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Tech Tip #15 4 17 14 Rename Multiple Files

To rename multiple files at once, select them all with the mouse. Right click the first one and choose the

option to Rename. Enter a name such as “File” and press Enter. The first file will be named “File (1),” the

second file will be named “File(2),” and so on.

Tech Tip at a Glance Happy Easter! Enjoy the long weekend with family and friends!

Edmodo users: Check that your time zone is set to the correct one in your teacher profile. If yours

is incorrect, your students’ settings will be also!

Kerpoof.com will be inactive after April 15. Disney has discontinued the site.

New term—app smashing—using more than one app in conjunction with one another to complete a

final project (Thanks to http://kulowiectech.blogspot.com/2013/02/app-smashing-part-i.html)

Contact me anytime for assistance with technology integration in your classroom. I am happy to be an

extra set of hands for you!

The Tech Tips are also available on the district web site.

http://www.jamestown.k12.nd.us/tech/technology-tips/

Table of Contents

Click to view each link.

Discovery Education and Learn 360

Prairie Public and Teacher Center Newsletter

Web Sites

iPad Apps

Collaborative or Communicative Projects

Interactive Electronic Field Trips

Upcoming Classes

Grants Available

Professional Development Opportunities

Leave ‘em Laughing

Click to return to the Table of Contents.

Discovery Education (United Streaming)

Grades 6-8 and 9-12

Birth of the American Women's Movement

Penetrates U.S. History by focusing on the most important people, places and

events of the time. Examines a number of Women's Movements in the U.S.

beginning in the early 1600's all the way through the 20th century. Focusing mainly

on equality, women such as Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady

Stanton fought for issues including voting rights, child labor, public health and

factory safety. (Discovery Education Streaming)

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Grades 6-8

Global Wrap from MacNeil Lehrer

Offers insight into top news headlines from around

the world during the week of February 26, 2014. The

presentation looks into the fall of Ukraine's

government, political demonstrations in Venezuela,

new plans for Sochi, and more (Discovery Education

Streaming).

Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Lodge McCammon Songs: The Fifty States

Project: Boom (New Mexico)

Shares the unique history of the state of New

Mexico in an entertaining and memorable way. Use

this song to help auditory learners thrive.

Learn 360

Get ready for Earth Day by prepping your lesson plan with quality videos and resources from Learn360.

Teach students about the earth's atmosphere and the evolution of our solar system, or give students an

understanding of the earth's natural resources or how we predict climate patterns.

This Earth Day, Modern Marvels from A&E Television Networks-The History Channel can show students

how we utilize and appreciate our earth's natural resources, such as water, oil, and coal. Learn360 and

The History Channel can help explain how these resources go from raw materials to the final product we

see and use each day!

This month is a time to honor and celebrate the many heroes, leaders, and innovators who have paved the

way for today’s women. Learn360 has the stories of trailblazing women such as Susan B. Anthony, Amelia

Earhart, Margaret Thatcher, and many more—great content for your classroom to celebrate the

achievements of women worldwide!

Click to return to the Table of Contents.

Prairie Public and Teacher Center Newsletters

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Homemade Fossils

Download this clip from

Dinosaur Train where

Buddy, Tiny and Don play

"detective" and search

around the Big Pond for

fossils. The kids end up

finding an entire skeleton

of a Jurassic dinosaur.

You can pair this video with

the following lesson plan

Homemade Fossils.

Grades PreK-1

DNA Analysis

Find out how DNA analysis

is changing the way we

fight crime and disease.

Students begin by

exploring the use of DNA

fingerprinting in criminal

investigations. They

conduct a Web activity

that teaches them how

DNA fingerprinting is done.

Then, working in teams,

they examine and interpret

the DNA fingerprints of a

group of individuals.

Grades 6-8

Freak-Genomics

Where did we come from?

In this interactive article

about the Human Genome,

students learn will learn

about the origin of our

species. You can pair the

article with this lesson plan

Freak Genomics. In this

lesson students will enter

the world of the genome,

learning about human

history and evolution.

Grades 9-12

Evolution of Camoflage

Now you see it; now you don't.

This video segment from

Evolution: "Darwin's Dangerous

Idea," the camouflage that works

so well atop a green leaf would

render the mantis easy prey in a

different setting. You can pair

this video with the following

lesson plan.

