TWTW Teaching with the Web	The Instructional Technology Journal of Greenwood School District 50 http://www.gwd50.org Volume 4, Number 18 May 1, 2009
Grade-Level Appropriate Websites 5/01/09 While checking ePortfolios for teachers recertifying their technology proficiencies this year, I was very impressed not only with the quality of the lesson plans, but also with the variety of technology integrated into instruction. During that process, I wondered how teachers check websites for grade-level appropriateness when grade level is not indicated. What if we need information not available on an educational site? Other than our “teachers’ intuition,” is their a concrete measure? As a matter of fact – there is! Did you know that Microsoft Word offers “readability statistics?” To check out this option, open Word > click Tools > Options > Spelling and Grammar > under Grammar, check “Show Readability Statistics.” Next, go to the website > highlight and copy some of the text > paste the text into a Word document > choose Tools > Spelling and Grammar. The Readability Statistics window appears after the spell check and provides the Flesch Reading Ease score (how easy the writing is to understand – the higher the score the better) and the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score. This wonderful tool will help you to differentiate instruction! You can choose more challenging websites for your advanced students and those with a lower reading level for others. Oh – this newsletter has a Flesch Reading Ease of 48.4 and a Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level of 11. Poetry § Poets.org: Curriculum & Lesson Plans Teacher-developed units. Many of the units use visiting poets or writers-in-residence. § Poetry Archive: For Teachers Poetry lesson plans, activities, and resources for all key stages and for the inclusive classroom. § poetryclass: Poetry Lessons Lessons, by age, to help equip students with fresh ideas and methods for making the most of poetry in the classroom. § Poetry 180 Designed to make it easy for students to hear and/or read a poem on each of the 180 days of the school year. § Favorite Poem Project: Lesson Plans Seeks to improve poetry's place in American classrooms by encouraging active, engaging poetry lessons that emphasize a direct, vocal connection to poems. § Guide to Poetry & Literature Webcasts Use this guide as a resource for locating streaming video of poets, fiction writers, and critics as they read and discuss their own and each other's work. § Poetry Writing | Scholastic.com Study the genre of poetry by taking part in step-by-step workshops with favorite authors. Includes teacher's guide. § Poets' Corner Features a user-friendly library that spans thousands of works by hundreds of authors covering thousands of years. (From EduHound)	Important Teacher Notes · Mark your calendar! The Upstate Technology Conference is scheduled for June 24 & 25 and the website is up and running! The conference is FREE and not to be missed! See: http://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/utc/. · The District Staff Development Calendar is now available only on the district webpage, and can only be viewed by employees who are logged into the webpage. · The district now has a "Safe Videos" web page where staff members can submit YouTube videos for approval, and view already approved videos.  Please visit http://www.gwd50.org/youtube for a brief instructional video on this new system. Site Survey: Websites that Educate, Enlighten, Entertain, and Engage ˜ Pete’s PowerPoint Station (PreK-12) This site is incredible! Find PPT’s here – everything from ABC’s to Hyperbole to Zambia, as well as novels and students’ favorite books! There are PPT’s for everyone in every subject area! · Bubble Test Generator (3-12) Make custom bubble sheets here for tests.  Fill in a few blanks, the form will be made, and you can cut and paste into Word or print from the Web.  (Use a hole-punch to cut out the holes and make grading quicker, if you don't have Scantron.) (From Dan Hodge, BRW) · Jeopardy Labs (K-12) Create your own Jeopardy™ games and save them!  The interface is easy to use and there is a score keeping feature that is very handy. “No fee, no registration, no PowerPoint!” (From Dan Hodge, BRW) · Arcademic Skill Builders (2-8) Free, research-based and standards-aligned educational games to teach basic academic skills. “We incorporate features of arcade games and educational practices into fun online games that will engage, motivate, and teach your students.” · Women’s Adventures in Science (5-9) A project of the National Academy of Sciences, this site is intended to showcase the accomplishments of contemporary women in science and to highlight for young people the varied and intriguing careers of some of today's most prominent scientists.
	The Laptop-and-Projector Project Website Tech Project: http://www2.gwd50.org/TechPlans/TechPlan2006.htm Resources: http://gwd50.schoolwires.net/16891058111442710/site/default.asp? Previous TWTW Issues: http://www2.gwd50.org/techplans/TWTW-Index.htm Instruct. Tech. Specialist:http://www.gwd50.org/1689105110365557/site/default.asp The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives. Robert M. Hutchins