MSM 225: Advisory! Advisory! Advisory!

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

Eileen Award:

  • Scoopit:
  • Twitter: Paige Johnson
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  • eMail:

 

Jokes You Can Use:

One reason the Military Services have trouble operating jointly is that they don’t speak the same language. For example, if you told Navy personnel to “secure a building,” they would turn off the lights and lock the doors. The Army would occupy the building so no one could enter. Marines would assault the building, capture it, and defend it with suppressive fire and close combat. The Air Force, on the other hand, would take out a three-year lease with an option to buy.

A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

Advisory:

You are Predictable

Make the board ahead of time, or put it on a Promethean Board.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DaWcL3oOd-E

Business Cards

Have the kids design business cards for famous people, fictional characters, historical figures, etc.
http://thisisnthappiness.com/post/35780275184/business-cards

10 Bets that you can win

Use these to create a challenge for students. Encourage them to think together. This can help prime the thinking. These are really just problem solving opportunities.
http://www.tastefullyoffensive.com/2012/11/another-10-bets-you-will-always-win.html

Perceptives

On the cover of American Prospect, Joel Sternfeld’s ode to roadside America, was a ghoulish photo. A fireman shops for a pumpkin as the farmhouse — whose fire presumably brought him to this very acres — burns in the background. Its fiery destruction perfectly complemented the wintry leaves, the spoilt pumpkins, and from the foreground, with his hands tightly clasped upon a prized possession, the orange-clad firefighter: an American Nero.
http://iconicphotos.wordpress.com/2012/10/25/joel-sternfeld-mclean-virginia-december-1978/

Middle School Science Minute

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

Reflecting on Data

Recently I gave a talk at a new teacher orientation for the Rouge Education Project, a water quality monitoring project on the Rouge River, in the Michigan counties of Wayne and Oakland.  The purpose of the talk was to share ideas on curriculum.  The two areas I focused in on were:
1.  Inquiry Analysis and Communication
2.  Reflection and Social Implication

To learn more about the Rouge Education Project, please visit:
http://www.therouge.org

From the Twitterverse:

* Monte Tatom ‏@drmmtatom
#iPad in schools 102 http://zite.to/TPKz8R  via @zite #fhuedu320 #fhuedu642

11 Excellent Ways Teachers Can Use Google Docs http://flpbd.it/tH96v  #fhuedu320 #eLearning #fhuedu642

6 Reasons To Get A Tutor http://flpbd.it/6Jxee  #fhuedu610 #fhuedu508

* YouAndI School ‏@YouAndISchool
#Teachers have such an awesome job. Here is a teachers survival kit for everyday living http://tinyurl.com/chnt56h
* Patrick Larkin ‏@patrickmlarkin
Gamification 101: Why A Badge Is Better Than An A via @terryheick #edchat #bhschat
* Miguel Guhlin ‏@mguhlin
10 evernote uses in classroom http://dlvr.it/2VSPF4
* Lisa Dubernard ‏@onboardlearning
Good blog about the “culture of excellence” #satchat http://blog.eboardsolutions.com/accountability/wait-for-superman-or-build-transformation-teams/ …
* Kyle Calderwood ‏@kcalderw
Infographic: The Anatomy of a Great Teacher http://zite.to/T7jkIn  #njed #edtech #edchat
* Sandy Kendell ‏@EdTechSandyK
18 Snapshots Of iPad Integration | #edtech #mlearning @scoopit via @tperranhttp://sco.lt/7ApQbB

10 Ways To Use Technology To Teach #Writing http://edudemic.com/2012/11/10-high-tech-ways-to-teach-writing/ … via @edudemic #edtech #literacy

* EdTechTeacher ‏@EdTechTeacher21
iPad Resources and More iPad Summit Blog Posts
* Audrey Nay ‏@audrey_nay
Great livebinder – Top 5 Reasons 2 Use Your Library http://www.livebinders.com/play/play/119021 … #advocacy #tlchat #ozteachers #nswdec #austl
* Kristen Stringfellow ‏@SouthKingSuper
“Twitter Cheat Sheet (for any “newbies” out there) pic.twitter.com/ne3u3mZY #NCTE12
* Gerald Aungst ‏@geraldaungst
Why while presenting do so many ed conference speakers avoid the very strategies they promote? #irony #fail
* Lee Ann Spillane ‏@spillarke
Save the date 2/6/13 Digital Learning Day @sjhayes8 #ncte12
#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.

Resources:

Circuits

Circuits.io was founded in 2012 by Karel Bruneel and Benjamin Schrauwen. After struggling for years to design and teach to design electronics using existing EDA tool, they felt that electronics design needed an urgent jolt. Learning from how software is designed, they came up with the following magic recipe which is at the heart of circuits.io: (i) allow to easily build on pre-designed electronics modules, (ii) use intuitive tools that hide much of the complexity in software, and (iii) embrace the open hardware movement. Furthermore, we will soon allow easy PCB ordering right from circuits.io, no more messing with Gerber files. We promise that circuits.io will always be free for open hardware designs and that you can export all your designs, we will never lock in what actually is yours.
http://www.circuits.io/

8 GREAT GRADING APPS FOR IPAD

After posting about some of the best gradebook tools for teachers we got an email from one of our readers asking about some grading apps for iPad. We looked into our archive and found a post that we have published almost a year ago containing some great grading apps for iOS users but because thousands of apps have been created since the posting of that list we deemed it important that we do a general scan to review the new emerging grading apps. We found quite many but we only handpicked the ones mentioned below.
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/11/8-great-grading-apps-for-ipad.html

Web Spotlight:

A Cure for the Mania of Multiple Drafts, Multiple Formats, X 100

By Ariel Sacks
In my last post, I described my utter failure to effectively organize and manage my students’ drafting process for writing projects.  This job has become much more complicated over the years with the availability of various technological tools for writing.  New, clear parameters are definitely necessary.
http://transformed.teachingquality.org/blogs/shoulders-giants/11-2012/cure-mania-multiple-drafts-multiple-formats-x-100

Everything That Will Go Extinct In The Next 40 Years

Futurist website nowandnext.com put together this awesome infographic predicting all of the technologies, behaviors, and ideas that will probably be distant memories by 2050.
Among their predictions: no more retirement four years from now, no more secretaries six years from now, and no more free parking or sit-down breakfasts by 2019.
The European Union is seen as surviving the current crisis before extinct in 2039.
http://www.businessinsider.com/everything-that-will-go-extinct-in-the-next-40-years-2012-8#ixzz29zsNrc6U

News:

The [editor of Phi Delta Kappan] concludes by asserting that “every classroom should have excellent teaching every hour of every day.” I would add that every child should also have an excellent parent who serves them excellent food and provides them with an excellent home in an excellent neighborhood. Let’s also add excellent healthcare and excellent supervision every hour of every day as well. If we could accomplish all of that, we would have the highest achieving students on earth.
http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2012/11/while-we-wait-for-wise-lawmakers-to-emerge.html

AMLE Annual Conference Sessions:

Dr. Debbie Silver, paid session.

Standard Introduction:
Teach through stories.
The self-reference depends on when the story happened in her life.
Middle school song by Monte Selby:  “Get Back Up Again.”

“He has a relentless commitment to his dream
so he’ll watch and ask
Then walk for books to read
Builds his talent with desire,’
Loads of time and endless fire
Always redefining persevere”

“So he tries and he tries, with a smile, then he cries
Countless falls, break the skin, get back up
Start again and again
Then he stays up late when he knows he shouldn’t
Tells his parents that he couldn’t – quit.”

Middle school is the last best hope for some of these kids.

“What lies behind us and what lies in front of us are but tiny matters as compared to lies within us.”  – Ralph Waldo Emerson
We have kids that have already given up before they got there.
Research is clear, you cannot motivate anybody.  They have to motivate themselves.  (That’s interesting!)
Mindset-The new Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
Elizabeth’s Story:
Which of the five choices are the right response:
1.  You tell her you thought she was the best.
2.  Tell her she was robbed of a ribbon that was rightfully hers.
3.  Reassure her that gymnastics is not that important.
4.  Tell her she has the ability and will surely win the next one.
5.  Tell her she didn’t deserve to win.
Video:  Charlotte & Johnathan
How do we help students become self-motivated?
Failure has become an entity instead of a state of being.
We need to get kids to understand that falling is part of the process, not the end state of things.
Advertisement video:  CapriSun commercial where the Mom goes and protects the kids to the point of being stupid.
Replace the term Self-Esteem with Self-Efficacy (Bandura)
Self-Efficacy:
What does it do?  It influences:
•The choices we make
•The effort we put forth
•How long we persist when we confront obstacles
•How quickly we “bounce back” from setbacks or failures.
Learned helplessness
When kids have power over their environment, they will blossom.
“Anything easily attained is cheaply held.”
Zone of Proximal Development:  Lev Vygotsky
The greatest way to get people self motivated is to raise the bar just beyond their reach.
Letting students do what they can already, it is demotivating.
Lifting the leg example.
What kids are starved for is adult attention.
The Zip Line Adventure
Cartoon:  Scaffolding
Scaffolding
Describe a scenario in which you were asked to perform a task far beyond your current ability level and no scaffolding was provided.  How did you respond to the challenge?  What happened?
Handout item:  Scaffolding Instruction Guidelines
Deci & Ryan
Helping Kids Be Successful:
•  Autonomy:  Go do it.
•  Competency:  They have to feel they have the knowledge to do it.
•  Relatedness:  Connecting it to other things and people.
The story of Andy:
Cartesian Diver:  You can do it with condiment packages evidently.
Be careful of over effusive praise.
Andy and the drums.
Doug Moreland Band
Seventh Sun
One of Andy’s character traits is his very strong self-discipline.
The ability to delay self-gratification.
Many lack the ability to defer gratification
Video:  The Marshmallow Test
65% of the kids waited.
65% were:
•more socially competent
•more personally effective
•more self-assertive
•Better able to cope with life’s frustrations.
• . . . see handout
210 more points on SATs.
(Mischel, Schoda, and Peake, 1988)
These skills can be taught!
Tips for helping Children with Impulse control
In class do not allow students to raise hands or blurt answers.  When asking for a response require students to wait 10-15 seconds before calling on someone randomly (I pick up from a cup of craft sticks with the name of a different student on each one).
•  Model “think alouds” for the students.
1.  The adult performs a task while “thinking out loud.”  For example, “Before I start to do this activity.  I need to read all the directions.  After I read all of the directions, I will check and make sure all of the materials are here.  Then I will begin with step #1.

