Free stuff for teachers

Today I got my latest issue of my union newsletter. At the bottom of page three I found a little blurb to check out called teachers love free stuff! Well, it is from NEA and has links to a variety of different free material that may be of use to you in your classrooms. Not everything applies to everyone, but there should be something that you find of use. Good luck and happy getting free stuff.
http://www.nea.org/resources/free-stuff.html

NCTE Inbox newletter article

This article, though somewhat lengthy, does have some good points about technology and the way that this school district is using it. There are some great points and I bet that you are on page two before you know it. People such as David Warlick are mentioned in it as well.

Web Tools: The Second Generation
A Pennsylvania school district has joined other schools that support their curricula with Web 2.0 tools to help students use 21st century skills such as critical thinking and collaboration. District Administration, May 2008

Research about blogs and writing

Interesting that there are studies backing what we have learned in class. More writing does in fact strenghten it. Encouraging kids to use a blog or even assigning one can be helpful. Check out the following article I just recieved in my NCTE Inbox newsletter.

Blogging Helps Encourage Teen Writing"Blogging and other forms of virtual debate actually foster the very types of intellectual exchange, analysis, and argumentative writing that universities value," said Bradley A. Hammer, an instructor in Duke University's writing program. eSchool News, April 30, 2008