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This week's newsletter is sponsored by The Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Want Lance Armstrong to Visit Your School?

The Lance Armstrong Foundation is challenging educators to get students involved in the fight against cancer. Participating classes will have the opportunity to win a visit from champion cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong. 

To enter the LIVESTRONG at School contest, educators must complete a lesson from the LIVESTRONG at School curriculum and answer the question with their students, “What does LIVESTRONG mean to you?”

Through LIVESTRONG at School, the Foundation offers free online lessons to teach your K-12 students about cancer in an age-appropriate, hopeful, inspiring and empowering way.

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Volume 12, Issue 13
March 25, 2008

Art on a Shoestring:
Creating Groundbreaking Works Without Breaking the Bank
As school budgets shrink, especially in the area of arts education, are you finding it difficult to fund even the simplest art projects for your classroom? Art doesn't have to cost big bucks! Some of the neatest works of art are made with recycled or inexpensive materials. You don't have to be a scrooge to appreciate a good bargain -- these activities straight from the Internet are fun and cheap.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson104.shtml

April Fool!
If you're looking for a fun idea for April Fool's Day, why not consider planning a Backwards Day? Here are some simple ideas for making Backwards Day a fun day of learning…
http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/dailylp/dailylp/dailylp071.shtml

More Timely Lesson Themes
Think Spring
Women's History Month
Hoop It Up: Join in the "March Madness"
http://www.educationworld.com/holidays/archives/spring.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_special/march.shtml#nutrition
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson228.shtml

Lesson Plan of the Day
See last week's lessons; search lessons by subject.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/dailylp.shtml

News for Kids
‘No Cussing’ Clubs Catching On With Kids
A boy in California was tired of his peers’ bad language, so he decided to do something about it.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/newsforyou.shtml

Learning Game of the Week
Review any subject, skill with this version of "Family Feud."
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/learninggame/learninggame025.shtml

Friday Fun
A "Boring" Lesson in Geography
Use maps to locate the most unique place names around.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/friday/friday014.shtml

Vicki Cobb’s Show-Biz Science
Explore the aerodynamics of kites, flying saucers.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/showbiz_science/showbiz_science053.shtml

Box Cars and One-Eyed Jacks Math Games With Joanne and Jane
This week: "Double Trouble" teaches adding double digits.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/boxcars/boxcars012.shtml

Writing Bug
Think up a tale so tall that it is impossible to believe. End it with the words April Fool!
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/writing_bug/writingbug032.shtml

Bulletin Boards That Teach
Do You See the Signs of Spring?
Spring into April with this easy digital camera activity.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/bullboard/bullboard008.shtml

Early Childhood Teaching Themes
Seeds & Weeds A finger play teaches about seeds. Plus more spring fun.
Plants Another finger play, more activities for young ones.
Spring Weather Use these ideas to "spring" into more learning fun.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_earlychildhood/newsletters/

Teacher-Submitted Lesson Plans
Teacher-Submitted Lesson #1 Create and write vivid descriptions of new "Fear Factor" stunts.
Teacher-Submitted Lesson #2 Use clues to cooperatively develop a mystery character.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tsl/index.shtml

From the Math Machine
Logic Zoo is a fun Web site for teaching about sorting, math attributes, and problem solving. (Grades 2-5)
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/mathmachine/mathmachine029.shtml

Every-Day Edits
Primary Edits Animals A to Z: Turkey
Ele-Middle Edits Jane Goodall, Appomattox, McDonald’s…
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/animalsAtoZ.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/edit.shtml

Fact Monster Hunts
Primary Hunt March Hunt #4
Ele-Middle Hunt Hunt #26
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/factmonster.shtml

Vocab-ulous!
Words that begin with CH- blends.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/vocabulous/vocabulous027.shtml

5-Minute Fillers Volume 28
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/fillers.shtml

Work Sheet of the Week
"Multiplication Properties" -- commutative and associative.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/worksheets/TCM/math_3_5.shtml

FROM OUR PRINTABLES LIBRARY

Readers Theater Scripts
Ready-to-read scripts provide hours of classroom fun. Teacher’s Guide included. (Grades 3-6)
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/reading/index.shtml#theater

