No, that image to the left is not an iPad surrounded by SmartCovers. That is the Microsoft Surface. Not to be confused with the giant table-sized computer the company released a while ago, the Surface is Microsoft’s entry into the tablet market.
Attempting to take a page out of Apple’s playbook on several levels, Microsoft revealed the Surface during a mystery press event in California. What those in attendance saw was an iPad knock-off that is heavier, boasts shorter batter life and an inferior chip. To be fair, the Surface does have an impressive cover that contains a fully functioning keyboard, but that is an accessory that must be purchased.
Microsoft has two versions of the Surface in the works, each for a very different audience. There’s a “consumer version” that will run Windows RT and a “business version” that will run Windows 8.
Microsoft isn’t saying exactly when the Surface will be available for purchase, or how much it will cost, but experts are predicting the “consumer version” to fall in the $500 price range with the “business version” to come in at over $1,000. The pricier version does have better overall tech specs than its cheaper brother, but that improved performance comes at the cost of weight and, of course, cost.
Today I want to share a really cool site that~ Sarah Pennington~ a language arts middle school teacher at the school where I work~ uses with her kids. Students who are interested in mythology can take a national test through the American Classical League's Excellence Through Classics program.The website is www.etclassics.org.
Students...
Today~ I tricked my students. Yes~ I had to fool them into thinking they were doing an assignment on radio/ T.V. commericals. While thinking they were listening to a local FM station to determine what makes a good commerical~ the DJ gave a shout out~ congratulating my class and the students at the school where I work for their hard work on Florida's standardized test~ the FCAT.
My kids' jaws dropped. They were like~ "Were we just mentioned over the radio?" They looked...
Hello~
Immersion lessons are a great way to totally engage your students in learning. I attached a Theme Day/Immersion Lesson step-by-step guide on my Resource pagethat you can use to create successful immersion lessons in your classroom. Feel free to share among colleagues or at your school.
Have a blessed day~
Steve
When teaching a lesson~ I think you have to approach it like a shotgun. Shotguns do not just shoot one bullet~ but spray lots of little bullets at the target.
In the same way~ when teaching~ try to hit the lesson from many different angles. Have them use their hands~ their voices~ their eyes...use food~ music~ technology~ movement...keep trying to hit the lesson from another angle. By doing this~ the lesson becomes exciting and you tap into the different learning styles.
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Sunday,April 22, is Earth Day. Begun on April 22, 1970, by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, the purpose of the day was to create awareness that our natural resources will not last forever and to stress each of our responsibility in protecting and preserving our Earth and its resources.On this day,bags of clean soil were passed out, people spilled oil on sidewalks in Washington, DC, to protest oil spills,high school students swept public spaces, and people wore gas masks to show that our air...
Yes~ Mr. Trump from Celebrity Apprentice~ inspired me to create a weekly project called Classroom Apprentice~ where students choose a project manager and are given a task to complete under a tightdeadline! They love it~ and it allows students todevelop creativity~ teamwork~ leadership and other qualities while reviewing curriculum.
Now~ tell me~ what T.V. shows have served as inspirations for you in the classroom? I had a colleague who began the school year breaking her students...
Authentic assessment is basically any type of assessment that is not paper-and-pencil type of testing. It can include projects~ portfolios~ or running records. I first really used authentic assessment when I student taught in a preschool program for my undergraduate degree. It was used mostly because traditional assessment becomes much more difficult for that age bracket. But now~ as I work mostly in elementary and middle school levels~ I realize that many...
The National Trust~ a charity in Great Britain~"that works to preserve and protect historic places and spaces - for ever~ for everyone"~ has come up with a great list to get kids up and moving. Called the "50 Things You Should Do Before You Are 11 3/4" was developed because a report found that less than one in ten kids PLAY outside compared to kids 25 years ago. The study also found that 1/3 of ki...ds today have never...
One hundred years ago~ the RMS Titanic set sail on its maiden voyage from Southampton~ England to New York City. Dubbed the "unsinkable" ship~ the Titanic hit an iceberg at 11:40 PM ~April 14~1912~sinking into the cold Atlantic Ocean shortly afterwards at 2:20AM.Thousands were still aboard the ship when she went down~with those dying from the cold water temperatures in a matter of minutes. 1514 people lost their lives when the ship sank.710 survivors were rescued by the RMS Carpathia that...
Graphic organizers are a great teaching tool to use regularly! Many teachers are great about using KWL charts~ but those are not the only graphic organizers out there. Visual and mathematical-logical learners truly benefit from this type of learning. If the graphic organizers are leveled for different groups or...