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THIS WEEK'S REVIEWS
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This week, Education World reviewed three Web sites of interest to educators.

Exploratorium: Memory
Memory: Great Exploratorium site, going strong since 1998.
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/2008/r0108-14.shtml

Skillswise
Brush up math, reading, and writing skills on this BBC site. Cheerio!
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/2008/r0108-11.shtml

Six Steps to ELL Lesson Design
Guidance on developing lessons for English-language learners.
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/2008/r0108-09.shtml

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REVIEWS
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Exploratorium: Memory
Memory: Great Exploratorium site, going strong since 1998.
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/2008/r0108-14.shtml

REVIEW: A
Memory was created in 1998 to accompany an exhibit at the Exploratorium. The content is as fascinating today as it was then. Visitors to the site will want to begin by viewing the slide show and the video of the dissection of the sheep brain to learn how the memory works in humans. Then move on to discover the work of artist Franco Magnani, who paints entirely from memory. The online exhibits offer users activities that test the memory such as finding the right penny, memory solitaire, telling yourself a story, droodles (combinations of doodles and riddles), and identifying famous people. Users can also learn which facial features help us remember a face and some things you can try to help you remember things better such as elaborative encoding to put things into your long term memory. Included is a series of articles and archived Webcast lectures that deal with various aspects of memory.

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Skillswise
Brush up math, reading, and writing skills on this BBC site. Cheerio!
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/2008/r0108-11.shtml

REVIEW: A+
Skillswise is a robust resource for anyone wanting to brush up on their reading, writing, and/or math skills. Users can pick and choose which materials are most appropriate for them. It includes fact sheets, worksheets, quizzes and games, as well as a section for tutors/teachers that includes lesson plans, tracking tools, ESOL links, an alphabetic listing of all content, and a message board. The “Words” section includes grammar, spelling, reading, listening, writing, and vocabulary, and the “Numbers” section includes whole numbers, measurement, fractions, and data. Also included are a glossary and a listing of all the games on the site categorized by skill area.

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Six Steps to ELL Lesson Design
Guidance on developing lessons for English-language learners.
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/2008/r0108-09.shtml

REVIEW: A+
Six Steps to ELL Lesson Design offers classroom teachers resources and information for meeting the needs of all degrees of English speakers within the same classroom and curriculum. It was created in 2002 as an education course project at Arizona State University, but is still broadly relevant and useful today. The site is written in a conversational form and includes six steps for planning and organizing your curriculum, including determining the needs of your class, identifying adaptable activities, modifying materials, creating new activities, and designing lessons. This step-by-step approach is easily adapted to the needs of any classroom teacher who finds herself/himself charged with teaching ELL students to the same high standards as others in the regular classroom. Also included are other Web resources and a printable collection of job aids, charts, and other documents as well as a summary of the six steps to print out.

Each week, Education World spotlights books of interest to educators. This week, read a brief summary of two more of our "top 50 books for educators."

The Teacher's Calendar
Chase's famous Calendar of Events -- that huge book journalists use to help them develop filler material for their newspapers by doing funny little stories on National Hog Calling Day -- has many spin-offs, and one is this extraordinarily useful annual calendar for teachers. If you simply used this calendar to assign a brief research report every day of the school year, which would give each student in a class of 30 six assignments during a 180 day school year, would make this book well worth its price. Enjoy!
Click to learn more or to purchase this book.

Rookie Teaching for Dummies
Of course, we don't read the Dummies books because we really are dummies -- real dummies don't read at all! We read them for their irreverent and yet practical advice, and this example is no different. From the introduction, where the author stresses that he's not going to give you tear-jerking stories, education theory, or salsa recipes, through to the top-ten lists that conclude Dummies titles, this book is fun and also functional.
Click to learn more or to purchase this book.

Click the icon to the right to see more books and many other products that are available in the Education World MarketPlace.

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The Best of LEARNING GAMES

If you enjoy Education World's weekly LEARNING GAMES feature, you'll love this book! Education World and the National Education Association (NEA) have joined forces to create a handy, pocket-size booklet of more than 30 of our most popular learning games. PLUS an extra bonus -- ten more games for classroom fun!

These classroom games span the grades and the major subject areas -- and inject a healthy dose of fun into the serious business of teaching and learning. Looking to fill the end of a hectic day with something fun and educational? Looking for a great reward for students that will make valuable use of free time? Looking to reinforce basic skills with a fun activity? These games will fill the bill!

Included in this 80-page booklet you'll find these games and more:

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For a modest $24.95 PER YEAR, upgrade to Personal Edition, "Super SchoolNotes," with thousands of resources linked to your state's standards.

Click here for more information.

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MORE FEATURES OF INTEREST!

Professional Development Newsletter Sign up now!
Education World MarketPlace Books, electronics, insurance, travel, more.
Printables Library You're sure to find great resources here.
Meet Our Columnists Experts from many areas of the "education world."
Teaching Themes for Early Childhood Sue LaBella offers holiday ideas, more.
Classroom Organization Tips Ideas (and photos) that you can easily adapt.
Stress Relief Kit Take a deep breath. Then take a look here.
Classroom Management 101 Real teachers share what they are doing to manage real classrooms.
News for Kids News of our world written with kids in mind. Teacher's Guide included.

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