What's on the Menu today?

Hope your Lunch and Learn menu is in a prominent place in your classroom or office. Remember if you cannot make a session be sure to return here to the blog to find out a bit of what you might have missed. We are all so busy these days. The most popular sessions will be revisited on video links by the end of the school year. Look out for a chance to vote for your favorite Lunch and Learn and offer ideas for future sessions!

Curious About ICURIO?

ICURIO! Welcome to ICURIO! 

Essential concepts learned. Help every student learn. Align digital content to the specific needs of all learners with icurio, keeping students from falling behind or helping them catch up if needed--or better yet, get ahead. Using icurio, students can grasp new concepts more effectively and deepen understanding. This is what you will find on their quick start pdf file found here and on your handouts today.
"Ok....Give me the gist of it...what is it going to do for me and my kids?"
ICURIO will be an even better and more concise way for you to set up and plan lessons and have kids make better use of the internet and resources valuable to your kids. Check out the links if you cannot make todays Lunch and Learn.

Best of the Best Tech in 2011

As we enter 2012 we take a moment to look back on just what worked in technology for 2011? One benefit of looking back and finding the very best sites and technology is that it has been tried before. We know what works and what doesn't. Access to the technology reviewed is always a part of the tech puzzle. Can't use what you don't have. So let's take a look at what we do have access to and how it can help our kids learn.

10 Internet Technologies Teachers Want to Know More About 

Free Resources for Educators 

 January 18^th Lunch and Learn - Webdoc

What can we do?

How do we integrate technology on a weekly basis without feeling snowed under?

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       Start out small one new idea by Spring break one more by the end of the year. You may want to get your jumpstart with your buddy class. Here are a few tools you might consider…

•                        Flip video camera book talk/trailer
•                        Puppet show covering a short story kids write together then flip video record
•                        Record kids giving a current event news report using your Elmo
•                        Wordle – what buddies have in common
•                        Glogster interactive poster focusing on a science topic with a video.                                       We are currently looking into a free trial and possible subscription. 
•                        Edmoto – schedule a lesson with Jeanne, Lynn, Kim or Sue to learn about  Edmoto 

 

PALLS - First Lunch and Learn Recap

A lot of information in a short time! The Elmo and the Smartboard were our two first topics at the December Program Assistant Lunch and Learn Session #1. Participants are now going to forward information on special areas they might want to see  "ready made" Smartboard lessons they could use in a small group setting. Here is a treasure trove of lessons teachers and program assistants alike can peruse for future instruction...

(Elmo &  Smartboard) - recap from first meeting - explanation of equipment for your review

Smartboard Lessons, Tips and Tricks 

SMART Exchange

ReadWriteThink - Smartboard interactive tools from the International Reading Association

Welcome Program Assistants!

PALLS - Program Assistants Lunch and Learn Sessions-
Thursday, December 15th marks the kickoff session for the Central Road Program Assistants Lunch and Learn Sessions or "PALLS". Learning More About the  Elmo &  Smartboard takes place at 1:00 on Thursday, December 15th in the LRC with a session on the Elmo by our Assistant Principal, Erika Johansen  followed by a Smartboard lesson by Learning Resource Center Director, Jeanne Marino. PALLS will meet once a month and follow the general schedule of the teacher Lunch and Learns.  Participants will also have the opportunity to suggest topics they would like to learn more about in a small group setting. Have a great year PALLS participants and check back for more info on our next session.

Interactive Creative Sites to Use in the Lab

Interactive Book Cover Creator

Comic Creator

INTERACTIVES  from Read Write Think

Best Books of 2011 - Closing the Chapter on 2011

This is the time of year many parents want some great ideas for holiday books for their children. If you would like a resource that combines many of the best sources for the best books take a look at this site Best Books of 2011.  Many of these books may be at our upcoming book fair. Be sure to check it out when you have a moment.

Follow Santa as he Travels the Globe - click the link to have Santa help your kids brush up on their map skills as they follow him on his holiday journey. The site begins in December so take a look after break!

From Education World - 

Do your students celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Three Kings Day? Maybe they celebrate St. Lucia Day or Ramadan. Chances are your class includes students who observe more than one of those events. Whether that is the case or not, December offers great opportunities for teaching about our multicultural world. 

Few months present the multicultural "teachable moments" that December does! The following multicultural events and celebrations are among those that will happen this year:

• Ramadan -- Began August 11, ended September 9
• Eid al-Fitr (Muslim) -- September 10
• Saint Nicholas Day (Christian) -- December 6
• Eid'ul-Adha (Muslim) -- November 16
• Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexican) -- December 12
• St. Lucia Day (Swedish) -- December 13
• Hanukkah (Jewish) -- Begins at sundown on December 1 (ends December 9)
• Christmas Day(Christian) -- December 25
• Boxing Day (Australian, Canadian, English, Irish) -- December 26
• Kwanzaa (African American) -- December 26 to January 1
• Omisoka (Japanese) -- December 31
• Epiphany (Christian) -- January 6

Education World has updated all the lesson plans to ensure that you won't find any dead links among them! You'll find the following articles full of lesson ideas at Internet Connections for teaching holidays around the world.

Touching Base on Report Cards - Wednesday, November 9th

Assistant Principal Erika Johansen, will present a refresher on the District 15 report card program. The previously scheduled Smartboard Tools Without a Smartboard will take place on Wednesday, January 5th.

Edline Update

New to Edline? Just scratching the surface? If you would like to learn how to get started creating your Edline page or...you would like to see what's new on Edline be sure to come to the November 2nd Lunch and Learn to find out more. Here is what we will be covering...
- tiny tour of current Edline pages
- creating your account
- adding info to your pages
- adding links, folders, blogs or slideshows just to name a few...
Hope to see you there!
Jeanne & Kim