Thing 7 - Going deeper, search engines

So I've been checking out some other search engines besides my old stand-by, Google today. I liked the gigablast.com site and will try to remember to use it more often (how easy to form the always search google habit!)

Additionally, I created a Google custom search engine called Lindgren's search engine. I'm not entirely sure yet all the ways it will be helpful, but I'll keep you posted.

Finally, I continue to be amazed by all the Google products. Today I checked out http://knol.google.com/k and it looks pretty interesting. It is a way to communicate with experts in a particular area and I plan to explore it further when I have time. I found some interesting information on Napoleon Bonaparte in a cursory search this afternoon.

Thing 5 Libraries

Like a lot of teachers I've liked going to the library since I was a kid. I was brought up in rural northern Minnesota so going to the nearest public library in Grand Rapids was a treat. My sisters and I really looked forward to getting books from our local book-mobile up in Bigfork to supplement trips to the library.

As a 13 year resident of Chaska, I am a regular user of this public service. I've had a library card for a long time and a pin number for awhile. I've requested books and movies from other libraries with ease. The only caveat...is planning ahead a little if I need a resource for my classroom.

I have the MNLink on my classroom webpage and have encouraged my students to use it during past research projects.

Long live the public library system! :)

note taking

Happy New Year everyone! Well back at my classrooms we're neck-deep in the French Revolution. I'm wondering if any of you have any clever ideas to liven up note-taking. I've steered further and further away from the practice each year because it is boring for me too and I believe most students. Sometimes though it just seems like the best way to give students information.
With all of the creative teaching minds in the Metronet class, I'd love to hear from anyone who has clever ideas to liven up good old fashioned note taking. Thanks!

MELSA

I was really happy to be reminded of all the great resources available on Melsa.org last night at Metronet. My students are working on some biographical research and I was able to direct them to the Biography Resource Center for a great source of information today.

Here's the link if you missed it last night: http://find.galenet.com/menu/commonmenu.do?userGroupName=mnkvictoria

Blogging backlog

Wow! Are any of you like me and feeling a little behind in doing your "Thing" assignments? I've really lost lots of valuable Metronet time since my student teacher left!
I'm looking forward to our nice long break at Christmas to try to get a couple more of my things finished.
Happy holidays everyone!

Tagedu

I checked out a new search engine site that is supposed to be a helpful resource for teachers, it's called http://www.tagedu.com/
After a few attempts to find teaching resources related to "Louis XIV" and then "Versailles" and finally just "World History", I didn't receive ANY hits. I'm not convinced this is a particularly helpful site. I think I'll stick with Delicious for the time being.

Letter to our next president

Hi bloggers,

I got another great idea from the Free technology for teachers site and I thought I'd share. The idea is to have students write a letter to our next president identifying issues and concerns that the student feels are critical for our nation.

I typed up a rubric and gave students a sample letter today. I think the idea would work well in a Social Studies or Language Arts class.