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Winter Holidays Around the World Nonfiction Writing: Fact vs. Opinion
with her To Establish Justice* Just in time for Halloween: Pat will read select portions of The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural on October 23, 2009 at 11 am central. This book is for students ages 9-12; “these 10 spine-tinglers range from straight-up ghost stories to eerie narratives. The tales in this winner of the 1993 Coretta Scott King Award depict racism, haunting and vengeance in a manner that can be read out loud around a campfire or savored privately, offering middle readers thoughtful exposure to important, though frightening, historical themes.” (Amazon.com) On November 24, 2009, Pat will read from Stitchin’ and Pullin’: A Gee’s Bend Quilt at 2:30 pm central. This book is for students ages 9-12; “Mother and daughter, grandmother and granddaughter, aunt and niece, friend and friend. For a hundred years, generations of women from Gee’s Bend have quilted together, sharing stories, trading recipes, singing hymns—all the while stitchin’ and pullin’ thread through cloth. Every day Baby Girl listens, watches, and waits, until she’s called to sit at the quilting frame. Piece by piece, she puzzles her quilt together—telling not just her story, but the story of her family, the story of Gee’s Bend, and the story of her ancestors’ struggle for freedom.” (Amazon.com) Finally, before the holidays on December 15, 2009 at 2:30 pm central, Pat will read from The All-I’ll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll. This book is for students 5-8; “It is Christmas, and Nella is beside herself with excitement! She and her sisters have been given a real gift – a beautiful Baby Betty doll. But it’s hard to share something you’ve waited your whole seven-year-old life for, and Nella grabs the doll for herself. It isn’t long before she discovers that a doll can’t do the fun things she and her sisters do together. So, as Christmas day fades, Nella shares it with her sisters. Set in the Depression era South, here’s a heartwarming story that captures the essence of the holiday.” (Amazon.com) Author Visit with Carolyn Lesser (2-adult) Writing Nonfiction Prose or Poetry…#1 Writing Nonfiction Prose or Poetry…#2 Writing Nature Prose or Poetry Multigenre Nonfiction Writing Crafting a Play Price list: Custom add-ons to any series bring depth and relevance to students & staff:
For first and second grade classes, Amy will also lead several hands-on eggs-periments while teachers do the same in their own classrooms with their own eggs. Amy and her class(es) will crack open an egg and identify its parts. Then Amy will incorporate terms from the scientific method, such as hypothesis, prediction, experiment, and data, as she and the classroom teachers lead students in two hands-on experiments exploring the properties of eggs. First, students will compare the properties of a ball and an egg before rolling them across a flat surface to test their hypothesis regarding the way an egg will roll. Second, students will pile several heavy books or other objects on top of two or three eggs to test their hypothesis regarding the strength of an egg. Kindergarten students will participate in the same lesson, though without the eggs-periment onsite in their classroom. Amy will perform those tasks and engage the students with questions and conversation as she demonstrates the eggs-periment. First and second grade classrooms should have the following on-hand during the videoconference: 6 eggs, 1 large bowl, 1 round rubber ball, and a few heavy books. Peer Pressure September 24, 2009 Ask the Author Videoconference October 29, 2009 ‘Monsters’ Writing Workshop (two-part) January 29 and February 19, 2010 Crime Scene Analysis May 7, 2010  Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis (1-8)In partnership with Cooperating School Districts, Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis offers two interative videoconferences. Both videoconferences are available upon request on Tuesdays and Thursdays (please submit requests with at least three weeks notice). A Day in the Life of an Astronaut In this 25 minute vc, students (grades 1-4) will learn about the daily activities of astronauts, including typical work activities, spacewalks, exercise, going to the bathroom, sleeping and eating in space. Students will also see real astronaut food and a short video clip of astronauts “playing” with their food. This videoconference is $75. New Links to New Learning members get a discount. The Body in Space In this 35 minute vc, students (grades 5-8) learn about the science behind the effects of space travel on the human body. They participate in hands-on activities and discussions about the environment of space, space adaptation sickness, fluid shift and its effects on body organs, and bone and muscle atrophy with a Challenger Learning Center St. Louis educator. This videoconfernece is $85.New Links to New Learning members get a discount. Adventures in Medicine and Science (AIMS) - Practical Anatomy, Saint Louis University (1-12) AIMS was created so students could enrich their scientific