Dec 9, 2009

14 07 2012

Hi!
There is a K-12 online conference going on right now that some of you may be interested in. The material will be available for you to download at the following site. Just click on the link – Enjoy!





Dec 3, 2009

14 07 2012

Hi everyone,
Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

I was directed to a website that I thought you would enjoy. It’s http://www.energizetheclassroom.com . There are some very cool ideas to help motivate students that you may find useful including the “Idea of the Week” submitted by teachers. This week is “Fun Journal Entries” – students are asked to write answers to fun questions such as “How would the world be different if cows gave rootbeer instead of milk?”

Have a great day!
Barbara





Nov 17, 2009

14 07 2012

Hi everyone,
I just returned from Albany this weekend. Dr. King, the senior Deputy Commissioner spoke on Saturday. All I can say is WOW! He was so impressive, we gave him a standing ovation. The most touching part of his address was when he spoke of two teachers who had influenced his life – one in fourth grade and one in middle school. He is a powerhouse who is an advocate for students and teachers!

I received information from the Metropolitan Museum of Art that I thought you would be interested in. See below:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers “Webinars for Educators”: a way for teachers to explore works of art and museum resources though their computers by interacting though online discussion and activities with Museum Staff. We offer live 75-minute sessions that include a range of activities that teachers can adapt to fit the needs of their students. All teachers received digital classroom resource materials, a recording of the session, and a certificate verifying their participation.

Upcoming Webinars for Educators include:
Webinars for Educators—The Art and Science of Objects Conservation November 19, 2009
Art conservation is a profession that intersects fine arts, materials science, and art history. An objects conservator introduces teachers to the field and explores how a technical investigation of artworks can provide a greater understanding of artists’ working practices and a heightened appreciation of the works in the Met’s collection.
Fee: $10
6:00 p.m.–7:15 p.m.

Webinars for Educators—A Walk through The New American Wing December 03, 2009
Celebrate the opening of The New American Wing by taking a virtual tour of the newly reinstalled galleries. Explore period rooms, sculpture, and paintings that reflect the life and times of Americans from the early colonial period through the early twentieth century.
Fee: $10
6:00 p.m.–7:15 p.m.

Webinars for Educators—El Greco and His Times December 10, 2009
Explore the span of El Greco’s career, from his origins as a painter of icons in his native Crete to his work in Venice and Rome and his definitive move to Toledo, Spain. Learn how El Greco related his topics to the demands of the times and study his masterpiece at the Met, View of Toledo.
Fee: $10
8:00 p.m.–9:15 p.m.

Rebecca Ruderman
Education Programs Associate
Teacher Programs & Distance Learning
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10028
212-570-3985 (teacher programs phoneline)

Have a great week!
Barbara





Oct 27, 2009

14 07 2012

Hi everyone,
Our SMART Doc camera is ready for you to borrow. So what is a SMART Doc camera you might ask? Well it pretty much replaces your ELMO and can connect to your SMART Board.

NO MORE TRANSPARENCIES!!!!!

Do you want to magnify a page for your class to see?

Would you like to insert that page into your SMART Board? Just use the screen capture tool. Now you can add notes, arrows, whatever you choose without marking up the original. Click to watch the video on incorporating SMART tools with your DOC camera.

Science teachers – you know how difficult it is to present an experiment to the entire class? Put your petrie dish or leaf or whatever you choose under the SMART Doc Camera and it will display on your SMART Board. You can zoom in or out as you please – you can take a picture (screen capture) and it’s already in your SMART notebook just waiting for you to add notes! Click to watch a video for science ideas

You do NOT need a SMART Board to use the SMART Doc camera – a whiteboard and projector will work. To capture images, you would need the SMART notebook software.

Click to watch the video for more information!





Oct 9, 2009

14 07 2012

Hi everyone,
Here we go for another three-day weekend…ENJOY it! By now you should have received the Power Point that Eileen Blum (FF) made for us. Thanks so much, Eileen!

I told you that we have many new toys for you to borrow in order to integrate technology easily into your classrooms. One of those items is a wireless airliner that can be used with your SMART Board. So what is it???? The airliner is similar to a tablet that students can use to write on with a special pen. What they write will appear on the SMART Board!!! Neat, huh? You might want to take a look at the airliner’s features. Just click here for more information.

Have a GREAT weekend,
Barbara





Sept 29, 2009

14 07 2012

Hi everyone,
Hope you had a great three-day weekend – one more week and we’ll have another!!!

I thought you may be interested in a SMART blog from TeqSmart – lots of really good information here – http://blog.teqsmart.org/

Have a great day!
Barbara





Sept 17, 2009

14 07 2012

Hi!
I just heard about a FREE Online Open House for Educators hosted by the education staff of the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Tuesday, October 6 from 6:00 – 7:15 PM. You will have the opportunity to meet museum staff and learn about available online resources. Reservations ARE REQUIRED so you would have to RSVP to teachers@metmuseum.org or call 212-570-3985.

Have a great day,
Barbara





Sept 16, 2009

14 07 2012

Hi everyone,
Just caught this article on NYSUT’s newswire – “Biden, Duncan praise union for taking lead in teacher effectiveness”
NYSUT News Wire – September 9, 2009 .
Click on the link to read the article. http://www.nysut.org/cps/rde/xchg/nysut/hs.xsl/highereducation_13414.htm

Have a great day,
Barbara





Sept 11, 2009

14 07 2012

Hi everyone,

Well, we made it through the first week and look forward to a restful weekend.

It is time to update your MLP profile if you’ve changed schools or grade level. Your profile determines the classes that are available for you. Please make sure you check ONLY your home school. If you travel, your home school is wherever you receive your paycheck.

Log on to MLP and look at the bottom of the orange pane on your left and click on My User Profile.

Click on the proper Home Building, Department, and Grade Level then click on Save at the bottom of the page. That’s it – you’re done!
Have a great weekend,
Barbara





Aug 25, 2009

14 07 2012

Hi everyone,
Welcome back! I hope you had a really great summer vacation!

Our graduate courses are posted on the M-TRACT website and inservice will be posted shortly. If you have an idea for a new inservice course that you would either like to instruct or feel would be beneficial, please contact me. It takes all of us to make a successful teacher center.

The technology staff was busy all summer setting up your new computers and many more SMART Boards. I had very good feedback on the SMART Board boot camps as well as the in-service SMART classes. Once you start using your boards, you’ll wonder how you ever taught without them! You can look forward to more SMART training throughout the year – both district and inservice.

The M-TRACT staff will be busy setting up our new cut-out maker – ask your liaisons for more information and keep posted to our blog as to when it is ready for your use. In addition, we will have many new technology tools for you to borrow including a digital video camera, two digital cameras, SMART doc cameras, a MAC laptop as well as PC laptops. Use them to enhance your lessons!

I look forward to a successful new year and as always am here if you need anything – just email your questions and input!

Thanks and have a great year,
Barbara