Advance excellent teaching with Annenberg Media.

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*** In the Spotlight for August ***
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 -  Brand New: "Teaching 'The Children of Willesden Lane'"
 -  Linking to Current Events
 -  Take a Summer Course or Workshop
 -  Now Available on DVD
 -  This Month on the Channel
 -  Connect Learning with Special Days
     o Anniversary of the Dropping of the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima
     o Slavery Remembrance Day
     o Birthday of Karen Uhlenbeck, Mathematician
     o Women's Equality Day
     o National Immunization Awareness Month
     o Get Ready for Kindergarten Month
 -  Distance Teaching and Learning Conference

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*** BRAND NEW: "TEACHING 'THE CHILDREN OF WILLESDEN LANE'" ***

We are very pleased to present a new and unique set of multimedia resources for middle and high school teachers, "Teaching 'The Children of Willesden Lane'" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/cowl1.html>.

"The Children of Willesden Lane" is a book based on the true story of Lisa Jura, a young girl who escaped Nazi persecution, as told by Lisa Jura's daughter, the accomplished musician Mona Golabek. "Teaching 'The Children of Willesden Lane'" is designed to help teachers explore many facets of the book with their students.

Our Web site for "Teaching 'The Children of Willesden Lane'" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/cowl2.html> includes 14 video programs for free on-demand viewing, 25 musical selections for online listening, a fully downloadable Curriculum Guide, and additional Web-based resources. The videos introduce the book and its author and provide an insider's view of real classrooms where students are learning powerful lessons -- about history, literature, culture, and making ethical choices.

"Teaching 'The Children of Willesden Lane'" offers a wealth of materials for teachers of literature, the social studies, and the arts, as well as teachers of multiple subjects.

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With a broadband Internet connection -- anything faster than dial-up -- the videos of "Teaching "The Children of Willesden Lane'" and other series on our Web site can be viewed FREE of charge through Video on Demand. For help getting started, go to <http://learner.org/redirect/august/view3.html>.


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*** LINKING TO CURRENT EVENTS ***

If you plan to discuss recent events in the Middle East with your students, you might be interested in our related resources:

> "Social Studies in Action: A Teaching Practices Library, K-12" discusses the Middle East conflict in Program 21. The series Web site offers information about the region, Video on Demand, and a lesson plan for middle grades students at <http://learner.org/redirect/august/sslib4.html> (follow the left links).

> The first segment of "The Power of Place: Geography for the 21st Century" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/pop5.html> Program 17, "Sacred Space, Secular States?" focuses on the history and politics of Jerusalem. Watch a real classroom exploration of the issues in "North Africa/Southwest Asia," Workshop 4 of our series, "Teaching Geography" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/geog6.html>.


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*** TAKE A SUMMER COURSE OR WORKSHOP ***

August is a last opportunity for professional development before launching into fall semester. Take advantage of our FREE workshops and courses to earn the professional development hours you need for recertification.

Go to <http://learner.org/redirect/august/profdev7.html> for a general overview of our teacher professional development. Follow the links for a complete list of offerings and information about registration, certificates, facilitating groups, and our graduate credit option. For answers to questions not addressed in that section, consult our FAQ <http://learner.org/redirect/august/faq8.html>.


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*** NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD ***

As part of our effort to expand and update our video catalog, we are now offering the following titles for purchase on DVD:

 - "The Constitution: That Delicate Balance" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/const9.html>

 - "Voices & Visions" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/vv10.html>

 - "Teaching 'The Children of Willesden Lane'" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/cowl11.html>

If you have specific questions about ordering these items, please call 1-800-LEARNER for assistance.


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*** THIS MONTH ON THE CHANNEL ***

The following series begin this month on the Annenberg Channel. Be sure to scroll down on the linked pages for specific broadcast dates and times. Consult the full broadcast schedule <http://learner.org/redirect/august/sched12.html> for many more programs and partial series airing in August.

ARTS
> "Exploring the World of Music" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/august/music13.html>
> "A World of Art: Works in Progress" (college level) <http://learner.org/redirect/august/art14.html>

EDUCATION
> "The Whole Child: A Caregiver's Guide to the First Five Years" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/child15.html>

FOREIGN LANGUAGE
> "Teaching Foreign Languages K-12 Workshop" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/tflw16.html>

LITERATURE & LANGUAGE ARTS
> "Developing Writers: A Workshop for High School Teachers" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/dwrit17.html>
> "Engaging With Literature: A Video Library, Grades 3-5" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/englitl18.html>
> "In Search of the Novel" (middle/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/august/ison19.html>

SCIENCE
> "Journey North" (K-12) <http://learner.org/redirect/august/jnorth20.html>
> "Science in Focus: Force and Motion" (K-8) <http://learner.org/redirect/august/force21.html>
> "Science in Focus: Shedding Light on Science" (K-5) <http://learner.org/redirect/august/shed22.html>
> "Science K-6: Investigating Classrooms" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/scik6_23.html>

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Find general information about the Annenberg Channel at <http://learner.org/redirect/august/channel24.html>. For free licensing, go to <http://learner.org/redirect/august/lic25.html>.

Our downloadable Channel Program Guide is available at <http://learner.org/redirect/august/guide26.html>. The Guide contains satellite and signal information, plus daily and month-at-a-glance program schedules.

Watch the online Channel simulcast at <http://learner.org/redirect/august/view27.html>, closed captioned at <http://learner.org/redirect/august/viewcc28.html>.


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*** CONNECT LEARNING WITH SPECIAL DAYS ***

Anniversary of the Dropping of the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima (August 6, 1945)

On August 6, 1945, as World War II was coming to an end, U.S. Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. The city of Nagasaki was also bombed three days later.

> In "The Fifties," Program 23 of "A Biography of America" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/boa29.html>, Professor Donald L. Miller begins in the Forties, describing the battles between Allied and Japanese forces that escalated into massive firebombings and, finally, use of the atomic bomb. Try our interactive activity on the Biography of America Web site, "You Decide: The Atom Bomb" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/boa30.html>.

> The article "Creating Strategies and Conditions for Civil Discourse About Controversial Issues" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/rossi31.html> by John Rossi focuses on the use nuclear weapons against Japan as a means of illustrating how controversial topics can be used as valuable teaching opportunities. Also see the related video program, "Controversial Public Policy Issues," Workshop 7 of our series "Making Civics Real: A Workshop for Teachers" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/civics32.html>.

> Look to "The Mechanical Universe...and Beyond" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/mech33.html>, "The World of Chemistry" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/chem34.html>, and "Reactions in Chemistry" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/react35.html> (Web site <http://learner.org/redirect/august/react36.html>) for the basic science behind nuclear technologies.


Slavery Remembrance Day (August 23)

This international observance marks the date of the Saint-Domingue slave uprising of 1791. The rebellion, which sparked the Haītian Revolution, is considered a watershed event in the abolition of slavery in the Americas.

> "Bridging World History" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/bwh37.html> Unit 14, "Land and Labor Relationships," approaches slavery as an historical phenomenon, then turns to the specific examples of Russia, Islamic southeast Asia, and the Americas. In the American context, both Native American and African subjugation are discussed. Enter the series Web site to find readings, the video transcript, and other downloadable materials.

> "A Biography of America" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/boa38.html> explores slavery and its aftermath in Programs 9 through 12. Link to the coordinated Web site for interactive activities and images, like this map-timeline <http://learner.org/redirect/august/boa39.html> showing slave and free soil.

> See Workshop 4 of "Primary Sources: Workshops in American History" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/prim40.html> for a discussion of factors that contributed to the ending of slavery. Coordinated materials are available on the Primary Sources Web site <http://learner.org/redirect/august/prim41.html>.

> Link history and literature with "American Passages: A Literary Survey" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/apass42.html>. Enter keywords to find documents and images related to slaves, slavery, and abolition in the American Passages archive <http://learner.org/redirect/august/archive43.html> and create your own slideshow at <http://learner.org/redirect/august/slides44.html>.

> "Tools of Exploitation," Program 4 of "The Africans" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/africa45.html>, looks at the development of American slavery in terms of its impact on Africa. "The Africans" can be purchased online at <http://learner.org/redirect/august/africa46.html>.