Effects of Environmental Change.

Grades 3-5

3R's and the Environment

In this blended lesson supporting

literacy skills, students watch

videos that focus on our

environment and the ways

individuals and businesses can

reduce the amount of trash they

create and the natural resources

they use. You can pair this video

with the following lesson plan.

Using the 3R's to help the

Environment

Grades 5-8

Ethanol Biofuel

This video segment adapted from

NOVA examines ethanol, a

cleaner-burning fuel alternative to

gasoline, and the efforts to

produce it more efficiently. Today,

most ethanol in the United States

is made from corn kernels. But

converting corn into ethanol

requires lots of energy as well as

corn, which might otherwise be

used to feed people and livestock.

For more resources about this

program go to Nova's Car of the

Future page.

Grades 9-12

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• Prairie Region Theme Lessons—4th and 8th grade will find great ND content here!

• Women's History Month

• Free Access to 4 Infobase Learning Databases

• Professional Development for STEM Leaders

• Program Schedule Highlights

Teacher Center Check out our “News” page and all the happenings.

http://www.vcateachercenter.info/News.html

PBS LearningMedia

Invite students to delve into the complex and fascinating mysteries of human and animal

biology with this week's special collection of resources:

NEW: Think Wednesday Collection

Grades 2-12 | Collection | Nature, Biology, Technology

After you tune-in to PBS for THINK WEDNESDAY (starting April 9) use this companion collection

to bring the dynamic content into your classroom.

Explore Your Inner Animals

Grades 6-12 | Interactive | Inherited vs. Acquired Traits

Dive inside the human body with this interactive experience from the new PBS series, "Your Inner

Fish," and discover what clues our bodies hold about the history of human evolution.

Cracking Your Genetic Code

Grades 9-12 | Collection | DNA & Genetics

What if the information contained in your DNA were available for others to see? Challenge

students to debate the positive and negative implications of genetic testing.

Click to return to the Table of Contents.

Web Sites

April calendar and teaching ideas http://tinyurl.com/lkkhqd7

Poetry month ideas from Scholastic http://tinyurl.com/nul7cp6 and Edutopia http://tinyurl.com/lxz6bfl

Poetry interactives from ReadWriteThink

http://www.readwritethink.org/search/?resource_type=16&q=poetry&sort_order=alpha

Magnetic poetry ideas http://tinyurl.com/pa6vb8y

Poetry with Jack Prelutsky http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/poetry/jack_home.htm

TeachersFirst has loads of poetic resources, but we will mention just a few here. Our Editor's choices

for National Poetry Month are just the beginning. Our feature article for elementary teachers, Common

Core Connections: The Power of Poetry offers ways to implement Common Core WITH poetry. Our

CurriConnects leveled reading list, Poets and Poetry, offers independent reading selections perfect for

April. Even our editor's blog has an idea for teachers in ANY subject to Pack a Poem in your Pocket.

Egg-related activities and lessons http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson058.shtml

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Siemens science: Celebrate National Garden Month by helping make our planet a greener and healthier

place to live! Learn more about our planet and what lies beneath!

See April's Featured Activities

Access the Monthly Theme Page each month to find free and interactive activities for your classroom.

Earth Day, April 22, is fast approaching! Although we should all keep the earth in mind every day, this

year, Earth Day will be officially celebrated on April 22. Some books to

use to inspire the students to take an active role in protecting the earth

and conserving our resources are:

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown

Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney

Recycle by Gail Gibbons

To get students active, a great game to play outside (or inside in the gym) is "Oh, Deer." This is a

fairly simple game that can be played without gathering many materials. The object of the game is for

students to become familiar with habitats and how the animals can be affected by changes in the

environment. There are several good links on the Web for this game (Riverventure, Project Wild, Illinois

Natural History).

More Earth Day ideas:

Education World http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/earth-day-lessons-activities.shtml

Scholastic http://tinyurl.com/pw4g6oh

Energy and Environment Facts

Energy Kids for Teachers

Get Your Energy-Saving Questions Answered

Homework Resources - Environmental Protection Agency

Protect the Environment at School

Science Fair Projects - Environmental Protection Agency

Activity: Energy Calculators

Activities: Games, Quizzes and Other Cool Stuff

Lesson Plans: Teacher Resources and Environmental Lesson Plans

Most people, when asked, can recall planting a tree for Arbor Day when they were a kid. If you

wish to give your kids or students that opportunity, it is time to get ready because Arbor Day is

April 25. The resources below will explain the origin of Arbor Day, how to plant a tree, and where

to get free Arbor Day trees for planting by your kids or students.