Coloring Calendars
Use these calendar templates to build student skills and for many other purposes. (Grades Pre-K-12) http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/calendar.shtml

Work Sheets from Teacher Created Materials
More than 250 work sheets organized by subject and grade level.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/worksheets/TCM/index.shtml

Where in the World Is Mrs. Waffenschmidt?
Can you figure out where she is this week based on the clues she provides? (Grades 3-8)
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/waffenschmidt.shtml

Just for This Month!
See our April Month of Fun, April Word Search, and April Coloring Calendar. PLUS! Create your own work sheets for this month’s themes: Spring, "March Madness" Basketball, Umbrellas, Flowers….
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/fun_month.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/wordsearch.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/calendar.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/tools_templates/index.shtml#holiday_editable

New! TGIF #7 Have you seen Education World's new TGIF feature? Each Friday, TGIF rewards you for making it through another week. Take a deep breath, enjoy some cool ideas and resources, and get your weekend off to a great start! In Volume 7 Math Nights add up to achievement gains… Rapping students put an end to student cussing… Best books for teaching about April Fools… Watch for all new content this Friday in TGIF!

Have You Signed Up for Our Free Professional Development Newsletter?
Sign up now for the Professional Development Newsletter, a biweekly newsletter that will keep you connected to our latest professional development content for educators and school leaders.
http://www.educationworld.com/maillist.shtml#profdev

Professor Joe Martin: The Educator Motivator
A Little Change Will Do You Good
“I believe we have three choices when it comes to responding to change: we either can get up (do something about it and learn from it), give up (throw in the towel), or shut up (accept it for what it is)."
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/columnists/martin/martin007.shtml

Dr. Ken Shore: Classroom Problem Solver
Managing Field Trips
“Class trips offer students unique learning experiences -- and provide the opportunity for disciplinary problems. With some advance planning, however, you can avoid those problems."
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/shore/shore021.shtml

Dr. Fred Jones: Tools for Teaching
The Body Language of Commitment
“When kids go to school, they already have a Ph.D. in parent management, and all of those skills will transfer to you. They will know what you are going to do before you do it, because you will tell them -- with your body language.“
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/columnists/jones/jones010.shtml

Brenda Dyck
Me? A Teacher-Researcher
“Teacher-leaders everywhere are purposefully seeking out questions about their teaching practices -- and those questions are becoming the jumping-off point for improvement initiatives and, in some cases, widespread learning reform."
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/voice/voice135.shtml

Angela Powell: Getting It Together
After-School Tracking With Clothespins
"Keeping track of where students go after school can be simple even when their home schedules aren’t."
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/organization/organization023.shtml

Reading Tips
Party Time
Encourage independent reading by turning reading time into party time.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/reading/tips/tips008.shtml

Reading Review
Reaching Out to Illiterate Teens
After third grade, reading is less of a subject and more of a tool, as students begin reading for content. But many students enter middle and high school without basic reading skills, dooming their academic careers.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/issues/issues408.shtml

Total Reader
How Cool Is That!
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev149.shtml

Explain That!
Mean, Median, and Mode
Mean, median, and mode are three different kinds of averages.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/explainthat/explainthat007.shtml

Math Worth Repeating
Math Across the Curriculum
Are you having trouble integrating math with literature, geography, art, or music? Discover how one teacher brought her love of running into the classroom and, in the process, integrated all areas of her curriculum. Included: Sites for integrating math with literature, history, science, geography, health, art, and music.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr146.shtml

Math Mnemonics
Metric Units of Measure
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/mnemonics/mnemonics032.shtml

> Teacher Feature
Wearin' Thin o' the Green (Beans)
Constantine Christopulos's second graders petition for fewer green beans.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/teacher_feature/teacher_feature176.shtml

Strategy of the Week
Looping
Looping -- when a teacher moves with his or her students to the next grade level rather than sending them to another teacher at the end of the school year -- is a phenomenon that is growing in popularity. What are the benefits and disadvantages and looping?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/strategy/strategy014.shtml

From Our Archives
Admit and Exit Slips
Want to know what your students really learned today, and what might require extra reinforcement? When students respond in writing to what they learn and share it, teachers can target the gaps and keep them on the right track.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev091.shtml

