Podcast

MSM 464: Hey Google, be quiet. The Kids are the Issue.

MSM 464: Hey Google, be quiet. The Kids are the Issue.

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Jokes:

What do you call a Bear with no ears?

  • B

I spent $300 on a Limo with a no driver. 

  • That’s a lot of money and I have nothing to Chauffeur it.

Why did the rancher put his bulls on stilts?

  • He wanted to raise the steaks

My friend is turning 32. I told him not to get too excited. 

  • We’ll only be celebrating for half a minute. 

That same friend really doesn’t trust trees. 

  • They seem kind of shady 

Why spelling is important:

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Middle School Science Minute: Environmental Health Literacy

I was recently reading the April/May, 2020 issue of “Science & Children,” a publication published by the National Science Teaching Association. 

In this issue, I read the Editor’s Note column “Environmental Health Literacy,”  written by Elizabeth Barrett-Zahn.

She discusses how empowering students to make decisions about personal health and understand the impact humans have on the environment is critical to preparing literate, well-informed citizens.

Reports from the Front Lines

  •  Middle School Student Reactions:
    • Don’t want to fall behind
    • Frustrated with the kids who aren’t working “same ones that don’t work in school”
    • Respect the teacher and the work that the teacher is doing
    • Don’t want to lose privileges at home
    • It’s the last week of online school, how do I log in?
  • Ending the Year – New Stuff?
  • Fall Plans

Advisory:

ONE FINE DAY

written by David Byrne and Brian Eno

David Byrne and the Brooklyn Youth Choir

Saw the wanderin’ eye, inside my heart

Shouts and battle cries, from every part

I can see those tears, every one is true

When the door appears, I’ll go right through, oh

I stand in liquid light, like everyone

I built my life with rhymes, to carry on

And it gives me hope, to see you there

The things I used to know, that one fine

One fine day

In a small dark room, where I will wait

Face to face I find, I contemplate

Even though a man is made of clay

Everything can change that one fine —

One fine day

Then before my eyes, is standing still

I beheld it there, a city on a hill

I complete my tasks, one by one

I remove my masks, when I am done

Then a peace of mind fell over me —

In these troubled times, I still can see

We can use the stars, to guide the way

It is not that far, the one fine —

One fine day

The Twitterverse

Typical EduCelebrity@EduCelebrity

In search of profound tweets from other teachers with ideas I can rip off and present as my own in the future social media postings and publications. Original authors will receive my profoundly pretentious gratitude.

Google for Education@GoogleForEdu

To support the millions of educators, we’re announcing #TeachFromHome — resources to help remote teaching.  https://t.co/zrQQsEPsZK?amp=1  

Typical EduCelebrity@EduCelebrity

Antibody Like a Pirate

Quote Tweet

The Modest Teacher@ModestTeacher

Has anyone written a book about “hacking” the coronavirus yet? If not, what a missed opportunity.

DuckDuckGo  @DuckDuckGo

Want to see what  @Twitter  *thinks* they know about you? @sil found this enlightening page listing your so-called interests. Although you can’t stop the data collection completely, you can stop personalization based on it: Settings → Content preferences https://twitter.com/settings/your_

Alice Keeler@alicekeeler

Google Forms: Create a Branching LESSON – https://alicekeeler.com/2020/05/23/goo

Look for your host, Todd Bloch, to have a middle school topic all ready to go!  Make it a strategic part of your personal professional development.

Resources:

Greek Myth Resource:  Greeking Out!

https://www.espn.com/espnradio/feeds/rss/podcast.xml?id=27807607

Random Thoughts . . .  

Make a Zeppelin . . . and then eat it!

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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MSM 463: Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda, What Does the Future Hold?

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Jokes:

If you were stuck on a desert island and could have three records, what you would pick?

  • Well, the long-distance swimming one would be good.

I had a chance to talk to Bill Withers. I told him “Ain’t No Sunshine” is poor grammar. 

  • He said, “I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know”

There were two mice who lived in a museum. One evening after the museum had closed, the first mouse crawled into a huge suit of armor. Before he knew it, he was lost. He shouted to his friend, “Help me make it through the Knight!”

I knew that I shouldn’t steal a mixer from work, but it was a whisk I was willing to take. 

I went to an Indian restaurant and asked for bread. 

  • The server said they had Naan.

Why is justice best served cold?

