Advance excellent teaching with Annenberg Media.

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*** In the Spotlight for May ***
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 -  Linking to Current Events
 -  Now Available on DVD
 -  This Month on the Channel
 -  Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
 -  Connect Learning with More Special Days
     o World Press Freedom Day
     o National Teacher Day
     o International Migratory Bird Day
     o International Day for Biological Diversity
     o Memorial Day
     o National Music Week
     o Mental Health Month
     o Older Americans Month
 -  Upcoming Conferences

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*** LINKING TO CURRENT EVENTS ***

As proposed immigration legislation and immigrant rights issues take center stage, look to our free resources for material that can integrate the discussion into your lessons.

"The Constitution: That Delicate Balance" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/const1.html> focuses on immigration reform in Program 11, which features U.S. Court of Appeals judge Arlin Adams, Notre Dame president Reverend Theodore Hesburgh, and immigration officials and journalists.

Gain a global economic perspective on the forces driving immigration with "Inside the Global Economy" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/gecon2.html> Program 5, "Labor and Capital Mobility."

"Boundaries and Borderlands," Program 2 of "The Power of Place: Geography for the 21st Century" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/pop3.html>, offers a close-up view of migrant issues through one woman's story. "Population Geography," Program 21, also looks at motives in migration from and within Mexico, and at consequences of U.S. border policy.

For elementary teachers, "Social Studies in Action: A Methodology Workshop, K-5" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/ssws4.html> Workshop 3, "Exploring Unity and Diversity" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/ssws5.html>, develops a mini-lesson on immigration and citizenship, based on primary source documents and Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences.

In Program 24 of "Social Studies in Action: A Teaching Practices Library, K-12" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/ssl6.html>, a 10th-grade class engages in group work to explore economic, political, and environmental circumstances that cause people to emigrate to the U.S. from Latin America. Find additional resources on the series Web site at <http://learner.org/redirect/may/ssl7.html>.

For literature lessons related to the experience of immigrants, see "Teaching Multicultural Literature: A Workshop for the Middle Grades" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/tml8.html> (Web site <http://learner.org/redirect/may/tml9.html>) and "The Expanding Canon: Teaching Multicultural Literature in High School" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/canon10.html> (Web site <http://learner.org/redirect/may/canon11.html>). At the elementary level, "Teaching Reading 3-5 Workshop" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/35read12.html> focuses on Latino immigration in Maria Ruiz-Blanco's third grade classroom <http://learner.org/redirect/may/35read13.html>.

At the college level, "American Passages: A Literary Survey" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/ampass14.html> explores American history, conceptions of race, and immigrant issues through literature, particularly in Program 2, "Exploring Borderlands," Program 9, "Social Realism," and Program 12, "Migrant Struggle." On the series Web site, see "Coming to America: Immigrants at Ellis Island" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/ampass15.html>, then use search terms "immigrant" and "immigration" to find historical images and other artifacts in the archive <http://learner.org/redirect/may/ampass16.html>.

Get an artist's perspective on border issues with the provocative works of Chicano muralist Judith Baca and Mexican performance artist Guillermo Gómez-Peña (intended for mature viewers), featured in "A World of Art: Works in Progress" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/art17.html>.

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All of the programs above can be viewed FREE of charge through Video on Demand. Go to <http://learner.org/redirect/may/view18.html> for technical requirements and general instructions.

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*** NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD ***

The following series have been added to our list of resources available on DVD:

  "American Cinema" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/cine19.html>

  "Art of the Western World" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/artww20.html>

  "Connect With English" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/cwe21.html>

  "Earth Revealed" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/earth22.html>

  "English Composition: Writing for an Audience" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/eng23.html>

  "Fokus Deutsch" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/fokus24.html>

  "Learning Math: Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/data25.html>

  "Learning Math: Geometry" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/geom26.html>

  "Learning Math: Measurement" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/meas27.html>

  "Learning Math: Number and Operations" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/number28.html>

  "Learning Math: Patterns, Functions, and Algebra" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/patt29.html>

  "Teaching Math: A Video Library, 5-8" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/tm58_30.html>

  "Teaching Math: A Video Library, 9-12" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/tm912_31.html>

  "Teaching Math: A Video Library, K-4" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/tmk4_32.html>

  "Teaching Reading 3-5 Workshop" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/35read33.html>

  "Unseen Life on Earth: An Introduction to Microbiology" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/unseen34.html>

  "A World of Art: Works in Progress" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/art35.html>

  "The World of Chemistry" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/chem36.html>

On the pages linked above, click on "Overview" for more information about the series. If you would like more details about items in our catalog or purchasing options, please call 1-800-LEARNER.

