August 2003 Newsletter

Edited by teacher, speaker and author Marjan Glavac.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary August 15
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Thank you for all those of you who participated in my Busy Educator’s Reader
Survey.  I have started to implement some of your suggestions.  As soon as I
compile the results of the Reader Survey, I’ll post them on my website.

For most of us heading back to school in the upcoming weeks, I’ve included some useful websites for that big first day, and a software and book review with some math materials that you may find useful.
 
Thank you very much!


Marjan Glavac
editor, The Busy Educator's Newsletter
http://www.thebusyeducator.com/
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To subscribe to The Busy Educator's Newsletter please e-mail me at:
marjan@glavac.com with subscribe in the subject line. To unsubscribe please e-mail me at: marjan@glavac.com with unsubscribe in
the subject line. ************************************************************************
For information on my keynote “Burn Bright or Burn Out- Motivating Teachers for Life” on how teachers can attain their goals, manage information overload and do what it takes to be a great teacher, call toll free: 1-877-244-3156 or send an e-mail to: mailto:marjan@glavac.com

Thank you for your continued support.
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In This Issue:

* BACK TO SCHOOL K-12
* TEACHING IS A WORK OF HEART GR. K-4
* BOOK REVIEW: MATH TIES:  PROBLEM SOLVING, LOGIC TEASERS,
   MATH PUZZLES, ALL “TIED” TO THE MATH CURRICULUM GR. 4-8
* SOFTWARE REVIEW: FLASHMASTER GR. 3-6
* REAL ENGLISH ONLINE
* CLASSROOM DISPLAYS AND BULLETIN BOARDS K-8
* ALEXA’S KIDBOOKS K-5
* MRS. ESPOSITO'S KINDERGARTEN CLASS
* HALF PRICE SALE OF THE BUSY EDUCATOR’S GUIDE TO THE WWW
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BOOK REVIEW: MATH TIES:  PROBLEM SOLVING, LOGIC TEASERS,
MATH PUZZLES, ALL “TIED” TO THE MATH CURRICULUM GR. 4-8

by Terri Husted

Math teacher Terri Husted has written two books for grades 4-6 (Book A1) and
for grades 6-8(Book B1)to help students develop more proficiency in the use of
problem-solving strategies.Each book contains detailed teacher instructions on
choosing problems, getting started, class discipline, steps to problem solving and student worksheets.  Topics covered include:whole numbers, fractions, pre-algebra, geometry, number theory, sets, probability, logic, topology, measurement conversion (Book A1), decimals, percents, ratios (Book A1), exponents (Book B1), Algebra (Book B1) and proportion (Book B1).

What I found extremely helpful were the number of problem-solving strategies,
the mix of problems and the detailed answers.  Another great tool to have in your
teacher’s toolkit for teaching of mathematics.
 
Check out Terri Husted’s website and read her philosophy of teaching and
teaching math based on over twenty years of experience:

A Homepage for New (And Not So New) Math Teachers
http://people.clarityconnect.com/webpages/terri/terri.html

For book ordering information, go to: http://www.criticalthinking.com/index.html
or call 1-800-458-4849
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SOFTWARE REVIEW: FLASHMASTER GR. 3-6
http://www.flashmaster.com

One very valuable lesson that teaching has taught me over the years is that there
is no “one size fits all” way to teach.  Nowhere I have found this to be more true
than in the teaching of math facts i.e. addition, subtraction, multiplication and
division.  Over the years, I have used computer software and websites, minute
math sheets, flashcards, individual and team games and anything else I can use
that works. 

Something new to use is The FlashMaster.  The FlashMaster is a lightweight
(11 ounce), handheld, easy to use electronic device that has an incredible number of features to help students with their math facts including: 6 learning activities, 8 per activity time limits, 10 per problem time limits, 9 levels and 10 or more tables for each of its 4 arithmetic operations, 3 problem formats, ability to
practice the 15 most recently missed problems, a very useful guide for teachers
and parents and more.  Comes with a 60 day money back guarantee, special
school pricing and discounts.

The FlashMaster is another tool in the teacher’s toolkit that will help students
ages 7 and up with their math facts in a fun, engaging and challenging way.  It
will also make the teaching of math facts just that bit easier to teach.

