Friday, May 1, 2009

GeoGebra

Dynamic Mathematics for Schools



WebStart
Download to Your Desktop
Wikipedia: GeoGebra



David Bowie explains how to use it on Maine iTunes

Judy Chandler presents Mathematics in Design - An Investigation Using GeoGebra at the 2009 Online Spring Institute on Tuesday, May 5, 3:45 - 4:45 PM.

David Bowie presents GeoGebra - Redefining Math Instruction & Learning at the 2009 Online Spring Institute on Thursday, May 7, 3:45 - 4:45 PM.

Unschooling/Deschooling

"What children need is not new and better curricula but access to more and more of the real world; plenty of time and space to think over their experiences, and to use fantasy and play to make meaning out of them; and advice, road maps, guidebooks, to make it easier for them to get where they want to go (not where we think they ought to go), and to find out what they want to find out."

~John Holt~ Teach Your Own

"We teachers - perhaps all human beings - are in the grip of an astonishing delusion. We think that we can take a picture, a structure, a working model of something, constructed in our minds out of long experience and familiarity, and by turning that model into a string of words, transplant it whole into the mind of someone else. Perhaps once in a thousand times, when the explanation is extraordinary good, and the listener extraordinary experienced and skillful at turning word strings into non-verbal reality, and when the explainer and listener share in common many of the experiences being talked about, the process may work, and some real meaning may be communicated. Most of the time, explaining does not increase understanding, and may even lessen it."

~John Holt, (1923-1985) American Educator, How Children Learn

Washing Hands



BrainPOP: Washing Hands
MayoClinic: Hand Washing
Why Do I Need to Wash My Hands?
Wikipedia: Hand Washing

World Wide Web



What Is the World Wide Web?

Wikipedia: World Wide Web

Video Creation Tradition













An eight year tradition continued last night with the Oxford Hills M'iMovie Film Festival. Complete with donated fancy cars and red carpet, students, parents, and volunteers joined together once again for the culminating activity of a year's worth of video creation.



This is an email we received from a parent this morning:


"Dear Devoted Directors,

It is with much gratitude to you all that I write this letter. As a novice to your tradition, its history, and flair - I was amazed and impressed by how neatly and warmly the event occurred. Everyone seemed so happy to be there, not just the filmmakers and their family or friends, either. Every volunteer we encountered seemed to have some inner joy, some inner glow of pride that she or he carried around with them: the chauffeurs, the interviewers, (yes, the directors, of course!), even the ushers who had the dubious position of keeping the mass of parents out of the auditorium were delightful (and entertaining!)


I sincerely hope that my daughter enjoyed her first foray into the world of film, because I would love to see what she could make for a movie next year - but also because of the powerful experience you created for her and her peers.

Thank you for providing this opportunity for children of the area.

Bravo! I cannot wait to see the encore.

Sincerely,

_______________"













For resources, forms and more information, go here.


And an email this morning from a teacher:

"Just so you know-Most of the Otisfield sixth graders are wearing their medals today and they are still aglow from their fame! I know it is a lot of work but the festival really makes the kids feel special and CREATIVE!"

Monday, April 27, 2009

10 Lessons Learned

"What follows are some of my suggestions, ten lessons learned, which are based on thoughts and observations of our success. This list is based on conversations with FMS teachers, students, parents, as well as other educators from across the state, nation, and around the world. All of these individuals were concerned with the role of technology in preparing students to learn and compete in the world market of the 21st century." ~ Chris Toy of Freeport Middle School

Maine Native American Studies


Looking for quality content and ideas for implementing LD291? Start by going to Elizabeth Sky-McIlvain's work:

U & D: A Space for the Exploration of LD291 and Its Implementation

Wabanaki Studies Resources & Lessons


The Wabanaki Technologies Projects

Check out this gem of a website for 4th graders by Elaine Bartley: Wabanaki People


Additional Resources at LIM Wiki

Maine Literacy Blog Discovery

You really don't want to miss this wonderful blog if you are involved with literacy. Check it out:


Literacy Journal Link

Registration Now Open

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