First Arbor Day - Today in History

Plant a Tree

State Trees and Flowers

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Discovery Education and 3M have taken four of the

most popular lessons for 6th-12th grade classrooms on

ScienceofEverydayLife.com and transformed them

into interactive lesson plans that engage students and

make learning come to life. The complete suite

includes one standards-aligned, interactive

presentation, one teachers guide, and one self-pace

student module to give students a deeper dive into

the lesson.

Download today for use on your classrooms'

interactive white board, laptops, tablet computers and

more!

Interactive Lessons for 6-8 Classrooms:

Healthy by Design

Expose students to health-related innovations that surround them daily and have them explore

how they can save a life, improve our quality of life, or help us get and stay healthy. Download

Lesson

Innovation of Our Generation

Illustrate the impact of innovations on our lives; guide students through a brainstorming process

to identify everyday innovations that have improved the lives of people in their generation.

Download Lesson

Interactive Lessons for 9-12 Classrooms:

Keeping our Food Safe

Educate your students about the technology necessary to detect contamination from bacterial

organisms and pathogens, as well monitor food safety. Download Lesson

Taking the Energy Challenge

Conduct a class discussion that focuses on the physical science of energy, types of energy and

technologies used for our power supplies. Download Lesson

Free 'Teaching With Tech' Course for Teachers

To help educators incorporate technology into the classroom, HP has created an online

course called “HP Teaching with Technology.” This free course is for K-12 teachers looking

to more effectively integrate technology into their teaching practice. HP’s Teaching with

Technology offers strategies, tips and good ideas that teachers can use immediately. This

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is a five-module course, developed using McREL International’s foundational education research entitled

"Classroom Instruction that Works." The first two modules are available in March/April, the second two

modules in May and the last one in June. http://h10038.www1.hp.com/content_detail.aspx?contentid=1586

National Geographic Announces Geo-Educator Community. National Geographic has announced the

official launch of its new community for educators, the Geo-Educator Community. The Geo-Educator

Community provides a space for geo-educators to share resources, collaborate on projects, learn from

each other and give support. National Geographic defines a geo-educator as an educator working to

improve young people’s understanding of the world. Geo-educators can join the community through a

variety of online platforms including Twitter, Facebook, and the secure educator site, Edmodo (www.geo-

educatorcommunity.org). The community already hosts vibrant discussion ranging from getting students

outside, involved in community service projects, and connected to classrooms around the world. Geo-

educators are also engaged in serious discussion on how to implement geo-education across the country

and around the world. Learn more at www.geo-education.org.

Searching for images just got better, thanks to these tips.

http://practicaledtech.com/2014/04/07/practical-ed-tech-tip-of-the-week-image-search-text/

Practice math skills using fractions and other conversion skills to rescue people from the creepy castle.

http://mrnussbaum.com/castle1/index2.html

Ted-Ed lessons are a great way to incorporate video with lessons. This one is about how studying pea

plants moved forward our understanding of genetics. http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-mendel-s-pea-

plants-helped-us-understand-genetics-hortensia-jimenez-diaz#watch

Welcome to the Old Picture internet site, featuring an extensive collection of historical photographs.

This collection includes images from the years 1850 to 1940. These photographs span the globe, and

present a unique view of our past. Join us in developing a love and appreciation for vintage photographs.

http://www.old-picture.com/

Edmodo Users: There is now a free Listen Edition Edmodo app. The app can be found in the Edmodo App

store and assigned to any or all of your classes. Listen Edition uses public radio stories to create lesson

plans for current events. Choose the story, use the list of vocabulary works, and have students listen to

the story. There is also a Socrative quiz to use after the news story.

