Google translate

Fresh out of Google is the google docs translate facility. You can copy in a load of text, from one of over 40 languages, and translate instantly to another language!

Sounds amazing...I had a thai email message and copied it over into English...the results were average to poor, but I got the gist of the message.

You need to have a google account, but with the wealth of cloud-based software which is available from Google, you'd be missing out on lots of freely available software...text documents, spreadsheets, slides and photos.

Shift happens

If you haven't seen this, then do it now! Lots of ideas to think about technology and how we prepare children for it.

And the best way for middle school parents to help is...?

...according to researchers from Duke University,

... communicating your values and expectations about education; pointing out connections between schoolwork and current events; encouraging children to set goals and follow their dreams; discussing learning strategies, and preparing and making plans for the future. Basically, it means helping your kid make good decisions about school, with an understanding of what those decisions will mean to him or her, and linking class work with students’ interests and goals.


This factor overshadowed the impacts of helping with homework, visits to museums, School-based involvement included attending parent meetings, volunteering for school activities or communicating with school officials.

Learning from mistakes...risk takers

And here is another youthube clip, same theme, with American heroes: