Phyllis' Favorites

Site found on TeachersFirst.com

Math Power - Ellen Freedman - Grades 9 to 12
http://www.mathpower.com/
[NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]

This site, created by a college professor, offers a great deal of information about algebra and the general fundamentals of upper level mathematics. The site features tutorial videos, online lessons (non-interactive), study skills tips, a learning style inventory, internet homework assignments, and more. <<>>

Entire review and suggestions on using this site “In the Classroom”:
http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=4701

# posted by Phyllis @ 10:25 PM 0 comments

Site found on TeachersFirst.com

Seeing Math: Secondary Interactives - The Concord Consortium - Grades 7 to 12
http://seeingmath.concord.org/sms_interactives.html

This site offers FREE interactive math tools: qualitative grapher, piecewise linear grapher, linear transformer, function analyzer, quadratic transformer, system solver, plopit, and proportioner. Originally the interactives required special software, but they now run directly from the web site without any special installation or download.<<>>

Entire review and suggestions on using this site “In the Classroom”:
http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=7187

# posted by Phyllis @ 10:25 PM 0 comments

Sites found in:

INFOMINE Email Alert Service
Date: Tue, 01 Jul 2008
http://infomine.ucr.edu/

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FictionDB
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URL: http://www.fictiondb.com
Record Id: 679396
Created: 2008-06-27 02:40:09
Categories: liberal

FictionDB now offers free access to their genre fiction reference
databases including book lists (50,000 authors and 200,000 titles),
synopses, cover illustrations, reviews, awards and series lists.

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PlanetPhysics
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URL: http://www.planetphysics.org/
Record Id: 679251
Created: 2008-06-24 13:14:59
Categories: physci

Collection of physics resources including an encyclopedia, papers,
electronic books and discussion forums.

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PlanetMath
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URL: http://www.planetmath.org/
Record Id: 679250
Created: 2008-06-24 13:10:38
Categories: physci

Collection of mathematics resources including an encyclopedia, articles,
papers, electronic books and discussion forums.

Sites found in:

******************************************
PBS Teachers Newsletter: November 16-22, 2008
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Nature
American Eagle
On-Air & Online
Gr. 6-8 / 9-12
Sunday, November 16, 2008
8 - 9:00 pm
Unique to North America, the bald eagle is the continent's most
recognizable aerial predator, with a shocking white head,
electric-yellow beak and penetrating eyes. Following their
protection as an endangered species, bald eagles have come
roaring back. This is an intimate portrait of these majestic
raptors' lives in the wild. (CC, Stereo, HD, 1 year)
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/american-eagle/introduction/4201/
Shortened URL: http://tinyurl.com/6jrhgm

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NOVA
The Bible's Buried Secrets
On-Air & Online
Gr. 6-8 / 9-12
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
8 - 9:00 pm
A powerful partnership between science and scholarship breaks
exciting new ground in investigating the origins of the ancient
Israelites, their faith in a single, omnipotent God and the
creation of the Bible. (CC, Stereo, HD, 1 year)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bible/
[NOTE: See guide pasted below. – Phyllis ]

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Copyright 2008 PBS Online

********

----------Forwarded Message--------

Next on NOVA: "The Bible's Buried Secrets"
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bible

Tuesday, November 18 at 8 p.m.
(Check your local listings as dates and times may vary.
Broadcast in high definition where available.)

In this landmark two-hour special, NOVA takes viewers on a
fascinating scientific journey that began 3,000 years ago and
continues today. The film presents the latest archeological
scholarship from the Holy Land to explore the beginnings of modern
religion and the origins of the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old
Testament.

This archeological detective story tackles some of the biggest
questions in biblical studies: Where did the ancient Israelites come
from? Who wrote the Bible, when, and why? How did the worship of one
God--the foundation of modern Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam--emerge?

A powerful intersection of science, scholarship, and scripture, The
Bible's Buried Secrets provides unique insight into the deeper
meaning of biblical texts and their continuing resonance through the
centuries.

Here's what you'll find on the companion website:

Senior Executive Producer's Story
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bible/apsell.html
In this FAQ, Paula S. Apsell explains NOVA's approach to covering
biblical archeology.