Knowledge Adventure's online educational games for elementary students are categorized into different

groups based on the age group and grade they're meant for and the subjects they deal with. If you

cannot find the learning game you want, look for it in the 'All Games' list on the homepage, where the

games are listed in alphabetical order. http://www.knowledgeadventure.com/

The Shedd Aquarium has a fun interactive activity teaching students K-3 about sea life and camouflage

on the ocean floor with Squish the Fish. http://sea.sheddaquarium.org/sea/squish/flash.html

Sounds of nature to use for white noise in your classroom are available at http://www.noisli.com/

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EverySlide makes your slideshows interactive. Upload your presentation, get a URL for your audience,

takes polls or ask questions for feedback during the presentation, then receive all the responses in a

spreadsheet. http://everyslide.com

Crayola’s Create and Color has backgrounds with characters. Students add pictures, speech bubbles,

and text. Pictures can be printed. https://www2.crayola.com/coloring-page-maker/index.cfm

The Interactive Universe shows the planets in all of their glory! Travel from one to the other as you learn

about each planet and beyond. http://www.history.com/minisites/universe/xml/universe_v12.swf

Click to return to the Table of Contents.

iPad Apps

Microsoft Office has three new free apps for the iPad allowing you to open your office documents.

However, to edit these documents you need to pay for a subscription to Office.

Word https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-word-for-ipad/id586447913?mt=8

Excel https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-excel-for-ipad/id586683407?mt=8

PowerPoint https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-powerpoint-for-ipad/id586449534?mt=8

LEGO® Movie Maker By The LEGO Group (free) helps your child bring their LEGO characters to life with

the LEGO Movie Maker App. This fun, kid-friendly app brings the whole family together to create a

custom LEGO stop-motion movie. Simple tools and guides make it easy to shoot, edit, and even score your

movie with music. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lego-movie-maker/id516001587?mt=8

7 Minute Workout By Bytesize (free)--Join over 1.5 million others with the best 7 Minute Workout app.

#1 fitness app in 127 countries. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/7-minute-workout/id650762525?mt=8

Avokiddo ABC Ride By AVOKIDDO ($2.99) is an inventive and original app that is sure to engage little

kids in creative play, while helping them learn their ABC’s through playful exploration. In this enjoyable

bike ride, kids use their imagination and logic to find the hidden letters and set them free to spell a

word. 26 interactive scenes loaded with fun activities make for hours of repeat play. Learning the

alphabet has never been more edutaining! https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/avokiddo-abc-

ride/id827657068?mt=8

Dexteria Dots - Get in Touch with Math By BinaryLabs, Inc.($2.99) teaches students addition and

subtraction by combining and separating numbers on the screen. The numbers are inside of dots that

vary in size according to the numbers. To create the assigned number, students either have to combine

dots or slice dots into pieces. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dexteria-dots-get-in-

touch/id815345306?mt=8

Word Mover By National Council of Teachers of English (free) allows children and teens to create "found

poetry" by choosing from word banks and existing famous works; additionally, users can add new words to

create a piece of poetry by moving/manipulating the text. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/word-

mover/id572997152?mt=8

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Spelling Star By Top Class Apps, LLC (currently free) is the perfect app for practicing your spelling lists.

Create lists by entering words and recording the audio. Practice spelling each word correctly three times

to become a Spelling Star! The new share list feature is perfect for teachers that want to create lists

and share with their students. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/spelling-star/id557070660?mt=8

Too Noisy Lite By Walsall Academy (free) is for anyone who has attempted to keep the noise levels of a

group of youngsters under control. If the noise level is acceptable a happy smiling contented graphic is

displayed. If the levels of noise increase beyond what the responsible adult has determined as acceptable

the graphic changes to reflect the unacceptable noise level. Once the level of noise returns to an

acceptable level the graphic automatically returns to the happy contented one.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/too-noisy/id499844023?ls=1&mt=8

Videoshop - Video Editor By Joseph Riquelme ($1.99) is an easy video editor with fast editing tools,

filters and many other effects for personalizing your videos. You can add slow motion effects and voice

overs too. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/videoshop-video-editor/id615563599?mt=8

ModMath By Division of Labor SF (free) is an adaptive program that improves math skills. The app lets

you type math problems right onto the touch screen of an iPad rather than write them out long-hand.

You can then solve the problems using the touch pad and print or e-mail the assignments all without ever

picking up a pencil.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/modmath/id821892964?mt=8&utm_source=TechNotes+04-15-

14&utm_campaign=TCEA+TechNotes+04.15.14&utm_medium=email

Windows 8 Apps

Click to return to the Table of Contents.