3.  The student performs the task while instruction them self out loud.
Teach students the “Stop and Think” 5 step problem solving strategy:
1.  “What am I supposed to do?”  (Figure out what exactly what the problem is.)
2.  “Look at all the possibilities
•  Role play with the students the problem and possible solutions that occur in recurring social events.
•  Use a timer to indicate periods of independent work and reinforce appropriate behavior with positive feedback.
•  Use the words “For now . . . ”
“I don’t want to do this.”  “That’s ok, you’ll do this ‘for now’.”
Steps in Deliberate Practice.
•  Remember that deliberate practice has one objective:  to improve performance. ” People who play tennis once a week for years don’t get any better if they do the same thing each time.”  Ericson has said, “Deliberate practice is about changing your performance, setting new goals and straining yourself to reach a bit higher each time.”
•  Repeat, repeat, repeat.  Repetition matters.  Basketball greats don’t shoot ten free throws at the end of team practice, they shoot five hundred.
•  Seek constant, critical feedback.  If you don’t know how you’re doing, you won’t know what to improve.
•  Focus ruthlessly on where you need help.  while many of us work on what we’re already good at, says Ericsson, “those who get better work on their weakness.”
•  Prepare for the process to be mentally and physically exhausting.  that’s why so many people . . see handout.
Motivation:
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation
Psychological reactance relates to a classic distinction made by motivational psychologists:  the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic motives.  An activity intrinsically motivating if a person does it voluntarily, without receiving payment or other type of reward.  An activity is extrinsically motivated if it is performed primarily for external reinforcement such as food or money.
The Chit Example:
How to turn play into work:  Lepper and Green (1974)
What are classroom rewards?
•  Extrinsic rewards can be denied as rewards that come from an aoutside source such as the teacher.  Rewards include the obvious bonuses such as prizes, certificates, special privileges, gold stars, stickers, candy gum, redeemable tokens, grades, or even money.  Teacher praise is also considered to be an extrinsic reward as are more subtle signs of approval such as thumbs up signs, smiles, nods, hugs, or pats on the back.
•  Intrinsic rewards can be defined as rewards that are inherent or the natural consequence of behavior.
Activity:  Describe how praise can sometimes do more harm than good.  Give examples from your experience.
Using Classroom Rewards
•  Task-contingent rewards are available to students for merely participating in an activity without regard to any standard of performance (i.e. anyone who turns in a homework paper gets an A.)
-Detrimental to motivation
•  Performance-contingent rewards are available only when the student achieves a certain standard (i.e. anyone who has at least 93% correct responses on the homework paper gets a sticker.)
*  Success-contingent rewards are given for good performance and might reflect either success or progress towards a goal (i.e. anyone who has at least 93% correct responses on the homework paper or improves from their previous score.)
Guidelines for using Classroom Rewards
•Use the weakest reward required to strengthen a behavior.
•When possible, avoid using rewards as incentives.
•Reward at a high rate in the early stages of learning and reduce the frequency of rewards as learning . . .
“It is the nature of man to rise to greatness, if greatness is expected of him.”
-John Steinbeck
Song:  “Fly on the Wall” by Monte Selby
The Key Principles of SFP are these:
A.  We form certain expectations of people or events.
B.  We communicate those expectations with varous cues.
C.  People tend to respond to these cues by adjusting their behavior to match them.
D.  The result is that the original expectation becomes true.
“Hamstrung by unrealized potential.”  Don’t praise anything a child cannot control.
Jordan’s Nike commercial:  “Over and over again I’ve failed in life, and that’s why I succeed.”
Realize that inappropriate praise can do more harm than good.
Attribution theory:  Why do individuals say they fail?
• Task Difficulty
•  Luck
•  Innate Ability or Talent
•  Effort
External (controlled by other than self)
•  Task Difficulty
•  Luck
•  Innate ability or talent
Internal (controlled by self)
•  Effort
Mindset:  The new psychology of success.  Dr. Carol Dweck (2006)
Fixed Mindset (Entity Theory)
Growth Mindset
Dr. Dweck’s Interview Video
Being praised for the easy problems caused students to go back to the easy stuff because they were successful at it.
Students praised for effort, generally were more willing to take on harder tasks.
Implicit Personality Theory.

The Book:  The little girl on the front is a character of a little girl named Stephanie.
We must view young people not as empty bottles to be filled, but as candles to be lit.  (The burning of the ditto transfer paper)

Website:  debbiesilver.com   Password:  iamateacher
I’m number 24.  Randomizer says
EY-88 Code for CEUs.

MSM 221: It’s What You Need To Hear . . .

Jokes You Can Use:

A vertically challenged psychic was arrested one day. He escaped from jail and the newspaper headline read, “SMALL MEDIUM AT-LARGE.”

Hoss rode into town to buy a bull. Unfortunately, when he bought it, he was left with one dollar. Hoss needed to tell his wife to come with the truck and get the bull, but telegrams cost one dollar per word. Hoss said to the telegram man,”OK. I have my one word-‘comfortable’.” Why do you want to tell her that?” asked the telegram man. “Oh, she’s not the best reader,” Hoss said. “She’ll read it really slowly”.

Did you hear about the accountant with insomnia? He decided to try counting sheep, but he made a mistake and was up all night trying to find it!

Eileen Award:

 

  • Scoopit:
  • Twitter:   Jennifer Larson
  • Facebook:
  • Google+:  Alec Couros, Wes Fryer
  • iTunes:
  • eMail:

Advisory:

Rationalization & Dishonesty

Dan Ariely does an RSA animate speech. Warning there are swear words (hell is used twice). There is also a discussion about confession.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XBmJay_qdNc#!

Belgian Coal Miners

* Note there are lots of images at the base site. They have a warning about needing to be over 14. Interesting, I was given a warning about several pictures for which absolutely no warning was needed.
http://vintagephoto.livejournal.com/5767874.html

Middle School Science Minute

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

This podcast is based on an article from the September, 2012 issue of Science Scope.  A magazine for middle school science teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association.  The article was entitled “Successful Co-Teaching in the Science Classroom.”  The article was written by Leslie Forbes and Stacy Billet

Co-teaching has become a popular concept in the field of education, especially as related to special education.  There are five main types of co-teaching:  lead and support; station teaching; parallel teaching; alternative teaching; and team teaching.  Although the research on co-teaching is limited, it is growing and what is available is generally positive.

From the Twitterverse:

* John Robinson ‏@21stprincipal
When teachers are forced to practice in a carefully prescribed way, don’t expect innovation. #satchat
* Jerry Blumengarten ‏@cybraryman1
FAIL= First Attempt in Learning http://cybraryman.com/learningfrommistakes.html … #satchat
* Diane Ravitch ‏@DianeRavitch
The Big Tradeoff: Common Core and the Budget http://wp.me/s2odLa-8846  via @wordpressdotcom
* Danita Russell ‏@DanitaR
Freebie! Math menus for differentiating in MS math #slms @myen http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/Lessons%20From%20The%20Middle/math-menus-differentiating-math-for-grades-6-9 …
* Terie Engelbrecht ‏@mrsebiology
RT @TeacherCast: Make a Mini Documentary with WeVideo by @mseideman http://goo.gl/Gj8UX  #edtech #blog #edstuff #tcdn
* Joyce Seitzinger ‏@catspyjamasnz
How Twitter is Reinventing Collaboration Among Educators http://zite.to/QvlGjZ  via @zite <- we should have #yam chats @colwar
* Monte Tatom ‏@drmmtatom
How To Properly Integrate Classroom Technology #fhuedu320 #eLearning #fhuedu642 ~ for @MSMatters followers http://tinyurl.com/cv8ywvz
* Monte Tatom ‏@drmmtatom
Think You Can Pass Harvard’s 1869 Entrance Exam? #fhuedu508 #fhuedu320 #fhuedu642 http://tinyurl.com/dykynbx
* Monte Tatom ‏@drmmtatom
11 Reasons Teachers Should Make Their Own Videos #fhuedu320 #eLearning #edtech #fhucid ~ for @MSMatters followers http://tinyurl.com/9owswqe
* Shelly S Terrell ‏@ShellTerrell
Over 50,000 Middle School Activities, Lesson Plans, & Handouts via @coolcatteacher @rickylynne76 #edchat #midleved
* Steve Kwikkel ‏@SKwikkel
My next MiddleMan2012 post is out. It appears I’ve struck a nerve. Interesting DM’a http://middleman2012.wordpress.com/ #edchat #midleved #iowa1to1
Don’t forget #mschat on Thursdays at 8:00 pm EST on Twitter!

Resources:

Eight Things Skilled Teachers Think, Say, and Do

Larry Ferlazzo

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/oct12/vol70/num02/Eight-Things-Skilled-Teachers-Think,-Say,-and-Do.aspx

Mysteries of Vernacular

Clew?
http://www.mysteriesofvernacular.com/

Historical Thinking Matters

Welcome to Historical Thinking Matters, a website focused on key topics in U.S. history, that is designed to teach students how to critically read primary sources and how to critique and construct historical narratives. Read how to use this site.
http://historicalthinkingmatters.org/

How to tell students they are wrong

As a teacher, I have a few ways to say “that’s wrong” without actually saying it. The point isn’t to sanitize the class or soften the critique. For students, they often see the word “wrong” as a gateway to devaluing their own potential, as if their wrong answer determines their competency in the subject. We have to find ways for students to own and play on their mistakes without feeling like they’ll never get it.
http://transformed.teachingquality.org/blogs/future-teaching/09-2012/other-ways-tell-student-they-re-wrong-without-using-word-wrong

 

Web Spotlight:

How Americans Spend Their Money

After two years of falling incomes and penny-pinching, Americans opened their wallets in 2011, ramping up spending on everything from restaurants and clothing to health care. The average level of spending in 2011—$49,705—was the highest since 2008. Below, a breakdown of spending by category and how spending in each category has changed since 2000.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444358804578018823313863636.html

Events & Happenings:

Calendar of Events:

Ohio Middle Level Association:

 

 

 

AMLE Affiliate Conferences:

 

 

 

Classroom 2.0’s Live Calendar.

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

MSM 218: 8675309 Common Core and more!

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

AMLE Feature:

 

Grade levels for K–8; grade bands for 9–10 and 11–12

The Standards use individual grade levels in kindergarten through grade 8 to
provide useful specificity; the Standards use two-year bands in grades 9–12 to
allow schools, districts, and states flexibility in high school course design.

An integrated model of literacy

Although the Standards are divided into Reading, Writing, Speaking and
Listening, and Language strands for conceptual clarity, the processes of
communication are closely connected, as reflected throughout this document.
For example, Writing standard 9 requires that students be able to write
about what they read. Likewise, Speaking and Listening standard 4 sets the
expectation that students will share findings from their research.