The Foundation of Judaism
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bible/cohen.html
Shaye Cohen looks at how a pagan practice became a religion devoted
to one God.

Archeology of the Hebrew Bible
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bible/dever.html
William Dever says that attempts to "prove the Bible" are misguided.

Writers of the Bible
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bible/coogan.html
Michael Coogan sees the Bible as an anthology of texts composed over
centuries.

Moses and the Exodus
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bible/meyers.html
Carol Meyers offers a new and surprising view of the iconic exodus
from Egypt.

The Palace of David
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bible/mazar.html
Eilat Mazar has unearthed what she believes is the royal house of
King David.

Origins of the Written Bible
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bible/written.html
William Schniedewind charts the rise of literacy in the Israelite
world, making Holy Scripture possible.

Ask the Experts
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bible/ask.html
Have questions about biblical archeology, the ancient Israelites, or
the origins of the Hebrew Bible? E-mail them here.

Archeological Evidence
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bible/evidence.html
On this time line, explore discoveries related to the earliest
Israelites, the writing of the Bible, and the birth of monotheism.

Who Wrote the Flood Story?
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bible/flood.html
Examine evidence suggesting that at least two sources contributed to
the famous story of Noah.

Religious Perspectives
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bible/perspectives.html
Hear what members of the clergy, representing a variety of faiths,
have to say about the program.

Behind the Scenes
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bible/scenes.html
In these videos, find out how the filmmakers created a 3-D Bible,
portrayed the biblical writers, and reconstructed Solomon's Temple.

Video Extras
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bible/
Starting Wednesday, November 19, the day after the program airs, see
bonus material.

Radiocarbon Dating
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bible/
What is carbon-14 anyway, and how can it reveal the date of an
ancient artifact? Coming soon.

Blog Readers,

I'll be in East Brunswick for a couple of days at the NJASL Annual Conference.
Hope to see some of you there.

Postings will probably resume on Saturday.

- Phyllis

Phyllis Anker

Site found in:
This Week's Educational Programming Update
From: HISTORY Education Department - History.com Classroom

Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission Posters and Certificates
http://www.abrahamlincoln200.org

Celebrate the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth this
February 2009 with the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission's free
classroom poster! The front side, suitable for classroom display, is
a portrait of Lincoln, while the reverse contains resources for
educators, offering suggestions for incorporating Lincoln's legacy
into the classroom. To request this poster, please call (202)
707-6998 or visit http://www.abrahamlincoln200.org and click on
For Teachers.

On the website, you can also sign up to participate in the Lincoln
Legacy School recognition program, sponsored by History.

To participate, submit your schools plans to celebrate the
Bicentennial using the application found on our website. Schools that
apply for the Lincoln Legacy School program will receive a certificate
for framing and will be listed in a national register. Join us in
celebrating our greatest American president and help our students
honor Lincoln's legacy of freedom, democracy and equality of
opportunity!

[NOTE: Previously posted. URL updated. - Phyllis ]

---------Forwarded Message--------
November 2008 Feature of the Month
Blacks in Politics Part 2

Dear Feature of the Month Subscriber,

The Oxford African American Studies Center’s Feature of the
Month has been updated.
http://www.oxfordaasc.com/public/features/current/index.jsp

To commemorate Barack Obama’s exceptional triumph over
Senator John McCain in the 2008 presidential election, the
editors have expanded on last month’s feature and continue to
highlight influential African Americans elected to public office.
Also available in honor of Obama’s victory are two works written expressly in honor of this historical event!

HOPE AND CHANGE
In a moving essay that examines President-Elect Obama’s historic achievement alongside other watershed moments in African American history, Editor in Chief Henry Louis Gates celebrates and honors the undeniable impact of November 4, 2008. Read the rest of this heartwarming and moving essay here (http://www.oxfordaasc.com/public/letters/letter_2.jsp ). Guest scholar Paul Finkelman offers his own take on the election in an essay titled “The First President Who Is Black.” At a time Finkelman calls “the alternate universe of 2008,” he comments on the impact this election and Obama’s impending presidency will have on race relations in the United States. Read Finkelman’s essay here
( http://www.oxfordaasc.com/public/featureded/guest_1.jsp ).

