Welcome to William P. Breitsprecher's homepage and
Web portfolio,
BreitLinks -- Glad you
stopped! As the name implies, this page represents
a collection of links to some of my work on the
Internet.
Each of the links on the left
navigation bar points to a Web that I have created and
maintain to support my work.
If you would like a quick "tour" of the content
areas I support, please scroll down this "front page."
This Week's Featured Links
My LMC Web.
This is my newest set of online resources, targeted
for K-6.
Reference Books (NOTE:
Must use INTERNET EXPLORER for quiz to score itself).
Need to know something for school, business, career,
job, or your personal life? Getting to know the
reference section of a library will help you.
Libraries have special books, "ready-to-use" and
"good-to-go." Review a short video about
reference books and then take our interactive quiz to
check your understanding.
Internet Safety
(NOTE:
Must use INTERNET EXPLORER for quiz to score itself).
Kids love the Internet and the many different types of
fun and educational Websites. We need to teach
kids to be safe online. Here are 2 short videos
for kids that review basic ideas about safely using
the Internet - each video is presented with a short
multiple-choice "quiz" to help students show what they
have learned. They can review the videos, as
needed, to review and help them master my Internet
Safety unit.
Telling Time
(NOTE:
Must use INTERNET EXPLORER for quiz to score itself).
Children enjoy learning numbers - an important basic
math skill is telling time. This presentation is
designed to be an introductory lesson for preK-Kindergarten
students. It would be a great review for first
and second-graders. The short video has a catchy
song that kids love, "Tick-tock, tick-tock, what's the
time that's on my clock?"
Dinosaurs
(NOTE:
Must use INTERNET EXPLORER for quiz to score itself).
Here is a self-contained lesson for elementary or
middle school students about dinosaurs. It
consists of 3 short (8 minute) videos that make
learning fun. Kids love learning with multimedia
and this style of presentation enables classroom
teachers to work one-on-one or in small groups with
students, starting with those that have the greatest
needs and working around the room to provide guidance,
remediation, or enrichment based on each student's
needs.
Light
& Colors(NOTE:
Must use INTERNET EXPLORER for quiz to score itself).
This self-contained lesson for elementary students
about color and light. It consists of a short
video (4 minutes) that reviews important concepts and
then 2 short interactive quizzes to assess learning.
The lesson is designed to allow teachers to engage
students independently or in small groups (they love
this style of presentation).
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!
Picture Book Videos. These video Webcasts
(streaming .flv files) are part of my
Picture Book Podcast.
Every 2 weeks during the school year, I will release a
short video featuring one of my favorite books - a
picture book that I read to my students in my library
media center. The kids love them, hope you and/or
your children love them too. I add new ones here
regularly too, so please check back.
These videos
will "pop-up" in a new window with an embedded media
player. You click the player to start watching.
There are "pause" and "play" buttons on the lower left
of the embedded player. There is a volume control on
the lower right - just click the volume graphic to
indicate whether you want to mute or play it louder or
softer.
A Picture Book of Rosa Parks.
David Adler biography series of picture books are
great for young children. They are good books for
older readers. This book, about "the mother of the
civil rights movement" tells us about the life and
times of Rosa Parks.
A Picture Book of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Every person's life is a story. Every person's life
touches others. Dr. Martin Luther King's life was
productive and compassionate. Featuring a title from
David Adler's award-winning biography series, I have
also included a short video about Dr. King's life.
The Blues of Flats Brown The
blues are an old style of music, born in hard times.
But blues music takes a sad situation and makes it
joyful. Let's listen to Albert Collins & BB King, look
at what blues music is, and then share a wonderful
picture book by Walter Dean Myers.
Parody: Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Some stories are fun because we have heard another
story first. Sometimes authors take our favorite
stories and create new ones with new meaning and
characters. These new stories keep some of the
original story, which making it fun.
Bear Snores On Karma Wilson is a
popular children's book author that is increasingly
getting the attention and affection of young readers.
