• COURSE INSIDER: Range of Reading Ability
• Bookmarks
• Games
• Book Recommendations

The range of reading ability in any given classroom is approximately 2/3 of the students’ chronological age. This means that in a classroom of mostly 15 years old, the range of reading ability, and “inability,” across the class will span 10 years.

In other words, within one seemingly heterogeneous class, some students have a 5th grade reading level while others have a 15th grade reading level.

Combine this with the fact that many students take the summer off from reading thus losing three months of progress every year. By the time a student is in middle school this results in a crucial two-year gap.

Now is the perfect time to encourage and help students maintain and develop their reading skills.

This material is from the Reading Across the Curriculum course.

Lynda Jeffs of MemoriesInTyme.com is an expert on easy and cheap items that teachers can create with students. She makes all types of paper crafts, on very little money (and gets compliments all the time) by taking basic supplies and a bit of ingenuity.

Bookmarks are a fun and easy way to encourage reading over the summer and make very easy projects for students, not only for themselves, but also as gifts. They can be made in little time if you only have a small amount of time. Let the grade level you teach determine the most appropriate items to use. Most bookmarks can be made with small die cut shapes (or punches if you have them available) and a bit of ribbon on the top!

Supplies needed:

• Background for the base of the bookmark 2” x 5.5”

• Coordinating paper to put on the base of the bookmark 2” x 3”

• Stickers, die cuts or punch shapes to put on the bookmark

• Glue

• Ribbon for the tassels on top of the bookmark

Directions:

Step 1: Cut the bookmark bottom base shape 2” x 5.5”. Use a hole punch to punch a hole at the top creating a spot for the ribbon to come out.

Step 2: Cut a matching piece of paper 2” x 3” to place in the middle of the base of the bookmark, leaving a bit of color on top and bottom.

Step 3: Select small shapes (such as die cuts, punches, or stickers) for each bookmark. Let the size of the shape determine how many you use for each bookmark. If you have photos of each child, you could even put a photo in here in place of the die cuts or other shapes.

Step 4: Using glue, secure the base paper to the background paper and then attach the shapes last.

Step 5: (optional – leave this step out if you do not have a hole punch or ribbon available) Thread a loop of ribbon through the hole punched at the top, to create the tassels on the end.

Email LyndaJ@memoriesintyme.com if you need more ideas!

Kaboose has scoured the web for some great, free video games that help develop children’s reading success. You might consider sharing this list with parents as a resource for learning with their children over the summer.

Reading games for very young children: http://resources.kaboose.com/games/read1.html

Reading games for children: http://resources.kaboose.com/games/read2.html

KidsBookShelf.com calls Conspiracy 365 the new series novel from Usborne Books “…An edge of your seat thriller you won’t be able to put down and will anxiously await the next book in the series!”

And a 14-year-old reviewer rated this book a 10 (scale of 0-10) “Wow.. that’s all I pretty much have to say about this book! …it sure keeps you on the edge of your seat. I definitely think this book is a best seller series in the making, and anyone who likes books with tons of action and a mysterious twist to it will really enjoy Conspiracy 365.”

See what other students and teachers too are reading. Discover new books. And, build a free virtual bookshelf with Shelfari:  http://www.shelfari.com/

What are you planning to read over the summer?

Ellen Paxton

P.s. Thanks for telling your friends about Professional Learning Board and this newsletter by going to http://k12teacherstaffdevelopment.com/tell/tell.php.

• COURSE INSIDER: Free Security Software
• Sexual Abuse in Education
• In the News
• Take the Challenge  

Why is this important? Computer programs become vulnerable to attacks from cyber bad guys who look for ways to exploit programs. Software makers fix these bugs. It is important for computer users to keep their software up to date. And Secunia PSI makes it simple because Secunia monitors your computer for you, tells you when to update and even gives you a button to click so you do not have to go searching the Internet to find the right software update.

Note, this software is not intended to replace anti-virus, malware, firewall or any other software you have or should have installed on your computer. It is an “in addition to” program that adds one more type of protection.

Go to http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/personal to learn more and get the software.

This is a horrible topic and certainly no one wants to talk about it. I challenge that we as professional educators need to take the lead in both the discussions and solutions to fix the problem.

Why?

