Middle School Matters

Jokes You Can Use:

Overheard:

Husband: Janice, when I see you in that hat, I laugh.
Wife: Good, I’ll put it on when the bill comes.

Person 1: “You are the slowest person I’ve ever seen. Do you do anything quickly!”
Person 2: “I get tired real fast”.

Person 1: “Have any big men been born in this town?”
Person 2: “Nope. Just babies.”

On Our Mind:

This episode is brought to you in conjunction with AMLE. We need your feedback. What would you like us to focus on in conjunction with AMLE? Please send us suggestions and feedback. Pick any of the contact methods to the right on the web page.

Eileen Award:

• Tim Purcell
• Natasha Kardos
• Janet Herr
• Marchelle Lynn
• Ron King:  AMLE suggestions

Advisory:

Advice to Girls by Kate Elizabeth Conner
http://kateelizabethconner.com/ten-things-i-want-to-tell-teenage-girls/
and the counter-point for boys
http://juntoboys.blogspot.com/2012/03/ten-things-i-wish-i-could-tell-every.html

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)

This middle school science minute is about rocketry safety.  In the February 2012 issue of Science Scope (NSTA publication) Ken Roy wrote an article entitled: “Question of the Month – Rocket Safety.”  In the article you will learn about the safety expectations when using model rockets and how you can learn more about the National Association of Rocketry’s Model Rocket Safety Code at:

http://www.nar.org/NARmrsc.html

From the Twitterverse:

*Dean Groom ‏ @Vormamim Is this true? Pearson buying Edmodo … and promise to keep it free just for US customers? must be a joke.

*EDSITEment ‏ @EDSITEment On this day 1776, Abigail Adams reminds John to “Remember the Ladies” http://1.usa.gov/oPU0lV #sschat #historyteacher #engchat#engteacher

*Sue Gorman  ‏ @sjgorman The iPad HD (iPad 3) – Release & Educational Value http://blog.learningtoday.com/blog/bid/103587/The-iPad-HD-iPad-3-Release-Educational-Value #adedu

*Doug Peterson ‏ @dougpete Educator Suspended When She Refused to Show Her Facebook Profile http://zite.to/HA1AOj via @zite “Girls Around Me” Creeper App Just Might Get People To Pay Attention To Privacy Settings http://zite.to/H3U5Af via @zite

*Bongo Interactive ‏ @BGOInteractive Great free education resources on #Myresourcecloudhttp://www.myresourcecloud.net #edtools #edchat #elt #esl#homeschool

*Lisa Fusco ‏ @LisaFusco Assignment Grader App for iPad: Desire2Learn Incorporated today announced the debut of Desire2Learn Assignment Grader.

*Kathy Rains ‏ @krains All things Google for educators–fabulous guide– http://goo.gl/KHUPi#edtech

* Scott McLeod ‏ @mcleod New bookmark: Digital textbooks: U.S. Government ready for next chapter http://bit.ly/HwwsBk

* Vicki Davis ‏ @coolcatteacher April Fools App list from @appadvice: Prank Apps: iPad/iPhone Apps AppList http://vsb.li/N8sLxn

* isteconnects ‏ @isteconnects Five Trends to Watch in Educational Technology http://ow.ly/9Zx5j

Scott McLeod ‏ @mcleod RT @tomwhitby Targeting teachers is less effective than teaching teachers for relevant & responsible #edreform. #edchat #iaedfuture

*Glogster EDU ‏ @GlogsterEDU We’re getting some all new Glogster EDU tutorial videos ready to go!#Glogtips

News:

5 Vimeo Videos Every School Leader Should Bookmark

Vimeo is chock full of fun, artistic, and inspiring videos.  Below are five videos that anyone leading professional development could find inspiring.
http://edreach.us/2012/03/29/5-vimeo-videos-every-school-leader-should-bookmark/

Resources:

35 Useful and Free E-books for Web Designers

These could be useful resources for some students.
http://www.tripwiremagazine.com/2012/01/free-e-books-for-web-designers.html

Wild Animals

Smithsonian Wild Animals
http://siwild.si.edu/

Web Spotlight:

If The Test Wasn’t Coming…

Instead of allowing students to build sound evidence-based arguments on real issues, I am giving them practice choosing the best of someone else’s answers to someone else’s questions on a text with no context.
http://teacherleaders.typepad.com/shoulders_of_giants/2012/03/if-the-test-wasnt-coming.html

Fear And Self-Loathing In The Classroom

by William Johnson, at 12:43 pm
President Obama has said our students are failing; President Bush said they were failing. How many times do our students have to hear they’re no good before they start believing it? (Both presidents and pretty much every other prominent education reformer ignore the fact that when you control for poverty, our students are keeping pace with their international counterparts.)
Which brings me to my next point: On top of all the nasty rhetoric about our students, our educational leadership has actually created a system designed to make our students fearful. I’m writing, specifically, about the fear induced by years of repetitive, stressful, high-stakes testing. In a system designed almost entirely around these tests, how could all but the few who excel on these tests feel good about themselves? The fearfulness we teachers encounter on a daily basis is a predictable consequence of this system, not some surprising side effect.
The fear is not only predictable, but is in fact desirable for a small number of people. Specifically, fear is very useful for the people who will employ our students, if those students are lucky enough to make it through high school. A frightened, malleable workforce, desperate for approval, is far more agreeable to some of these employers than a confident workforce that demands its worth be recognized.
As long as a submissive workforce is a priority, we’ll all keep suffering in the classroom
http://gothamschools.org/2012/03/19/fear-and-self-loathing-in-the-classroom/#more-79685

Events & Happenings:

Calendar of Events:

Ohio Middle Level Association:

• The Ohio Middle Level Association will hold their annual conference.

