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Oprah's back to school reading list 2012

Here are the Top 100 Tools for Learning 2013 - the results of the 7th Annual Learning Tools Survey. The list was compiled by Jane Hart, Founder of the Centre for Learning & Performance Technologie from the votes of over 500 learning professionals worldwide. (Released 30 September 2013). "A learning tool is a tool for your own personal or professional learning or one you use for teaching or training." Here is a summary presentation of the Top 100 Tools and beneath it the text list. Click the name of the tool to find out more about it, its cost, availability, its past rankings and to read some of the comments from those who voted for it. You will find an analysis of this year's list here.

A YA reading road trip

Rewordify is a free site that was developed by a special education teacher and former computer programmer for the purpose of helping students read complex passages. At its most basic level Rewordify takes a complex passage and rephrases it in simpler terms. Students can adjust Rewordify's settings to match their needs. For example, students can add words to a "skip list" and those words will not be changed when they appear in a passage. Students can also use Rewordify to simply highlight difficult words instead of having them replaced.

Kids these days don't read email. So how do you get them to remember important assignments, tests or messages for their parents? You send them a text. SendHub is a fast and simple communications tool designed to help educators communicate more effectively with their students after the school day ends. Their simple user interface enables teachers and administrators to make calls, send messages to individual students or entire classes, and also stay in touch with parents. Here are a few reasons why SendHub might be right for your class: * Easily build your class database with text to join, or simply import existing contact lists. * Send messages from your phone or the Web-- communicate the way you want to. * Schedule assignment or test reminders to be sent to students for any time in the future. * Share groups with other teachers or administrators without hassle-- then everyone with your group will get changes you make immediately. Signup for free at www.sendhub.com

From east to west, from the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of the universe, good science trade books take us on journeys of the imagination. Each year for the past 39, experienced NSTA educators have joined with the Children's Book Council to identify the very best, selecting from hundreds of nominees and then meeting to consider their accuracy, creativity and the way in which they convey the practices of science. To be called truly outstanding a book must not only excel in those criteria, but also grab the heart of the reader. Each of this year's winners has special value for teachers and their students. Some are ideal for sharing to inspire exploration. Some are perfect for the sort of personal reading that inspires future careers. The list includes outstanding poetry and graphic design-components that lure diverse learning styles to science. There are selections for the very youngest preprimary readers and long, luxurious science fiction novels for young adults. And in the spirit of STEM, there are books that model integration with history, cultures and engineering.

"Everyone is welcome at the mock awards. Please read as many of the books on the discussion list as possible, if there are others you think should be considered please bring them with you and they will be discussed as time allows. Before the discussion, please take a moment to review the criteria for the official Caldecott, King, Newbery and Printz awards."

A Directory of Middle Grade Book Blogs