Shared responsibility for students’ literacy development

The Standards insist that instruction in reading, writing, speaking, listening,
and language be a shared responsibility within the school. The K–5 standards
include expectations for reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language
applicable to a range of subjects, including but not limited to ELA. The grades
6–12 standards are divided into two sections, one for ELA and the other for
history/social studies, science, and technical subjects. This division reflects the
unique, time-honored place of ELA teachers in developing students’ literacy
skills while at the same time recognizing that teachers in other areas must have
a role in this development as well.
Part of the motivation behind the interdisciplinary approach to literacy
promulgated by the Standards is extensive research establishing the need
for college and career ready students to be proficient in reading complex
informational text independently in a variety of content areas. Most of the
required reading in college and workforce training programs is informational
in structure and challenging in content; postsecondary education programs
typically provide students with both a higher volume of such reading than is
generally required in K–12 schools and comparatively little scaffolding.

http://www.corestandards.org/
Common Core Test Sample:  http://www.p12.nysed.gov/assessment/common-core-sample-questions/ela-grade-7.pdf
Common Core Maps:  http://www.commoncore.org/maps/

Jokes You Can Use:

Q: What do you get when you cross a perm with a rabbit?
A: Curly hare.

1. A day without sunshine is like night.
2. On the other hand, you have different fingers.
3. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.
4. 99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.
5. Remember, half the people you know are below average.
6. He who laughs last; thinks slowest.
7. Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.
8. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap.
9. Support bacteria. They’re the only culture most people have.
10. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
11. Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.
12. If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.
13. How many of you believe in psycho-kinesis? Raise my hand.
14. OK, so what’s the speed of dark?
15. When everything is coming your way, you’re in the wrong lane.
16. Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.
17. How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges?
18. Eagles may soar, but weasels don’t get sucked into jet engines.
19. What happens if you get scared half to death, twice?
20. Why do psychics have to ask you your name?
21. Inside every older person is a younger person wondering, ‘What the heck happened?’
22. Just remember — if the world didn’t suck, we would all fall off.
23. Light travels faster than sound. That’s why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
24. Life isn’t like a box of chocolates. It’s more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your butt tomorrow.

Eileen Award:

None this week  🙁

Advisory:

Open University 60 second Adventures in Thought

http://www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/culture/philosophy/60-second-adventures-thought?track=69508b9e11

Middle School Science Minute

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

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE MINUTE-ICE CUBES, STEM AND 5E
This podcast is based on the article “Should Ice Be Cubed?” written by Richard H. Moyer and Susan A. Everett.  The article can be found in the September 2012 issue of Science Scope magazine, a magazine for middle school science teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association.

All four STEM areas were integrated throughout the 5E lesson as students were engaged, they explored, they developed explanations, they extended their learning and were evaluated.  Science was represented through heat transfer, cooling rates, and melting.  Technology was integrated through the use of the different types of ice cube trays — novelty, giant cube, household, and student built.  The activity allowed students to become engineers by testing three different ice-cube-tray designs.  Finally, the mathematics was used in measuring the surface-area and volume relationships between the ice cubes.

From the Twitterverse:

* Terie Engelbrecht ‏@mrsebiology
Podcasting Legal Guide http://goo.gl/g3F77  #edchat #edtech
* Pearson ‏@pearson
Infographic: The Gamification of Education http://pear.sn/dxLEt
* Scott McLeod ‏@mcleod
RT @JosePopoff: Thank you for blocking YouTube, now I can teach safely. #saidnoteacherever #edtech
* The Joy and Sorrows ‏@TeachersJourney
I teach. What’s your superpower? #satchat
* Kevin J. Galbraith ‏@KevG
Top Apps for PE Teachers – Part 18http://zite.to/QlPl0b

Apple May Have To Cut E-book Prices Within Three Monthshttp://zite.to/OgYIOd

AppCraft tears down tech barriers to let anyone develop iOS apps (and sell them too) http://zite.to/U1oOlf

* BeckyFisher73 ‏@BeckyFisher73
In my district, I can earn recertification points by participating in #satchat. Can you in yours? We value LEARNING & leverage virtual ops
* Reed Gillespie ‏@rggillespie
We’re having a school-wide unconference #edcamp and offering monthly tech days during planning periods. #satchat
* Carol A. Josel ‏@schoolwise
12 Things Students Should Never Do on Social Media http://mashable.com/2012/09/04/students-social-media-warnings/ … via @mashable
* Sue Waters ‏@suewaters
Hey CT!! Waive good bye to NCLB, Wave hello to SPI —

Love photo comp with QR code & tips being run at #kingspark #perth @ Western Australian Botanic Garden http://instagr.am/p/PTJY0tnA-9/

* Eric Sheninger ‏@NMHS_Principal
Advice to a new teacher – Schools of Thought http://buff.ly/QlY1BB  #edchat #education
11h Terie Engelbrecht ‏@mrsebiology
I wish I knew what to do with all my free time. #saidnoteacherever
11h Dean Shareski ‏@shareski
“Love the smell of middle schoolers after gym class” #saidnoteacherever

11h Dean Shareski ‏@shareski
“I don’t like free stuff” #saidnoteacherever
12h Dean Shareski ‏@shareski
“I sure wish we had one more initiative to implement.” #saidnoteacherever

* Eye On Education ‏@eyeoneducation
Top 5 Resources for Teachers from Last Week #edchat #cpchat #edleadership #satchat
* Smarter Balanced ‏@SmarterBalanced
State ed chiefs to discuss #assessments in public session next week in St. Louis. Learn more: #CCSS
* Monte Tatom ‏@drmmtatom
5 Effective Reading Instruction Strategies For Any Grade http://zite.to/NPjxQY  via @zite #fhuedu508
* eInstruction ‏@eInstruction
A step-by-step guide to using Socratic seminars in the classroom #edchat
Todd Bloch ‏@blocht574
Great #mschat last night about Common Core Check out the archive here for great resources and people to follow http://storify.com/ToddBloch/mschat-9-6-12-common-core-state-standards … #edchat

 

Resources:

Periodic Chart

Lots of really great information about elements. Don’t miss the navigation bar on the right. Also includes printables.
http://chemreference.com/

Find the Data

Incredible amounts of data.
http://www.findthedata.org/

Events & Happenings:

Calendar of Events:

Ohio Middle Level Association:

 

 

 

AMLE Affiliate Conferences:

 

 

 

Classroom 2.0’s Live Calendar.

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

MSM 217: Dr. Kristina Doubet & Formative Assessment.

AMLE Feature:

Interview with Dr. Kristina Doubet

“Dr. Kristina Doubet is an Associate Professor of Middle and Secondary Education at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. With over ten years of experience teaching middle and secondary English, she now prepares future middle and high school teachers for careers in the classroom. Dr Doubet completed her M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at The University of Virginia where she studied the impact of differentiated instruction on student performance in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms. Her publications also focus on assessment and differentiated instruction and include AMLE’s, Smart in the Middle: Classrooms that Work for Bright Middle Schoolers (co-authored with Carol Tomlinson). Dr. Doubet works regularly with practicing teachers from all grade levels and content areas as a staff developer for schools/districts implementing initiatives in the areas of Common Core Standards, formative assessment and differentiated instruction.”

Dr. Doubet is cited here:  Differentiation
You can get more of Dr. Doubet from Amazon.com.
Contact info:  doubetkj@jmu.edu
Some Resources:
https://daretodifferentiate.wikispaces.com/file/view/doubet.pdf

Jokes You Can Use:

“The speed of time is one second per second.” – Monsieur Loach

Kulula Airlines.  Real airplane.  Real paint job.  Real funny.  🙂

Eileen Award:

Eric Huff

  • Scoopit:
  • Twitter:  Todd Bloch, Jennifer McFarlane, #mschat, Deanna @ldgermany312, Brian Tonniges @BTonniges, Stephen Davis.
  • Facebook:
  • Google+:  Ciera Robinson, Jennifer Fox,
  • iTunes:
  • eMail:  Patti Kinney (NASSP), Dr. Monte Tatom,

Advisory:

Dollar Artist Sculptures

Challenge your students.
http://dollarartist.com/sculptures.html

SPARK YOUR FUTURE

Discover a career and find the right education.
http://www.insidejobs.com/

Who’s Reading What?

http://mashable.com/2012/08/26/reading-stats-infographic/

Middle School Science Minute

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

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE MINUTE-MATH, SCIENCE AND THE NGSS
This podcast is based on the editorial column of Science Scope Magazine, September, 2012, published by the National Science Teachers Association.  The editor of Science Scope is Inez Liftig.  Her column is entitled, “Editor’s Roundtable.”

Her editorial focused on finding the common ground between math and science.  She cited the commonalities between the eight Practices of Science and Engineering, from the Next Generation Science Standards and the eight Practices of Mathematics outlined in the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.

From the Twitterverse:

* Mary Alise Herrera ‏@maliseherrera
RT @AMLEnews Who Are These Middle School Kids & What Makes Them Tick? via @mmuir #midleved #msadmin, #mschat
* Erin Klein ‏@KleinErin
Student Introduction to ClassDojo (classroom management tool): http://goo.gl/Wemh1  via @youtube cc@ClassDojo
* Angela Maiers ‏@AngelaMaiers
Should My Middle School Student Take Algebra? http://goo.gl/BNjmB  via @SiaKnight
* Scott B. Goldscher ‏@ScottBGoldscher
Ideas For The First Day’s of School – A Resource http://wp.me/p272J7-jr  I kno u started or r startng school.Take a look at these 1st day plns.
* Angela Maiers ‏@AngelaMaiers
Starting a New Gig? Follow the “30-60-90 Plan” http://goo.gl/kHXkg  via @YouTernMark
* Erin Klein ‏@KleinErin
Why Tweet? I was asked by a blog friend why I love Twitter: http://goo.gl/Wg5XD  As an educator, please share your ideas and comments, too.
* Miguel Guhlin ‏@mguhlin
3 Free iPad Timeline Apps for History Students http://dlvr.it/24zBrn
* Maggie Cary ‏@maggiecary
EZ Morning Routines for Heading Back to School:
* Angela Maiers ‏@AngelaMaiers
Teach This! Teaching with lesson plans and ideas that rock 08/27/2012 http://goo.gl/biMHA  via @flatclassroom
* Vicki Davis ‏@coolcatteacher
The Teacher’s Survival Kit for Lesson Planning! Tips & 1000s of Free Lesson Plans via @shellterrell http://vsb.li/MjCAx8
* ABC News ‏@ABC
Harvard Has ‘Culture of Cheating,’ Grad Says http://abcn.ws/TGatKV
* Library of Congress ‏@librarycongress
A new set of historical photos from our collections just added to Flickr: child labor images from the early 1900s. http://blogs.loc.gov/picturethis/2012/08/child-labor-photos-what-do-children-see/ …
* Middle Grades Forum ‏@MGForumSTW
Trimming the Cost of Common-Core Implementation http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/08/29/02murphy.h32.html?tkn=OYMFOzcBh3q6310AxE22BLHM4VBlYrBqBibv&cmp=ENL-EU-VIEWS1 … #mschat #commoncore
* AMLE ‏@AMLEnews
This article offers a great description of the uses of both formative & summative assessment #mschat
* Teachers.Net ‏@TeachersNet
Motivating The Middle Schooler http://teachers.net/gazette/wordpress/jan-fisher/motivating-middle-schooler-by-jan-fisher/ … #mschat #midleveled #edchat #educoach #edadmin #wcpd
Join #mschat on Thursdays at 8:00 pm EST on Twitter!   Todd Bloch ‏@blocht574
Archive of 8-30-12 #mschat Formative Assessment http://wp.me/p1Jl35-1g Great chat check it out if you need to know more about FA

