* NEW * SIMULATING CONGRESSIONAL ACTION IN THE CLASSROOM

During The Dirksen Center's annual Congress in the Classroom® workshop --
http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_programs_CongressClassroom.htm ---
participants are asked to introduce the lesson plans, resources, and techniques
that have proven successful in teaching about Congress in their classrooms. A
2009 participant, Dennis J. Duffy, Libertyville High School, Libertyville,
Illinois, presented a lesson entitled, Simulating Congressional Action in the
Classroom.

After completing this lesson, students will have a practical understanding of
the congressional system of committees and floor action. Students also will have
engaged directly in informal negotiations with fellow student-legislators in
order to get legislation passed.

Find Simulating Congressional Action in the Classroom at:
http://www.congresslink.org/print_lp_simulatecongaction.htm

Cindy Koeppel
ckoeppel@...

The Dirksen Congressional Center
2815 Broadway
Pekin, IL 61554
http://www.dirksencongressionalcenter.org

Hi Everyone!

Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year 5770, begins
Friday night, September 18, 2009.

The Jewish Trivia Quiz
http://www.jewish-trivia.com
has 55 multiple choice questions about Rosh Hashana.

Which special prayer is said in the days before Rosh Hashana ?
Which group of foods is customary to eat on Rosh Hashana ?
What are the other three names of Rosh Hashana ?
How many times is the shofar sounded during Rosh Hashana ?
Which food is customary NOT to eat on Rosh Hashana ?

The above questions are examples from the multiple choice
Flash quiz. There are two levels of questions and two timer
settings. Adults and children will find The Jewish Trivia Quiz
entertaining and educational.

Rosh Hashana Clipart
http://www.j.co.il
Whether you need a picture for your child's class project,
a graphic for your synagogue, Hillel or JCC New Year
announcement, the Jewish Clipart Database has the pictures
for you. You can copy, save and print the graphics in
three different sizes.

Rosh Hashana Cool Videos
http://www.jr.co.il/videos/rosh-hashana-videos.htm

I created a list of 84 cool Rosh HaShana videos.
There is something for everyone.

The list includes:
Shana tova! Ma chadash, Tapuach Im Dvash Animation
Shana Tova (Hebrew remix of muppets song)
The Four Traditional Shofar Blasts
Rosh Hashanah Girl
Shana Tova from Tijuana
Rosh Hashana: Sticky 'n Sweet New Year
Happy New Year for Jewish Mothers
Head of the Year (Rosh HaShana Mix)
Rosh Hashana Rap
Prepare for Rosh Hashanah-Elul JewU
WebYeshiva: Blowing the Shofar in Elul
Rosh HaShana Foods - Sephardi style
Shana Tova Song - Parpar Nechmad (with Ofra Haza)
Bashana Haba'ah - Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme
Bashana Haba'a in Yiddish
The Alexandria Kleztet - Bashana Haba'a (from Chile)
Kol Ish - BaShana HaBa'ah
   and many more.....

To learn more about Rosh Hashana , I posted on my website
84 links ranging from laws and customs to games and recipes.
Site languages include English,  Hebrew, French, German, Italian,
Portugese, Russian and Spanish.
All 84 links have been reviewed / checked this week.
http://www.jr.co.il/hotsites/j-hdayrh.htm

Last but not least, the revised 3 Year Jewish Holiday Calendar
is located at:
http://www.jr.co.il/calendar.htm

For best printed results use the Acrobat PDF file.
When printing the PDF file use the print option "fit to print margins".

Please share this message with your friends and relatives.
Thanks!

Enjoy!
Shana Tova - Have a Good Year!
Jacob

David Rohl's special TV program 'Pharaohs & Kings' was FINALLY remastered &
re-released last September, and there are only 5 copies left!
GREAT for history teachers and (older) students.
You can order both 'Pharaohs & Kings' and the David Rohl seminar shot in Florida
('Myth or Reality') here:
http://stretchproductions.com/RohlProducts.html
David Rohl video SAMPLES in the center of the page:
http://www.youtube.com/StretchProductions
Thanks!
-Cami McCraw
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/newchronology/

My name is Noa and I am new here. I'm interning this summer with the Education
Department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City (which thus far
has been an wonderful experience.) We have begun a Webinars program for
educators that you might find interesting and worth sharing. The live
interactive online program is designed for teachers of all disciplines
interested in learning more about art and ways they can integrate it into their
classroom environment.


