December

We are almost done for 2012, and if we all make it through today , and tomorrow (Mayan calendar reference - not to mention the last day before Christmas Break) , we should all be having a relaxing break. I found a few gems on the Internet this last week that may be helpful. Hope you enjoy them or they may benefit you in some way.

Have a wonderful and safe holiday. I am privileged to get to work with the best staff in the world. I appreciate and care about each of you (and of course never show it enough!)

THE TEACHING CHANNEL 
This site has very short, but excellent videos on teaching strategies. The behavior and engagement ones are really good. You don’t have to register or join to watch the videos.

LAURA CANDLER http://www.lauracandler.com/?utm_source=December+16%2C+2012+Newsletter&utm_campaign=December+16%2C+2012++Newsletter+CCC&utm_medium=email
Laura has a great site for resources, many of which are free on her website. She is a Master Teacher who has been sharing her expertise for a number of years. And like lots of other teachers, she also has a Teachers-Pay-Teachers site where she offers some of her lessons and activities for sale. http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Laura-Candler?utm_source=December+16%2C+2012+Newsletter&utm_campaign=December+16%2C+2012++Newsletter+CCC&utm_medium=email

DAVID BYRNE: Professional Development Opportunity in January
Webinar on Google Drive and the Common Core- including Google Docs
info here:  http://www.freetech4teachers.com/

NOAH AND THE WHALE: This is a good video to show how everyone can spread kindness in the world.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ID0kgP9IVhs

Silence for Sandy Hook Elementary

Our thoughts and prayers go out to them...

Another Great Resource... or three

TeachersFirst is a great resource site. Once a week they send out a newsletter for amazing education websites. This month they are featuring a very adaptable lesson on Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree; and a December Calendar page that has lots of ideas for holidays, anniversaries, seasonal events, and more. Each week also has a Featured Sites list with some of “best of the web” educational sites for all grade levels and subject areas.
TeachersFirst also offers self-directed Professional Development in their OK2ASK section. If you find something here you would like to follow through on, remember to talk to your administrator about getting credit for it. As of last year, online PD was being accepted on a limited basis in Grand County.
You do have to become a member (For FREE) if you want to sign up for the newsletter. This is the link to the website TEACHERSFIRST

Someone asked me about THE HAT again… it’s a little program that draws kids’ names randomly…. You download it to your desktop. The kids love it: The Hat ; and the collection of desktop timers is here:  5 Simple timers. 

Added Bonus this week! I know I send out lots of stuff for iPad/iphone/ipod but here is one for Android: Kitchen Timer App for Android: Kitchen Timer