Birthday of Karen Uhlenbeck, Mathematician (August 24, 1942)

Karen Uhlenbeck is an expert and leading figure in the theory of partial differential equations. She currently holds the Sid W. Richardson Foundation Regents Chair in Mathematics at the University of Texas at Austin.

> "Teaching Math: Grades 9-12" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/hsmath47.html> Program 6, "Connections" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/hsmath48.html>, focuses on how to help students see the connections between math and science and other topics.

> "The Mechanical Universe...and Beyond" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/mech49.html>, our college/high school level physics course, is fully intertwined with related math concepts.

> Elementary and middle school teachers will gain a richer understanding of the math and learn to apply it more effectively in their teaching with "Learning Math: Patterns, Functions, and Algebra" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/lmpat50.html> (Web site <http://learner.org/redirect/august/lmpat51.html>) and "Learning Math: Geometry" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/geom52.html> (Web site <http://learner.org/redirect/august/geom53.html>).

> Lay a stronger foundation in algebra with "Insights Into Algebra 1: Teaching for Learning" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/alg54.html> (Web site <http://learner.org/redirect/august/alg55.html>).


Women's Equality Day (August 26)

> Watch a succinct overview of the struggle for women's suffrage in "Democracy in America" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/dia56.html> Program 2, "The Constitution: Fixed or Flexible?" Downloadable readings from the writings of Tocqueville, Jefferson, and the U.S. Constitution itself are available on the Democracy in America Web site <http://learner.org/redirect/august/dia57.html>.

> "Gender-Based Distinctions," Program 27 of "Social Studies in Action: A Teaching Practices Library, K-12" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/sslib58.html>, shows a real 12th grade civil rights lesson focusing on women's rights. Visit the series Web <http://learner.org/redirect/august/sslib59.html> for related teaching ideas.

> "Describing Distributions," Program 3 of "Against All Odds: Inside Statistics" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/odds60.html>, illustrates how statistics can be used to promote gender equity.


National Immunization Awareness Month

> Learn what primary source documents can tell us about developments in public health policy with "Disease and History: Typhoid Mary and the Search for Perfect Control," Workshop 7 of "Primary Sources: Workshops in American History" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/prim61.html>. Find documents, images, lecture transcripts, and lesson ideas at <http://learner.org/redirect/august/prim62.html>.

> "Rediscovering Biology: Molecular to Global Perspectives" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/biol63.html> Programs 5 and 6 cover infectious diseases and vaccine development. An interview transcript <http://learner.org/redirect/august/carucci64.html> featuring Capt. Daniel Carucci, MD, PhD, Director of the Malaria Program at the Naval Medical Research Center, is also informative.

> "The Merrow Report" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/merrow65.html> Program 13, "Healthy Children, Healthy Learning," discusses health issues in our schools, including immunization against measles and other diseases and the costs of not taking preventive measures.


Get Ready for Kindergarten Month

> Reading sets the pace for all other learning in school. Get an overview of up-to-date, research-based practices with "Teaching Reading K-2 Workshop" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/k2read66.html> (Web site <http://learner.org/redirect/august/k2read67.html>) and "Teaching Reading K-2: A Library of Classroom Practices" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/k2readl68.html> (Web site <http://learner.org/redirect/august/k2readl69.html>).

> Get a head start in math, too, with "Teaching Math, Grades K-2" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/k2math70.html> (Web site <http://learner.org/redirect/august/k2math71.html>) and "Teaching Math: A Video Library, K-4" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/k4math72.html>.

> "Discovering Psychology: Updated Edition" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/psych73.html> focuses on childhood development in Program 5, "The Developing Child," and Program 6, "Language Development," and on how learning takes place in Program 8, "Learning."

> What does it take to get kids ready for kindergarten? Get an early start with "The Whole Child: A Caregiver's Guide to the First Five Years" <http://learner.org/redirect/august/child74.html> -- also in Spanish/en espaņol <http://learner.org/redirect/august/nino75.html>.


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*** DISTANCE TEACHING AND LEARNING CONFERENCE ***

Come visit us at the University of Wisconsin Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning, August 2-4, 2006 at the Monona Terrace Convention Center, Madison, Wisconsin.


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