  • Because if it was served warm it would be justwater.

I took my dog to the pond. The Geese kept attacking him.

  • I guess that what’s I get for buying a pure bread dog. 

The work on Big Ben is meant to take three years. 

  • Must be a lot of work considering that they are working around the clock. 

I was in the grocery store when I get message that there were 24 singles in my area. 

  • I think I’m going to delete the Kraft Cheese app.

I was chatting with Dracula the other day. I told Dracula that I was going to make one of those diagrams that uses circles. 

  • Dracula said “Venn”. 
  • I told him tomorrow. 

Someone stole beehives from a friend’s field.

  • The police are setting up a sting operation to find the culprits. 

How come the sound from a musician bounds off the auditorium walls, but the sound from a pigeon doesn’t?

  • A coo sticks

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Middle School Science Minute: Integrating STEM

I was recently reading the May, 2020 issue of “NSTA Reports,” a publication published by the National Science Teaching Association. 

In this issue, I read the advice column “Ask A Mentor,”  written by Gabe Kralijevic. A teacher in Arkansas asked the following questions: “I want to know if there are ways to incorporate [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)] into more or all subjects?  How would a teacher begin to integrate English or social studies with STEM?”

Reports from the Front Lines

Why It’s So Difficult To Safely Reopen Schools In The Era Of COVID-19 | All In | MSNBC

The Twitterverse

John Faig@johnfaig

I worry about making remote learning as powerful as in-class learning.

Quote Tweet:  

Mr. Francisco Rodriguez  @FJRodriguez2013· 

Replying to @saldanact

A3: I will keep lessons recorded for any absences. Filming makes it easier for Ss to catch up & also for me to reflect on my own instruction. I will also make more effort to check-in with students’ needs. They’ll struggle if their physical & emotional needs aren’t met. #CrazyPLN

Merriam-Webster@MerriamWebster

Hello! Today’s #WordOfTheDay is ‘bodacious’ https://s.m-w.com/3dklYIK

Rich Czyz  @RACzyz

Here are some authentic learning experiences to motivate students during the remainder of the school year! #4OCF #Satchat

Look for your host, Todd Bloch, to have a middle school topic all ready to go!  Make it a strategic part of your personal professional development.

Strategies:  

CDC Guidance

CDC Full Guidance

Resources:

Virtual Bitmoji Classroom

https://www.helloteacherlady.com/blog/2020/4/how-to-create-a-virtual-bitmoji-scene-in-google-slides-or-powerpoint

Web Spotlight:  

We Might Have Gotten Remote Learning Wrong. We Can Still Fix This School Year

“Based on those conversations and on my own experience over the past few weeks, I’ve begun to wonder if we might be going about this whole “distance learning” thing all wrong.”

https://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2020/05/13/we-might-have-gotten-remote-learning-wrong.html?r=2026855568&cmp=eml-contshr-shr

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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MSM 462: Hokie Pokie School Entry

MSM 462: Hokie Pokie School Entry

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Jokes:

Due to the quarantine, I’ll only be telling inside jokes. 

I don’t want to brag, but I finished a jigsaw puzzle in a week. It said  “2-4 years” on the box. 

What do you call a group of men waiting for a haircut?

  • A barbercue.

My landlord wants to talk to me about how high my heating bill is. 

  • I told him “my door is always open”

An elderly couple was in church. The wife turns to her husband and whispers, “I’ve just let out one of those silent farts, what do I do”?

The husband replied, “Change the battery in your hearing aid”. 

A priest, a minister, and a rabbit walk into a blood bank. 

  • The rabbit says, “I think I might be a type o”.

I told my wife to she should embrace her mistakes.

  • She gave me a hug. 

I dig

You dig

He digs

She digs

We dig

They dig. 

*It’s not a long poem, but it is deep. 

A friend went to a for a job interview. He was offered a glass of water. He filled it until it overflowed a bit. 

The interviewer asked if he was nervous. 

He replied “Nope, I always give 110%. 

As part of the interview, he was told that at the start, he would earn $35,000: later that would increase to $55,000. 

He said, “Ok, I’ll come back later”. 

I’m really looking forward to 2033. That will be the beginnings of the quaranteens. 

I bought my friends an elephant for their room. 

They said “Thanks”. 

I said, “Don’t mention it”. 

My friend keeps saying “cheer up man, it could be worse. You could be stuck underground in a hole full of water.

