Another School Year is Coming to a Close!

Designed to keep High School and Middle School Administrators, Teachers, and Students informed, the Castle Learning Online newsletter provides the latest news in web-based instructional technology. This month the Castle Learning Online newsletter provides end-of-school year procedures for Administrators; announces a new unit for English teachers; and introduces a new Intermediate World History course. Also in this newsletter, learn more about leadership skills every child should know and suggestions for using Castle Learning for upcoming testing and summer school. Last, but not least, we extend our best wishes to all students on their final exams as well as a happy and safe summer to all!!!

Featured Article

Important Information for Castle Learning Online Administrators from Castle Learning Online Technical Support

End of School Year Account Management Procedures

As the 2007-2008 school year draws to a close, the Castle Learning Online team would like to thank you for being part of the Castle Learning Online / School Island family! If you have not already renewed your Castle Learning Online subscriptions for 2008-2009, please contact your Sales Representative about your order.

During the summer, we will be performing standard account management procedures, which are necessary to prepare for the new school year. Session and account data for the "old" school year must make way for the "new." If you feel that this procedure does not meet the needs of your school, please contact Castle Learning Online Technical Support at support@CastleLearning.com or 1-800-345-7606 ext 2 to make other arrangements.

Special Note to Summer School Users

For most customers, the terms of the licensing agreement allow you to use Castle Learning Online for summer school. Please contact Castle Learning Online Technical Support at support@CastleLearning.com or 1-800-345-7606 Ext 2 if you need to transfer student or teacher accounts, or to accommodate other special summer school situations.

Note: Data from summer school sessions will not be saved once the new school year accounts are created.

Managing End of Year Reports

At the end of June, Castle Learning Online will generate end of year reports, which summarize the course usage for the 2007-2008 school year. This data is useful for tracking student progress and performing correlation studies with test results. These reports will be archived and posted on the Student Usage Report page, which is accessible to Administrator account holders.

Deactivating "Old" Student Accounts

Approximately two weeks prior to the start of the new school year, all student accounts will be deactivated. Students will not have access to their Castle Learning Online sessions. Students attempting to sign into Castle Learning Online will receive a message that their accounts are deactivated.

Teacher and Administrator accounts will remain active. Castle Learning Online classes will remain intact, and teachers will be able to view assignments and other reports. Teachers will also be able to create new assignments. However, teachers will not be able to add students to classes or make assignments to classes or students.

Student data from the 2007-2008 school year will not actually be deleted until we receive from you the new enrollment data for the 2008-2009 school year or confirmation from you that you intend to enroll students using the Add Multiple feature.

Pre-Enrollment of Student Accounts for the New School Year

As soon as you have student data available, we can begin the enrollment process in which new student accounts are created for the 2008-2009 school year. Castle Learning Online generates student account IDs based on a pre-assigned prefix for your school and the student name. Create a Microsoft Excel file with the following columns and send it to Castle Learning Online Technical Support (support@CastleLearning.com):

• Column 1: Last name
• Column 2: First name
• Column 3: Preferred Castle Learning Online ID (optional).
  
  Note: Some schools prefer to base their Castle Learning Online IDs on their network IDs or other unique identification information. If this data is omitted, then Castle Learning Online will automatically generate IDs based on a prefix for your school and the students' names.
   
• Column 4: Grade or year of graduation.
  
  Note: Many schools find this field convenient for sorting downloaded report data.
   
• Column 5: Unique school-issued identification number to provide account management flexibility and interfacing with your school's information system.

For districts with multiple schools, please use a separate file for students and teachers (see below) at each school. Castle Learning Online Technical Support will create the accounts and notify you by e-mail when it has been completed. You will be responsible for distributing the Castle Learning Online IDs to your students.

Note: Once the student accounts for 2008-2009 are enrolled, all student accounts will now be active. Students will be able to sign into Castle Learning Online and access their session. Teachers will be able to delete old classes, organize new classes and make assignments to students/classes.

Updating Teacher Accounts

Returning teachers will most likely want to keep the same account IDs and carry over assignments that they created during the previous school year. However, retirements, departures, transfers, and new hires also necessitate some teacher account maintenance. At the beginning of the new school year, sign into your Castle Learning Online Administrator account; go to the Accounts page; and manually delete each teacher account no longer needed. Create any new teacher accounts as needed from the Accounts page.

If the number of new teachers is large, send us a Microsoft Excel file with teacher first and last names in separate columns. For districts with multiple schools, please use a separate file for students and teachers at each school. Castle Learning Online Technical Support will create the accounts and notify you by e-mail when it has been completed. You will be responsible for distributing the Castle Learning Online IDs to your teachers.

Note: Clearly mark this file as being teacher names rather than student names so that we will create the correct type of accounts.

If you have any questions or concerns about the end of year procedures, please contact Castle Learning Online Technical Support at support@CastleLearning.com or 1-800-345-7606 Ext 2.

New Features / Updates

For English Teachers

A new unit, called "Literature: Macbeth", has been added to the English course. This is another in a series of Literature Short Answer Questions to be added to Castle Learning Online on a continuing basis. Each section in this unit contains questions covering an act in "Macbeth". To add these questions into an assignment:

1. Go to the Add Question page.

2. Select the unit named "Macbeth".

3. Select a section for the desired act.

4. Use the Browse and Select option to select the questions to include in your assignment. The order of the literature questions for a particular chapter parallels the sequence of events in the play. Thus, the use of randomization is not recommended in assignments with literature questions.

