Online ACT Course

Dear Ms. Spradlin-

I am an Alabama certified teacher who is pairing up with some former teacher friends to offer an opportunity that I think is a perfect fit for Everest Academy.

My Class Connection’s ACT Course (www.myclassconnection.com) is a comprehensive, student-interacted and teacher-led class. The classes are taught in our Virtual Online Classroom, with the students participating from the solitude of their own study. Occasionally the students will work together in small groups, as we have seen the power of student collaboration, and “aha” moments! Our Master Teachers use a number of interactive, and book directed resources for a full learning experience. Because we know students learn differently, we try to use all modalities of learning- visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile.

We Deliver:

18-24 hours of Online, Live instruction (Times allotted for each section vary based on pre-test results.)

4-6 Hours of Reading

4-6 Hours of English

4 -6 Hours of Science

8-10 Hours of Math

4-6 Hours of Writing the Essay (Optional, separate fee)

Would you allow us to be listed on your Educational Resource list-on your website or provide you with a flyer to give to interested students?

"For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required." -- Luke 12:48

Thank for your time- Kathy Jordan

Kathleen A Jordan, M. Ed

...bringing the classroom to your family room!

www.myclassconnection.com

251.402.4566

770.363.8345

May 19, Dauphin Island: Oyster Gardening Tour

Public invited to tour hatchery, learn about oyster gardening

In the Mobile Bay Oyster Gardening Program, oysters spawned at the Auburn University Shellfish Laboratory on Dauphin Island are given to volunteers whose care allows them to grow to a size that will make it easier for them to survive on restorations reefs.

People interested in the oyster gardening program are invited to take a tour of the hatchery at the Shellfish Lab and learn about the program at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 19. People who have grown oysters from their piers, are interested in becoming gardeners, have adopted gardens or are curious about oyster gardening are welcome.

The Auburn University Shellfish Laboratory is located at 150 Agassiz St. on Dauphin Island, Ala.

For more information or to sign up for the tour, contact PJ Waters, an extension specialist with the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium and the Auburn University Marine Extension and Research Center, at 251-438-5690 or waterph@aces.edu.

April 20 & 21, Bham: Lebanese Food and Cultural Festival

April 20-21, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Authentic food including kibbee, grape leaves, tabouleh, grilled chicken, homus, baklava and more. Children will perform Lebanese dances Friday evening and Saturday, and Amin Sultan, a Lebanese band from New York, will perform nightly from 6 to 9 p.m. Daytime church tours and other cultural events will also take place. St. Elias Maronite Church, Southside | Free | 205-521-8402stelias.org

April 22, Bham: Alabama School of Fine Arts Family Celebration

March 31, Wren: Wildflower Walk st Flint Creek Botanical Area & Indian Tomb Hollow

8:00 a.m.

This is the best time all year to stroll through the Bankhead National Forest. Birds are singing and wildflowers are nodding their heads. Join us in search of Dutchman’s Breeches, Celandine Poppy, Rue Anemone, Wild Stonecrop, Purple Phacelia, Wild Blue Phlox, Cut-leaf Toothwort, Bladdernut, Spring Cress and many more. 

This event is free, but you must register as group size will be limited. Contact Charles Rose at charles@freshairfamily.org or call 256-366-1937.

Sponsored by Fresh Air Family

June 16, Locust Fork: Day On The River

Environmental Education for grades 3 - 6

FULL INFO HERE

For eleven years Friends of the Locust Fork River has sponsored this environmental education opportunity for Blount County children in grades three to six. Held at King's Bend on the banks of the beautiful Locust Fork river, it’s gotten bigger and better every time – with more activity stations, more children and parents, more learning, and more fun. Certified canoe instruction, get-wet ecology, snakes, are just a few of the highlights. There will be fun and learning for county children in grades three to six who are accompanied by adults. Partners in providing environmental activities include Birmingham Canoe Club, Alabama River Alliance, Alabama Water Watch, McDowell Environmental Center, McWane Science Center, and more.

Day on the River is for Blount County children and their families. Come as a family or with your youth group. A parent or supervising adult MUST come along.  Program and lunch are provided at no cost.

Join the fun and learn about our River:  

Fishing

Woods snooper activity

Water critter hunt

Snakes

Canoe & kayak

Nature games and more!

