No: 204

2015

The EARTH minus PLASTIC - BRILLIANT

2015

Hello Everyone,

Welcome back to Term 3.

You will love the talk from Boyan Slat on extracting plastics from the oceans. A great invention, this is truly where we should be looking in environmental, sustainability studies.

I have been using Story Jumper and it is a fabulous program.

Students are publishing their own books and engaging in amazingly high level thinking. Take a look your students will love it.

Thanks to all the recent purchasers of Do You Need a Hammer to do Multiplication? Take a look at some of the pages in Do You Need a Hammer to do Multiplication?, get your own copy, and find out the ANSWER. Just $4.95

Spread the Word about VT, email this newsletter to someone you think might love it.

Welcome back to Term 3 2015.

ciao

Cathy

I love these simple illustrations every no and then there is a brilliant yet simple one like the above.

this is why I talk about times tables, the area of rectangles, Hitch Hikers Guide the Galaxy, the answer to the answer to the meaning of life, the universe, and everything 6 x 7 = 42(must be the hardest table of them all if it answers this questions), the sum of interior angles and the fact that everytime you add an extra side you add an extra 180 degrees, which is 3 x 9 x 10(180 degrees the sum of the interior angles of a triangle). And let's not stop there.

TED Talk by Boyan Slat - Listen to his thinking.

18-year-old Boyan Slat combines environmentalism, entrepreneurism and technology to tackle global issues of sustainability. Warch the YouTube

After diving in Greece, and coming across more plastic bags than fish, he wondered; "why can't we clean this up?" The project is now up and running - take a look at their site

eASY SPeLLING App

Just speak into this app and it will spell for you

I have recently been working with students needing extra support with writing and spelling. I love to think all students can become independent in their writing. This great little app is amazing. It's great for all the ESL, LAST and "just can't spell for nuts," folk.

The speech recognition is fabulous, students just say the word or sentence and they can see it written in foundation handwriting or you can select from a wide variety of fonts. The App will also ready the text back to you. I have had great success with this. Developing little folk who feel in charge of their writing and spelling for the first time. It also helps with handwriting forms.

fghhg. What it means to ME(the teacher)

This is a fabulous application - browser based.

It allows students to publish their own books, online, then have them published as digital versions or actual hardcopy books. Cost of finished book is around $13.00 for soft cover and $25.00(US dollars) for hardcover, with discounts for volume. It is a school fundraiser as well.

I had a few issues with the system interfacing with the DET protocols and the folk at Story Jumper were great and sorted these out so everything worked splendidly.

There are a couple of videos that help you get started Story Jumper Basics and a Hands on Tutorial

both worth watching with students before proceeding.

The procedure that worked for me was:-

1. Have the Kids write the story first in 8 sections(folding an A3 sheet into 8 worked well for younger folk). Peer edit, and if possible teacher edit.

2. Draw, paint, photograph draw digitally (on programs like Paint)some images to go with the story. Some of my students just drew their hero characters.

3. Type the story into Story Jumper.

4. Add images from story jumpers extensive library of props and bakcgrounds and also add some of your original images.

5. Read the stories as students finish them as whole class activity and do final edit with whole class - this is lots of fun.

This is great for grammar, punctuation, sense etc. Students are working on their own books and they are very motivated.

6. Send them off to be published

7. Get a package of books to open for all your young authors.

There are some great teacher aids on the site. You can download the Teacher's Guide the Story Starter

You can also write a whole class book - this is particularly great for Kindergarten we are doing one on days of the week with phtographs - splendid.

The kids loved this so much - they were coming in at lunchtime and any other time they could. Story Jumper can also be worked on by students at home.

RAISE YOUR FLAG

Raise your flag is a fabulous site - plotting careers from their humbling beginnings. The site

gives annual percentage growth in the industry and salary estimates for each of the stages.
It is a Canadian site however the steps are most interesting and the salary comparisons are
quite amazing to see. Join for free if you might like or just browse the site to research different careers options or
set it as a group activity - find your favourite job. Report the percentage growth in that
industry, describe the job, what work styles would that job involve etc, and if you sign in
you can check out the videos.

I do answer all emails so send them along with your questions ideas and great sites.

Dear Cathy,

Time the Musical Acts 1 & 2 are available via iTunes. I purchased them a couple of years ago to replace my cassette tape copies.

Can you pass this information onto Pete?

Cheers,

Ms Maureen Smith

Teacher Librarian

Hi Maureen,

Thanks for letting me know I will purchase them too. I loved that show.

ciao

Cathy

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The opinions expressed here are purely those of the editor, Cathy Brown. All other small print clauses apply. Such as: Use at your own risk. Nothing in life is guaranteed. If it doesn't work for you send an email or tweet me.

Editor: Cathy Brown cathy@virtualteacher.com.au

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