Sounds of the Season

I'm not really one for ratings or making recommendations but thought I would share some of my favorite sounds of the season. As you can probably imagine, my musical taste is all over the place--So here are a few tidbits that I am willing to share:

 First, my new favorite-an internet sensation in the late 90's - A group from Indiana U - Straight No Chaser does a great version of the 12 days of Christmas. 
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Second, Handel's Young Messiah- released in 1991: This is one of several 're-workings' of Handel's immortal 'Messiah'. It is likely not for "purists"-but if you have an open mind and enjoy the beauty of music in all  forms it is an enjoyable album even if many of the tracks sound like they're stuck in the 80s.

Finally- what I think is a new classic: Barenaked for the Holidays from the Barenaked Ladies. This is one of the few holiday albums that is pretty evenly divided between Christmas and Hanukkah songs. This isn't just nicely PC, but gives the album both musical and topical variety, making it a little more interesting and distinctive than the average holiday record. With that patented blend of jokiness and sentiment that's been the group's stock-in-trade, it has become a standard in our house.

 That's it as we close 2009. It has been a year filled with surprises, good and bad. Here's hoping that the joy of the season finds you and yours safe and loved. Hug those you hold dear. Dance. Sing. Laugh. Enjoy.

 Smiles and Grins,


The Queen

WORD GEEKS

Let's take a look at WORDs again.

Today's post comes from the Florida Department of Education. The page, entitled simply "VOCABULARY" is largely a series of resources dealing with words and vocabulary-running the gambit from elementary to high school resources. There is lots here for those who are interested in looking at a variety of ideas.

The coolest idea is from "Surfing the Net with kids- 100 most common SAT words - It is a quick game that you could add to the beginning or end of a class period. The game is to match words and definitions-Drag one over the other and they disappear--until you have completed the challenge. The game is timed. I could see "class records", period records, classes challenging classes. We have embedded the game into the PSHS WORDPLAY blog-It is at the bottom of the page.

Thanks to Anastasia Allen-PSHS Reading Specialist

GOOGLE does it again!!

Once again, I am convinced that GOOGLE will some day rule the world!
The search giant has quietly rolled out Google Dictionary, which presents definitions and synonyms. Exactly what you'd expect from a dictionary.
In addition to Google's own database of definitions, looking up a word on the Dictionary website provides a list of definitions pulled from a variety of academically authoritative sources as well as Wikipedia.
It has a few cool features. You can mark words with the star button and come back to them later, see a list of recent searches and switch to translator resources or dictionaries for other languages.
We have added this to today's WORD of the DAY post @ http://pshswordplay.blogspot.com/ and will make it a regular feature.

Talk to the WORLD!!

ipadio allows you to broadcast from any phone to the Internet-LIVE!  IPadio is created in by a British commuication company and works globally! It allows anyone to use their phone to record "phlogs"-Which are really just audio files posted to the Internet and given an RSS feed. Too technical??- Bottom line- you can created an audio file via phone that is automatically posted on the web-- your web page, your blog, your facebook page, etc.    This means that you can call in to the iPadio number (any phone will work), record an audio post, and have it immediately show up on your blog, wiki, or website -- Very cool and very simple!  I taught Anastasia how to do this in 5 minutes- and you will see/hear her efforts as now, the WORD of the day will be spoken on the Literacy blog(pshswordplay.blogspot.com) as well as the rest of the usual postings--The beauty of this is that she is able to update that posting via her phone here at school or her cell phone.  This is podcasting at it's simplest and easiest!  Join the fun!