• OMLA Registration Form
• OMLA Presentation Proposal Form

AMLE Affiliate Conferences:

• The Michigan Association of Middle School Educators Annual Conference is coming up March 2013 in Dearborn, MI.  
• MAMSE Exhibitor Form
• MAMSE Registration Form

• MAMSE Presentation Form
• MAMSE Conference Program Book (2011)
• The North Carolina Middle School Association’s Annual Conference.
• Conference Brochure  
• Presenter’s Application
• Who They Are . . .
• This year’s sessions . . .

Classroom 2.0’s Live Calendar.

• Classroom 2.0’s Ning Blog: Archived content is available.

MSM 200: In Conjunction With AMLE . . . Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Jokes You Can Use:

What do you get when you cross a porcupine with a sheep?
An animal that knits it’s own sweaters.
What do you get when you cross a chicken with an elephant?
I don’t know, but Colonel Sanders would have trouble dipping it in batter.
If a dog loses his tail, where does he go?
To the retail store.

On Our Mind:

• MAMSE
• Major Announcement

Eileen Award:

• John Bernia
• Todd Bloch
• Jeff Pelich

Advisory:

Even Disney Makes Mistakes:

Disney is a prolific company with its name on a great many successes, and it likes to hide its missteps and failures. The process of doing so sometimes helps those mistakes become things of legend. Song of the South, with its politically incorrect and racist portrayals of certain characters, is likely the most famous example. Another example might be The Sweatbox, a very rarely-seen documentary about the failed making of an animated film called Kingdom of the Sun, which eventually morphed into The Emperor’s New Groove. (Pictured above.)
The Sweatbox filmmakers John-Paul Davidson and Trudie Styler were given unprecedented access to Disney’s process and the resulting film painted the executives in such a negative light, they more or less made sure the film would never been seen in public.
Until now. For a little while at least. After the jump, you can watch the rarely seen 2002 documentary The Sweatbox.
http://www.slashfilm.com/watch-rare-disney-documentary-called-the-sweatbox/

Paper Toys

All kinds of paper projects. You could have the kids make a “scene” or use it.
http://papertoys.com/

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)

This middle school science minute is about the misconceptions that middle school students have about light. In the February 2012 issue of Science Scope (NSTA publication) Amber Haslag and James P. Concannon wrote an article entitled: “Reflecting on students’ misconceptions about light: Using research to guide assessment and instruction”  They begin by sharing data on a study done through Michigan State University, which identifies the misconceptions that students have about light.  They then developed a two-day 5E lesson that helps students to clarify their misunderstandings.  After the lesson, they evaluate the students on their understanding of light.

From the Twitterverse:

* Angela Cunningham ‏ @kyteacher More of my social studies LiveBinders: http://bit.ly/GLt0BC #edcampss

* International Center ‏ @RigorRelevance RT @lmsahistory: I used to host Tedtalk Tuesdays at my school for staff and students. Watch one talk during lunch and discuss it. #edcampss

*Ron Peck ‏ @Ron_Peck RT @sjunkins: Teaching History with the Silent Film Director app http://goo.gl/Fi7M8 #edcampss #sschat

Aaron Eyler ‏ @Aaron_Eyler My Socratic seminar page: #edcampsshttp://www.aaroneyler.com/-the-roundtable

* Ron Peck ‏ @Ron_Peck Socratic Seminar activity instructions: http://bit.ly/GMEqlc and I’ll find the other forms a little later. #edcampss #sschat

Distance Education ‏ @onlinecourse Bad Habits Mean Bad Grades: Seven Habits That Could Be Hurting Your GPA. - http://dedu.org/9ZrrXD

Scott McLeod ‏ @mcleod New bookmark: Questioning Culture and Technology: Students’ Stories at DML Conference http://bit.ly/GWa4gr

Terie Engelbrecht ‏ @mrsebiology Problem and Project Based Learning Activities: http://bit.ly/9WJ6hz #edchat #pblchat #midleved #elemchatOverview of standards-based grading rationale: http://bit.ly/GM7itM #edchat #midleved #elemchat

Holly Pate ‏ @hollyeduc8r Think-Pair-Share Variations http://ow.ly/1J3xt1 #edchat #edtech #edfocus

George Couros ‏ @gcouros RT @justintarte: “What makes a great middle grades principal?” – Nice list here! http://bit.ly/iL3ZDi #edchat #cpchat #midleved

* Terie Engelbrecht ‏ @mrsebiology Seven Literacy Strategies That Work: http://bit.ly/GRkTDs #edchat #midleved #elemchatRT @Edu_Thompson: Tips for Writing Instructional Objectives – Bloom’s Taxonomy Job Aids http://bit.ly/GGxbuV #edchat #midleved #elemchat

