It's the end of August and we are just a couple of days away from the start of school, although a few schools started last week.

Alberta Education has a number of resources available for parents and students called, Back to School Information Kit – 2009/2010.

Of special interest, you may be want to explore Information on Alberta's Curriculum or the Curriculum Handbooks for Parents or Curriculum Summaries

Here is the Schools Directory for Alberta in several different PDF files, depending on what you are looking for.

For teachers and administrators there is this page of resources called, Administrative Resources, Publications and Forms.

I hope this helps you this year. There is much more at the Alberta Education website as well.

Learn - Experience - Enjoy

Cheers - Mike

Here is stats research and compiled for Project Teen Canada by University of Lethbridge sociologist, Dr. Reginald Bibby.

An article called, Kids These Days - The Emerging Millennials, outlines some of the stats for you.

An excerpt:
90 Percentage of female teenagers who expect to stay with the same partner for life, 2008, up from 89% in 1992
95 Percentage of male teenagers who expect to have children in 2008, up from 83% in 1992
91 Percentage of female teenagers who expect to get married in 2008, up from 86% in 1992

There’s also the good news that teens hold much the same interpersonal values today as teens did in the 1980’s. Honesty, concern for others, courtesy, and forgiveness are still significantly important to teens. That alone should fill adults with hope for the future and make it all worthwhile.

The Edmonton Journal has a nice exploded pie-chart as well as some stats from the study. The page is called, School life better for kids than it's been in years.

So, congratulations teens! You are doing well.

That's all for now...

Cheers - Mike

I don't normally get into software for use in schools or for parents to help their children, but I was asked to do this review.

This is about spelling quiz software which parents and kids can use to help make spelling a fun activity.

The first one is called SpellQuizzer from http://www.SpellQuizzer.com. Dan Hite wrote me and he advises that, "I'm currently offering SpellQuizzer free to any educator who contacts me at http://www.SpellQuizzer.com/Contact.htm. An email address associated with an educational institution must be supplied to qualify."

Dan says, "I've developed an educational program for Windows called SpellQuizzer that helps students learn their spelling and vocabulary words. You set up the students' spelling lists in the software and then students practice their words with SpellQuizzer. It really greatly helped my own children with their weekly spelling lists."

The program is rated 5 of 5 at Windows Vista Software Archive and the installer is about 7.9MB is size and can be downloaded as a 30 day free trial.

----------------------------------

To be fair I must include other contenders in the spelling quiz arena. These programs, to all intents and purposes, do the same, but the presentation is different.

Here is one called, Spelling Made Simple, which is functionally like the one mentioned above, but is a higher price than the other programs. However before you can download the trial version you must enter your name and email address, which I wouldn't do. So this one will not be tested and compared.

The next one is called, Spelling Teacher and has the same features as the two mentioned above. The trial download is over 26MB is size which seems rather large for a reasonably simple program.

The next one is called, Spelling Test Practice and again does what the other ones do but a little differently. There are two versions and is the smallest download at approximately 1.23MB.

There is probably many more out there but these should get you started.

I have not tried any of these programs, so it is, as always, up to you as to whether it suits your needs and worth what you feel is right to pay.

Cheers - Mike

School has already started for some, and for the rest the magic date seems to be September 2nd. Good luck to all the students starting their new year. I hope your learning is fun, entertaining, relevant, challenging and productive.

Of course, social networking begins anew and texting will reign again.

That's all for now...

Will be back at it once everyone is back in school.

Cheers - Mike

You may wonder about the title of this blog post, but it is the title of a website for kids which has virtual field trips as video pod casts.

The description and links below are from the author, Donna W. Guthrie.

Directed at America’s school children, each show explores the world and its wonders from a child’s point of view. During each video pod cast a child host serves as tour guide, leading the viewer to historic and cultural sites. Each show includes a suggested reading list and a Learning Corner of follow-up activities for school children ages eight to twelve. 

From the author, Donna W. Guthrie, "Our new  episode on THE AMERICAN COWBOY features an interview with Bob Norris owner of the T Cross Ranch in Pueblo, Colorado. Mr. Norris talks about the history of the horse and his life as a modern-day cowboy. Our videos are posted on our website, Currki (http://www.curriki.org) and TeacherTube (http://www.teachertube.com)".

The main site is at www.meetmeatthecorner.org, where the videos are also hosted.

I visited the main site and found the videos short and well edited. Good learning.