Teaching With Songs
Songs are an effective tool for learning that is fun, memorable, and long-lasting.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin510.shtml

The Prop Box: Setting the Stage for Meaningful Play
Find out how you can use "prop boxes" -- play materials grouped by theme -- to guide your students toward meaningful role-playing and creative exploration.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev101.shtml

Backpacktivity
Number Tic-Tac-Toe
Students practice addition and subtraction facts with their families.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/homework/pdfs/backpacktivity_032.pdf

Classroom Management Tips
Transition Time
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/management_tips/management_tips049.shtml

Contests and Competitions
Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/archives/contests.shtml

In A Little Change Will Do You Good!, Joe Martin talks about the positive affects of even unwanted change. What's the greatest change you've experienced in your professional life? How did you deal with it? What unexpected benefits arose from it?
Join the Conversation.
http://forums.educationworld.com

Tips Library
Classroom Management: Saving Space
Behavior Management: Classroom Court
Motivating Kids: Stupendous Students!
Book Report Makeover: What's Your Sign?
Homework Tips: Homework Club
Best Idea Ever: Covering Keyboards
Testing Tips: Check Your Work
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/management_tips/management_tips032.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/behaviortips/behaviortips032.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/motivation/motivation032.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/bookreport/bookreport032.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/homeworktips/homeworktips001.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/bestidea/bestidea032.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/testing/testing032.shtml

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http://www.educationworld.com/maillist.shtml#profdev

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Brenda Dyck's Blog
Using Web 2.0 Tools to Breathe New Life into Old Projects
"Some of the pre-technology projects we've discarded could fit into today's classroom if we spent some time pondering how one of the Web 2.0 tools could be integrated to bring it more in line with the preferences of 21st century learners."
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/columnists/dyck/dyck026.shtml

Bernie Poole's Essential Microsoft Office 2007
Database Use
Lesson 8 of Bernie Poole's Essential Microsoft Office 2007 explains how to use a database to organize data resulting from research, help students work on projects, personalize interactions with students, and more.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/columnists/poole/office_tutorials/Lesson8_2007.pdf

Lorrie Jackson's Techtorial
Tech Tools for April Fools
"For most of the year, we teach students to act maturely and responsibly when using computers. Once a year, however, we like to have some safe, educational fun with technology. In this techtorial, you'll find four tech tricks you can play on your students on April Fools."
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/techtorial/techtorial055.shtml

Tech Classroom Spotlight
Listening Discoveries
Betty Reeves super-charges her students' musical study with technology.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/teacher_feature/teacher_feature026.shtml

Tech Lesson of the Week
Evaluating Web Sites
Students learn the six criteria for evaluating Web sites and then use those criteria to locate three sites that provide good information and three that do not.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/techlp/techlp007.shtml

Sites to See
Hoax Sites
Today's Web users can select from millions of Web pages created by experts, pseudo-experts, enthusiasts, fanatics, and the just plain ignorant. With so many resources to choose from, how can students tell what's real and what's not? Introduce them to some April Fools Day fun and year round media-literacy lessons.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/sites/sites027.shtml

One-to-One Computing: Is Your School Ready?
Handhelds, laptops, tablet PCs...Which is best for your school? Guest columnist Elizabeth Sky-McIlvain offers a simple rubric for administrators, teachers, and parents to use when evaluating their school's readiness for one-to-one computing.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech202.shtml

Tech Team
Tech Solutions for Special Kids
Members of the Ed World Tech Team discuss the technology they use to help students with special needs keep up with their classmates, and to help students with special abilities extend their learning.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech224.shtml

EdTech Tips of the Week
Excel-lent Tips
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech_tips/tech_tips029.shtml
Click here to contribute to our tips library.

Template of the Week
Problem-Solving Strategies Bookmark
A reminder students can carry with them.
http://www.educationworld.com/tools_templates/template_wordproblemsbookmark.doc

Video of the Week
Education in Second Life: Explore the Possibilities
An overview of the possible educational uses of Second Life.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/archives/videooftheweek.shtml

Do you have a comment about this video -- or a favorite online video you'd like to recommend to other educators? Click here to let us know about it.

