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This week's newsletter is sponsored by Pearson.
Great Educators Never Stop Learning
Pearson’s Professional Growth Academy helps your district address specific instructional challenges through flexible, affordable professional development. Each Academy offers:
• High-quality content with accredited university approval
• Experienced facilitation and implementation support
• Practical application of learning to solve classroom challenges
• Onsite or online delivery
We can tailor to the individual needs of your district and staff. Content areas include: Leadership, Mathematics, Elementary Reading, Middle School Reading, Induction, and ELL Instruction.
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Volume 2, Issue 19
September 23, 2008
Laura Candler: A Special Series on Teaching Kids How to Set Goals --
And Work to Achieve Them
Goal Setting Part 1: Understanding the Process
We never were taught how to set goals, and we only discovered the power of goal setting later in life. But with a little creativity, we can share with our students the strategies used by successful adults.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev151.shtml
Goal Setting Part 2: The Process in Action
The best way to help students see the goal-setting process in action is to set a class goal and work together to achieve it.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev151b.shtml
Goal Setting Part 3: Setting Individual Goals
You don’t have to wait to achieve a class goal before teaching students to set personal goals. The steps of the process are the same, although you’ll need to approach the task a little differently.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev151c.shtml
Emma McDonald: Gaining -- and Keeping -- Control in Your Classroom
A Five-Part Series on Classroom Management
Classroom Management Part 3: Freedom and Responsibilities
Discover how to empower students and open the door to mutual respect, positive attitudes, and good behavior.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/columnists/mcdonald/mcdonald028.shtml
Classroom Management Part 4: Consistency and Flexibility
When you follow the same routines every day; react with patience every day; treat students as fairly as possible every day, you are consistent. Students learn what to expect from you.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/columnists/mcdonald/mcdonald029.shtml
Cathy Puett Miller: A Four-Part Series on Vocabulary Instruction
Part 1: The Face of Effective Vocabulary Instruction
Did you know that student vocabulary should increase by 2,000-3,000 words a year -- and about 400 of those words should be taught directly? But how?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/reading/ReadingCoach/ReadingCoach006.shtml
Part 2: The Hidden Side of Strategic Vocabulary Instruction
Using only direct instruction to teach vocabulary can overwhelm you as a teacher and be too shallow an approach for students.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/columnists/miller/miller037.shtml
Dr. Fred Jones: Tools for Teaching
Responsibility Training
The goal of Responsibility Training is to make responsible behavior in the classroom a matter of routine.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/columnists/jones/jones027.shtml
"No" Means "No": The Importance of Consistency
If you are consistent, you can use smaller and smaller consequences to govern misbehavior. If you are inconsistent, you must use larger and larger consequences to govern misbehavior.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/columnists/jones/jones029.shtml
Angela Powell: Getting It Together
Organize Classroom Aides
Make classroom paraprofessionals or volunteers feel welcome, appreciated, and well-informed.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/organization/organization006.shtml
De-Clutter Students' Desks
Help them stay organized by keeping seldom-used texts on an easily accessible shelf elsewhere in the classroom.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/organization/organization007.shtml
Ask Dr. Shore About...
School Anxiety
My son has been giving me a hard time about going to school. He resists getting out of bed, complains about a stomachache, and if all else fails throws a tantrum. What can I do to get him to want to go to school?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/shore/shore079.shtml
 Each week, Education World spotlights books of interest to educators. This week, read a brief summary of two more of our "top 50 books for educators."
Home, School and Community Relations: A Guide to Working with Families
Said to be for students as well as teachers, administrators, and parents, this book is probably of most use to teachers and principals. Author Carol Gestwicki is revisiting this topic in this 2006 book, having published a similar title in 1996. With practical guidance on such topics as how to deal with "Troublesome Attitudes and Behaviors," the book can certainly help schools navigate the tricky waters of community relations. With research showing that community engagement is highly correlated with better school performance, this guidance can be very valuable indeed.
Click to learn more or to purchase this book.
Paideia Proposal
First published in 1982, this book by philosopher Mortimer J. Adler is a modern classic. Taking the ancient Greek word paideia as its touchstone, this very brief book (under 100 pages) powerfully links education with democracy and proposes that society must make education the very center of its energies if it is to truly be democratic. Written before the technology revolution, the underlying argument of this book is, interestingly, even more important 25 years later.
 Click to learn more or to purchase this book.
Click the icon to the right to see more books and many other products that are available in the Education World MarketPlace.
Reader's Theater
Can Humpty Dumpty Be Saved?