* AMLE ‏ @AMLEnews Web 2.0 Collaborative Projects in the Middle School http://bit.ly/zyHbh4 RT @JillBromen #midleved #edchatSeeking student art for the front cover of Middle School Journal http://bit.ly/AexZ6A #midleved

* Scott Eveslage ‏ @LeeVegas20 Video Tutorial on Using Flipsnack – Make your pdf’s into an interactive flip book: http://h30411.www3.hp.com/posts/1080357-VIDEO_Interactive_flip_books?mcid=Twitter #SetHU15 #midleved #cpchat #sschat

* pipoclub ‏ @juegospipo 20 Ways to Use Edmodo: http://slidesha.re/vMyxiN #edchat #edtech #midleved #elemchat RT @mrsebiology

MAMSE 2012

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment.
Fowlerville and Flatrock have also implemented this.

MDE and Measured Progress

• Self reflection
• Goal Setting
• Prior Knowledge

Formative Assessment Toolbox ( A really thick binder – 4″, I do believe)

• Non-negotiables
• Rationale
• Explanation
• Ways to Incorporate
• Grading Scale – How do we grade? Why?  Chose a 13 point scale.

ZAP – Zero’s Aren’t Permitted

Students are ZAPPED for lunch and after school. 3 Zaps in a week=after school.

Principal is heavily involved. Counselors are used to follow up with the student. The counselor does the scheduling of the student with the parent for after school ZAP.

This is also combined with the after school programs for support for students who are struggling.

This is more immediate than Saturday school. The issue with Saturday school was the delay.

They use Advisory for communication. They rely on the relationship development through Advisory to support the ZAP.

Collaborative Team work

Touch the numbers in order. 30 seconds to touch them in order. Then pair up. One person touches, the other helps.

Shows that you are more effective in a group. They usually get farther.

Wordles:
Group works together. Combine different groups.
When done, give out the answers, then process.
Teacher takes notes on what happens: groups talk things out. The teacher role is to observe and then help the students process.

Trying these out, the students respond genuinely.

IZZI:
8×8.

Resources:

Zopler

Zopler is a social network where writers, authors and students can easily collaborate on writing stories together as a group.
http://zopler.com/

Events & Happenings:

Calendar of Events:

Ohio Middle Level Association:

• The Ohio Middle Level Association will hold their annual conference.

• OMLA Registration Form
• OMLA Presentation Proposal Form

AMLE Affiliate Conferences:

• The Michigan Association of Middle School Educators Annual Conference is coming up March 2012 in Warren Woods, MI.  
• MAMSE Exhibitor Form
• MAMSE Registration Form

• MAMSE Presentation Form
• MAMSE Conference Program Book (2011)
• The North Carolina Middle School Association’s Annual Conference March 13-15, 2012
• Conference Brochure  
• Presenter’s Application
• Who They Are . . .
• This year’s sessions . . .

Classroom 2.0’s Live Calendar.

• Classroom 2.0’s Ning Blog: Archived content is available.

Tagline:

MSM 199: MAMSE Can you Hear us & a Major Announcement! Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

That’s right, we’ll have a major announcement on the next podcast. We are really excited about this upcoming AnnouceMent. LEt’s just say that we are super excited!

We think that you’ll be excited too when you hear this announcement.

Listen to the next podcast for details.

Jokes You Can Use:

Boy: Will you marry me?
Girl: No, but I’ll always admire your good taste.

Girl: I’m telling you for the last time- you can’t kiss me.
Boy: I knew that you’d weaken!

Girl: Do you love me?
Boy: Yes, dear.
Girl: Would you die for me?
Boy: Um….mine is an undying love.

Ask me what I had for lunch on March 15th.  Go ahead, ask me.

On Our Mind:

• MAMSE Conference

Eileen Award:

• Debbie Silver – Happy Birthday
• Ashley Kurth
• Diigo Groupees:  Karen Chopra & G2One Networking
• Diigo Posters:  Steve Davis & Ron King

Advisory:

Are you a risk taker?

National Geographic has an article on why teens take risks.  Worth a read but I think the picture essay that goes with it is more valuable for the discussion it could generate around the classroom.
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/10/teenage-brains/risk-quiz
Viewing Teens Positively:  http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/10/teenage-brains/teenagers-video
Pictures:  http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/10/teenage-brains/cahana-photography#/10-getting-tongue-pierced-670.jpg

Should I raise my hand?

http://twentytwowords.com/2012/03/15/should-you-raise-your-hand-in-class-a-flowchart/

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)

This middle school science minute is about the topic of what drives public opinion.  In the March 2012 issue of Science Scope, within the Scope’s Scoops section, there is a news article entitled “What drives public opinion on climate change?”  The article cites a study by Robert Bruelle and colleagues from Drexel University who set out to identify the informational, cultural and political processes that influence public concern about climate change.  Their conclusion was that the driving factor that most influences public opinion on climate change is the mobilizing efforts of advocacy groups and elites.  It seems that that information-based science advocacy has had only a minor effect on public concern.

