Student Guide Corner

Today, I offer a different "ice-breaker" idea for your next professional development workshop. Watch this video and ask your participants who they would prefer to be: Venus Hum - the hair, the glasses, the DRESS! Blue Man Engineer who designed the light show Audience member Backup singer Lead guitar Drummer Camera Man Someone I missed? There is so much you can do with YouTube.

As frequently happens, Gary Stager nails another relevant educational topic in his blog that should be read by all. The importance of play. (Two questions for you to ponder: 1. Why is it that most of the smiling and laughter in our schools happens on the playgrounds? 2. And why are we shushing kids when they eat their lunch; can you imagine being told to be quiet during your lunch break?)

The ReadWriteThink.org student interactives resources have always been included in the UDLTechToolkit free tools wiki . Due to recent updating of the website, it's easier than ever to find specific interactive student tools by content area, teaching goal or grade level. Engage your students in online literacy learning with these interactive tools that help them accomplish a variety of goals�from organizing their thoughts to learning about language�all while having fun. Some of the new tools I've discovered as a result of the refinements to the website are the ReadWriteThink Notetaker tool (love it!) and the Literary Ele ments Map (great for 6-12). Refine your search by using the search tool on the left side of the site. Definitely worth checking out as part of embedding universal design into your instruction.