Stenhouse Newslinks
April 29, 2008
C O N T E N T S
1) Learning experiences that draw on children's love of nature
2) Six tips for making the most of IRA
3) Author Conversations: Wild, Mayeaux, and Edmonds, Part II
4) PD Corner: Digital collaboration tools
5) Think tank report urges new federal education initiatives
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1) Learning experiences that draw on children's love of nature
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"These approaches start from inside the child's world, recognizing children's inherent fascinations with nature and people, and then build from these starting points to create sturdy, community- valued knowledge. This is what I'm advocating for--an approach to education that simultaneously honors developing a child's love of the earth and developing a child's academic and social competence."
In his new book, Childhood and Nature, place-based education leader David Sobel describes how experiences in nature give children deeply rooted attitudes that fuel the pursuit of knowledge and a lasting commitment to environmental stewardship.
Sobel provides the tools--seven principles--that will guide you as you design learning opportunities that make such experiences
possible:
- Adventure
- Fantasy and Imagination
- Animal Allies
- Maps and Paths
- Special Places
- Small Worlds
- Hunting and Gathering
These principles are brought to life through a series of essays, each calling on one or more of the principles in describing vibrant programs or provocative curricula.
Childhood and Nature starts shipping this week, and you can preview the entire text online now:
http://www.stenhouse.com/0741.asp?r=n138
Childhood and Nature: Design Principles for Educators
David Sobel * 184 pp/paper * $17.50
http://www.stenhouse.com/0741.asp?r=n138
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2) Six tips for making the most of IRA
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Are you or a colleague attending the IRA Convention in Atlanta next week? Join us in the exhibit hall at Booth #1133 where you can browse our books and videos and meet our authors, including Janet Allen, Debbie Diller, Anne Goudvis, and Stephanie Harvey.
For details, including conference sessions with Stenhouse authors, follow this link:
http://www.stenhouse.com/html/news_78.htm?r=n138
Looking for ways to make your conference experience saner, more relaxed, and productive? Three Stenhouse authors who are veteran conference attendees and presenters share six tips for getting the most out of IRA or any large conference:
http://www.stenhouse.com/html/news_76.htm?r=n138
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3) Author Conversations: Wild, Mayeaux, and Edmonds, Part II
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What is the role of administrators in supporting effective teaming? In today's Author Conversations podcast, the authors of the new book TeamWork discuss the dynamics and benefits of a good administrator/team relationship:
http://www.stenhouse.com/html/teamers.htm?r=n138
Wondering how you can find the time to plan effective team teaching? Read about how Wild, Mayeaux, and Edmonds structure their planning time, stake out roles and balance ambitious teaching goals with their family lives:
http://www.stenhouse.com/html/news_77.htm?r=n138
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4) PD Corner: Digital collaboration tools
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"Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand."
--Chinese Proverb
Originally created for media specialists, WebTools4U2Use details practical collaboration tools that are ideal for teachers. See examples of how the tools can be used and get involved by adding stories and ideas of your own:
http://webtools4u2use.wikispaces.com/Webtools4U2Use
Need to share information? Social bookmarking sites like del.icio.us enable you to bookmark and categorize favorites.
Create a del.icio.us network to track and share faculty favorites, study topics, or even sites for student projects:
Kick it up a notch with Diigo, a site that combines social bookmarking with web annotation, and allows you to create groups, join conversations, and send messages. Start by importing bookmarks/favorites from your Web browser:
Drop.io, a digital drop box, allows users to upload files for others to pick up. With the option of password protection and no registration required, Drop.io provides private, accessible file sharing (up to 100MB) and even converts common media formats to make them easier to view online:
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5) Think tank report urges new federal education initiatives
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Last week the Forum for Education and Democracy, a think tank of progressive public education advocates, released "Democracy at Risk," a report that assesses the state of education in the U.S.
and recommends major changes in federal policy.
The report is critical of the current emphasis on mandates and sanctions and prescribes a new federal role in K-12 education, including sustained, practice-based professional development for teachers and leaders. You can access the report as well as the audio of the news conference held at the National Press Club:
http://www.stenhouse.com/rdforumreport.htm?r=n138
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