Annenberg Media Update September 2006

Advance excellent teaching with Annenberg Media.

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*** In the Spotlight for September ***
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  -  Starting Off the New School Year
  -  Planning for Constitution Day
  -  Now Available on DVD
  -  This Month on the Channel
  -  Hispanic Heritage Month
  -  Connect Learning with More Special Days
      o Banned Books Week
      o Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Month
  -  Follow the Journey South

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*** STARTING OFF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR ***

> "Teaching 'The Children of Willesden Lane'" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/cwl1.html> is a brand new set of resources for middle and high school teachers, just in time for the new school year. "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's daughter, musician Mona Golabek. The book presents interesting opportunities to introduce historical, moral, and even art concepts into your teaching of literature. Visit the series Web site for "Teaching 'The Children of Willesden Lane'" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/cwl2.html> to learn how you can effectively incorporate the book into this year's curriculum.

> See how other teachers fared during their first year of teaching in "The Merrow Report" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/mr3.html> Programs 40 through 48, which air on the Channel in September (click on "Broadcast Dates" for exact dates and times). Other programs in the series, which address a range of issues related to schools and education, may also be of interest.

> Some standardized tests fall early in the school year, so get a head start finding your way through the testing maze with "School Testing--Behind the Numbers" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/test4.html>. Or, adjust your perspective on teaching math or science with "Surprises in Mind" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/supr5.html>, "A Private Universe" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/apu6.html>, or "Calculating Change" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/chng7.html> -- all excellent standalone programs.

> Register for a course or workshop to earn the professional development hours you need to stay current. Go to <http://learner.org/redirect/september/wkshp8.html> for online registration, a list of our workshops and courses, information about Certificates of Participation, and details regarding our graduate credit option. For answers to questions not addressed in that section, see our FAQ at <http://learner.org/redirect/september/faq9.html>.

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*** PLANNING FOR CONSTITUTION DAY ***

Monday, September 18 is Constitution Day. Schools that receive federal funding through the Department of Education must participate in Constitution Day by holding educational programs pertaining to the U.S. Constitution (find the original announcement in the Federal Register <http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/retrieve.html> volume 70, page 29727).

We offer the following video series for programming on or around Constitution Day, or as a basis for classroom discussion. These are available either through Video on Demand or on the Channel at the dates/times listed:

"The Constitution: That Delicate Balance" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/const10.html>

"Democracy in America" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/dia11.html>

"A Biography of America" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/boa12.html>
   - "Growth and Empire" airs September 16, 10:00 am & 7:00 pm Eastern
   - "The Coming of Independence" airs September 16, 10:00 am & 7:00 pm Eastern

"The Western Tradition" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/west13.html> (Program 38) and
   - "The Rise of Greek Civilization" airs September 16, 8:00 am & 12:00 pm Eastern
   - "Greek Thought" airs September 16, 8:00 am & 12:00 pm Eastern

"Primary Sources: Workshops in American History" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/prim14.html>
   - "'Common Sense' and the American Revolution" airs September 16, 9:00 am & 1:00 pm Eastern

"Making Civics Real: A Workshop for Teachers" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/civic15.html>
   - "Freedom of Religion" airs September 14, 10:00 am, 2:00 pm, & 6:00 pm Eastern

Also visit the American Passages archive <http://learner.org/redirect/september/ap16.html> to find historical artifacts related to the U.S. Constitution and create one or more slideshows on constitutional topics.

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For help getting started with free Video on Demand, go to <http://learner.org/redirect/september/view17.html>.

More information about Constitution Day and additional programming for your school's events can be found on the Justice Learning Web site <http://www.justicelearning.org/constitutionday/index.asp>.

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*** NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD ***

Our collection of video series available on DVD has just been expanded to include the following titles:

- "Artifacts & Fiction: Workshop in American Literature" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/af18.html>

- "Out of the Past" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/op19.html>

- "Planet Earth" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/pe20.html>

- "The World of Abnormal Psychology" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/abnor21.html>

For more information about a series, click on "Overview." If you have specific questions about ordering any of these items, 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 specific broadcast dates and times. Consult the full broadcast schedule <http://learner.org/redirect/september/sched22.html> for many more programs and partial series airing in September.