If you would like more information contact teachers@... or call
(212)570-3985.

Hi Everyone!

I scanned and posted on my website the new Israeli stamps
that were issued in June 2009.
I included the stamp itself, the first day cover,
and an English and a Hebrew flyer about the stamp.

- Quality of the Environment

Global Warming
Solar Energy
Geothermal Energy

- The Dead Sea

- 50 Years - The International Harp Contest in Israel

- 18th Maccabiah

- Love

The new stamps are located at:
http://www.jr.co.il/pictures/stamps/index-2009.html

The top of the web page should display the date June 25, 2009.
If the page has an older date, hold the control key and press
the F5 key to refresh your browser with the updated page.

Enjoy!

Shabbat Shalom,
Jacob

The Innovative Teaching Newsletter
Volume 11, Issue 9 - Top Online Educators 2009
Topic: Iditarod

"A new age demands a new paradigm!" -Walter McKenzie

This month's we honor 2009's Top Online Educators. Consider the
possibilities.....

http://surfaquarium.com/TOE/2009/

Walter McKenzie
The One and Only Surfaquarium
http://surfaquarium.com
walter@...

The Innovative Teaching Newsletter is free to educators everywhere.
Copyright ©2009 http://surfaquarium.com/NEWSLETTER/

The newsletter may be forwarded, copied and distributed provided the
header and signature information remain intact.

Teach ESL English on Twitter
http://twitter.com/StudyESLEnglish

Recent Twitter Updates features definitions, examples and links.

Welcome to Study ESL English - ESL stands for English as a Second Language -
this includes speaking writing listening and reading

ESL students usually study and practice English as a language for communication
and to improve their active abilities to use the language.

EFL stands for English as a Foreign Language - Many students study EFL as an
academic subject & not for using English for communication

Introduction to descriptions definitions explanations: ESL EFL ISL ESOL ELT L1
L2 Go to: http://www.eslincanada.com/esl.html

English Language Conversation Skills require language ability + content +
(social + non-verbal communication skills) + culture knowledge.

Phrases are considered as the 2nd level of classification as they tend to be
larger than individual words, but are smaller than sentences.

We refer to the central element in a phrase as the head of the phrase. If the
head is a noun then the phrase is called a noun phrase

There are 9 accepted classifications for English language phrases generally
based on the headword or construction of the phrase.

In the English language noun phrases may serve as subjects, direct objects,
indirect objects, or objects of prepositions.

Remember Study ESL English is free on Twitter

See all of the updates

Sign up today !!!

I am looking for book suggestions and also activities to do with a western theme
or tall tales. I am teaching a reading class this summer to 1-3rd grade students
and need some ideas that revolve around language arts. I have 10 2 hr blocks to
work with.

Thanks for your suggestions in advance !


Janice

Hi Everyone!

I created a new section on my website called
Hebrew Tongue Twisters
http://www.jr.co.il/hebrew/tt.htm

There are 3 pages of Hebrew tongue twisters and a
Hebrew tongue twister story.
The Hebrew text includes nikud [vowels].
There is also an English translation for each Hebrew tongue twister.

Feedback is welcome!

Enjoy!
Shavua Tov - Have a good week,
Jacob

Hello everyone. I created a website http://kidsedwebsites.com for my students to
use for enrichment at home and during computer center time at school. Every day
I review and link an interactive educational website for kids. I select quality
educational website activities that are more meaningful than drill or arcade
style games. Most of the websites are for kids ages 8 to 14, but some are great
for kids of all ages. Enjoy!

Laurie

Hi Everyone!

I scanned and posted on my website the new Israeli stamps
that were issued in April 2009.
I included the stamp itself, the first day cover,
and an English and a Hebrew flyer about the stamp.

- Israeli Music (12 stamps)

Ofra Haza, Uzi Hitman, Arik Lavie, Ehud Manor
Zohar Argov, Sasha Argov, Meir Ariel, Yossi Banai
Shoshana Damari, Moshe Wilensky, Yair Rosenblum,
Naomi Shemer

- Memorial Day 2009

- Polish Year in Israel - Souvenir Sheet

- International Year of Astronomy 2009

The new stamps are located at:
http://www.jr.co.il/pictures/stamps/index-2009.html

Shabbat Shalom,
Jacob

Hi Everyone!

