EMC News Blog

Two Revised Bibliographies on the EMC Website

2009-12-23T06:49:00.000-08:00

We have revised two valuable bibliographies.

Software in the Education Materials Center (www.uwosh.edu/library/emc/Bibliographies/software.pdf) is a 26 page annotated bibliography which is frequently referred to by students taking education courses.

The other bibliography is Hmong Resources in the EMC (www.uwosh.edu/library/emc/Bibliographies/hmong.pdf). This bibliography lists videos, sound recordings, fiction, folktales, picture books, nonfiction books about Hmong culture, and teaching ideas resources.

Rethinking Schools Website

2009-12-02T06:40:00.000-08:00

Rethinking Schools was an initiative of Milwaukee Public School teachers over 20 years ago. This is how the website describes itself:
Rethinking Schools began as a local effort to address problems such as basal readers, standardized testing, and textbook-dominated curriculum. Since its founding in 1986, it has grown into a nationally prominent publisher of educational materials, with subscribers in all 50 states, all 10 Canadian provinces, and many other countries.
While the scope and influence of Rethinking Schools has changed, its basic orientation has not. Most importantly, it remains firmly committed to equity and to the vision that public education is central to the creation of a humane, caring, multiracial democracy. While writing for a broad audience, Rethinking Schools emphasizes problems facing urban schools, particularly issues of race.

http://www.rethinkingschools.org/index.shtml

Math Books for Children

2009-11-10T07:18:00.000-08:00

Lately, some students have been asking me for math books for children. Here is a link to a 16 page bibliography the EMC produced listing these books. Access here: http://www.uwosh.edu/library/emc/Bibliographies/math.pdf

IDEAS Database Provides Wisconsin Teachers with Great Teaching Ideas

2009-10-22T13:53:00.000-07:00

All Wisconsin teachers and future teachers will greatly benefit from using the IDEAS database. Here is the description found on the IDEAS home page:

IDEAS provides Wisconsin educators with teacher-reviewed, standards-aligned lessons, interactive tools, video, and other resources for use in curriculum development and classroom instruction.

Here is the URL: http://ideas.wisconsin.edu/

The Einstein Project

2009-10-07T06:37:00.000-07:00

I wanted to make you aware of an awesome science resource. This website is of particular interest to those of you teaching K-8 science. It is called "The Einstein Project," and the way to access it is by clicking on this URL: http://www.einsteinproject.org/einstein/for+educators/unit+offerings/default.asp

The Einstein Project is a nonprofit organization which promotes the advancement of K-8 hands-on science learning in Wisconsin. Over 40 unit plans for the K-8 science curriculum are provided, including recommended books and websites for each unit.

I think you'll find this very helpful.

Stephen

Welcome Back!

2009-09-15T09:07:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to the new school year. I hope you had a good summer. The EMC is ready to assist you with whatever course-related needs you have. We have a fine collection of children's and young adult literature, K-12 textbooks, books that will provide you with lesson plans and other teaching strategies, and a wealth of audiovisual materials. Plus, the EMC website has a plethora of useful information. You may access the website at http://www.uwosh.edu/library/emc/

If you'd like to set up an appointment for research help, you may contact me at katz@uwosh.edu or fill in the research request form at http://www.uwosh.edu/library/rap/home.html

I look forward to working with during the 2009-2010 school year.

Stephen Katz
Coordinator, Education Materials Center
Polk Library
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

NEW! PreK-12 Subject Guides

2009-06-10T07:40:00.000-07:00

These subject guides bring together in one place most of the resources you’ll need for lesson planning and research in a PreK-12 subject area.
http://www.uwosh.edu/library/emc/subjectguides.html

Teaching Economics in K-12 Schools in Wisconsin

2009-05-27T07:44:00.000-07:00

With the economy being foremost on the minds of many people, EconomicsWisconsin should be of interest to our state's teachers.
http://www.economicswisconsin.org/guide/index.htm

Career Books for Children & Young Adults

2009-05-04T06:57:00.000-07:00

Here's a recently compiled bibliography of books about careers for children and young adults.
http://www.uwosh.edu/library/emc/Bibliographies/careers.pdf

Praxis Exam

2009-05-04T06:55:00.000-07:00

Here's a link to online resources to assist the student preparing to take the Praxis exam.
http://www.uwosh.edu/library/emc/praxis.html

Empathy Workshops Combat Bullying

2009-04-07T13:01:00.000-07:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/education/05empathy.html?_r=1&ref=education

Career switchers make up about one-third of the ranks of new teachers

2009-03-27T07:57:00.000-07:00

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jchudVsIURwV-W7npQzDGJY5ZrMgD96VKMPG1

Should ELL Students be in Segregated Classrooms?

