Dear Education Leaders,
Welcome! This free weekly Lesson Planning newsletter features summaries of lesson plans recently published on Education
World®, the largest free, independent resource on the Web for educators. If you
enjoy this newsletter, please feel free to forward it to others. If this newsletter has been forwarded to you, you
may sign up at http://www.educationworld.com/maillist.shtml.
To ***, see instructions at the bottom of this newsletter. Education World remains a free resource thanks
to the support of our advertisers -- so please click on ads of interest and visit our advertisers' sites. Thank you.
============================================================================
This week's newsletter is sponsored by The Chronicles of Narnia--Prince Caspian.
As we travel the country talking with educators about
 Prince Caspian, the second film in our The Chronicles of Narnia series, we’re delighted to hear stories about students who, as fans of C.S. Lewis' classic series of books, were enthralled by The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and are now eagerly awaiting Prince Caspian.
We also hear encouraging stories about students who were inspired to read Lewis' modern classics for the first time after seeing The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and are now inhaling the series.
Both scenarios embody the heart of Walden's mission: to enhance literacy and a love of reading bycreating faithful, high-quality film adaptations of beloved children's literature. To these ends, we encourage you to make use of our many free, downloadable "Narnia" educational resources available to you at:
http://www.walden.com/walden/teach/caspian/index.php
============================================================================
This week's newsletter is sponsored by American Public University. 
Earn a Master’s Degree at American Public University that can help you increase your earning potential and expand your career opportunities. Programs include: Education in Teaching, Concentration in Instructional Leadership; Education in Administration and Supervision; History; Humanities; Business; and more. Tuition is affordable ($825/course) and classes are online, so you can earn your degree while balancing work and family commitments. New courses start monthly, because we know your schedule may not align with a traditional semester schedule. APU is a member of the regionally accredited American Public University System. Join 30,000 students worldwide.
Visit http://www.apu.apus.edu/educators/index.htm to learn more.
============================================================================
Volume 10, Issue 19
May 7, 2008
 A Puzzle a Day Provides Practice That Pays
Puzzles exercise students' critical thinking skills while providing needed practice in math, spelling, and other areas of the curriculum. Why not introduce a puzzle a day? Puzzles make great "bellringer" activities. A puzzle a day provides practice that pays. Included: A year of puzzles.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson336.shtml
Plan a Book Week Bash
Celebrate Book Week (May 12-18) with these activities, crafts, projects, much more.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_special/book_week.shtml
Celebrating Asian and Pacific-Island Heritage
Each May -- during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month -- we take time to recognize the special contributions of people of Asian and Pacific-Island heritage. The lessons here introduce students to famous Asian Americans and explore their origins and their literature. Included: Five lessons and worksheets.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson340.shtml
 Put Some Fizz Into Physical Education
May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, but kids need physical education all year. Education World offers a full roster of stories, lessons, resources, and activities focused on PE. So take a look at the ideas here for including sports and physical education in the curriculum and helping your students be physically fit.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_special/physical_fitness.shtml
Lesson Plan of the Day
Click the link above to see dozens of recent Lesson Plans of the Day, including the lessons below that were posted last week.
Crazy Laws - Investigate some very odd laws. (Grades 5-12)
Germs! - Observe the growth of germs on potato slices. (K-8)
Magic Sum - This "magic" trick involves two-digit addition. (3-8)
Postmark U.S.A. - Tracking postmarks on a map. (K-8)
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/dailylp.shtml
News for Kids
 Parents Hand Out Unusual Punishments
Some parents have recently handed out unusual punishments to their kids. Were the punishments fair?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/newsforyou.shtml
Vicki Cobb’s Show-Biz Science
Use paper cups to improve your hearing.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/showbiz_science/showbiz_science009.shtml
Friday Fun
Who Works at Our School?
Students interview school staff, create a bulletin board display.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/friday/friday022.shtml
 Learning Game of the Week
"Math Madness," a small-group, computation game.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/learninggame/learninggame031.shtml
Early Childhood Teaching Themes
May Flowers and the Five Senses
Mother's Day
http://www.educationworld.com/a_earlychildhood/newsletters/
Tech Lesson of the Week
A Travel Journal for Homer's Odysseys
Students select their favorite excerpts from The Odyssey, type a first-hand account of the story, and add graphics and music from the Internet.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/techlp/techlp049.shtml
Reader's Theater
A Mother's Day Surprise
Two siblings go to the mall to find a special Mother's Day gift for their mom. With help from some unusual sources, the pair learns that the best presents don't have to be expensive or come wrapped in a fancy box.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/reading/ReadersTheater/ReadersTheater010.shtml
Backpacktivity
Make a Time Capsule
Students learn about their family history.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/homework/pdfs/backpacktivity_004.pdf
Total Reader
How Cool Is That!