I uploaded a new Learn Hebrew video to the Internet.
The topic of the new video is Clothing and Accessories.

The address is:
http://www.my-hebrew-dictionary.com/videos.htm

The updated page also contains past videos that I uploaded.

Feedback is welcome.

Please forward this message to anyone that may be interested
in learning Hebrew. Thank you!

Have a good day,
Jacob
http://www.jr.co.il
http://twitter.com/jacobrichman

Hi Everyone!

Jerusalem Day is celebrated on the 28th of the Hebrew month
of Iyar. This year (5769 / 2009) the day falls on Friday, May 22nd.
To avoid conflict with Shabbat, celebrations will take place on
Thursday, May 21st.

The Jewish Trivia Quiz
http://www.jewish-trivia.com
has over 100 multiple choice questions about Jerusalem.

Who built the first temple ?
How many people were involved in constructing the first temple ?
What are the colors of the Jerusalem Beitar soccer team ?
Which animal is on the emblem of the Municipality of Jerusalem ?
What three Jewish holidays is Jerusalem the focal point ?
How long ago was Jerusalem established ?
On what mountain was King David buried ?
How high is Jerusalem above sea level ?
What is the name of the famous art school in Jerusalem ?
What is the length of the wall surrounding the old city ?
When was Hebrew University established ?
Which group defended Jerusalem in 1948 ?
How many open gates does the old city of Jerusalem have ?
What is the name of the largest shopping mall in Jerusalem ?
Who was the first mayor of Jerusalem ?
What was Jerusalem called in the days of Abraham our patriarch ?

The above questions are examples from the multiple choice
Flash quiz. There are two levels of questions and two timer
settings. Adults and children will find The Jewish Trivia Quiz
entertaining and educational.

To learn more about Jerusalem, I have posted on my website
172 links, ranging from history and tourism to photographs and
stamps. All 172 links have been reviewed and checked this week.

The web address is:

http://www.jr.co.il/hotsites/i-jer.htm

Enjoy!
Jacob

* NEW LESSON PLAN *

MOCK SENATE SIMULATION

During our annual Congress in the Classroom® workshop --
http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_programs_CongressClassroom.htm --
participants are asked to introduce the lesson plans, resources, and techniques
that have proven successful in teaching about Congress in their classrooms.  A
2003 participant, Martha McIntosh, Dana Hills High School, Dana Point CA,
presented a lesson entitled, "Mock Senate Simulation."

This lesson will provide students with an opportunity to research a particular
senator and write a bill.  They also will select party leaders and learn to
strategize in a party caucus.  Students will work in a committee, practice
reciprocity, and conduct mark-up negotiations.  They will learn parliamentary
procedure and special Senate rules.  Legislative lingo will also be introduced. 
They will participate in a mock Senate activity where they will assume the
identity of their researched senator and use persuasive skills to pass their
bill.  They will also formally oppose one bill during floor debate.  Finally,
they will participate in one filibuster, invoke cloture, and attempt a discharge
petition.

Find Mock Senate Simulation at: 
http://www.congresslink.org/print_lp_mocksenatesimulation.htm


Cindy Koeppel
ckoeppel@...

The Dirksen Congressional Center
2815 Broadway
Pekin, IL 61554
http://www.dirksencongressionalcenter.org

Nominations are now being accepted through Saturday, May 22, 2009 to honor this
school year's Top Online Educators!

This recognition is intended to be from educators to the best and brightest
among us online. I am seeking out innovators who have done on outstanding job of
furthering education online, through instructional web sites, student-centered
online projects, or through the online publication of work that advances the
profession in a significant way.

You can view past year's honorees at http://surfaquarium.com/TOE/

Please submit your nomination of a colleague who truly personifies the spirit of
this honor at http://surfaquarium.com/TOE/nomination.htm

If you can not use the online form, feel free to email your nomination to
walter@... including:

-the full name, title and email address of your nominee
-the URL(s) for which they are responsible, and
-the ways in which their work has made a difference

Looking forward to receiving your nominations!

Walter McKenzie
The One and Only Surfaquarium
http://surfaquarium.com
walter@...

The 2009 Surfaquarium Top Online Educator Awards ~
Recognizing Our Colleagues Who Are Making A Difference!

Nominations are now being accepted through Saturday, May 22, 2009 to
honor this school year's Top Online Educators.