ARTS
> "American Cinema" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/cine23.html>
> "Art of the Western World" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/art24.html>
> "The Art of Teaching the Arts" (high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/hsart25.html>
> "Connecting with the Arts: A Workshop for Middle Grades Teachers" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/cart26.html>

EDUCATION THEORY & ISSUES
> "The Learning Classroom: Theory Into Practice" (K-12) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/theor27.html>

ESL & FOREIGN LANGUAGE
> "Connect With English" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/cwe28.html>
> "Destinos: An Introduction to Spanish" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/dest29.html>
> "Fokus Deutsch" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/fokus30.html>
> "French in Action" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/fia31.html>

LITERATURE & LANGUAGE ARTS
> "American Passages: A Literary Survey" (college level) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/ap32.html>
> "Artifacts & Fiction: Workshop in American Literature" (high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/af33.html>
> "Conversations in Literature" (grades 6-12) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/conv34.html>
> "English Composition: Writing for an Audience" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/eng35.html>
> "The Expanding Canon: Teaching Multicultural Literature in High School" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/expan36.html>
> "In Search of the Novel" (middle/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/novel37.html>
> "Teaching Reading K-2 Workshop" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/read38.html>
> "Voices & Visions" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/vv39.html>

MATHEMATICS
> "Against All Odds: Inside Statistics" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/odds40.html>
> "Insights Into Algebra 1: Teaching for Learning" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/alg41.html>
> "Learning Math: Patterns, Functions, and Algebra" (K-8) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/lm42.html>
> "The Missing Link: Essential Concepts for Middle School Math Teachers" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/link43.html>

SCIENCE
> "Journey North" (K-12) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/jn44.html>
> "The Mechanical Universe...and Beyond" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/mech45.html>
> "Planet Earth" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/pe46.html>
> "Reactions in Chemistry" (high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/chem47.html>
> "Rediscovering Biology: Molecular to Global Perspectives" (high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/biol48.html>
> "Science in Focus: Energy" (K-6) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/enrg49.html>

SOCIAL STUDIES & HISTORY
> "A Biography of America" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/boa50.html>
> "Discovering Psychology: Updated Edition" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/psych51.html>
> "Economics U$A" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/econ52.html>
> "Making Civics Real: A Workshop for Teachers" (high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/civic53.html>
> "Primary Sources: Workshops in American History" (high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/prim54.html>
> "Social Studies in Action: A Teaching Practices Library, K-12" (K-5 portion) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/sslib55.html>
> "Teaching Geography" (grades 7-12) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/geog56.html>
> "The Western Tradition" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/september/west57.html>

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Find general information about the Annenberg Channel at <http://learner.org/redirect/september/chnnl58.html>. For free licensing, go to <http://learner.org/redirect/september/lic59.html>.

Our downloadable Channel Program Guide is available at <http://learner.org/redirect/september/guide60.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/september/video61.html>, closed captioned at <http://learner.org/redirect/september/cc62.html>.

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*** HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH ***

September 15 to October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month. In preparing your classroom connections, make full use of our resources related to Hispanic culture and history.

On history, geography, and society:

> Learn about ancient Mesoamerican trade routes and the civilizations of the Maya and Inka in "Bridging World History" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/bwh63.html> (Web site <http://learner.org/redirect/september/bwh64.html>).

> Examine the role of the Spanish explorers and Native peoples in "A Biography of America" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/boa65.html> Program 1, "New World Encounters."

> Learn about U.S.-Mexico borderland issues through a single mother's daily struggle for survival and a look at "Operation 'Hold the Line'" in Program 2 of "The Power of Place: Geography for the 21st Century" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/pop66.html>. Then look to Program 21, "Population Geography," to learn about factors in Mexican migration and economic and population issues in Guatemala.

> "Teaching Geography" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/geog67.html> Workshop 2, "Latin America," considers population issues and factors leading to migration, then enters the classroom to observe real teaching in action. Find lesson plans <http://learner.org/redirect/september/geog68.html>, program transcripts <http://learner.org/redirect/september/geog69.html>, National Geographic standards <http://learner.org/redirect/september/geog70.html>, and a Guatemala slide show <http://learner.org/redirect/september/geog71.html> on the series Web site.

> "The Merrow Report" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/mer72.html> Program 33, "Lost in Translation: Latinos, Schools, and Society," investigates special challenges Latino students face in public schools.