New on Castle Learning Online: Intermediate World History

This course serves as an introduction to World History for middle school students, providing an overview of important events in civilizations around the globe spanning four major time periods:

• Early Humans and Early River Civilizations (4000 BC-750 BC)

• Ancient Civilizations (750 BC-500AD)

• Early Civilizations (500-1200)

• Global Interaction (1200-1650)

In addition, the World History Toolkit introduces students to basic concepts in social studies, including:

• Why Study Social Studies

• Tools, methods and resources used by Social Scientists

• Occupations within the Social Sciences

• Reliability of sources

• Geographic terms and places

• Map skills

• Chronology

Intermediate World History makes extensive use of supplementary information such as maps, tables, charts, graphs, outlines and reading passages. Many questions, hints are reasons are illustrated with drawings, photographs and artwork. Extension questions presented in the reasons challenge students to think about the impact of these early events on society today.

Trends

Teaching Kids Leadership Skills

According to Leadership-Tools.com, it’s never too early, or late for that matter, to begin teaching kids the basics in leadership. In fact, teaching kids leadership skills is a subject parents do not consider often enough. Most parents remember, believe in, and teach their children, the GOLDEN RULE: “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” One of the most important leadership skills for kids is to appreciate and respect others who may see and feel things differently than they do. It is important for kids to learn each situation isn’t necessarily what they appear to be. What's more, each situation cannot be neatly summed up as right or wrong. Perhaps it’s just a matter of that a situation may differ from what they are used to. Whether you are a parent, a teacher, or both...if your kids already know the GOLDEN RULE, then they are off to a great start. Other leadership skills include:

1. Communication
   Effective communication with others also places equal emphasize on effective listening. In fact, it is important to listen twice as much as you say!
    
2. Collaborate/Teamwork
   More is accomplished in less time as a team as opposed to going it alone. Equally important is the social aspects of teamwork, where kids learn firsthand how to get along in the world with a diverse group of opinionated individuals.
    
3. Negotiation/Compromising
   Working as a team requires the fine art of give and take. Compromising not only ensures completion of the required task, but it also allows all parties to walk away pleased with the final outcome. Negotiation and compromise teaches kids to stay focused on the bigger picture rather than just on obtaining a personal goal.
    
4. Planning/Strategic
   Planning a strategy is not only a great way to empower kids, but is also a great way to build much-needed self-esteem. While a child may become easily overwhelmed by a large task, showing them how to break down a task into smaller, manageable pieces allows them to build self confidence and provides them with a clearer vision for success.
    
5. Vision
   A child who can clearly visualize their outcome is more likely to achieve their goal. A great way to learn visualization are through reading and listening to the tales of past achievers. Encourage children to read often. Introduce them to a world of successful people through books and movies offering strong and memorable leadership lessons. They will not only have a better appreciation and love for reading, they will also read faster while committing more information to memory.
    
6. Persistence/Determination
   Provide a child with a strong foundation of personal pride. To become highly successful in life, kids need to master persistence and determination. Teach children to view every failure as a lesson learned; one more step closer towards future success. Working through challenges and obstacles prepares children for the true reality waiting for them in the real world. Having the ability to PRESS ON will serve a child well throughout his or her life. 

Parents and teachers who teach and encourage these important leadership skills give children a tremendous gift - something to strive for!

Source: Leadership-Tools.com

Statistics & Surveys

Statistics

Daily challenges our urban youth face are often grim. Consider the following sobering facts:

• Nearly 43 percent of urban teens drop out of high school.

• Three in 10 teen girls become pregnant by age 20.

• Teen moms are much more likely to drop out of high school and raise their children in poverty.

• Children of teen moms are two times more likely to be abused; their sons more likely to end up incarcerated; and their daughters more likely to become teen mothers themselves.

• Homicide and suicide are the second and third leading causes of death for teens ages 15-19. Nearly three-fourths of teen homicides stem from gang violence.

Clearly, children who grow up amidst poverty never experience the hope that leads to dreams. Introducing all our children - especially our at-risk youth - to leadership skills provide hope in the form of opportunity and challenge. Offering leadership skills and character development as a regular regimen in addition to academic curricula opens doors to a world beyond the restricted environment in which many of our children live. What's more, teaching our youth leadership skills show our young people in real terms that they have not only the opportunity, but the capability to live within that larger world.

Use Castle Learning Online's Personal Content Sets as an integral part of your overall leadership and character development strategy. It will not only provide our youth with healthy life skills, but will also encourage our youth to move their life in a positive direction.

Source: Youth PartnersNET

Testing

Testing is Just Around the Corner!

Castle Learning Online provides a perfect tool for students to prepare for upcoming exams through review sessions assigned by their teachers or independent generated by themselves.  Make students aware of their access to Castle Learning Online and encourage use for state testing review.

Summer School

Summer School Is Not That Far Off!

Castle Learning Online is a superb tool for districts and/or schools offering school summer programs. Teachers and students will have full access for use in the classroom or at-home activities over the summer.

We Value Your Feedback!

As a member of the Castle Learning Online family, this is your newsletter. If you have any comments, ideas for future newsletter articles, or suggestions for a Castle Learning Online product feature or enhancement, please send them to support@castlelearning.com. We would love to hear from you!