and your time starts...now

I've been cussing more than usual and my hands look like a Pollock painting. This can mean only one thing - work on the living room has begun. (You can check out what it used to look like <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/p/living-room.html" target="_blank">here</a>.)<br /><br />I've already painted the ceiling, walls and trim and we are now at the blank pallet stage.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-QJyzS9JD4oF1l1D-0xvWZZ29K-HOR_YnBLqi30CM9_qgjGbJWa2P6QJI_eN5WXBa7XkdKwfDP7TTd7jO9KBMHU08CVWWv0enP6ONVdv2W0kTImtqj_fDLNt32eAIBi5zVdKV4_Sn4E4/s1600/LBDLMBefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-QJyzS9JD4oF1l1D-0xvWZZ29K-HOR_YnBLqi30CM9_qgjGbJWa2P6QJI_eN5WXBa7XkdKwfDP7TTd7jO9KBMHU08CVWWv0enP6ONVdv2W0kTImtqj_fDLNt32eAIBi5zVdKV4_Sn4E4/s640/LBDLMBefore.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I rather like the look of the dangling cords draped into the middle of the room, don't you? It is super fun with kids.<br /><br />But I'm not only painting walls. Remember <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/06/watch-out-im-armed.html" target="_blank">these beauties</a>?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80Z1JH8zgu3zrBuJP8tCRDGmHq3vON7F0v8sG8ZPCFFVBXGAXYKoR0GG-PPZi8juNKuuXW_sSVux2ejdwDYREa47-YVGj7s6uP9vkXAIFc0J9aQ3FFS_YqBONYsEjEO91Rgj8kP6oa_ep/s1600/chairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80Z1JH8zgu3zrBuJP8tCRDGmHq3vON7F0v8sG8ZPCFFVBXGAXYKoR0GG-PPZi8juNKuuXW_sSVux2ejdwDYREa47-YVGj7s6uP9vkXAIFc0J9aQ3FFS_YqBONYsEjEO91Rgj8kP6oa_ep/s640/chairs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />They've been so hot in this heat wave that they stripped down to nothing. But they've gotten quite a tan (aka - black paint). Their new outfits are underway.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhA5EOuaWux7ktqqeOrE_CkmHw3Gve5uc23L3UWqipW8G15kZMSOTIT696Id9FNy3plpbvTK0X2D-oUN9PMa4wr8RBXLHjlCa_Mt2JXBCTnRp3eHHSdLwARJHh-FOHud0nbuo56Rf29BG/s1600/LBDChairbefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhA5EOuaWux7ktqqeOrE_CkmHw3Gve5uc23L3UWqipW8G15kZMSOTIT696Id9FNy3plpbvTK0X2D-oUN9PMa4wr8RBXLHjlCa_Mt2JXBCTnRp3eHHSdLwARJHh-FOHud0nbuo56Rf29BG/s640/LBDChairbefore.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />And today I'll be doing a little somethin' somethin' with this little can.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6YGNZi3Qigdw9_3wYfdV-FDY-OgsqdztD4uIUhDLferEAzKZ9z_KYgc8FDY0upEArYUC28VciqELPITqYJuAzDNTSdBPYVb6ukT5OeltJUOwVJcAPNWsNClSGkzg7vrmzfdbllU1u_ni/s1600/LBDPaint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6YGNZi3Qigdw9_3wYfdV-FDY-OgsqdztD4uIUhDLferEAzKZ9z_KYgc8FDY0upEArYUC28VciqELPITqYJuAzDNTSdBPYVb6ukT5OeltJUOwVJcAPNWsNClSGkzg7vrmzfdbllU1u_ni/s640/LBDPaint.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>It reads a bit more orange in this pic but is really a fabulous raspberry. Not a color choice for everyone, but luckily I'm not everyone...I'm me. Very after school special I know. I think Neve Campbell will play me in the movie.<br /><br />This process will be long as I try to get work done during naps and weekends, but I am of the opinion that the more upheaval this causes the rest of my house, the quicker I will be to get it done and get back to normal.<br /><br />Does anyone else put things on their list that are small or they've already done just to have something to cross off? Well I do...<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Living Room to do list:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">1. <strike>Paint walls, ceiling and trim (not in that order)</strike></div><div style="text-align: center;">2. <strike>Paint</strike> and recover chairs</div><div style="text-align: center;">3. Figure out room layout</div><div style="text-align: center;">4. Get artwork</div><div style="text-align: center;">5. Sew pillows and curtains</div><div style="text-align: center;">6. Clean rug or Get new rug?</div><div style="text-align: center;">7. Find/Make coffee table</div><div style="text-align: center;">8. Address window seat</div><div style="text-align: center;">9. Lighting</div><div style="text-align: center;">10. Paint 'other' items as needed</div><div style="text-align: center;">11. Couch finishing touches</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So sad. Only 1 1/2 things crossed off. I mentioned this would be long right?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But wahoo, the FedEx man just called to say he'd be stopping by my house in a bit with a few supplies. We've grown very close, Herb and I. Now I'll be able to replace my Pollock hands with...I don't know any famous upholsterers. I think I need some more tea.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So how about you? Working on anything? Big, little, exciting or otherwise? Do you make a schedule for yourself with projects like this, or just go for it? Know anyone willing to work for free and come to my house and do all of this for me?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">More pics to come!</div>

and your time starts...now

I've been cussing more than usual and my hands look like a Pollock painting. This can mean only one thing - work on the living room has ...

Read more »

Program Officer, Public Humanities Programs - Connecticut Humanities (CTH)

<strong>Program Officer, Public Humanities Programs -</strong> <span style="color: #48286d;"><strong>Connecticut Humanities (CTH)</strong></span> seeks a highly motivated and creative individual to develop, manage and evaluate innovative public programs for adults. Working independently and with CTH staff, the Program Officer is responsible for creating and launching humanities-based programs that engage new audiences by exploring topics relevant to adults across the state. He/she will work with identified partners and convene groups to assist in the design, delivery and funding of these programs. Primary assignments include programming for the Connecticut Center for the Book and for CTH’s We Have Issues! facilitated discussions for adults. Requirements: BA/BS in humanities discipline; significant and extensive experience designing, implementing, managing and evaluating public programs; excellent writing, speaking and computer skills; ability to work effectively with culturally, economically, socially and educationally diverse groups; entrepreneurial spirit. Need imagination, intellect, teamwork and an appreciation for the value of the humanities in community life. This is a regular full-time salaried position with excellent benefits. Attendance at evening and weekend programs required. Car required for in-state travel. Qualified candidates should email cover letter, resume, salary history/requirements and three references by <span style="color: red;">August 27, 2012</span> to <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:carolyn@ctculture.org" href="mailto:carolyn@ctculture.org">carolyn@ctculture.org</a>. Please note “Program Officer” in the subject line. No phone inquiries, please. Connecticut Humanities is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes a diverse candidate pool.

