Team+4,+ref+log+3a

//Federal Resources for Educational Excellence. //Retrieved February 14, 2010, from [] The //Federal Resources for Educational Excellence// is a free online resource provided by the U.S. federal government. The web resource became available in 1998 and was redesigned and launched again in 2006. The depth and scope of information is immense. There are over 60 federal agencies that provide data and information to the database. The authority is the U.S. Department of Education. The webpage opens easily and without any distractions. From the homepage, users can begin their search easily. First, there is a keyword search option. There is also a detailed and alphabetized subject map where users can begin searching. Or, for a more basic or general search, users can choose the subject search. The subject search is divided into 6 broad and simple categories. Once a user has chosen a subject, a new page is loaded. There are a couple of options from this page. Users can select to see the featured articles or all of the articles. There does not appear to be any type of organization once the page has loaded with the different articles and links. Since information is collected from so many different resources, users are usually linked to another website that houses the article or information. I did a general search about music, then specified gospel and blues. A page with 12 different articles and resources was given. I clicked on one article about folk music and was linked to the article on the Library of Congress website. This website is easy to navigate and searching is simple. Students and teachers will benefit from this free reference resource. This was an excellent reference resource for students. First, it is free and comprehensive. It was easy to navigate and easy to search for topics. It provides links to tons of other resources. This is a great starting place for research. __Grade Level __: Elementary+ __Subject Areas __: Any (U.S. specific) __Overall Rating: __10 ||   ||< //Tiffany's// comment : Nigel, This website was unfamiliar to me upon the reading of your wiki post. You are right this site has a ton of information that can be used to search virtually anything. I am suprised that this site hasn't been promoted more being that it is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. Great Resource!
 * Team 4, Reference log 3a: Indexes & abstracts ||  ||<   ||
 * Reviewed by //Nigel//
 * __ Reviewer’s Opinion __**

//Kristie's// comment : This website was a good resource. I like the fact that the information is actually collected from a variety of sources. The site was simple and easy to find the information that was being sought. Additionally, the fact that it contains information that is verified by the US Department of Education makes it all the more useful. || //Newspapers.com//. Retrieved March 2, 2010, from http://newspapers.com
 * Reviewed by //Tiffany// ||

Newspapers .com is an online guide to thousands of news papers from all over the world. Newspapers.com is a source compiled from a variety of newspaper articles with a range of subjects incorporated. This specialized index is generated using the most current issues of newspapers. The index includes U.S. newspapers that can be viewed by selecting a state. Foreign newspapers can also be read using Newspapers.com. Newspapers that can be searched for include newspapers from Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Central American, European, United Kingdom, Middle Eastern, North American, South American, and the South Pacific. All searches return a list of newspaper in which the reader can then narrow there search, or choose one from the list. However, some newspapers require a prescription in order to gain access to their database. One of the features that drew my attention was the fact that this operates like a live interactive newspaper. It allows people to do a job search as well as upload your resume for jobs that are appealing to the reader. This site also gives great detail about the newspapers such as where it ranks in popularity and also how many are currently in circulation. Newspaper.com has all of the attributes of the traditional newspaper such as the crossword puzzles, daily cartoons, and financial news. Furthermore Newspapers.com offers more information including weather, an entertainment guide, food, music and religion. This is a free site that offers school media specialist a variety of newspapers without the cost. The information is updated daily and kept current, however the content offered is endless and some of the information may even be inappropriate.
 * Grade**: High school (some information may be inappropriate)
 * Age:** 15 and older
 * Subject area**: all
 * R**** ating: ** 9

Oh, I love Newspapers.com...excellent choice! This website can be used in so many different classes and can always address reading across the curriculum standard.
 * ||< //Nigel's// comment :

//Kristie's// comment :I use this site frequently. It is filled with all types of newspapers from all over the world. I can utilize this site as a resource or to just to read for pleasure. || NewsLink (2010, March). NewsLink. Retrieved March 6, 2010 from [|http://www.newslink.org]
 * Reviewed by //Kristie//

Containing information on thousands of newspapers and magazine, newslink.org is a source with very current information. Links that are included at the top of the site are Top Sites, Newspapers, Magazines, Radio/TV, Resources, and NewsCircles. The top sites link has, in bold, that sites are most linked to local news sites by U.S. state. When the newspaper linked is clicked, there are several different options by which to search. The viewer can search by state or national papers, by business, or specialty for example. The magazine section is currently being rebuilt so some of the information on that link is not available. However, there are options to search by popular magazines in the United States and Canada or to search by news/opinion. Additionally, one can search by business/professional or computing or even by entertainment which includes information on art, cuisine, music, and television. Another way to search the magazine portion is to search by magazine publishers. The TV/Radio link includes options to search television stations, radio stations or networks. When either of the links is clicked, one can further search by state or by interest. The resources link has information about other news services as well as information about journalism organizations. Additionally, the resource tab has information about new-media newsletters including marketing research and other lists of news sites. Search tools are also found under the resource tab. Under NewsCircles, information such as the top 100 newscircles are listed as links to the perspective circles. Overall this is tool for current events as the information is updated frequently and contains the most current of news. This source can be used my 6th grade students and beyond. Overall I would rank this source a 9.

GRADES: 6 and above

SUBJECT: Current Events

Rating: 9   ||   ||<  //Nigel's// comment : I did not know about this website. Thanks for sharing. What a great resource for any classroom or media center. This website can also be used to support the reading across the curriculum standard. (Love the entertainment!)

//Tiffany's// comment : Kristie, This is the first site I have ever accessed that would allow me to do a thorough search on radio stations, networks or T.V. stations. This really is a good site to introduce students to for cureent event topics, I have to pass this on. ||