The Oxford English Dictionary’s annual June update has a decidedly tech feel this year as the much ballyhooed reference title is adding the words “tweet,” “crowdsourcing,” “e-reader” and “re-direct.”

Every June the dictionary adds several new words to the English vernacular, provided they meet certain criteria. While “tweet” does not meet the standard of having been in...

Southern Word works with poet coaches and other mentors to use creativity to help develop literacy and presentation skills in students. These skills help many kids going from high school through to the beginning of college connect the dots between education and their lives.

Southern Word does many local programs~ helping to establish young students as leaders in their communities all through using spoken word poetry. This includes spoken word school residencies~ after school...

IN the NEWS....
Possible Bell RInger Activity
Piano~ guitar and drums are instruments...but the Eiffel Tower? Composer Joseph Bertolozzi is creating on opus~ "Tower Music" using the Eiffel Tower as his instrument! The American Bertolozzi says banging different sized mallets~ drumsticks and a lambs wool covered log against the tower's girders~ railings and panels creates sounds similar to that of marimbas~ Indonesian gamelan gongs and metallic drums. Before...

With the pressure of testing creating more focus on getting kids ready for tests~ current events may be getting moved to the side-lines. Use news stories as possible Bell ringer activities(or whatever the current jargon is for a short activity for the students to do) especially while you are checking homework~ doing attendance~ at the end of the period~etc.) Find a news story~ write up a brief summary and then include two reaction questions for the students...