She has a wonderful, whimsical style that uses rhyme
and repetition to delight children.
Paddington Bear One of the most
popular bears in the world, one of the most popular
series of chapter books in the world, is Paddington.
He is a bear that came to London as a stole-away from
Peru. This "book-talk" video presents the main titles
in the Paddington series.
Tadpole's Promise Written by
Jeanne Willis and illustrated by Tony Ross, Tadpole's
Promise is a delightful book and was nominated for a
Golden Archer Award in 2007/2008. This video also
reviews the lifecycle of butterflies and frogs.
Where's My Teddy? Having a
routine, a set of things we do at bedtime, can help us
get a good night's sleep. For many children, going to
bed means huddling and cuddling their own teddy bear.
Here's a fun story about a boy, a bear, and the teddy
bears that they love.
Corduroy.
Children love their teddy bears! Many adults love
bears too. Written by Don Freeman, the book Corduroy
is one of the most popular picture books in school and
public libraries. This timeless classic has
entertained generations of kids and helped get them
ready to read.
Library Skills Videos:
Information & Technology Literacy.
These video Webcasts (streaming .flv files) are
part of my
Library Skills Podcast.
Every 2 weeks during the school year, I will release a
short video featuring some of the lessons I share with
students in my library media center. We have a lot of
fun sharing, hope you and/or your children love them
too. I add new ones here regularly too, so please
check back.
These videos will "pop-up" in a new window with an
embedded media player. You click the player to start
watching. There are "pause" and "play" buttons on the
lower left of the embedded player. There is a volume
control on the lower right - just click the volume
graphic to indicate whether you want to mute or play
it louder or softer.
Doin' Decimals.
Being ready to work with numbers and applying math &
algebra means being comfortable with decimals.
Please take a moment and review these important
skills with my new online alter-ego, the animated
"Mr. B" as we present another pilot for the upcoming
Club TNT series, Math Minutes.
Corduroy Book Talk.
People of all ages love hearing the written word,
having a great book read to them. For our youngest
children, this gets them ready to read. For older
kids and teens, it keeps them interested in books.
Want to share a great book with someone you love?
Here's a pilot for a public service announcement I
am producing for a Madison-area youth TV show,
Club TNT.
Monster!
People of all ages love hearing the written word,
having a great book read to them. For our youngest
children, this gets them ready to read. For older
kids and teens, it keeps them interested in books.
Want to share a great book with someone you love?
Here's a pilot for a public service announcement I
am producing for a Madison-area youth TV show,
Club TNT.
Factoring: Prime Time.
OK, not strictly speaking an information and
technology literacy skill, but creating and modeling
these formats and an efficient process to create
multimedia is. This is a pilot for a proposed
segment for Club TNT's season next fall. The
fundamental math skills presented here underlie many
math classes.
Divisibility Rules.
With a little practice, you can see if a number or
expression is simplified without a calculator. Here
are some “tips and tricks” to quickly see when we
can break larger numbers into smaller number.
Meet Melvil Dewey & Dewey
Decimal Catagories. 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.
Badger, Badger, BadgerLink.
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.
Subject Heading Searches.
Professional researchers know that the fastest way
to find information is to understand how people have
organized it. Finding good resources is easy when we
understand the difference between SUBJECT HEADINGS
and KEYWORD searches.
Evaluating Information.
Using digital search tools and the Internet to find
information is fun and easy. Access to different
resources is valuable. However, easy access means
evaluating what we find is important. Let's look at
how to help choose the best information available.
Celebrating the Life & Times
of Dr. Seuss. Join me and Bogey
Bear as we review the life of one children's book
author, Dr. Seuss. This video is a "remix" of
one I did a few years ago. This time, we share
some interesting facts and aspects of Seuss' life.
Oz Book Talk.
Reading books is fun. Reading is fun because there
are different kinds of books – different books for
different kinds of fun. We call different types of
stories, genres. Let's look at the 6 basic types of
fiction genres.