When Humpty Dumpty is injured in a fall, prospects for recovery look grim until twin computer geniuses use technology to put Humpty together again.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/reading/ReadersTheater/ReadersTheater003.shtml
Special Assignment
Zoe Brown thinks her assignment for her class’s Web site project is boring. But she changes her mind when her research takes her to an unusual site full of important information.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/reading/ReadersTheater/ReadersTheater020.shtml
Reading Features
Shared Reading
Reading expert Dr. Janet Allen and two teachers offer tips for a successful start to shared reading.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev083.shtml
At-Home Reading and Writing Activities
A handful of suggestions for teachers who are looking for new activities to get students more involved in reading and writing at home.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr064.shtml
Good Grief! It's Grammar Time
Are grumbles all you hear when teaching grammar? Try a fresh approach.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr075.shtml
Best Books for Teaching About…
Each week, Education World presents our Editors’ Choices for the best books for teaching about popular classroom themes. Check out our choices and add your own recommendations to the Readers’ Voices section of this week’s themed booklists:
Best Books for Teaching About...
Bullies
Friendship
http://www.educationworld.com/a_bestbooks/archives/students.shtml
Total Reader
How Cool Is That!
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev149.shtml
Strategies of the Week
Open House
With a little planning, you can improve open house attendance and make a good first impression too.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/strategy/strategy004.shtml
Every-Day Activities
Every-day activities offer reinforcement and practice, ensure retention, and improve test results.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/strategy/strategy003.shtml
From the Writing Center 
How to Write a Five-Paragraph Essay
When it comes to a successful essay, the most crucial step is the planning. In fact, a properly planned essay will practically write itself.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev109.shtml
Time for Open House? Try a Hinky-Pinky
Stuck for ideas to help students feel comfortable during the first few weeks of school? Try hinky-pinkies. They also make a great display for Open House.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr089.shtml
Now Performing at Kool-Aid House...
Jan McManus’s students share their writing "coffee house" style.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/teacher_feature/teacher_feature052.shtml
The Weblog Class
Hilary Meeler’s students blog their way to better writing skills.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/teacher_feature/teacher_feature096.shtml
Writing Lessons
Adelita: A Bio Poem
Write a bio poem about Tomie dePaola's Adelita. (Grades K-2)
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tsl/archives/04-1/lesson027.shtml
Art Imitates Life
Study postcards of World War I; create postcards that reflect your life. (Grades 3-12)
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/00-2/lp2200.shtml
The Great Chicago Fire
During Fire Prevention Week, investigate the Great Chicago Fire. What was its cause? (Grades 6-12)
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/dailylp/dailylp/dailylp013.shtml
Who Are Your Heroes
Work sheet helps students organize their “Who is my hero?" thinking. (Grades 3-8)
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/00-2/lp2283.shtml
Inquiring Minds Want to Know
Choose a weird headline; be a news reporter.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/writing_bug/writingbug090.shtml
Time for a Change
If I could change one thing about myself, I would...
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/writing_bug/writingbug082.shtml
Somewhere in Time
You have invented a time machine. Where are you going?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/writing_bug/writingbug081.shtml
Too Much Violence?
Is there too much violence on television?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/writing_bug/writingbug074.shtml
Featured Articles
A New Spin on Back-to-School Night
Brenda Dyck describes a new model for Back-to-School Night in which students take the lead. Included are ideas to help you plan a student-led Back-to-School Night.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/voice/voice092.shtml
Class Meetings: A Democratic Approach to Classroom Management
The true power of meetings lies in their ability to empower students, to motivate them to learn, and to help them discover their personal best.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev012.shtml
Wendy Petti's "Math Cats Math Chat"
Fall Math
Discover a windfall of math activities related to leaves, weather, and the changing seasons.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/mathchat/mathchat008.shtml
Go Figure
The Hot Dog Stand
How much -- or how little -- can Harry charge for the items on the menu?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/math/go_figure/go_figure006.shtml
How Many Squares?
How many squares can students create using the dots in this puzzle?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/math/go_figure/go_figure007.shtml
Math Features
Math Competitions for Students
Discover a dozen math competitions, including problem-solving and stock market competitions -- and the world's largest math event.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr145.shtml
Integrating Math Across the Currriculum
Discover how one teacher brought her love of running into the classroom and, in the process, integrated all areas of her curriculum.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr146.shtml
Math Mnemonics
How many feet in a mile?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/mnemonics/mnemonics006.shtml
Solving Word Problems
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/mnemonics/mnemonics007.shtml
From the Math Machine
Da' Numba
Players click combinations of tiles that add up to given numbers and remove as many as possible in 90 seconds. (Grades 1-12)
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/mathmachine/mathmachine006.shtml
Reversi
In this classic game of strategy, players put their game pieces into empty squares and "reverse" their opponent's pieces that lie between. (Grades 1-12)
 http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/mathmachine/mathmachine007.shtml
Tips Library
Classroom Management: Meet the Teacher
Behavior Management: Boredom Busters, Noise Nixers, Rewards
Motivating Kids: Perseverance Pays
Book Report Makeover: Script It!