Program Officer, Public Humanities Programs - Connecticut Humanities (CTH)

Program Officer, Public Humanities Programs - Connecticut Humanities (CTH) seeks a highly motivated and creative individual to develop, ma...

Read more »

62 Ideas, Lessons and Humor for English Teachers #engchat

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLg4_6gpwEzM4YG2-NgvtmBK5btQRTY8vdF0wKK_Y5OKGVlyUfoL5tJKdvAQ_l-POATkdDz2bCdvGdRz0My82lFP1Tuh9g9AZB2tYCbaIdMQepf5bp-lKm3EW3G1H7z4bb2w5WPDeqcQ/s1600/IMG_2582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLg4_6gpwEzM4YG2-NgvtmBK5btQRTY8vdF0wKK_Y5OKGVlyUfoL5tJKdvAQ_l-POATkdDz2bCdvGdRz0My82lFP1Tuh9g9AZB2tYCbaIdMQepf5bp-lKm3EW3G1H7z4bb2w5WPDeqcQ/s400/IMG_2582.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mrs. Caldwell won another STAR award in 2012.</td></tr></tbody></table>I start back to school today for my eleventh year of teaching next door to my own high school English teacher. Mrs. Caldwell taught me to write and love literature.<br /><br />She's a fantastic teacher who is always innovating. Just yesterday, she showed me something new she'd created for her class. She never settles and has won STAR teacher over 20 times.<br /><br />There is no wonder I admire and want to be more like her. I dedicate this list of 62 ideas in her honor on this first day of school 2012. Here's to one of the best English teachers on the planet- Betsy Caldwell.<br /><ul class="diigo-linkroll"><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.sharemylesson.com/article.aspx?storyCode=50005563">Common Core English Language Arts Index via @sharemylesson #engchat</a></div><div class="diigo-description">An indexed list of Common Core English Language Arts standards and lessons aligned with those standards. A must-share for grades 6-12 English/ Language Arts teachers using Common Core.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/sharemylesson">sharemylesson</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/commoncore">commoncore</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/collaborativewriting">collaborativewriting</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/book">book</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edu_news">edu_news</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.edutopia.org/blog/common-core-lesson-plans-speeches-heather-wolpert-gawron">Lesson Planning and the Common Core: A Unit Based on TED.com | Edutopia</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Using a TED.com video in a Common Core aligned writing assignment as students learn about speech patterns with the purpose of driving a TED-like conference at the school.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/ted">ted</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/commoncore">commoncore</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/bestpractices">bestpractices</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://engageny.org/resource/curriculum-exemplars/">Curriculum Exemplars | EngageNY</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Engage NH has some examples of lessons that they consider exemplars for English Language arts grades 6-12 and math grades 1,2,7, and high school. IF you're looking to see what this looks like in practice, here are some that you'll want to review.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/commoncore">commoncore</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/mathchat">mathchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/math_teacher">math_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/math">math</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/curriculum">curriculum</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/bestpractices">bestpractices</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/professionaldevelopment">professionaldevelopment</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2007/01/08/a-guide-to-writing-well/">A Guide to Writing Well :: Fire and Knowledge</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Excellent material compiling information from On Writing Well and the elements of Style. This is an excellent piece for writing teachers.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/collaborativewriting">collaborativewriting</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10things/10-ways-to-reduce-wordiness-in-your-writing/525">10+ ways to reduce wordiness in your writing | TechRepublic</a></div><div class="diigo-description">For writers, this excellent article points out great ways to reduce wordiness.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/collaborativewriting">collaborativewriting</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.wiseinkblog.com/publishing-industry/10-twitter-lists-every-author-should-follow/">10 Twitter Lists Every Author Should Follow #writing</a></div><div class="diigo-description">An excellent list of authors and interesting people that would interest authors (and many teachers.) Each list is curated and updated by the person who creates the list, so follow those you'd like to use.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/twitter">twitter</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/collaborativewriting">collaborativewriting</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://connect.nwp.org/national">National Writing Project: National Community open to anyone #engchat</a></div><div class="diigo-description">The National Writing Project (NWP) has a community open to anyone who is interested in writing. If you teach writing, you should consider joining this community. They also have a "Twibe" (for sharing tweets) that you can use to disseminate tweets on the topic of writing. They've always been on the forefront of writing and research. Great organization and some great conversations about common core as well.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/blogger">blogger</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/commoncore">commoncore</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/ccchat">ccchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/collaborativewriting">collaborativewriting</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.carnegielibrary.org/kids/storymaker/">My StoryMaker : Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Storymaker is a website that lets young students make stories with graphics and more. It will create a pdf for you that you can save. The pdf can be put on an ipad and tablet, but storymaker itself requires flash.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/eduapps">eduapps</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://blogs.jefftwp.org/wordpress/walker/2012/01/20/649/">Collaborative Writing In Elementary Classrooms | Mr. Walker's Technology Blog</a></div><div class="diigo-description">"A wiki is a forum in which students can collaborate, share and contribute content, and peer review each others work. For example, the students in Mrs. Daly’s (White Rock), Mrs. Young’s, (Stanlick) and Mrs. McLoughlin’s (Stanlick) grade 5 classes have been working with grade 5 classes in Buckingham County, Virginia on a shared wiki. Each student was paired with a student in Virginia who is at or near their writing level. We created a wiki for the project and a page within that wiki for each student. The goal of this collaborative project was to provide an authentic opportunity for students to develop their writing skills. Each student was responsible for authoring a writing piece based on a common writing prompt. After the students added their written work to their page they were responsible for peer editing the work of their partner. The students followed a common template for peer review that was shared with all six teachers involved. The students provided the feedback to their partners in Virginia through the discussion feature that is available on each of their pages. This project has been a success. The students were provided with the opportunity to write for an audience. They enjoyed learning about their partners in Virginia. It was a great opportunity to experience writing from their peers in other states. The opportunity to send and receive feedback provided an opportunity for reflection regarding their writing. The student’s in Mrs. Young’s class and their partner class in Virginia will be continuing this project. They are in the process of organizing a wiki in which each pairing of students will co-author a single story." This is a great example of collaborative writing in the elementary classroom. These teachers are using peer review to cover first drafts.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/collaborativewriting">collaborativewriting</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/flatclass">flatclass</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.sharemylesson.com/teaching-resource/Reviews-of-Resource-Books-for-Teachers-50001525/">Reviews of Resource Books for Teachers - Resources - SML</a></div><div class="diigo-description">I think that #engchat and reading teachers would be interested in downloading this list from Linda. She has shared a spreadsheet of reviews by graduate students of teacher books for teaching reading in the content areas. This is an example of how college professors can understand and share resources to help K12 teachers. </div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/reading_teacher">reading_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/books">books</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/reviews">reviews</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/robertsonwriting/home">Roberts On Writing</a></div><div class="diigo-description">My friend Jennifer Roberts is a digital lead teacher in San Diego. She copresented with us at ISTE on Common Core in the Cloud and rocked it. Here's the website she built about Writing Response groups and what she does in the classroom. She's very knowledgeable and I love what she's doing with her students.