VT'sTechnology GEs divided into grade clusters

Printable Versions in every possible configuration!

VT TGEs 2010 - Word

VT TGEs 2010 - PDF

VT TGEs By Grade Cluster - All

VT TGEs K-2

VT TGEs 3-5

VT TGEs 6-8

VT TGEs 9-12

December 21st. total Lunar Eclipse will not be visible in VT due to cloud cover

A total lunar eclipse will be visible across North America, according to the editors of StarDate magazine. As Earth’s long shadow falls across the Moon, the part in the shadow will turn dark. It will look as though a chunk were missing from the Moon. About an 70 minutes later, the shadow will completely cover the Moon, an event known as “totality.” This will last for more than an hour, then the shadow will exit the Moon’s opposite side over another hour or so. The entire event will last about 3.5 hours and can be seen from coast to coast.

Eclipse begins 1:32 a.m.

Totality 2:41-3:53 a.m.

Eclipse ends 5:01 a.m.

Since we won't be able to see the eclipse live...here's a Youtube video of a Lunar Eclipse - Aug. 2007 Hawaii that you can show your students.

SMART Exchange site

...just added to the SmartTech site...an easy search screen to find lessons using the Smartboard keyed to Vermont standards...

Internet Safety: Information for parents

Internet Safety: Information for parents This is one of the best internet safety sites targeted at informing parents.  It covers topics on chat rooms, cyberbullying, how to find kid friendly sites, etc.  Besides typical questions and answers it has some valuable downloadable materials:

Parenting online :: Download the PDF Booklet :: En Español
"What do we do when our eight-year-old knows more than we do about cyberspace? How do we guide our children safely through this new world? How do we set the rules when we don't even understand the risks? The childproof locks, seatbelts and helmets we use to help keep them safe in everyday life won't protect them in cyberspace. There we need new and different gadgets and safety tips." 

Tutorials on reporting Cyberabuse 

Do you have a few minutes left at the end of a science lesson?

Download a page of simluations and games that take only minutes to experience...courtesy of Thinkfinity.

Lot's of safe, motivational websites for young children

Download the file. If a mouse click does not activate the links...for PC users; try Control + mouse click and for Mac users; Command + mouse click.

Teachers' Domain is a free digital media service

Teachers' Domain is a free digital media service for educational use from public broadcasting and its partners. You’ll find thousands of media resources, support materials, and tools for classroom lessons, individualized learning programs, and teacher professional learning communities.

This is a wonderful site!   Thanks to Mary Powers, Windsor HS librarian for the link.

Family Computer Workshop @ Weathersfield

Welcome to the computer lab!  This evening we're going to look at a number of sites online, that provide resources for you to work with your children to help reinforce concepts that they have learned at school.  The first thing that you will need to do is click on the word "handout."  Save this to the desktop.  (If you need help, just ask.)  All of the sites that we will visit during this session are active links on the handout.  These sites are free, safe and are accessible from home.  If you have a computer at home but do not have interest access, ask Art to send home a CD with your child that will have many of the online simulations that we view tonight.

Where did all of the ARRA technology $ go?

Just released...A Preliminary Report on State Administration of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009: Enhancing Education Through Technology Program. ARRA Investments in Technology, Innovation, and K-12 Reform: The Digital Education Funding Cliff, November 2010.

Looking for 12+ good teachers across disciplines and grades.

Vita-Learn has limited openings left for individuals who are interested in improving their technology skills, like to help others, and want to influence the use of technology in their schools.  We will pay $585 to help you on your way. (Combine this with local PD $$ and do this for no personal cost :)

Become a part of the leaders’ teams who are influencing the use of technology in our schools. Play a critical part in advancing the use and integration of technology in our schools providing 21st Century Skills and Learning for our students.

Earn 120 hours of Professional Development credits, (8 Grad Credits for salary advancement) and a Certificate of accomplishment for the ISTE NETS-T for teachers.

