Phyllis' Favorites

Blog Readers,

Wishing you all a very happy and healthy New Year! Postings will resume next week.

- Phyllis

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language
Fourth Edition
http://www.bartleby.com/61/
From the site:
“Over 90,000 entries feature 10,000 new words and senses, 70,000 audio word pronunciations, 900 full-page color illustrations, language notes and word-root appendixes.”
[NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]

---------Forwarded Message--------
Hi! It's Saturday, September 30, 2006 and time for Music at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
ILearnMusic.com
http://www.ilearnmusic.com/

Grade Range: K-12 and beyond. (Some preschoolers may benefit from content
at this site as well.)


DON'T MISS THIS WEBSITE! What an incredible resource for getting a music
education! Today's website was recommended by list member Tina Tremain who
wrote, "I found this site while looking for music lessons to start with my
kids... I haven't been through the whole site, but it looks like there are
many lesson ideas for all ages here."

That's an understatement. I was stunned by the free content available at
this site for instruction in music theory as well as playing a variety of
instruments. Not only are there text versions of lessons -- but most are
accompanied by some form of media that illustrates the lessons -- from
interactive programs that let you virtually practice playing an instrument
online to YouTube.com instructional videos by professional musicians.

When you get to the site you'll see a brief introduction with three icons
labeled "Students," "Teachers," and "Other." The site is set up in flash, so
you have to navigate by clicking the icons with your mouse. If you click
once on an item and it doesn't open, double-click and that should do the
trick. THERE IS AN EASIER WAY to get around the site, and that is to just
use the menu bar at the top of your screen that includes:

*Lesson Plans -- Designed for classroom teachers, it includes music lessons,
ideas, and activities for grades K-12. Most can be easily tailored for use
at home. (For a better bet for home use see the "Videos" and "Lessons"
sections described below.)

*Resources -- This section is for music educators and includes practice
charts for private studio instruction, ideas for professional development,
and college level resources in music theory, history, orchestration,
conducting, composition, and more.

*Directory -- Use the map to locate music teachers in your area.

*Videos -- This section of the site offers FREE instructional videos in how
to play Electric Bass, Guitar, and Piano -- along with Music Theory. It also
links to music-related short films and performance videos. Don't miss the
"Misc. Videos" in this section to see some amazing, strange, and very funny
clips of musical performances in a variety of genres. You can even follow
instructions here to load your own performance video to the site. :)

*Lessons - Get FREE instruction on how to play piano, guitar, bass,
clarinet, saxophone, snare drum, flute, and trumpet! You can also learn
music theory applicable to every instrument.

*Library - An archive of popular sheet music for public domain and original
compositions contributed by website members. You can become a member too --
it's free to join.

This site is a ClickSchooling Award Winner! New content is added
continuously, so bookmark it to return often. :)

Diane Flynn Keith
for ClickSchooling
Copyright 2006, All Rights Reserved
http://www.Homefires.com/
http://www.Carschooling.com/
http://www.UniversalPreschool.com/

Note: We make every effort to recommend websites that have content that is appropriate for general audiences. Parents should ALWAYS preview the sites for suitable content.

Click Schooling (Clickschooling) is a Federally Registered Trademark.

---------Forwarded Message--------
Hi! It's Saturday, September 9, 2006 and time for Foreign Languages at
ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Learn Spanish: A Free Tutorial Online
http://www.studyspanish.com/freesite.htm

At this website you will find free Spanish lessons and tutorials. There is
so much available here for free without any sort of obligation -- and even
more if you are willing to become a member of the site by providing your
email address. Of course, if you do that, you may get email promoting the
audio course that is available for a fee. Frankly, I think the occasional
spam is worth the price of admission (your email address) for full access to
the free tutorials offered here. This site uses text, audio, interactive
games and activities and more to help you learn Spanish. When you get to the
site you will see a menu that includes:

-Pronunciation Tutor -- learn how to pronounce vowels, consonants, words,
phrases and more by listening to a native speaker and repeating what they
say.

-Grammar Tutorial -- learn parts of speech and how to conjugate verbs. Learn
the days of the week, numbers, and more. This section is presented through
text lessons, and interactive quizzes.