For more information on ordering, pricing and discounts, go to their website at:
http://www.flashmaster.com or call 1-800-884-3531
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BACK TO SCHOOL
http://www.educationworld.com/back_to_school/index.shtml

Linda Starr, Currrriculum/Technology Editor for Education World has given
permission to include these wonderful resources for Busy Educator subscribers.
You’ll find Icebreaker Activities, Preparing for the First Day, Ideas for All Year,
The Homework Dilemma, First-Year Teachers Only!, Don’t Forget the Substitute
Teacher and More Great Ideas for the New School Year.

Thank you Linda!
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TEACHING IS A WORK OF HEART GR. K-4
http://www.teachingheart.net/

Here's a site with so many resources, that it should be bookmarked in a special
place in your browser and viewed as many times as possible during the school year.  With over 21 links to resources, tips and suggestions, this is one site where you want to pace yourself . 

The Back to School, Rubrics and Graphic Organizers Link and Classroom
Management links alone merit a couple of hours to view the printable handouts
and read all the tips and resources.

Although Teaching is a Work of Heart emphasizes the primary grades, much
of the information is useful to other grades as well.  This is one site that will
make your school year easier all year long.
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REAL ENGLISH ONLINE
http://www.real-english.com/password.htm

Real English Online Videos guide beginners, intermediates, and more advanced students in a functional/grammatical learning experience through London, New York, Dublin, Atlanta, and dozens of other towns and cities throughout the English-speaking world, especially in the USA. This ambitious project is excellent for both classes and individuals.

Free password at http://www.real-english.com/password.htm
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CLASSROOM DISPLAYS AND BULLETIN BOARDS K-8
http://home.bellsouth.net/personalpages/PWP-bbindex 

Looking for a bulletin board idea for back to school or a particular theme,
season or month of the year?  This is the place to begin your search!
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ALEXA’S KIDBOOKS K-5
http://www.abramsnet.com/kidbooks/index.html

A family website with reading suggestions from mom and their 7 year old son.
There are detailed reviews of their favorite books along with links to some of
their favorite related websites.  Great description of their participation in
the Flat Stanley Project.
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MRS. ESPOSITO'S KINDERGARTEN CLASS
http://www.hf.ecisd.net/esposito/index.htm

Read about what Barbara Esposito’s Kindergarten class at Highland Forest
Elementary School in San Antonio, Texas, USA are doing. Learn about their
wonderful Internet project called "Project Kinderact."
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HALF PRICE SALE OF THE BUSY EDUCATOR’S GUIDE TO THE WWW
http://www.thebusyeducator.com/

As a valued reader of the Busy Educator's Newsletter, I've really appreciated your support and positive feedback.  That's why I want to acknowledge your support by making The Busy Educator's Guide To The World Wide Web 2nd Edition (foreword by Dr. Harry Wong, author of The First Days of School) available for just $7.47 US/$9.97 CDN (plus shipping and handling) --that's a 50% savings off the regular price of $14.95 US/$19.95 CDN for 
readers of the newsletter. 

TO ORDER:

Call TOLL-FREE  877-244-3156 (Please mention this offer when ordering)
FAX 519-473-5549
E-mail mailto: marjan@glavac.com  (Put BOOK in the subject line)
Visit the website at: http://www.thebusyeducator.com/
Mail to:  NIMA Systems 509 Commissioners Rd. W.
Suite 317, LONDON, Ontario Canada N6J 1Y5
           
p.s. offer not to be used with any other discount or promotion
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Permission to repost this newsletter is granted as long as the link
http://www.thebusyeducator.com/ is included.  Thank you for your support.
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Mr. Marjan Glavac author “The Busy Educator's Guide To The World
Wide Web” Completely Revised and Updated 2ND Edition (Foreword by
Dr. Harry Wong) LONDON, Ontario Canada ISBN 0-9683310-1-7 200 pages
<mailto:marjan@glavac.com>
FREE subscription to The Busy Educator's Newsletter http://www.thebusyeducator.com/
“There are no boundaries for the journeys of the mind.”
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