2009-03-18T09:52:00.000-07:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15/us/15immig.html?_r=2&ref=education

Praxis Study Guides Available for Check-out

2009-03-10T13:57:00.000-07:00

The library has a small collection of Praxis study guides that it is making available for one week check out. To see a list of these study guides, go to the EMC home page www.uwosh.edu/library/emc, and click on the link at the top of the page for Praxis Study Guides. If you're interested in taking any of these guides out, please go to the circulation desk, and ask for them there.

Today’s teachers are more satisfied and better prepared, but significant challenges remain

2009-03-03T14:12:00.000-08:00

25th ANNUAL METLIFE TEACHER SURVEY LOOKS BACK ON MORE THAN TWO DECADES OF EDUCATION REFORM
http://www.metlife.com/about/press-room/index.html?compID=12296

More on How the Stimulus Package Will Affect Education

2009-02-18T06:51:00.001-08:00

http://p8.hostingprod.com/@www.principalspolicyblog.org/blog/2009/02/newly_enacted_economic_recover.html

Lincoln Bicentennial Teacher Resources

2009-02-09T08:12:00.000-08:00

Thanks go to Kathy Schrock for posting this on her website. http://lincoln.georgetowncollege.edu/

Do Teachers Require Too Much Homework?

2009-01-27T12:29:00.000-08:00

In recent years the amount of homework required of students at all grade levels has significantly increased. Some are now asking, what are the benefits of the sometimes staggering amount of homework students face on a daily basis. This fact sheet explores answers to these questions. You might be surprised by some of the conclusions.
http://stophomework.com/fact.pdf

Stimulus Package Would Fully Fund No Child Left Behind

2009-01-27T12:21:00.000-08:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090126/ap_on_go_pr_wh/stimulus_schools

Literacy study shows that 1 in 7 U.S. adults have low literacy skills

2009-01-14T06:51:00.000-08:00

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-01-08-adult-literacy_N.htm

The Importance of Play in Childhood

2009-01-05T06:52:00.000-08:00

Perhaps one of the greatest dangers facing children is lack of play. Glued to computers and tv monitors, children learn from an early age that life is to be experienced virtually. What are the consequences of this for later development? There are a few organizations that dedicate themselves to reversing this trend away from active play. One of these organizations is called Alliance for Children. Please visit their website at www.allianceforchildhood.org

Head of Washington D.C. Schools Stresses the Importance of Good Teaching

2008-12-22T06:43:00.000-08:00

Here's an excerpt from an article appearing in Time Magazine (December 8, 2008) about the impact that good and poor teachers have on students:
If two average 8-year-olds are assigned to different teachers, one who is strong and one who is weak, the children's lives can diverge in just a few years, according to research pioneered by Eric Hanushek at Stanford. The child with the effective teacher, the kind who ranks among the top 15% of all teachers, will be scoring well above grade level on standardized tests by the time she is 11. The other child will be a year and a half below grade level--and by then it will take a teacher who works with the child after school and on weekends to undo the compounded damage. In other words, the child will probably never catch up.

This is the link to the full text of the article this excerpt comes from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1862444,00.html

School Library Journal's Best of 2008

2008-12-10T06:31:00.000-08:00

School Library Journal reviewed more than 5,000 books this past year. Of those, 67 titles "stood out as having distinctive voices, singular vision, and/or innovative approaches." Click here for the list: http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6617203.html

The Cheating Epidemic

2008-12-04T09:31:00.000-08:00

Survey Finds Growing Deceit Among Teens: 64 Percent Admit Cheating on Test In High School
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/30/AR2008113001906.html?nav=rss_education

Nearly 800 Colleges to Drop SAT Requirement

2008-11-25T13:43:00.000-08:00

From an article in the Boston Globe: Once-mighty SAT losing its clout
http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2008/11/24/once_mighty_sat_losing_its_clout/