-Vocabulary Tutorial -- learn a series of words based on a theme -- for
example, restaurants, bathroom, plants, clothing, emergency services, etc.
Lessons are taught through text, oral exercises, online flashcards, match
games, word searches, concentration games, and quizzes!

-Verb Drills -- learn present and past tenses, as well as regular and
irregular verbs through text lessons and interactive quizzes.

-Word-A-Day -- log on to the site each day to learn a new Spanish word.
Access the archives too.

-Travel Helper -- learn important words, phrases and sentences that will
help you when traveling. Themes include airport, hotel, restaurant, beach,
downtown, meeting people, shopping, and medical care. Lessons accomplished
through text, audio tutorial, and interactive games and quizzes.

-Cultural Notes -- learn about Spanish history, art, architecture, food,
dance, customs and more! This is really an incredible social studies
lesson -- you see a photograph, information in Spanish and English, and
links to websites with
more info.

- Other free topics include idiom generators, links to other sites, an
online translator, and a list of full immersion Spanish language schools
throughout the world.

This is one of the BEST SPANISH TUTORIAL sites I have seen on the web. Don't
miss it!


Diane Flynn Keith
for ClickSchooling
Copyright 2006, All Rights Reserved
http://www.Homefires.com/
http://www.Carschooling.com/
http://www.UniversalPreschool.com/


Note: We make every effort to recommend websites that have content that is appropriate for general audiences. Parents should ALWAYS preview the sites for suitable content.

Click Schooling (Clickschooling) is a Federally Registered Trademark.

Meet Me at Midnight
http://midnight.si.edu/default_flash.html
From the site:
“Meet Me at Midnight” is an interactive online adventure that takes place in an animated Smithsonian American Art Museum. Intended for children age 8 to 10 years, the site presents a perplexing scenario. An artwork—the dreaded Root Monster—comes alive and wreaks havoc in the galleries overnight.”

OttoBib
http://ottobib.com/

For BOOKS ONLY: Enter the ISBN (with or without dashes) and select MLA, APA, or Chicago/Turabin format, and this site will create a bibliographic citation. Sometimes the result will include an image of the book cover.

Thinking Critically about Internet Sources
http://www.teachablemoment.org/high/internetsources.html
From the site:
“An introduction to some the skills students need to use the internet critically.”
[NOTE: Home page http://www.teachablemoment.org/ previously posted. Site updated. - Phyllis ]

Site found in:

NEAT NEW STUFF, SEPTEMBER 15, 2006

Photos: Pictures That Lie
http://news.com.com/2300-1026_3-6033210-1.html
Information literacy instructors should especially appreciate C-Net's
gallery of photos that have been manipulated, and its commentary on the
alterations.


Neat New Stuff I Found This Week
http://marylaine.com/neatnew.html
Copyright, Marylaine Block, 1999-2006.

Information Literacy Resources
http://www.ctap4.org/infolit/
Includes downloadable (.pdf) brochures for gr. K-5, 6-8, and 9-12
as well as a Student Information Literacy Poster

Incy Wincy
http://www.incywincy.com/

Incy Wincy is a search engine and directory for Invisible Web sites. It
is based on the Open Directory Project.

[NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]

Online Resources for Education and Teaching
http://www.developfaculty.com./online/index.html
“You are invited to review the recently updated online resources posted
at http://www.developfaculty.com. Arranged alphabetically by topic are
links to over 140 valuable teaching, learning and educational management sites.”

Ask the Techies
http://www.ohiou.edu/aac/lab/techies/
From the site:
“Ask the Techies is a how-to technology podcast that focuses on computers and the software that runs on them. Weekly tech video podcast explaining the latest in cool technology from iPods to Photoshop. The instructional video podcast is available in the MP4 iPod Video compatible format & in a higher quality H.264 format for viewing on a computer (requires QuickTime 7 Player installed).”