  • I know he means well. 

Finland has closed their borders. 

  • No one will be crossing the Finnish line. 

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Middle School Science Minute: Unique or Identical

I was recently reading the March, 2020 issue of “The Science Teacher,” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. 

 In this issue, I read the Focus on Physics column “Being Unique or Being Identical,”  written by Paul G. Hewitt.

He discusses the Macro World and the SubAtomic World.  Being unique is common in the Macro World.  Being identical is common in the SubAtomic World.  He then goes on to use leaves, faces and ladybugs as examples.

Reports from the Front Lines

  • Mass Technology Rollouts.  
    • Meeting Middle Schoolers Needs
  • Planning for next year
  • Ideas for holding a Zoom (or other App) COVID-19 Scavenger Hunt!  

The Twitterverse

Typical EduCelebrity

I recommend students read their online textbooks with a yellow background to re-create the experience of using a highlighter to mark every word they see.

Michigan History Day

Be there or be square! Or watch the recording later, squares are cool. Live stream starts at 3! http://youtube.com/watch?v=IgapZ_1_QMQ… #mihistoryday2020

Mark Ryan

Welcome back to school

Welcome back to school:  https://twitter.com/i/status/1259074269516095488  

Look for your host, Todd Bloch, to have a middle school topic all ready to go!  Make it a strategic part of your personal professional development.

Resources:

Jim Henson on Making Puppets

Jim Henson and Muppeteers show kids how to make puppets from simple things like socks. This video aired on Public Television in 1969, prior to Sesame Street, on Iowa Public Television’s “Volume See” kids’ show. 

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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MSM 461: Well, that was untimely…

MSM 461: Well, that was untimely…

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Jokes:

Never climb into a deep vat of curdled milk. 

  • You’ll be in whey over your head.

What do you say to your sister when she is crying?

  • Hey, are you having a crisis?

Thought for the day: Can you buy chickens on the layaway plan?

I used to be a baby, then I grew out of it. 

I really, really don’t like Russian dolls.

  • They are so full of themselves

Where do they build Robot noses?

  • The Ol’Factory

Why is the alphabet so terrifying?

  • A bee sea….

My Czech Mate is surprisingly bad at chess.

Did you hear about Jamie who was arrested. 

Jamie: “I’m not saying a word without my lawyer present”. 

The officer said: “You’re a lawyer.”

Jamie: “Right. Where’s my present?”

You know what makes me smile?

  • Facial muscles.

I have a friend with a Parrot and an Alexa. All day the parrot keeps asking Alexa to play “Free bird”. 

Here’s hoping Elon Musk doesn’t become a politician and get involved in a scandal. 

  • Elon- gate would be really drawn out

Why is Spring the favorite season of trees? 

  • After a long winter, trees are releafed. 

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Middle School Science Minute: Mindful Modeling

I was recently reading the March, 2020 issue of “Science & Children,” a publication published by the National Science Teaching Association. 

In this issue, I read the Editor’s Note column “Mindful Modeling,”  written by Elizabeth Barrett-Zahn.

She discusses bringing the practice of Developing and Using Models into our classrooms as a communication tool for developing and revealing student thinking.

Reports from the Front Lines

  • Educational Disruption:  
    • Increasing value of Instructional Tech Coaches?  
    • Future scheduling
    • Constructs for “Classrooms”
  • Guidelines for Using Zoom with students
    • District level suggestions
    • Teacher level suggestions
  • Alternatives to using Zoom?  Viable alternatives?  
  • Bring back letter writing!  
    • 116 handwritten, hand-addressed postcards . . . keeping connected in COVID-19.  
    • Cursive enthusiasts of the world, unite!  
  • What kind of PD do teachers need based on where this could take us going into 2021 and 2022?  
  • Challenge to our listeners – 
    • Ideas for holding a Zoom (or other App) COVID-19 Scavenger Hunt!  
  • Discipline online
  • Security of Accounts
  • Parent Supports

The Twitterverse

Monte Tatom, Ed.D.@drmmtatom

Via @E_Sheninger

~ 8 Fantastic Considerations for Leading Remote Learning ~ https://twitter.com/drmmtatom/status/1252724726901989384

@hcu_dot_edu @DebbieWiles50 @Frideswidel @CounselorTatom

Maria Pickering  @PickeringM42

So many ways to record yourself and your screen for teaching online…Check out this list of options and instructional resources on Wakelet – Video Options for Teaching Online #Covid19 #teachingonline #onlineteachingtools #edtech https://wke.lt/w/s/UCD9ft via

@wakelet

Look for your host, Todd Bloch, to have a middle school topic all ready to go!  Make it a strategic part of your personal professional development.