A LONG TIME COMING
With the foundation laid by the black politicians of the nineteenth century like Hiram Rhodes Revels, Joseph Hayne Rainey, and Blanche K. Bruce, black politicians of the twentieth century continued to break ground by entering new and higher positions in the political world – ultimately helping to pave the way for Barack Obama and his success. Explore this month’s photo essay (http://www.oxfordaasc.com/public/features/current/photo_essay.jsp?page=1 ) and browse biographies for key figures like Charles Rangel, Sharon Pratt Kelly, and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Also enjoy free relevant subject entries and primary source documents, including the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights’ report on voting irregularities in the 2000 presidential election. (http://www.oxfordaasc.com/public/features/current/index.jsp – scroll down to Featured Articles ).

From Surf Report, Nov. 2008

Serious Games
http://explore.ecb.org/surf/surf_report?subject=0
From the site:
“In honor of the American Library Association’s National Gaming Day on November 15, this month we bring you educational games you can find on the Internet. “Serious Games” are video-style games designed to engage young people with 3D graphics and challenging game play while teaching complex concepts. Most of these games need to be downloaded to your computer; check the minimum specifications before downloading. We have also included some less complex “Online Games” can be played on most web browsers, in shorter periods of time, and by younger students.”

From: ALA

National Gaming Day, Saturday, November 15, 2008
http://gaming.ala.org/resources/index.php?title=Ngd2008

From the site:
“In the 21st century, libraries are about much more than books. On Saturday, November 15, 2008, hundreds of libraries throughout the country will showcase gaming programs and services in support of National Gaming Day @ your library (NGD). Gaming of all types at the library encourages young patrons to interact with a diverse group of peers, share their expertise with others (including adults), and develop new strategies for gaming and learning. Plus, it's a way for traditionally underserved groups to have fun in the library and interact with other members of the community.”

Site found in:
Awareness Watch Newsletter V6N7 July 2008 Announcement

“July 2008 Zillman Column is now available and is titled World Wide Web Reference Resources. This July 2008 column is a comprehensive list of reference sources and sites about the World Wide Web including associated and related online resources that are available over the Internet. These resources and sources will help you to discover the many pathways available to you through the Internet for obtaining and locating the reference resources and sources for the World Wide Web. Download this excellent 47 page free .pdf (1.03MB) column today and start your cyber journey into the latest and greatest World Wide Web references!”

July 2008 Zillman Column - World Wide Web Reference Resources
http://zillman.blogspot.com/2008/06/july-2008-zillman-column-world-wide-web.html
Shortened URL: http://tinyurl.com/5t6m9s

Zillman Column Archives
http://www.ZillmanColumns.com/

[NOTE: This is an update of a previously posted column. – Phyllis ]

Teaching with Primary Sources Newsletter
Fall 2008
This Issue's Theme: Promoting Critical Thinking
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/tps/newsletter/

From the site:
This issue explores how teachers can use primary sources to build students’ critical thinking skills, preparing them for success in the 21st century.

Caught on the Web Archives
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/newsletter/web/index.shtml
From the site:
“always looking for Web sites that are safe and fun? The sites in this weekly cut-and-paste feature are that and more. In addition to being kid-friendly, they might even result in a little learning.”

---------Forwarded Message--------
Below is a letter from the director of the Theater Project about this year's play writing competition. Please post and distribute to teachers whose students might be interested.

"I would never have written this if I hadn't heard somebody wanted to read it." - Lauren, 2nd prize winner of the 2008 Young Playwrights Competition.

The Theater Project is launching its 2009 Young Playwrights Competition for New Jersey high school playwrights. As always, it is a real challenge to get the attention of the schools and, more important, the kids. We believe that as wonderful as winning is, the real benefit for the participants occurs when they sit down to write.

We are hoping to be a stimulus to as many kids as possible in 2009. While we are very proud of of our three winners every year, we hope we can stimulate many, many young people to embark on the adventure of composition and creation, a journey that will help them develop vital critical thinking and writing skills.