Homework Tips: Absentee Assistance
Best Idea: Reciprocal Journal
Testing Tips: Just Relax
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/management_tips/management_tips007.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/behaviortips/behaviortips007.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/motivation/motivation007.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/bookreport/bookreport007.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/homeworktips/homeworktips007.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/bestidea/bestidea007.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/testing/testing007.shtml
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For a modest $24.95 PER YEAR, upgrade to Personal Edition, "Super SchoolNotes," with thousands of resources linked to your state's standards!
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Education Humor With Regina Barreca
Charmed, I'm Sure
"Works like a charm," I laugh, walking towards my 8 a.m. class. My students raise their sleepy heads and open their heavily-lidded eyes because they hear, from a quarter of a mile away, the distinctive clank of two heavy bracelets as I walked down the hallway.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/columnists/barreca/barreca020.shtml
 The Principal Poet
Education World’s resident poet, Mr. Ivan, presents “Bringing Elephants to School.”
If I can pull this pet thing off
And bring an elephant with me,
They’ll talk about my “Show ’n Tell”
For years…I guarantee…
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/columnists/ivan/ivan002.shtml
Doug Johnson's Tech Proof
My New (School) Year's Resolutions
Every school year, I resolve to try a few new things that will improve my technology use, my teaching abilities and, hopefully, the lives of my students and staff.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/columnists/johnson/johnson010.shtml
Pete Hall's Always Strive To Be a Better You!
Before Lightening Strikes
Around and around we go with the Frequent Fliers. The Detention Crew. The kids who have difficulty staying out of trouble. They are the Lightning Club. Lightning can strike at any time, without warning. Be prepared. Start a Lightning Club in your school.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/columnists/hall/hall015.shtml
Bernie Poole
Computer-Based Learning and Montessorian Manipulatives
The methodologies based on Maria Montessori's philosophy of education emphasize children's preference for control over their own learning. Consider the "discoveries" Montessori made about the learning modes of the children she worked with.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/columnists/poole/poole003.shtml
 Alma Row's Gadgets of the Week
SketchUp
Use this tool to explore, explain, and present ideas using 3D models.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/gadget/gadget005.shtml
Moving Jigsaw Puzzle
This one is just for fun! Try your hand at a Moving Jigsaw Puzzle!
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/gadget/gadget006.shtml
 Starr Points
20 Teacher-Tested Tips for a Stress-Free Year
Does the pressure of dealing with student lethargy, parental demands, and administrative imperatives cause you to wear a path in your hardwood floors? Have you tried all the traditional remedies for job-related stress and found them ineffective? Have we got a tip (or twenty) for you!
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/issues340.shtml
Education World’s School-Wide Discipline Series
Practicing Love & Logic Can Mean Happier Schools
PBIS Rules, Rewards Boost School-Wide Behavior and Academics
Discipline with Dignity Stresses Positive Motivation
Three programs, three approaches, to improving student behavior school-wide.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin534.shtml
Templates of the Week
Open House Invitation
http://www.educationworld.com/tools_templates/template_open_house.doc
Homework Assignment Sheet (Elementary)
http://www.educationworld.com/tools_templates/hae_oct2002.doc
Homework Assignment Sheet (Secondary)
http://www.educationworld.com/tools_templates/has_oct2002.doc
 Hispanic Heritage Month
Hola! September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month. This week, Education World offers a dozen lessons to help students learn about the cultures and contributions of people of Hispanic heritage. Included: Activities that involve students in creating glossaries, reading and writing folktales, growing foods popular in Hispanic cultures, and much more.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson203.shtml
Techtorials of the Week
Using Excel Spreadsheets to Create Interactive Gradebooks
Learn how to create a basic Excel spreadsheet and how to use it to record, average, graph, and print students' grades.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/techtorial/techtorial009.shtml
Accessibility Resources for Special Students
Learn about the free accessibility tools found on most computers and about the online resources available for students with special needs.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/techtorial/techtorial016.shtml
Responsive Classroom Success
A report on one school's success with Responsive Classroom strategies.
Three Steps for 21st Century Learning
How to teach the skills students must learn to be literate in the 21st Century.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/archives/videooftheweek.shtml
Do you have a comment about this video -- or a favorite online video you'd like to recommend to other educators? Click here to let us know about it.
School Doodle
Fumbling Away School Resources
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/school_doodles/images/schooldoodlesmal070.gif
Need a laugh at the end of a long week? Education World's Humor Newsletter is sure to bring smiles to your e-mailbox -- and your face!
Would you like to see a sample of the Education World Humor Newsletter? If so, simply click the link below:
http://www.educationworld.com/newsletters_images/humor_sample.shtml
If you would like to subscribe to the Education World Humor Newsletter, please click this link:
http://www.educationworld.com/maillist.shtml#humor
If the Humor Newsletter is not of interest to you, do you know somebody else who might benefit from it? Perhaps you could pass this information along to that person.
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If you enjoy this Education World Professional Development Newsletter, please feel free to forward it to other teachers. If this newsletter has been forwarded to you, you may sign up for it -- and any of the other Education World newsletters -- at http://www.educationworld.com/maillist.shtml.
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