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/commoncore">commoncore</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/">NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program</a></div><div class="diigo-description">national Novel Writing month is in November but this website is so much more. I heard Jennifer Roberts share this with our Panel on Writing with Common Core at ISTE 2012 and this website is a phenomenal way to meet the 3rd standard W.X.3 about Writing narratives. Students collaboratively work together. You can do this any time but November is the big emphasis. I think every school should participate in Nanowrimo -- just love it.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/commoncore">commoncore</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.sharemylesson.com/teaching-resource/Quick-vocab-maker-3003173/">Quick vocab maker - Resources - SML</a></div><div class="diigo-description">This cool excel spreadsheet lets you put in vocabulary and quick fits the spreadsheet so you can print them out and share them easily (for those still using paper this is a great download.)</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/vocabulary">vocabulary</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/vocabulary_teacher">vocabulary_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature_teacher">literature_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.sharemylesson.com/taxonomysearchResults.aspx?parametrics=90007,90067,90956&mode=browse&SFBC_FilterOption=8">Reading Standards for Informational Text (Grades 3-5)</a></div><div class="diigo-description">As you work to integrate Common Core standards into your classroom, it may help to look at sample lessons. In this set, you can see lessons, presentations, and assessments working with informational text (grades 3-5). Remember that you can search the site by grade level and common core standard and that other subject areas besides Common Core are included on the site.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/elemchat">elemchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/elementary_teacher">elementary_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature_teacher">literature_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.sharemylesson.com/teaching-resource/Student-Journals-for-Literature-Circles-50001018/">Student Journals for Literature Circles - Resources - SML</a></div><div class="diigo-description">This webpage has eight activities to use in literature circles and instructions for you to use as well.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literatre">literatre</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/circles">circles</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://coolcatteacher.visibli.com/share/AsVdAS">9 Amazing Word Cloud Generators For The Classroom …Word Clouds in Education Series: Part 3</a></div><div class="diigo-description">9 Amazing Word Cloud Generators For The Classroom http://t.co/g1b6jPlL #flatclass #edtech #engchat</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/flatclass">flatclass</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edtech">edtech</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/twitter">twitter</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://21centuryedtech.wordpress.com/2012/06/06/9-amazing-word-cloud-generators-for-the-classroom-word-clouds-in-education-series-part-3/">9 Amazing Word Cloud Generators For The Classroom …Word Clouds in Education Series: Part 3 | 21 st Century Educational Technology and Learning</a></div><div class="diigo-description">If you use wordclouds to help extract meaning on a topic before beginning, (try pasting the Gettysburg address into one) then these 9 word cloud generators will be of use to you.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storyCode=6211106">Persuasive writing - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Lots of ideas for teaching persuasive writing. It is important to have students write about the things that are of interest. This is why blogging is such a great platform - typiclaly first person is allowed students can share their opinions.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/taxonomysearchResults.aspx?parametrics=10216,40000,40001,49440,50908,50920,50930,50936&mode=browse&SFBC_FilterOption=8">Post 16: German: Grammar: Verbs and Tenses: Passive Voice teaching resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Some lessons to teach students about the passive voice (in multiple langages.)</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/grammar">grammar</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Shakespeare-for-all-ages-and-stages-6067956">Shakespeare for all ages and stages - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">This booklet is about Shakespeare for all ages and stages. Download this for ideas about how to integrate this important author into your curriculum at all ages.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english">english</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/Shakespeare">Shakespeare</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/ResourceDetail.aspx?storyCode=6015882">Myths and Legends - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">An introduction to “Myths and Legends” and “Mythical Monsters”. Text studied, Robert Nye’s “Beowulf”.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/beowulf">beowulf</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/irasocol/transition-to-college-reading-and-writing">Transition to College - Reading and Writing</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Very interesting presentation by Ira Socol about how students are using the MITS Freedom stick - preloaded with some apps - for their reading and writing. If you're a high school language arts teacher or a curriculum director, you would benefit from browsing through this presentation to see what college students are expected to be able to do. It isn't just about paper any more.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.resourceroom.net/comprehension/index.asp">Resource Room: Reading Comprehension</a></div><div class="diigo-description">This website has a treasure trove of reading comprehension resources that you can download and use including a chapter by chapter comprehension guide to accompany Harry Potter.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/reading">reading</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/reading_teacher">reading_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storyCode=6218952">Comprehension collection - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Help students with their reading comprehension with these lesson plans. Reading comprehension is such an  important thing and many of these lessons are cross curricular.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://coolcatteacher.visibli.com/share/Z2lmdz">creative writing prompts . com ideas for writers</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Hundreds of creative writing prompts (great for journaling) http://t.co/d57iM57l #engchat #writing</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/twitter">twitter</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/taxonomysearchResults.aspx?parametrics=10216,40000,40001,40002,40003,40017&mode=browse&SFBC_FilterOption=2&page=1">Writing lesson plans</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Here are some lesson plans for phonics and writing for younger students to use in your classroom. I've sorted it by the most popular first including some Outdoor ideas and some phonics games you could play.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/elemchat">elemchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Haiku-Poems-6096486">Haiku Poems - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">This lesson plan for middle school teaches about Haiku and also reviews the concept of syllables. Very extensive resources to use on this one.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/Education">Education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/haiku">haiku</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/poetry">poetry</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Forms-of-Poetry-Haiku-6033671">Forms of Poetry: Haiku - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">A nice downloadable resource to teach students about Haiku. (via TES)</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/Teaching">Teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/haiku">haiku</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/poetry">poetry</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature_teacher">literature_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/printouts/haiku-starter-30697.html">Haiku Starter - ReadWriteThink</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Haiku starter printout.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/haiku">haiku</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/poetry">poetry</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://coolcatteacher.visibli.com/share/8r4ceH">Shakespeare’s birthday collection - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Happy Birthday William Shakespeare! http://t.co/ABYdvyr9 #engchat</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/twitter">twitter</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://coolcatteacher.visibli.com/share/5N2aO4">Teaching Resources, Classroom Resources & Lesson Plans - TES Resources</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Shakespeare's birthday is tomorrow - April 23 - lesson plans http://t.co/8vS5vsqs #engchat</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/twitter">twitter</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Autobiographical-Writing-6097385">Autobiographical Writing - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">An autobiographical writing skills powerpoint and activity including a differentiated lesson plan and more traditional one. I like having different options. This is for older (high school) students.