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Math Matters
Resources for youth, parents, and teachers
Early Literacy Web
Getting ready to read,
ready for school
Mr. B's Career Web
Career clusters, activities, online resources,
entrepreneurship, and MORE!
School Matters
Help a child succeed in school, resources
for kids, families, and teachers
BreitLinks
A collection of education-themed resources
for kids, families,and teachers |
Middle School/High School Links
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Library Media Resources
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Academic Resources
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More Great Links
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 Here's
some resources and links that Mr. Breitsprecher has put together
and maintains online to support students in New Glarus and the
other projects and communities he collaborates with:
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 TNT
Book Club. Looking for great
books and
authors? Here is a Web devoted to teen books, also
called "YA Literature." Because we know today's students are
busy, this listing focuses on fun gooks that are fast-reads with
plots that develop quickly. Our suggestions are organized by
genres:
Realistic Fiction, Humor, Adventures
of All Types,
Fantasy & Sci-Fi,
Historical Fiction,
Nonfiction, and Poetry,
Drama, Short Stories.
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 Fiction
Genres (video, 8 minutes 30 sec). Reading
books is fun, because there are different kinds of books –
different books for different kinds of fun. We call different
types of stories, genres. Want to make it easier to find fun
books? Let's look at the 6 basic types of fiction genres.
Finding more fun books is fast and easy if you think about what
genres you currently read and enjoy - you can find more of the
same genres or "take the plunge" and try something new.
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 Mr.
Breitsprecher's Booklists (downloadable, printable .pdf
files). Looking for a fun book? The online New
York TImes Best-Seller List is a great source. Mr. B has
put together some booklists of titles that are popular in school
libraries across the nation - not all of these titles will be
available at your local libraries, but iyou can always get them
on Interlibrary Loan. There are suggests for (.pdf files): Adventure
Stories,
Fantasy I: Authors A-K,
Fantasy II: Authors K-Z,
Historical Fiction I: (U.S.) to 1783,
Historical Fiction II: (U.S.) 1784 - 1865,
Historical Fiction III: (U.S.) 1866-1899,
Humor, and
Mysteries.
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 My
Algebra. I taught Developmental Math, Beginning
Algebra, at the University of Wisconsin for a couple of years.
We had a great texbook, an outstanding tutoring program, but no
online resources. Some students would asked for alternative
explainations and putting this help online 24/7 made a lot of
sense - I created this web. You will find links here for
study skills,
class resources, my math skills "newsletter "Algebra
Connections,
skill review certificates,
skill building links, downloadable and printable
study guides, tech-connect applications of
algebra skills and computer applications, and my favorite
general math Webs.
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Writing Quick Tips. Working with students on
writing projects this past summer, I had to reflect on the ways
my writing skills and styles have changed. Learning to
think of
writing as a process was an important start. This Web
is designed to help students quickly review
editing and proofreading,
grammar,
punctuation,
capitalization,
tricky words,
academic/essay and business/technical styles,
persuasion,
documentation of sources, and a variety of links to
great writing sites.
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 Badger,
Badger, BadgerLink (video, 7 min 44 sec). Here's a
short video to demonstrate BadgerLink, a wonderful collection of
online resources that provides access to quality online
information for Wisconsin residents, schools, and libraries.
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 Subject
Heading Searches (video, 9 minutes 17 sec). If we
are going to get the most out of BadgerLink resources, we need
to understand the differences between keyword searches and
subjecct heading searches. Let's let some experts demonstrate.
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 Evaluating
Information (video, 10 min 20 sec). Digital search
tools and information seeking strategies are important, but even
more so is how we evaluate what we find. WIth today's
technology and access to resources like the databases at
BadgerLink, we can locate many resources quickly. Now let's
look at how we choose what sources best fit our needs.
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 Meet
Rappin' Melvil Dewey (video, 11 min 13 sec).
