BACK TO SCHOOL WITH
VERIZON THINKFINITY

The Verizon Foundation welcomes educators, students and parents back to class for the 2010-2011 school year!
Here at the Foundation, we’ve been hard at work gearing up for back to school and can’t wait for you to check out some of our new tools and resources.

Over the summer, we signed up more than 7,000 members in the new Thinkfinity Community – where users are sharing resources and tips and starting meaningful discussions around education.

So start the school year off with some new ideas and amazing resources – check out our back to school collection, take our featured webinar and join our Community today.

Primary Krypto from Illuminations
A problem solving activity that kids can work on in pairs or a team. Use this as a fun way to introduce expectations for working together during the year. Grades K-8.

Bio-Cube from ReadWriteThink
Have your students fill out a bio-cube about themselves as a beginning of the year ice breaker activity. Grades 3- 12.

Stapleless Book from ReadWriteThink
Students and their teacher create books about themselves and share with their class to get to know one another at the beginning of the year. Grades K-12.

Postcard Creator from ReadWriteThink
Have your students create a postcard about what they did, liked or who they met during their first day of school and have them share it with their parent or caregiver when they get home. Grades K-8.

Zap! from Science NetLinks
Reinforce the power of practice in getting good at something with your students - another good beginning activity to set the stage for the rest of the year. Grades 3-5.

Dynamic Paper from Illuminations
Make your own customized math activity sheets in minutes! 3-D shapes, tessellations, coordinate graphs, and more - all based on your specifications. A cool tool for teachers of all grades!

Engaging Students with Primary Sources from Smithsonian's History Explorer
Fascinate your students with historic objects and give them a glimpse beyond what a textbook can provide. Using objects in your classroom will stimulate students to look at everyday items in a new way. Start the year with a quick charge of professional development on primary sources.

Rest of the Best
For more of the best materials to kick off the year, check out our super special Back to School section, where you’ll find an entire collection based on innovation, technology and creating classroom communities.

Winning the Vote for Women: The Story of Woman Suffrage from Smithsonian's History Explorer
Celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Constitutional amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote! Read a great book, create a fun craft, explore the web, and more, with new OurStory activities from the National Museum of American History. Grades K-4.

International Literacy Day is September 8
More than 780 million of the world’s adults (nearly two-thirds of whom are women) do not know how to read or write, and as many as 115 million children lack access to education. Learn how the day came about and some of the ways that local communities and teachers use it to celebrate reading. From the International Reading Association.

Captivate Your Students
Captivate your students as they head back to school. This webinar will give you great ideas on how to use Thinkfinity’s lesson plans, podcasts, interactives, multi-media explorations and more to capture your students' attention this year. Sign up today!

Share Your Story
Do you have an story about how you use ReadWriteThink.org in your classroom? Do you find that your students are more engaged and motivated because of ReadWriteThink resources? Would you like to share your story for a stipend? ReadWriteThink.org is looking for Community Stories that highlight the innovative and inspirational way real teachers are using ReadWriteThink materials in the classroom. Submit your story today!

Save the Date

Smithsonian Teachers’ Night
Friday, October 22, 2010 7:00pm-9:30pm
National Museum of American History, Washington, DC

The Smithsonian's History Explorer team and educators from all Smithsonian museums will be on hand to share free curriculum materials for K-12 teachers. Find classroom-ready resources, meet Smithsonian educators and attend demonstrations of the school programs and materials at the Smithsonian’s annual education expo. The event is free and online registration opens in early fall.

National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Convention
Teachers and Students Together: Living Literate Lives
November 18-21, 2010
Orlando, FL

The the theme for this 100th Convention, Teachers and Students Together: Living Literate Lives, is intended to stimulate and inspire everyone through bold and spirited discussions about how schools can utilize and develop this country’s rich cultural, ethnic, racial and linguistic diversity. These resources will help all students acquire the knowledge, skills and dispositions needed so their personal, social and civic interactions can move our nation toward a more democratic and just society, and a more harmonious and sustainable world.

• A Telemedicine Grant from Verizon Brings UVA Medical Care to Rural Virginians
  Our grant helped more than 1,200 patients to receive medical attention and preventive screenings.

• Sustainability Strategy: the New Samsung Intensity II Cell Phone
  The phone’s environmental features include an exterior battery cover made partly from recycled plastic that contains 35% post-consumer materials.

• Addressing the Big Social Issues
  This series of videos on Verizon’s commitment to being a good corporate citizen includes Verizon Senior Vice President–Corporate Responsibility Kathy Brown's thoughts on our approach to corporate responsibility.