Advance excellent teaching with Annenberg/CPB.

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*** In the Spotlight for April ***
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 -  New Statement on College Telecourses
 -  Explore Our Series-coordinated Web Sites
 -  Dealing with Tragedy and Emotion
 -  This Month on the Channel
 -  Connect Learning with Special Days
 -  Take the Journey North
 -  Visit Us at NSTA, NCTM Conventions

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*** NEW STATEMENT ON COLLEGE TELECOURSES ***

As of September 30, 2005, our college telecourses (such as “Bridging World History,” “French in Action,” and “Against All Odds: Inside Statistics”) will no longer be licensed through PBS Adult Learning Service. Therefore, beginning with the Fall 2005 semester, our new Telecourse Policy <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/telecourse1.html> will allow not-for-profit colleges to use Annenberg/CPB series as college credit courses without a license and without a fee, whether on campus or at a distance.

For more information on these changes, see our Frequently Asked Questions section at <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/faq2.html>.

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*** EXPLORE OUR SERIES-COORDINATED WEB SITES ***

Don't miss out on the world of resources available on our series-coordinated Web sites! This Web-based component of many of our series provides links to Video on Demand, workshop or course support materials, interactive activities, lesson ideas, interviews with seasoned teachers, and much more.

To enter a series Web site from the main page for a series (like this one for "Bridging World History" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/mainpage3.html>), click on the amber colored banner with a link to "Enter the Series Web Site."

For more on how to get around Learner.org, take our site tour at <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/sitetour4.html>.

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*** DEALING WITH TRAGEDY AND EMOTION ***

Teachers can feel overwhelmed when faced with the social, psychological, and emotional issues of a diverse group of students -- without specific training in this area or the resources they need for support. And in times of tragedy, both children and adults need help dealing with stress and grief.

We have a number of programs you may find helpful, as general resources or for addressing recent events with your students:

 > "The Learning Classroom: Theory Into Practice" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/theory5.html> -- Program 5, "Feelings Count: Emotions and Learning"; Program 6, "The Classroom Mosaic: Culture and Learning"; and Program 7, "Learning from Others: Learning in a Social Context"

 > "The World of Abnormal Psychology" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/abpsych6.html> -- Entire series

 > "Discovering Psychology: Updated Edition" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/discpsych7.html> -- Program 15, "The Self"; and Program 19, "The Power of the Situation"

 > "Death: A Personal Understanding" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/deathapu8.html> -- Program 7, "A Child's View of Death"

These programs can be viewed free of charge at our Web site through Video on Demand. Visit this page <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/view9.html> for help getting started.

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*** THIS MONTH ON THE CHANNEL ***

Follow these series beginning this month on the Channel; be sure to scroll down for broadcast dates and times. Consult the full broadcast schedule <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/schedule10.html> for many additional programs airing in April.

ARTS
> "Art of the Western World" (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/westernart11.html>
> "The Arts in Every Classroom: A Video Library, K-5" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/artsineverylib12.html>
> "The Arts in Every Classroom: A Workshop for Elementary School Teachers" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/artsineveryws13.html>
> "Connecting with the Arts: A Teaching Practices Library, 6-8" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/connectartslib14.html>
> "A World of Art: Works in Progress" (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/worldart15.html>

EDUCATION REFORM
> "Critical Issues in School Reform" (K-12 teachers, administrators, parents) <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/critical16.html>

LITERATURE/LANGUAGE ARTS
> "American Passages: A Literary Survey" (college) <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/amerpass17.html>
> "Signature: Contemporary Writers" (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/signature18.html>

MATHEMATICS
> "Learning Math: Measurement" (K-8) <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/measure19.html>

SCIENCE
> "Unseen Life on Earth: An Introduction to Microbiology" (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/unseenlife20.html>

SOCIAL STUDIES
> "Democracy in America" (high school) <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/democracy21.html>
> "Human Geography: People, Places, and Change" (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/hgeography22.html>
> "Seasons of Life" (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/seasons23.html>
> "Teaching Geography" (grades 7-12) <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/tgeography24.html>
> "The Whole Child: A Caregiver's Guide to the First Five Years" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/wholechild25.html>

From the Channel schedule pages above, you can find more information on a series by clicking on "Overview."

And remember, if you don't receive the Channel signal, you can catch the live stream online at <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/livestream26.html>, closed captioned at <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/livestream-cc27.html>.