Check Out the 3 courses Starting January 27th 2011 http://tinyurl.com/VitaCertCourses

Indicate your interest by signing up at: http://tinyurl.com/Vitapd or go to: http://www.vits-learn.org  click on Scholarship

For more information contact: Neil Manders, Vita PD Grant Coordinator  Neil@techmastervt.com  802-257-1258

New National Educational Technology Plan

It was just released November 9th.  Download the full version or the executive summary.

Free online texts and course materials

Long before the iPod or Kindle there was Project Gutenberg, an online depository of thousands of free books...today there are over 33,000 available for free.  Today's version of the Project is Curriki.  It has thousands of course materials and Smart Notebook activities.  For free access to these and other sites, download the handout.

Thanks to Weathersfield's Laura Berry for this information.

VT's New Technology GEs

The new Technology GEs have just been released.  Read and download by chapter at the Tech GEs wiki or download the complete text in either Word or PDF format. 


What exactly is a GE? A grade expectation [GE] is a stated objective that relates directly to a Vermont standard and associated evidences. A GE differentiates performance on content knowledge or skills between adjacent grade levels and describe clearly what students will do to show that they understand a designated concept.) 

Google Docs tutorial

Google Docs is a free online program that allows users to create documents, spreadsheets and presentations online and share them with others for collaboration. This allows educators and students to share their work with others, collaborate on assignments, and save documents online for access at school or at home.


You can watch the brief introductory video


and download a hard copy set of directions.

How are teachers using technology?

Teachers' Use of Educational Technology in U.S. Public Schools: 2009 (May 2010) This First Look report presents data from a spring 2009 teacher Fast Response Survey System (FRSS) survey on the availability and use of educational technology. This includes information on the use of computers and Internet access in the classroom; availability and use of computing devices, software, and school or district networks (including remote access) by teachers; students' use of educational technology; teachers' preparation to use educational technology for instruction; and technology-related professional development activities.

FirstClass Handouts

How do you add a contact that is not in the directory, add a picture to your email, change your password, add an attachment, develop a contact list, or add a signature to email??? Download the handouts!

What can you do with a spreadsheet in elementary school?

Here is a list of resources, examples and tutorials.

NASA for students

Great stuff by grade level! Pictures, videos and tons of lessons.
Grades K-4, Grades 5-8, Grades 9-12

...able to leap over tall buildings at a single bound...

KeepVid.com  At my PD, I introduced the online program idesktop.tv, that allows the user to download and save YouTube and Teachertube videos.  Several of the participants mentioned KeepVid as a better alternative.  To all those of you who mentioned KeepVid, you are hereby awarded a virtual gold star.  Not only is it free and allows you an unlimited number of daily downloads but it is very fast.  Try it...you'll like it.

In the SSS watercooler, Ryan Dougher has detailed directions for using KeepVid with Safari.

PreK-8 online math practice keyed to G E's

IXL's math skills are aligned to the 2004 Vermont Grade Level Expectations and the 2003 Vermont Early Learning Standards, providing comprehensive preparation for the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP). With IXL's state standards alignments, you can easily find unlimited practice problems specifically tailored to each required standard.

The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives

 The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (NLVM) is an NSF supported project that began in 1999 to develop a library of uniquely interactive, web-based virtual manipulatives or concept tutorials, mostly in the form of Java applets, for mathematics instruction (K-12 emphasis).  Thanks to Patty Kelly (SSS) for reminding me about this great site.

Two wonderful sites that you should explore!

 Starfall.com opened in September of 2002 as a free public service to motivate children to read with phonics. Our systematic phonics approach, in conjunction with phonemic awareness practice is perfect for preschool, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, special education, homeschool, and English language development. This site was recommended by Theresa Symancyk (HES).

FreeRice is a non-profit website run by the United Nations World Food Program. Our partner is the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University.  FreeRice is a wonderful game that enables a donation to be made to the World Food Program (sponsored by the U N).  This site was recommended by Lynda Shannis (HES).

Sept 29th Professional Development Evaluation Form

Before you leave your workshop this afternoon, please fill out the evaluation form.

Don't forget to hit the SUBMIT button!