From the Twitterverse:

Richard Byrne New post: Calameo – Free Multimedia Publishing to iPads and Morehttp://goo.gl/fb/q0p8W

* Kyle Calderwood ‏ @kcalderw Navigating Apple’s Discount App Program for Educators | #ipaded #edtech #edadmin http://goo.gl/tR2np

* Teachnology.com ‏ @TeachnologyNews A teacher who is not dogmatic is simply a teacher who is not teaching. Gilbert K. Chesterton

*Daniel J. Lewis ‏ @theRamenNoodle Top of the Irish to you and luck of the morning! #DyslexicLeprechaun #pointlesshashtag

* HEIDI HAYES JACOBS ‏ @HeidiHayesJacob #AASSA2012http://edge.ascd.org/_SOCRATES-FAILS-TEACHER-EVALUATION/blog/5822005/127586.htmlCan’t go to #ascd12 in Philadelphia? ASCD is streaming 22 sessions virtually. More at http://ascd.social27.com #ascdvc12

* Nancy White ‏ @NancyW Why My Six-Year-Old Students Have Digital Portfolios | Getting Smart http://gettingsmart.com/blog/2012/03/why-my-six-year-old-students-have-digital-portfolios/ via @Getting_Smart #edchat #edtech

* Lisa Thumann ‏ @lthumann We’re talking about using #ibooks to replace textbooks in our admin roundtable #wetech12 anyone doing this already?

* dave mcquaid ‏ @davemcquaid It’s the last day to sponsor me on my 90-mile, 5-hour, and hopefully rain-free quest. Any takers? http://bit.ly/zBxO70

* Vicki Davis ‏ @coolcatteacher This free tool let’s you apply Bloom’s in your classroom http://vsb.li/6A9aNq #teaching #edtech – (May not work in Safari. Works fine in Firefox and Chrome)

* Virtual Nerd ‏ @VirtualNerd Don’t let decimals get in the way of your long division fun! Check out how to handle decimals in long division: http://bit.ly/wxBEwe

* Amanda Dykes ‏ @amandacdykes This would be so fun to have in my classroom. Its like a photo booth that takes onstage am pics. http://instaprint.me/

* Terie Engelbrecht ‏ @mrsebiology Ideas for Podcasting in the Classroom: http://bit.ly/oNfQPR #edchat #edtech #midleved #elemchatBloom’s Taxonomy Web 2.0 Livebinder: http://bit.ly/rKLzSM Digital resources by level #edchat #edtech #midleved #elemchat

* Richard Byrne ‏ @rmbyrne Smart Tools for Your Android Device http://ow.ly/9Fe01

* Rich Kiker ‏ @rkiker Middle Schoolers Flash Mob for Reading http://bit.ly/wBsx7p

* Edmodo ‏ @edmodo EdmodoCon 2012 is coming this summer Planning committee selection in April – @betsywhalen will be updating with details! #edmodo

* russeltarr ‏ @russeltarr A collection of my favourite IPad resources http://bit.ly/A56ITD #edtech

Watch the hashtag #midleved for daily tidbits.

News:

Why the Ed Department should be reconceived — or abolished

Over time, the Department of Education has become increasingly bureaucratic and invasive, and has formulated its policies on questionable information that appears to emanate from hunches, anecdotes, whims, and fads, buttressed by corroborating evidence from ideologically friendly think tanks and media blowhards.
Arne Duncan is only the latest, although probably the most test-obsessed, person to occupy the seat of U.S. secretary of education. A lot of people trace the testing movement that he currently enforces with a vengeance back to Rod Paige, George W. Bush’s first secretary of education and architect of the Houston Miracle.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/why-the-ed-department-should-be-reconceived–or-abolished/2012/03/09/gIQAHfdB5R_blog.html

The war on teachers: Why the public is watching it happen

All over the nation, teachers are under attack. Politicians of both parties, in every state, have blamed teachers and their unions for the nation’s low standing on international tests and our nation’s inability to create the educated labor force our economy needs.
In New York State, where teacher evaluations were just released to the press, the state Legislature just passed — and the governor signed — a bill that exempted police and firefighters from having their evaluations released to the public. What better symbolizes the way teachers have become “fair game” for public demonization?
There is another more insidious consequence of the attack on teaching. Every time you undermine the job security, working conditions, and wages of one group of workers, it makes it easier for employers to undermine them for all workers. This is why, during the Depression, many unemployed people organized in support of workers on strike, even though anybody with a job in that era was relatively privileged. They believed in the concept of solidarity — the idea that working people could only progress if they did so together, and if one group of workers improved their conditions, it would ultimately improve conditions for all.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/the-war-on-teachers-why-the-public-is-watching-it-happen/2012/03/11/gIQAD3XH6R_blog.html

Survey: Teachers work 53 hours per week on average

Teaching is a much talked about yet often misunderstood profession. Educators frequently hear well-meaning comments from parents and friends like “It must be so sweet to spend your days with children” or “How wonderful to be done for the day by three o’clock.” Are they serious?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/survey-teachers-work-53-hours-per-week-on-average/2012/03/16/gIQAqGxYGS_blog.html

A South Carolina Teacher’s Been Suspended for Reading ‘Ender’s Game’ to His Class

A middle school teacher who read to his students from Ender’s Game is on “administrative leave” because a parent complained to the school that Orson Scott Card’s classic novel is “pornographic.”
Children’s advocacy group Commonsensemedia.org has recommended Ender’s Game for children aged 12 and up — and the child whose mother complained to the school and to the police was aged 14.
But at the same time, the school has a policy requiring teachers to “preview” any supplemental material they present in class, so school officials can check for offensive ideas or themes, and the unnamed teacher did not do that in this case.
http://thinkprogress.org/alyssa/2012/03/16/446431/a-south-carolina-teachers-been-suspended-for-reading-enders-game-to-his-class/?mobile=nc

Resources:

AudioViator

What is AudioViator?

