Summary:
Shawn and Troy talk about AI, yes again, vacation, and more. Dave celebrates Citizen Science Month.
Jokes:
What do you get when you cross a joke with a rhetorical question?
So a duck walks into a pharmacy and says “Give me some chap-stick… and put it on my bill”
What do you call a romantic dinner on a hot air balloon?
- An update.
Don’t buy anything from a blacksmith!
Everything they have is forged!
I like the buzz I get swimming a mile off shore.
- It’s pretty far out.
I thought about going on an all-almond diet.
- But that’s just nuts.
It’s difficult to say what my wife does, she sells sea shells by the sea shore.
To be Frank, I’d have to change my name.
Middle School Science Minute
by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)
K12Science Podcast: Citizen Science Month
I was recently reading the April 1, 2026 NSTA Blog, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.
In this blog I read an article written by Jill Nugent. She wrote an article entitled “Spark Curiosity This Spring.”
Citizen science refers to public participation in science. Opportunities for students to participate in authentic science practices can deepen their understanding of the world. One way to provide such opportunities is by incorporating citizen science experiences in the classroom and schoolyard during Citizen Science Month, this April. For more information about Citizen science, visit the following websites:
https://scistarter.org/citizensciencemonth
https://scistarter.org/citizen-science
https://k12science.net/citizen-science-month/
Reports from the Front Lines
- “Vacation”
- Math
- Social Studies – 5th Grade
- Michigan Open Textbooks – 5th Grade
- Question Banks
- Notebook LM -> Explainer Videos
- American author: Phillis Wheatley
- Student Decisions
- Security
- Screens in Schools
- Artemis
The Social Web
Final Call! Today is the deadline to participate in this year’s global Middle School Student Sound Off: submissions must be completed by 11:59 p.m. ET.
Presentation proposals are now being accepted through April 10th for the 53rd Annual Conference for Middle Level Education. Do you have what it takes to present at the largest and most impactful conference for middle level educators in the world? https://t.co/h1J5TlRMZm
Join us for our upcoming workshop: “If This, Then What? Designing H5P Branching Scenarios ” Build “choose your own adventure” style learning experiences, where student choices lead to different outcomes! Register here: https://tinyurl.com/4y7983uh See the flyer for more!
Introducing our “Let’s Deal With It: Teaching Emphasis Series!” Official Launch: April 1, 2026 12:00PM – 1:30 PM Kickoff includes: H5P Page Tool Webinar “Teaching with AI” Libguides Exhibition Happenings all throughout April & May: workshops, seminars & more!
As an aside, an unspoken rule in English known as ‘ablaut reduplication’ means we never dally-dilly on the way to a game of pong-ping while the bells go dong-ding. Nor, sadly, do we ever eat a KatKit.
MiddleWeb @middleweb.bsky.social
Review: CREATE A CLASSROOM OF MATH PROBLEM SOLVERS Word Problem Workshop offers a structured, daily routine that makes math problems less scary by building confidence, connections & wonder into each session. #edusky #iteachmath #mathED @routledgebooks.bsky.social www.middleweb.com/53257/creati…
Strategies:
8 Ways to Squeeze Writing Instruction Into a Few Minutes
https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/quick-writing-lessons
Resources:
Best Deaf Awareness Lessons & Activities
The following free deaf history and awareness lessons and activities highlight the accomplishments of deaf people in the arts, education, sports, law, science, and music.
https://www.techlearning.com/news/best-deaf-awareness-lessons-and-activities
Scholastic TV
Watch Scholastic TV
Now Free to Stream
https://www.scholastic.com/site/ScholasticTV.html
AXIS The Culture Translator
MeaningMaxxing
What it is: Teens are adding the suffix “maxxing” to anything and everything—why?
Where the trend came from: The concept of looksmaxxing, or maximizing one’s looks, was born out of the incel (involuntary celibate) community in the 2010s. What started in a niche online community has now spread far beyond it, and the original meaning of “maxxing” has evolved in the process. What is actually a sinister idea—spending all of one’s resources to fixate on upgrading one’s appearance—has given rise to adding “maxxing” to everything: Chinamaxxing. Matchamaxxing. Friendshipmaxxing. Boyfriendmaxxing. Fibermaxxing. Jestermaxxing. Yogurtmaxxing. You could be drinking a 16-ounce latte and call it “coffeemaxxing,” and nobody would correct you. Which means this suffix is doomed to the fate of most slang these days—to mean nothing at all.
Web Spotlight:
“Write In English” Is A New & Free AI Tool I Created That Is A Rough Approximation Of Something That Could Be Very Effective In Helping ELLs
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