Sit back and enjoy
ScooterStories' Dewey Decimal Rap and then we will review the 10
basic number categories that Melvil Dewey created to organize
information in libraries. Even though the system is almost 100
years old, it is still used all over the world today. Every
idea we can imagine can be classified in one of 10 catagories -
each of which is assigned a number. Sound complex? Please
watch this video, listen to Melvil's rap, and you will see,
getting started with Dewey numbers is as easy as 100, 200, 300!
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 Earth,
Globes, and Maps (video, 9 min 35 sec).
If you we out in space looking at Earth, you would see an
amazing, beautiful sight, a spinning globe. You can see the
large masses of land. To see the details of how earth, you might
want to look at a model of it (globe) or a diagram of what you
are seeing (map).
Maps: Latitude & Longitude (video, 8 min, 55 sec).
So do you ever ask "Where am I?" Sounds like an easy question,
and it is unless you mean "Where am I located on the earth?"
Several hundred years ago, a system, lines of latitude and
longitude was developed.
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Mr. B's Dewey Challenge! Ready to master Dewey
Decimal? Ready to master information science? Are you ready to
find your way around virtually ANY library? If you answered
"YES", then you can start our
online quiz by clicking
HERE. Each question shows you a book and has 3 answer
choices - choose the one that correctly identifies which general
Dewey number the book belongs in. Good Luck!. Click
HERE if you want to
review Dewey Numbers before you take the Dewey Challenge.
Good Luck!
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 Mr.
B's Research Seminar. Knowing when you need
information, how to find it, and being able to evaluate and
organize are important skills. Information literacy enhance our
personal lives, school work, and careers. Thinking about
"research" as a process helps. We have resources and links about
plagiarism,
copyrights,
research & reference,
search strategies, an
interactive review, and MORE!
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 Mr.
B's Web Seminar. Sharing technology is fun and the
Web is the best place to do it. Here are some resources, "under
construction," about applying information and technology skills.
Created for Madison's CELEBRATING YOUTH at Monona Terrace and
for a course in Web design, the newest addition to TNT's
resources includes:
Tips & Tricks With MS Office,
Background Information on the 'Net,
Safe Surfin',
Searching Tips & Tricks,
Suggestions for Evaluating Information,
Copyrights for Web designers,
Web Design Fundamentals,
Introduction to Graphics, and
Links to More Resources.
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 Podcasts
for Learning. This Web looks look at what podcasts
are and how they are created. A podcast is a collection of
digital media files which is distributed over the Internet using
syndication feeds for downloading and playback on personal
computers or portable media players. They are available to use
24/7. Think of them as radio or TV shows that you can sign up
for and watch when it is convenient for you - there is no need
to worry about when a show is scheduled for broadcast. I haev
links here for
finding podcasts,
podcasts for teachers,
what you need,
getting started,
RSS feeds,
promoting podcasts,
tips & tricks, and
podcasting resources.
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 Mr.
B's Career Exploration Web. More and more schools
are seeing the advantages of fully supporting
Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards for Career Development.
Not only do these skills help students prepare for life after
high school, they provide a meaningful context for school-based
learning. An effective career program in middle school allows
kids to take ownership of their schoolwork while planning to
graduating from high school. I have created a collection of
resources for
career activities,
career clusters,
online resources, "soft
skills", job
hunting,
entrepreneurship, and the
DPI standards that this Web page includes.
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 TNT
Collegian. We would like to see Club TNT
participants continue their education after graduating from high
school. Its never too early to start thinking about college.
This section is based on the curriculum I have created and use
at University of Wisconsin college transition summer programs.
This section of the Club TNT Web is based on the Today's
Collegian material from the Summer Transition Class I taught at
UW-Whitewater. I have included information and links about:
high school versus college,
self-understanding & learning styles,
time management,
goal setting,
motivation, stress,
college math,
tips & tricks for success, and links to a variety of other
useful online resources.
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 Alcohol
Awareness Web. April is Alcohol Awareness month.
