World Happy Day - February 11th, 2012

Thank you, Dr. I, for letting me know this Saturday is World Happy Day.  Yay!  There even is a great looking documentary to go along with it.  To find out where a film screening is happening near you, click here. 

And, not to give too much away, but something really happy and fantastic is happening on World Happy Day for me and my family, too.

More details coming soon.

With happiness,

Jen

Video Games for Tech Tuesday

Years ago, I went into a Video Game in Education class at Johns Hopkins University as a disbeliever and left the course as a game advocate and believer.

This short article speaks to the benefits of video games in learning.

See for yourself before you diss on all video games again.

Jen

{Free, Printable} Calendar

I always find the best stuff at one of my favorite design blogs, How About Orange.  HAO led me to this adorable {free} owl calendar.  I printed one last year and used it at my desk.  I printed one for this year, too.

So functional and eye-appealing!  And you get to pick which image you want for which month.  For example, I think the image above would be great for February or for when you and your special someone fell in love.  Awww.....

Make your own owl calender here and keep it desk-side.

Jen

Squirrels and Learning

My colleague shared this video with me.  Her daughter, E, is studying education at a nearby college and her clever professor, Professor Wilson, shared the video during an education class. I. Love. This. Video.  It is appropriate viewing for teachers, parents and all allies.

For my education students, see if you can make connections to scaffolding, modeling, the importance of clear learning goals and objectives, the significance of caring adults, IFSPs/IEPs, and any other edu-ideas that come to you.  Leave your comments below under the "comment" feature.  Like all YouTube videos, you can make the video larger by clicking on the full screen option located at the bottom, right corner of the video window.

I'm looking forward to your reactions and connections.  Big thanks, to my colleague, E, and Professor Wilson for sharing this video with me and agreeing it would be blog-worthy.

All the best,
Jen

Fieldtrip, anyone?

It's been a year since my amazing colleagues and I visited here....

Indeed, the mecca of US education - The United States Department of Education.  I have to admit two things:  1) I had never been there before and 2) I felt pretty nifty to have visited.  Now, I have insider connections there.  You heard me - real connections with real people.  Thus, because my college students and I are studying special education laws & mandates (I promise, it is a touch more interesting than it sounds), I decided to email one of my connections to see if anything new is brewing in the world of education and laws.

Here's the latest and greatest (with my interjections):

• IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) was slated to be reauthorized in 2012.  However, since Congress is busy with other matters and cannot seem to agree upon much and it is an election year, IDEA is on hold right now as far as a reauthorization goes.  My connection's hunch is it will be years before IDEA is updated and reauthorized.  Yes, years.
• ESEA (the Elementary and Secondary Education Act), also known since 2001 as the No Child Left Behind Act, is also behind schedule.  It was slated to be reauthorized in 2010 (or 2011).  To date, an ESEA reauthorization is on hold.  Same reasons as IDEA....busy, disagreeable Congress and it is an election year.  Why can't we just get along?
• Interested in reading the changes proposed for the reauthorization of ESEA?  If so, click here.  Since all federal laws are lengthy, thankfully can you click on the portion  of the law that interests you most.
• My connection's hunch is that IDEA will have better alignment with ESEA with regard to teacher qualifications, the reduction of paperwork, etc.  I personally like the parts on "early learning" - especially the birth-through-college-to-career-agenda and "innovation" - especially the part related to school choice.  I appreciate forward-thinking topics.
• If you'd like to learn more about the most current IDEA, click here.

I must run....I'm headed to Washington, DC today for something else special and education-related.

All the best,
Jen