AudioViator is a collaborative project among internet users. With AudioViator you can create and download audioguides in several languages and share your knowledge with people while they visit monuments, cities, nature reserves and anything else you can imagine! We know it’s just not the same to visit a city or a museum if you have to read large texts and carry heavy guides. It’s much better when you can listen to the history and explanations of the best spots and their details. This is why AudioViator wants to spread culture with your collaboration.

Creating your own:

It’s very easy! You only need to sign up to have all the necessary files for editing the audioguides. You can register in three easy steps. And rest assured, AudioViator will never use your email for advertising purposes! Then, start to edit your audioguide by filling in its main characteristics, giving a general description, and attaching a map or other image where you can plot the different points for the audioguide tour.
Next, you need to complete the informational text for each point. Later, you can choose the background music and the kind of the voice, a male or female one. Then, we dub all the texts and the audioguide will be available on the web. You will receive an e-mail when its ready for download.

How Can you Use the Audio Tours?

You are free to copy, distribute, display, and perform the work under the conditions set on http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ You may not use this work for commercial purposes. You must attribute the work in the manner specified by AudioViator. You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work.. With these audioguides, you can

1. listen to them on your mp3 when you travel
2. share them with your friends
3. help people to get to know your city
4. insert them in a blog
5. teach with them in schools and universities
6. .  .  .

http://www.audioviator.com/en/

Web Spotlight:

11 Peculiar Meetings Between Famous People

You’d expect famous people to know other famous people. But maybe not these famous people.

1. Nikita Khrushchev & Marilyn Monroe

2. Samuel Beckett & André the Giant

3. T.S. Eliot & Groucho Marx

4. Federico Fellini & Stan Lee

5. James Brown & Alfred Hitchcock

6. The Beatles & Elvis Presley

7. Elvis Presley & Richard Nixon

8. Edgar Allan Poe & Charles Dickens

9. Orson Welles & Adolf Hitler

10. Bob Dylan & Woody Guthrie

11. Steve Jobs & Andy Warhol

http://www.worldsstrangest.com/mental-floss/11-peculiar-meetings-between-famous-people/

Strategies:

Failure Is an Option

Children may perform better in school if they are told that failure is a normal part of learning, rather than being pressured to succeed at all costs, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.
The students who were told that learning is difficult performed significantly better on the working memory test, especially on more difficult problems, than the second group or a third control group who took the working memory test without doing the anagrams or talking with researchers.
http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/03/13/for-better-learning-failure-is-an-option/35920.html

Little Free Library

http://www.littlefreelibrary.org/index.html  

The Challenge of Challenging Text

How is reading complex text like lifting weights? Just as it’s impossible to build muscle without weight or resistance, it’s impossible to build robust reading skills without reading challenging text. The common core state standards in language arts treat text difficulty as akin to weight or resistance in an exercise program.

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar12/vol69/num06/The-Challenge-of-Challenging-Text.aspx

Events & Happenings:

Calendar of Events:

Ohio Middle Level Association:

• The Ohio Middle Level Association will hold their annual conference.

• OMLA Registration Form
• OMLA Presentation Proposal Form

AMLE Affiliate Conferences:

• The Michigan Association of Middle School Educators Annual Conference is coming up March 2012 in Warren Woods, MI.  
• MAMSE Exhibitor Form
• MAMSE Registration Form

• MAMSE Presentation Form
• MAMSE Conference Program Book (2011)
• The North Carolina Middle School Association’s Annual Conference March 13-15, 2012
• Conference Brochure  
• Presenter’s Application
• Who They Are . . .
• This year’s sessions . . .

Classroom 2.0’s Live Calendar.

• Classroom 2.0’s Ning Blog: Archived content is available.

MSM 198: Advisory, Abolition and the War on Teachers in 53 Hours. Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Jokes You Can Use:

Teacher: Why didn’t you brush your teeth this morning?
Student: How do you know?
Teacher: I can see what you had for breakfast.
Student: Really, then what did you have?
Teacher: Eggs.
Student: No I didn’t! That was yesterday.

On Our Mind:

• MACUL
• State wide on-line testing

Eileen Award:

• Liz Kolb
• Carol Hix of Science Six:  Recommendations:  lulu.com and Edmodo.com, Google Docs, Twiddla, www.mixedink.com.

Advisory: National Geographic ‏ @NatGeo

• Daylight savings time: Why and when does it begin? on.natgeo.com/yr6p1P

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)

This middle school science minute is about the collaboration that can take place between math and science teachers. In the February 2012 issue of Science Scope (NSTA publication) Karen Charles, J.D. Canales, Angela Smith and Natalie Zimmerman wrote an article entitled: “Exploring the Solar System:? Let the Math Teachers Help!”  They explain how attending a week long academy offered by NASA in their school district encouraged math and science teachers to consider how using models and simulations could expand their repertoire of classroom strategies and engage students more fully in their own context-rich learning.