Cheers - Mike

The Internet has tons of informational blogs and wikis that are useful for teachers. Most of these sites are designed by teachers and provide some of the most up-to-date information on education and educational technology. Here is a list of 25 blogs and wikis for teachers to explore:

So You Want To Teach - This blog offers teachers practical information for becoming a better teacher while impacting students lives in positive ways. Within this blog, teachers can find helpful hints, tips, and articles for successful teaching.

I Want to Teach Forever - I Want to Teach Forever provides useful information, ideas, and inspiration for use inside and outside of the classroom. Postings on this educational blog include lesson plans, articles, and useful information for increasing productivity and organizing your life.

The Cool Cat Teacher - Created by Vicki Davis, a self proclaimed technology geek, The Cool Cat Teacher Blog provides information about teaching through high-tech online tools. Visitors of this blog will also find a podcast, presentations, and wiki information.

Teachers 2.0 - Teachers 2.0 is an online community of educators working together to educate students in the digital age. This blog works towards educating teachers to make a difference in student's lives through technology.

Free Technology for Teachers - This blog reviews free online technology resources for the classroom. Teachers can also use this site to get education technology ideas.

Teacher Tech Blog - Updated weekly, Teacher Tech Blog is a great resource for teachers to find ideas, articles, and technology for use in the classroom.

Teaching Challenges - Teaching Challenges is an online blog that offers technology resources for use in education. This blog features a podcast, tech tips, classroom resources, and much more.

Successful Teaching - This blog provides information and ideas for creating a successful teaching environment for all grade levels and areas. Within this blog, teachers can find information on using technology, educational regulations, teaching information, and other helpful resources.

Technology Teacher - Teacher Technology is a blog created for teachers looking to incorporate technology into their classrooms and lives. The blog features technology resources for Twitter, wikis, Google apps, and much more.

The Teacher Toolbox - The Teacher Toolbox is an educational blog that provides tech information to teachers. This blog features articles and tips on everything from 3D software to writing.

Second Life in Education - Second Life in Education is an educational wiki that provides information about the educational uses of the virtual world Second Life.

TeachPaperless - This blog is designed to help teachers move their classrooms into the digital world. TeachPaperless posts regularly on aspects of digital, paperless, and technology in relation to education.

Joel Zehring - Joel Zehring, a sixth grade teacher, has an educational blog that helps teachers find edutech resources. This blog provides useful information about wiki's, learning tools, and increasing productivity through free online tools.

On Blogging and Social Media - This blog provides useful resources for educators who want to start using blogging and social media to enhance their life in and out of the classroom.

Teacher in a Strange Land - Teacher in a Strange Land is a blog from a 30-year teaching veteran. The blog provides useful information on books, ed policy, effective teaching, games, music, technology, and more.

Remote Access - Remote Access is a blog that provides teachers with articles and presentations about classroom 2.0 and its possibilities in learning. This blog also features an educational wiki with slideshares, digital handouts, recordings, and other educational resources.

Twitter4Teachers Wiki - This wiki is designed to help educators seek out and find other educators who are currently using Twitter.

Teaching Hacks.com - This blog and wiki provides teachers with valuable resources that can be used within the classroom or for professional development. Teaching Hacks.com features information about collaboration, conferences, curriculum ideas, internet safety, leading learning, and much more.

Open Educator - Open Educator is a blog that offers information on integrating technology into the classroom. The blog features useful information specifically for educators on blogging, interactive whiteboards, mobile technology, problem-based learning, and web 2.0.

The Open Classroom - The Open Classroom is a blog created by Jo McLeay, a member of the Victorian Information Technology Association. The blog reflects on several aspects of learning, teaching, and technology.

Teach 42 - This blog provides useful tips and resources to help teachers integrate technology in the classroom.

The Tech Savvy Educator - The Tech Savvy Educator is made up of a community of educators looking to provide a practical guide that teachers can use to effortlessly introduce technology into their classroom. This community shares a passion for technology that they hope to offer to other technology loving teachers.

Dynamite Lesson Plan -This blog provides reviews, resources, and discussion for classroom management and teacher education. The Dynamite Lesson Plan offers several categories and discussions on everything from assessment in education to the teaching profession.

EduTech Wiki - The EduTech Wiki is a great resource for education technology research and teaching. This wiki provides teachers with resources, tools, and information to use inside and outside the classroom.

Teaching with Thinking and Technology - This wiki was created to provide teachers and students with resources and ideas for using the web more effectively for education. Within this wiki teachers can find information on blogs, digital portfolios, exploring web 2.0 apps, and podcasting.

Guest post from education writer Karen Schweitzer. Karen is the About.com Guide to Business School. She also writes for OnlineClasses.org.