Registration is limited. Please pre-register before June 11, 2012. You may pre-register by email: dayontheriver@gmail.com or with Susan by phone: (205) 429-3240. When you preregister, we need to know: 

(1) number of children and adults in group 

(2) your name andcontact phone number. (Please say your phone number twice if leaving a message.)

Please go to www.flfr.org for pre-registration forms and more information.

You Are Your Words for Language Arts

The American Heritage Dictionary has a new webtool that lets students create a self-portrait using their words. Students can link to places where they have already written (Facebook or Twitter) or write something unique specifically for their portrait. The unique image can be shared, saved and printed. You Are Your Words works best in Firefox, Google Chrome, or Safari Internet browsers. I’ve found that pictures with high contrast work better than pictures with similar coloring and low contrast. After you create you image, you can adjust the colors, contrast and font.

You Are Your Words would also be a great way for students to create a mini biography about a hero, person of interest, historical figure, etc. Students could upload a picture and include famous quotes or words that describe the person. These could be used as part of a larger project, or as an independent research project. The site asks where the eyes and mouth of the picture are, so uploading another image or diagram to describe might not work.

Students can create character description cards with words, quotes and phrases that describe fictional characters in the reading they are doing. If you have a class or small group that is reading the same book, each student can choose a character to do this for. Create “trading cards” of the characters that students can create and share with each other so that each student has a card for each character in the book. If students are doing an author study, they could create a “You Are Your Words” about the author.

As students are learning about different roles within government, they could create a You Are Your Words image about each position using a picture of the person who holds that position in government. The writing could be related to the job description of the position.

Review from ilearntechnology.com

March 31 & April 1, Tuscaloosa: FREE Air Show March 31 & April 1 "Honoring our Heroes"

By Christie Dedman -- The Birmingham News 

Four U.S. Navy Blue Angels pilots fly in formation on Friday, May 7, 2010, during a practice session for this weekend's airshow at the Tuscaloosa Regional Airport in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Blue Angels, U.S. Army Golden Knights and Canadian Forces Skyhawk parachute teams and several civilian pilots are scheduled to perform. Gates open at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday with free admission. More information at tuscaloosa.schultzairshows.com (The Birmingham News/ Mark Almond)

FREE Tuscaloosa Air Show March 31 & April 1 "Honoring our Heroes"Gates open at 9 a.m. 

The Blue Angels will be there.

It's open to the public. 

Go here to learn all of the details:

Tuscaloosaregionalairshow.com



Here's the schedule:

Saturday, March 31

0900 Airshow Gates Open  
1000 Airspace Closes, TFR in effect  
1020 Launch Rob Holland MX2 (skywriting wx permitting)  
1032 Launch Army Golden Knights  
1036 Golden Knights Streamer Drop  
1040 Launch Gordo Sanders T-6  
1042 Wayne Roberts Extra 300 Aerobatics  
1052 Opening Ceremony  
1058 Army Golden Knights Flag Jump w/Natl Anthem (Gordo Sanders Circling)  
1106 Army Golden Knights Mass Exit Show  
1112 Rob Holland MX2 Aerobatic Teaser  
1118 Gordo Sanders T-6 Aerobatics  
1130 Jack Knutson Extra 300 Aerobatics  
1140 Alabama State Police Helicopter Demonstration  
1150 Warbird Flight (P-51s, Corsair)  
1200 CAF P-51 Mustang Aerobatic Demo by Stan Musick  
1213 Mike Wiskus LUCAS OIL Pitts Aerobatics  
1227 Kirk Wicker PT-17 Stearman Aerobatics  
1240 Firebirds Xtreme Aerobatic Demonstration  
1255 US Coast Guard MH-65C Search & Rescue Demonstration  
1310 CAF FG1D Corsair Aerobatic Demo by Chris Avery  
1325 Launch Army Golden Knights  
1329 Army Golden Knights Streamer Drop  
1332 Matt Younkin Beech 18 Aerobatics  
1350 US Army Golden Knights Full Show  
1425 Jane Wicker Wingwalking  
1440 Rob Holland MX2 Aerobatics  
1500 USN Blue Angels 