Resources:


TimeMaps

The TimeMap of World History is an all inclusive look at world history. It combines maps, timelines and chronological narratives that work together to enhance historical understanding.
http://www.timemaps.com/

myHistro

MyHistro is the social memory-bank, created on the same foundation of combining maps and timelines as of the one-of-a-kind history site Histrodamus. myHistro is the place where new folk memories are born and personal stories are told. It is for everyone who wants to be known and remembered.
At myHistro you can take control of your personal history and choose what will be fixed in the memories of your family, friends and everyone. Here you can show important moments of your life in a new, attractive format – perfect for telling stories!
But myHistro is much more than just personal memories. Some myHistro users create stories about their family and ancestors, other people do the same about their idols – singers, actors, sportsmen or even politicians. And many are using myHistro to plan their future – from their next vacation to full-scale life or career planning – and with myHistro, they can share these plans with closest friends.
For sports clubs it is novel fan-channel, for writers it is a great test ground to frame their next novel, for teachers, myHistro is interactive workbook and for journalists, it’s a’-brand new way to map and illustrate their stories.
myHistro is not just another social site, it is a whole new way of telling stories and worth every second of your time!
http://www.myhistro.com/

The Parent Rap

A little fun for teachers who are parents.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=N_NspDWssIY#!

For Those Who Want to Lead, Read

by John Coleman  |  10:00 AM August 15, 2012
Even as global literacy rates are high (84%), people are reading less and less deeply.
But deep, broad reading habits are often a defining characteristic of our greatest leaders and can catalyze insight, innovation, empathy, and personal effectiveness.
Note how many business titans are or have been avid readers.
Reading can also make you more effective in leading others. Reading increases verbal intelligence (PDF), making a leader a more adept and articulate communicator. Reading novels can improve empathy and understanding of social cues, allowing a leader to better work with and understand others — traits that author Anne Kreamer persuasively linked to increased organizational effectiveness, and to pay raises and promotions for the leaders who possessed these qualities. And any business person understands that heightened emotional intelligence will improve his or her leadership and management ability.
http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/08/for_those_who_want_to_lead_rea.html

ISTE:

Combining Social Studies and Language Arts

Sandra Wozniak

Share Resources: livebinders.com and search: ISTE 2012
tregoED
Ok, this lady is awesome. She is SOOOOOO middle school! Love her energy and her teaching style.

Who are you?

She is Sandra Wozniak.

She teaches in New Jersey. Who am I?

Not related to Steve (better dancer) 33 years in the classroom

Students help develop the SCAN tool. I’ve been around so long . . . . .

She works with a company that makes decision and analytic tools to large corporations.

The corporation wants to market it to schools. Her colleagues think she’s Yoda. (blabberize.com) Her students think she’s Betty White.

Her children think she’s ridiculous.


Did you hear a click?

Webcam 101 for Seniors. It’s all in your perspective.

Teaching deeper thinking. It’s not about the tools.

It’s about the learning: addressing, integrating and embedding literacy, 21st century skills, and media, info, network, and intercultural literacy in your content area.
Who owns history?

“2.0 tools without content are like coco puffs-kid’s go cuckoo for it , but it doesn’t have much nutritional value.”

Use online dicsussion platforms and tools to build in the nutrition. Y? Why use social media?

1. Kids like them
2. Practice citizenship
3. Promotes Equity.
4. Increase participation
5. Get kids to see other perspectives.

www.tregoED.org

How to construct a SCAN lesson template:  http://www.tregoed.org/dashboard/new-scan-lesson.html

Sample from TregoED:

ISTE-SIGMS Innovative Technology Award Winner:

“Who Owns History”

Integrating Language Arts, Social Studies and Technology by:
Cynthia Cassidy and Michelle Cook, Mt. Olive Middle School, Budd Lake, NJ

Who owns history? This essential question was posed to 6th grade language arts students by media specialist Cynthia Cassidy, and classroom teacher Michelle Cook. Ms. Cook and Ms. Cassidy used technology to build upon a recent social studies unit on ancient civilizations to develop “voice” and “point of view” in writing, while also practicing active reading strategies with non-fiction.

With these objectives in mind, the pair designed a web-based interactive unit requiring students to confront the question: “Who owns history?” To help students tackle this, they spotlighted the debate on whether ancient antiquities should be returned to Egypt. Serendipitously timed with the Egyptian revolution, Egyptian “voices” came alive as students took on the role of four different stakeholders involved in the issue.

The teachers used a variety of online tools to build a weeklong project based around the SCAN tool, which is available at TregoED.org ($45 teacher subscription rate). SCAN incorporates critical thinking strategies in a Facebook-like interface. Each lesson allows students to role-play, discuss, clarify and develop a perspective-based action plan. Ms. Cassidy and Ms. Cook created a SCAN lesson, entitled Egyptian Artifacts: Finders, Keepers? The lesson, complete with links to various international articles and videos, was utilized with five different classes (136 students).

The unit began with a class discussion of the essential question. After the discussion, the teachers motivated students by using an online link organizer at Livebinder.com to show news and video clips that introduced the various issues involved. The teachers also used the clips to review the writing trait of “voice” and “point of view”. Students then visited five “reading centers” where they practiced their active reading strategies with non-fiction texts while completing graphic organizers on the SMART board.

Once students had the necessary background knowledge, the teachers reviewed the rubric on “voice” and directed students to the media center where they worked with the SCAN tool. Once students created a screen name and picked an avatar, they had to select one point of view: U.S. archeologist, Director of Egyptian Antiquities, Egyptian citizen, or U.S. museum director.

Students used reading strategies to review supplemental resources. Once empathetic to their perspective, students joined the interface where they communicated in the voice of their character. Students practiced civil discourse and true collaboration to develop a plan to address the issues.

Following the SCAN sessions, students performed a self-assessment and reflection. To conclude, students used graphic organizers to synthesize the information gathered during the sessions and compose a persuasive essay written from their personal point of view.

STE-SIGMS Innovative Technology Award Winner: 2 “Who Owns History”
Integrating Language Arts, Social Studies and Technology by:
Cynthia Cassidy and Michelle Cook, Mt. Olive Middle School, Budd Lake, NJ

The project meets the following standards:

ISTE.NETS for Students: 1-6

American Association of School Librarians Standards for the 21st Century Learner: 1.1.1, 1.1.7- 1.1.9, 1.3.2, 1.3.4, 1.3.5, 1.4.2, 2.1.1, 2.1.3, 2.1.5-6, 3.1.6, 4.3.1, 4.3.4.

Common Core English/Language Arts Standards:
Writing 6-12: Gr.6.1, 6.2, 6.4, 6.6, 6.9
Reading 6-12:Gr. 6.2, 6.6, 6.7
Reading and Writing for Informational Text 6-12: Gr.6.6 Speaking and Listening Skills: Gr.6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.6

21st Century Skills New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards: 9.1.8.A.1-4, 9.1.8.B1-2, 9.1.8.D.1, 9.1.8.D.3-4.

STE-SIGMS Innovative Technology Award Winner: 3 “Who Owns History”
Integrating Language Arts, Social Studies and Technology by:
Cynthia Cassidy and Michelle Cook, Mt. Olive Middle School, Budd Lake, NJ

Part 2

Trained in the Understanding by Design framework, teachers at Mount Olive Middle School are encouraged to use instructional strategies and plan learning experiences that bring about enduring understandings. As a result of the common planning time allotted by the district’s administration, meaningful, interdisciplinary units are frequently planned. These units often employ the expertise of the full-time media specialist who is an active participant in team and department meetings. The media specialist’s invaluable expertise and talents are decisive to the integration of various forms of technology and research into unit plans.

By fostering a school culture that embraces innovation, the administration supports teachers as they pilot new, inventive learning experiences. This support makes it possible for teachers to research, assemble resources, and collaborate, ensuring the smooth implementation of authentic learning experiences. As a result, students are excited about learning and prove it through their achievement.

STE-SIGMS Innovative Technology Award Winner: 4 “Who Owns History”
Integrating Language Arts, Social Studies and Technology by:
Cynthia Cassidy and Michelle Cook, Mt. Olive Middle School, Budd Lake, NJ

Part 3

The SCAN tool encourages students to become active and reflective decision makers on various developmental levels. Because of differing cognitive levels, activity modifications were necessary. During the activity, we discovered that students struggled to accurately type the lengthy URL address. Thus, we created a direct link to the activity by using tiny.url.com. This shortened link was particularly helpful for our special needs learners.

To further maximize student learning, teachers could make additional modifications. One modification could address the reading levels of all supplemental articles. Applicable articles of varying reading levels would ensure that students reading below grade level would not toil with comprehension. Conversely, gifted students could be accommodated with articles composed of more advanced arguments. With these varying levels, the supplied graphic organizers could be differentiated to help organize new information.

To help other staff members, we suggest adding an additional day to review the arguments more thoroughly. Students would be more knowledgeable about every point of view, and could make more informed decisions about their stance. To more formally assess students, teachers could incorporate an online poll (www.polleverywhere.com ) before and after the project to see how students’ opinions were influenced by the discussion.

Further, if teaching the writing trait of “voice,” teachers could provide a mini-lesson on using concise language for each point of view. For example, students could create a list of powerful verbs that Dr. Hawass might use when constructing his argument. This list could act as a reference during in the SCAN session.

Moreover, educators could utilize the “Think, Pair, Share” technique during the activity. With this technique, students could brainstorm with other students while still being individually accountable for their own work. Additionally, if a child is absent, he or she could still complete the entire activity.

Members of the global community could also get involved with this project. Since the lesson is web-based, sharing the URL with interested parties at other schools, local senior centers, or related organizations could create a unique experience. By using the SCAN tool, students can truly enter a classroom without walls.