learning. Videoconferences introduce students to human anatomy, stimulate awareness of good health practices, provide information about injury prevention and lead students to a better understanding of career choices in medicine. Doctors & other experts guide students in the following topics over interactive v/c: You Are What You Eat: Teen Nutrition; Dental Health: Disease & Injury, Prevention and Treatment; Organ Transplant; Your Role in the Environment. Programs can be scheduled upon request. Preferred days are Thursdays & Fridays: * General Cadaver Demo - Students participate in an interactive cadaver demo. * Forensic Autopsy Demonstration - Students participate in an interactive cadaver demo. The demo will discuss the basic procedure of a cadaver demo, during which the principles of objectivity, scientific method & evidence gathering will be outlined. * General Sports Medicine Demonstration - Students participate in an interactive cadaver demo that will outline most of the common sports injuries of the shoulder, elbow, knee and ankle. Basic principles of injury management will also be discussed. * Dissections: Pig Heart, Sheep Brain Select from two starting times, 9:00 am or 10:15 am CT; elementary programs are 45 minutes, middle and high school programs are an hour; New Links members get a discounted rate | Non-members: $200 for virtual field trips; $225 for cadaver demos. SOCIAL STUDIES The Great Depression with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis on April 6, 2010. There hasn't been much talk about The Great Depression since, well, The Great Depression. We've heard the concerns and we've seen the confusion. What are the facts? David Wheelock of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis will discuss the Depression, from this country's deepest, darkest days to its escape into a sound and functioning economy. Teachers will receive a pre-conference lesson and a post-conference lesson from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis' publication, The Great Depression, and will receive a CD containing the entire curriculum. Students will become even more knowledgeable about this bleak historical period. This video conference will be offered at two different times on April 6: 9:00 a.m. CT and 10:30 a.m. CT. There is no cost for this videoconference. Registration deadline is March 26, 2010. For more information on the curriculum contact Mary Suiter, mary.c.suiter@stls.frb.org. To register your classroom contact Megan Moncure, rmorrison@csd.org. Trial by Wire: An ITV High School Project (9-12) Trial by Wire allows several v/c sites to try a murder case together. This project entails research by the students and their participation in a videoconference. They will simulate a court trial (taken from an actual state of Missouri court case). A librarian from the St. Louis County Library will act as judge and will help students research the case. Three classes from different schools are required to participate. One will act as the prosecution, one will be the defense, and one will be the jury. Here is the actual breakdown of the v/c: Please call with your requested date & time. This fits best with a block scheduling high school, but it is not required. If you want your class participate in a mock trial, or have questions about the program, contact Martha Bogart at mbogart@csd.org. STAFF DEVELOPMENT October 14, 2009: Superheroes & Princesses- The Effects of Media on Gender Identity Media is the vehicle of pop culture. Music, television, internet, video games, and movies spend billions of dollars to grab the attention of young people. In the meantime, these forms of media send powerful messages about what it means to be cool, attractive, and even male or female. Learn current research on the effects of media on gender roles from preschool to high school and how simple classroom discussions can help empower young people to understand their own gender identity. November 12, 2009: Autism Spectrum Disorders Autism is the third most common developmental disorder in the United States. It affects 1:150 individuals and its cause remains unknown. Research today is focused on early diagnosis and intervention. This 1 hour presentation will provide an overview of autism spectrum disorders, current controversies in the headlines, goals for symptom management, identification of available treatment options, and resources. January 14, 2010: You Did What?: Sexting, Cyberbullying, and Other High Risk Online Behavior Welcome to the “soda shop” of the next generation. Online isn’t just an entity, it’s the place to be (and be seen) for young people. When the desire for attention become risky, young people can find themselves in situations for which they aren’t adequately prepared. This presentation will discuss current trends in online behavior and what educators and parents can do to help young people be more pro-active online. February 11, 2010 Emotional Disturbance vs Social Maladjustment Teachers are often perplexed about the behaviors they see in their students and how to respond to them in an appropriate way. This 1 hour presentation will review the differences between students with an Emotional