Fiction Genres.
Reading books is fun. Reading is fun because there
are different kinds of books – different books for
different kinds of fun. We call different types of
stories, genres. Let's look at the 6 basic types of
fiction genres.
Newbery Metal Winners & Honors
Books.
Looking for a fun book to read – try an
award-winning book. Try a Newbery book. These books
have entertained millions of people, folks all
around the world. You’ll probably enjoy them too.
Earth, Globes, and Maps.
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.
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.
I Remember Dr. Marting Luther
King.
I created this video to help introduce biographies to
upper elementary students during the week the nation
honors Dr. King. There are many great books
about him for kids of all ages. My favorite is
David Adler's "A Picture Book of Martin Luther King,
Jr."
Encyclopedia: Guide Words.
Encyclopedias have guide words - one set of the top of
each 2 pages. The first guide word is the first item
on the first page. The second guide word is the last
item on the second page. Use alphabetical order to
find the guide words that our word would be between.
Dictionaries: Guide Words.
We use guide words, two words on the top of each page.
The first guide word is the first word on that page.
The second guide word is the last word on that page.
We just use alphabetical order and find the 2 guide
words that the word we are looking up falls between.
Alphabetical Order.
Some things we learn to do by DOING. I always
carefully practice procedures like alphabetical order
with students, but find having different ways to
explain it and multimedia really helps. This video
outlines the process so that we can practice.
Using Dictionaries.
Here are the basics that we need to know to look up
words in dictionaries. I created this for my 3rd
graders. Please note how I have simplified the
process of making multimedia by using a
PowerPoint-style, narrated presentation.
Using Encyclopedias. This is
another video I was able to quickly create using a
PowerPoint format with transitions and animations.
We review the basic things we need to know to find
information in encyclopedias.
Almanacs:
General Index. The World Almanac
is organized with tabs, a table of content, a general
index, and a quick reference index. Students are
surprised to see we find information quicker in an
almanac than an Internet search. Let's let some
young readers explain.
Reference Team. Need to find some
information? Want to find it quickly? Then you will
want to get to know the "team" at the library. The
reference team - they can help you find information
quickly.
Almanacs, Atlases, Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, and
Thesauruses.
Need to know something for school, business, career,
job, or your personal life? Getting to know the reference
section of your library will help. Libraries have special books
"ready-to-use" and "good-to-go."
Folk Tales & Fairy Tales. Learning
about genres is the key to connecting young readers
with fun books - there are many different types of
stories and books, different genres. Let's get started
by comparing and contrasting folk tales with fairy
tales.
Doin'
Dewey: Nonfiction. The
library bears are back! Join Bogey Bear and Fuzby as
they talk about getting started with Dewey Decimal
Numbers - Melvil Dewey's system for organizing
nonfiction books in the library. Dewey Decimal numbers
are used in libraries all around the world!
Finding Fiction Books.
Mr. Breitsprecher always likes it when students and
other friends stop by the library. Join Bogey Bear,
Fuzby, and Mr. Breitsprecher as they review the
alphabet and how fiction books are shelved in the
library - they are in ABC order by the author's last
name.
Your
Library: Finding Fiction and Nonfiction Books.
Mr. Breitsprecher and his friends review an old video
about libraries, call letters for fiction, and Dewey
numbers for nonfiction. This project shows how
older videos can have good information if you look for
useful clips that are still valid.
Amazing Grace: Hope, Change, and Freedom. This lesson
celebrates African American Heritage by reviewing
slavery in America, the inspiring story of the song
Amazing Grace, and what that song has meant to
different people over the years.
I Love It When You Read To Me.
I wrote this song a couple of years ago when I
accepted a library media position in a lower
elementary school, K through second-grade. What a
happy and joyous place! Here I play it with some
4-year-old Kindergarten students. This is just
too cute and I am so grateful to have an opportunity
to share with these children.
Author Study: Jeanne Willis. A popular author from England who
has written more than 80 books for children, Ms.
