New Virtual High School Opens at Horizon Charter School for Students in Sacramento Region

ROSEVILLE, Calif. — April 28, 2010 —Teens in Placer, El Dorado, Sacramento, Sutter, Nevada, and Yuba counties looking for a cyber school now have a new option from Horizon Charter School (www.HorizonCharterSchool.org). Horizon is opening a new Virtual High School for the 2010/11 school year and will hold an informational meeting about the program for prospective students on Tuesday, May 4.

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Individualizing Instruction with Technology (from District Administration Magazine)

Don Tylinski inherited a challenge when he became superintendent of the Seneca Valley (Pa.) School District in 2004. The 7,363-student K12 district located 30 miles north of Pittsburgh was under strain because of the arrival of large new industries in the area, including a new facility of global nuclear power plant builder Westinghouse. “The growth in student population had everyone in the district scrambling. We lost consistency in the curriculum,” says Tylinski.

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TMCnet article: Brainchild Products Aid Educators and Students Alike

Education Technology News: Brainchild Products Aid Educators and Students Alike
By Mini Swamy, TMCnet Contributor

Brainchild was founded in 1992 when it created the first handheld tutor for students, the PLS-1000. In 1999, Brainchild's online summative assessment for state standards was introduced.

Since then, Brainchild has been constantly innovating, making multimedia education more interesting for students.Since then, it has come a long way.

Brainchild’s TAKS Achiever! online assessment program and Study Buddy handheld tutors have been approved by the Texas Education Agency Multi-regional Purchasing Cooperative Awards Committee for use in schools in Texas regions 9, 11, 14 and 15,

Haitian Students in FL Schools Have Help with Brainchild

MIAMI, Florida -- March 23, 2010 - Florida schools are seeing significant numbers of Haitian students file through their doors and some of the schools, like Miami-Killian High School in Miami are better equipped to help those students than others.

Miami-Killian High School has resources on hand to help Haitian students feel some sense of control despite the upheaval in their lives and the language barrier that exists in a new country. The school has dozens of Study Buddy hand-held learning devices on hand which are manufactured by a Florida-based company called Brainchild (www.Brainchild.com). Study Buddies look like small game devices but they are used by students to reinforce instruction in mathematics, language arts, math and science. And, for the Haitian students, Study Buddies already come with content in their native language, Haitian Creole.

more: BusinessWire or PitchEngine (with photos)

From WSJ - The Case for Saturday School

This is a great article to keep in your library for future reference. Mr. Finn writes about the US lag behind other countries and suggests that maybe this is happening because we spend 30% less time in school. However, he also makes a strong point that we waste a lot of instructional time getting prepped, going to recess, enforcing classroom rules, (you teachers know what he means!).

The Wall Street Journal only allows these links for seven days to non-subscribers.
The Case for Saturday School

Horizon Charter School Open Enrollment for College-pre Academy

On March 22, Horizon Charter School begins open enrollment for 2010-11 school year of the Roseville Academy of Math, Science and Engineering. The Academy is a free, high-rigor, college-prep academy for students in grades 7-12. Students attend classes three days a week. Non-classroom days are designed for elective instruction including music, athletics, fine arts, foreign language, robotics, computer programming and other areas of individual interest to the student.

“I love the personalized, individualized learning and individual concern of the teachers,” said Gina Morgan whose son attends seventh grade at Horizon Charter School. “We send our son here because this site gives him an opportunity to learn where there are lots of positive influences.”

Parents interested in learning more about the Academy or who wish to submit a letter of intent to enroll their child are invited to an open house:

DATE: Monday, March 22, 2010
LOCATION: Horizon Charter School, Roseville Learning Center, 911 Reserve Drive in Roseville
SCHEDULE: 4:30-5:00 – Presentation for grade 7-9
5:00-5:40 – School Tour and chance meet the teachers
5:45-6:15 – Presentation for grade 10-12
INFO: Carolyn Bakken at 916-408-5232 or cabakken@hcs.k12.ca.us

Horizon Charter School is known for its unique programs and small class sizes that foster connections with community and peers. Students learn in small groups using a project-based approach that encourages students to explore topics in great detail while building their skills in mathematics, language arts, science and social studies. Students take frequent field trips and participate in community service projects in area businesses and organizations.

As a publicly funded charter school, Horizon adheres to the same academic standards as public schools but in a creative, more individualized manner. Parents are urged to submit their applications early as space in each academy is limited.

Jeff Cameron of Brainchild Interviewed by Scholastic Administrator Magazine

Jeff Cameron is interviewed by Scholastic Administrator magazine at the 2010 Florida Educational Technology Conference in Orlando.

Jeff talks about how Brainchild Achiever! and the Study Buddies work together to help students improve their performance on standardized assessments.