Disturbance and those with Social Maladjustment. Definitions and characteristics of each category will be discussed. Disorders under the ED category (depression, bipolar, anxiety) will be reviewed as well as interventions for the classroom. These will be compared to the disorders and interventions falling under Social Maladjustment (Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder). Treatment in the community will also be reviewed and compared. April 8, 2010: This Just In!: News Violence and the Effects on Young PeopleAround the clock, breaking news is a staple of our culture. We have more access to up-to-the-minute information now that ever before, and so do young people. So, when an event such at the Virginia Tech attack or the failing economy streams nonstop into the lives of young people, does it have an effect on them and their view of the world? Is it a public health concern? Learn when a bounty of information can become too much information, and the role of adults in building resilience in young people. STANDARDIZED TEST PREP The registration deadline for this interactive h323 videoconference course is Monday, December 13. Late registration run through December 18. If you register by the end of business on December 13, the course costs $140. If you register between December 14 through 18, the prices raises to $190 for the February ACT prep class. Saturday tests run 9:00 AM. Princeton Review SAT Prep Classes (10-12) Through 20 hours of instruction over interactive videoconference, students learn strategies and techniques based on actual test data and geared to produce higher score improvements, save time by focusing only on the test topics that impact their score the most, jumpstart their college applications with admissions, counseling designed to help them research and get into the best school for them, all from an instructor from The Princeton Review. Three proctored SAT practice tests afford students the opportunity to practice what they learn and track their improvement during the five week course. A computer-generated analysis of each practice test provides detailed information identifying strengths & weaknesses, allowing students & teachers to focus on the areas where students need to improve. Each student will also receive the Princeton Review SAT Student Manual, LiveGrader expert feedback on their essay, access to the Princeton Review Online Student Center, and extra lessons and drills available online. The registration deadline for this interactive h323 videoconference course is Tuesday, January 19. Late registration run through January 22. If you register by the end of business on January 19, the course costs $140. If you register between January 20 through 22, the prices raises to $190 for the March SAT prep class. Saturday tests run 9:00 AM. SAT Prep Course Forms and More Information: |
Mrs. McKissack will also post to her blog, sharing inspiration, techniques and research ideas. Students can read about her work and ask questions, as well as respond to her posts at Can You Imagine?: 
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Custom-designed writing videoconference for educators and/or students… This v/c is offered to give the most flexibility to planners & educators. Embedded in this program is total control over the content, the number of presentations, the issues and concerns most important to your district or schools, making your enrichment dollars pinpoint accurate at addressing your needs. Collaborative planning is one of the riches of this custom planning as it brings the element of support and professional development for the efforts of educators concerning writing. It is a real collaboration between educators and an author. To view some of the possibilities, visit Carolyn’s website for presentation options: 
Author Visit and Eggs-periments Videoconferences with 
Cooperating School Districts is pleased to have a partnership with author Barri Bumgarner! She will participate in several interactive videoconferences throughout the course of the year. We had Barri as a guest author last school year (see photo) and her program was extremely well received. To read more on Barri, visit her website: 
Review ACT Prep Classes (10-12) Through 20 hours of instruction over interactive videoconference, students learn concepts and skills to master the ACT, including revolutionary test-taking techniques and tactics specific to each section of the test, all from an instructor from The Princeton Review. Three real ACT practice tests afford students the opportunity to practice what they learn and track their improvement during the five week course. A computer-generated analysis of each practice test provides detailed information identifying strengths & weaknesses, allowing students & teachers to focus on the areas where students need to improve. |
New Links to New Learning To find more v/cs to further suit your curriculum needs, go here:
To read more about distance learning programs New Links to New Learning members participate in, visit the Virtual Learning Center blog, The Wired Classroom: www.csdtechpd.wordpress.com.
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