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*** CONNECT LEARNING WITH SPECIAL DAYS ***

Taxes Due! (April 15)

Taxes. Our nation began because of them <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/bostontea28.html>; today we willingly submit forms each year and pay them.

> "The Economics Classroom" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/econclass29.html> covers the basics of teaching a high school economics course. Visit the coordinated Web site to view Workshop 7, "Monetary and Fiscal Policy" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/econclassweb30.html>, which covers federal tax and spending policy.

> "Economics U$A" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/econusa31.html> provides an overview of economic history, theory, and practice. Program 6, "Fiscal Policy," explores how the government uses taxes to mitigate fluctuations in the economy.

Earth Day (April 22)

> Learn more about Earth with three of our science series: "Earth Revealed" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/earth32.html>, "Planet Earth" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/planet33.html>, and "Essential Science for Teachers: Earth and Space Science" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/earthspace34.html>.

> Also watch "Reactions in Chemistry" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/reactions35.html> Workshop 7, "Chemistry and the Environment." Find Video on Demand for the program plus content on environmental issues on the Reactions in Chemistry Web site <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/reactionsweb36.html>.

> Stop by our "Garbage" exhibit <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/garbage37.html> to learn how we can reduce waste, for earth's sake -- and our own.

Shakespeare's Birthday (April 23)

> Celebrate the 441st birthday of William Shakespeare with his masterpiece, Hamlet. Join a teachers' discussion of Hamlet in "Rethinking," Workshop 5 of our series "Conversations in Literature" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/converslit38.html>.

> Focus on acting and interpretation or dramatic themes and structure in Hamlet with Program 18 or 22 of "Literary Visions" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/literary39.html>.

Da Vinci's Birthday (April 15)

> This month is also the 553rd birthday of Leonardo da Vinci. Celebrate his work with "Art of the Western World" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/westernart40.html> Program 4, "The High Renaissance." The series begins on the Channel April 8, 8:00am Eastern.

Week of the Young Child (April 3-9)

> Watch "The Whole Child: A Caregiver’s Guide to the First Five Years" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/wholechild41.html> to enhance your understanding of a child's early development. A full run of the series begins this month, April 9 at 11:00am Eastern.

> "The Whole Child" is also available in Spanish/en Español as "El Niño Completo" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/nino42.html>.

National Poetry Month

> "Voices & Visions" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/vv43.html> examines the lives and works of 13 renowned American poets including Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes, Robert Frost, Sylvia Plath, and William Carlos Williams. Our “Spotlight on Voices & Visions” Web site <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/vvspot44.html> offers brief biographical sketches, links to additional resources, and video clips. Three programs air this month; consult the broadcast schedule <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/vvsched45.html> for dates and times.

> Also see "American Passages: A Survey of American Literature" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/amerpass46.html>. On the American Passages Web site, find materials for Program 10, "Rhythms in Poetry" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/amerpassweb47.html>, and Program 15, "Poetry of Liberation" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/amerpassweb48.html> -- including timelines, lesson ideas, and an artifact archive. The series starts April 18, 10:00am Eastern.

National Math Education Month

> April is a good time to explore two of our mathematics course collections: Learning Math <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/learnmath49.html> and Teaching Math <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/teachmath50.html>. The Teaching Math courses are only available online. "Learning Math: Measurement" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/measure51.html> begins on the Channel April 5 at 3:00pm Eastern.

> It's in middle school that American children start falling behind in math. "The Missing Link: Essential Concepts for Middle School Math Teachers" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/missinglink52.html> is designed to help close the gap between where we are and where we need to be in math education.

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*** TAKE THE JOURNEY NORTH ***

Watch "Journey North" <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/jnorth53.html> to learn how to participate in global nature studies. Visit the coordinated Web site <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/jnorthweb54.html> and track the migrations of animals such as Monarch butterflies and gray whales, or take a stab at finding a Mystery Class <http://www.learner.org/redirect/april/mystery55.html>.

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*** VISIT US AT NSTA, NCTM CONVENTIONS ***

Don't forget to visit our booth if you're attending these events:

National Science Teachers Association
National Convention, Dallas, TX
<http://www.nsta.org/>
Booth #826, Friday, April 1 - Sunday, April 3

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
2005 Annual Meeting and Exposition, Anaheim, CA
<http://nctm.org/meetings/>
Booth #837, Thursday, April 7 - Saturday, April 9

We look forward to seeing you!


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