Table of Contents
June 2008

Connecting for Success ..................................................................................................... 1
Instructional Corner -Pizza Planning
In order to give students a nutritious lunch they will also enjoy, your school has decided to open its own student-run designer pizza shop! You will use your knowledge of fractions to create a variety of specially shaped pizzas that will appeal to consumers. ......................................... 2
Emerging Thoughts - What Makes a Village?
The world has changed dramatically since I was a child. I only knew one mom who worked outside the home, someone always made sure my homework was done, and the PTA was a thriving organization. In one generation, a tremendous shift has taken place. ..........,.............. 2
IDE Bookshelf -Word Power
The Power of Our Words: Teacher Language that Helps Children Learn, author Paula Denton offers many practical tips, real-life anecdotes, and concrete examples that show teachers how they and other adults with whom students interact can use language more skillfully, allowing their students to feel safe, respected, appreciated, and excited about learning.
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Tech Tonic - Global Guests
Want to build high social capital that draws from both local and global human resources? Bring experts into your classroom or engage students in conversations with people from around the world by using Skypecasts!...................................................................................................... 3
Starfish Stories -Making Connections and Expanding Horizons
Working closely with biology teachers Cathy Yuhas and Dr. Beth Hixenbaugh, ninth grade inclusion teacher Alex Rodriguez builds a culture of high social capital at Snyder High School in Jersey City, NJ. ....................................................................................................................... 3
Quick Tips - EasilyHelp student “engineers” work in teams and collaborate with real experts in an online, multi-player game, to design energy solutions that can save the planet! Easily share documents created in MS Word for MAC OSX with PC users! ..................................................4