On art and literature:

> "A World of Art: Works in Progress" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/woart73.html>, showcases the provocative works of painter/activist Judy Baca and performance artist Guillermo Gómez-Peña (program intended for older students and adults).

> "The Expanding Canon: Teaching Multicultural Literature in High School" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/canon74.html> features authors Pat Mora <http://learner.org/redirect/september/mora75.html>, Rudolpho Anaya <http://learner.org/redirect/september/anaya76.html>, Tomás Rivera <http://learner.org/redirect/september/rivera77.html>, and Graciela Limón <http://learner.org/redirect/september/limon78.html>. The series begins this month on the Channel.

> "Teaching Multicultural Literature: A Workshop for the Middle Grades" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/tml79.html> (Web site <http://learner.org/redirect/september/tml80.html>) introduces teachers to the writings of Julia Alvarez, Pam Muñoz Ryan, Judith Ortiz Cofer, and other distinguished writers.

> On the Web site for "Developing Writers: A Workshop for High School Teachers" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/dwrit81.html>, read Judith Ortiz Cofer's poem "Hispanic Barbie With Accessories" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/dwrit82.html> and this essay about race, culture, identity, and American academia <http://learner.org/redirect/september/bstrp83.html> by Professor Victor Villanueva of Washington State University.

> "American Passages: A Literary Survey" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/ap84.html> discusses the work and influences of many Latino and Chicano authors of past and present. Programs 1, 2, 12, and 16 may be of particular interest. Also visit the series Web site to find links to author biographies <http://learner.org/redirect/september/ap85.html> and artifacts related to Hispanic history and heritage <http://learner.org/redirect/september/archv86.html>.

On language:

> Our popular language series "Destinos: An Introduction to Spanish" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/dest87.html> presents lessons in the form of a telenovela, or Spanish soap opera. "Destinos" begins on the Channel September 15.

> "Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/tfl88.html> offers eight programs featuring the Spanish language and Latin American culture.

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

Banned Books Week (September 23-30)

> Learn ways to encourage an early interest in diverse literature with our "envisionment-building" series based on the research of Dr. Judith Langer -- the "Engaging With Literature" workshop <http://learner.org/redirect/september/ewlw89.html> and video library <http://learner.org/redirect/september/ewll90.html> for grades 3-5, or the "Making Meaning in Literature" workshop <http://learner.org/redirect/september/mmw91.html> and video library <http://learner.org/redirect/september/mml92.html> for the middle grades.

> Enliven your approach to the novels most commonly taught to middle and high school students with "In Search of the Novel" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/novel93.html>. Featured novels include "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," "Bridge to Terabithia," and "To Kill a Mockingbird," which have appeared on the American Library Association's list of most frequently challenged books.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Month

> "The Merrow Report" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/mer94.html> asks provocative questions about the ADHD epidemic in Program 9, "Attention Deficit Disorder: A Dubious Diagnosis?"

> "The World of Abnormal Psychology" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/abnor95.html> addresses ADHD and other childhood disorders in Program 11.

> For background on brain functioning and developmental psychology, see "Discovering Psychology: Updated Edition" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/psych96.html>.

> For a look at neurological aspects of the condition and drug treatments, see the online text <http://learner.org/redirect/september/biol97.html> on the Web site for "Rediscovering Biology: Molecular to Global Perspectives."

> See how arts instruction can be designed to meet the needs of students with ADHD and various learning styles and abilities in "Addressing the Diverse Needs of Students" <http://learner.org/redirect/september/hsart98.html>, Workshop 3 of "The Art of Teaching the Arts."

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Search our video collection using the drop-down menus at the top of our home page <http://learner.org/redirect/september/home99.html>, specifying discipline and grade level, or use the open search tool using key words to find information on many subjects related to teaching and education.

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*** FOLLOW THE JOURNEY SOUTH ***

Fall is a busy time -- not just for you and your students, but also for whooping cranes, monarch butterflies, and even tulips! Our "Journey North" program <http://learner.org/redirect/september/jn100.html> for K-12 students and teachers, with its fall component, "Journey South," allows you to join in an international tracking of wildlife migrations and natural seasonal changes. The series Web site <http://learner.org/redirect/september/jn101.html> explains this season's projects and how you can participate. The "Journey North" video airs on the Channel September 6 at 8:00 am and 12:00 pm Eastern.

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