Sites found in:
NEAT NEW STUFF, SEPTEMBER 8, 2006

Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page
http://sportslogos.net/index.php
"A historical reference guide of sports logos throughout time," including
major, not-so-major, and deceased leagues; even includes lacrosse and
soccer. Checkout the evolution of team logos throughout their history,
check out new of changes in current team logos, or look for logos of no-
longer extant teams like the Michigan Panthers and the Carolina Cougars.


PodcastingTricks.com
http://www.podcastingtricks.com/
This "podcasting how-to site by Bourne Media Group" offers tips,
articles, news, and reviews, a monthly newsletter, and an RSS feed.

----
Neat New Stuff I Found This Week
http://marylaine.com/neatnew.html
Copyright, Marylaine Block, 1999-2006.

---------Forwarded Message--------
Hi! It's Wednesday, September 20, 2006 and time for Language Arts at
ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
StoryArts.org
http://www.storyarts.org/index.html
[NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]

Today's website was designed by an award-winning recording artist, Heather
Forest, who has recorded seven albums of storytelling. Her intent with this
website is to encourage student's speaking and listening skills while
enhancing learning in curriculum areas such as Language Arts, Social
Studies, Math, Science, Art, Music, and Drama.

When you get to the site you'll see a menu. Click on "Story Arts Theatre" to
listen to an Aesop's fable or a tale from China or Russia told by Heather
Forest.

Better yet, click on "Story Library" to find an amazing collection of
folktales and fables that you can listen to with the whole family online --
all for free!

Listening to those stories may inspire your children (or the whole family)
to engage in some fun storytelling lessons and activities. There's a broad
selection, developed for classroom use, that can easily be adjusted for
learning at home. You can access them all by clicking on "Lesson Plans And
Activities" on the main menu.

You can also use the menu to find articles about storytelling, tips,
curriculum idea exchanges, and links to other storytelling resources on the
Net.

While you don't have to purchase a thing to access the wealth of free
material at the site, you can purchase Heather Forest's CDs from the
Storytelling Store at the site if desired.

Enjoy!

Diane Flynn Keith
for ClickSchooling
Copyright 2006, All Rights Reserved
http://www.Homefires.com/
http://www.Carschooling.com/
http://www.UniversalPreschool.com/

Note: We make every effort to recommend websites that have content that is appropriate for general audiences. Parents should ALWAYS preview the sites for suitable content.

Click Schooling (Clickschooling) is a Federally Registered Trademark.

Internet Resources
Children's literature: Useful sites for teachers, librarians, and students
C&RL News, July/August 2000
Vol. 61 No. 7
Last Revised: February 7, 2006
http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/crlnews/backissues2000/julyaugust3/childrensliterature.htm
Shortened URL: http://tinyurl.co.uk/n65k

The Big Myth
http://mythicjourneys.org/bigmyth/index.htm
[NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]
How do people from different cultures view themselves, the world and their origins?
The Big Myth is a new experimental learning module designed for use in European primary school classrooms. It is a sociology textbook for the comparative study of world creation mythology. The myths are told using Flash animation and are accompanied by an overview of the culture, the pantheon of the gods and a series of exercises based on that culture.

Portals For General Information On World Mythology
http://mythicjourneys.org/bigmyth/2_eng_links.htm

Africa
http://mythicjourneys.org/bigmyth/3_eng_links_africa.htm

The Americas
http://mythicjourneys.org/bigmyth/3_eng_links_america.htm

Asia
http://mythicjourneys.org/bigmyth/3_eng_links_asia.htm

Europe and the Middle East
http://mythicjourneys.org/bigmyth/3_eng_links_europe.htm

Oceania
http://mythicjourneys.org/bigmyth/3_eng_links_ocean.htm

Site found in:
INFOMINE Email Alert Service
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2006
http://infomine.ucr.edu/

----------------------------------------
Theoi Project : Guide to Greek Mythology
----------------------------------------
URL: http://www.theoi.com/
Record Id: 650340
Created: 2006-09-15 00:39:32
Categories: liberal

Comprehensive guide to Greek mythology complete with classical texts and
images from ancient art.
In addition to the encyclopedia of individual entries for each god,
goddess or monster, site offers:
--- Bestiary
--- Gallery, presented in sections: vase painting, Greek and Roman
sculpture, fresco, and mosaic
--- Family trees: eight charts illustrating the families of the pantheon

--- Maps
--- Library of translated Greek and Roman texts
[NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]

---------Forwarded Message--------
Hi! It's Thursday, September 21, 2006 and time for History at
ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
U.S. Constitution For Kids
http://www.usconstitution.net/constkids.html

Grade Range: K-3, 4-7, and 8-12

List member Maren Cooke suggested today's website that makes information
about the U.S. Constitution more accessible to kids. It breaks down the
information by grade range although the navigation is a bit confusing, so
let me try to explain...