Willis' book Tadpoles Promise is one of
the 2007/2008 Golden Archer Award nominees. This
video also features a presentation I made of her book, Mayfly Day.
Wisconsin's Golden Archer
Award 2007/2008. Each
year, Wisconsin students nominate books and a popular
vote determines the "winner" as determined by the
state's young readers. It's a lot of fun and
promotes a love a reading. Learn more with this
short video.
Caldecott
Awards.Children love to sing -
they love songs about books. I wrote this to share a
love of books with the young students I read to. The
kids love it and they love the books we share too.
Fiction & Nonfiction Books.
The first thing we need to
decide when looking for a fun book to read is (1).
Do we like to read stories based on imagination
(fiction). or (2). Do we want to read
information books (nonfiction). This video was
produced for elementary students.
Plagiarism & Citing Sources.
Giving others credit for their ideas and words is
important. It's the right thing to do.
Let's review how to avoid plagiarism and look at a
simple way to cite sources - a format based on APA
that is used in with primary students at the Herman
School District.
Barlow
Park Media CenterThis is my library media center and the Website I have created
to support it. Barlow Park Elementary School is
K-2 building - I have never had so much fun in school;
this is a joyful place. These children are fun to
work with, excited about school, and enthusiastic about
learning. I hope we can find ways to nurture this
and help these children keep positive attitudes
throughout their experiences in school.
My
Library Lessons.
NOTE: I am not updating this
web at this time. For my latest LMC and Info/Tech Lit
resources, please see
www.mylmweb.comI will keep these pages online for now,
though most of the content has been integrated into my
newest project,
My LMC Web. Thanks
for everyone that has supported this site.
Issues in Urban Education
Historically, public schools have never met the needs of diverse learners –
especially those from disadvantageous socioeconomic
backgrounds. This is especially true in urban areas with
high concentrations of poverty and/or unemployment.
In America, these burdens more-heavily fall on people of
color, especially African Americans and Hispanic
Americans.
Multi-Media & Webcasting
My
Guitar Music.
I've been playing guitar since a teen - have dabbled in
many different styles of music starting with folk and
moving through what is today called "classic rock", pop,
classical, bluegrass, country, blues, and jazz.
Today, I primarily play solo guitar, working bass-lines
and chords under the melodies of the songs - a style
that
Jack Grassel calls
"super-ax". Here are some
streaming MP3 files and
music videos of
my music, suitable for iPods, MP3 players, or burning to
CDs. If you listen to them on a computer, they
will sound best with headphones - many PC speaker
systems cannot reproduce the deep bass-tones of the
jazz-style guitar I am using for these sessions.
My
Music Videos These are the streaming versions - click on the
links below and the videos will pop-up in a new
window. Click the PLAY button on lower left to view.
In my
podcast feed, I
have another version of the featured music videos in a
format compatible with iPods and Zunes.
All Blue. I
worked out this solo guitar arrangement of an all-time
jazz favorite while sitting on the shores of Green Lake,
admiring the deep blue water and sky. The video features
images that reflect the mood and feelings I had at the
time and what this song means to me.
Amazing Grace.
This is one of the most popular hymns in the world. In
this version, In this instrumental version, I've
arranged the melody in a bluesy context. I find it a
moving piece and always dedicate it, saying a silent
prayer, to those that "once were lost, but now are
found."
Anji: 1960-1965 Timeline.
While most recognize this song as "Angie" from the
Simon and Garfunkle "Sounds of Silence" album, it was
written as ANJI by Davey Graham in 1962. I present it
hear with a timeline of important historical event s
in the U.S. from 1960-1965.
Amazing Grace: A Legend of
Hope, Change, and Freedom. This lesson
celebrates African American Heritage by reviewing
slavery in America, the inspiring story of the song
Amazing Grace, and what that song has meant to
different people over the years.
America The Beautiful.
