It only takes a few minutes to help save school libraries. Go to the American Library Association’s Issues & Advocacy page and read about what you can do to ensure the inclusion of the Strengthening Kids’ Interest in Learning and Libraries (SKILLs) Act in the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).
Papyrus E-reader Geared for School Market Lugging around an eight-pound laptop may not appeal to students already burdened with overstuffed backpacks. But what if that laptop replaced the books—and the notepads, for that matter—all for just $100?
Enter Papyrus, an e-reader that would allow students to scribble notes with a stylus right on the screen. These comments could be made available to teachers and classmates. Add a calculator and a 30-hour battery life? That’s not a hard sell. read more...
Hot Picks
BOOKS Bandit by Karen Rostoker-Gruber
From SLJ 5/1/2008 PreS-Gr 2—Bandit the cat is annoyed to discover that his bed, toys, and tuna are missing. He is doubly annoyed when he is placed in his carrier and put in the car.
VIDEO/DVD The Mysterious Human Heart Gr 5 Up—Each episode in this series provides information through real-life dramas about people with heart conditions and other heart-related problems.
AUDIO On-The-Loose-Dreams K-Gr 7—Children’s music doesn’t get much better than these 16 songs by Pomes in a Pail. What began at a writer’s workshop resulted in an amazing collaboration that combined the clever words of Alexander Jenny and the music of Karena Mendoza and Stephanie Snow.
Expect to see more students in Chicago speaking Chinese, Arabic, and Russian. That’s because the Chicago Public Schools will reallocate $1 million to expand its foreign language curriculum next year.
The funds will expand Chinese and Arabic programs in some schools and create new programs in others. The district will also begin offering Russian, with the possibility of expanding to other schools. So far, more than 7,000 Chicago students already study Chinese, making it the largest such program in the nation, according to school officials. Nearly 300 students in the district are currently studying Arabic. read more...
In a move that could potentially mix religion and science, the Louisiana Senate recently passed a bill that would let science teachers change the way they teach evolution, global warming, and human cloning in public school classrooms.
The measure, called the "Louisiana Science Education Act," would let teachers supplement school science textbooks with other materials when teaching those subjects, reports the Associated Press. read more...
Watch and Read: Spotlight on Media Tie-ins
It’s Panda-monium Kung Fu Panda (PG), the latest in a spring deluge of family-friendly feature films, will be released in theaters on June 6, 2008. The CG-animated movie from DreamWorks is directed by John Stevenson and stars Po (voiced by Jack Black), an out-of-shape, food-loving giant panda who spends his days working at his father’s noodle shop and his nights dreaming about being a martial arts hero. When the villainous Tai Lung (Ian McShane), a snow leopard and kung fu expert, escapes imprisonment and threatens the safety of the Valley of Peace, a Dragon Warrior must be chosen to defeat him. Everyone expects one of the Furious Five—a group of formidable animal fighters—to be selected, but a prophecy names Po as the champion. Though unhappy with this outcome, wise Master Shifu
(Dustin Hoffman), a small but steely red panda, perfects the ideal training regimen for his paunchy pupil. Will this reluctant hero find the courage, strength, and self-confidence needed to face this daunting challenge? The film also features the voices of Jackie Chan, Angeline Jolie, and Lucy Liu. read more...
Work in the heart of the Rockies, in a scenic area offering 300 days of sunshine each year, and easy access to world-class skiing, hiking, bicycling, and the beauty of the American West! read more...
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PreS-Gr 2—Bandit the cat is annoyed to discover that his bed, toys, and tuna are missing. He is doubly annoyed when he is placed in his carrier and put in the car.