This recognition is intended to be from educators to the best and
brightest among us online. I am seeking out innovators who have done
on outstanding job of furthering education online, through
instructional web sites, student-centered online projects, or through
the online publication of work that advances the profession in a
significant way. You can view past year's honorees at
http://surfaquarium.com/TOE/

Not sure who may qualify? Consider these 2008 honorees:

Darren Draper
Technology Specialist
Jordan School District
Sandy, Utah
http://openpd.wikispaces.com/
Darren Draper has started Open Professional Development or Open PD. He is
teaching social software by using social software tools, such as wikis, blogs,
rss, and Google Docs. He teaches a traditional PD course at his school while
also broadcasting the class on U Stream complete with a chat room while
co-teacher, Robin Ellis, and other online participants Skype in to join the
class discussion. I joined in during the second session. It met once a week for
5 weeks. Next week I'll continue my learning with session 3. It's been a very
beneficial class and it's free. It's designed for newbies but all are welcome
and the teachers experienced with web2.0 tools add a great dimension to the
class. I feel Darren is doing a great job to improve professional development of
teachers. Be sure to check out his video explaining Open PD on his drapestakes
blog.

John Pederson
Instructional Technology and Curriculum Coordinator
Cooperative Educational Service Agency #3
Fennimore, Wisconsin
http://www.ijohnpederson.com/
John is truly passionate about assisting teachers and students to find the right
curriculum and online technology tools to facilitate the learning process.
Students and teachers are extremly motivated and engaged with John's educational
technology guidance as a whole. Educators, students and myself (as a Technology
Director) have personally made comments reflecting on John's teaching practices,
that have made lasting impressions with the importance of life long and self
directed learning as a key element to improve educational system. John has truly
placed himself in an area for the most potential- making lasting positive
impacts with students, teachers and colleagues!

Fernanda Rodrigues
EFL Teacher
Escola Secundria de Sebastio da Gama
Setubal, Portugal
http://www.prof2000.pt/users/mfr/
Fernanda is an extremely efficient online Educator. She has taught many EFL
teachers how to use new technologies/technological tools as a means of
facilitating communication not just in class but through the Internet. She keeps
updated and likes to share her knowledge with other people. I learned very much
with Fernanda, whom I do not know personally but that does not prevent me from
admiring her work and dedication. She is a good user of such technologies and
contributes to the implementation of ICT in Language teaching thus fostering her
students' development of a deep sense of belonging.

Eric White
English Teacher
Lakeland Regional High School
Wanaque, New Jersey
http://www.blogsandbooks.com
Our English Department is fortunate to have Eric White as a member. Eric is
enthusiastic in his teaching and has integrated technology into his teaching on
a daily basis by incorporating blogging with his students. Eric epitomizes the
new professional in the education field. His exciting method of teaching English
with the added features of technology has brought new energy to our high school.
Not only is Eric satisfied with using technology in his classroom he has
generously offered to train our staff on the advantages and use of blogs in
their classrooms. Erics expertise in blogging has evolved into a business site;
however Eric offers his services and the use of his site free to the Lakeland
district. District wide Eric has conducted workshops on blogging and offers his
time and knowledge to help individual teachers experience the benefit of
blogging with their students.

Please submit your nomination of a colleague who truly personifies the spirit of
this honor at http://surfaquarium.com/TOE/nomination.htm

If you can not use the online form, feel free to email your nomination
to walter@... including:

-the full name, title and email address of your nominee
-the URL(s) for which they are responsible, and
-the ways in which their work has made a difference

Looking forward to receiving your nominations!

Walter McKenzie
The One and Only Surfaquarium
http://surfaquarium.com
walter@...

Preparing For Your Student Teaching Experience (part 2)
By Frank Holes, Jr. and Dr. Peter Manute

This is the second in a series of articles designed for college
interns getting ready for their student-teaching experience. Student
teaching is the final step for most teaching programs, and having a
positive experience is vital for new teachers. This series of
articles will provide many ideas, tips, and suggestions for young
educators to make the most of the experience.

Being an intern is an interesting position to be in. The university
treats you as a student, making you jump through hoops completing
projects and meeting deadlines sometimes seeming totally irrelevant
to the internship. The school district you are working in expects you
to be a professional educator with all the secrets of innovation and
new technologies fresh from the university 'think tank'. Parents
think of you as someone who really doesn't know what they are doing
yet and don't understand why you are practicing on their kids. They
are always quick to point out their perceptions of student teachers
when a problem arises about grades or behavior.