From the Twitterverse:

Dr. Phil @DrPhil“Everything in my life that’s been really important to me … has come because all my plans failed.” bit.ly/wL5BNx

Richard Byrne @rmbyrne“@dwarlick: “If you’re going to write I want it to be in a way that I can interact with you..” Ken Shelton - #ncties #ncties12”

* MACUL ‏ @MACUL Here’s a fun way to show off just a tiny bit of the Twitter Stream from #macul12 using @visibletweetsvisibletweets.com/#query=%23macu… The back channel continues. Check the #macul12 hashtag often in the next few days/weeks for more insight.

* Ben Rimes ‏ @techsavvyed Hey #macul12 people! Come write poetry with your students everyday in April with me and @poetry4people poetryforpeople.net #engchat

* Marialice BFX Curran ‏ @mbfxc Ability to record audio while taking notes! Notes Plus - bit.ly/mIPUxq #ne121 >>Now wondering if @Livescribe has an app?

* Dr. Justin Tarte ‏ @justintarte 5 Tell-Tale Signs You’re Becoming a Teacher Leader flpbd.it/lQO6j #edchat #leadership

* Angela Anderson ‏ @AnAnderson7 Students did research on a honorable person, and created a PowerPoint. #peru552 http://www.readwritethink.org A lot of resources for professional development, classroom tools, and resources for parents. #peru552

* Teachnology.com ‏ @TeachnologyNews Need a back to school letter for students? Print one now: teach-nology.com/worksheets/mis…

* Mike Wendland ‏ @pcmike What to do with your old iPad and other tech gear- PC Mike’s Tech and Gadget Blog ht.ly/9zD78

*Diane Ravitch ‏ @DianeRavitch Rhee’s IMPACT system is meaningless but used to fire teachers: gfbrandenburg.wordpress.com/2012/03/09/the… Hide media

* Will Richardson ‏ @willrich45 YouTube Finds Way Off Schools’ Banned List nytimes.com/2012/03/10/edu… #edchat

* National Geographic ‏ @NatGeo Daylight savings time: Why and when does it begin? on.natgeo.com/yr6p1P

News:

American Dropouts: Part I

http://transformed.teachingquality.org/blogs/03-2012/american-dropouts-part-i

A Lesson in Teaching to the Test, From E.B. White

White’s wonderful book about a mute swan given voice by a trumpet stolen for him by his father, “The Trumpet of the Swan,” contains the following passage that in a few paragraphs beautifully evokes the elementary-school classroom of yesteryear – and, we should all hope, of tomorrow. (The episode is at the close of the chapter entitled “School Days.”)
In light of current controversies around testing and teacher evaluation, let’s do a little thought experiment. How would Miss Snug have handled this lesson if it were occurring just before a round of standardized testing? Would she not have had to interrupt the children’s speculations and instructed them that actual circumstances in word problems must be completely disregarded, because the point is to arrive at the answer the test designers have in mind?
http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2012/03/07/a-lesson-in-teaching-to-the-test-from-e-b-white

School Communities Wrecked by “Value-Added”: Two Must-Reads

Top-notch reporter Bill Turque at the Washington Post dropped this barnburner article today about Sarah Wysocki, a DCPS teacher who received praise from everyone she worked with… and then got fired over test scores. The whole article is a must-read, but the thing that leaped most off the page to me was how likely it seems that Wysocki, a fifth grade teacher, was the victim of a sinister consequence of high-stakes testing: cheating.
Would you want your child’s teachers working within this system— one ready to dole out public humiliation over the most arbitrary, minute stat movements?
Who is being educated— and what are they really learning from this?
http://transformed.teachingquality.org/blogs/get-fracas/03-2012/school-communities-wrecked-value-added-two-must-reads

Resources:

Mixed Ink

MixedInk’s collaborative writing platform allows groups of any size to weave their best ideas and language into a single text. Cutting-edge government agencies, news organizations, advocacy groups, and businesses use MixedInk to gather meaningful input and give their communities a voice.
http://www.mixedink.com/

K20Alt – Authentic Teaching and Learning

K20alt allows educators from around the country the opportunity to collaborate, dialogue, engage in lesson study and creation, and acquire content-specific PD all at the touch of a button through Virtual Communities of Practice. These groups are meant to engage and empower educators by providing a means by which they can share expertise, create content, and improve pedagogy. The free services that are provided within these Virtual Communities of Practice are outlined below.
http://k20alt.ou.edu/

10 Open Education Resources You May Not Know About (But Should)

This week, the OCW Consortium is holding its annual meeting, celebrating 10 years of OpenCourseWare. The movement to make university-level content freely and openly available online began a decade ago, when the faculty at MIT agreed to put the materials from all 2,000 of the university’s courses on the Web.
But as open educational resources and OCW increase in popularity and usage, there are a number of new resources out there that do offer just that. You probably already know about:Khan Academy and Wikipedia, for example. But in the spirit of 10 years of OCW, here’s a list of 10 cool OER and OCW resources that you might not know about, but should know:
http://mindshift.kqed.org/2011/05/10-open-education-resources-you-may-not-know-about-but-should/