Approximately one-half of U.S. adults report a family history of
alcoholism or problem drinking. Nearly 14 million Americans have
alcohol disorders. While many talk about kids and illicit
drugs, it is alcohol that remains the No. 1 drug problem for
young people. I have put together resources for:
Alcohol & The Brain,
Research Guide,
Print Resources,
Support & Help,
For Mom & Dad,
For Teachers,
Kids & Students, and
AA Big Book Study.
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 Brain
Matters. The content for this page was put
together with
Jeanne Erickson, Childhood Brain Development Specialist. We
believe that if we present current, factual information about
issues such as substance abuse and use today's technology to do
so, we can positively impact the lives of others. Our Brain
Matters Web started as a collaborative computer activity
computer classes I was teaching. To see more about brain
development, please check out my
Connect WCCF link on the
Business Education Portfolio.
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 Free
Speech in Public Schools. This is the 40th
Aniversary of Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School
District, a landmark Supreme Court case that determined that
students do not check their first amendment rights in at the
door when they enter a public school. This Web has a video
featuring Ms. Tinker sharing her reflections on the matter 40
years later. Let's look at how you might start to organize a
reseach project on free speech in public schools. You will find
links for:
Issues, Getting
Research Started, Subject
Headings,
Downloadable Print Resources, Books in the
MS/HS Library,
More Great Books,
1st Amendment Links,
Free Speech & Schools Links, and "Tips and Tricks" on the
Art of Persuasion.
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 Honoring
Native American Heritage. The month of November is
officially dedicated as American Indian Heritage Month. In
keeping with our education-themed "pathfinders", I created this
set of resources to help explore the many ways that native
Americans have contributed to the founding of this nation. I
have included a
research guide,
listing of tribes,
print resources,
Web resources,
associations & organizations,
links for kids, and
links for teachers.
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 My
Forestry Web. This Web page is a collection of
some of the multimedia productions that I have been making for
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry.
These presentations are recorded using Sonic Foundry's Mediasite
- a system to create online training, briefings and courses in a
Web-streaming format. I have resources for:
Fire Prevention,
Forest Management,
Invasive Species,
Maple Syrup,
The Wood Industry,
Woodland Owners, and links
For Kids and
For Teachers.
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 Celebrate
Hispanic American Heritage. September 15-October
15 is a national observation of the contribution of Hispanic
descent. I created this pathfinder to help Madison's VOICES
newspaper celebrate this rich heritage. The term "Hispanic" does
not refer to a nationality or country, but rather cultural or
ethnic roots. More than 400 years ago, millions of people have
come to this land from Caribbean regions, Central America, Cuba,
Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South America, and
Spain. I have included a
research guide,
historic timeline,
print resources,
Web resources,
associations & organizations,
links for kids, and
links for teachers.
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 Asian
Pacific American History. May is APA History
Month. This Webpage shares the rich cultural traditions and
contributions of immigrants from this region of the world. You
will find a
research guide,
timeline of historic events, list of
print resources, links to
online resources,
associations & organizations, and resources
for kids and
for teachers.
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 Celebrating
Women's History. Our education-themed Webs are
popular. The number of "visitors" to Madison Voices has
increased almost 10 times since we started adding subwebs in
early January. It is gratifying to see that people from all over
the country and globe are finding us. THANKS! Our woman's
history web includes a
research guide,
timeline of events,
print resource,
online resources, links
for kids, and links
for teachers.
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 Honoring
African American Heritage. The greatest
"challenge" and most rewarding part of our
Madison Voices newspaper and Website is extending the reach
and depth of our coverage. Creating thematic subwebs to share
resources is an effective strategy. The
Martin Luther King, Jr. and
Schoolmatters subwebs each have more "visitors" than the
online version of our newspaper! We celebrate African American
heritage with a short biography of
Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the "Father of African American
History." We also have a
research guide, important
print resources, an
"on this day" calendar, links to
great Web sites, online resources
for kids and families, and
links for teachers.