A solo guitar arrangement of a favorite American song
honoring this nation, this instrumental combines
walking bass lines, melodies, harmonies, and chords. I
created the guitar piece and video to celebrate the
Fourth of July, 2008.
Bourrée. This
piece, by Bach, is a tribute to a dance of French
origin common in Auvergne and Biscay in Spain in the
17th century. It is danced in quick double time. My
version uses a swing feel - couldn't find any Bourrée
dancers, so I have baby elephants playing.
Chicken Shack.
Here's an "old style" blues - the bouncing rhythm has
its roots in a style of organ music played long ago.
This video features some film from the 1920's and
Farmer Gray's chicken shack and egg operation.
The Entertainer.
I learned to play this as a teenager. When I
used to perform at coffeehouses, ragtime guitar was
very popular. I had forgotten parts of the song, but
decided this spring to "dust it off" and work it up
again. It's a fun piece - the legacy of Scott Joplin
lives on!
Greensleeves.
This haunting melody is hundreds of years old. One
legend is that it was written by England's King Henry
the XIII (1491-1547) and refers to his second wife,
Anne Boleyn.
Halloween Boogie.
Halloween is a celebration, a time for black cats,
pumpkins, witches, ghosts, and goblins. It a time for
fun - its a time to boogie with skeletons. Don't
believe me? Talk a look yourself. Lot's of magical
things happen this time of year.
Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss.
Here's a music video I made for fun and to share
with young children the week of Dr. Seuss's birthday, March 2nd. Theodor Seuss Geisel wrote great books
that have inspired many generations of readers. Join
me and some of my bear friends as we wish Dr. Seuss a
happy birthday!
I Can't Get Started.
Written by Gershwin and Duke for the Broadway show
Ziegfeld Follies, 1936. Its a comedy, first sung by
Bob Hope to Eve Arden, about a man that cannot "get
started" with the woman he loves. Today, its a
classic jazz standard.
It Had To Be You.
I like jazz standards from the 1920's - music from the
jazz-age sounds great on guitar. My arrangements bring
in some blues influences too. This video features some
clips of Felix the Cat that are now in the public
domain.
L'Amour Est Bleu/Love Is Blue.
A song written by André Popp (music) and Pierre Cour
(lyrics) in 1967, most know if from a recording by
Paul Mauriat. It's a powerful melody, that describes
the pleasure and pain of love.
Late Freight.
This traditional style blues features the rumble of a
steam locomotive and freight train - no other machine
created by man has intrigued and inspired so many. The
video features the Union Pacific's Big Boy - the
largest steam locomotive to ever work the rails.
Love Him.
From the Broadway musical, Jesus Christ - Superstar, I
created this instrumental guitar arrangement to
celebrate a beautiful song about Mary Magdalene's love
for Jesus. To me, it is also song about my acceptance
and faith. Note: New audio
track, June 09; a new acoustic arch-top. Please
listen for the wonderful, rich overtones and harmonics
that this guitar resonates with.
Moonlight In Vermont.
A beautiful song, great on guitar - I play play it
with a bit of a swing feel instead of the usual
ballad. It has a different cadence because the lyrics
don't follow the usual meter and rhyme of the time,
really almost a haiku.
Over the Rainbow.
Where do we go to find our dreams? Influenced by the
late, great Chet Atkins, I first worked this guitar
arrangement out many years ago and its one of my
favorite pieces - an escape and soothing release.
Rambunctuous. An
old "head tune" that generations have shared,
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines the term as
"marked by uncontrollable exuberance, unruly." In this
video, I get some help from Felix the Cat
and a 1920's silent film that is now in the public
domain - April Maze (part 1).
Rim Shot. We
have probably all heard a comedian tells a joke that
bombs and a drummer hits a "rim shot". I learned it as
an old "head tune". In this video, I get some help
from Felix the Cat and a 1920's silent
film that is now in the public domain - April
Maze (part 2).
Rock-A-Bye Baby.