Resources:

Our American Voices:  Citizenship Choice Board #2

Students make choices on a board that demonstrate four different American values.  

https://bit.ly/3434UASic_OAV_Choice_board2

Web Spotlight:  

April 24, Remembering the Armenian Genocide  

Random Thoughts . . .  

Personal Web Site  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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MSM 460: Zoom on in and say “Hi” in mandarin.

MSM 460: Zoom on in and say “Hi” in mandarin.

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Jokes:

Sasquatch is disrespected by people who question his existence. 

  • Yeti never complains

Why did the old woman buy a single roller skate?

  • She wanted a mobile home.

I was attacked by 1,3,5,7, and 9.

  • The odds were against me.

Did you hear about the new metal band. All their songs about people who criticize them while pretending to be their friends. 

  • The Band is “Back Stabbath”

Here’s a corny one:

What happens when you sing in the shower and get shampoo in your mouth?

  • It becomes a soap opera
  • *It’s important to note that if you want to be Suave, you need to have a bit of Finesse and keep your Head & Shoulders in the game. Don’t foam at the mouth (that could cause a slip of the tongue). 

If anyone gets some canned meat delivered with their groceries, don’t open it. 

  • It’s Spam

With baseball on hiatus, they are trying baseball with Turkeys vs Ducks. 

  • There’s a lot of fowl play

A friend told me an anecdote about touching an electric fence. 

  • It was a short story, but it had a good arc.

How does Spider-Man think of such witty comebacks?

  • Because with great power comes great response-ability

What did the pirate say on his birthday following his 79th?

  • Aye Matey!

Status Update:

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Middle School Science Minute: Executive Functioning

I was recently reading the March, 2020 issue of “Science Scope,” a publication for middle school teachers, published by the National Science Teaching Association. 

In this issue, I read the column “The Forgotten Factor: Executive Functioning and Success in the Classroom,”  written by Kaitlyn McGlynn and Janey Kelly.

Executive functioning skills are the skills that encompass our mental control and self-regulation and are controlled by the frontal lobe of the brain.

The Twitterverse

Dave Schmittou EdD  @daveschmittou

I would love your help with this. I am hoping to collect data on 500 assistant principals. If you are an AP, would u be willing to take 3 minutes to complete this survey? For everyone else, can u tag an assistant principal you know? I appreciate you!

Typical EduCelebrity  @EduCelebrity

In honor of International Haiku Day: 

Think teaching is easy? 

How’s learning at home going? 

Sorry is a tough word.

Look for your host, Todd Bloch, to have a middle school topic all ready to go!  Make it a strategic part of your personal professional development.

Resources:

Stuff You Need:  The Social Distancing Badge

Get this innovative accessory to your school ID badge!

Stuff You Need:  1350 – Music for a Plague  

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/falsobordone/1350-music-for-a-plague?ref=user_menu

SEL Resources from Dr. John Spencer

Grab his original graphics for engaging starter topics for your Zoom meetings with students.  Catch him on Instagram where he posts quick writing or speaking activities to do with your students in a Zoom meeting.  

https://www.instagram.com/spencereducation/

Random Thoughts . . .  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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MSM 459: Hey parents! BeatBox your way to happiness!

MSM 459: Hey parents! BeatBox your way to happiness!

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Jokes:

What kind of music does the Easter Bunny like?

  • Hip hop

What do you call an anesthetized rabbit?

  • The Ether Bunny

For Christmas, I bought my wife beads from an abacus.

  • It’s the little things that count

What’s one good thing about a bad haircut?

  • It grows on you

I think I made a mistake. I clicked on “Start Your Free Trial” and now I’ve been convicted of theft. 

If you’ve ever seen pictures of Mount Rushmore before the carvings, you know that its beauty was unpresidented. 

What did one cell say to his sister cell that stepped on his foot?

  • mitosis

Why don’t eggs tell each other jokes? 

  • They are afraid to get cracked up.