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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 broadcast dates and times. Consult the full broadcast schedule <http://learner.org/redirect/may/sched37.html> for many more programs and partial series airing in May.

EDUCATION
> "Minds of Our Own" (K-12) <http://learner.org/redirect/may/minds38.html>
> "The Whole Child: A Caregiver's Guide to the First Five Years" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/child39.html> (split spring/fall)

LITERATURE & LANGUAGE ARTS
> "American Passages: A Literary Survey" (college level) <http://learner.org/redirect/may/ampass40.html>
> "Engaging With Literature: A Video Library, Grades 3-5" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/ewlit41.html>
> "Making Meaning in Literature: A Video Library, Grades 6-8" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/mmlit42.html>
> "News Writing" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/may/news43.html>
> "Signature: Contemporary Writers" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/may/sig44.html>

MATHEMATICS
> "Against All Odds: Inside Statistics" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/may/odds45.html>
> "Mathematics Assessment: A Video Library, K-12" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/assess46.html>

SCIENCE
> "Earth Revealed" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/may/earth47.html>
> "Journey North" (K-12) <http://learner.org/redirect/may/jnorth48.html>
> "The Science of Teaching Science" (K-8) <http://learner.org/redirect/may/hssci49.html>

SOCIAL STUDIES & HISTORY
> "Economics U$A" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/may/econ50.html>
> "Human Geography: People, Places, and Change" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/may/hgeog51.html>
> "Out of the Past" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/may/past52.html>
> "The Power of Place: Geography for the 21st Century" (high school/college) <http://learner.org/redirect/may/place53.html>
> "Rural Communities: Legacy & Change" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/may/rural54.html>
> "The Western Tradition" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/may/west55.html> (split spring/fall)

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The Annenberg Channel Program Guide is available for download in PDF format at <http://learner.org/redirect/may/guide56.html>. The Guide contains satellite and signal information plus daily and month-at-a-glance program schedules.

Find general information about the Annenberg Channel at <http://learner.org/redirect/may/channel57.html>. For free licensing, go to <http://learner.org/redirect/may/license58.html>.

Catch the live stream of the Channel at <http://learner.org/redirect/may/live59.html>, closed captioned at <http://learner.org/redirect/may/live-cc60.html>.

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*** ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH ***

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month began as a ten-day celebration proposed in 1977, first by Representatives Frank Horton and Norman Mineta and then by Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter made Pacific/Asian Heritage Week an official observance. The holiday was later expanded into a month-long celebration on May 7, 1990 by President George Bush.

Why May? To commemorate two significant events: the arrival in the U.S. of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad -- built largely by Chinese immigrants -- on May 10, 1869.

> "American Passages: A Literary Survey" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/ampass61.html> looks at the literature and experience of Asian Pacific Americans in Programs 12 and 16. Biographical sketches of authors Carlos Bulosan <http://learner.org/redirect/may/bulosan62.html>, Maxine Hong Kingston <http://learner.org/redirect/may/kingston63.html>, and Sui Sin Far (Edith Maud Eaton) <http://learner.org/redirect/may/far64.html> on the American Passages Web site offer insight and link to materials for further exploration. Also search the American Passages archive by keyword or ethnic group to find photos, historical documents, and other artifacts related to Asian Pacific American history.

> For high school teachers, "The Expanding Canon: Teaching Multicultural Literature in High School" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/canon65.html> offers material and methods for presenting the writings of Ruthanne Lum McCunn, Lawson Fusao Inada, and Russell Leong. Look for author interview transcripts and audio files, plus the workshop guide, on the series Web site <http://learner.org/redirect/may/canon66.html>.

> Middle school teachers will find material in "Teaching Multicultural Literature: A Workshop for the Middle Grades <http://learner.org/redirect/may/tml67.html> (Web site <http://learner.org/redirect/may/tml68.html>). Authors Gish Jen, Tina Yun Lee, Khoi Truong Luu, Lensey Namioka, An Na, Lawrence Yep, and Paul Yee discuss how they have addressed issues of identity, race, culture, and history, in their literature and in their personal experience.

> Learn about Asian/Pacific history with "Bridging World History" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/bwh69.html> (Web site <http://learner.org/redirect/may/bwh70.html>). Unit 26, "World History and Identity," includes a segment about the Chinese diaspora.

> In "A World of Art: Works in Progress" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/art71.html>, painter Hung Liu discusses the thoughts and techniques that go into her work.

> "The Power of Place: Geography for the 21st Century" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/pop72.html> includes several programs that focus specifically on Asian/Pacific countries.

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*** CONNECT LEARNING WITH MORE SPECIAL DAYS ***

World Press Freedom Day (May 3)

> In "The Constitution: That Delicate Balance" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/const73.html> Program 8, "National Security and Freedom of the Press," former CIA director and secretary of defense James Schlesinger, former attorney general Griffin Bell, and other notable figures discuss possible boundaries of freedom of the press.

> "Democracy in America" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/dia74.html> Program 10, "The Media: Inside Story," examines the vital role of media in government accountability, while touching upon potential problems such as selective news coverage, the role of business interests, and the consolidation of news outlet ownership. Other topics related to freedom of speech and the media are covered in other programs in the series.

> "News Writing" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/news75.html> covers how to find, develop, and write news; the different roles of journalists; journalistic ethics; and media law. Don't overlook the related interviews with celebrated journalists <http://learner.org/redirect/may/news76.html>.

> Probe ethical issues with press freedom implications with the discussions of "Ethics in America" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/ethic77.html>.

National Teacher Day (May 9)

> "The Merrow Report" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/merrow78.html> takes a close-up look at the profession of teaching and the lives and work of real teachers. This month on the Channel, watch Program 41, "In the Spotlight: Linda Darling-Hammond on Teacher Training" on May 13 at 4pm or 7pm Eastern, and Program 39, "Toughest Job in America" on May 30 at 10am or 4pm Eastern.

> Celebrate yourself as a teacher by signing up for a free professional development workshop, like "The Learning Classroom: Theory Into Practice" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/theory79.html>, which helps teachers to undergird their practices with a sound understanding of how children learn.

International Migratory Bird Day (May 13)

> With "Journey North" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/jnorth80.html>, students and their teachers follow the paths of migrating birds. Visit the series Web site <http://learner.org/redirect/may/jnorth81.html> for information on how to join in with North America-wide observations of the whooping crane, the American Robin, the hummingbird, and songbirds, plus other interesting and fun activities related to seasonal changes of wildlife.

International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22)

> Biological and genetic diversity on Earth has decreased as species have been lost to environmental change and many kinds of development. "Rediscovering Biology: Molecular to Global Perspectives" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/rbio82.html> Session 12, "Biodiversity," considers the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem stability, the dangers of mass extinction, and possible solutions to current problems. Find coordinated materials on the series Web site <http://learner.org/redirect/may/biodiv83.html>.

> In "All Sorts of Leaves," Program 4 of "Science K-6: Investigating Classrooms" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/scik6_84.html>, first-graders are introduced to biodiversity through a hands-on, inquiry-based lesson about leaves. Also watch Program 7, "All Sorts of Leaves: A Conversation About Teaching," in which teachers discuss the learning processes involved in the lesson.

Memorial Day (May 29)

> Honor veterans by learning more about the history they helped shape, with "A Biography of America" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/boa85.html>.

> For a broader perspective, "The Western Tradition" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/west86.html> looks at the World Wars within the context of the development of Western civilization. A course outline for use with this series is available at <http://learner.org/redirect/may/west87.html>.

National Music Week (7-14)

> "Exploring the World of Music" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/music88.html> looks at melody, rhythm, and other elements of music through real examples of many musical genres around the globe.

> Explore music within the framework of an arts integration approach to learning, with "The Arts in Every Classroom: A Video Library, K-5" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/arts89.html>, "Connecting with the Arts: A Workshop for Middle Grades Teachers" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/carts90.html>, and "The Art of Teaching the Arts: A Workshop for High School Teachers" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/hsarts91.html>.

Mental Health Month

> Learn about the basics of human psychology -- including mental health, pathology, treatment methods, and research models -- with "Discovering Psychology: Updated Edition" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/psych92.html>.

> "The Brain: Teaching Modules" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/brain93.html> and "The Mind: Teaching Modules" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/mind94.html> offer short clips with vivid examples to demonstrate how brain structure and environmental factors impact on many aspects of mental health and psychological development.

> What can we do to help kids get a healthy start in life? Find out with "The Whole Child" A Caregiver's Guide to the First Five Years" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/child95.html>.

Older Americans Month

> "Growing Old in a New Age" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/newage96.html> explores physical, psychological, social, and even political dimensions of aging, and dispels myths about the aging process.

> Also Watch "Seasons of Life" <http://learner.org/redirect/may/solife97.html> Program 5 for an in-depth look at the experiences of late adulthood.

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*** UPCOMING CONFERENCES ***

Look for Annenberg Media if you plan to attend the following meetings:

> International Reading Association Annual Convention, May 1-4 in Chicago, IL

> North Carolina Distance Learning Alliance Conference, May 15-17 in Asheville, NC (panel discussion May 17)

Please make of point of stopping by to say hello and discuss your thoughts. As always, we look forward to seeing you and hearing your views!


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