1. Virtually all of us as educators are mandatory reporters of child abuse. This means we must protect children regardless of whether they are abused or exploited outside or within the school walls.
2. Children cannot learn if they are being abused.
3. Classroom teachers are on the front line interacting with children more than anyone else in our schools which puts us in the best place to notice possible signs of child abuse AND to notice indications of inappropriate adult behavior.

We are in a unique position as educators to both create safe learning environments for our students and to report abuse when it happens.

If not us, who?

If not now, when?

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and this gives us a unique opportunity to celebrate the incredible efforts of hard working people in schools, faith communities and non-profits.

Good work can be found among the organizations that have been in the spotlight for child abuse: USA Swimming, Boy Scouts and the Catholic Church have made strong, positive strides forward to protect children today and in the future.

These new practices include:

 
•  Training all clergy, staff, teachers and volunteers to recognize signs of abuse as well as signs that might indicate concern or inappropriate behaviors.
• Conducting background checks on all personnel, both paid staff and volunteers.

 

Are you in a school or district that wants to step up their efforts in protecting children from abuse? Professional Learning Board will set up and run our  online training web site and provide courses in recognizing and reporting child abuse for all school staff, professionals, volunteers, coaches and parents at NO CHARGE for one selected school or district.

What’s the catch? It’s simple really. The school or district must commit to the following minimum best practices:

 
• Background checks for ALL staff, professionals, coaches and volunteers working with or around children,
• Have or implement a code of conduct for all people working with children and
• Mandate annual training for all of the above audiences.

 

If you know of the right school or district that is interested and up to this challenge, please let me know who to contact.

Thank you for all you do to teach and keep children safe.

• April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
• IN THE CLASSROOM: Volunteers
• Practical Mum Recommends Internet Safety
• Keeping Kids Safe in Your School and Home 

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month in the United States. This topic has special meaning for the Professional Learning Board team as we help educators, faith communities and non-profits teach adults working with children how to recognize and report child abuse. It is no longer sufficient to rely on only state mandatory reporting laws, everyone who works or volunteers with children needs to know how to keep them safe. Part of our mission is creating the “thousand eyes” of awareness. 

IN THE CLASSROOM: Volunteers

Can you imagine school without volunteers? No, me either. And yet, how do we protect the children within our school while utilizing the time and talents of volunteers in our community? Here are some best practices we’ve seen work throughout the country:

1. Background check ALL volunteers
2. Train ALL staff and volunteers in recognizing and reporting child abuse
3. Have school/district policies that are ALWAYS and UNIFORMLY enforced
4. Implement a professional code of behavior for staff and volunteers

We know these are simple in concept and can be a challenge to implement. The impact on a child who is abused, of course, is incalculable. Plus, the cost to implement and maintain these best practices is often less than the cost of litigating one law suit, let alone the cost of a settlement.

All around, creating safe and secure learning environments for children is a win-win-win for everyone. If your school or district would like to learn more about doing so, contact us at safeandsecure@professionallearningboard.com.

I’m feeling smarter tonight.  Not because I had my fish oils, nor because I finished my weekly indulgence of Hello magazine.  It’s because I took a course tonight.  An online learning course and I have the Certificate to prove it.

I was asked by The Parent Learning Board [a service of Professional Learning Board] to review their course entitled: Internet Safety: Protecting Children In An Online World. Being a nervous nelly, particularly about the internet, I was happy to oblige. I watch the tweens and teens around me with their noses stuck in their cellphones, PDAs and laptops, fingers moving faster than lightening and I get a pit in my stomach.  How can we protect these savvy young minds online?  How long can I shield my own children from predators and bullies lurking and waiting on the web??

The Internet Safety course was user friendly, based on the effective teaching process of the 3 R’s of Learning™: Review the material, Reflect upon what has been learned and Remember that which most meets your needs. The course itself was broken down into 3 modules; The Technology, Vulnerabilities and Threats, and Protecting Children. I liked that I had the freedom to hop around the content at my discretion. I could fast forward through materials which I already knew, then spend the time on what interested me most.  There was also a printable copy of the What If… Guidebook as well as an Internet Use Agreement template and several must-know resources.  I don’t want to brag, but I did receive 100% on my final assessment.  Wish I had pulled in those marks during high school!