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev149.shtml
Math Mnemonics
Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/mnemonics/mnemonics002.shtml
Contests and Competitions
Gale's Books and Authors Songwriting Competition
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/archives/contests.shtml
 Box Cars and One-Eyed Jacks Math Games With Joanne and Jane
This week: "Break 100" teaches subtraction of 3-digit numbers.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/boxcars/boxcars018.shtml
Writing Bug
I think the animal that makes the best pet is…
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/writing_bug/writingbug003.shtml
From the Math Machine
Disguise Combos is a fun Web site for teaching probability and problem solving. (Grades 2-5)
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/mathmachine/mathmachine035.shtml
Bulletin Boards That Teach
The End!
End the year by encouraging summer reading.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/bullboard/bullboard010.shtml
Teacher-Submitted Lesson Plans
Teacher-Submitted Lesson #1 Students send mothers on special Mother's Day trips.
Teacher-Submitted Lesson #2 How is math used in favorite sports, hobbies?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tsl/index.shtml
Every-Day Edits
Primary Edits Animals A to Z: Yak.
Ele-Middle Edits Curious George, Minnesota, Florence Nightingale…
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/animalsAtoZ.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/edit.shtml
Fact Monster Hunts
Primary Hunt May Hunt #3.
Ele-Middle Hunt Hunt #33.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/factmonster.shtml
Vocab-ulous!
Words that begin with pl- blends.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/vocabulous/vocabulous033.shtml
5-Minute Fillers Volume 34
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/fillers.shtml
Work Sheet of the Week
"Stock Market" -- teaches economics, math.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/worksheets/TCM/soc_sci_3_5.shtml
 Best Books for Teaching About…
Each week, Education World presents our Editors’ Choices for the best books for teaching about popular classroom themes. Check out our choices and add your own recommendations to the Readers’ Voices section of this week’s themed booklists:
Best Books for Teaching About...
Mother's Day
Field Day
http://www.educationworld.com/a_bestbooks/archives/students.shtml
Just for This Month!
See our May Month of Fun, May Word Search, and May Coloring Calendar. PLUS! Create your own work sheets for this month’s themes: Spring, Umbrellas, Flowers….
FROM OUR PRINTABLES LIBRARY
Animals A to Z
Reinforce capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and grammar skills. (Grades 2-4)
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/animalsAtoZ.shtml
Highlights for Children®
Hidden Pictures® puzzles, rebus stories, crafts, and more from the folks at Highlights.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/worksheets/Highlights/index.shtml
Phonics Word Search Puzzles
Thirty-six puzzles teach and reinforce phonics and spelling skills.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/wordsearch.shtml#phonics
Calculator Lessons
Twenty lessons to engage students as they use their TI-73 Explorer™ calculators.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/calculator_lessons.shtml
 Eric Baylin's Songs to Brighten a Teacher's Day
Senior Slump
"The proverbial senior slump is a valley too low to penetrate. Their eyes are glazed; their minds set on caps and gowns and the release into summer. Meanwhile, we all suffer -- and sing -- our way through it."
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/columnists/baylin/baylin032.shtml
 Dr. Fred Jones: Tools for Teaching
Instruction Meets Discipline
“In the final analysis, there are only two ways to structure student performance during the teaching of a lesson. The first is input, input, input, input, input -- output. The second can be characterized as: input -- output -- input -- output -- input -- output. That approach, along with constant monitoring and feedback, is effective coaching."
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/columnists/jones/jones022.shtml
Brenda Dyck
Surprised By Reading: Confessions of a Math Teacher
“I've just about finished reading From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler to my grade 6 students. I admit this rather sheepishly because I am not a language arts teacher -- I teach math."
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/voice/voice097.shtml
 Dr. Ken Shore: Classroom Problem Solver
The Assembly
“Your challenge when faced with student misbehavior during a school assembly is to respond in a way that leaves the misbehaving student's dignity intact and allows other students to enjoy a disruption-free program."