Hopefully I will provide you with some practical information
presented in a no-nonsense form.

First and foremost, make sure all of your personal chores and plans
are in order before you begin your assignment. Once you start it is
vital to focus all of your energy and time into your placement.
Secure your housing well in advance and establish a routine of daily
tasks. Plan to arrive at school early and plan to stay late. Student
teaching is absolutely relentless; you will be exhausted after your
first day. The mental and physical strain is unbelievable. Make sure
all of your details are taken care of in advance; you don't want
anything to interfere with your teaching. Do create some time for
yourself or you will self-destruct. You need to keep your mind clear
in order to make effective teacher decisions. Plan to have some time
each day for your self - it may only be a few minutes, but it is very
important. You may think you don't need it, but all veteran teachers
will tell you differently.

Secondly, be a sponge. You are new to the profession and regardless
of how well your university has prepared you, nothing measures up to
being on your own in a classroom. When the door shuts for the first
time you will know what I am talking about. Glean as much from your
mentor and other teachers as possible, and by all means, don't come
across as an expert.

You have not paid your dues and therefore you are really not an
expert at anything. Learn from your observations and reflections;
don't be afraid to make mistakes. As you progress and you become more
effective, take risks and try different methodologies and teaching
strategies. By all means keep in close contact with your mentor and
always remember - no surprises. Ask questions before you do
something; your mentor knows the ropes and will offer excellent
advice. Make it your responsibility to learn the routines and
specifics of the district and building you are working in. Don't rely
on someone to tell you; find out on your own, take the initiative.
You can learn many things from both effective and ineffective
teachers. Unless asked, keep your opinions to yourself, being new and
having all the energy of youth will be a threat to some, so tread
lightly.

If there is any down time in your room, ask your mentor for tasks to
accomplish. Help out anywhere you can. Ask to take on something
difficult and work with your mentor to accomplish it. Save as many
artifacts as possible and use them in your professional portfolio.
Creative lesson plans and examples of student work are excellent
things to have. Ask for feedback and listen and process. Create an
open dialog with your mentor; remember that is the person who will be
called first when a district wants to know about you. Your mentor
will be able to talk about strengths and weaknesses, so what do you
want to them to say about you?

Finally, enter the internship with the idea there will be a teaching
opening that you will be qualified for in the very building you are
student teaching. Create positive relationships with staff, parents,
and students. You do that by demonstrating professional behavior.
When your internship is completed you want everyone to say - "We
would really like to have you become part of our team!" Prove to
people that you are the type of teacher that would be a perfect fit
for their district.

School districts are looking for candidates who are 'low maintenance'
teachers who can come into their buildings and have an immediate
impact. Confidence, solid work ethic, and exemplary professional
dispositions are words you want people to use to describe you. Your
internship is an excellent place to begin!

Be sure to check out our website for the FREE teacher Who-I-Want-To-
Be plan. Simply click the following link:
http://www.starteaching.com/free.htm

Interested in FREE writing activities you can print out and use
immediately in your classroom? Simply click the following link to our
writing page: http://www.starteaching.com/writing.htm

-------------
For this article, and more on teaching and education, be sure to check
out our website:
http://www.starteaching.com

Frank Holes, Jr. is the editor of the StarTeaching website and the
bi-monthly newsletter, Features for Teachers. Check out our latest
issue at:
http://www.starteaching.com/Features_for_Teachers_5apr1.htm

You can contact Frank at:
editor@...

Check out Frank's new book, Year of the Dogman at:
http://www.dogman07.com

Shalom.

Holocaust Remembrance Day is Tuesday, April 21, 2009.
I posted on my website 167 links to learn about the Holocaust.
Site languages include English, Hebrew, French, German,
Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
All 167 links have been reviewed / checked this week.

The web address is:

http://www.jr.co.il/hotsites/j-holoc.htm

The top of the page should display the 2009 date.
If the page has an older date, hold the control key and press
the F5 key to refresh your browser with the updated page.

Please forward this message to relatives and friends,
so they may benefit from these educational resources.

We must not forget.

