Calling All ELL/ESL Teachers

On May 25 Thinkfinity is launching a new 90-minute webinar "Reaching English Language Learners with Verizon Thinkfinity" where attendees will learn several key strategies and specific resources to use with students who have various levels of English proficiency. Thinkfinity provides many resources to promote core content knowledge and language development for all learners. Sign up for this fantastic webinar. Upon completion, you will earn a certificate!
Click here to find out how to register.

The National Math Trail

Here is a great opportunity to bring real-world math into the classroom. The National Math Trail is for K-12 teachers and students to explore and share math that exists in their own communities. Students can explore their communities and create math problems that relate to what they find. Teachers can then submit the problems to the National Math Trail site, along with photos, drawings, recordings, and videos. All entries are posted to the site and will remain there so teachers, students, and parents can access them. The site provides technology tutorials and templates for the creation of web page submissions
Take a look at Magic City Math Trail. This is one example by teacher Susan Clopton and her middle school students in Birmingham, Alabama.

T3 Surveys

The Texas Education Agency is collecting information related to the Target Tech in Texas (T3) grant.
This grant is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. It is
authorized by Public Law 107-110, CFDA# 84.386, No Child Left Behind (NDLB) Act of 2001, Title II, Part D and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA or Recovery Act); enacted February 17, 2009 (P.L. 111-5).
Since we are part of the T3 grant, Calallen principals (K-8), teachers(K-8) and students (3-8) should take the T3 survey as soon as possible. This is required as part of the Target Tech in Texas grant. Here are some suggestions to help meet TEA’s Spring 2010 survey.
Parents
• If they have Internet access at home, they can complete the survey there
• If they do not have Internet access at home, they can use public library computers to complete the survey
Students:
• Class time in the computer lab to input responses
• Time during class if classroom computers are available
Teachers
• Use their conference period to complete the Teacher Survey
• Time after school to complete the survey
• Time during faculty meetings to complete survey
• Survey can be completed at home since many of the teachers have Internet access at home
Principals
• On their own time at school or at home

The surveys are located on the main Calallen ISD Page on the Bulletin Board.

T3 Announcements from TEA

Great Lessons on the TATN Website:
The Technology Applications Teacher Network (TATN) is a collaborative project between the twenty Texas Education Service Centers and the Texas Education Agency. TATN is designed to provide Texas teachers with resources to implement the Technology Applications Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills in the K-12 classroom.

The new website contains resources to integrate the K-8 Technology Applications Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills across the curriculum at all grade levels as well as to teach the dedicated High School Technology Applications courses (Digital Graphics/ Animation, Desktop Publishing, Web Mastering, Multimedia, Video Technology and Computer Science). There are lessons and unit plans that show how technology can enhance each of the foundation curriculum areas. TEKS alignments with mathematics, science, social studies, and English language arts/reading are provided to support the connections.


K-12 Databases:
Visit the new K-12 Databases website for information and access to online research and information resources for all Texas public and charter schools funded by the Texas legislature. Resources currently include a broad range of age appropriate, authoritative and relevant materials from Britannica Digital Learning and EBSCO Publishing. Access is 24/ 7/ 365 to students, teachers, parents and school leaders for use at school and home. Regardless of district size or funding, all Texas public school communities have equal access to these state-funded resources. There are many lessons provided at the website that align with the foundation curriculum areas’ TEKS, professional development modules, and valuable resources for school leaders.


TCEA Needs Presenters for 2011:
Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) is the largest state organization in the nation devoted to the use of technology in education. TCEA is currently looking for presenters to share your knowledge and expertise with other TCEA members by presenting a session at the 2011 convention. All proposals will be carefully reviewed and selected by a committee of TCEA members. The Texas Computer Education Association 31st Annual Convention & Exposition will be held on Feb. 7 – 11, 2011, at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas. Applicants will receive acceptance or regret notifications in July 2010. The deadline for submission is Monday, May 31, 2010, at 5:00 p.m. CST. For more information, please visit TCEA.  

The New Magee Elementary School

Teacher Appreciation Week

Thank you teachers...you are the best!