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/autobiography">autobiography</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Jacobean-England-presentation-6070118">Jacobean England presentation - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">If you're teaching Shakespeare or Webster, this Jacobean England presentation will be a nice introduction for you.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/shakespeare">shakespeare</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Doctor-Faustus-intro-OCR-A-level-6051183">Doctor Faustus intro (OCR A level) - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">A friend of mine passed this lesson plan on to me with this note to Literature teachers: "Sick of Jacobean literature meaning Shakespeare? Check out this resource on Christopher Marlowe's Faust. " I think that this is a very good point and is the type of lesson that AP literature would use in the US. There is a reading guide, powerpoint, and it also incorporates John Milton's Paradise Lost as a comparative text.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplan">lessonplan</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/reading-is-not-a-race-the-virtues-of-the-slow-reading-movement/2012/01/25/gIQA4RVCbQ_blog.html">Reading is not a race: The virtues of the ‘slow reading’ movement - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post</a></div><div class="diigo-description">This article in the Washington Post, I've seen several mentions by teachers. The slow reading movement is one that advocates really getting into a book and also becoming intimate with the "author" even to the point of memorization. It is about relaxing and getting into a book instead of rushing through a lot of them. "I have therefore joined the slow reading movement. Like the slow food movement, it is about more than just slowing down, though that is part of it. It is about an intimacy with authors; it is about paying attention, about caring, about rereading and savoring what we read. It is about finding the right pace. About pleasure more than efficiency. Slow reading is also about recovering old practices that have traditionally aided readers in paying attention — oral performance, annotation, exploring complex and difficult passages. It is about reading that generates ideas for writing, what Ralph Waldo Emerson called “creative reading.” And even memorization."</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/TaxonomySearchResults.aspx?parametrics=44354,44816,44918,45148&event=23&mode=browse">Secondary: English: KS3 Poetry: Poetic Forms teaching resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Teaching resources covering the different types of poetry.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/poetry">poetry</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/ResourceDetail.aspx?storyCode=6033671">Forms of Poetry: Haiku</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Japanese Haiku resources and worksheets.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/haiku">haiku</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/poetry">poetry</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storyCode=6186799">Shakespeare’s birthday collection</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Great collection of lesson plans and information on Shakespeare. There are a lot of downloadables here for literature teachers.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://coolcatteacher.visibli.com/share/FBbhvG">Open Educational Resources infoKit / What are Open Educational Resources</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Get started! Open Educational Resources infoKit http://t.co/WWA25DYr #flatclass #edchat #edtech #engchat</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/flatclass">flatclass</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edchat">edchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edtech">edtech</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/twitter">twitter</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/affect-versus-effect.aspx">Grammar Girl : Affect Versus Effect :: Quick and Dirty Tips ™</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Grammar girl has so many great ways to remember things in grammar. I've missed the words "effect" and "affect"  in the past and am working on improving my own grammar. It is one of those things i've been taught all of this and when I was valedictorian I knew it but somewhere in there between there and here I've forgotten some of it. I go to grammar girl to give me ways to remember it. OK affect - verb; effect - noun.  Grammar teachers will enjoy her.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplan">lessonplan</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/grammar">grammar</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storyCode=6183197">World Poetry Day - TES English - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Get ready to read poetry! World Poetry day is March 21. Here are a lot of lesson plans and ideas for that day including some digital e-poetry booklets that you could download as well as mp3's and videos that you can use as well as lesson plans.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/poetry">poetry</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature_teacher">literature_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/march">march</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Year-8-English-Booster-SoW-Writing-Styles-6114910">Year 8 English Booster SoW - Writing Styles - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Great lesson that turns writing students into music producers to improve writing. Designed for the middle school classroom.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/music">music</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplan">lessonplan</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literacy">literacy</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkaQztcVWEA&feature=g-all&context=G24f939fFAAAAAAAAAAA">Google Lit Trips Video.mp4 - YouTube</a></div><div class="diigo-description">An excellent video about Google lit trips and how it works.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edapp">edapp</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/eduapp">eduapp</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/Google">Google</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/maps">maps</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lit">lit</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/trips">trips</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://coolcatteacher.visibli.com/share/epXX4Y">ALERT: Have you cleared your Google web history?</a></div><div class="diigo-description">ALERT: Have you cleared your Google web history? http://t.co/JGfoyry9 #privacy #edchat #engchat</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/privacy">privacy</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edchat">edchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/twitter">twitter</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/KS3-Shakespeare-Schemes-of-Work-6107289">KS3 Shakespeare Schemes of Work - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">This is a fascinating holistic through through Shakespeare by English teacher, John Field. Including Much Ado about Nothing and Romeo and Juliet. He calls these his "tudor hall shakespeare units." If you teach Shakespeare, you may want to look at this and the other items here. Here's a tip: If you look at the classification at the bottom KS3 means high school and then you can click on Plays by Title and click on just about any play you will teach to find a lot of lesson plans and information for that play. If you're a beginning teacher or looking for new things, you'll want to drill down. I hope you'll share too. I'm having a love thing this February. ;-)</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/learning">learning</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/shakespeare">shakespeare</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/The-Crucible-CAT-Speaking-and-amp-Listening-Assignment-6086745">The Crucible CAT - Speaking & Listening Assignment - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Debate the crucible as the Salem Witch Trial anniversary approaches. This is a lesson plan and assessment rubric, and a character sheet for assignment of roles.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/debate">debate</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature_teacher">literature_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/beaverton/index.ssf/2011/04/hazeldale_elementary_school_kids_use_ipad_app_to_learn_pronunciation_grammar_and_vocabulary.html">Hazeldale Elementary School kids use iPad app to learn pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary | OregonLive.com</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Using ipads to teach vocabulary. In this mainstream media article, students are using Toontastic to create stories and learn new vocabulary. My students enjoy Puppetpals, another great one to use.