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Another beautiful site and student work. Students update these and use them as they apply for scholarships. As I type this, I'm listening to this student's CD. He and his friends decided to cut a CD for his passion project. I love how this project gets students to do the things they want to do. Things that are important but don't get done move up the list when they are getting a grade - especially for your strong students. I think of the beautiful music that has been recorded on CD as part of these projects and it means a lot. I wish you can hear it, but likely they will release it soon. ;-)

With timekiwi you can create a beautiful timeline of your twitter, blogs & photos.

Use LetterPop to create eye-popping newsletters, actionable presentations, irresistible invitations, beautiful product features, sizzling event summaries, informative club updates, lovely picture collages, and a whole lot more.

Tackk is a website builder to build a beautiful web page.

This is beautiful site showing a zooming tree of life with links to more information for thousands of species. http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Science

Leo Babauta gives great advice on forming new habits. As you think about the habits that need to change in your life, read this thought provoking post. "Here's the process: Start small. What's the smallest increment you can do? Do this for at least 3 days, preferably 4-5. Get started. Starting the change each day is the most important thing. Want to run? Just get out the door. Want to meditate? Just get on the cushion. Enjoy the change. Don't look at this as a sacrifice. It's fun, it's learning, it's a challenge. Stick to the change. Notice your urge to quit. Don't act on it. Keep going. Adjust again. When the change becomes normal, make another small adjustment. This is the process of creating a new normal. It's beautiful and simple."

Funny... when you treat children with dignity and create beauty around them, they tend NOT to act like criminals. Create a school environment that's like a prison, and...

There are many who don't understand this one point. I used to have someone who required me to have beautiful lesson plans. They were detailed. I spent more than an hour a day on them. So much time so that sometimes I felt unprepared when the kids actually walked in the door. When those detailed plans were removed and I was allowed to focus on the content created for the students to use and then keep a grid (I keep links, etc. to what I'm doing) - THAT Was when real innovation happened in my classroom. Things like wikis, blogs, etc. happened after those super-restrictive requirements were taken off my shoulders. I had the wrong audience when I had those detailed lesson plans - my audience was the principal at the time. Now, I still have plans but I keep it in a grid in a book and then keep copies of what I use with students in dropbox and other places. I do far more now than then because my focus is the students. Lesson plans aren't bad. However, if you spend your time making the LESSON PLAN itself pretty and perfect then likely you're not spending your actual time PLANNING, printing, collecting, and creating what you'll be doing with your students. Also, when you do things like #geniushour and 20% time projects, you no longer have a lesson plan but a project plan which is an entirely different thing altogether. Don't fault teachers for this.  Teaching is the hardest job everybody thinks they can do and few really can.

She spoke about love, beauty, and respect for children (of all ages) and their learning process. She showed some photos and videos of children learning together and how teachers have the opportunity to make small decisions in this process. To watch or intervene; to ask a question or remain quiet; to suggest an expansion of the complexity of the children's investigation or to help them simplify their ideas.

Make art out of ribbons of light with this interactive drawing site. Just move your mouse around to create beautiful patterns. http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Art%2C+Craft+%26+Design

Translating the reading standards of the Common Core into haiku.  Beautiful rendition!

Here is a lovely set of resources for educators, parents, and students to create an awareness of the needs of deaf students and how to meet those needs in the classroom. I had a deaf uncle and learned sign language and it has served me well when it was necessary in my life. Younger students often enjoy signing songs - it adds such a rythmic beauty. Here are some great resources. Consider having students sign songs and speeches in your next assembly.

A beautiful space science site. View a set of stunning flashcards about a variety of space topics. On other sections of the site to can view educational cartoon videos, worksheets and games. http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Science

If you love photography, this set is worth a scroll. The 14 most beautiful waterfalls in the world. Including a redwaterfall at the pole.

TEacher AJ Juliani (a Flat Classroom certified teacher) writes a beautiful and profound blog on his wish list. He understand and gets global collaboration in the classroom. Especially moving is this quote: "My wish list for Education in 2012 is centered around the belief that it is time to try "new things in new ways". It is time to look for "Next Practices" instead of "Best Practices". It's time to put ideas that are unproven into practice, learn from our failures, and celebrate our successes. Here is my wish list:" Worth a read.

A fun little art site where your every line grows into interesting shapes. http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Art%2C+Craft+%26+Design

This is an amazing download for creating beautiful calendars. There are lots of styles to choose from including with and without photos. http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/ICT+%26+Web+Tools

Beautiful stop motion movie made with Google Street View and a few toys.

Google presentations is another alternative for presentations online. This can be collaborative (unlike some other options) and track changes, however, is a less beautiful version of Keynote/ Powerpoint. Google presentations has made dramatic improvements recently as evidenced by these templates that you can use and modify. If you're going to use Google presentations, I'd recommend starting with a template so the attractive features are already set for you.