STE-SIGMS Innovative Technology Award Winner: 5 “Who Owns History”
Integrating Language Arts, Social Studies and Technology by:
Cynthia Cassidy and Michelle Cook, Mt. Olive Middle School, Budd Lake, NJ

Part 4:

The impact of this project was astounding. Typically, on traditional projects, Ms. Cook will have approximately 85% of students complete all of the assigned work, sometimes reluctantly. For this unit, however, Ms. Cook had a 99% total completion rate. Unlike an oral class discussion that may be monopolized by a minority of students, the online tool using screen names and avatars elicited full participation. In fact, many students went above and beyond the requirements. Some students wrote fifteen comments instead of the required three, while others came up with four action plans, rather than two.

Additionally, because the SCAN tool provides a “teacher’s view” that gave us a full transcript of student discussion, we were able to use the provided rubric on “voice” to quickly assess and provide feedback to the students. This transcript gave us concrete evidence of the scope and quality of participation of all students during the discussion. The built-in teacher’s view also allowed us to monitor the ongoing discussion in real time for netiquette and content, ensuring that all students were on-task at all times.

Additionally, the students’ self-assessments and reflections (see attached examples) show how students achieved the language arts learning objectives while practicing 21st century skills. The graphic organizers for the final essays constructed by the students prove that the students understood the various points of view, analyzed all of the issues involved in the problem, and were able to construct a valid argument that was substantiated by textual support.

Overall, we found that even our most reluctant students and students with significant disabilities, such as Autism and disgraphia, were active contributors during the SCAN sessions. The SCAN tool gave these students the ability to work at their own pace without the pressure of the attention of their peers.

During the week, students were overheard commenting that they “love SCAN!” and “can’t wait to come back tomorrow to do this again.” Students were fully engaged and had to be prodded to logoff the computers at the end of the class period. As they were gently nudged out the door, many still debated their perspective. Some students even asked if they could access the activity from home because they were afraid they would miss something if they didn’t read all the comments. How often do students ask the teachers for homework? But the most telling comment of all was made by a small group of students who wondered why “Mrs. Cook isn’t making us do any language arts!” They were so engrossed in the activity that they didn’t even realize they were practicing and applying their reading and writing skills!

News:


Limits to Time on Task


http://www.joebower.org/2012/08/limits-of-time-on-task.html

Web Spotlight:

Teacher’s Ultimate Digital Kit

Online PD for teachers who are learning to teach with technology.  There’s a great one on using QR codes in the classroom . . .

Events & Happenings:

Calendar of Events:

Ohio Middle Level Association:




AMLE Affiliate Conferences:




Classroom 2.0’s Live Calendar.


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

MSM 212: ISTE Redux, Redux (or Take 2!)

AMLE Feature: Scheduling

Scheduling:
Key Principles:

  • There are two drivers to the schedule: bus and lunch.
  • Everything else can be adjusted. Don’t be locked into “this is how we’ve always done it”.
  • Decide what you want to “solve”. There is no perfect schedule.
  • Look at multiple days.

Prep for teachers to move to a new schedule?
Routine?

AMLE Resource:

  1. http://www.amle.org/Publications/OnTarget/BlockScheduling/tabid/296/Default.aspx
  2. http://www.amle.org/portals/0/pdf/publications/On_Target/scheduling/scheduling_5.pdf
  3. Research Rationale:  http://www.amle.org/Research/ResearchSummaries/FlexibleScheduling/tabid/1140/Default.aspx

Can’t access some of the articles on AMLE?  Become a member!
Contact:  middleschooleducators@gmail.com

Jokes You Can Use:

Puns:

  • How does Moses make his tea? Hebrews it.
  • I changed my iPod’s name to Titanic. It’s syncing now.
  • I know a guy who’s addicted to brake fluid. He says he can stop any time.

Middle School Chemistry Theme Song (this one’s for Dave):

  • Sodium-Sodium-Sodium-Sodium-Sodium-Sodium-Sodium-Sodium-Batman!

On Our Mind:

Highland Park Public Schools Sued:  

http://t.co/UylIRygp

81,904 4th graders (note: number is the entire state of MI, not just Highland Park) still not proficient in Reading.  (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012)


David Gornto- Nice work. Let us know how the kids react.

Thought about using Google Docs for your script then copy/paste into your blog as a transcript?  Up for screencasting like Camtasia?  Me either.  Not yet.


Eileen Award:


  • Scoopit:  Jennifer Mangler
  • Twitter:  Valia Reinsalu, Pora Ora,
  • Facebook:  Jennifer McAvoy-Anteau (liked a link on FB)
  • iTunes:

Advisory:

The 11 Ways That Consumers Are Hopeless at Math

This is your brain on shopping, and it’s not very smart.
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/07/the-11-ways-that-consumers-are-hopeless-at-math/259479/

Middle School Science Minute

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

The Summer, 2012 edition of Science Scope, a magazine for middle school science teachers produced by the National Science Teachers Association, featured an article entitled “Book Your Summer Vacation.”  The article was written by Juliana Texley.  In this podcast, three books from the article are featured.  They include:
Stories in Stone: Travels Through Urban Geology, by David B. Williams
The Visitor’s Guide to American Gardens, by Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
Concrete Planet, by Robert Courland
All of the books can be found at:
http://nsta.org/store

From the Twitterverse:

* Scott McLeod ‏@mcleod
Two Thirds of New Mobile Buyers Now Opting For Smartphones | Nielsen Wire Implications for #edtech!
* Stephanie Sandifer ‏@ssandifer
Lecture As Content Delivery Is Dead | The Thinking Stick | @scoopit
* HP Teacher Exchange ‏@HPTeachExchange
Is the Cell Phone the New Pencil? #k12 #education
* Miguel Guhlin ‏@mguhlin
How I’m Using My iPad in a Classroom of 30 StudentSample http://dlvr.it/1rVbxm
* Cheryl Lykowski ‏@CLykowski
Web 2.0 for the Under 13s crowd http://zite.to/KVBztA via @zite
* Tim Wilhelmus ‏@twilhelmus
Tools for Building your PLN http://www.livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit/207036 #EVSCREV12
* Will Richardson ‏@willrich45
Thinking: The central question is no longer “Why do we need schools?” It’s “Why do we WANT schools?”
* Vicki Davis ‏@coolcatteacher
URGENT: Check to see if your email was leaked here, if so change password NOW! http://vsb.li/Gl2KAX #edchat
* CAMLE ‏@camlecolorado
Persuasive Writing is a Key Focus in Common Core Standards http://www.edutopia.org/blog/common-core-standards-persuasive-writing-heather-wolpert-gawron #midleved
* TeacherVision ‏@TeacherVision
Did you get today’s FREE creative writing printable about time travel and ancient Rome? Happy #FreebieFriday. #midleved
5 Jul Terie Engelbrecht ‏@mrsebiology
Curriculum Applications for Podcasting: http://goo.gl/EMshO #edchat #edtech #midleved #elemchat

Ideas for Podcasting in the Classroom: http://goo.gl/v9oyX #edchat #edtech #midleved #elemchat

* Kris Nielsen ‏@klnielsen74
This series is complete, albeit out of order. Whatcha think? What Middle School Students Need From Us http://mgmfocus.com/category/what-they-need-from-us-series/ #midleved #edchat
* Scott McLeod ‏@mcleod
New bookmark: Differentiating Instruction Through Interactive Games

DangIrrel: Want students to be more creative and innovative? Give them the gift of time. [VIDEO] #edtech #edtechlead

* Ginger Lewman ‏@GingerLewman
My newest livebinder: Apps for the PBL Classroom http://www.livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit/444394 #PBLchat #nagc #confratute
* P. F. Anderson ‏@pfanderson
SecondLife competitor Blue Mars drops PC development for Apple’s iOS http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/16/second-life-competitor-blue-mars-drops-pc-development-for-apple/ #vw

ISTE:

iPad Flipped Classroom:
Troy’s notes from ISTE.

Half-Baked Idea:

A “school only” cell phone
Ingredients:
1.  Cheap cell phone (www.pandawill.com & cheapest available at this posting:  F8 Quad Band Phone Dual SIM)
2.  Google phone number and app
3.  Optional:  Pay-As-You-Go card (H20)  

Web Spotlight:


Homograph/Homophone Venn Diagram

If, like me, you have difficulty remembering the difference between homophones,homographs, homonyms, heterographs, and heteronyms, you should find this WikipediaVenn diagram useful.
http://www.englishblog.com/2012/07/homographhomophone-venn-diagram.html

Events & Happenings:

Calendar of Events:

Ohio Middle Level Association:




AMLE Affiliate Conferences:




Classroom 2.0’s Live Calendar.


Conference with iPad

So for ISTE 2012, I didn’t bring a laptop. Rather, I’m relying on my iPad and iPhone only.
Here are some of my thoughts:

Pros:
• Light weight. I really, really like not carrying around the 6 pound laptop.
• Ability to quickly capture audio, images and notes. Audio is kept in sync with the text.
• Flexibility. I use an external keyboard. Being able to just put my keyboard in my lap and set the iPad on the chair (next to or in front of me) or on the floor (in my bag) is very handy. Feels much less cumbersome. Barriers do make a difference. This is a much, much lower barrier.
• Battery life. It is AWESOME to not have to worry about finding a plug. It’s also nice to not have to constantly calculate how much longer before you need to find an outlet.

Cons:
• I usually take my notes and combine them into a “booklet”. To do this, I utilize Headings and other styles. This is not available on my notetaking software that I’m using. Thus, I’ll have to take some time when I get back to pull the notes together.

MSM 210: What’s Wrong With The Teenage Mind . . . ?

 AMLE Feature:

No specific AMLE Feature this week. Look for more to come.

Jokes You Can Use:

Boss: I’ve noticed that you go out and get your haircut during work hours.

Employee: It grows during work hours.

Boss: It also grows during non-work hours.

Employee: I didn’t get it all cut.

 

What did the leftovers say when put into the freezer?

Foiled again.

 

What’s another name for a nursery?

Bawlroom.

 

Eileen Award:

 

  • Annie Murphy Paul
  • Alise Herrara
  • Joe Webb
  • Sara Davenport Sisk

Advisory:

World of Coins

http://twentytwowords.com/2012/06/09/a-world-map-made-of-the-worlds-coins/

 

Food Tweeting Around the World

http://foodmood.in/

Challenges

http://twentytwowords.com/2012/06/11/10-bets-youll-always-win-unless-the-other-bettor-has-seen-this-video-too/

 

Fun with Visual Charades and Narrated Slideshows Based on Fairy Tales

In their recently published article, “Five-Picture Charades: A Flexible Model for Technology Training in Digital Media Tools and Teaching Strategies,” in the journal Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, Curby Alexander and Tom Hammond present a persuasive case for using “visual charades” as a learning activity with students involving media and creativity.

http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2012/06/06/fun-with-visual-charades-and-narrated-slideshows-based-on-fairy-tales-edtech4u/

Middle School Science Minute  

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

 

In the Spring Edition of “Green Teacher,” Emily Harris wrote an article entitled, “Fostering Students’ Water Wisdom.”  The purpose of the article was to bring water awareness into the classroom and contribute to a better global future.