Jacob

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION: CONGRESS IN THE CLASSROOM 2009

* Deadline: April 15, 2009 *

Congress in the Classroom is a national, award-winning education program now in
its 17th year. Developed and sponsored by The Dirksen Congressional Center, the
workshop is dedicated to the exchange of ideas and information on teaching about
Congress.

We designed Congress in the Classroom for high school or middle school teachers
who teach U.S. history, government, civics, political science, or social
studies. Forty teachers will be selected in 2009 to take part in the program.
All online applications must be received by no later than April 15, 2009. We
will notify individuals of our decisions by April 30, 2009.

Although the workshop will feature a variety of sessions, the 2009 program will
focus on two themes:  (1) developments in the 111th Congress, and (2) new
resources for teaching about Congress. The workshop consists of two types of
sessions: those that focus on recent research and scholarship about Congress
(and don't always have an immediate application in the classroom) and those
geared to specific ways to teach students about the federal legislature.

Throughout the program, you will work with subject matter experts as well as
colleagues from across the nation. This combination of firsthand knowledge and
peer-to-peer interaction will give you new ideas, materials, and a
professionally enriching experience.

"Until now so much of what I did in my class on Congress was straight
theory-this is what the Constitution says," noted one of our teachers. "Now I
can use these activities and illustrations to help get my students involved in
the class and at the very least their community but hopefully in the federal
government. This workshop has given me a way to help them see how relevant my
class is and what they can do to help make changes in society."

The 2009 workshop will be held Monday, July 27 - Thursday, July 30, at Embassy
Suites, East Peoria, Illinois.

The program is certified by the Illinois State Board of Education for up to 22
Continuing Education Units. The program also is endorsed by the National Council
for the Social Studies.

Participants are responsible for (1) a non-refundable $155 registration fee
(required to confirm acceptance after notice of selection) and (2)
transportation to and from Peoria, Illinois. Many school districts will pay all
or a portion of these costs.

The Center pays for three nights lodging at the headquarters hotel (providing a
single room for each participant), workshop materials, local transportation, all
but three meals, and presenter honoraria and expenses. The Center spends between
$30,000 and $35,000 to host the program each year.

What follows are the sessions planned for the 2009 edition of Congress in the
Classroom®. Please re-visit the site for changes as the program develops.

* The View from Capitol Hill
Aaron Schock, freshman member of the House of Representatives from Illinois's
18th congressional district INVITED


* Congressional Insight
A team-oriented, highly interactive simulation of a Congress member's first term
CONFIRMED


* The Ten Most Important Things to Know About the U.S. House of Representatives
Raymond Smock, Director of the Robert C. Byrd Center for Legislative Studies,
Shepherd University and former Historian of the House CONFIRMED


* The Ten Most Important Things to Know About the U.S. Senate
Betty K. Koed, Assistant Historian, U.S. Senate Historical Office CONFIRMED


* How We Developed the Art and History Sections of the New Capitol Visitor
Center
Maria Marable-Bunch and Carol Beebe, Public Programs Division, Capitol Visitor
Center CONFIRMED


* Resources for Teachers from the House of Representatives
Kathleen Johnson, Historical Publications Specialist, Office of History and
Preservation, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives CONFIRMED


* Teaching with Primary Sources:  The Library of Congress's Teaching with
Primary Sources (TPS) program
Cindy Rich, Project Director, Teaching with Primary Sources, Eastern Illinois
University CONFIRMED


* What Do Our Students See When They Look at Congress?
Jeffrey Bernstein, Department of Political Science, Eastern Michigan University
CONFIRMED


* The Congressional Glossary Project
Michael Kirby, FedNet CONFIRMED


* Evaluating the New President:  What Factors Account for Success in the Oval
Office?
Frank H. Mackaman, The Dirksen Congressional Center CONFIRMED


* How to Get Your Point Across to Congress Members
Stephanie Vance, Advocacy Associates, Washington, DC CONFIRMED


* The Influence of the Internet on Political Information and Engagement
Julie Barko Germany, Director, Institute for Politics, Democracy & the Internet,
The George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management
CONFIRMED


* Setting Up a Congressional Office
Congressional Management Foundation INVITED

Take a look at The Dirksen Center Web site -
http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_programs_CongressClassroom.htm -- to see what
participants say about the program.

* Registration *

If you are interested in registering for the Congress in the Classroom® 2009
workshop, you can complete an online registration form found at:
http://www.dirksencenter.org/programs_CiCapplication.htm.


