tag cloud May 12, 2008
Posted by 4oops in Education.Tags: http://4oops.edublogs.org, tag cloud, Teague
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What is so important about web-based learning experiences anyway? 
The Blogger Wears Prada: Today On Sale! May 9, 2008
Posted by 4oops in Blogger Wears Prada.Tags: Blogger Wears Prada, http://4oops.edublogs.org, Sundance, Teague
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Robert Redford…the popcorn movie heart-throb of my generation. <Sigh> Do you remember the resurgence in all things cowboy after he starred with Paul Newman in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid?” Well, he put those movie residuals to great work with the Sundance Film Festival and especially the Sundance Catalog Store! (cue clapping> With every order “Bob” includes a catalog with his picture on the inside cover!
This week, the catalog store has super duper great markdowns on apparel, jewelry, gifts, shoes, bags, etc…
For instance, skirts @ $9.99; luxe purses for pennies, cashmere sweaters @$39.99!
Sweaters? You say? Sweaters? The season is changing and it is much too hot.
Well, I have been meaning to tell you…when I visit your classrooms the air is freezing in there. David Letterman called…he wants his Freon back!
Order soon to take advantage of the sale prices…and make “Bob” happy as well.
Sundance Catalog 
Payback is Rich or Student Store and More May 6, 2008
Posted by 4oops in Education.Tags: http://4oops.edublogs.org, Rewards, Student Store and More!, Teague
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Classroom Price List
Create a student store where students spend “digital dollars” earned from a variety of appropriate behaviors such as:
- questions answered correctly
- first to arrive at class and get started working on WarmUp
- most questions answered correctly
- first to seek out resources
- begin a task without prompting
- offer help to another
- take a risk to be the first to answer a class discussion question
What other behaviors do you want to reward? Leave a comment!
Post your classroom price list with either tangible or intangible items for sale such as:
- School supplies
- Assignment “Do Over”
- Choose “X” amount fewer problems to complete
- 5 extra minutes the learning center of your choice
What other items should be included on your price list? Leave a comment!
The Blogger Wears Prada: On Mothers Day May 2, 2008
Posted by 4oops in Blogger Wears Prada.Tags: Blogger Wears Prada, http://4oops.edublogs.org, Kim and Jason, Mother's Day, Organic Bouquet, Teague
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The Blogger Wears Prada: On Mother’s Day
Order Mom a beautiful organic arrangement at Organic Bouquet. The website also has gifts and chocolate!!! 
Tell Mom you appreciate her Creativi-TEA, Sinceri-TEA,
Originali-TEA, and her Abili-TEA with the No Other Like Mother Tea Tin ($11.95)
from the great folks at Kim and Jason.
While at Kim and Jason, order a Moms Can Fix Anything Greeting Card ($2.00). The Card includes a free Chocolate Chip Cookie.
Need More Ideas? At Your (Mom’s) Service:
Click through to see the plexo
Free Star Wars eBook and Mother’s Day eCards April 30, 2008
Posted by 4oops in Free.Tags: Hallmark, http://4oops.edublogs.org, Powell's Books, Teague
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For a short while, Powells Books 
will offer Betrayal, the first volume in the Star Wars Legacy of the Force series free eBook!
Just in time for Mother’s Day (jk)!
Betrayal follows the heroes of the new Jedi order and the second generation children of Anakin Skywalker. It is . Click here for more details: Special Powells.com offer
Also, Hallmark has new, spiffy eCards just in time for Mother’s Day. 
Why not encourage early finishers to create an eCard for moms, grandmas, aunties, etc…
Order This Book! April 29, 2008
Posted by 4oops in Education.Tags: http://4oops.edublogs.org, Inquiry-Learning, John Barell, Teague, Why are school buses always yellow?
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“Inquisitive minds are the safeguards of our democracy, now and forever.” John Barell
And they also may scare us to quivering mush!
Why? Because our perception is that questions may lead us away:
From the “right” answer-
From the prescribed time allotment-
From our plan and our pacing-
Toward a realm where the teacher is not the all-seeing, all-knowing Carnac of the Classroom. 
Thank Goodness! What a Relief!
Realize this and you will live longer and have more fun!
And you will have time to sit down, rest a bit, and read, “Why Are School Buses Always Yellow” by John Barell, Professor Emeritus, Montclair State University. (Corwin Press and Amazon)
“Why Are School Buses Always Yellow” encapsulates years of theory into workable practice. I probably would have saved thousands in college tuition loans if this resource had blessed me decades ago! (virtual “Wish I’d had a V-8″ moment)!
Barell reiterates that questions signal higher-order thought processing which is the goal of effective classroom interaction and innovation. He reminds us that student questions are the attainment of the highest thinking skills. It is what we trained for people!
Too many books declare WHAT an important concept inquiry teaching is. But, after the studies are noted and the experts quoted, there are very few pages left for the actual implementation: HOW TO DO inquiry-oriented teaching. It’s about time that a book came along that speaks to “HOW” to reach and develop inquisitive questioning.
Barell’s visits to classrooms and discussions with both teachers and students form a dynamic role-play model. You will no doubt relate to the student responses and learn from modeling Barell’s effective inquiry teaching practices. I also appreciate the structure of the chapters. Barell allows space for reflection, an often overlooked phase of learning.
Granny Newlen always admonished us kids to “Learn, discuss, then then get up and move.” She used such a phrase to get us up off the couch for learning-walk where we would tell her what we had learned at school.
Go on your own “learning walk” to the bookstore, online or F2F, and buy this book. 
