Summary:
Shawn and Troy talk about conference skills/tips, NCSS, and more. Dave persists.
Jokes:
What is the difference between Black-eyed peas, and chick peas?
- Black-eyed peas can sing to us, chick peas can only Hummus
Why is Santa’s sleigh pulled by reindeer and not cows?
Having problems trying to organize a hide and seek game.
It’s hard to find good players…
The CDC is about to ban laughter because they heard it’s the best medicine.
My Strava app is probably checking the obituaries for my name
I view passkeys as an exciting opportunity to find new ways to lock myself out of my own accounts.
Gary Numan is 13 days older than Gary Oldman.
A man walks into a bar with a newt on his shoulder. The bartender says, ‘What an interesting pet, what’s his name?’ ‘Tiny,’ the man replies. ‘What an odd name, why do you call him Tiny?’ ‘Because…he’s my newt.’
Just bought a suit made from cactus.
I look pretty sharp in it.
I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it…
Some make such a big deal about farewells it’s always much adieu about nothing.
Somebody left an unlabeled box of random parts from IKEA at my door, with no instructions.
I’m not quite sure what to make of it.
Middle School Science Minute
by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)
Why We Persist
I was recently reading the November-December 2025 issue of “The Science Teacher”, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.
In this issue, I read the section, “Editor’s Corner written by Brooke A. Whitworth. She wrote an article entitled, “The Enduring Impact of Science Education: Why We Persist.”
Despite the challenges of teaching, science teaching is not just important work, but essential work. Our students, our communities, and our future need dedicated science educators now more than ever. That is why we continue to teach and why we persist.
https://k12science.net/why-we-persist/
Reports from the Front Lines
- NCSS 2025
- iPad Notes
- Street Cred
- Resources
- Mophie Juice Pack: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DYF8Q42Q?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_3&th=1
- Upcoming break
Eileen Award
Shane McReavy, Calgary
The Social Web
Glen E. McGregor @glen_mcgregor
Interim NDP leader Don Davies opens opens with “My pronouns are broke and irrelevant.” Very strong performance. Jokes that they tried hip, fit leader before, now gone in different direction for interim leader. “Buffy St NDP.” Fire. Best speech of the night. Bringing house down.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1998058364970958849
Word of the day, should you be feeling a little huffish, is ‘apanthropy’ (18th century): a love of solitude and the desire to be away from other people.
H5P creators, unite! Submit your interactive content for the H5P Awards! Deadline: February 1st, 2026. Submit here: https://ow.ly/nZwQ50XA1nw Winners get prizes! #H5PAwards #Elearning #InteractiveLearning #EdTech #H5P
Educators, students, and designers are invited to submit proposals for the 2026 UBC H5P Symposium. We’re seeking examples of H5P projects that showcase truly interactive, transformative approaches to teaching and learning. Submit by Nov 26, 2025 at 3pm. https://bit.ly/4p6GPDN
Resources:
World’s First Film in Ancient Sumerian released by Trinity College – Dublin
The world’s first film shot entirely in the ancient Sumerian language is now available to audiences worldwide to view on YouTube.
Dumuzi’s Dream and Dumuzi’s Demons, performed by Trinity students entirely in the dead language of Sumerian, tells the story of how Dumuzi, a Sumerian shepherd god, repeatedly escapes from underworld demons, until they finally catch him for good.
https://youtu.be/wJxw9TLU0No (Do enable Subtitles, unless you’re fluent in Sumerian.)
What does the role of revision in classroom note-taking research offer PKM advocates?
While studies have focused on whether handwriting is superior for initial learning, approaches that encourage a deeper look at your notes reveal a powerful consensus that transcends the medium: there is unique value in notes that involve not just how notes are taken, but in how notes are revised.
Web Spotlight:
AXIS The Culture Translator
Pretty Little Baby
What it is: TikTok’s most-used sound in 2025 was a 63-year-old love song from the late Connie Francis called “Pretty Little Baby.”
Why it’s surprising: According to a press release from TikTok, the song was used over 28.4 million times as the soundtrack for “wholesome videos featuring family, pets, relationships and flowers,” which altogether netted over 68.6 billion video views.
Random Thoughts . . .
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