CloudFTP

Create a wireless document server with CloudFTP and your own personal flash drive.  Bypass the district network altogether!  Avoid those nasty “I forgot my password!” comments in class.  Get a Cloud (FTP)!
http://www.hypershop.com/CloudFTP-p/cftp-black.htm  

Web Spotlight:

Stop Taking Pictures of the Whiteboard

http://www.edsocialmedia.com/2012/02/stop-taking-pictures-of-the-whiteboard/

GenoChoice

Good for web site evaluation.
http://genochoice.com/

Inside-Out Your Mind

Derek Sivers made a lot of money in the online music business and now lives in Singapore. He’s an entrepreneur, and when he gives talks, he shows his audience how different cultures think, well…oppositely.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2012/03/02/147825237/inside-out-your-mind?ft=1&f=1130

The Civil War, Part 1: The Places

Last year marked the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War, a milestone commemorated by The Atlantic in a special issue (now available online). Although photography was still in its infancy, war correspondents produced thousands of images, bringing the harsh realities of the frontlines to those on the home front in a new and visceral way. As brother fought brother and the nation’s future grew uncertain, the public appetite for information was fed by these images from the trenches, rivers, farms, and cities that became fields of battle. Today’s collection is part 1 of 3, covering the places of the Civil War: the battleships, prisons, hospitals, urban centers, and rural pastures where history was made. Tomorrow’s installment features some of the people involved in the conflict, and on Friday I’ll be sharing some of the amazing three-dimensional stereographs of the war. Keep in mind, as you view these photographs, that they were taken 150 years ago — providing a glimpse of a United States that was only 85 years old at the time.
http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/02/the-civil-war-part-1-the-places/100241

Old Maps Online

http://www.oldmapsonline.org/#bbox=-110.3125,-51.774806,119.609375,72.104237&q=&datefrom=1000&dateto=2010

Events & Happenings:

Calendar of Events:

AMLE Affiliate Conferences:

• The Michigan Association of Middle School Educators Annual Conference is coming up March 2012 in Warren Woods, MI.  
• MAMSE Exhibitor Form
• MAMSE Registration Form

• MAMSE Presentation Form
• MAMSE Conference Program Book (2011)
• The North Carolina Middle School Association’s Annual Conference March 13-15, 2012
• Conference Brochure  
• Presenter’s Application
• Who They Are . . .
• This year’s sessions . . .
• Ohio Middle Level Association:

• The Ohio Middle Level Association will hold their annual conference.

• OMLA Registration Form
• OMLA Presentation Proposal Form

Classroom 2.0’s Live Calendar.

• Classroom 2.0’s Ning Blog: Archived content is available.

MSM 197: Online, Hugs are Value added. Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Jokes You Can Use:

Some people think that movies would be better if less film were shot and more actors.

On Our Mind:

• New MSM Newspaper:  http://paper.li/MSMatters/1330791685
• Update on EtherPad

Eileen Award:

• @ClareFroggatt for following us on Twitter!

Advisory:

Languages

http://ourmothertongues.org/Home.aspx

Paper AirPlanes

http://twentytwowords.com/2012/02/29/new-world-record-distance-for-a-paper-airplane-flight/

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)

This middle school science minute is about life jackets, engineering, volume and density. In the February 2012 issue of Science Scope (NSTA publication) Richard Moyer and Susan Everett wrote an article entitled: “Increase your v to lower your D.”  They developed a 5E lesson that can easily be used by teachers.  The lesson integrates all of the STEM disciplines, while focusing on the core ideas of criteria and constraints in engineering and the practice of engineering design.  It also is focused on the concepts of density and volume.

BTW, Dick Moyer, in this article, teaches over at UM-Dearborn.  Pretty well known in the area.

From the Twitterverse:

* patrizia ‏ @4titania Great livebinder – Tools for Building Your PLN livebinders.com/play/play/2070…

* Jane Balvanz ‏ @JaneBalvanz Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss: 7 Facts You Didn’t Know About The Author huff.to/w7Xd2G via @HuffingtonPost

* Will Richardson ‏ @willrich45 Where the Gates Foundation spends its money. nepc.colorado.edu/blog/ken-libby… #edchat

* Kevin Creutz ‏ @kevcreutz The past, the present, and the future walk into a bar. It was tense. #SayingsMyWifeSharesWithMeFromPinterest #fb

* Will Richardson ‏ @willrich45 You want to know why standardization is a problem? Read this snip: findings.com/willrich45/fin… via @plthomasEdD #edchat #edreform #awesome

* Larry Ferlazzo ‏ @Larryferlazzo Teachers Are Destroying America, great videobit.ly/yfRpUG Direct link:  http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/409522/march-01-2012/people-who-are-destroying-america—teachers

* Vicki Davis ‏ @coolcatteacher All About Creative Commons And Copyright – LiveBinder – Steven Anderson’s livebinder on creative commons and… vsb.li/cQKeCl

* Ryan Gallwitz ‏ @rgallwitz Great resource for QR codes. livebinders.com/play/play_or_e…

* Tom Whitby ‏ @tomwhitby Virginia Teachers Plan “Wake” For Public Education In Light Of Bill That Slashes Retirement Benefits zite.to/wGpi8R #Edchat

* Diane Ravitch ‏ @DianeRavitch @ctseymour @conncan @ctmirror Conservative economist Eric Hanushek found teachers account for 10-15% of score change, family=60%

Don’t forget #midleved on Friday, 8:00 EST on Twitter!

