a professional development stocking stuffer?

I don't know if you are a geek like me... but this just arrived in my inbox... and I got a little bit excited.  Ok... I won't lie because someone down the hall will tell you the truth.  I got a LOT excited.  PBS TeacherLine is going to be offering a course in partnership with THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS in 2011! 

Is your Christmas shopping done?  Is your Holiday wish list already filled?  Have you REALLY bought everything for yourself?  I bet you treated everyone but YOU!  Invest in yourself and consider putting one more item under the tree that will help you this next year and your students...  Special discounts for ASSET Educator members on PBS TeacherLine courses.

INST342 Teaching with Primary Sources from the Library of Congress
Description: Primary sources provide a window into the past—unfiltered access to the record of artistic, social, scientific, and political thought and achievement during the specific period under study, produced by people who lived during that period. Bringing young people into close contact with these unique, often profoundly personal, documents and objects from the Library of Congress can give them a very real sense of what it was like to be alive during a long-past era and can contribute to a new understanding of the present. Teaching with primary sources can facilitate student engagement, the development of critical thinking skills, and the construction of knowledge, while bringing the content to life. This course will demonstrate how teachers can engage students and have them think critically and construct their own learning through analyzing primary sources from the Library of Congress.
Classroom Link: Yes
Grades: 3-12
Duration: 6 weeks
Hours: 45
This course was produced in collaboration with the Library of Congress.

So...  after all the children are nestled snug in their beds... and the grades are filed... and the cookies have been baked...  why not consider enrolling?

The wait is almost over... the Cat will be here to celebrate Labor Day!

The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! on Monday, September 6 at 9:30 a.m.

Voiced by award-winning actor Martin Short, Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat guides friends Sally and Nick — with a little help from the Fish, Thing 1 and Thing 2 (my personal favorites :) )— on fun-filled adventures where they make natural-science discoveries, from how bees make honey to why owls sleep during the day.

The show is based on the acclaimed The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library book series. Filled with both adventure and silliness, it appeals to preschoolers' natural curiosity and engages them in the process of scientific exploration and discovery.  Is there any doubt? Eight delivers children's programming you can trust!

Use it as an active viewing opportunity and explore the Parents & Teachers information online!  Get excited about digging deeper into the activities and reading aloud the stories with your children after the show is over.  THEN.... reserve your seat for the OCTOBER 2, 2010... CAT in the HAT KNOWS A Lot ABOUT THAT... BREAKFAST with KIM STOREY... Experience PBS ASSET Educator Institute 2010.  Space is Limited and we want you to have a spot at the table with the red & white striped hats!

Cheers to GREEN EGGS & HAM! and of course, Happy Labor Day!

Thinking Upstream!

ASSET-Eight launched its new member services area this past week - on Friday actually - and is excited to announce registration is NOW OPEN for the ASSET Educator Summer Institute "Think Upstream!" You will need to contact us - asset@asu.edu - if you have yet to acquire your member only services access login information. But make SURE you join us for this exciting professional development event in downtown Phoenix in June!

Registration is complimentary with your membership - so if you are ALREADY an ASSET Educator - just take the time to register on the roster and you are all set. The theme for the event couldn't be more timely - thinking out of the box, thinking beyond what is possible, empowering yourself as a classroom educator to be an element of change in your school, your district, and your career. Things are so hard right now in Arizona for education - and yet through difficult times come exciting new change and growth. Join us for an inspiring day with Austin Vickers, Lisa Henson and some fantastic sessions focused on problem-based learning and digital storytelling, STEM (Science Technology Engineering & Math), and of course, early childhood. There really is something for everyone built into this special 1 day event.

Log in to the new member services area to find out where we got our inspiration - yes it came straight from the heart of PBS... to Be More EMPOWERED!

Contact us for any and all help - asset@asu.edu / 602-496-1104 - we look forward to celebrating the day with you.