Here's a peaceful song that I play to help children
sleep or to provide a quiet atmosphere for reading or
independent work. My version has a "jazz waltz" feel,
a subtle difference that you will feel. The video
features clips from an old animation that is in the
public domain.
Sesame Street Theme.
Well, more like a little jammin' on this popular
children's show's theme. The song has changed over the
years, featuring a wailing harmonica and a hip-hop
feel today. Here, I try to turn it into a guitar jam
with a bit of a blues/rock feel.
Starry Starry Night (Vincent).
Vincent Van Gogh was ahead of his time - the vivid
impressionist style that he created still captivates
the imagination. This music video compares and
contrasts elements of "Starry Starry Night" with 21st
century images from the Hubble spacecraft and distant
galaxies.
Sweet Georgia Brown.
This upbeat old-time jazz standard is a lot of fun.
Many recognize it as the theme song for the Harlem
Globetrotters. For years, I didn't think I could work
it out as a solo-guitar arrangement, keeping the
melody intact, but here it is.
Take Me Out to the Ball Game.
It's almost summer and the baseball season is in full
swing. The Milwaukee Brewers are having another good
year, so I decided to arrange and record a classic
song and make a music video for Take Me Out To The
Ball Game!
This Land Is Your Land. This is
an American classic, by Woody Guthrie that I have been
playing since I was a kid. I still enjoy it today,
don't do much "Travis picking" anymore, but it is a
fun sound that I don't want to forget.
What I Did For Love.From the Musical "Chorus Line," this instrumental
guitar version features the lyrics and a montage from
the Broadway production. It's a healing piece, about
acceptance and gratitude for things we have, things we
have lost, and things that are still with us.
When I'm 64. I
have always admired the melodic guitar work of George
Harrison that set the mood for many of the Beatle's
songs. I created this instrumental arrangement using
some of the lines that are used in the Beatles
version. The video features pictures and video clips
from the movie, Yellow Submarine.
When You Wish Upon A Star. This
is a popular tune, from the movie Pinocchio. I prefer
to share it "up", with a swing feel. I have also
rearranged it to put the "hook" up front, so that
people recognize it even though it has a jazzier feel
than the original.
My
Mediasite Web Wisconsin's
Department of Natural Resources is using Sonic Foundry’s MEDIASITE – innovative technology that creates Web
compatible, “streaming” multimedia. I am one of their
specially trained Mediasite Operators. With the
newest version, Mediasite 4.0, creation of rich media
has never been easier. Technology like this represents
the next “killer app” – being able to easily integrate
audio, video, and graphics into a Web-based presentation
will greatly enhance communication, training, and
education. You will find links for:
Mediasite Basics,
Rich Media Examples,
DNR Forestry Examples,
Creatively Using Mediasite,
Mediasite Tips & Tricks,
and
Creating Slideshows With
Voice-Overs.
Library
Media Projects. Here are some of the Library Media and academic support
projects I have been working on. These are "print"
resources - the links on the right will steer you to
many of the Web-based and multi-media resources I have
created and maintain. One of the main advantages
that today's technology offers is the ability to create
professional looking resources - most school districts
are full of creative, talented people that are experts
in their content areas. I have posted documents I
have created for
Academic Support,
Information
and Technology Literacy,
Recreational Reading, and
Resources
for LMS Professionals.
Great
Birthday Picture Books! Do you know a child
that is ... celebrating a birthday? Share a great
picture book and make it a special day. Helping children
enjoy books gives a gift that stays with them the rest
of their life!
Note: When viewing
with Internet Explorer, you may
need to click the "PLAY" button twice.
Increasingly, Internships are an important part of the
college experience. They provide student with
"real-world" skills while given them an opportunity to
better understand different types of careers. Here
is a video that California State University makes freely
available about it's programs. I have added this
video to Breitlinks for 2 reasons.
Like most Webmasters, I work to continue to enhance my
work. Multi-media has the potential to change
the way we share information. While I have
direct experience in video production, network-quality
TV, there are also many free resources available.