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/ipad">ipad</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/vocabulary">vocabulary</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/elemchat">elemchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Superhero-Unit-comics-in-the-classroom-6033870">Superhero Unit - comics in the classroom - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">there is a reason that this resource is going viral over at Tes. This masterful set of lesson uses comic books with a wide range of writing activities: short story, informative, biography, and comic strip. You have lesson plans and instructions for how to use this. Use comics to teach biographics. Many teachers groan about teaching nonfiction. I love this.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/composition">composition</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16871715">BBC News - A Point of View: Mourning the loss of the written word</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Is the written word gone? Is it lost? I know fore me, I have a cross pen and waterman with beautiful ink. I still write in my journal and I still write letters, although I have to admit, not as much as I used to. This is a great post to share and use for reflection and debate in your composition classes. With over 239 comments as of the writing of this, it has a lot of meat and thoughts in the comments as well.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.mrthorne.com/">Mr Thorne Does Literacy</a></div><div class="diigo-description">mr. Thorne is out of the UK. He has great phonics lessons. Yes, he has a british accent, but you could listen and redo these lessons in your own classroom if you are US. </div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literacy">literacy</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/reading">reading</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/phonics">phonics</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/resourcecalendar.aspx?nbday=0&nbmth=2&nbyr=2012&evcode=4304">Charles Dickens Lesson Plans and resources</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Charles Dickens birthday is February 7th. Here are resources and lesson plans to help you.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessons">lessons</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/charles">charles</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/dickens">dickens</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Ask-Shakespeare-February-2-2011-6067819">Ask Shakespeare February 2, 2011 - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">This will be a fascinating Twitter-centric event on February 2nd. Sign up now to participate. "Organised by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Ask Shakespeare is a one day, online event taking place on February 2, 2011. From the SBT: "On 2, February 2011 we are asking Shakespeare organisations, enthusiasts and scholars and professionals worldwide to sign up and join us on the Ask Shakespeare panel through their twitter accounts. On February 2, 2011 this panel will be ready to answer your Shakespeare questions." If you would like to represent TES English on the Ask Shakespeare panel, please message me."</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/shakespeare">shakespeare</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://elalp.cbalwiki.ets.org/">CBAL ELA Competency Model and Provisional Learning Progressions - home</a></div><div class="diigo-description">This is interesting. ETS has launched a website about: "Educational Testing Service (ETS), the world's leading measurement and research organization, has launched a new website to stimulate discussion, debate, and promote empirical research to help teachers and students meet the goals of the English language arts (ELA) Common Core State Standards." but this is most definitely a wiki (looks like wikispaces.) I find it fascinating that a company would use a wiki because so many have resisted this. I wonder who can join and who can edit. Interesting. It says you can join. It will be interesting to see what they are doing with this. Perhaps some of you common core experts should join.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/commoncore">commoncore</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/composition">composition</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Twenty-Dyslexia-Friendly-Writing-Tips-3012073">Twenty Dyslexia Friendly Writing Tips - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">20 Dyslexia friendly writing tips. (Yes, I've spent the evening browsing the ideas on the Tes website.)</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/?popular#top-tabs">Lesson Plans - ReadWriteThink</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Language arts teachers of all ages will love the free lesson plans on this website. They are standards based and organized by grade level.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/composition">composition</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/composition_teacher">composition_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature_teacher">literature_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/bestpractices">bestpractices</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/all_teachers">all_teachers</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/05/scrutinizing-stand-ins-working-with-nouns-and-pronouns">Lesson Plan | Scrutinizing Stand-Ins: Working With Nouns and Pronouns - NYTimes.com</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Lesson plan on pronouns using the New York Times.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/grammar">grammar</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/endchat">endchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sKZ76CJs4Rwn2NKEgtK3LZVKYvFEv2IDcTQlAPKC6J8/edit?hl=en_US&pli=1">Paula Naugle's Irregular Verb Resources</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Paula has collected resources for helping students with irregular English verbs. I'm struggling with helping my fourth grader learn them and have a whole week to get ready for the test and will be using these sites, review games, and activities! Thank you Paula!</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/grammar">grammar</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Mario-and-Sonic-English-6118378">Mario and Sonic English - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">So you need a writing prompt or ideas to get students excited about writing. Here is an idea that used Mario and Sonic to encourage writing. This describes how a games based approach can be used for collaboratively building descriptions of characters and or settings. It can be used as the initial stimulus for imaginative writing by providing "concrete" experiences for learners.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://lessonplansos.blogspot.com/2011/12/theres-no-time-literally-like-present.html">Lesson Plan SOS: There’s No Time (Literally!) Like the Present!</a></div><div class="diigo-description">I love this lesson plan linking Christmas, New Years, and writing to help children focus on work ethic and goal setting. Nice lesson plan blog.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplan">lessonplan</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/resource/922">30 Ideas for Teaching Writing - National Writing Project</a></div><div class="diigo-description">30 Ideas for Teaching Writing - National Writing Project http://t.co/OlLaokHH via @writingproject #engchat</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/twitter">twitter</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.studygs.net/writing/prewriting.htm">Organizing and pre-writing</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Nice overview of exercises and activities for prewriting.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature_teacher">literature_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/composition">composition</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://coolcatteacher.visibli.com/share/66fJ5Y">The 56 best/worst similes</a></div><div class="diigo-description">HUMOR: 56 best/worst similes "sardines were packed as tight as the coach section of a 747" http://t.co/gR4gRu6I Via @donnaroman #engchat</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/twitter">twitter</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div></li></ul><div class="zemanta-related" style="margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;"><h4 class="zemanta-related-title">Related articles</h4><ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://vickidavis.me/post/25794593945/collaborative-writing-in-the-cloud-engchat" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/96219564_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://vickidavis.me/post/25794593945/collaborative-writing-in-the-cloud-engchat" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Collaborative Writing in the Cloud #engchat</a></li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2012/07/common-core-standards-lessons-ideas-and.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/101135254_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2012/07/common-core-standards-lessons-ideas-and.html" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Common Core Standards: Lessons, Ideas, and Discussions #ccchat</a></li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2012/08/50-teaching-and-lesson-plans-that-rock.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/105130251_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2012/08/50-teaching-and-lesson-plans-that-rock.html" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">50 Teaching and Lesson Plans that Rock 8/7/2012</a></li></ul></div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_c.png?x-id=f5466c53-7745-437c-a36a-9702e0aff355" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>

