Teacher+-To-+Teacher

=//The longer I teach the more I value the time that I have to collaborate with other teachers. It is fun to share my successful classroom moments and it is equally rewarding to learn about ways I can make my classroom a better learning and collaborative environment. That's why I wanted to design a Teacher - To - Teacher page where I can share my ideas and hopefully, you fellow teachers out there will not be too shy to share yours with me. Below I have listed my Blogsopt where you can easily create a free account to participate in my discussions about classroom issues and create your own discussions. //=

CHECK OUT MY BLOG!!!! DON'T BE SHY ;)
=Teacher to Teacher=

== Here are a few Grants that I found (as part of a Master's assignment) that help provide technology not only to students and communitites but in some cases to parents/homes who do not have access to technology. Check them out!! ==


 * ** Computers For Learning ** || [] || This is a government grant program that actually allows for donations of "excess technology", to be made from laboratories to schools to help schools meet the demands of Executive Order (EO) 12999 ||
 * **CFY** || [] || This grant provides technology and training for parents and teachers of 6th grade students. The 6th grade age group is the targeted age group for this grant because it is the year that students’ parents feel disengaged and less involved in their child’s school. The program is designed to provide free computers with educational software to families that do not have computer access at home. ||
 * **Computerworks Global** || [] || This company has a computer lab on wheels that is similar to an ice cream truck. They are able to make weekly visits to certain areas to help our underserved youth and elderly baby boomers have more access to technology and knowledge for using it. ||
 * **Dell Youth Connect** || [] || This is one of 3 programs that the computer company Dell has developed with several business partners in many countries around the world to provide computers and access to technology to schools in all continents. It is their belief that technology is no longer a luxury but a basic human right. ||
 * **Ethyl Grant** || [] || This grant program was designed by the Foundation for Rural Education and Development. The program offers match grants to communities for basically any project that they feel will justifiably bring positive change. The grants could be used for playgrounds, technology or anything else progressive. In order to gain access to the grant money, communities must match the amount of money that the foundation will provide. It is the foundation’s belief that through the collective planning and fundraising necessary to be granted this gift, communities will become stronger. ||

Florida Virtual Schools
==This innovative approach to providing students with the most opportunities to get ahead in highschool is amazing! To help students and parents practice their computer skills and/or learn more check out their tutorial on the link below.== []

To see a complete list of the courses offered through Florida Virtual Schools click on the link below. []

The list of online classes offered to West Virginia students can be found on the site below. []

The above was originally published November 21, 2011 at http://harvestinggoodcollaboration.blogspot.com/2011/11/succesful-cooperative-learning.html As a teacher, we are simply planting and tending to seeds in the little noggins of hundreds of children each year. Today in education collaboration is an essential activity that has beome a central focus in Problem Based Learning and other participatory learning activities. Cooperative learning allows children the opportunity to learn what it may be like one day in their future when they have to be citizen who works alongside others in order to reach a common goal. I support cooperative learning and implement it often in my own classroom. I have found many challenges to cooperative learning. The biggest challenge is finding a means for accountability in group participation. Another challenge is simply finding ways to motivate students to truly put forth their best effort to the group. I've learned that it is important to provide a detailed description of group roles in the beginning of the activity and to require each group member to maintain their own research notes (that will be graded). In addition students are always required to save and prove their part of the final product whatever it may be. Maybe some of you have a good ideas. I remember learning about various cooperative learning models in college. One particular model that was a successful setup requiring full participation was the Jigsaw. We sometimes need to be reminded and remind eachother of these models. So, please Teacher to Teacher, share your thoughts!! How do you implement cooperative learning in your REAL classroom? Are you aware of any computer programs that help harvest good cooperation? I will hopefully add links to things I find here to. So check back from time to time. I've recently found [|schoology] another good site for collaboration and proof of it, is [|Classchatter]. media type="custom" key="11627540"