Google has once again updated both Compose and Reply

You probably won't need additional guidance to send or reply to email.  Just in case, travel to this link.

Kidrex.org; a Google powered safe search engine for young children

There are a number of safe filtered search engines designed for young children that are powered by Google.  I like Kidrex...give it a try.

New Blogger error message

The following message appeared ("javascript:void(0) error message") when I attempted to edit a link on my blog.  Based on the feedback from some of the Google forums, the Google folks are aware of the problem and hopefully will be fixing it soon.

If you have expereinced a problem with Blogger's list gadget and would like to add your site's URL to Google, here's the link for reporting. 

Here's a temporary fix...instead of going to your blogger dashboard the usual way, use this address; http://draft.blogger.com/home.  Everything will function as it should.  The permanent fix should arrive soon.

Free Common Core lesson plans

Free vetted lesson plans keyed to the Common Core by grade level in the following areas: The Arts, Behavioral/Social Sciences, Civics, Economics, Foreign Language, Geography, Health/PE, History , Language Arts, Math, Multi/Interdisciplinary, Science, and Technology.

Replace your Blogger search box with one that actually searches your blog!

Thanks to Matt for figuring out how to add an HTML search box gadget.  Here are the directions.

Blogger's Search Box gadget is not working

It seems that a few days ago, the ability of your search box to look for items in your blog (including all of your archived pages) will yield the error message "no results".  Google is aware of the problem and is investigating.

Have you been to the National Archives?

One of the most popular places to find primary source material, including lesson plans keyed to national standards, is the Library of Congress.  The National Archives offers similar resources.  Each set of lesson plans and activities includes correlations to standards, worksheets and photocopies of actual documents.  Here is a brief of list of what is waiting for you and your students:

• a Bill to establish the United States Depratment of the Navy (1797),
• a letter from Gerald Ford (the House minority leader) to President Nixon suggesting possible nominees to replace Spiro Agnew as Vice President,
• a Department of Justice memo to Leon Jaworski offering guidance on whether or not to prosecute Richard Nixon for Obstruction of Justice, and
• patents issued to Alexander Graham Bell for the telephone and to Thomas Edison for the electric lamp.

What's happened to the Google Docs templates?

Thanks to Ronnie Sands for making us aware that the templates were no longer visable from your Google drive and to Matt Malkiewicz for figuring out how we can access them.  The template area is now an app that must be added to your Google Drive. It's easy to do...here are the directions.