Planning for Technology Integration in the Science Classroom with the School 2.0 Etoolkit and Other Resources

WHEN: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 12:30 pm PDT/1:30 pm MDT/2:30 pm CDT/3:30 pm EDT (Duration: 1 hour) COST: FREE, but registration is required Tour the U.S. Department of Education’s etoolkit website with more than 700 free resources to help educators with technology integration in the classroom. Discover resources that will help you and your school or district plan for successful technology implementation into the curriculum and classroom. Also, explore the NSTA Learning Center. You’ll see and experience tools and resources that are designed to help educators identify content knowledge gaps and document their growth toward excellence. The NSTA Learning Center (http://learningcenter.nsta.org) has more than 5,200 electronic resources and tools for science educators’ on-demand professional development.

To register online:  http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e30njvsagdu9861m/a01bage5sqwmy/questions

Vermont Parents' Home Companion & Resource Directory

Prevent Child Abuse Vermont publishes an annual publication called the Vermont Parents' Home Companion and Resource Directory (VPHC) annually, and they are now in their 21st year. VPHC is a parenting guide to child development featuring golden tips for everyday problems and a complete list of local and statewide resources for children and families listed by each county in Vermont. 

Thanks to Jennifer Christoffers, WES school nurse and Frank Treu, WES guidance counselor for providing this information.

Two great Freebies!

Download and convert YouTube videos into a variety of formats. (The free version allows you to convert up to 3 YouTube videos/day.)

Convert .pdf files into Word. 

Have you been to the Literacy Web?

The Literacy Web is designed to promote the use of the Internet as a tool to assist classroom teachers in their search for best practices in literacy instruction (by grade level), including the new literacies of Internet technologies. http://www.literacy.uconn.edu/index.htm

Back-to-School Guide: Jump Start Learning With New Media

Here it is! Edutopia’s updated guide of the best tools, tips, and resources to help you get the school year off to a great start!

Whether you're new to teaching or a classroom veteran, this resource-packed collection of 10 top new media tips provides fresh ideas and easy-to-use tools to engage your students and make learning more collaborative.

Thanks to Mary Alice Powers, high school Librarian for sending the link.

Questions about FirstClass?

Download the Getting Started Guide.

NETS*S Performance Indicators by Grade Level

Although you have probably seen ISTE's National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS*S), you may not be sure what these standards actually look like at the grade level(s) that you teach. Check out the NETS*S followup document entitled Profiles for Technology Literate Students-Performance Indicators.

Classroom Scenarios Wiki

Have you looked at the new VT Transformation-Technology Classroom Scenarios?  They're wonderful!  Visit the Wiki, where you will find the scenarios grouped by grade level and NETS*S standards.  If you have used any of the scenarios, you could add comments or just read what other teachers have said. http://transformation-technology.wikispaces.com/K-2Communication+%26+Collaboration

It's that time of the year again!

November 3-5 @ Killington Grand, in Killington VT 


Everything you need to know may be found at http://sites.google.com/a/vita-learn.org/vita_vtf10/

Do you Podcast?

The Education Podcast Network is an effort to bring together into one place, the wide range of podcast programming that may be helpful to teachers looking for content to explore issues of teaching and learning in the 21^st. century.  http://epnweb.org/

Vermont's Internet Safety Project

This is a wonderful site with information for educators, students and parents about internet safety. Set up as a blog, this resource allows all educators to contribute to the project and keep it current with the latest internet safety issues.  http://vtisp.org/

What does Transformation - Technology look like in Vermont?

If the video did not appear on your screen, here is the direct link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyNt97Wj3P0&feature=player_embedded Click this link for a free copy of VT Transformation-Technology Classroom Scenarios that was mentioned in the video.

Welcome back to school!

My name is Art Skerker. I'm the new technology integration specialist at WSSU. A large part of my job is to assist teachers in adding technology rich activities into their lessons. To that end I will post resources on this page that will hopefully add to your instructional toolkit. My position is one of curricular support...I'm here to help. I anticipate being available at your school soon...but in the interim you may contact me at askerker@gmail.com .