Collaborative or Communicative Projects

Zooniverse project: Condor Watch

There are only around 200 California Condors living in the wild and they are in serious danger from lead

poisoning, which they get by eating carcasses shot with lead bullets. Getting a better idea of how they

interact and socialize is crucial to ongoing conservation efforts. Using camera traps, ecologists in the US

have been observing them in the wild. However the sheer volume of images is now overwhelming. Starting

today with people's help they want people to look through the first set of data: 264,000 images of

condors eating, socializing, and nesting. Ecologists need everyone's help to identify the individual birds

from their numbered tags. Your efforts on this project will help preserve an endangered species - and we

think that's really special. http://www.condorwatch.org/

Click to return to the Table of Contents.

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Interactive Electronic Field Trips

Exploring the Unexplored in a Deep-Sea Submersible: Live Webcast

Get ready to join marine biologist, Dr. Carole Baldwin, on April 24 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. EDT in a live

webcast, Exploring the Unexplored: Deep-Reef Biodiversity. Students will have a chance to look at her

state of the art submersible to get a view of ocean life 200-1000 feet below the surface and learn what

we know about global climate change. You may want to incorporate the In Search of Giant Squid lesson

plan, the online activity Reefs Unleashed, or the other useful resources listed into your learning unit.

JASON Live is proud to announce our STEM

Career Role Model series schedule for January

through June, 2014! Save these dates and be sure

to connect with these fascinating role models

LIVE!

More information on our role models and their

events will be available on the JASON website as

their dates approach. All events begin at 1:30pm Eastern unless otherwise noted. As always, feel

free to contact us at live@jason.org

April 24

Aaron Alford

Psychiatric Epidemiologist

May 1

Matt Hungerman

Mechanical Engineer

May 8

Beth BcCabe

Marketing Technologist, Google

May 15

Denise Akob

Microbial Ecologist

May 22

Jendai Robinson

Chemist

May 29

Larry Feinberg

Biotech Engineer

June 5

Jennifer Davidson

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Computer Scientist

Can't watch the events live? All of JASON's live events are recorded, archived, and posted

to the event page soon after the event ends, so you can watch at your convenience. If you know

you'll be watching later, be sure to pre-submit questions -- you'll still have a great chance of

having your question answered in the program! (Especially if you send in a video question!)

Mystery Skype Challenge your students to work together and think like detectives in the new school year

by planning a Mystery Skype lesson. Mystery Skype is an educational game created by teachers. It's

suitable for students of all ages and can be used to teach many subjects, from geography and history, to

mathematics and science. Find out how it works. More than 1,000 teachers have already joined our new

Mystery Skype community and are waiting to hear from you.

Skype with a Yellowstone Park Ranger https://education.skype.com/projects/2237-yellowstone-

national-park-rangers-can-skype-with-classrooms

Click to return to the Table of Contents.

Grants Available

2014 Elmer's Teacher Tool Kit Application for $100 to $500--A grants program of the Kids In Need

Foundation to promote creativity in the classroom. Applications may be submitted from February 14,

2014, through April, 30, 2014. K-12 certified teachers teaching in the subject of the project at public,

private, charter, or parochial schools within the U.S. Special consideration will be given to projects

submitted by first year teachers and to projects that include a service learning or community service

component. application.

Purpose of Grants: to provide teachers with the means to replicate projects found in the Elmer's

Teacher Tool Kit catalog in their own classrooms. These projects, previously funded by the Kids In Need

Foundation, make creative use of common teaching aids, approach curriculum from an imaginative angle, or

tie nontraditional concepts together for the purpose of illustrating commonalities.

The ING Run For Something Better School Awards Program will provide a minimum of sixty $3,500

grants to schools that desire to establish a school-based running program or expand an existing one.

http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/grants/grants/ING/index.cfm?cid=00001 Due May 15

Sol Hirsch Education Fund Grants

Deadline: June 1, 2014

The National Weather Association funds grants for K-12 teachers improving education in the science of

meteorology. They are looking for proposals designed to have impact at schools with the greatest needs.

Prize: The NWA is offering $750 grants.