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 Homage
to Coretta Scott King. We knew that
Voices newspaper had to share the legacy of of a kind,
loving, and spiritual person that gave the world so much.
Coretta Scott King's work as a human rights leader, strength in
the face of tragedy, and work to keep the legacy Dr. Martin
Luther King alive continues to inspire people around the world.
We have a tribute
Coretta Scott King, key events in her life, a bibliography
of
her work as an author, a complete listing of all
Coretta Scott King Award books, and
online resources exclusively devoted to her.
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 Celebrating
the Life of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King. Being
part of Allied Dunns' celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr.'s life was an honor. I created graphics and commemorative
ads for the newspaper and ceremony programs, but wanted to do
more. This Website is tribute to a great American. I wrote a
"pathfinder," Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
research guide, assembled links
for children and educators, and a organized a comprehensive
collection of online
resources about Dr. King. Few people have changed this
country as dramatically as Dr. King. His legacy lives on and
keeps giving from generation to generation.
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 The
Children's March. In honor of African American
History Month, Club TNT is going to feature the Children's
March, Birmingham, Alabama, in some of our programming. It is a
moving story how children were able to accomplish many things
that adults could not. Our Web presents the Children's March, "Bombingham", The
March on Washington,
The 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing, and
Children's March Resources.
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 Creating and online resources and sharing links via the web
is fun and if you're a librarian, IT'S A BLAST! Over the past
several years, I have put more than a thousand different html
and web-compatible files on the Internet. Today, they get
hundreds of unique visitors a day and close to one million
"hits" a month.
It's fun to hear from people around the state, country and
world. Students always ask me about how I learn and keep up on
these technologies. I am often asked for the URLs for these
projects too - so here are some links to some of my other Webs.
I hope you find something useful or fun. I always enjoy hearing
from people - let me know if you have any questions or comments
or would like to collaborate on a new project - thanks!
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 Club
TNT. In many ways, this is the project I am most
proud to be associated with -- the companion Web for a TV show
on
My Madison TV14 - please check us out at 11 am, Saturday
Mornings. The good people at Club TNT seek to "use the media of
entertainment to inform and education." We try to encourage
young people to make positive lifestyle choices. I am grateful
to be their humble Webmaster. We are entering our 12th season
on the air, the longest-running locally produced TV show in
Madison. The reason I can create and keep all the different
resources you see here online is because I share them across
very broad audiences. I am grateful to be able to share them
with the community of New Glarus and the students in the school
district.
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 BreitLinks.
This is really my personal and professional Web portfolio. It
is largely an online index, that acts as an umbrella across the
various Webs I create and maintain. There are many links and
videos here, including most of the ones posted above, but there
are many more at BreitLinks too.
How did I learn all of these technologies? I have been
blessed by having an opportunity to "roll-up-my-sleeves" and
work collaboratively with hundreds of students from
pre-Kindergarten to college. It's been challenging, never dull,
and extremely rewarding. As you can see, the projects at
BreitLinks provide me a a huge variety of "building blocks" to
support almost any academic or library media need.
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 My
Guitar Music. I started playing guitar in Jr. High
School - teaching myself the popular folk and rock styles. After
I got out of high school, I had the opportunity to study with
some of Milwaukee's finest jazz players - there's a wonderful,
rich guitar tradition in the greater metro area. I am grateful
that people have shared music theory, harmony, and guitar
technique with me. Here are some links to music videos of the
songs I enjoy playing the most. I release one each month on a
RSS podcast feed in an iPod/Zune format - please check them
out.
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 Mr.
B's Business Ed Web. This is my first Webpage. In
addition to being a certified Library Media Specialist
(Professional license 902), I also have certifications for
Comprehensive Business Education Including Notetaking (250) and
Office Vocational CoOp (281). When I taught high school
computer classes, I wrote the curriculum to emphasize creative
collaborative skills and authentic assessments. We used all the
major components of Microsoft Office. It's been a few years and
the software keeps changing, but there are some neat projects
here that still make great activities for computer classes. |
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