Please help us to spread the word about the competition by circulating this email to as many of your personal contacts in the high school system as possible. The deadline for submission is January 31, 2009.

Gratefully yours,

Mark Spina
The Theater Project
Union County College's Professional Theater Company
Questions? Call (908) 659-5189 or write to TheaterProject@aol.com

TO ENTER: By January 31, 2009, submit a 10-30 page script according to the guidelines on the flyer, to THE THEATER PROJECT, Union County College, 1033 Springfield Ave., Cranford, NJ 07016. All entries must include an SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope), a 50-word biography of the author including contact information, and the $5 entrance fee (check or money order, payable to THE THEATER PROJECT.) Only one entry per author. Please remember that you must be a resident of New Jersey and a secondary school student in the 2008-09 academic year to be eligible.
[NOTE: If you are interested in seeing guidelines on the flyer that accompanied this email, contact me and I will send it to you as an attachment. – Phyllis ]

Site found on TeachersFirst.com


Science Fair Sanity - Chicago School Supply - Grades 0 to 12
http://www.sciencefairsanity.com/

This site is a MUST SEE for anyone who teaches science, those who help students prepare for the science fair, or anyone else inquisitive enough to try these hands-on experiments. This site provides a wealth of information for students and teachers.

Entire review and suggestions on using this site “In the Classroom”:
http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=1531

Search Dog Foundation (SDF)
http://searchdogfoundation.org/98/html/index.html

From the site:
“The mission of the Search Dog Foundation is to produce the most highly trained canine disaster search teams in the nation. The job of these teams is to find people buried alive in the wreckage of natural disasters and terrorist attacks.

“To create these teams, SDF recruits rescued dogs from shelters and breed rescue groups, gives them professional training, and partners them with firefighters and other first responders at no cost to their departments. We ensure lifetime care for every dog in our program: once rescued, these dogs will never need to be rescued again.”

Dog Breeds
http://www.surfnetkids.com/dog_breeds.htm
From the site:
“Whether you are trying to find the right dog breed for your family, or just want to learn more about dogs, you'll surely find these sites both educational and entertaining.”

Page includes 9 links to related sites (5 annotated, 4 honorable mentions)

How Does Global Warming Affect Wildlife?
http://www.nwf.org/wildlifeandglobalwarming/effectsonwildlife.cfm
From the site:
“The National Wildlife Federation considers global warming to be "the most dangerous threat to the future of wildlife." Here are just some of the species being dramatically impacted by global warming.”

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Global Warming
http://www.nwf.org/globalwarming/

From the site:
Global warming is the single biggest threat to wildlife today.

Scientists have told us that we must reduce global warming pollution by 80% by 2050 to avoid the worst impacts of global warming. They have set the goal, now we have to set the pace. We can get there by reducing global warming pollution by 2% every year for the next 40 years. <<>>

# posted by Phyllis @ 10:43 PM 0 comments

Sites found in:
NEAT NEW STUFF, June 20-July 4, 2008

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Author Author
http://weta.org/authorauthor/
This blog from WETA-TV's Bethanne Patrick features author interviews and book reviews. Interview subjects include Russell Banks, Richard Russo, Susan Coll, Alexander McCall Smith, and lots more. The archive is searchable.

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The Internet Bird Collection: a Free Library of Videos of the World's Birds
http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/families.phtml
Brought to you by Handbook of the Birds of the World, these videos are searchable by family name, scientific name, common name, and geographical region. A delight for bird fanciers, and a useful tool for studying bird behavior.

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Science Animations: Movies and Interactive Tutorial Links
http://science.nhmccd.edu/biol/animatio.htm
A great way of understanding scientific theories and phenomena, including plant life cycles, plate tectonics, bacterial growth, severe weather, how lasers works, and much, much more.
[NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]

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USA.gov FAQ Knowledge Base
http://answers.usa.gov/
This database draws on FAQ files from every government agency.

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Neat New Stuff I Found This Week
http://marylaine.com/neatnew.html
Copyright, Marylaine Block, 1999-2008.

Sites found in:

The Scout Report
June 27, 2008
Volume 14, Number 25
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The Scout Report on the Web:
Current issue: http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/Current/
This issue: http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/2008/scout-080627.php

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Revitalizing Arts Education Through Community-Wide Coordination [pdf]
http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG702.pdf

When policy makers and others think about what subjects to cut in public
school, funding for the arts is often the first to be considered. This June
2008 report from the Rand Corporation takes a critical look at public-
private partnerships in United States cities designed to reinvigorate and
restore arts education in public school districts. Authored by Susan J.
Bodilly, Catherine H. Augustine, and Laura Zakaras, the 109-page report
focuses on programs in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles County, New York
City, and Alameda County in Northern California. The study itself was
commissioned by The Wallace Foundation and found that "budget cuts resulting
from state and local budget problems to the emphasis of the No Child Left
Behind Act on reading and math have sharply reduced the number of arts
teaching positions." Visitors will note that the study goes into great
detail regarding the nature of these programs, and those working in the
fields of public policy or arts education will want to let their colleagues
and associates know about this timely study. [KMG]

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Absalom, Absalom! [Macromedia Flash Player]
http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/absalom/

Published in 1936, "Absalom, Absalom!" is a work by noted American author
and Nobel-Prize recipient William Faulkner. The book takes place around the
time of the Civil War and is narrated via a series of flashbacks. This
website, which is a fascinating interactive companion to this remarkable
modernist novel, was created by Stephen Railton and Will Rourk of the
University of Virginia. Visitors to the site's homepage can read the user
instructions, and then look through the chapter-by-chapter chronology as
they see fit. After looking over the chronologies offered here, visitors
should click on over to the "Faulkner on Absalom, Absalom!" section of the
site. Here they can listen to Faulkner talk about selected passages from the
work at various lectures he gave at the University of Virginia in 1957 and
1958. The site also contains printable versions of the chronologies for
those who wish to consult them in an offline setting. [KMG]

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Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden: Podcasts [iTunes, QuickTime]
http://www.hirshhorn.si.edu/educate/list.asp?key=56

Over the past couple of years, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden has
revamped their website, and they have also embarked on an ambitious podcast
series. Currently the site contains over 70 podcasts, which cover topics
like bookmaking, experimental filmmaking, and the craft of sculpture.
Generally the podcasts are related to recent exhibitions and viewings at the
Hirshhorn, but most of them work quite well as stand-alone explorations of
artistic endeavors and pursuits. Some of the highlights here include a
discussion with Dietrich Neumann about the "blurring of illusion and reality
in architecture and film" and a conversation with artist Alyson Shotz about
her provocative work that recently appeared in the Hirshhorn's "Currents"
installation. [KMG] [NOTE: Home Page previously posted. – Phyllis ]

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>From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2008.
http://scout.wisc.edu/

History Now – sixteenth issue
http://www.historynow.org/06_2008/index.html

Books that Changed History

The Institute is pleased to present the sixteenth issue of History Now, a quarterly online journal for history teachers and students, available at http://www.historynow.org/06_2008/index.html.

Every teacher knows that a novel can sometimes convey the mood and spirit of a historical era or event more powerfully than a textbook. And every teacher also knows that some novels have even made history. These are books that every student ought to read. In this issue, History Now focuses on six “books that changed history,” placing each one in its historical context and suggesting why it remains relevant today.

Don't miss this issue's interactive feature, which provides a striking visual exploration of antebellum America through illustrations of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s famous novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin. http://www.historynow.org/06_2008/interactive.html

The Scarlet Letter and Nathaniel Hawthorne's America, by Brenda Wineapple

Uncle Tom's Cabin and the Matter of Influence, by Hollis Robbins

Rethinking Huck, by Steven Mintz

The Jungle and the Progressive Era, by Robert Cherny

F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Age of Excess, by Joshua Zeitz

The Catcher in the Rye: The Voice of Alienation, by Timothy Aubry

Sites to See:
The American Revolution
http://www.educationworld.com/a_sites/sites016.shtml

From the site:

“From the Federalist Papers to America Rock, these sites will engage students in the well-known -- and little-known -- facts about the American Revolution.”