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In a recent article from The Washington Post, the author quotes a study that texting does not create poor spelling. I am not buying into that just yet. The kids texting today have had years of spelling/vocabulary tests and have that sense of history behind them.

Those findings, recently published in the journal Reading and Writing, suggest that parental worries that kids who use "chatspeak" will become bad spellers or never learn how to write well are unfounded. "Young people can compartmentalize their language," Varnhagen said. "They have language that they use on the playground and then school language. They know how to speak in classrooms without sounding like goofballs."

I believe that the jury is still out on this one. My recommendation would be to ask the language arts teachers and find out what they are seeing in writing samples throughout the year. A short spelling test with 40 students does not convince me that students can still spell after texting all weekend. The English language has been corrupted enough without including texting language!

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• Study: Texting Does Not Affect Children's Ability To Spell (inquisitr.com)
• Researchers describe txt sp3ak as "brain workout" for kids (arstechnica.com)
• Study: OMG! Texting Does Not Affect Children's Ability To Spell (debaird.net)

In a recent plurk post from Lisa Parisi she mentioned Math Shoes. So my curiosity made me click on the link provided and I had a good chuckle at the wide variety of shoes with math patterns! Perfect for the elementary or daring secondary teacher! Everything from fractals to numbers are included in the patterns and the selection is interesting.They are a bit pricey, but I did see that you can click on them to customize the color combination. Enjoy shopping!

This site: Teacher's First, has provided many important links to activities for holiday celebrations, curriculum lessons, contests and general information. You can sign up for the newsletter to be delivered to your email, so you don't miss anything. The links and lesson ideas fro October range from the typical Halloween/Autumn ideas, to lessons about Henry Hudson, visual math ideas and science activities about the sun. The featured site is Inventors of the Industrial Revolution. There is a wealth of information and resources for teachers of any grade level. TeachersFirst is an ISTE100 member.

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If you teach the predator/prey concepts, here is a web activity that can be used by early elementary grades through middle school. You choose how many lions, antelope and the rate of birth for antelope and the rate the grass grows on the plain. At the bottom of the page, there is a link for additional education activities. This is a great time fill activity for your class. There are several types of writing prompts you can create from this simple science concept.

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I came across two posts to plurk today about Thanksgiving activities:

1. Get 6 letters from a colonial boy or girl - "Sign up to receive three letters from a young girl traveling on the Mayflower* and three letters from a young Native American boy*. Give your class a glimpse of history through the eyes of two school-age children. New This Year: Bonus letters and activities including vocabulary quiz, fact scavenger hunt, and readers' theater. Sign up here to receive it all."
   
   
2. You are the Historian - "Some historians think that "The First Thanksgiving" wasn't really a thanksgiving. They call it "The 1621 Harvest Celebration" because it was more like a harvest festival. You can be a historian! On this website you will discover clues about what really happened at the 1621 harvest celebration."
   

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Girls Inc.

Picture the world through the eyes of a Girls Inc. girl. She belongs to a community that empowers her to pursue the biggest dreams she can dream. She is uplifted by the strength of a national organization that is committed to inspiring the leaders of tomorrow.

This is how Girls Inc. celebrates girlhood. Letter to parents about this site.

Sally Ride Science

Science Festivals, invent a toy, hear Sally ride speak, and general information for girls to be encouraged to pursue science careers. This is a fun day, as I attended a Science Festival with my daughter about 5 years ago. I think she was to young to get it, because I was the one who stood in line for her autograph!

Gotta Have iT

Many many many resources for encouraging girls to gt involved in tech or science careers. Links to contests, challenges and lesson ideas for teachers. Resources for parents as well.


More resources and organizations on this web page.

Related articles by Zemanta

• White House aims middle schoolers eyes to stars (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• NASA Panel Grapples With Cost of Space Plans (nytimes.com)
• Book tells Teen Girls: You Don't Have to be Perfect (connectwithyourteens.blogspot.com)

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If you have a subscription to BrainPop then you are aware of the fantastic resources available. If you would like to sample what they have available then visit the site to see the FREE movies and take a test drive. Did you know that DEN Star Teryl McGee is a BrainPop Advisor and will be highlighted as someone to watch! Read more at: http://www.brainpop.com/about/advisors/

Join Izzit and select from a list of videos for your free one. There are several types of memberships, but I have been a member for several years and have selected a free video, with no strings attached, each year. Some of the videos available are not first run movie theatre flicks, so don't look for that. These videos include topics about the Pilgrims, David Robinson, Drew Carey, microeconomics, and solar energy.

Online Education Conference on Climate Change
from the Smithsonian Institution

Join one or all of twelve exciting sessions of the Smithsonian’s free online conference, September 29 to October 1. “Climate Change” sessions are appropriate for teachers, their students, and the general public.

In this innovative format, you will interact in real-time with Smithsonian experts and hundreds of fellow participants. With only a computer and an Internet connection, you will see and hear live presentations, take part in a moderated Q&A forum, and exchange ideas with a community of learners. It's a special behind-the-scenes look into the Smithsonian's multi-disciplinary research on climate change that can help you and your students (especially middle and high school) better understand this complex topic.

From prehistoric plant life and its reactions to climate change, to how peoples in the past dealt with changing environments, to artists’ and young innovators’ responses—it’s a conference only the Smithsonian could offer—and it’s available free of charge, to view live or replay at any time.

Register Now
For the conference program and registration, go to SmithsonianEducation.org/Climate.

Special Educator Resources
Don’t miss the special section for educators with ideas for before, during, and after the conference.

The Education Team at the Zoo will be hosting two Teacher Open Houses (October 13^th and 14^th) from 5:00-6:30 pm in order to showcase our new McNeil Avian Center as well as visit with educators about the resources and programs available through the Zoo. The event is FREE and will include light refreshments. Registration for the Open Houses is on a first-come, first-serve basis and is now available online through our Teachers’ Lounge. Please help spread the word!

Have you heard? Tua, the16-year-old Sumatran orangutan, is expecting her first baby in October. Sumatran orangutans are among the largest of all primates and also among the most endangered - scientists estimated that there were only 3500 surviving in the wild in 2002, and numbers were continuing to drop. Read a recent article about Tua and visit the Zoo’s website to learn more about Sumatran orangutans.

Information above directly from the September Educator newsletter. To contact the zoo directly email: education@phillyzoo.org