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Click on the Health A-Z link (link is on the Blogroll)

The kids need you and the web keeps marching on…not to worry, 4OOPS’ EduTech news Feed has these top stories of interest to educators: 

From Tech Crunch: July 1. You can no longer use a handheld mobile device in California and Washington. The first time fine in California is just $20, but the real deterrent is public opinion.

But, some studies have shown that talking on hands-free devices are just as dangerous as talking on cell phones regularly.

Will people who talk on their cell phones while driving now have to keep a lookout for the police, too, distracting them even more?

From Read/Write/Web: Adobe.  Adobe is has just launched their version of an online office suite available at Acrobat.com, complete with word processor (Buzzword), web conferencing/whiteboard app (ConnectNow), online file sharing (Share), file storage, (My Files), and PDF converter. Adobe has also announced a brand-new version of Adobe Acrobat, Acrobat 9. 

From TechCrunch: Ultralight laptops. The MSI Wind – is a $499,  2.6-pound, 10-inch laptop.  

From Read Write Web: June 5, 2008. About half of all Internet users aged 12 and up have streamed a video file online in the past 30 days.

School Counselor Shannon Hutton, warns, “kids often get “antsy” about moving to the next grade.” And it’s no wonder, since 180 school days have just been spent getting used to their current classroom!

“They are leaving the comfort of their familiar classroom, established social group and teacher they’ve not only grown accustomed to, but usually really like. So the idea of moving to a new classroom, with a new teacher and a new set of classmates is often initially unnerving for kids,” says Hutton. 

It may not be possible to get too many specifics about next year so let the Internet help!

Take a minute today and use Google Maps  to find your child’s school for next year. Just enter the address and let Google Maps do the rest. Use the Zoom feature to narrow and widen the scope of the neighborhood. Visit Schoolnotes.com  and enter your child’s school zip code to see if your son or daughter’s teacher has a webpage there.

Does the school website include links to teacher webapges on their home page?  Click over to next year’s teacher and play an Internet version of “I Spy.” (I spy a field trip link! I spy a class pet!) Take a look and navigate around.

Most teacher webpages have a calendar. Scan over to the first few weeks to get a possible idea of what will be covered. Even if you do not yet know your child’s teacher, you can navigate another teacher’s page in the next grade together and get an idea of next year’s curriculum.

Now is also the time to swing by and check out the computer lab at next year’s school or grade. Will Jr. move from a Mac lab to a Windows lab? Will laptop carts replace the traditional lab in the next grade? Will students next year use AlphaSmarts, Neos, or Palm Pilots as a component of their digital backpack? Is there a summer computer camp offered? Having a summer to become used to any new technology will make the transition to the next grade SO much smoother.

If possible, walk the halls of next year today or tomorrow. Many grades are located in different, specific halls. Counselor Hutton advises, “The best way for parents to help transition kids to a new grade is to allow them to get the lay of the land, so to speak, so they don’t fear the unknown. Giving children an opportunity to visit their new classroom and meet their new teacher greatly helps reduce their anxiety about moving to the next grade.”

Consider a pool party, park meeting, or other play date with friends this over the summer. If possible, exchange email with other parents and let your kids email each other via your email address-add a comment occasionally. (Notice the importance of using parent email, for added privacy and protection.)

“The more children know what to expect about the upcoming school year, the more comfortable they will be with the transition to the next grade,” says Hutton. So start planning for a successful future school year today! 

For thoughtful advice, plus innovative summer projects, visit her website, “Believer in Balance”  http://www.sparkplugging.com/believer-in-balance/

Shannon Hutton, M.Ed., M.P.A., currently works as a school counselor and has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Master degrees in School Counseling and Public Administration. She is certified to counsel students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. You can read more about how she balances working and raising kids at Believer in Balance.

May 12 From Yahoo Tech: XP vs. Vista, Possible Good News

May 15 From ASCD Smartbrief:  Collegeville, Minnesota school district will cancel classes on Monday next year and students will spend an extra hour in class on Tuesdays through Thursdays

May 9 From Teacher Magazine: Technology-Rich Classrooms Render Textbooks Useless

May 12 From Research Success: Google Scholar allows citation downloads

March, ‘08 From Edutopia: “IYO txtng = NME or NBD?” Translation: “In your opinion, is text messaging the enemy, or no big deal?”Edutopia’s Poll says that majority of teachers think text messaging harms student writing skills.  

Be the hit of the end-of-the-school year parties when you carry in cookies shaped like popsicles baked in Norpro’s Nonstick Cake-Sicle Pan, available from Amazon which means Amazon Prime shipping! $13.99 

Bakers Stow and Go keeps your stacked treats, well, stacked! Three tiny shelves keep everything organized even if your gradebook isn’t  $19.95     

Both of these would also be great for Food and Nutrition Classes, fundraisers, Booster Club Bake Sales, and more!

 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   

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!

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:
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