Cindy Koeppel
ckoeppel@...

The Dirksen Congressional Center
2815 Broadway
Pekin, IL 61554
http://www.dirksencongressionalcenter.org

Hi Everyone!

Passover is a Jewish holiday, of Biblical origin, marking the
birth of the Jews as a people and their emergence as a unique
nation in history, devoted to G-d's will. It celebrates the
liberation of the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt
over 3000 years ago, under the leadership of Moses.

This year Passover begins on Wednesday night, April 8, 2009.

I posted on my website 152 links about Passover,
ranging from laws and customs to games and recipes.
Site languages include English, Hebrew, Russian, Spanish,
French, Portugese, Italian and German.

All 152 links have been reviewed / checked this week.
The web address is:
http://www.jr.co.il/hotsites/j-hdaypa.htm

and......

I gathered links to 80 cool Passover videos on YouTube.
Enjoy the videos at:
http://www.jr.co.il/videos/passover-videos.htm

Please forward this message to family and friends,
so they may benefit from these holiday resources.

An early Happy Passover!
Jacob

Would everyone like to share what science equipment and resources you have that
you could never live without? What would you love to see in your science lab for
k-5th graders.

Thanks

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION: CONGRESS IN THE CLASSROOM 2009

* Deadline: April 15, 2009 *

Congress in the Classroom is a national, award-winning education program now in
its 17th year. Developed and sponsored by The Dirksen Congressional Center, the
workshop is dedicated to the exchange of ideas and information on teaching about
Congress.

We designed Congress in the Classroom for high school or middle school teachers
who teach U.S. history, government, civics, political science, or social
studies. Forty teachers will be selected in 2009 to take part in the program.
All online applications must be received by no later than April 15, 2009. We
will notify individuals of our decisions by April 30, 2009.

Although the workshop will feature a variety of sessions, the 2009 program will
focus on two themes:  (1) developments in the 111th Congress, and (2) new
resources for teaching about Congress. The workshop consists of two types of
sessions: those that focus on recent research and scholarship about Congress
(and don't always have an immediate application in the classroom) and those
geared to specific ways to teach students about the federal legislature.

Throughout the program, you will work with subject matter experts as well as
colleagues from across the nation. This combination of firsthand knowledge and
peer-to-peer interaction will give you new ideas, materials, and a
professionally enriching experience.

"Until now so much of what I did in my class on Congress was straight
theory-this is what the Constitution says," noted one of our teachers. "Now I
can use these activities and illustrations to help get my students involved in
the class and at the very least their community but hopefully in the federal
government. This workshop has given me a way to help them see how relevant my
class is and what they can do to help make changes in society."

The 2009 workshop will be held Monday, July 27 - Thursday, July 30, at Embassy
Suites, East Peoria, Illinois.

The program is certified by the Illinois State Board of Education for up to 22
Continuing Education Units. The program also is endorsed by the National Council
for the Social Studies.

Participants are responsible for (1) a non-refundable $155 registration fee
(required to confirm acceptance after notice of selection) and (2)
transportation to and from Peoria, Illinois. Many school districts will pay all
or a portion of these costs.

The Center pays for three nights lodging at the headquarters hotel (providing a
single room for each participant), workshop materials, local transportation, all
but three meals, and presenter honoraria and expenses. The Center spends between
$30,000 and $35,000 to host the program each year.

What follows are the sessions planned for the 2009 edition of Congress in the
Classroom®. Please re-visit the site for changes as the program develops.

* The View from Capitol Hill
Aaron Schock, freshman member of the House of Representatives from Illinois's
18th congressional district INVITED


* Congressional Insight
A team-oriented, highly interactive simulation of a Congress member's first term
CONFIRMED


* The Ten Most Important Things to Know About the U.S. House of Representatives
Raymond Smock, Director of the Robert C. Byrd Center for Legislative Studies,
Shepherd University and former Historian of the House CONFIRMED


* The Ten Most Important Things to Know About the U.S. Senate
Betty K. Koed, Assistant Historian, U.S. Senate Historical Office CONFIRMED


* How We Developed the Art and History Sections of the New Capitol Visitor
Center
Maria Marable-Bunch and Carol Beebe, Public Programs Division, Capitol Visitor
Center CONFIRMED