engchat Literacy Writing 62 Ideas, Lessons and Humor for English Teachers #engchat

Mrs. Caldwell won another STAR award in 2012. I start back to school today for my eleventh year of teaching next door to my own high school ...

Read more »

Track and Field Madness!

<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Main Blurb</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Track is awesome. I wish I could be at the Olympic Stadium this week to watch it. I am enjoying the evening feed online, because it is bouncing everywhere! Take tonight: I was able to watch it in my classroom in its entirety – from 11am till it was done. I saw decathlon high jump, decathlon 400m, men’s 110m hurdle semifinals and finals, women’s 200m, women’s 400m hurdles, men’s 200m semifinals, women’s long jump, men’s javelin throw, and the men’s 800m semifinal! Boom! We’re on the track! Boom! We’re watching long jump! Boom! We’re back on the track for the first semifinal! Boom! We’re watching javelin! Boom! There’s another semifinal on the track! Boom! There’s that Chariots of Fire music signaling another medal ceremony! Boom! There’s that really cute mini remote-controlled Mini Cooper fetching the field items like hammer throw and shots!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">You really miss out on that when watching the NBC TV coverage. They make you watch one event at a time, take frequent breaks, and doesn’t allow the track meet to flow. Then they put qualifying rounds of field events on late night and only show a few participants that factor in the medals!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The announcers are also great. I don’t know who they are, but they are able to let the event unfold and don’t try to be impressive. They just give us the events and keep us in the loop. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">It helped that tonight the Americans really took care of the medals. Two in women’s long jump, two in men’s 110m hurdles, two in 200m, and one in women’s 100m hurdles! And if that isn’t enough, Ashton Eaton and Trey Hardee had a fabulous first day of decathlon events and are currently 1-2. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Be sure to watch tomorrow (preferably live, if possible) as the decathlon finishes up. Tonight and tomorrow are the largest days on the track – because of the five additional decathlon events, plus qualifying, semifinals, finals, and even the first round of relay events! It makes it really hard to fit in other important events as they’re aired – like the women’s water polo and women’s soccer gold medal matches tomorrow. But I’ll make do. I just realized my two classroom computers can air the Olympics online coverage, so now I have THREE computers with which to watch events!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>It can’t get any better.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mini Blurbs</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">New Event Alert! Qualifying in the BMX cycling was today. Individual time trials – the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">real</i> fun starts tomorrow with eight bikers on the track. It’s snowboard cross with wheels. Awesome. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">New Event Alert! Rhythmic gymnastics start on Thursday! …wait – you don’t care? Okay.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I am so proud of Alyson Felix for finally getting her individual gold medal. I just wish she could have had more flashy socks. If you watch her in the Olympic Trials, her socks were bright green. Someone get her some stars and stripes! Erik Kynard, get on that for her relays!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I was pulling for Kessy/Ross to win gold today, but it wasn’t meant to be. I just hope they can improve even more and crush the competition in Rio. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Man, those American male teams were disappointing. Men’s volleyball was swept in the quarterfinals, and men’s water polo was beat as well. At least men’s basketball is dominating – and I finally got to watch the game! I do believe what everyone’s been saying: it’s a woman’s Olympics. But it’s the men (track, gymnastics, and swimming especially) that are being the better sports. You can be dominant <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and </i>be nice, ladies! (But the basketball guys need to shape up. Low blows? Really? Are we in grade school again?)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Kobe Bryant scored six three-pointers in the second half of the USA's win over Australia in basektball and finished with 20 points. He definitely made his presence known today! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Czech Republic Gold Medal Watch</b>: Zuzana Hejnova got…bronze in the 400 hurdles. But I kind of called it that she would medal. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Today’s roundup - Because I had two computer screens going today, I was really reveling in the Games: taekwondo, sailing, water polo, volleyball, long jump, javelin, decathlon, running events, BMX cycling (both men’s and women’s), basketball, beach volleyball, equestrian jumping, diving! Woot!</div>

Track and Field Madness!

The Main Blurb Track is awesome. I wish I could be at the Olympic Stadium this week to watch it. I am enjoying the evening feed online, beca...

