Saving the National Treasures" television program.
A product review of Deltora, a Web site for ages 9-12 that supports the Deltora novels by Emily Rodda.
A product review of "Fractions with Professor Von Strudel," math software for grades 2-6.
Math teachers and their students have a huge number of instructional, testing, tutorial, and other materials available in a bewildering array of formats. Programs and services are offered as software for personal computers or hand-held devices, on stand-alone handhelds and calculators, and as Web-based subscription services. This article takes a look at some of the instructional, testing, and tutorial software or Web-based programs and services for math teaching.
In Part 2 of his Database News series, Robert Congleton looks at the products offered by Facts On File, Greenwood Electronic Publishing, netTrekker, NewsBank, and World Book.
For this article, Audrey Church surveyed a number of e-book providers about their offerings to demonstrate the breadth and depth of the free and fee-based e-book content that's available today, as well as the sophisticated ways that content can be presented, searched, and otherwise worked with. Read on to see what's available from Project Gutenberg, Bartleby.com: Great Books Online, International Children's Digital Library, Gale Virtual Reference Library, Greenwood Publishing Group-eBooks, Follett Library Resource Company, Questia, and more.
Over 150 new video, DVD, and CD-ROM titles for grades K-12 have been added to the Discovery School line.
News/Breaking News - Posted 29 Jun 2005
Inspiration’s visual learning software is now compatible with leading handheld computers, with the Pocket PC version joining Inspiration for Palm OS, launched last year.
News/Breaking News - Posted 22 Jun 2005
Readex's collection of primary sources will include approximately 15,000 broadsides from the 19th century. (From Information Today, Inc.’s NewsBreaks)
News/ITI Cross Links - Posted 20 Jun 2005
For June 15, 2005: Enter the front gate, virtually, of the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis via this Web site developed by the St. Louis Public Library.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 Jun 2005
By
Linda C. Joseph
A cooperative effort between the National Library of Spain and the Library of Congress, the redesigned site has added materials from the collections of the National Library of Spain.
News/Breaking News - Posted 10 Jun 2005
There are new, age-specific home pages and more powerful search capabilities in this latest Grolier, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 09 Jun 2005
H.W. Wilson will offer the Art Image Database to replace the AMICO Library, which is ceasing publication in July.
News/Breaking News - Posted 08 Jun 2005
Librarian Marylaine Block’s Neat New Stuff I Found This Week was our tip-off to this quality teacher resource of historical maps and excellent accompanying lesson plans.
News/Free Resources - Posted 08 Jun 2005
Project SMARTArt was created to integrate two principal tenets of media literacy – critical analysis and self-expression – into traditional curricula, according to Tessa Jolls, president of the Center for Media Literacy.
News/Free Resources - Posted 03 Jun 2005
Additions include Assignment Discovery titles, new digital images, and classroom integration ideas.
News/Breaking News - Posted 02 Jun 2005
Version 5.7 includes a universal import utility for processing test data and an improved benchmarking test with 6,000 test items.
News/Breaking News - Posted 01 Jun 2005
Improvements include enhancements requested by existing NoveList and NoveList K-8 customers, according to the announcement.
News/Breaking News - Posted 27 May 2005
Pinnacle Studio and Advanced Academic Toolkits are designed to be simple, affordable software that makes learning fun.
News/Breaking News - Posted 25 May 2005
The new online writing destination helps students find their voice, develop their craft, and publish their work, according to Scholastic’s announcement.
News/Free Resources - Posted 20 May 2005
National Geographic and PBS have created a series of four television documentaries and a complementary Web site, all under the moniker Strange Days on Planet Earth, that make for a riveting 21st-century media approach to studying environmental issues.
News/Free Resources - Posted 18 May 2005
The launch of Who’s Who in American History, with more than 70,000 historical biographies, represents the first phase of a major digitization initiative by Marquis Who’s Who.
News/Breaking News - Posted 18 May 2005
For May 15, 2005: Time-warp back 65 million years with Dino Russ (aka geologist Russ Jacobson) to the age of dinosaurs.
Cyberbee Web Pick/Cyberbee's Web Picks - Posted 15 May 2005
By
Linda C. Joseph
Although this CIA reference site provides information as of 1 January 2005, it will be updated biweekly throughout the year to provide wide-ranging information about the background, geography, people, government, economy, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for all included countries.
News/Breaking News - Posted 13 May 2005
Announced at the 2005 International Reading Association Convention in San Antonio, the Riverdeep products are Destination Reading Course III for grades 4-6, Course IV for grades 6-8, and Course V, a high-school-appropriate Proficiency Course for students who have not mastered the foundational reading skills.
News/Breaking News - Posted 09 May 2005
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