November-December 2008

We Connect New York... to dynamic educational resources!

In an effort to help educators plan ahead, we will be posting our online newsletter bi-monthly. As information often changes quickly, please visit our “What’s New Page” regularly to keep abreast of the latest information on WCNY educational resources.

Fourth Annual Celebration of Teaching & Learning

Designed for K-12 educators, academics and policy makers, the 4th Annual Celebration of Teaching & Learning will once again present worldwide trends in instruction, education policy and the latest research.

This year’s Celebration will feature over 70 speakers, 200 exhibiters, and 100 featured workshops.  Keynote speakers include: Eric Schmidt - technology-industry leader and Google’s Chief Executive officer; Alan Alda - award-winning actor, director, best-selling author and host of the new PBS production “The Human Spark”; Temple Grandin - the world’s most recognized autistic scholar; and Sir Kenneth Robinson - an internationally recognized author/expert in the development of creativity and innovation. Special guests at the Opening Session will be the new cast of Sesame Workshop’s “The Electric Company.”

Super Early Bird registration rates are available through November 10, 2008.
Visit ThirteenCelebration.org for full line-up, details, and registration.

PBS Teachers Connect is an online community of teachers exchanging ideas, resources and instructional strategies on the integration of digital media and technology.

For pre K-12 educators, this service aims to support the advancement of digital media content in education. "PBS Teachers Connect" provides Web 2.0 tools and opportunities for teachers, school library media specialists, technology coordinators, early childhood educators, and other education professionals to share ideas, collaborate, and support the effective use of technology to enhance learning.
 
At no cost, educators can search more than 3,000 standards-based classroom activities, lesson plans, interactive resources, and other materials on the PBS Teachers website, then easily bookmark, annotate, share, and manage their tagged content within the PBS Teachers Connect community. The site also enables educators to form shared-interest groups online. The community features a personalized home page for each user, enhanced user profiles, a searchable database of resources and community members, bookmarking tools, and discussion threads. Additional components include: private messaging, community feeds, friend feeds, online events, and a digital media gallery. 
 
Visit PBS Teachers Connect online

Double Down Begins Season 4 on Sunday November 2nd!

Two Central New York academic high school teams square off each episode to test their knowledge of science, math, literature, history, current events and more. Tune in to watch your favorite team compete. Then get connected to the week’s competition video streaming online.  Here’s your opportunity to interact with your friends as they battle it out on a cool new set under hot studio lights over and over again, and to play along to see how well you can do on Double Down! Visit the Double Down website for more information.

Watch Double Down on WCNY-TV, Sundays @ 6:00 and 6:30
or
Statewide on ThinkBright-Create, Sundays @ 7:30 pm

A Great Way To Encourage Your Students To Write!

The BIG news this year is that Treehouse Tales Young Writers & Illustrators Contest is now open to students in grades K-4! Yes, you read right… Kindergarten through 4th Grade.

The WCNY Treehouse Tales Young Writers and Illustrators Contest is an annual event for children in Kindergarten through Fourth Grade (K-4). The contest promotes literacy and creative expression by encouraging children to write and illustrate their own stories.

The contest officially begins in January, but it is never too early to start the creative process. So pick up those pens, pencils, crayons, markers, or whatever you choose and start writing.

For contest rules or to see past winners, visit Treehouse Tales online.

Hey You Guuuyyyyyssss!

THE ALL-NEW ELECTRIC COMPANY
COMING TO WCNY... JANUARY 2009!

It's been far too long since The Electric Company first embraced the airwaves and brought enjoyment to millions of children around the country. But...it's back! Today's Electric Company is an immersive, hip, and funny multi-media literacy campaign designed for struggling readers ages 6-8. In addition to the broadcast, The Electric Company combines a rich interactive online environment and community-based outreach activities.

Catch a sneak peek of the all-new Electric Company at: pbskids.org/electriccompany
And just for fun, take a look at the old... and the new: theelectriccompany.tv