Time to Begin

August means, Back to School! Getting the school year underway can be a challenge, whether you are a new teacher or a veteran. 

There will be changes—new students in new classes. Even experienced teachers may find teaching in a different school. Even if you are returning to the same school, it won’t be exactly the same. There are new policies, revised schedules, different room arrangements, updated resources, etc.

One thing will not have changed: There will be meetings! Before they begin, you need to get organized.Report to that first meeting prepared to deal with the avalanche of information headed your way. Here’s a list of survival plans:

• A list of questions: Make a list of every question you can think of in advance that will help you get a handle on your job this year. After each question, leave space for the response, and write down the information; what may seem very clear at the time may not be so clear later. Add new questions to the list as they arise during the first few days of school.
• Have a folder or large manila envelope: Opening meetings generate tons of handouts. Secure all of them in one place as they are received instead of hurriedly “filing” them in books or pockets or purses. They can be sorted and reviewed later when you need specific information. Most of them probably will bear important margin notes you take during various meetings, notes you will not want to lose.
• Get a large spiral notebook and folder for professional development activities: This notebook and folder will become important resources that establish a record of your ongoing professional development. In the notebook, write down the title, date, and location of each professional development activity you attend; as well as the length of time you participated. Take notes over the ideas and information you want to remember. Use the folder to store handouts from workshops and presentations.

In many conferences, professional development is a requirement to retain certification. Keeping a dedicated, chronological notebook from the first day of the school year will make it easy to track your professional development hours, and maintaining a file of professional development handouts will give you easy access to ideas and information.

The opening days of school always seem to go by quickly. May 2011/2012 be a great year for you and your students!

Check out These Great Sites For Teachers

http://www.loc.gov/topics/index.php
Click on links to a multitude of Library of Congress collections organized under nine general headings—for example, American History; Arts and Culture; and News, Journalism, and Advertising. Click on specific links to access a wealth of information, documents, and photographs to enrich lessons across the curriculum.

http://kidshealth.org/kid/
I’m too short! My new braces hurt! I’m going to the hospital! Growing up isn’t easy. Here is an information site for kids, yours at school or at home, that addresses their concerns, validates their feelings, and answers many specific health-related questions. The format is colorful and kid-friendly; the text (in English or Spanish) is age-appropriate and reassuring.

National Trust for Historic Preservation
Love visiting historic locales? Start here. This National Trust for Historic Preservation site features “Distinctive Destinations,” profiles of culturally unique American cities and towns from east to west. Colorful photos, maps, and reviews of local history, architecture, and special attractions will encourage you to hit the road one more time this summer.

http://pettube.com/
Just for fun! Amuse and entertain yourself with hilarious pet videos featuring a variety of creatures great and small. Sneezing bears, anyone?

Check out This Great Information For Teachers

How much time per week does the average child in this class / school / district get to use computers as part of his or her learning experience? If you get an answer of more than 30 to 60 minutes per week (that’s only 6 to 12 minutes per day), you’ll be lucky. And, no, that’s not enough.

You NEED to take a look at these links:

1. 12 videos to spark educators’ thinking Watch these and let me know what you think.
2. The future of print: 21 interesting e-books for kids Are you using e-books, yet?
3. Shift Happens v5 – Iowa, Did You Know? [VIDEO] This is a MUST SEE for all educators!