Does anyone know where I can find packages of black colored pencils. My students use a lot of black and I have looked to replace with just packages of black pencils but have been unable to find any. Looking for suggestions.

Here are a few web sites that I thought you would like. 

• Good general lesson plan sites - http://tr.im/KjRO
• Science Fair site - http://www.sciencebob.com/sciencefair/index.php
• You Tube URL Tricks - http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-youtube-url-tricks-you-should-know-about/
• ReTool Yourself (professional development ideas) - http://www.techlearning.com/blogs/25886
• 100 Web Tools for Collaboration - http://www.techlearning.com/blogs/26378

This last link is a video from a student demonstrating how her 7th grade science class is being run.  This looked like a very engaging science class!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEls3tq5wIY&feature=youtu.be&a

In this series we are featuring nine webinars on Marzano's instructional strategies. Each webinar will focus on the how to use specific instructional strategies in your classroom as well as technology tips and tricks to integrate along the way!

Each webinar is a one-hour session from 4-5PM.  A day or so before the webinar, you will receive an email with instructions and the website for the webinar.

There is no driving or weather worries, all you need is a computer! Choose just one webinar to attend or choose them all! These are great refreshers if you attended Classroom Instruction That Works this last summer! Even if you don't know anything about these instructional strategies, please join us and find out all the easy ways of engaging and reaching your students.

Summarizing and Note Taking - January 19, 2010
Reinforcing Effort/Receiving Feedback - February 2, 2010
Homework and Practice - February 16, 2010
Non-Linguistic Representation - March 2, 2010
Cooperative Learning - March 23, 2010
Setting Objectives/Providing Feedback - April 6, 2010
Generating and Testing Hypothesis - April 20, 2010
Ques, Questions, and Advanced Organizers - May 4, 2010

Register on ODIE at https://odie.esu10.org/

Looking for something other than shopping this Sunday?  Come on out and join us for our December First Sunday @ Rowe starting at 1:30 p.m.  http://rowesanctuary.org/first%20sundays.htm

With native grasses and fallen leaves rustling in the breeze and the symphony from flocks of birds streaming south, late fall is a great time to explore Rowe Sanctuary.  This month’s program will take advantage of this natural music by offering a workshop called ‘The Music of Nature - The Nature of Music’ presented by former UNK professor of music Annabell Zikmund, and Rowe Volunteers Susan Elmore and Jackie Flohr.  

Other activities include nature hikes and marshmallow roasting on an open campfire!

For more information:
Keanna Leonard, Education Director
Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary
44450 Elm Island Rd
Gibbon, NE  68840
308-468-5282

Check out iSchool Band (http://ischoolband.com/)!  Just saw this one on Twitter and I had to get it out to you!  This looks very cool!  it is like a Blackboard for school bands and orchestras.  I haven't dug into it too much (since I don't have a band to try it with) but it really looks like a nice site.  They have a year for free if you get an account before Christmas 2009.  After that it is $2.50 per student.  What a great opportunity to try this out for nothing!  I am just impressed that this is made just for bands!  You don't often see that in other tools.  (Usually band has to adjust to the terms of everyone else!)  Check it out and let us know what you think of this tool!  I am anxious to see how you guys would use iSchoolBand!

Everyone has a favorite lesson that they do with their students.  Share YOUR favorite web site, tech tool, lesson, or activity!  If you aren't sure, share something that have you seen and would like to implement at some time during the school year!

Learn and Share!

Agenda: (http://tr.im/fineartsagenda)

9:00 - Welcome & Introductions: Focus on You!
9:30 - Sharing Time:  Share Your Favorite Tool, Web Site, or Lesson Ideas

• Community - http://finearts.esu10.org
• Pete's PowerPoint Station - http://www.pppst.com/
• Online Stopwatch - http://www.online-stopwatch.com
• Slacker (online music) - http://www.slacker.com/
• Live Binder - http://livebinders.com/

12:00 - Lunch
Explore:

• http://web20doane.wikispaces.com/Fine+Arts
• http://garagebandintheclassroom.wikispaces.com/LessonPlans
• http://www.sumo.fi/flash/sumopaint/
• http://theteachingpalette.com/
• http://www.artsonia.com
• http://arted20.ning.com/
• http://www.metmuseum.org/explore

2:45 - Wrap-Up

• What do you want to see at the next Fine Arts 2.0? Leave your comments!
• Let's set a date for the next Fine Arts 2.0?  FEBRUARY 16, 2010

I found this podcast that I thought many of you may like.  It's focus is on combining music and technology for education!  http://www.techtempo.com/MATS/  What do you think?  Leave your comments!

ESU 10 has purchased 15 Garmin eTrex Legend GPS units for teachers to checkout and use with their classroom!  They can be checked out through ODIE!

More can be found in the description on the Media Library:
https://odie.esu10.org/library/MediaItemDetails.aspx?MediaItemID=54607

 Also at:  http://blog.esu10.org/gps  Here you can find out more about the Global Positioning System devices as well as how-to's and instructional materials to go with the GPS's. 

Let us know what you think!  How will YOU use the GPS Devices with your students?  Are you already doing a GPS project that you would like to share?  Share this and other instructional materials here on this community!!!