E-connect.

E-connect. EDUCATORS INSPIRE AND ENRICH THE LIVES OF THEIR STUDENTS, BUT THEYFACE MANY CHALLENGES IN THEIR WORK. New and seasoned teachers needguidance, tips and ways to blow off steam. The following resources focuson sanity and survival tips with teachers sharing their experiences witheach other: (1) Teacher Magazine's Blogboard Blog http://blogs.edweek.org/ teachers/blogboard The 411: Blogboard features the best of posts from educator blogs.In this roundup, educators from around the country talk about theirfrustrations, challenges and successes. In recent entries, teachers havenoted their encounters with teacher-bashing, assignments gone wrong,differing opinions on the value of content knowledge, and much more. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (2) Teachers First's Teachers Lounge Web site www.teachersfirst.com/ lounge.cfm The 411: This lounge offers teachers the opportunity to shareinformation about teaching; funny stories from the classroom; andrecipes for treats, parties or special occasions. The site providesteachers with not only academic advice, but advice on how they can savetime outside of school. Suggestions on classroom management, stressbusters and how to work with parents allow teachers the chance to learnnew tricks of the trade. If you need a funny story to cheer you up, thencheck out the Humor section for amusing moments to share with studentsor colleagues. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (3) New Teacher Survival Central Web site www.discoveryeducation.com/ survival/survival_tool_kit.cfm The 411: The survival toolkit provides educators with blogs, socialnetworks and other Web sites that offer resources and information,including resources for new teachers and how to use technology ineducation. If you want new ideas for the classroom, the kit presentssuggestions for puzzles, curricula, lesson plans and tools to increaseachievement. It also introduces teachers to different types of training,professional development and tutorials. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]