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A free service providing access to more than 8,000 free books and essays written by more than 3,500 authors. The titles available through Read Print are generally works that are in the public domain or have Creative Commons licensing. The collection of works contains many of the classics in fiction and non-fiction literature. In addition to books, poems, and essays you can also find plays on Read Print. You can search by author, title, or quotation for titles on Read Print. Once you've found what you're looking for you can print all or parts of your chosen title or read it online using the Read Print viewer.

I like the reflective process this teacher is using to improve her teaching literacy to her students. The methods she is practicing and refining are in contrast to the "one and done" reading approach she mentions students practicing outside of class. A favorite quote in the reflection: "In my class we explore the why--the story behind history. Pace carefully and read closely, and students will discover the why--especially when they can discuss the questions they've had time to think about." Instead of the teacher "teaching" content, the students explore that content and find meaning for themselves that is relevant and connective to other learning experiences.

Meet reading standards using this site and engage students with current events. Includes the ability to adjust reading level and assessing students comprehension with writing and multiple choices quizzes. Great resource.

Read about the Leyden High School's Chromebook Initiative from the perspective of 4 students. Before reading them, you might want to check out the links to four other guest posts about the initiative: *Why 1:1?  Why Chromebooks? *The Logistics of Chromebooks at Leyden *What Can You Expect When You Move Learning to the Web? *Tech Support Internship:  Student-Led Support for Leyden's Chromebook Initiative

A really well written post on some things we should consider about blogging. She based her post on her own experience with blogging and the work of Sue Waters, a professional educ. blogger and trainer for Edublogs. Here are some questions she asks: Who should be writing for? What is the benefit? Is it important to read others work and comment? I think if you read this post, you will be encouraged. 

Although the first paragraph can be a little grating for ITs/Tech. Coordinators to read, I think it is a perception we must address. Here is my response to one IT whose view of teachers was low. Joe, I can hear the frustration in your reply. I can appreciate some of it. However, I think that the first paragraph,  I think, reflects a perception that we as IT's/Tech. Directors/Coordinators need to address honestly, but respectfully. So when I read the first paragraphs, I asked myself, "How is this true for me?" I think we need to honestly assess that in our practice.  Next, the points that follow were written to be more general in scope to give each reader a chance to explore how they might fit for them in their unique situations. Patronizing? I think they are points of practice we can all reflect on. That's the purpose I see in the blog post. In regards to filtering, we all live with it. It's coming to terms with how much filtering is necessary and how to manage the filter. I get frustrated not having the ability to filter content the way I would like. I didn't hear the author say things like "Get over it," but instead "Consider....". I think a helpful approach for IT's, teachers, and admin. is to form a partnership/relationship that allows each to better understand the needs/challenges each faces to provide the best for students. That's the goal. As a tech. coordinator, I proactively work at that. I taught for eight years, but also was instrumental in helping press into tech. integration and perhaps that has helped me to be more balanced than some in my approach to IT and embrace change. I think also we have to expect failures along the way as we feel our way through new approaches, methods, and devices. Right now, I think most IT's are a bit intimated by the level of change and diversity of needs we have to address. I know I am! Let's become more a part of the dialogue and abstain from labeling and finger-pointing. We're in this together. 

Great tips to helping thin your Inbox. "While lots of newsletters and mailing lists fall into the "spam" category, sometimes you want to read them but don't want them cluttering up your inbox. Filter them out in Gmail by including these oft-used phrases." Also read the post comments for another great way to subscribe to things and not have them end up in your Inbox.

Wow...want to read about someone with courage and who has leveraged their PLN connections? Then read this post. Very challenging and encouraging.

Catlin Tucker clarifies what "Complex Text" is and shares a link for teachers to see what the Lexile Measure is. Read the comments on her post, as a few teachers respond with additional resources.

Using Vygotsky's theory of the Zone of Proximal Development and scaffolding, one district moved their Prof. Development plan toward a more differentiated model. Read the article, "Individualized Technology Goals for Teachers" for a detailed explanation of it's evolution and practice. http://goo.gl/BJfZIQ

Using Vygotsky's theory of the Zone of Proximal Development and scaffolding, one district moved their Prof. Development plan toward a more differentiated model. Read the article, "Individualized Technology Goals for Teachers" for a detailed explanation of it's evolution and practice. http://goo.gl/BJfZIQ

Interesting read on College & Career prep. Looks at what college is and discusses accessibility, literacy levels as barriers, & other important topics. 

Interesting discussion on copyright issues with Flickr images with Creative Commons license - be sure to read the comments

Important reading on the effects of poverty and teachers on student performance. 

There's one request for advice that I receive more than any other from coaches: How can I coach a resistant teacher? This article explores that by helping those who coach teachers to look at themselves as much as they do those they coach. Good read for instructional leaders.

This blog post will get you to ask yourself, "What is the role of a teacher?" Some of the comments show the wide diversity in views among educators - those who would abandon schools if they could (LIsa Nielsen), others who have the paradigm of the student making the instructional choices and the teacher just floating around and helping students, and those who see the teacher as embodying many different skill sets and who work out of a strong relationship with their students. The current educational shifts in pedagogy and goals in education have had a profound impact on teaching. Reading this post will help stimulate and hopefully clarify you own views.

"I often begin my workshop on personal learning networks (PLN) for educators by asking these questions: Who is in your learning network? Who do you learn from on a regular basis? Who do you turn to for your own professional development?" Read 10 great tips for expanding your PLN

The fear of failure keeps us from moving forward in an age of rapid change. This quote below summarizes some of the feelings teachers have as they face this change: "As I read this morning's daily post from Seth Godin's blog,  the concerns of people who are anxious about the transition we will be undertaking as we move to becoming a 1:1 school are forefront in my mind.  One of the biggest fears I hear from some people is that they are concerned about losing control control due to the fact that they will not know how to best utilize all of the tools that they will have at their disposal.  They are afraid that their students may know more than they do in regards to using the new tools that they will be trying to implement." 

"Can computers really grade essay tests? The National Council of Teachers of English say "no," even if there is new software that says "yes."" Read the pros and cons in this article and judge for yourself. Can software do an ADEQUATE job of grading essays?

This is a helpful look at the stages many go through as they begin the journey of building a PLN. I've read a couple of posts by those extending themselves into the realm of connected relationships online: Chez Vivian "Oh, what a tangled web we weave" - http://goo.gl/CFnKv & Fenella Olynick: "Staying the Course: Connections, Reciprocity, and the Web" http://goo.gl/H8UKp

Great rationale for why networks matter. Peggy Bentlley does a marvelous job of using Tweets to support the points she makes in her blog post. Must read!