Sunday, April 1

0900 Airshow Gates Open  
1000 Airspace Closes, TFR in effect  
1032 Launch Army Golden Knights  
1036 Golden Knights Streamer Drop  
1040 Launch Rob Holland MX2 (skywriting wx permitting)  
1042 Wayne Roberts Extra 300 Aerobatics  
1052 Opening Ceremony 1058 Army Golden Knights Flag Jump w/Natl Anthem (Rob Holland Circling)  
1106 Army Golden Knights Mass Exit Show  
1112 Rob Holland MX2 Aerobatic Teaser  
1118 Gordo Sanders T-6 Aerobatics  
1130 Jack Knutson Extra 300 Aerobatics  
1140 Alabama State Police Helicopter Demonstration  
1150 Warbird Flight (P-51s, Corsair)  
1200 CAF P-51 Mustang Aerobatic Demo by Stan Musick  
1213 Mike Wiskus LUCAS OIL Pitts Aerobatics  
1227 Kirk Wicker PT-17 Stearman Aerobatics  
1240 Firebirds Xtreme Aerobatic Demonstration  
1255 US Coast Guard MH-65C Search & Rescue Demonstration  
1310 CAF FG1D Corsair Aerobatic Demo by Chris Avery  
1325 Launch Army Golden Knights 1329 Army Golden Knights Streamer Drop  
1332 Matt Younkin Beech 18 Aerobatics  
1350 US Army Golden Knights Full Show  
1425 Jane Wicker Wingwalking  
1440 Rob Holland MX2 Aerobatics  
1500 USN Blue Angels 

Homeschool Domination

 Homeschool Domination

Need a better look at this graphic?  Look here!

Created by: College At Home

April 21, Tuscaloosa: Alabama Robotics Competition for K-12

Alabama Robotics Competition

FULL INFORMATION HERE

Competition Date: April 21, 2012

Come test your computer programming skills and compete with other Alabama students for cool prizes! A fun day is planned with educational experiences, food and social activities. The Alabama Robotics Competition is an event where students write programs that navigate their robot across a series of obstacle courses. Awards will be given out in several categories across multiple grade levels (elementary school, middle school, and high school).

The initial flyer describing the event is available here. 

July, Tuscaloosa: 2012 Computer Science Camps

2012 Camp Dates: Middle School (July 9-13); High School (July 16-20; July 23-27; July 30-August 3)

FULL INFORMATION HERE

The University of Alabama Department of Computer Science within the College of Engineering will host a series of Computer Science camps from July 9th-August 3rd, 2012. For 2012, we extend our camp offerings with a week of middle school camp for commuters. High School students will also be given an option to stay in our dormitories as residential campers. Students will be taught multiple topics of Computer Science while learning to program a computer in several exciting contexts (e.g., game programming at the middle school camps; and robotics control and smartphone apps at the high school camps). The Computer Science camps are taught in a manner that encourages self-exploration across multiple projects.

The initial flyer describing the camps is available here. 

March & April, Bham: FREE Writing Workshops

Mapper's Delight: Sketching Senses and Plotting Portals

Ages 8-12 | Thursday, March 29 • 4-5:30 p.m. • Limit 12 students | Woodrow Hall

In this installment of Mapper's Delight, we will take a walk and draw a map to catalog our observations. Then, we will add a mystery point on the map, a portal that leads somewhere beyond our observations. – Led by Kate LeCroy [Register for Sketching Senses and Plotting Portals]

Writing a Novel is not Impossible: Conflict

Ages 13-18 | Friday, March 30, 4-5:30 p.m. | Limit 12 students | Woodrow Hall

Without conflict, a story cannot move forward. In this workshop, we will discuss the different forms conflict can take and what each can do for your characters and your novel. (Note: This standalone workshop is the second of five in a series about writing a novel.) - Led by Nadria Tucker

[Register for Writing a Novel is not Impossible: Conflict] 

The Recipe of Me

Ages 7-10 | Thursday, April 5, 4-5:30 p.m. | Limit 12 students | Woodrow HallJoin Oxmoor House cookbook editor Shaun Chavis and write recipes about yourself. Our little memoirs will have all the features of regular recipes -- headnotes, ingredients, instructions -- but will require no time in the test kitchen! – Led by Shaun Chavis

[Register for The Recipe of Me] 

Mapper's Delight: The Balloon Mapping Project

Ages 8-12 | Thursday, April 12, 4-5:30 p.m. | Limit 12 students | Woodrow Hall

This is the only DISCO workshop to date in which you will get to attach a camera to a giant, helium-filled balloon and then release it up in the air to take overhead pictures of Woodlawn. Don't miss out! - Led by Kate LeCroy 

[Register for The Balloon Mapping Project]

Ekphrasis! Poems about Paintings

Ages 12-15 | Saturday, April 14, 2-3:30 p.m. | Limit 12 students | Woodrow Hall

Ekphrasis is a fancy Greek word for using one type of art form to talk about another type of art form. In this National Poetry Month workshop, we are going to write poems about paintings, photographs, comic strips and other visual arts. – Led by Elizabeth Hughey 

[Register for Ekphrasis!]