Grades 8-12 -- When you get to the website you will be on the page
designated for grades 8-12. It provides a basic introduction to the
Constitution, its history, and controversial elements about it. Scroll down
the page to the Menu where you can click on links for in-depth information
on everything from the Constitutional Convention to the Bill of Rights, to
the workings of the various branches of government. This is text-intensive
with links to primary source documents and other resources -- great for
those interested in a serious exploration of the U.S. Constitution.

Grades 4-7 -- At the top of the landing page, you will see a link to "The
Constitution for Kids: 4th Through 7th Grade." Click on it and a new page
opens with a general overview of the history of the Constitution along with
pictures and illustrations that makes the information more inviting to
younger students. You could use just this page to provide a general
overview. You can also click on some of the links provided in the text for
more information, or use the menu below the overview for a more in-depth
investigation of the Constitution.

Grades K-3 -- At the top of the landing page, you will see a link to "The
Constitution for Kids: Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade." Click on it and a
new page opens with a very simple overview of the history of the
Constitution along with illustrations to provide a kid-friendly read for
young children. This page is provided as a general overview for youngsters.
Taking into account the typical course of study for kids in this grade range
and ability to comprehend the information, it intentionally does not include
resources for further learning. (Of course, the beauty of homeschooling is
that if you have a child who is curious or eager to learn more you can
explore the other grade levels as desired.)

This is a great reference guide for a wide range of ability levels. You may
want to bookmark it and use it as a resource when needed.

Diane Flynn Keith
for ClickSchooling
Copyright 2006, All Rights Reserved
http://www.Homefires.com/
http://www.Carschooling.com/
http://www.UniversalPreschool.com/

Note: We make every effort to recommend websites that have content that is appropriate for general audiences. Parents should ALWAYS preview the sites for suitable content.

Click Schooling (Clickschooling) is a Federally Registered Trademark.

Bullies
http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/friends/bullies/index.html
from the Friends pages of
It’s My Life.
http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/index.html
From the site:
“It's My Life is organized across six topic "channels": Friends, Family, School, Body, Emotions, and Money.
Here at It's My Life, you can read informative articles, share your stories, play games and activities, take quizzes and polls, watch video clips of other kids talking about their feelings and experiences, get advice from older kids and experts, and contribute your own comments and questions. It's My Life also features interviews with celebrities about stuff they had to go through when they were kids.”

[NOTE: Other pages from It's My Life previously posted. Site updated. - Phyllis ]

Whyville
http://www.whyville.net/smmk/nice
From the site:
“Welcome! Whyville is a virtual world geared for teen and pre-teen girls and boys.
We launched Whyville as a virtual city, which engages young people in constructive educational activities while promoting socially responsible behavior. It is an outgrowth of the company's extensive research and practical experience related to learner-centered, hands-on, inquiry-based education.
Inside Whyville, citizens learn about art history, science, journalism, civics, economics, and really so, so much more. Whyville works directly with the Getty, NASA, the School Nutrition Association, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (to name just a few) to bring incredible educational content to kids in an incredibly engaging manner.

Joining Whyville is free.”

Site found in:
NEAT NEW STUFF, SEPTEMBER 22, 2006

Teen Market Profile
http://www.magazine.org/content/files/teenprofile04.pdf
Offers the kind of hard data on teen demographics and consumer behavior
that will be useful in lobbying for and planning for expanded teen
services in libraries.

Neat New Stuff I Found This Week
http://marylaine.com/neatnew.html
Copyright, Marylaine Block, 1999-2006.