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September 2010 
14th Issue
 
In This Issue
Teacher Quote
Monthly Tip
Resources
Back to School
What We Did This Summer
Partner/Vendor/Product Spotlight
Teacher Spotlight
Announcements
 
Quick Links:
 
Videos:
Teacher Quote of the Month...

"I LOVE ESGI!  I teach kindergarten and I was able to use ESGI during the first week of school to assess all of my 29 active students!  I wanted to know how many of them came to school knowing letters and sounds and would not have been able to accomplish that much assessment without the help of ESGI."  
 
Lisa B.
Sutton Elementary
Kindergarten Teacher
 
Monthly Tip:
 

Do you give tests that are not in ESGI?  If so, it is easy to add them yourself!  Click on the How to Add a Test link, and watch the video.  It will walk you through adding a test to ESGI.  Still need help?  Send us an e-mail at [email protected], and we would be glad to assist you! 

 

*Can't view the video?  Some school districts block video hosting sites.  So, if the link doesn't work from school, please let us know at [email protected] , and try watching it from home.

 
 
 abc
Great Resources
 

K-Crew 

Great, teacher-created, classroom-tested ideas!

  

KinderLit 

Teach skills through literature with this great resource!

 

ABC Teach

 
Thousands of FREE printable worksheets and activities!
 
Carls Corner
FREE literacy worksheets and activities.
 
Starfall
Game site for students to learn alphabet and enforce reading skills. 
 
Reading A-Z 
Printable materials to teach leveled reading, phonemic awareness, reading comprehension, reading fluency, alphabet, and vocabulary. Must become a member to access.
 
 
$10 Amazon Gift Card
 

Complete our 5-question online survey for a chance to win a $10 gift card for amazon.com. It will only take a few minutes and can be found at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BG3FS2N
Back to School
 

It is hard to believe that we are already in September. Where did this summer go!?  I can vaguely remember when summers were spent riding bikes through the neighborhood, going to summer camp, and swimming in the public pool or beach. It seemed that it would drag on forever. By summer's end I would be bored and ready for school to begin. With excitement and anticipation to see all of my friends, I was always ready to get back into action!  That was over 25 years ago....

 

Now summers seem to go by at the blink of an eye. Hopefully you were able to relax a bit, do some traveling, and perhaps some professional development, conferences,  or learning.

 

School is here - and its time for all of the "FUN" of preparation and organization. New kids, lesson plans, teacher meetings, recess duty, meeting with parents, alas WELCOME 2010 - 2011 school year.

 

Now that you are on your way, here are some tips to help things move a little faster.

 

Don't forget about our FREE classroom management tool on our web site under "resources." This allows you to put in your student  names once -  then have name cards, pocket chart, name tags for field trips, traceable names and more.

What did we do this summer?
 

Some Cubs games and concerts, but mostly...

 

ESGI has been making a splash this summer at conferences around the country.  We attended the National Kindergarten Conference in Las Vegas where we were able to show our application to hundreds of teachers. The response has been overwhelming as teachers continue to be WOW'd by the time savings, reports, and parent communication tools that ESGI has to offer.


We then traveled to Dallas, and were able to present ESGI in front of the general assembly at the Frog Street Press conference. We gave a demonstration to an audience of about 1000 people who applauded ESGI's functionality and ease of use. Everyone was cheering so much that we went out on a limb and offered 100 FREE full year licenses to teachers that signed up for a free trial. The winners will be chosen this month. We are so happy to keep showing ESGI to teachers across the country and appreciate everyone's continual support. One teacher, school, and district at a time, ESGI continues to spread throughout the country!

Product Spotlight: 
 

Amazing Apps!

 

This year apple launched the New IPAD along with an updated iphone and ipod touch. As of Sept 1, i-Tunes has reported 6.5 billion Apps sold since the app stores inception.  Whether you are a looking for productivity, games, social networking, or learning tools - "There's an App for that!" Apps range from FREE to over $20 depending on what you are looking for.

 

Here is a quick listing of some apps that may be of interest to you:

 

"Intro to Math" by Montessorium

Cost: $4.99

Ipod, Ipone and Ipad

Ratings: 60 five-star ratings  

This app lets a child learn the basics of numbers and math through tracing, reordering lines and shapes, counting, and puzzles. This app can be fully navigated without reading. Elements are presented visually so pre-readers can recognize them.

 

They also have an "Intro To Letter" application which has similar functionality for reading and letter recognition.

 

"Teachers Pick"

Cost: $.99

Iphone, IPod Touch and Ipad

Ratings: 22 five-star ratings

This app will let you upload the names of your students and then randomly select students without having to rely on memory. It also helps you keep track of which students are active or inactive (already chosen). Your classroom will appear on craft sticks or flash cards.

 

Non Education apps: 

 

"Four Square"

Cost: (FREE)

Iphone

Ratings:120 five-star ratings

 

This app lets you check in to places that you visit. Starbucks, the grocery store, a restaurant, school, etc. Your friends and colleagues can see where you are (if you want them to!)  Check into a place enough times and become the Mayor.  Social networking with location based services; with over 600,000 users it continues to gain popularity.

 

"Pandora"

Cost(FREE)

Rating: 5,894 five-star ratings

Iphone, Ipad, I pod touch

 

This app delivers FREE music to your iphone. You input the type of music or bands you like and it plans your own personalized radio station.  A "must have" if you like music.

 

Do you have any apps that you love and want to share? Email me at [email protected].  We will continue to review more apps over time.  
 
Teacher Spotlight: Donna Glynn 
 
As a young girl Donna used to go to school with her mother who was a secretary for an elementary school. It was at that time she dreamed of being a teacher.  Donna  would line up her dolls in front of the chalkboard and pretend to teach. 
 
Her excitement for education is not only in teaching, but also learning. After earning her teaching degree from Temple, Donna continued on and did gradate work at Lincoln University. She now holds degrees in Early Childhood, Elementary Ed. Special Ed, and reading Supervision.
 
It is no surprise that Donna is extremely passionate about children. She chose teaching as a means to make a difference in the lives of others and she finds great satisfaction in watching her students grow from August to June.  "I love seeing the spark in a child's eyes when they finally see the solution".
 
Donna has taught 2nd and 3rd grade, and currently is a Kindergarten teacher. Outside of teaching, Donna enjoys traveling to conferences and speaking, creating pintables to use in the classroom, and meeting new people.
 
Not only is Donna an amazing and dedicated  teacher, she is also one of our most successful ESGI affiliates. Now in her 3rd year of promoting ESGI, she has been able to single-handedly spread the word of ESGI to hundreds of teachers.
When asked what her secret was to promoting ESGI she answered:

"ESGI speaks for itself. Once teachers see how time efficient and how wonderful the communication is with all people involved with the child's learning experience, everyone wants to join."
 
We salute Donna for the mark she is making in Education through her energy and innovation in teaching, as well as her efforts in promoting ESGI to teachers across the country.
 
Do you know any teachers that go above and beyond? ESGI would love to spotlight them. Send us your story to [email protected] <http://[email protected]>  and add "Teacher Spotlight" in the subject line.  For any stories used, we will give you and the teacher a $5 gift card.

hornAnnouncements 

 
 

Past Newsletters
 
Did you just start getting ESGI's Monthly Newsletter?  Would you like to browse past issues?  Click here!
 
 
Upcoming Conferences
 

ESGI will be displaying and presenting at the 2010 KTOT conference at the Sheraton in Dallas, TX Oct 15-16. 

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