7-12 Science and Math Grant (deadline rolling; Toshiba provides over $5,000 to improve science and

math classroom teaching in grades 7-12)

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Music Grant Program: The Fender Music Foundation provides resources for music education programs

including instruments and equipment to eligible music instruction programs.

http://www.fendermusicfoundation.org/grants/grants-info/

Toyota USA Foundation: The Foundation supports family literacy, K-12 education, technical and higher

education, as well as environmental education. Some emphasis is placed on improving the teaching and

learning of mathematics and science.

Wal-Mart sponsors giving programs for public education

http://walmartstores.com/communitygiving/8916.aspx

Pets in the Classroom—grants of $50-$150 for pets and supplies.

http://www.petsintheclassroom.org/programs/pets-in-the-classroom/

Music Grant Program (deadline rolling; $500-5,000 for nonprofits that provide music instruction for

people of any age)

Target Field Trip Grants

Deadline: September 30, 2013

Teachers, if you’ve got an idea for an engaging, out-of-class trip for students but don’t have funding,

consider applying for Target’s Field Trip Grants. Note: These grants get a lot of exposure, so make sure

your application is well-written and presents a clear need, as well as a creative field trip idea. Prize:

Grants up to $700 are available.

Kids In Need Foundation Teacher Grants

Deadline: September 30, 2013

Got a great idea for an innovative classroom project? The Kids In Need Foundation is providing grants to

K-12 educators for projects that make creative use of common teaching aids, approach the curriculum

from an imaginative angle, and/or combine nontraditional subjects. Replicability is also considered.

Prize: Grants range from $100-500.

Green Thumb Challenge Grants

Deadline: September 30, 2013

If your school has an established youth gardening project, you might consider competing for a Green

Thumb Challenge Grant. The program is designed to provide support for the long-term sustainability of

student gardens at schools and youth groups. You must submit a video, photo portfolio, and/or scanned

artwork showcasing the impact of your student garden.

Prize: Several $1,000 grants are available.

Arts Education Grants from P. Buckley Moss Foundation

Deadline: September 30, 2013

Are you working on a new or evolving program that integrates the arts into education? If so, the P.

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Buckley Moss Foundation for Children's Education is offering support grants of up to $1,000 for K-12

programs with the goal of developing an arts teaching tool.

Prize: Several grants of up to $1,000.

Toshiba America Foundation Grades K-5 Grants: Do you have an idea for improving math or science

instruction in your classroom? K-5 grade teachers are invited to use Toshiba America Foundation's short

application form to describe a set of lessons or a hands-on project they would like to introduce in their

own classrooms. Grant amount: $1,000. Deadline: October 1. http://www.toshiba.com/taf/k5.jsp

Kids Gardening Grants—20 awards of $500 gift certificates plus other prizes.

https://survey.garden.org/index.php?sid=67623&lang=en

Captain Planet Foundation Grants

Deadline: January 31, 2014

The Captain Planet Foundation provides grants for hands-on, community-based projects that focus on

improving the environment. Several types of grants are available; preference goes to groups that have

secured matching funds or in-kind (non-monetary) contributions. Also September 30.

Prize: Preferential consideration to requests seeking $500 or less, with occasional consideration of

grants of up to $2,500

Find Your Balance Challenge: Due January 31

Elementary schools: Share your vision for making your school a healthier place. Begin your application

today for your chance to be awarded a $30,000 grant for your school and a resort stay for yourself.

NEA Student Achievement Grants: The NEA Foundation provides grants to improve the academic

achievement of students. The proposed work should engage students in critical thinking and problem

solving that deepen their knowledge of standards-based subject matter. Deadlines: February 1, June 1,

October 15, annually. http://www.neafoundation.org/pages/grants-to-educators/

Learning and Leadership Grant: The NEA Foundation provides opportunities for teachers, education

support professionals, and higher education faculty and staff to engage in high-quality professional

development and lead their colleagues in professional growth. The Foundation will give $2,000 to

individuals and $5,000 to groups engaged in collegial study. Deadlines: Feb. 1, June 1, Oct. 15.

https://researchfunding.duke.edu/detail.asp?OppID=817

American Honda STEM Grants: Honda America supports youth education with a specific focus on the

STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects in addition to the environment.

Average grant size: $20,000 to $70,000. Deadlines: February 1, August 1, November 1, and May 1

annually.

Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grants of $2,000-5,000 are for funding requests that have a permanent

impact such as facility enhancement (both indoor and outdoor) as well as landscaping/clean up type

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projects. Projects that encourage parent involvement and build stronger community spirit will be favored.

Due Feb. 15 and Oct. 15 http://www.toolboxforeducation.com/

The Extreme Classroom Technology Makeover Submission Deadline: February 21, 2014 Renovate Your

Classroom – From Textbooks to Tablets! Acer is offering K-12 schools across the country an

opportunity to transform their classrooms with immersive tablet technology that Promotes 21st century

learning.

http://professional.us.acer.com/campaigndev/edu/campaign/Classroom_Makeover_2013/index.htm

Nominees/Applicants are required to provide a brief summary statement describing why their

classroom deserves to win a makeover and how it would make a difference

Applicants have the option to provide us with pictures (album URL) and/or a video (You Tube URL)

of their classroom

Only one nomination per school is accepted

Acer selects 10 finalists from applicants

Contest public voting selects winner from 10 finalists

ND Teacher Incentive Grants for Art

The Teacher Incentive Grant Program is a means of providing financial assistance to teachers who wish to

explore new and creative ways of integrating the arts in their classroom. Projects are teacher driven and

may involve the visual arts, literary arts, performing arts (drama, music, dance,) architecture, design, folk

arts, or any combination of artistic disciplines. Guidelines are available via this link.

Maximum grant: $300

Deadline dates: April 1 and November 1

Applicants should contact the Council staff with any questions at (701) 328-7590 or email

comserv@nd.gov. http://www.nd.gov/arts/grants/grant.html

The McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation Due April 15

The Teacher Development Grants support small teams of teachers in the formation and implementation of

groundbreaking k-12 classroom instruction. The grants provide opportunities for teachers to integrate

fresh strategies that encourage critical inquiry and to observe their effects on students. Teachers have

the opportunity to reflect and write about their projects, as well as to share their results with other

teachers. The Foundation awards grants to individuals in amounts up to $10,000 per year for a

maximum of three years, provided the eligibility requirements continue to be met.

http://mccartheydressman.org/teacher-development-grants/

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Upcoming Classes

Poverty Series

The Valley City Area Teacher Center will offer a 3 part Poverty Series with Pat Anderson. All courses

will be at the VCHS Library. You must have Poverty 1 to sign up for Poverty 2 since it is a continuum of

the materials.

Deadline to Register is MAY 10th. Contact (sandy.zahn@sendit.nodak.edu) to register.

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2014 Reading Summer Institute--Strategies Aligned with the Common Core Standards You can

Implement in Your Classroom

Presenter: Joanne Billingsley

Date: June 2-3, 2014

Cost: $55.00

Description:

During this training, teachers will learn and experience powerful NEW strategies that are proven to

accelerate the acquisition of academic vocabulary, increase reading comprehension, and improve listening,

speaking and writing skills. These student-centered, engaging strategies allow students to visualize text as

they read. When reading evokes powerful images and brings to mind meaningful conversations, content

comprehension increases dramatically and students learn to LOVE reading!

Location:

Ramada Bismarck Hotel

1400 E Interchange Ave – Bismarck

(701) 258-7000

Sleeping Rooms: Reserved under ND DPI Reading Institute at the rate of $85 per night.

Online registration:

www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZCVCPVX

Go to http://www.ndgeographic.org for information on ND Geographic Alliance summer programs

ND Geographic Alliance Summer Institute—Minot State University—June 9-13—“Oil, Water and People”—

Oil: Follow the Barrel Tour, Water: Management and Flooding, People: Impact. Expect this to be the

highlight of your summer!!

ND/MN Joint Workshop—Concordia, Moorhead—June 17-19— “Cultivating Geographic Connections in the

Red River Valley: A Crossroads of Agriculture, Reinvention and Innovation”—June 17 (8:30 a.m.) to June 19

(3:00 p.m.)

Concordia College, Moorhead, MN

2014 Math Summer Institute--Effective Common Core Based Mathematic Strategies to Improve the

Arithmetic and Algebra Gap

Presenter: Brad Witzel

Date: June 23-24, 2014

Cost: $55.00

Description:

This training will provide teachers specific strategies on how to facilitate learning, remembering, and

applying critical Common Core mathematical concepts and skills in new situations. Strategies during the

training include fluency and automaticity, instructional scaffolding strategies, concrete to representational

to abstract instructional sequence, essential math vocabulary, organization of instruction, and study time.