Status Update:

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Middle School Science Minute: Grasping The Concepts

I was recently reading the April, 2020 issue of “NSTA Reports,” a publication published by the National Science Teaching Association. 

In this issue, I read the advice column “Ask A Mentor,”  written by Sharon Delesbore. A teacher in New York asked the following question: “As I continue to teach my science class, I often wonder throughout my unit if the students are really grasping the concepts.  How do I know my students are getting it?” Listen in as Sharon provides a great answer to this question.

The Twitterverse

Andrea Sherman  @Ed_Stories

“Remind your students that they are creating a primary source – documentation of what one student was thinking in March of 2020 during the global pandemic. Now we are all a part of history.”  @USHistoryIdeas @middleweb https://middleweb.com/42521/kids-jou  Don’t forget #mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST.  

Bob Harrison  @R_O_Harrison

The @H5PTechnology Essay activity is exactly what I’ve been looking for for years! Great way to automate feedback on a free response based on key words—the presence or absence of. Just absolutely outstanding!!

Image

TeacherGoals  @teachergoals

Yong Zhao, Ph.D  @YongZhaoEd

Tomorrow (Sat 5:30pm EDT) live Ep4 #silverliningforlearning Using COL and Cool Open Education Resources hosted by  @punyamishra  @travelinedman  @chrs_dede  @mcleod

with guests from Commonwealth of Learning https://silverliningforlearning.org/category/video

Getty@GettyMuseum

We challenge you to recreate a work of art with objects (and people) in your home.

  • Choose your favorite artwork
  • Find three things lying around your house⠀
  • Recreate the artwork with those items 

And share with us.

https://www.getty.edu/art/

Look for your host, Todd Bloch, to have a middle school topic all ready to go!  Make it a strategic part of your personal professional development.

Resources:

Beat Boxing

2005 Female World Beatbox Champion Butterscotch explains the art of beatboxing in 13 levels of difficulty. Starting with just the bass drum, Butterscotch layers more and more vocal drums and instruments on top of each other until she starts adding real, live instruments as well.

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

MSM 458: An Interview with Bob! (That’s Me!)

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Jokes:

Why is everyone so tired at the beginning of April?

  • Just finished a 31 day march

What do you call a bear with no teeth?

  • A gummy bear

Hey, did you hear that they are banning the fifth month of the year?

  • Everyone is dismayed.

If you think Thursdays are depressing, wait two days.

  • It will be a sadder day

I saw a Delorean for sale. 

  • Good shape, low mileage. 
  • Yep, it was only driven from time to time.

What’s the fastest liquid on earth?

  • Milk

I’m a kleptomaniac.

  • Don’t worry though, I’m taking something for it. 

People said the I’d never get over my obsession with Phil Collins.

  • Sussidio,  Against All Odds, Take a Look at Me Now

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Middle School Science Minute: Journaling Outdoors

“Journals provide a non-threatening place to explore learning, emotions, daily events, and language through writing.”  This statement is provided by Eva Varga, in her blog “Integrating Writing with Middle School Students.  

Journals can take many forms.  Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources provide a nature journal lesson for grades 6-8 on its “Natural and Historical Education Resources for Home” website,  which can be found at:

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/MS_HS_Journaling_Outdoors_684892_7.pdf

An example of a journal starter:

Compare two natural objects.  How are they different besides size? How are they alike? What do they resemble?

Interview:  Transitioning to LMS Based Learning – An Interview with Mr. Bob Harrison

Twitter: @R_O_Harrison

Introductions & Foundational Knowledge

Topic 1:  LMS Based Learning

Topic 2:  Pedagogy

  Differentiation

  • More efficient than working on one’s own.  
  • Teacher efficiency
  • Student efficiency
  • Use of teacher time  

Feedback based on the choices students make.  

Automating some of the tasks to free up time for prepping for the next student activity.  

Providing feedback for student work with immediacy.  

Enrichment vs. Taking Grades and Student Engagement

  • Motivating students beyond doing it “just for grades”
  • Using Badges  
    • Set Criteria
    • Arrange for multiple attempts at success  
    • Shifts learning from “just getting grades” to the importance of feedback in learning.  
    • Useful feedback.  
    • Emotional attachment
    • Useful data for the teacher to see student completion and rates of success.
  • Creates a sense of “normality.”  
  • Shifting from “Enrichment” to “Assessment”
  • Course Collaboration – the Network is Smarter than the Node.
  • Shared resources in a course
    • Discussions on student success within the LMS.  
      • Blind Grading
      • Sharing Strategies/Skills in the PLN.  