Integrating multi-media seamlessly into Web
presentations is an important skill for Webmasters.
Accommodating the diverse needs of students is an
important responsibility for all schools.
Multi-media clips will become an increasingly
important method of providing information in a format
that is available on-demand, meeting learners' needs.
Whether created in-house on school-owned equipment;
used from publicly accessible, freely available and
shared online resources; or purchased with appropriate
"fair-use" and copyrights - schools will benefit from
incorporating a variety of formats into their Intranet
and Internet resources.
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.
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.
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. One of the
challenges of being the
Voices Webmaster is creating
alternative content that extends the physical paper's content
beyond the printed page. We will be putting together more
thematic subwebs for our readers.
Brain Matters. The content
for this page was put together with Jeanne Erickson, Brain
Development Specialist, for the Wisconsin Council of Children and
Families. 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 Webstarted 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.
My Algebra.
While UW-Whitewater does not require professors to have Webs, I
wanted to provide my students with resources that support
alternative learning styles, needs, and independent study.
In my humble opinion, giving students choices, connecting them
with alternative presentations, and utilizing Web-based resources are
all important.
I strive to support their learning by creating a "newsletter,"
my
Algebra Connections and by
integrating productivity software.
Stepping Stones.
When UW-Whitewater was not going to be
able to continue support programs for academically underserved
students, LaMont Weaver, Director
of Academic Standards, and I created a collaborative Web with
other departments and stakeholders to
maintain a "blog" to share
experience, strength, and hope to help our
Stepping Stones students during
their first semester, fall 2005. This Web is not being
updated at this time; it has served our purpose. From
September through December of 2005; our Stepping Stones Web has
had more than 1,400 "sessions" with more than 2,400 page views
which resulted in almost 37,000 "hits" -- pretty impressive
support from our small group of select students. I enjoyed
working with everyone!
Madison Voices.
Friends often ask for suggestions on how
to do computer projects. In this case; create a newspaper,
Voices, published bi-monthly by the Allied Dunns
Marsh Neighborhood Association in Madison, Wisconsin.
After getting the paper copy together and printed, we decided to
create a companion Web (www.madisonvoices.com).
It is a wonderful project to be involved with -- we are working
to build "comm-unity" in an urban neighborhood that has had some
problems, but is working to master these challenges.
Here are a few
of the videos that I was involved with storyboarding,
filming, and producing for
CLUB TNT.
You
can see more at
TNT Video Online On Demand, 24/7.
I feature these clips, not because they represent the
"best," but because each tells a story about the
community we serve. Our "on location" videos
present fuller coverage of the events we feature on our
weekly TV show. Club TNT "uses the media of
entertainment to inform and educate." It's
a concept that works. We are now the longest
running locally produced TV show in Madison.
The
First Twenty Nine Days. Club
TNT was “on location,” filming a book signing ceremony for “The
First Twenty-Nine Days,” a new book presenting the
stories of twenty former inmates and their loved ones, and the
members of the educational and support group, Voices Beyond Bars.
Compiled by Johnny L. Ellis and Abraham Rose and published by
BookSurge, LLC, 2006, “The First Twenty-Nine Days” seek to raise
public awareness of how the structure of the prison system and the
lack of support in the community into which former prisoners are
released programs them to fail. The first 29 days - and the support
received or not -- are crucial to their success or failure.
Men
Who Cook.
With the rising costs of a college, providing help for
students to continue their education is an important mission. Men
Who Cook is a fun event where the community comes together to share
good good, good times, and raise money for a worthwhile cause -
scholarships for those with financial needs. This event also raises
money to promote education in schools, sharing with youth the value
of doing well in school, earning high school diplomas, and
empowering them to have real choice to continue their education
after high school. Also, Madison's "Mayor Dave" shares his "secrets"
for his famous chili. This video will pop-up in a new browser
window. You may need to disable any pop-up blockers, close this
window when you are done viewing.