Read more »

Lead Senior Software Engineer (C/C++/C#/.Net/MFC, XML, Java, OOA/OOD/OOP) (#108372)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="LTR" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b>Position</b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;">: Lead Senior Software Engineer</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><br />Location</b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;">: Milpitas, CA</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><br />Duration</b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;">: Full time</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><br /><br />Job Description</b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;">:</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><br />Responsibilities include</b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;">:<br />As SW Lead Engg need to lead SW programs which involves cross functional development. The position also<br />requires the ability to plan SW modules of 6-36 months in duration, work with team and to be technical and hands-on during the entire PLC.</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;">- Participate in all stages of software development including deployment/trouble shooting at customer sites.</span></div><div dir="LTR" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;">- Must have good understanding of general SW principles and constructs</span></div><div dir="LTR" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;">- Need to be able to work with hardware and systems/application groups to understand system requirements and map them to a software design.<br />- Interact with multi site team members (India & USA)<br />- Handle software sustaining activities<br />- Be able to communicate effectively, conduct technical presentations.<br />- Be able to conduct detailed analysis, consider the tradeoffs for the various solutions, and make decisions on which solution to implement and why.<br />Leverage on teams strength and abilities.<br />- Establish operational objectives and assignments, and delegates assignments to team.<br />- Regularly interacts with senior management or executive levels on matters concerning several functional areas,</span></div><div dir="LTR" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;">divisions and/or customers.<br />- Lead and take responsibility for planning and development activities (e.g., driving software team to milestones, mitigating risks) for software product excellence in quality, reliability, user experience and functionality.</span></div><div dir="LTR" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;">- Communicate and share information, learning, and methods with cross-functional team members to achieve organizational/program goals</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;">.<b><br /><br />Preferred Qualifications:</b><br />S/W skills:<br />Knowledge of C/C++/C#/.Net/MFC, COM, ATL, XML, Java, OOA/OOD/OOP<br />Experience with CMM, UML, Rational Suite, Clear case.</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><br /><br />Minimum Qualifications:</b></span></div><div dir="LTR" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;">Doctorate (Academic) with at least 3 years of experience.</span></div><div dir="LTR" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;">OR</span></div><div dir="LTR" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;">Master's Level Degree with at least 7 years of experience.</span></div><div dir="LTR" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;">OR<br />Bachelor's Level Degree with at least 10 years of experience in Computer Technology or SW Engg. Or, equivalent<br /><br />Kindly send your resumes to</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="mailto:Sivaram.bose@kla-tencor.com"><span lang="en-us"><u><span style="color: navy;">Sivaram.bose@kla-tencor.com</span></u></span></a></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span></div></div>

Lead Senior Software Engineer (C/C++/C#/.Net/MFC, XML, Java, OOA/OOD/OOP) (#108372)

Position : Lead Senior Software Engineer Location : Milpitas, CA Duration : Full time Job Description : Responsibilities include : As SW Lea...

Read more »

G Train "Safari" on Saturday

This Saturday I'll be giving a walking/riding tour of parts of Brooklyn along the G Train. The tour starts at 11am in Downtown/Boerum Hill and heads to Fort Greene/Clinton Hill, ending in Williamsburg. More information can be found at <a href="http://www.92y.org/Tribeca/Event/Brooklyn-Train-Tour.aspx">92Y Tribeca</a> (where tickets are available) and <a href="http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/35/30/24_gtraintour_2012_07_27_bk.html">The Brooklyn Paper</a>, who previewed the tour (and took the below photo) a couple weeks ago.<br /><br /><img alt="gtraintour.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/gtraintour.jpg" title="Your G Train Tour Guide" /><br />[Photo by Stefano Giovannini | image <a href="http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/35/30/24_gtraintour_2012_07_27_bk.html">source</a>]

G Train "Safari" on Saturday

This Saturday I'll be giving a walking/riding tour of parts of Brooklyn along the G Train. The tour starts at 11am in Downtown/Boerum Hi...

Read more »

Library Director - Avon Free Public Library

<strong>Library Director - </strong><span style="color: #48286d;"><strong>Avon Free Public Library</strong></span>. The Town of Avon is currently seeking an energetic, knowledgeable and capable director with a strong public service commitment to administer, direct and manage the functions, activities and operations of the Avon Free Public Library. This individual will be asked to lead its talented and experienced staff in a newly expanded and renovated facility (41,000 sq. ft). The Library serves as the heart of the community providing information, literature, educational support, technology, culture and the arts. The Town of Avon (population 18,200) is located in the Farmington Valley, approximately 10 miles west of Hartford. The Avon Free Public Library is an association library and serves as a town department. The director submits policy, program and procedural recommendations to the Library Board of Directors and to the Town Manager as appropriate. Town operating budget for FY13: $1.4M. View Library Director Recruitment information at Job Opportunities on the Town Website, <a href="http://www.town.avon.ct.us/" target="_blank">www.town.avon.ct.us</a> or the Avon Library website <a href="http://www.avonctlibrary.info/" target="_blank">www.avonctlibrary.info</a>. An application for employment must be completed and returned, along with resume and copy of Master’s Degree, to William F. Vernile, Director of Human Resources, 60 West Main Street, Avon, CT. 06001 by 4:30 pm, on Friday, <span style="color: red;">September 7, 2012</span>. Interviews of select candidates will begin in mid-September.

Library Director - Avon Free Public Library

Library Director - Avon Free Public Library . The Town of Avon is currently seeking an energetic, knowledgeable and capable director with ...

Read more »

More Events are Finishing! How Sad!