 

She says that teachers play a vital role in helping foster an early appreciation of this most precious resource.  For this reason, WaterCan developed curriculum resources in both English and French which can be freely downloaded from the “Water Wisdom Portal” at:

http://www.watercan.com/students

 

She then goes on to share one of her favorite lesson plans for 7th – 8th grade students, entitled “Water Around the World.”  This class project introduces students to water usage, and to data gathering and analysis.

 

Dave’s Water Cycle Song:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw275056JtA

 

Hey Dave, what do you think about this?  

“Voyager 1 Spaceship to Break Out of Solar System, Into Outer Spacehttp://abcn.ws/N0eYA8”  

From the Twitterverse:

Stephanie Sandifer @ssandifer

#ISTE12 Daily #edtech is out! http://bit.ly/irlKEQ ▸ Top stories today via
@MfgStories @TinaKotlarek

Terie Engelbrecht @mrsebiology

CoboCards: http://goo.gl/izGkb Free online flashcard making site #edchat #edtech
#elearning

Jerry Blumengarten @cybraryman1

My Parent Involvement – Engagement sites: http://tinyurl.com/48yvpey #Satchat

Terie Engelbrecht @mrsebiology

Infogram: http://goo.gl/ZO4xJ Web tool to create infographics #edchat #edtech
#elearning

Diane Ravitch @DianeRavitch

Why do some school districts have to be reformed and saved again and again?
http://dianeravitch.net/2012/05/18/289/

tomshepp @tomshepp

21 Map Creation Tools for Students and Teachers http://flpbd.it/P5apj #edtech
#elearning

Mental Floss @mental_floss

25 Brand Names People Incorrectly Use as Generic Terms — http://goo.gl/edBLf

CharlieTravers 4‏@TimeTravel

Great free education resources on #Myresourcecloud http://www.myresourcecloud.net
#edtools #edchat #elt #esl #homeschool

ninok eyiz @eyizibra

“@DianeRavitch: Student test scores are not a measure of great teachers. Unless you are
a Pearson stockholder. #greatteachers” #fb

Lucy Gray @elemenous

Checking out “For ISTE Attendees: Global Education Summit Update” http://ning.it/Nvex3b
#globaled12

Brenda Dyck @bdyck

Very worth reading: A Memorial Day Lesson in Citizenship
http://speedchange.blogspot.ca/2012/05/memorial-day-lesson-in-citizenship.html?m=1
@drcarlapeck

Ian Jukes @ijukes

Job Outlook and Starting Salaries for New Grads http://bit.ly/NuYSAU

ABC News @ABC

13 Hidden Airline Rules http://abcn.ws/MEMgAH

Smhearty @Smhearty

Report: Apple Prepping Separate Podcast App — AppAdvice http://zite.to/KAmdR0 via
@zite

Same3Guys.com @Same3Guys

Apple launching Podcast app with iOS 6 http://ow.ly/bCBaQ Is this good or bad for podcast
creators?

 News:

Thompson: The Humiliation Of High-Stakes Standardized Testing

Virtually all of my students volunteered accounts of the testing indignities that have been dumped on them, but I am particularly haunted by Jeremy, as I will call him.  This brilliant Native American gave into depression when stakes were attached to weekly benchmark assessments, meaning that half of class time was lost to testing.  In my non-tested class, Jeremy would periodically wave a standardized math or English test that he was supposed to have turned in for a grade.  “This is what they think of us,” he would moan. Like nearly 40%  of that semester’s sophomores, Jeremy dropped out was driven out by the test prep which drove out teaching and learning.

http://scholasticadministrator.typepad.com/thisweekineducation/2012/06/thompson-pearson-anti-testing-rally-illuminates-the-essence-of-bubble-in-testing.html 

Future Shock

I’ll have more to say on the iPad later but one can’t help being struck by the volume and vehemence of apparently technologically sophisticated people inveighing against the iPad.

http://speirs.org/blog/2010/1/29/future-shock.html

 

Computers Grade Essays Fast … But Not Always Well

by MOLLY BLOOM

 

Imagine a school where every child gets instant, personalized writing help for a fraction of the cost of hiring a human teacher — and where a computer, not a person, grades a student’s essays.

Perelman says any student who can read can be taught to score very highly on a machine-graded test.

Shermis ran the Gettysburg Address through one of the earlier-generation computer grading programs, one usually used to evaluate the writing abilities of college freshmen.

Suffice it to say, Abe did not ace the test.

The computer graders he uses give students instant feedback on every draft. Pence says there’s no way he and his red teacher’s pen could do that. And quicker responses, he says, lead to more writing.

“The quantity drives the quality up,” Pence says. “It’s kind of the old bicycle thing — the best way to learn how to ride a bicycle is to ride a bicycle. And the best way to get better at writing is to write and receive consistent, timely feedback.”

http://www.npr.org/2012/06/07/154452475/computers-grade-essays-fast-but-not-always-well?ft=1&f=1019

 

What’s Wrong With the Teenage Mind?

 

“What was he thinking?” It’s the familiar cry of bewildered parents trying to understand why their teenagers act the way they do.

How does the boy who can thoughtfully explain the reasons never to drink and drive end up in a drunken crash? Why does the girl who knows all about birth control find herself pregnant by a boy she doesn’t even like? What happened to the gifted, imaginative child who excelled through high school but then dropped out of college, drifted from job to job and now lives in his parents’ basement?

What happens when children reach puberty earlier and adulthood later? The answer is: a good deal of teenage weirdness.

Becoming an adult means leaving the world of your parents and starting to make your way toward the future that you will share with your peers. Puberty not only turns on the motivational and emotional system with new force, it also turns it away from the family and toward the world of equals.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203806504577181351486558984.html

 

Tools:

Quipper

Quipper produces entertaining and educational quiz apps. We also allows users to create their own apps! Also available on iOS and Android.

http://www.quipper.com/ 

 

Go Class

GoClass is a teaching application for tablet devices that redefines the boundaries of computing in the classroom. Connect with your students like never before, customize and fine-tune your lesson plans on the fly, engage students in new ways and continuously evaluate their understanding while you are in class.

By enriching existing methodologies – rather than replacing them – GoClass empowers you to build on your teaching experience while engaging students in a 21st century learning environment.

*NOTE: They have rights to all materials. 

http://www.goclass.com/guestapp/index.aspx 

Resources:

50 Summer Learning Activities for Kids

Common Sense Media has produced a 16 page guide to summer learning activities.

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2012/06/50-summer-learning-activities-for-kids.html

 

 Summer Reading List

Summer, with its steady supply of barbecues, picnics, parties, and other heavy doses of sociality, makes the need for a well-timed antidote of solitude more urgent than any other season, and what better solitary escape than a good book? It’s time for the annual Brain Pickings summer reading list for cognitive sunshine. Gathered here, in no particular order, are 10 recent and forthcoming books to infuse your season’s well-measured you-moments with a wealth of cross-disciplinary stimulation.

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/06/11/summer-reading-list-2012/

Web Spotlight:

TIMMS/PISA vs. Entrepreneural Spirit:  

http://zhaolearning.com/2012/06/06/test-scores-vs-entrepreneurship-pisa-timss-and-confidence/

 

Events & Happenings:

Calendar of Events:

Ohio Middle Level Association:

 

 

 

AMLE Affiliate Conferences:

 

 

 

Classroom 2.0’s Live Calendar.

MSM 209: AMLE Feature Presentation . . . Popcorn Please!

AMLE Feature:

Today, join us for a interview with Todd Williamson. Director of Technology and Science for Carteret County Schools, MiddleTalk contributor, and NCMSA Technology Specialist.

  • Science Experiment
  • Tech-in-20 Series
  • Math and Science Portal
  • ISTE?

Jokes You Can Use:

Sign in a business:

 We understand that your phone call is important. 

So, we will not interrupt by serving you when you are on the phone. 

 

  RUTH BUZZI ‏@Ruth_A_Buzzi

Cats inherently dislike water. That explains why so many turn to alcohol. #HappyCATurday

 

On Our Mind:  

Eileen Award:   

  • Facebook:  Julie Smith Flack
  • Twitter:  John Winsor, US School Counselors, Microsoft TeachTec
  • Special Guest:  Todd Williamson

Advisory:

How big is your city?

http://twentytwowords.com/2012/06/07/how-big-is-l-a-at-least-8-other-major-u-s-cities-could-fit-inside-it/

 

Middle School Science Minute  

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

 

In the Spring Edition of “Green Teacher,” Emily Harris wrote an article entitled, “Fostering Students’ Water Wisdom.”  The purpose of the article was to bring water awareness into the classroom and contribute to a better global future.

She says that teachers play a vital role in helping foster an early appreciation of this most precious resource.  For this reason, WaterCan developed curriculum resources in both English and French which can be freely downloaded from the “Water Wisdom Portal” at:

http://www.watercan.com/students

 

She then goes on to share one of her favorite lesson plans for 5th – 6th grade students, entitled “Water Alive!”  This is a research based activity designed to help generate an understanding about the universal dependence on water, through the “eyes” of an African animal.

 

From the Twitterverse:

Jerry Blumengarten @cybraryman1

My Organization pages: http://tinyurl.com/4u2ku8m Many teachers need help being
better organized. #SATchat
Admins: Never lose sight of the fact of how hard it is to be in the classroom & all that
teachers have to deal with. Support #satchat

Scott McLeod @mcleod

Use Technology to Upend Traditional Classrooms http://bit.ly/MrVUuu #edtech
Deming: Vast majority of problems we have with individual employees are attributable
to the work systems in which they’re embedded #satchat
RT @mandery: A1 Ineffective teachers teach in isolation. #satchat
a. Lack of effective feedback loops (from ‘above’ & ‘below’) contributes to teacher
ineffectiveness #satchat
b. Failure of systems to articulate/implement new vision of learning/teaching also
contributes to teacher ineffectiveness #satchat
New bookmark: Redefining Instruction With Technology: Five Essential Steps
http://bit.ly/LcUzGN

pammoran @pammoran

Irish kids get diff kind of state exam than US kids- thinking & writing analytically abt
geography – not MC items http://j.mp/KVjlfl

Tweeter of Wit @TweeterofWit

“@sccenglish: Choosing your summer reading: a flowchart from @Teachdotcom –
http://www.sccenglish.ie/2012/06/summer-reading-flowchart.html”

Sirius @ButSiriuslyFlks

@TeacherSabrina I feel I was a better teacher 10 years ago when I had creative
freedom. Now, I’m a skill-and-drill teacher b/c I have to be.