Childrens
Expo- Part 1and
Childrens Expo - Part 2. Madison hosts a Kids Expo each year
to celebrate youth. This past year, CLUB TNT served as
the emcee for all of the stages. The event is held
at the Alliant Energy Center and enjoys widespread
participation from across the community. CLUB TNT provided "On
Location" coverage of the weekend's events - this is Part 1, a remix
of segments that originally aired last spring, after the 2006 Kids
Expo. We are looking forward to being part of the celebration
next year too. This video will pop-up in a new browser window.
You may need to disable any pop-up blockers, close this window when
you are done viewing.
CLUB
TNT at the Dane County Fair! CLUB
TNT was a partner in the promotion of this years Dane
County Fair (yup, that's me doing interviews). We
produced this video to share with the fair's board - its
my way of saying, "Thanks for the fun!" CLUB TNT will
feature some of this video during this fall's broadcast
season on My Madison 14. Providing the diverse
youths in Madison with positive role models and fun is
important. The Dane County Fair Board are
wonderful people to work with - we hope to continue this
partnership, using the media of entertainment to inform
and educate. This video will pop-up in a new
browser window. You may need to disable any pop-up
blockers, close this window when you are done viewing.
HAPPY
BIRTHDAY McFarland! I
produced this video for McFarland's
Sesquicentennial, on July 2nd, 2006 (yup, that's me
doing interviews). CLUB TNT was there for the free
train rides aboard Wisconsin & Southern Railroad
commuter cars, music, games, history events and more.
Please join us for a look at the fun we had out in the
sun at Arnold Larson Park and the community of
McFarland. We will mix this into one of this
season's episodes, to air on My Madison 14. This
video will pop-up in a new browser window. You may
need to disable any pop-up blockers, close this window
when you are done viewing.
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 Madison's UPN
station, Channel 14. 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.
TNT Book Club.
Drawing on my experience and specialty training as a school
library media specialist, I
created this section to share ideas about
books and
authors. The emphasis is
on "YA Literature," because these books are quick-reads with
plots that develop quickly. Reading is a fundamental skill
-- motivating students to read is important.
Additional Resources. An important part of
Club TNT is promoting positive lifestyle choices.
To help youth make good decisions about drugs and
alcohol, please see our
Brain Matters Resources.
I 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
presents "just the facts" and is used extensively by the
substance abuse seminars that the
Wisconsin Council of Children and Families
holds at schools throughout Wisconsin.
HAPPY
BIRTHDAY DAD! This
collaborative celebration of my father's 80th birthday
is an "on-line" tribute to Paul Breitsprecher. It was
a great deal of fun to put together.
BreitLinks
exists to share my work teaching information and technology
literacy. You can contact me at
webmaster@clubtnt.org
Having been in some of Wisconsin's largest
school districts, I have come to the conclusion that these
important skills need to be taught in content-rich contexts.
Don't our children deserve nothing less? Each page is build around a different educational
theme.
There is a HUGE amount of information
here that I have been putting together over the past 4 or so
years. While each of these Webs is current, some are not
being updated. All content and links are still valid.
I have
chosen to include these pages to allow you to see
the different things I have been involved with, the progress of
these skills, and different formats and presentation styles.
This page is my professional portfolio. These Webs are organized
by function and the way I use them, not Wisconsin's DPI Competencies.
I have a
page for my Library Media work that is organized in that manner --
please contact me if interested in seeing it.
The Webs here are all
"stand-alone" collections of information. The BreitLinks page is
merely an umbrella. THE WEBS ON THE LEFT WILL NOT HAVE THE
BREITLINKSNAVIGATION BAR -- only the navigation links for that
Web.
When feasible, I have added the BreitLinks logo to
provide a link back. Each Web will open in a new browser
window. Simply close the new window that pops us when you
are done looking at that Web -- the browser with BreitLinks
should stay open. If you use a pop-up blocker, you might need to
"override" it to easily navigate this Web.
Celebrate
Hispanic American Heritage.