Read the full review here: http://practicalmum.com/2010/03/review-giveaway-protecting-children-in-an-online-world/ 

 Keeping Kids Safe in Your School and Home

The following courses are related to training adults and children on topics related to child abuse prevention:

1. Recognizing & Preventing Child Abuse (3 clock hours)
2. Internet Safety: Protecting Children in an Online World (5 clock hours)
3. Technology for Education Leaders (10 clock hours)

In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month, you can get the online class: Recognizing & Preventing Child Abuse course free with the purchase of the Internet Safety course all month long. Sign up for the Teachers’ Child Abuse Prevention Package (that’s BOTH online classes) for only $39!

Also, the school leaders’ package includes both courses above AND our new Technology for Education Leaders for only $95 (that’s THREE online classes!). Sign up for the Administrators’ Child Abuse Prevention Package today or forward to your school administrators to help them help you create a safe and secure learning environment for students in your school.

Thank you for all you do to teach and keep children safe.

Ellen Paxton

P.s. Thanks for telling your friends about Professional Learning Board and this newsletter by going to http://k12teacherstaffdevelopment.com/tell/tell.php.

• Minnesota Highlights
• Continuing Education
• Virtual Schools
• Safe Environment Training
• Join us for Coffee?

The first flat-bottom ice cream cone was invented by Minnesota company Dairy Queen in 1948. Other Minnesota inventions include: Masking and Scotch tape, Bisquick, Tonka Trucks, the snowmobile, the bundt pan, Aveda beauty products, water skis and Kitty Litter.

The processes to puff wheat and rice were discovered in Minnesota and are used to create rice cakes. Other Minnesota food products include: Betty Crocker, Land O’Lakes, SPAM, Green Giant vegetables, Hamburger Helper, Pillsbury, Cheerios & Wheaties cereal, Nature Valley granola bars, Old El Paso salsa, Yoplait yogurt, Totinos & Red Baron pizza, Fruit Roll-ups, Fruit Shapes, Fruit Gushers and if that’s not enough, Fruit by the Foot.

Minneapolis’ famed skyway system connects nearly 52 blocks (five miles!) of downtown making it possible to live, eat, work and shop without going outside (after all, it has been known to snow in April).

But, no worries because Minneapolis has more golfers per capita than any other city in the country and 90,000 miles of shoreline (more than California, Florida and Hawaii combined!). Minnesota also has one recreational boat per every six people (more than any other state).

And speaking of weather, Rollerblades were the first commercially successful in-line Roller Skates. Minnesota students invented them in 1980 when they were looking for a way to practice Hockey during the off-season. Their design was an ice hockey boot with 3 inline wheels instead of a blade.

The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is not too far from the Convention Center site (but we don’t recommend walking there) and is the largest urban sculpture garden in the country.

Shopping in Minnesota is tremendous. In 1956, Southdale became the nation’s first enclosed climate-controlled mall and today the Mall of America (boasting 4.3 MILES of store front and 40 million annual visitors – more than the combined populations of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa . . . and Canada) calls Minnesota home. And, if you’re not sure how big that is, imagine: 7 Yankee stadiums could fit inside MOA. P.S. There is no sales tax on clothing in Minnesota.

Other Minnesota claims to fame . . .

The first children’s department in a library is said to be that of the Minneapolis Public Library, which separated children’s books from the rest of the collection over a hundred years ago in Dec. 1889.

In 1963, the first super computer, the Control Data 6600, was designed here and used by the military to simulate nuclear explosions and break Soviet codes. These computers also were used to model complex phenomena such as hurricanes and galaxies.

Started just over 20 years ago, the first Dunn Bros. coffee shop was founded in St. Paul Minnesota. Their story is quite simple: coffee is roasted on site in small drum roasters by certified roasting professionals.

And I’d be remiss if I did not mention some highlights of Professional Learning Board, a nationally recognized leader in delivering:

Continuing Education (from $39/teacher) – Online continuing education courses for Catholic K-12 teachers cover a range of topics and are available as self-study, instructor facilitated and graduate credit from the University of St. Thomas (also of Minnesota fame). Click here for more info.

Virtual Schools (from $10,000) – Extend your Catholic school system’s reach to more Catholic students in rural areas who no longer have access to a Catholic high school education while also offering more courses to current students. Click here for more info.

Safe Environment Training (from $3/person) – The Safe & Sacred Environment Training Program… training you can trust, just the way you want it online, classroom and in print. Click here for more info.

Join me for some of that Minnesota coffee?

Please join me for a cup of coffee or a chat during the NCEA convention. If you’ll be here in Minneapolis for the convention, let me know and we’ll set up a time.

Ellen Paxton