News:

ISTE Virtual Presence

ISTE opens a site on EduIsland9 to replace the four islands it once maintained in Second Life.

The Middle School Plunge

In 2010, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg (North Carolina) school district shuttered four of its eight middle schools, opting to serve students in elementary schools spanning kindergarten through grade 8. In so doing, it followed in the footsteps of urban school districts such as Baltimore, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, and New York City, all of which have in the past decade expanded their reliance on the once ubiquitous K–8 model.
…policymakers nationwide continue to wrestle with a basic question: At what grade level should students move to a new school?
http://educationnext.org/the-middle-school-plunge/

Resources:

iPad Resources for Administrators

From: Eric Sheninger
http://pinterest.com/esheninger/ipad-apps-for-administrators/

HelloSlide

Simply type the speech for each slide, instead of recording it, and HelloSlide automagically generates the audio.
It gives more exposure to your presentations, making them searchable, editable, and available in 20 different languages.
http://www.helloslide.com/

Canvas LMS

Learning enriches living. Discover how major universities and K-12 school districts are boosting teacher effectiveness, student success and parental engagement with the Canvas learning management system.

Learn more about canvas

http://www.instructure.com/

1,000 Educational Apps

Sure, there are plenty of apps you can use in education. There are even apps created specifically for use in education. Apple has a whole category dedicated to education in the App store. But how do you really know which ones are worth downloading, or possibly even paying for?
TCEA (Texas Computer Education Association) to the rescue! TCEA regularly tests available apps andrecommends apps that teachers should be using.
TCEA maintains a list of recommended apps in a shared document via Google Docs. The list is organized by subject area and free apps are color coded in white.
http://adecardy.visibli.com/share/C46fkd

*Tip: You can access the Google Doc below. Select Make a Copy. You can then filter the document to items that you want.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AvFbfb1mWoNwdGlweWtkZkFRS1gzUDMtTUtoTEw0MkE#gid=0

Web Spotlight:

“Bully” gets rated R

The MPAA rated the movie R on the basis of language used in the film — language that young teens hurled at a 13-year-old.
http://www.thewrap.com/movies/article/weinstein-company-considers-leaving-mpaa-over-bully-rating-35681

Cognitive Neuroscience Tools

FreeEDUCATIONAL TOOLS FOR COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE
Free access to materials for students, educators, and researchers in cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience.
Includes Memory Tests that students can take.
Sections include:

• Change Blindness
• Visual Search
• Implicit Memory Test
• Monsters & Globes Problem

This includes videos, demos and more.
This site could be used for Current Events, Social Studies, Science and more.
http://gocognitive.net/

Stop Selling Dreams

What is school for?

The economy has changed, probably forever.

School hasn’t.

School was invented to create a constant stream of compliant factory workers to the growing businesses of the 1900s. It continues to do an excellent job at achieving this goal, but it’s not a goal we need to achieve any longer.

In this 30,000 word manifesto, I imagine a different set of goals and start (I hope) a discussion about how we can reach them. One thing is certain: if we keep doing what we’ve been doing, we’re going to keep getting what we’ve been getting.

Our kids are too important to sacrifice to the status quo.

http://www.squidoo.com/stop-stealing-dreams

Socrates Fails his Teacher Evaluation

The results were posted in the Agora for all to see  the quality and performance of their teacher.  Socrates failed.    He simply spent too much time asking them to think.   A walk- through evaluation by his supervisor (undisclosed), determined that “ sometimes Socrates’s  students meander through endless dialogues examining challenging questions that do not have one right answer.”    Hopefully, he will be replaced or perhaps go through an intensive summer professional development program in Sparta.
http://edge.ascd.org/_SOCRATES-FAILS-TEACHER-EVALUATION/blog/5822005/127586.html

Students Engaged

So, how do they know if a student is engaged? What do “engaged” students look like? In my many observations, here’s some evidence to look for:
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/student-engagement-definition-ben-johnson

12 Must See Teacher Movies

http://www.teachhub.com/top-12-must-see-teacher-movies 

AMLE 2011:

Events & Happenings:

Calendar of Events:

Association of Middle Level Education

• Annual Conference

AMLE Affiliate Conferences:

• The Michigan Association of Middle School Educators Annual Conference is coming up March 2012 in Warren Woods, MI.  
• MAMSE Exhibitor Form
• MAMSE Registration Form

• MAMSE Presentation Form
• MAMSE Conference Thursday Sessions
• MAMSE Conference Friday Sessions
• MAMSE Store
• The North Carolina Middle School Association’s Annual Conference March 13-15, 2012
• Conference Brochure  
• Presenter’s Application
• Who They Are . . .
• This year’s sessions . . .

• The Ohio Middle Level Association will hold their annual conference February 21-22, 2013.

• OMLA Registration Form
• OMLA Presentation Proposal Form

Classroom 2.0’s Live Calendar.

• Classroom 2.0’s Ning Blog: Archived content is available.

MSM 196: iPads, Too much good stuff, and Paper (li & plane) Play Now | Play in Popup | Download