Strategies

  • Discussion Forums
    • Creates a sense of community in learning
  • Virtual Lessons
    • A progression of pages with formative assessment interspersed.  
  • Interactive Videos
    • H5P plug-in to insert prompts in the video.  
  • Print outs
    • Concept map, illustration
    • Alternative – use the drawing in Google Draw to illustrate the item.
  • Quizzes
    • Bank of questions
    • Randomized assessment
    • Another way to give feedback
    • Share grading with PLC
  • Big Blue Button
    • Video Conferencing – Not every teacher has to be on.  Share content delivery.  
  • Blind Grading  

Meeting Student Needs

Asynchronous learning meeting teen sleeping/waking schedules.

Using Google Classroom

  • It is a good beginning.  
  • Understand what the tool does

Returning to Blended Model

  • How has this changed your approach?  
    • Challenging educational philosophy
    • Opportunities for reflection 
      • Pedagogy – What does/should teaching look like?  
      • Student expectations
    • Building a library of content – useful for more than just “now.”  
      • Intervention strategy
      • Alternate teaching strategy
      • Student absence/ISS 

Closing:  Troy & Bob

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MSM 457: WeChat, er, Video Conference, How about you?

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Jokes:

Someone told me it takes 5 sheep to make a sweater. 

  • I didn’t even know that they could crochet.

I think I made a mistake. I put my dryer on spin. I asked why it lost one sock:

  • “I didn’t lose your sock so much as I provided you an opportunity to stimulate the economy.” 

I’ve started investing in stocks: chicken, beef, vegetable

  • One day I hope to be a bouillonaire.

I got into a fight with a fellow stamp collector. 

  • There was no clear winner. We both got some pretty good licks in. 

What kind of lights were on Noah’s ark?

  • Floodlights

I used to think that I was indecisive. 

  • Now, I’m not so sure. 

I, for one, like Roman numerals. 

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Middle School Science Minute: From STEM to STEAM

I was recently reading the March, 2020 issue of “Science Scope,” a magazine written for middle school science teachers, published by the National Science Teaching Association. 

In this issue, I read the “From the Editor’s Desk” section and the title of the article, within the section was “From STEM to STEAM” written by Patty McGinnis. 

The article describes how her school’s annual career day has morphed from STEM to STEAM.

Resources:

Video Conferencing:

  • Comfort
  • Security
  • Whole Group vs Individual

Web Spotlight:  

Future

Natural disaster plus government botch job equals the board being swept clean, allowing players a golden opportunity to move in and clean up.

But while some folks may view this shutdown as a philosophical opportunity, for some it’s all about the investment opportunities. Like Katrina’s aftermath, vulture capitalism at its finest.

http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-ed-tech-vultures-circle.html

The Twitterverse

Greg Wolcott  @GregJWolcott

TEACHERS:1000’s of you work in schools that have been canceled in the upcoming weeks. Make it UR goal to either call every kid & say hi or write them a letter, telling them what you appreciate about them, recognize the strengths they bring to your classroom! #Significant72  

Typical EduCelebrity  @EduCelebrity

A number of schools are closing in order to do a “deep cleaning“ of the buildings. Normally, this might take a day to do, but thanks to all of the budget cuts throughout the years, it will take weeks with the two people each has remaining.  

Yo-Yo Ma  @YoYo_Ma

In these days of anxiety, I wanted to find a way to continue to share some of the music that gives me comfort. The first of my #SongsOfComfort: Dvořák – “Going Home” Stay safe.

Leonardo Carella@leonardocarella

Italians in lockdown all over Italy are keeping each other company by singing, dancing and playing music from the balconies. A thread to celebrate the resilience of ordinary people. This is Salerno:

See also this BBC Report:  https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-51886547/coronavirus-italians-sing-from-their-windows-to-boost-morale  

TeacherGoals@teachergoals

It’s been a week to remember

Ms S. Scanlon @ShaunaScanlon10

When your white board is at school. Sometimes the most simple ideas are simply the best. This really made me smile  @Colaistebride

Dave Schmittou EdD  @daveschmittou

If you are a current assistant principal/vice principal, I would love your help. I am doing some research on your importance to your school. Do you mind completing this one minute survey? https://forms.gle/tKXtWdv9cnEp7gYW8

Please share! #leadlap #LeadUpChat #PIAchat   https://t.co/xAxuHBPjVQ?amp=1  

Don’t forget #mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST.  Look for your host, Todd Bloch, to have a middle school topic all ready to go!  Make it a strategic part of your personal professional development.