Deadline April 6, Tuscaloosa: UA Early College

Interested in Summer study through UA Early College?  You must apply by April 6.

Who can apply?  Current sophomores and juniors with a 3.0 or higher grade point average in high school are eligible to apply NOW.

What can I do this summer?  You can take real University of Alabama classes right here on campus in Tuscaloosa!  You can also take courses online – it’s your choice.

·         Juniors will be eligible to live on campus with other UA Early College students, take two courses, and experience college life – with peer coaches who show you the ropes.

·         Sophomores and juniors will both be eligible to take courses online this summer.  Sophomores, this is a great way to experience college study, and be ready to come on campus next summer, after your junior year!  

Why would I want to do this?  You’ll get ahead on your college coursework – that means you’ll be ahead of your peers.  And, you’ll experience college study. 

Current full-time college students who participated in UA Early College during high school tell us “I was so confident when I went to college full time!  Because I had taken courses through UA Early College, I knew I could succeed in college-level study, I knew how to manage my time and use all the online systems that are part of college courses.  And, there were peer coaches and academic advisors to help me every step of the way.  UA Early College rocks!”

Don’t let this opportunity pass you by!  Apply to UA Early College by April 6 for summer study. 

Jennifer L. Roth-Burnette, Ph.D.

Program Manager, UA Early College

College of Continuing Studies, The University of Alabama

217 Russell Hall

Box 870365, Tuscaloosa, Al  35487-0365

(205) 348-7083   1-877-823-8759   FAX (205) 348-3165

jroth-burnette@ccs.ua.edu   http://uaearlycollege.ua.edu

Web Adventures - Explore Science: Middle & High Schoolers

Web Adventures-Explore Science is a site by Rice University. Web Adventures lets students explore science-one game at a time.  Each adventure has a section dedicated to students and a section dedicated to teachers who are using the adventures in the classroom.  In the Cool Science Careers section, students can experience what it means to take on science as a career.  They can go through Profession Pathfinder to see which science careers best match their personality based on their answers to career interest questions.  Students can select from five different science career fields to virtually try out activities that are typical for the career.  With Zoom In, students can learn about different science jobs and read interviews with real scientists.  In the CSI: Experience, students learn all about what it takes to be a forensic scientist.  There are four cases that students can work to solve.  As they solve the crimes, they will learn about forensic biology, ballistics, toxicology, medical examination, fingerprint analysis, digital forensics, fire investigation, and facial reconstruction.  In the MedMyst section, students will use the scientific method and scientific process to investigate infectious disease outbreaks.  Students can work with the N-Squad forensic scientists to solve an alcohol related crime.  Throughout the game, students learn what alcohol does to the digestive, circulatory and nervous systems.  In the Reconstructors series of games, students can learn about the health effects of drug abuse while learning neuroscience.

Review originated at ilearntechnology.com

Magic Tree House FREE Educational Resources

AUTHOR MARY POPE OSBORNE PRESENTS FREE, CROSS CURRICULUM PROGRAM FOR EDUCATORS BASED ON THE BESTSELLING

“MAGIC TREE HOUSE” SERIES

With “Classroom Adventures,” Osborne Gives Educators the Tools Needed to Instill Excitement for Reading and Learning in Children

New York, NY – March 8, 2012 – Mary Pope Osborne, author of the bestselling book series Magic Tree House, announced today the launch of the Classroom Adventures Program, a free, comprehensive set of educational resources for teachers.  The lesson plans and curriculum guides provided on the website fully incorporate every book in the series, enabling teachers to build upon students’ interest in Jack and Annie’s adventures while simultaneously meeting core curriculum standards across a multitude of subjects. Launching during Magic Tree House’s 20^th Anniversary year, the Classroom Adventures Program is Mary Pope Osborne’s way of giving back to teachers who have inspired her with their dedication and creative use of Magic Tree House in the classroom.