What can you do with SchoolNotes? Check out Mrs. English's site to find out!
http://www.schoolnotes.com

Interactivity
Earth Day Groceries Project
Promoting environmental awareness.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/archives/interactivity.shtml

Web Wizard
What Kids Can Do
McLean Online is a school Web site that's proud to display elementary talent.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/webwizard067.shtml

Click here to share your classroom Web site with Education World readers.

Do you have a favorite collaborative project to share?
Join the Conversation
http://forums.educationworld.com

Organizing Staff Meetings Even You Want to Attend
Do you run your staff meetings like press briefings -- that is, read the news and run? More principals should use faculty meetings as opportunities for problem-solving and professional development, according to Sheila and John Eller, authors of Energizing Staff Meetings. Included: Suggestions for energizing staff meetings.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin518.shtml

Hold the Fries! Three Programs Are Improving Student Nutrition
Since this month is Nutrition Month, let’s take a look at three programs that are helping to focus student attention -- and learning -- on good nutrition.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin346.shtml

George Pawlas: Pawlas on PR for PRincipals
Create a School Profile Brochure
Most corporations have professional brochures that promote their history, goals, and results. So, asks George Pawlas, why shouldn't schools create brochures to boast of their history, their stats and awards, their community connections, and their visions and goals?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/columnists/pawlas/pawlas009.shtml

Pete Hall's Always Strive To Be a Better You!
Morphing Your Elementary School Into a Literacy Academy
We used to call them grammar schools. Now we call them elementary schools. I propose a new definition of our schools -- especially those that service the primary grades. We need to shift our mindset and rename them as Literacy Academies.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/columnists/hall/hall005.shtml

The Principal Poet
Mr. Ivan, Education World's Principal Poet, presents "The Garden in My Classroom.”
My classroom is my garden,
And my students are the seeds.
In late summer I open envelopes,
And shake out all their needs…
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/columnists/ivan/ivan014.shtml

Meet the other members of Education World's Columnist Team.

Take Five for…
Thinking about new ways to involve parents.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/takefive/takefive008.shtml

How I Handled…
Making bus drivers an important part of the school community.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/how_i_handled/how_i_handled017.shtml

Pawlas on PR
Kid comments lead to teacher appreciation display.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/pawlasPR/pawlasPR037.shtml

Instant Meeting #22
A graphic tool helps staff analyze a problem’s causes.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/meetingidea/meetingideas022.shtml

Partners for Student Success
“Together Program” Unites Kids and Parents for Learning
Music, cooking, storytelling, and more bring parents and kids together.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/partners/partners010.shtml

Exceptional Event
Parents in Kids' Sneakers Day.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/exceptional_events/exceptional_events032.shtml

Principal Ideas
Reaching for reading goals, Friday "Happy Hour," RISE in the Morning, more...
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/ideas/ideas003.shtml

Grant of the Week
The Saucony Run for Good grant program supports running and fitness programs for kids.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/grants/additional_grants.shtml

Morning Math
Questions for Week #28.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/archives/morning_math.shtml

From the Principal Files
Before You Fly Off to That Conference… Have You Thought of Everything?
A big conference can be the best experience of your professional life -- or a big waste of time. To make certain it's a good experience, our "Principal Files" team shared their experiences and advice. Included: Tips to help you plan for -- and get the most out of -- the next conference you attend.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin397.shtml

Conventions & Conferences
What's coming up?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/archives/conventions.shtml

Join the Conversation
On our "School Administrators" message board.
http://forums.educationworld.com/

From Our Leadership Archive
Principals' Fabulous Feats Principals perform wacky stunts in exchange for goals achieved.
Mission Statements With Vision Where is your school going?
On the Lighter Side “Spring” into the new season with a few laughs.
At-Risk Students Special programs that target at-risk students.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin482.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin229.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin070.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin098.shtml

Newsletters 'R Us
Copy and paste this free content into your teacher or school newsletters.

Parent Pointers Showing Good Manners http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/archives/newsletters.shtml

 

Fit To Be Taught, Vol. 30

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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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