Miguel Guhlin @mguhlin

iPaddiction: 8 Burning Questions About iPads in Class (Answered!)
http://dlvr.it/1hWFrq

jennyluca @jennyluca

“@rgesthuizen: Sad when we don’t know how hard it is to be a teacher today. Good article
TheAge
http://m.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/baillieu-has-no-idea-how-teachers-work-20120605-1
zu5x.html @NedManning’s article

TenMarks Education @TenMarks

What I Wish I’d Done Before Deploying iPads to 735 Middle Schoolers, Pt 2
http://bit.ly/KlOcix via @tericeschneider #tichat #edchat #5thchat

John Norton @middleweb

We’re about to launch the new MiddleWeb. Get a sneak peek & find out about the great
content. http://bit.ly/LaghJ1 #midleved #elemchat @amle
What’s new on the site? “ . . . [O]ur launch will include original pieces by Rick Wormeli,
Nancy Flanagan, Jose Vilson, Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach, Chris Toy, Marsha Ratzel, Elena
Aguilar, Bill Ivey and other insightful middle grades minds.”

Terie Engelbrecht @mrsebiology

What a zero really says by @cherraolthof: http://goo.gl/iV3rT #edchat #midleved

News:

 

Teacher tenure: a Fairfax schools firing case

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/teacher-tenure-a-fairfax-schools-firing-case/2012/06/02/gJQAVt4l9U_story.html 

 

Resources:

 

KanBan2Go

kanban2go is an ‘app’ that can help you get work done by organizing your tasks in simple notes on a Kanban board. You can access kanban2go via your browser through most Internet connected devices – PCs, Macs, iPads, Android tablets, Windows tablets, iPhones, Android phones and Windows phones.

It is free for now. We haven’t figured out what to charge you yet :). Don’t worry. We’ll give you at least a 30 day notice if we decide to charge you a small sum to keep the lights on. And you have the option to take your data with you anytime you want to cancel your account.

https://kanban2go.com/

 

ScrollKit

A website builder that works more like drawing. No coding required.

https://www.scrollkit.com/

Web Spotlight:

The Greatest Teacher I Had in College

by Vicki Davis

I will never forget my meanest, toughest professor:Dr. Phil Adler at Georgia Tech. Everyone knew that he was hard. He taught Socratically (by asking questions)and his track record was the best.

http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2012/06/greatest-teacher-i-had-in-college.html

 

BookType

Write, collaborate, publish.

Booktype is a free, open source platform that allows organisations and communities to produce beautiful, engaging books formatted for print, Amazon, iBooks and almost any ereader within minutes.

Use collaborative editing, live chat and messaging tools to engage proofreaders, editors and contributors and keep track through individual book histories, versions, clones, editing permissions and license management.

Booktype’s powerful, quick output to pdf, epub, mobi, odt and html will export books ready for Amazon, iBooks, Lulu.com and other print-on-demand or ebook stores. Build a community around your content with social tools and use the reach of mobile, tablet and ebook technology to engage new audiences.

Booktype is installed and hosted on your server so all content belongs to you. Not only can you give any book any license you wish, but you are free to distribute where and how you wish without restriction. No platform or data lock-in, no hidden fees, no sneaky reselling costs, no restrictive service agreements.

Booktype does not require you to transfer any of your content rights to Sourcefabric. It’s your content, not ours. Booktype does not make revenues from your content through any sales. it’s your money not ours. Total publishing choice, total publishing control.

You can use Booktype in a closed business environment for the production of inhouse materials, online for the production of open educational resources, or on the ‘open web’ for community based production – and any point in between.

Booktype’s use cases extend far and beyond the selling of books. It allows organisations of all sizes to use books to open up new revenue streams and reach new audiences through education, documentation, promotion and content reuse.

http://www.sourcefabric.org/en/booktype/

 

4 Great & Free Museum Apps to Teach your Students (or to simply enjoy!)

If you want to learn about art through the centuries, there is probably no better place than one of the great museums. But of course, if you are not living in Paris, London, New York you need to travel and you rarely have an excibition that brings together all great masterpieces of a certain artist.

Well, the next best thing might be one (or all) of the free apps below and visit the museum on a virtual trip.

http://www.edukwest.com/4-great-free-museum-apps-to-teach-your-students-or-to-simply-enjoy/

 

Events & Happenings:

Calendar of Events:

Ohio Middle Level Association:

 

AMLE Affiliate Conferences:

 

Classroom 2.0’s Live Calendar.

MSM 207 Hanging Out

Jokes You Can Use:

All visual jokes today.  (Go see the Google+ recording.)  

On Our Mind:

Kathy Hunt-Ullock 1951-2012
AMLE Remarks:  “Kathy Hunt-Ullock passed away on Saturday, May 19, surrounded by family and friends. She was a well-loved member of the AMLE family, developing friendships along the way as she espoused doing what’s best for middle grades students. She will be greatly missed by all of us in the middle level education community.”
Kathy’s Website

Virtual Presentations:

MiddleTalk:  9 Dangerous Things & Book Club this summer

9 Dangerous things you were taught in school:
1. The people in charge have all the answers.
That’s why they are so wealthy and happy and healthy and powerful—ask any teacher.

2. Learning ends when you leave the classroom.
Your fort building, trail forging, frog catching, friend making, game playing, and drawing won’t earn you any extra credit. Just watch TV.

3. The best and brightest follow the rules.
You will be rewarded for your subordination, just not as much as your superiors, who, of course, have their own rules.

4. What the books say is always true.
Now go read your “world is flat” chapter. There will be a test.

5. There is a very clear, single path to success.
It’s called college. Everyone can join the top 1% if they do well enough in school and ignore the basic math problem inherent in that idea.

6. Behaving yourself is as important as getting good marks.
Whistle-blowing, questioning the status quo, and thinking your own thoughts are no-nos. Be quiet and get back on the assembly line.

7. Standardized tests measure your value.
By value, I’m talking about future earning potential, not anything else that might have other kinds of value.

8. Days off are always more fun than sitting in the classroom.
You are trained from a young age to base your life around dribbles of allocated vacation. Be grateful for them.

9. The purpose of your education is your future career.
And so you will be taught to be a good worker. You have to teach yourself how to be something more.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jessicahagy/2012/05/02/nine-dangerous-things-you-were-taught-in-school/2/

 

Eileen Award:

  • Twitter People:  Gary Johnston, Jeff Trudell, Aric Haley, Michael Jones, Connect Michigan (Michigan Public Service Commission), and @HeyLeeAnn!

Advisory:

New Computer Algorithm Knows Your Phony Smile [VIDEO]

Can you tell whether a smile is real or not?
http://mashable.com/2012/05/25/algorithm-smile/

Middle School Science Minute

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

In the April/May, 2012 issue of Science Scope, a publication of the National Science Teachers Association, two articles dealt with the topic of misconceptions

In the first article, “Misunderstanding Misconceptions,” Page Keeley defines the term misconceptions.  In the second article, “Investigating Students’ Ideas About the Flow of Matter and Energy in Living Systems,” authors Melanie Taylor, Kimberly Cohen, R. Keith Esch, and P. Sean Smith give examples of student misconceptions and provide the corresponding correct ideas.  The topic of this podcast mainly focuses in on the process of photosynthesis.

 

From the Twitterverse:

* Ron Peck ‏@Ron_Peck
Pls help @cybraryman1 get to #ISTE12 by assisting the #istenewbie12 project -> #cpchat #edchat #edcampphillyYay! We are at 70% of our #ISTE12 Newbie Project goal and payday is near. Plz help @cybraryman1 get to ISTE. #edchat
iPad Plaza ‏@iPadPlaza
Apple iPad May Be Getting Microsoft Office Soon http://sns.mx/gnlDy1 #iPad
* Jeff Johnson ‏@ipadeducators
iBooks & grade7: http://ow.ly/bah12 #ipaded #ipadedchat #abed
* Eric Sheninger ‏@NMHS_Principal
Think-Pair-Share Variations by @kathyperret http://buff.ly/KGb0t1
* Jeff Russell ‏@jrussellteacher
A Standardized Composition Test http://pulse.me/s/9EpL9
* ABC News ‏@ABC
10 Cheap Gizmos and Ordinary Items Every Traveler Needs http://abcn.ws/JBuPX7
* pammoran ‏@pammoran
Why one shot “national” tests of any kind fail as authentic assessments of and for learning http://j.mp/JBjLV3 shared by @saorog
* Carol A. Josel ‏@schoolwise
‘Facebook parenting’ is destroying our children’s privacy http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/25/opinion/sultan-miller-facebook-parenting/index.html #cnn
* Maggie Cary ‏@maggiecary
How to Handle the Class Clown:
* World and Everything ‏@TWERadio
A Memorial Day edition of ‘The World & Everything in It’: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknowns, 150th anniv. of Taps, more http://ow.ly/basz5
* LeeAnn ‏@HeyLeeAnn
Grockit Launches Learnist, a Pinterest for Education http://zite.to/LtePR0 via @zite
 Larry Ferlazzo ‏@Larryferlazzo
How NOT To Prepare A Student For A Standardized Test“Parents Describe Why and How They are Engaged in Their Children’s Learning”
* Bill Ivey ‏@bivey
MT @plugusin: from @teachingquality: The Sad Irony Behind Teacher Leadership – http://ow.ly/b0MrM <Is it an irony deliberately created?
* Steven W. Anderson ‏@web20classroom
From @timbuckteeth-5 Tools For The Global Educator:
*Neil deGrasse Tyson‏@neiltysonKnowing how to think empowers you far beyond those who know only what to think.

