Shawn & Troy continue the NMSA09 wrap up.


On Our Mind:
NMSA Director Search!

From the Twitterverse:

* rmbyrne Free Technology for Teachers: Week in Review - My Trip to GTA http://ff.im/-cOg0Q
* JohnMikulsk Furious about new privacy changes on Facebook. I have 2 requests from students now that they can easily search for me and see profile pic.
* scottmerrick Looks like the Tue. night ISTE Speaker Session will be SIGVE folks at table at the Skypark or the Campfires. Speedchatting here we come!
* chickensaltash Please show your support for the Edublogs Awards http://bit.ly/5X19J1 #edtech
* eduinnovation Enjoying Ommwriter on my Mac. The gang at @ommwriter have found a way to make technology used for writing soothing and inspiring. (It has to be better than Google Wave!)
* InstructorG 50 Inspirational Quotes for Teachers http://bit.ly/6c9nX3
* drmmtatom RT @MSMatters: RT @NMSAnews: NMSA Executive Director Resigns http://bit.ly/5MLr7D
* cfanch so, educators, what books should I add to my amazon wish list? -or- to my books to download to ipod? (no kindle yet...)
* simfin iPhone and iPod Touch Apps for Education http://ow.ly/LfoS (via @russeltarr ) (via @dianadell)

Advisory:
Conversation Starter:
Today's episode of CNN Student News has a short segment in which there is a discussion about the differences in the ways in which male and female students learn. The segment talks about the idea of all male or all female middle schools. This segment could be a good prompt for getting students to reflect and discuss the ways in which they learn.
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2009/12/student-conversation-starter.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+freetech4teachers%2FcGEY+%28Free+Technology+for+Teachers%29


Webspotlight:
Proprofs - Online Game Creation
Practicing new skills and learning new facts is often presented as less than exciting, but education does not have to be this way. Good teachers have always known that puzzle games are some of the best ways to get old and young alike well on their way towards mastering a subject area. ProProfs is dedicated to the mission of combining education and entertainment, providing free online puzzles, brain games, and other fun resources to get people actively involved in the learning process.
http://www.proprofs.com/

Free Audio Book: A Christmas Carol
(http://www.learnoutloud.com/Free-Audio-Video/Literature/European-Classics/A-Christmas-Carol/29311)

Footnote:

Footnote helps you find and share historic documents. We are able to bring you many never-before-seen historic documents through our unique partnerships with The National Archives, the Library of Congress and other institutions.
http://www.footnote.com/

Reading Practice Can Strengthen Brain 'Highways'

by Jon Hamilton

Intensive reading programs can produce measurable changes in the structure of a child's brain, according to a study in the journal Neuron. The study found that several different programs improved the integrity of fibers that carry information from one part of the brain to another.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121253104
NMSA09:
Getting School Wise:
Carol Josel
www.Schoolwisebooks.com
http://www.schoolwisebooks.com/blog
mailto://carol.schoolwisebooks.com
"Helen Ladd: "One theory of action seems to be that holding teachers accountable for their student's scores . . ."
"The Pretty Good Student . . . " by Charles Osgood.
Time activity