Location:

Ramkota Hotel Bismarck

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800 South 3rd Street - Bismarck

(701) 355-4417

Sleeping Rooms: Reserved under ND DPI Math Institute at the rate of $90 per night.

Online registration:

www.surveymonkey.com/s/KLBMWB2

Prairie Region Teacher Training Institute Registration

Prairie Public is offering a 2-day institute for PreK-12

teachers on June 24 & 25 at Concordia College in Moorhead,

MN. Master teachers will teach model lessons integrating

regional arts, history, science and/or culture into classroom

curricula using research-based instructional strategies for

video and web-based media. Receive credit from UND or NDSU.

NEW this year: A Pre-Institue for middle school and high school teachers. On June 24 from 8 am to

11:30 am, a trainer from the Anti-Defamation League will present a 3-hour

training on Echoes and Reflections, a multi-media Holocaust education program.

Teachers attending this free Pre-Institute will receive a copy of the Teacher's

Resource Guide.

MISSION US

The Mission US games are designed to

improve the learning of American history

by students in grades 5 through 8. At this

year's PRTTI you will be guided through a variety of activities and

materials to support use of the missions by educators, including

overview and background information, standards alignments, activities, and primary sources.

Teacher Resource Coalition Workshop—Knife River Indian Village—June 25-27—“Looking at Lifestyles”

GIS Summer Workshop - Scholarships Available

EduTech invites educators to attend a four-day engaging professional training on Geographic Information

systems (GIS) July 7-10, 2014 in Fargo, ND. The training consists of four days face to face training with

the remaining time spent on an extension of the class. Workshop total cost is $450. EduTech and CDE are

offering scholarships to the first 15 educators. EduTech $100 and CDE $200 resulting in $150 for the first

15 educators.

Geospatial technologies have been identified by the current administration as one of the three highest

growth industries in the US today. Learn how to incorporate the tools of this trade to support science,

mathematics and geography!

Three graduate credits are available upon completion. For cost and to register visit,

www.edutech.nodak.edu/training/topic/460

Discover Today’s Red River Watershed Institute July 20-25, 2014

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Join us in Grand Forks for an opportunity to experience current

watershed management and water resource issues on the notorious

Red River. While exploring the issues and identifying solutions,

participants will experience hands-on, minds-on learning through

a balance of presentations, discussions, activities, field tours, and

environmental investigations with practical classroom application and

integration of technology.

Institute Objectives

• Enhance knowledge, skills, motivation and commitment to teach

about contemporary Red River watershed issues and concerns.

• Understand the foundation of water, science, social, and economic

impacts of today’s Red River watershed.

• Provide informative and educational resource materials on today’s

Red River watershed.

• Enhance critical thinking and information processing skills, while

developing a personal perspective on the Red River watershed.

Credit, Costs, Scholarships

Participants can receive four graduate credits (upon approval) through

MISU, UND, or NDSU. Registration for the

Watershed Institute is $250. The registration fee

covers room, board, materials, instructors and resources. Tina Harding@nd.gov 701-328-4833

GeoFIT—Medora—August 4-7—“Enchanting Expedition of the SW”—Classroom on wheels.

Introducing the new 8th Grade

ND Studies curriculum North Dakota People Living on the Land—Oct. 16-17

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Professional Development Opportunities

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18

Leave ‘em Laughing

All I need to know I learned from the Easter Bunny!

Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Everyone needs a friend who is all ears.

There's no such thing as too much candy.

All work and no play can make you a basket case.

A cute tail attracts a lot of attention.

Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day.

Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits.

Some body parts should be floppy.

Keep your paws off of other people's jelly beans.

Good things come in small, sugar coated packages.

The grass is always greener in someone else's

basket.

To show your true colors, you have to come out of the shell.

The best things in life are still sweet and gooey.

Happy Easter!

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Rae Ann Vandrovec

Tech Curriculum/Staff Dev. Coordinator

Jamestown Public Schools

207 2d Ave. SE

Jamestown, ND 58401

701-252-1950 ext. 2309

mailto:raeann.vandrovec@sendit.nodak.edu

"Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working

together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important."

Bill Gates