 

 

News:

Educators Use Mobile Devices More Than General Public

Principals and administrators are also more likely to use those devices than the teachers and librarians they oversee, the report says, though teachers are also more frequent users of those tools than the general public.
“For many of us, we cannot truly appreciate the value of a new technology tool until we have realized a direct benefit from its use in our personal or work life,” said Julie Evans, the president and CEO of Project Tomorrow, the Irvine, Calif.-based nonprofit education research organization that conducts the Speak Up survey, in a statement. “That’s the same for educators.”
Administrators who used smartphones or tablets were found roughly twice as likely to consider a bring-your-own-technology approach for students at their campuses, pilot such a policy, or work in a school or district that provided students mobile devices for educational use.
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/DigitalEducation/2012/05/educators_more_likely_to_use_m.html

How summer increases the achievement gap

Much of the discussion about the wide discrepancies in educational achievement between poor and affluent students is focused on what schools and teachers should be doing to close it. But researchers are gathering more evidence suggesting that summer—when students are typically out of contact with their schools and teachers—is one of the root causes of the gap.
http://hechingered.org/content/how-summer-increases-the-achievement-gap_5072/

 

Our Principal’s Reaction To Being Included In The Wash. Post’s List Of Top High Schools

Two years ago we were on a list of schools described as ‘dropout factories.’ And now, two years later, without doing anything substantially different, we are listed among the top nine percent of high schools in the country only because a different metric was used.  This seems to be a blatant example of how these types of quantitative evaluations lack substance.”)
http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2012/05/20/our-principals-reaction-to-being-included-in-the-wash-posts-list-of-top-high-schools/

 

Standards would immerse Arizona students in science

Arizona is one of 26 states leading a nationwide initiative aimed at improving science education by requiring a deeper understanding of key concepts and incorporating science and technology in all subjects.
The new standards are based on a framework developed by the National Research Council with input from the National Science Teachers Association and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
The science standards are separate from but align with the new Common Core State Standards that Arizona will implement in English and math.
Under Next Generation, students will be expected to tackle actual problems — for example, a jammed-up school-bus lane — using engineering concepts.
Adding more hands-on projects will be a big change for teachers
Kaufmann said the next step will be to create a national science exam, which is probably at least five years away.
“I have to tell you, until there is a test that counts, science is still is not going to be as important, especially in the elementary grades.”
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2012/05/17/20120517arizona-science-standards.html

Student Principals (Contributed by Ron King)


How would students run the show if given a chance?
http://groups.diigo.com/site/redirect_item/student-principals-5342100

Resources:

Mr. Rogers talks sarcastically about children and consumerism

Apparently, kids and consumerism is nothing new.
http://twentytwowords.com/2012/05/25/mr-rogers-talks-sarcastically-about-children-and-consumerism/

Web Citizenship and Media Literacy Curriculum (Contributed by Ron King via Diigo)
http://groups.diigo.com/site/redirect_item/digital-literacy-and-citizenship-curriculum-for-grades-6-8-5342096

Play me a story?

Playfic, the online community that lets you write, remix, share, and play interactive text-based games with the world.
There is definitely a learning curve with the site.
http://playfic.com/

Burn Note

Burn Note lets you send messages that are deleted after they are read.
You can use Burn Note to send a password or have an off-the-record conversation with a friend.
https://burnnote.com/#/

Readlists

What’s a Readlist? A group of web pages—articles, recipes, course materials, anything—bundled into an e-book you can send to your Kindle, iPad, or iPhone.
http://readlists.com/

Easy Web Calendar

Localendar is great for Churches, Schools, Teams, Non-Profits, Families, and Webmasters that need a free web calendar
http://www.localendar.com/elsie

Web Spotlight:

Honesty In The Computer Lab

The reason I’m writing about this today is because of a guest column written by researcher Dan Ariely in The Wall Street Journal today — Why We Lie. It’s an excerpt from his newest book.
I’ve found that when I remember to apply my own version of that method — before we head to the lab, I take less than a minute to remind people why it’s important to listen to the English audio for their own development and because I want to be able to trust them — it’s hardly ever an issue. After that 40 second “spiel,” I also ask people to raise their hands if they commit to staying only on the assigned sites.
http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2012/05/25/honesty-in-the-computer-lab/

 

Knowledge Graph

The Knowledge Graph enables you to search for things, people or places that Google knows about—landmarks, celebrities, cities, sports teams, buildings, geographical features, movies, celestial objects, works of art and more—and instantly get information that’s relevant to your query. This is a critical first step towards building the next generation of search, which taps into the collective intelligence of the web and understands the world a bit more like people do.
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/introducing-knowledge-graph-things-not.html

Strategies:

Project-Based Learning: Success Start to Finish

http://www.edutopia.org/stw-project-based-learning-best-practices

Events & Happenings:

Calendar of Events:

Ohio Middle Level Association:


AMLE Affiliate Conferences:


Classroom 2.0’s Live Calendar.

View the video of the recording here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtMMxnQFY1c

MSM 206: Dry Hands, Warm Heart?

Jokes You Can Use:

Auntie Matilta won’t kiss you with that dirty face!

That’s what I’m hoping.

 

Girl: I need a new dress

Dad: Why?

Girl: The girl in my class has the same one.

Dad: Why does that mean you need a new dress.

Girl: It’s cheaper than switching colleges.

 

On Our Mind:

ISTE Noob-ness!

Wrapping up the year yet?

 

Eileen Award:

  • Jeffry Prickett – Facebook & Twitter
  • Pamela Schneider – Facebook

 

Advisory:

How to Use a Paper Towel:

http://www.ted.com/talks/joe_smith_how_to_use_a_paper_towel.html

and

http://creativewealthprinciples.com/archives/285

 

The Other Side of the World

http://www.antipodemap.com/

 

Olympic Torch Relay Route

http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/route/ 

Middle School Science Minute

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

 

Drying Hands in the Lab.  

In the March, 2012 issue of Science Scope, a publication of the National Science Teachers Association, the safety question of the month was “Are there any alternatives to paper towels for students to wash and dry their hands with at the end of lab?”

 

Ken Roy, director of environmental health and safety for Glastonbury Public Schools in Glastonbury, Connecticut provides a great answer.  If you would like more information on science safety, you can purchase Ken’s book, “The NSTA Ready-Reference Guide to Safer Science,” through the NSTA bookstore.  Please visit:

http://www.nsta.org/store/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9781933531281

 

 

From the Twitterverse:

Diane Ravitch @DianeRavitch

If you want your eyes to bulge at the money lavished on charters, go to
http://kenmlibby.com.

Clay Shirky @cshirky

Kickstart Roominate: Dollhouse kit for girls that includes circuit components:
lights, fans, buzzers, etc. http://kck.st/KtNGho

Mental Floss @mental_floss

In 2010, 3.9 million 911 calls in New York City were the result of inadvertent
cellphone use. That’s a lot of butt dials. (via @TheWeek)

Miguel Guhlin @mguhlin

90+ iPad and iPod Apps For High School | MyWeb4Ed http://dlvr.it/1bCgdy
iPad, apps key to unlocking communication barrier with autistic students | Fox
News http://dlvr.it/1bCfTJ

Ron Peck @Ron_Peck

Pls help @cybraryman1 get to #ISTE12 by assisting the #istenewbie12 project
-> http://bit.ly/fWRqnh #cpchat #edchat #edcampphilly

Jennifer Dorman @cliotech

DropKey app encrypts Mac files, free through Sunday http://pulse.me/s/9nM8p

Steve 2‏@learn2

Michigan Gov. Signs Cyber School Measure Into Law

Distance Education @onlinecourse

Are You At Risk of Getting Fired? Seven Signs Your Job is On the Line –
http://dedu.org/aJAx06

Ian Jukes @ijukes

Homeschool Is the Future http://bit.ly/JpF67N

Angela Maiers @AngelaMaiers

Here’s Nine Things Successful People Do Differently http://goo.gl/ya77b via
@ScottScanlon

Scott McLeod @mcleod

New bookmark: Videogames can encourage good behavior in youth http://bit.ly/KiBz7t

russeltarr @russeltarr

Abandoned Places In The World #geography: http://tinyurl.com/43hzvpd

AMLE @AMLEnews

MT @middleweb Wonderful reflection by @stephpbader on lurking, stage fright in
connected communities http://bit.ly/LjI9j0 #edchat #midleved

internet4classrooms @internet4classr

20 Calming Apps For Stressed-Out Students (And Teachers) http://ow.ly/aYJ0b
#midleved #edchat

News:

 

Homeschool Is The Future

Since the 1970s, public school education scores, stats, and student achievements have been steadily decreasing. From a declining graduation rate to slipping ACT scores, American students are slowly ceasing to measure up on a global scale. Incidentally, also since the 1970s, homeschooling has steadily been on the rise in America. It seems that with America’s public school system in a decline, more and more parents are turning to homeschooling as a solution. The surprising part? When it comes time to perform, homeschoolers are blowing everyone else out of the water. Homeschoolers have begun to show steady achievement in their test scores, graduation rates, and collegiate performance. Homeschoolers also test higher in analyses of maturity, communication skills, and general socializatiion. What does this mean? It means that homeschoolers are getting ready to dominate the future of America.

http://www.collegeathome.com/blog/2012/03/09/homeschool-is-the-future/

 

Dartmouth Researchers Are Learning How Exercise Affects the Brain

Exercise clears the mind. It gets the blood pumping and more oxygen is delivered to the brain. This is familiar territory, but Dartmouth’s David Bucci thinks there is much more going on.

From his studies, Bucci and his collaborators have revealed important new findings:

  • The effects of exercise are different on memory as well as on the brain, depending on whether the exerciser is an adolescent or an adult.
  • A gene has been identified which seems to mediate the degree to which exercise has a beneficial effect. This has implications for the potential use of exercise as an intervention for mental illness.

 

http://now.dartmouth.edu/2012/05/dartmouth-researchers-are-learning-how-exercise-affects-the-brain/

 

 

Are today’s students truly ‘tech savvy’?

It is difficult to prove that the Generation Y and young people today are not more technologically adapted than their older counterparts.

They may sometimes display an unhealthy level of dependence on their mobile phone, become bored easily when taught in school how to use basic commands in Microsoft Word and be called upon often to fix the problem with the printer, but are all members of this age bracket clued-up and comfortable with technology?

According to the research, there was little evidence that today’s students demand modern technology when entering university that the academic institution cannot provide. Technological integration is expanding, however in terms of study, students may not be as reliant on it to learn as we stereotype them to be.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/igeneration/are-todays-students-truly-tech-savvy/16147

 

Congrats to Mike Muir, AMLE President-Elect!

Resources:

 

iPad Resource Links

http://www.21innovate.com/ipadipod.html

 

Documentaries On-Line

Watch free documentaries online! Full videos are available. Educate yourself with thousands of good documentaries about diverse subjects. The newest, latest, best and greatest top documentaries online can be watched here for free.

http://www.documentaryz.com/

 

 

A Twenty-One Protest Song Salute

[Warning to parents and teachers: Some songs contain profanity. Also, Moyers & Company and Public Affairs Television do not endorse any advertisements or promotional links contained within the embedded videos.]

http://billmoyers.com/content/a-twenty-one-protest-song-salute/

Web Spotlight:

iWitness

IWitness is an online application that gives educators and students access to search, watch, and learn from more than 1,000 video testimonies of Holocaust survivors and other witnesses.

http://iwitness.usc.edu/SFI/Default.aspx

 

Graduation Speeches

 

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/06/10/best-commencement-graduation-speeches/

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/05/18/commencement-speeches-2/

Strategies:

The Graphic Classroom

The Graphic Classroom is a resource for teachers and librarians to help them stock high quality, educational-worthy, graphic novels and comics in their classroom or school library. I read and review every graphic novel or comic on this blog and give it a rating as to appropriateness for the classroom.

http://www.graphicclassroom.org/

 

Events & Happenings:

Calendar of Events:

Ohio Middle Level Association:

 

AMLE Affiliate Conferences:

 

Classroom 2.0’s Live Calendar.