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/shore/shore025.shtml
 Bernie Poole
Free Online Teacher Tools
"Information, like the air we breathe, should be free. That's why we have public libraries. That's why we have a right to a free public education. And now we have the Web, which is slowly but surely becoming the fountainhead of education resources -- and most of them are free."
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech231.shtml
 The Principal Poet
Mr. Ivan, Education World's Principal Poet, presents "Gravity.”
In school I learned that apples
Fell on Isaac Newton’s head
And made him discover gravity…
’Least that’s what my science teacher said…
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/columnists/ivan/ivan018.shtml
 Lorrie Jackson's Techtorial
Creating a Podcast
"For some educators, podcasts seem either or overly complicated. Luckily, though, you don't need a Mac or an iPod to create or listen to podcasts. And, as for creating podcasts, this is one more instance in which it's less important to be a tech geek than it is to be well organized and to take your time."
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/techtorial/techtorial092.shtml
Podcasting for Free on a PC
How can you try podcasting yourself? Begin with the basics, by creating a simple non-serialized podcast. The steps are easy -- record, upload, and share -- and the hardware can be as simple as your PC or a telephone.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech238.shtmll
Pawlas on PR
Create video or DVD recordings of the school year.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/pawlasPR/pawlasPR001.shtml
 Program Hauls in Huge Catch of Reading
Challenged to create a program that encourages young students to read in school as well as at home, Betsy Lepak created "Hooked on Books." Students keep track of every book they read both in school and at home in hopes of earning a special reward, the privilege of caring in their classroom for to two fish in a bowl.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/partners/partners035.shtml
Strategy of the Week
Homework Study Hall
Startled by the number of failing grades his students were receiving, principal David Chambers made making up missed work a mandatory activity. The policy has raised students' GPAs and improved teacher morale. Could it work for you?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/strategy/strategy030.shtml
Ninety Nine Ways to Say "Very Good"
Looking for new ways to tell students they’re doing a good job? Try one of these.
http://www.educationworld.com//a_curr/curr375.shtml
One Hundred Report Card Comments
It's report card time and you face the prospect of writing constructive, insightful, and original comments on a couple dozen report cards or more. A daunting task? Not with Ed World's help.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev148.shtml
 Wire Side Chat
Top Teacher Ties History to Current Events
By tying the lessons of history to the issues of the day, Deirdra Grode, a seventh-and eighth-grade social studies and language arts teacher at Hoboken (New Jersey) Charter School, is teaching her students to be analytical and socially aware.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/chat/chat227.shtml
Move Up Before You Move In
Before you move in to deal with a difficult situation in your classroom, it’s important to take the time to move up…to a higher consciousness, to a higher self. Don’t add the energy of your own frustration and anger to the mix.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev145.shtml
From the Principal Files
Make Graduation Day a Special Day Across the Grades
Whether you call it Graduation Day, Move-Up or Step-Up Day, or Recognition or Promotion Day, the day you set aside to honor your school's "senior" class can be a special one with these ideas from Education World's "Principal Files" team.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin311.shtml
 Newsletters 'R Us
Copy and paste this free content into your teacher or school newsletters.
Caught on the Web Place Value (Grades 1-6)
Newsletter Clipart Library Fitness Month, Teacher Appreciation Week…
Fun Facts Volume #24
Parent Newsletter Template Memorial Day
Math @ Home Twenty-Five
Parent Pointers Focusing on the Importance of Learning
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/archives/newsletters.shtml
What can you do with SchoolNotes? Check out Mr. Hipkin's Fourth Grade Class News.
http://www.schoolnotes.com
============================================================================
 Sign Up for Our FREE Newsletters
Did you know that Education World has ten free newsletters for educators? You're sure to find one or two just right for you! It's easy to sign up (and just as easy to *** if you don't find valuable ideas each week). Click here for a list of newsletters.
http://www.educationworld.com/maillist.shtml#profdev
============================================================================
This week, Education World reviewed three Web sites of interest to educators.
Internet for Geography
A useful site to help you sort through geography resources online.
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/2008/r0508-02.shtml 
Chalkbored
High school chemistry with attitude!
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/2008/r0408-30.shtml
Student Voices
Making the study of government exciting for high schoolers.