* Resources for Teachers from the House of Representatives
Kathleen Johnson, Historical Publications Specialist, Office of History and
Preservation, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives CONFIRMED


* Teaching with Primary Sources:  The Library of Congress's Teaching with
Primary Sources (TPS) program
Cindy Rich, Project Director, Teaching with Primary Sources, Eastern Illinois
University CONFIRMED


* What Do Our Students See When They Look at Congress?
Jeffrey Bernstein, Department of Political Science, Eastern Michigan University
CONFIRMED


* The Congressional Glossary Project
Michael Kirby, FedNet CONFIRMED


* Evaluating the New President:  What Factors Account for Success in the Oval
Office?
Frank H. Mackaman, The Dirksen Congressional Center CONFIRMED


* How to Get Your Point Across to Congress Members
Stephanie Vance, Advocacy Associates, Washington, DC CONFIRMED


* The Influence of the Internet on Political Information and Engagement
Julie Barko Germany, Director, Institute for Politics, Democracy & the Internet,
The George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management
CONFIRMED


* Setting Up a Congressional Office
Congressional Management Foundation INVITED

Take a look at The Dirksen Center Web site -
http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_programs_CongressClassroom.htm -- to see what
participants say about the program.

* Registration *

If you are interested in registering for the Congress in the Classroom® 2009
workshop, you can complete an online registration form found at:
http://www.dirksencenter.org/programs_CiCapplication.htm.


Cindy Koeppel
ckoeppel@...

The Dirksen Congressional Center
2815 Broadway
Pekin, IL 61554
http://www.dirksencongressionalcenter.org

I'm not attending but I can vouche for sessions by the following
presenters:

Barbara Bray
Susan Brooks-Young
Hilary Goldman
Tim Landeck
Sylvia Martinez
Peter Reynolds
David Thornburg
Tammy Worcester

Hope that helps!

Walter :]

--- In Innovative-Teachers@yahoogroups.com, "jmboyle1952"
<Jmboyle52@...> wrote:
>
> Is anyone attending the CUE conference in Palm Springs in March and if
> so do you have recommendations for "must see" sessions?
> Janice
>

Is anyone attending the CUE conference in Palm Springs in March and if
so do you have recommendations for "must see" sessions?
Janice

Hello,

I am a doctoral student in educational psychology at a university in
Philadelphia, PA.  I'm currently conducting research on how teachers
use repetition in their classrooms as a teaching strategy. An
initial small-scale pilot study on this topic has revealed some very
interesting results, and now I am trying to reach a wider, national
audience of teachers.

Currently I am interested in the responses of teachers who work in
the United States and teach children in day care through the 12th
grade.  In order to participate in this research, all you need to do
is follow the link below to a survey on teaching strategies.  Of
course, all of your responses are anonymous.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=emx7ZxCEnThpz6XIiHRMqA_3d_3d

One of the overall goals of this research is to better understand
established teaching practices used in the classroom to facilitate
learning.  Consequently, this information can then be used to help
researchers develop laboratory methodologies that more closely
resemble actual teaching practices.

Thank you for your interest in advancing educational research!  If
you have any questions or would like to discuss research on this
topic, please email me at mkiepert@....

Sincerely,
Marissa Kiepert Truong
Doctoral candidate in educational psychology

Hi Jacob,

I was unable to access your videos.  There was a white box where the video
is supposed to display.  I am using a MAC, OS 10.5 and Firefox 3.05.

Linda

Linda Benafel
Coordinator Instructional Technology
Alhambra Unified School District
1515 W. Mission Road
Alhambra, CA 91803
(626)943-3030
Benafel_Linda@...

Innovative-Teachers@yahoogroups.com writes:
>http://www.my-english-dictionary.com/videos.htm

Hi Everyone!

I uploaded seven new Learn English videos to the Internet.
The topics of the new videos are:
Animals, Clothing and Accessories, Fruit and Vegetables,
Fun and Entertainment, In the Kitchen, Let's Eat,
The Human Body

The videos include a photograph of each item and an English
audio track with the correct pronunciation of each word.

The address is:
http://www.my-english-dictionary.com/videos.htm

The videos were created with selected images and audio files
from the Learn English with Pictures and Audio website.
There is a link from the video page back to the main site which
has 408 words, photographs and audio tracks.

Feedback is welcome.

Have a good day,
Jacob