“For twenty years I have been encouraged and motivated by extraordinary teachers to continue writing,” said Mary Pope Osborne. “The Classroom Adventures Program is designed to help teachers who are looking for creative ways to engage their students and still meet the curriculum standards. I like to describe the initiative as a ‘Gift of Time.’”

Based on information and feedback derived from educators who have effectively used the Magic Tree House books in the classroom, and developed in conjunction with educators, including past Magic Tree House Educator of the Year recipients, the Classroom Adventures Program includes:

·         A complete “curriculum key” that classifies every Magic Tree House book and non-fiction Fact Tracker with regard to subjects and core curriculum standards

·         A reading level guide for all books in the series

·         Individual lesson plans for each book and its non-fiction companion Fact Tracker

Classroom Adventures Program goes hand-in-hand with Osborne’s “Gift of Books” program, which provides free Magic Tree House books to children in Title 1 and other underserved schools across the country. Educators can find more information and submit an application on www.MTHClassroomAdventures.org. 

Mary Pope Osborne has written over 100 books for children, including her award-winning and bestselling Magic Tree House series which has sold over 100 million copies and is currently celebrating its 20^th anniversary. The series has been translated into 32 different languages in 100 countries, and is widely regarded among children, teachers, and parents alike for its power to instill a passion for reading.

Teachers and kids can experience more of the Magic Tree House fun at :www.magictreehouse.com.

Kids Bowl Free Summer Program

FULL INFORMATION HERE

Bowling Centers in Alabama Don't see a center near you? Click here.

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	ENTERPRISE Boland Lanes Amusements	FLORENCE Lauderdale Lanes	HUNTSVILLE Plamor Bowling Center		PRATTVILLE Bama Lanes Of Prattville
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FREE Online History Resource: U.S. History Scene

Dear Home Educators:

My name is RL Barnes and I am writing on behalf of US History Scene (www.ushistoryscene.com). As a historian and advocate of home school education, I am reaching out to likeminded organizations in the hopes that you will share our e-mail with homeschooler families who are passionate about learning United States History.

U.S. History Scene is a free multimedia education website founded by Harvard historians dedicated to providing both home school history educators and students with access to premier digital resources, scholarship, and archives (without the dust)! U.S. History Scene aims to democratize history education by connecting history professors at top-tier universities directly with home school families in the comfort of their homes. Home educators can use U.S. History Scene’s resources to brush up on an unfamiliar topic, design lesson plans that will give their students an edge, and play engaging, primary source videos or lectures for their students. The content on U.S. History Scene helps family teachers empower their students with a solid understanding of our shared past, without having to break the bank.

We provide free online lecture series, multimedia history articles, interactive film timelines, lesson plans, and come April, we will have a free downloadable AP US History study guide, which will include key term flashcards and quiz set.

We consider history education to be an on-going conversation and encourage active user participation.

We invite parent educators to e-mail us directly with any “ask a historian questions” that may come out of your home classroom conversations. Parents may also e-mail with article requests on topics you are interested in teaching on a more dynamic level. We are also happy to help with questions on book recommendations or lesson plans at Editors@USHistoryScene.com. If you have fun interactive history lessons you would like to share with other home school families, we would love to hear about them.

Explore some of our free online lecture series:

1) Yale Historian Joanne Freeman’s lecture series on the American Revolution: http://www.ushistoryscene.com/uncategorized/yale-lectures-the-american-revolution-with-joanne-freeman/

2) Yale Historian David Blight’s lecture series on the American Civil War: http://www.ushistoryscene.com/history-lectures/civil-war/

We also offer a growing collection of interactive articles and yearly timelines:

1) The History of Japanese Internment during World War II:http://www.ushistoryscene.com/uncategorized/february-19-1942-roosevelts-executive-order-9066-and-japanese-internment-during-world-war-ii/

2) 40 Things to Know about 1964: A Timeline in Film: http://www.ushistoryscene.com/1950-2000/1964/the-year-was-1964-a-timeline-in-film/ 

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at Editors@USHistoryScene.com or consult our website: www.ushistoryscene.com

Our about us page: http://www.ushistoryscene.com/our-purpose/

Warmly, 

R.L. Barnes

Editor

US History Scene | www.USHistoryScene.com 

Bringing you the best of the archives (without the dust!)