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/2008/r0408-28.shtml
 This Week's Survey Question
With only a month or two at most left in the school year, how do you approach lesson-planning as the year winds down?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/survey/survey174.shtml
Last Week's Survey Results
Should parents be required to have teaching credentials to educate their children at home?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/survey/survey173.shtml
 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."
A First-Year Teacher's Guidebook
This practical book can help not only first-year teachers, but also established professionals, with eminently useful ideas for classroom management, using technology, handling parent conferences, and many other topics. Especially handy for the early-career teacher are sections on teaching in rural and urban settings, education issues, and first day / first week / first month ideas.
Click to learn more or to purchase this book.
Democracy and Education
John Dewey's 1916 book on the interrelationship between education and democracy is as important, as it approaches its centennial, as it was when it was first hailed as a master work. The modern reader of education books will find the sweep and clarity of Dewey's approach to be a refreshing break from the highly specialized and jargon-filled books being churned out today. With no hesitancy, Dewey declares his topics to include, "The Significance of Geography and History," "Educational Values," "Theories of Knowledge," and "Theories of Morals." An essential text for the complete education library!
 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.
==========================================================================
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:
Math Facts Race (Math, grades K-8)
You Can Count on Spelling (Math and Language Arts, grades K-12)
Find It... Fast! (All Subjects, grades K-12)
Concentration Review Game (All Subjects, grades K-12)
The Dictionary Game (Language Arts, grades 3-8)
Play Ball: A Major League Review Game (All Subjects, grades K-12)
Friendly Feud (All Subjects, grades K-12)
Plus 35 more games!
The Best of LEARNING GAMES is part of the Teacher Treasure Series, an NEA Professional Library Publication.
http://store.nea.org/NEABookstore/control/productdetails?item_id=0696800
==========================================================================
Education World now incorporates www.SchoolNotes.com ~ "everybody on the same page!" The leading school-to-home communications platform, with FREE pages for teachers and automatic notification of parents and students when new homework is posted!
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.
==========================================================================
MORE FEATURES OF INTEREST!
 Reader’s Theater More than two dozen scripts, perfect for the classroom.
Best Books for Teaching About… Booklists for 30 popular teaching themes.
Sign Up for Our Newsletters Ten free newsletters full of practical ideas.
Special Education Center Tools for the special education community.
TGIF Kick back and start your weekend off on a light note.
Education World Techtorials Our tutorials take the terror out of technology.
The Template Library A wide variety of templates to meet educators' needs.
Wire Side Chats Each week, Education World chats with an expert in the field.
Printables Library You're sure to find great resources here. Hundreds of printables!
Meet Our Columnists Meet our team of columnists from many corners of the "education world."
Teaching Themes for Early Childhood Sue LaBella offers teaching ideas for popular EC themes.
Stress Relief Kit Take a deep breath. Then take a look here for great reading.
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.
==========================================================================
SIGN UP FOR OUR OTHER NEWSLETTERS
 We
hope you enjoy receiving this Education World e-newsletter. Did you know that Education World offers eight other FREE weekly newsletters?
Have you signed up to receive the...
Education World SITE REVIEWS NEWSLETTER?
Each week, Education World's Site Reviews Newsletter reviews three new Web sites of interest to PreK-12 educators.
The weekly reviews spotlight some of the best resources on the Web for teachers and students. At least a couple times a
month, we also shine the spotlight on a topic of wide interest to teachers; we present five or more great resources for
teaching about that topic.
Would you like to see a sample of the Education World Site Reviews Newsletter? If so, simply click the link below:
http://www.educationworld.com/newsletters_images/sr_sample.shtml
If you would like to subscribe to the Education World Site Reviews Newsletter, simply click the following link:
http://www.educationworld.com/maillist.shtml#reviews
If the Site Reviews Newsletter is not of interest to you, do you know somebody else who might benefit from it? Perhaps
you could pass this information along to that person.
==========================================================================
If you enjoy this Lesson Planning Newsletter, please feel free to forward it to other teachers! If this newsletter has been forwarded to you, you may sign up for it -- and any of the other Education World newsletters -- at http://www.educationworld.com/maillist.shtml.
==========================================================================
Education World®
http://www.educationworld.com/
newsletter-lessons@educationworld.com
Education World
1062 Barnes Road Suite 205
Wallingford, CT 06492
========================================================================== | 
Back to newsletter list
