As we draw nearer to election 2008, I am sure teachers will be scouring the Web for resources. Summer is indeed, over! So my goal with post is tocreate a growing list of links and descriptions. You can never have too much, so feel free to add yours too.

1) This year, Google is working with the National Student/Parent Mock Election to get students of all ages excited about ...Read More

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One of my Jacketflap friends, Deborah Sloan, sent me the following email last week and it's too good and too yummy to keep ALL to myself. 

Hi Amy. As someone who works with librarians, I thought you'd like to know about the recent launch of  The Picnic Basket where school and library professionals taste new and forthcoming children's books with first-come, first-serve sample copies of books for kids of all ages. It's a blog full of all you can read (and write) about children...Read More

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...Read More

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Yes, it's back-to-school shopping time. But before you head out to buy a backpack for your kid(s), do consider a recent comment from a high school reader. 

In response to: 
The Backpack Blues
Emily commented:

I'm a highschooler, and I'll bet I carry around 25-30 pounds of books/binders in my backpack. I only weight 100lbs, so that's a very heavy load. I think textbooks should be kept at home, and a class set used in the classroo...Read More

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After reading Judith Viorst's newly released children's book, Nobody Here but Me - (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 2008) which by the way, is beautifully illustrated by Christine Davenier - I thought to myself, the title should read: Nobody HEARING Me. 

How often are our lives and ears driven by our ipods, cell phones, blackberries, laptops, cable box etc.? If it clicks, it sticks to us!

...which is why I love the message in this book. 

We plod along with these ...Read More

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If you're an educator and thinking about your next big move, a good profile may the key that will unlock that door for you. Rarely do we have time to update resumes and remember all of our accomplishments - since most days of our days are spent helping students become their best. In any event, I invited an expert -- writer and author, Ziana Bethune to my blog to share with you how to glean the BEST YOU and put it in a profile. 

...Read More

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Australian teacher, Anne Mirtschin, from ejourney with Technokids is sharing on her blog some fun Web2.0 ideas (for the classroom) to learn about the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. 

Mirtschin writes, choose an online cartoon maker like ToonDoo [which is FREE & FUN] to produce a cartoon strip for the local paper depicting the highlights of the opening ceremony. 

Here's my silly "comic" strip - don't LOL - it was late last night. Unfo...Read More

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Are you an artist? Or as J.J. from Good Times used to say, an "ARTEEST?"
 
I love contests, even though I never win them. And unfortunately, this contest - this time - is just for my illustrious illustrator reader(s).  (I don't want to be presumptuous.)

Here's the deal. Last week I wrote about ...Read More

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If you're a teacher and you don't subscribe to Twitter or Facebook, shame on you - or your district! 

There are loads of toolkit goodies available to make your back-...Read More

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Are you looking for last minute - FREE - activities to do with the kids before the summer officially ends? Here's a keeper - from my in box: "The River to River Festival is once again presenting The Big Draw, an all-day event full of hands-on art projects. The Big Draw was designed to ignite the imaginations of all participants, guided by working artists. Right now, everyone’s looking for those few last fun things to do in these waning days of summer, and this is a perfect way to expand kids’ thinking and creativity as they head back to school." (Thanks to Heath Fradkoff from Goodman Media International for the heads up)

If ...Read More

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From the time my daughter was 6-months old she loved to stretch. So today, let's all take a good stretch...

and....

make silly faces.

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This summer, my Fourth of July family reunion ended with a sweet note - from my older sister, Jackie, saying, “Don’t forget, Amy, take the water for the ride!”

Initially I thought, WOW, Jack! That is indeed a deep metaphor - a role reversal if you will. I could just picture myself, taking Florida’s ocean waters – on my back with  me while I ride up the coast....Read More

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