<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Main Blurb</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Dear Dawn Harper:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Once again, you went under the radar. And once again, you showed that you are for real. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In 2008, Lolo Jones was the premier star of the women’s 100m hurdles. She was cruising through the rounds, she was the poster girl in the event, and she got all the attention from the media and NBC. So naturally, the people here in the US were pulling for Lolo. You were barely mentioned in any of the heats, semis, or even the final! I don’t remember you actually being <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mentioned</i> until they scrolled down the field for the introductions. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Everyone was watching Lolo Jones. Everyone watched as she stumbled on the ninth hurdle. And although I was sad that she stumbled, I was thrilled to see another American come and take her place as the gold medalist. And I laughed as you walked around in unbelief, screaming that you had won the gold. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So this year, I was pretty surprised when, once again, Lolo Jones was getting all the attention! She got the NBC profiles, she got the documentary, she got the endorsements. And as I watched those, I went, “Where’s Dawn Harper’s endorsement deal? She’s the one with the gold!” You got a small profile during the opening heats, but people were still talking about Lolo. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I pray that today’s race will help put you in a little more of a spotlight. You came out slowly, but then you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">erupted</i> and made it a close race against Sally Pearson. You made it so that Pearson didn’t know that she won because they had to check the photo finish. You didn’t stumble out the gate, you didn’t trip on a hurdle; you actually PR-ed! And because of that hard work and being sure of your own talent, you got a silver!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I am glad that you did so well again! I hope that you’ll get a little more attention this time around – you deserve it!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mini Blurbs</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Thank you everybody for reading the blog! I have reached 1000 pageviews! I'll try to keep up the postings after the Olympics conclude so that you can keep reading!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></div><div class="MsoNormal">It seems like when the women have event finals, the medalists are those that messed up the least amount of times. Stumbles, falters, or landing on your butt. When the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">men</i>have competed in individual events this week, it has been full of fantastic routines. Monday’s vault routine was extraordinary. Today the high bar was absolutely breathtaking! For those two events especially, the man who raised the bar <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>won the gold – not because others messed up, but because they stood out from the great routines. Another reason I enjoy men’s gymnastics more than the women’s. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Another note on the high bar: there is lots of swinging around the bar, doing handstands, and a couple of releases. Then the Netherlands’ Epke Zonderland came up to the bar. WOW! He did at least three releases in a row – each more crazy than the next! I hope that male gymnasts everywhere take note of all the releases he did. It’s more than just doing the craziest releases – it’s the amount, too! Keep it up, Epke – make those guys earn the medals!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">One more hype-bashing: who got the hype coming into the Games? Jordyn Wieber and Gabby Douglas. Who came out with the most medals in gymnastics? Aly Raisman. She earned ‘em all! (And probably should have gotten one more!)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">How sad to see Liu Xiang of China pull out of another Olympic hurdle event. In 2008 his Achilles killed his chances of winning the 110m hurdles in his home country. And today his leg pain once again caused him to underjump the first hurdle and force him to hop to the finish. That was a pretty admirable thing for him to do – and for the rest of the hurdlers to help him out. That heat this morning was incredible (look it up if you can), because <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">four</i> hurdlers didn’t finish! That’s half the heat! Three didn’t even make it past the first hurdle!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Erik Kynard, American high jumper, must be a fan of Robert Griffin III. Did you see his socks? Awesome! (Another Olympian who digs the crazy socks? Yohan Blake of Jamaica!)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ve seen three Americans in the “weights” part of the field events: a female discus athlete, a male hammer throw athlete, and a female shot putter. None of them grunted when they released their object. And you know what? None of them medaled. Meanwhile, Reese Hoffa screams when he puts the shot, and he got on the medal stand with a bronze. Sensing a pattern, guys? C’mon, release your pent-up anger with an otherworldly yell!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ve never seen a discus event when each throw in the fifth rounds was longer and longer and longer! Well, not three times, because the Iranian stepped over the circle. But it would have been! It was a pretty incredible final. How much of that did you see? None? Oh, thanks NBC.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I was irritated that the Algerian won the 1500m final. He dropped out of the 800 preliminary, was kicked out of the Olympics, returned with a “doctor’s note” saying that it was due to injury, and was allowed to win. How about some consistency, Olympic officials? If you’re going to kick out badminton players for not trying, kick out this guy, for being a sore sport and giving him the doctor’s note loophole which clearly wasn’t truthful. This has been the only gold medal where I verbally boooooooooooooed the result. And I say it again: “BOOOOOOOOO!” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Jen Kessy and April Ross beat the mighty mighty Brazilian #1 beach volleyball team to get to the gold medal match against fellow Americans Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings. How can these Olympians compete so well in the driving rain? I can barely <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">walk</i>in the driving rain, let alone bump, set, and spike!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">By the way, Kessy and Ross, the next Olympics are in Brazil. You now have a giant bullseye on your back for the next Olympics. But now we’ll get gold and silver (it makes up for the men, so thanks).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Kobe Bryant wasn’t anywhere that I saw. Did you see him today? Maybe he was back at the Olympic Stadium.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Czech Republic Gold Medal Watch:</b> no medals today either! Let’s try getting something in the 400m hurdles tomorrow, okay?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Today’s roundup: balance beam, high bar, floor exercise, water polo, running events, discus, high jump, volleyball, beach volleyball, diving, synchronized swimming, soccer. </div>

More Events are Finishing! How Sad!

The Main Blurb Dear Dawn Harper: Once again, you went under the radar. And once again, you showed that you are for real. In 2008, Lolo Jones...

Read more »

Join the Wikispaces Flipped Classroom webinar on August 23rd 2012

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQVhyTxjHFPa5EqQ6OFSQvxP05Lkkd46F1Edxe9gywkMh6GBzR6qpPzRDNPYNCABfYKqtiUKGU4QvaoCJMEQ9y-aISuPxyb7JzEBRtJcH_BuLTkIXixSB_cJQm3ZTA4UBRYxRgPMkuWc/s1600-h/image%25255B4%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="65" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTElgXRK7BtjGE4QIAvQmCZyIqAKuFBgVAmINsW5V-TyiDNMz1ivkgbiUBv-u8atUX3OyqkJ0nEuNcdjqnaCp2pWGRkdEcsYZmwpsYSBKblu2NjWoIPfdcQcx-qVCwWK61JOejSukRhyphenhyphen4/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Are you curious to know more about the Flipped Classroom?  Wikispaces webinars are hosting a Flipped Classroom Panel on August 23rd where four distinguished pioneers in the field will share their experience and wisdom. This will be a very interesting discussion I am sure. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is a unique opportunity to hear how schools plan, execute and evaluate a blended learning and flipped classroom environment. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Please click on the following link to find out more about this webinar and how to sign up. <a href="http://get.wikispaces.com/panelfall2012/">Read more here</a>. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>Date</u>:</b> August 23, 2012<br /><b><u>Time:</u></b> 11am PDT - please check the <a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html">Time Zone Converter</a> to convert to your own time) </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">  </span></div></div>

webinars Join the Wikispaces Flipped Classroom webinar on August 23rd 2012

Are you curious to know more about the Flipped Classroom?  Wikispaces webinars are hosting a Flipped Classroom Panel on August 23rd where fo...

Read more »