Strategies:  

Student Journals Could Be Primary Sources – So Write!

David McCullough, in one of his interviews on CSPAN, talks about the importance of daily writings he had access to to write his books.  If you want to influence the future, write things on paper now is essentially his advice to young people today because when the servers turn off, there goes the primary sources.  This article from MiddleWeb has some suggestions for turning your students’ journaling into the future primary sources for historians and educators.

Students’ Journals Could Be ‘Primary Sources’

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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MSM 456: 123….Not the MAMSE Edition, It’s not another bumper

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Jokes:

A friend stole the punctuation keys from a judge’s keyboard.

  • He’s expecting a long sentence.

I signed up for a Prophecy Class, but I’m not sure that it is a good idea. 

  • The first class was canceled due to “unforeseen circumstances”

My procrastinator’s group has been moved to next week by unanimous request.

I went to a very emotional wedding. 

  • Even the cake was in tiers.

My wife called me at work and asked, “Do you ever get a shooting pain across your body, like someone’s got a voodoo doll of you and they’re stabbing it?”

Sounding concerned, I replied, “No…”

She responded, “How about now?”

Eileen Award:  

  • iTunes:  tech.teacher

Advisory:

How Germs Spread Video

Courtesy M. Sweeten

https://www.buzzfeed.com/christopherhudspeth/this-youtubers-video-showing-how-easily-germs-spread-is

Check in with your students using Google Forms

Here’s a quick Google form to check in with your students on how they’re doing and about what kind of technology they have available for you to use with them in remote learning.  

School Closure Check-in with Google Forms

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Middle School Science Minute: Best STEM Books

I was recently reading the March, 2020 issue of “Science Teacher,” a magazine published by the National Science Teaching Association. 

In this issue, I read the article “Best STEM Books.”  The books that appear in the list were chosen by a review panel made up of educators and other subject-area experts, all appointed by the National Science Teaching Association, and the Children’s Book Council.

They selected three books that are appropriate for grade 6-8 students.  The list includes:

“How to Become an Accidental Genius” by Elizabeth MacLeod and Frieda Wishinsky

“Save the Crash-test Dummies” by Jennifer Swanson

“Saving the Tasmanian Devil, How Science is Helping the World’s Largest Marsupial Carnivore Survive” by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent

COVID-19 Follow Up

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MSM 455: The Viral Edition

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Jokes:

Scientifically, a raven has 17 primary wing feathers, the big feathers at the end. These are pinion feathers. A crow has 16. Know what that means? 

  • The difference between a crow and a raven is a matter of a pinion.

Hey, I was wandering through the grocery store and found some soup in the freezer. 

  • Should I just let it go?

I recently took a pole. 

  • Turns out 100% of the people were upset when their tent collapsed.

Turns out that you can’t speak poorly of aircraft. 

  • It is plane offensive.

Taking notes around text in a book is marginal at best. 

Image may contain: 4 people, people sitting, table and indoor, possible text that says 'The Eagles were right We are all just prisoners here of our own device!'

Current Situation:

  • Team 
    • Classes
    • Badges
    • Feedback (Images & GIFs)
    • Enrollment
    • Special Ed
    • Messaging through Moodle
    • Affective questions through Forums/Assignments/Tips (Send positive social media posts)?
  • Remote Learning vs Online Learning
  • Moodle
    • Sharing Courses/material
    • Co-teaching
  • Training
  • Communication
  • “Free” stuff
  • Post emergency declarations

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Middle School Science Minute: Organizing for Student Success

I was recently reading the March, 2020 issue of “NSTA Reports,” a publication published by the National Science Teaching Association. 

In this issue, I read the article “Organizing for Student Success.”  Science educators responded to a recent informal NSTA Reports poll and they were nearly unanimous (94.3%) in reporting they incorporate organizational strategies in their science or STEM teaching.

Also in the article were survey reports on “late work,” as well as educators sharing their favorite strategies for helping students organize and prioritize their work.

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