Summary:

Shawn and Troy discuss getting tired. The kids are returning to “normal”. Dave has a spoiler alert. 

Jokes:  

What fruit do ghosts eat?

• Boo berries

---

What do you call a typo on a tombstone?

• A grave mistake

---

How do flat earthers travel?

• On a plane

---

What do they call the employee of the month at a crematorium?

• Top Urner

---

I have a friend who lives on a houseboat. He fell in love with the girl next door. 

• Sadly, they drifted apart

---

I told a joke on Zoom yesterday. 

• Apparently, it wasn’t remotely funny

---

Hey, I have a friend who is becoming a SuperHero:

• He’s becoming TypoMan

Yep, he’s the writer of wrongs. 

---

I’d like to give a shout out to all the Librarians:

• Oops, I’m sorry

---

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Spoiler Alert

I was recently reading the September/October 2021 issue of “Science Scope” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the section “Teacher’s Toolkit” written by Daniel J. Bergman.  Daniel wrote an article entitled “Spoiler Alert! Avoiding Hazards to Science Inquiry and Classroom Creativity.”

Spoilers can infiltrate our classrooms.  Science education “spoilers” are elements or behaviors that sabotage, short-circuit, and short-change the learning process and student creativity.  Here is a listing of several possible science education spoilers—hazards to authentic learning and creativity:

1. Objectives
2. Terminology
3. Cookbook Labs
4. Teachers
5. Students

http://k12science.net/spoiler-alert/

Reports from the Front Lines

•   When setting an assignment in an LMS to time out on Friday at 3:00 and then the emails come in asking if it can be reopened . . . 
• Troy’s 6th Grade story . . . 
• Student Expectations

The Twitterverse  

Devorah Heitner  @DevorahHeitner

Excited to offer this FREE webinar for parents with @YourTeenMag! I’ll be w/ Dr. Nanika Coor and

@michelleicard we’re here to answer your questions re: middle schoolers & screens. #mschat #PTchat #ILedchat reg here: https://ytmparentingcourses.com/middle-school-social-media-webinar cc

@HeidiStevens13 @parentandteen

NCHE  @historyed

Did you miss today’s History Matters (…and so does coffee?) w/@jbf1755? While we’d love to see you in person, you can now watch the episode from today (and every day!) at our web, YouTube, and Facebook pages. #yayhistory #historymatters @HistoryNewbie #sschat @MatthewTMissias

ABC News @ABC

The CDC said that social isolation, coronavirus-related deaths and stress weighed heavy on Americans, forcing many to confront new mental health challenges.  https://t.co/ia1TfFGsod?amp=1  

Dr. Joanne Freeman  @jbf1755

Ok. I offer this story as a cautionary tale. Like everyone else, I’m out of practice traveling, esp. for business. So on the one hand, I made seamless travel arrangements to Philadelphia for today. On the other hand, my talk in Philadelphia is NEXT Friday. And there it is.  

𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝘿𝙖𝙮 𝐭𝐨 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐂𝐄𝐀 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞!  @TCEA

Engagement Strategies ——— Teacher Trap #teachchat #educoach #learning #teachertwitter

https://twitter.com/TCEA/status/1444455009354141696/photo/1

Jack Berckemeyer

On 10/11-I will be doing Berckemeyer’s 21 days of Joy and Optimism Blitz. Here’s the catch it’s only on Instagram. I will be offering ideas to help educators lift their spirits, giving things away, and hopefully make you laugh. Like Cher, I only use one name for Insta-Berckemyer.  

TeacherGoals@teachergoals

Guilty. 

CindySmith  @CindySmith

Why do people in Saskatchewan lock their offices? So their coworkers don’t distribute spaghetti squash! We all got new “paper weights” today! Thanks @RobinDubiel for sharing your bumper crop!  

Dr. Joanne Freeman  @jbf1755

8hHad a great idea today. How about heading to Philadelphia? (A JOKE—last week I went there by mistake. Today I actually DO have a lecture there. ) Amtrak and I, together again…

NCMLE – NC Association for Middle Level Education  @NCMiddle

We are one week away from the #SowToGrow Virtual Fall Symposium! Get your NCMLE membership renewed to take advantage of this free professional development!   

Alice Keeler  @alicekeeler

Curriculum Pacing Guide Loss  @jgvanides

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!” 

Resources:  

Practical Ed-Tech Guide

https://www.freetech4teachers.com/2021/10/get-your-free-copy-of-practical-ed-tech.html

MiddleWeb – Do You Sometimes Miss The Mute Button?

https://www.middleweb.com/45926/do-you-sometimes-miss-the-mute-button/

Interruptions as signs of enthusiasm.  

Document Analysis Worksheets

Document analysis is the first step in working with primary sources. Teach your students to think through primary source documents for contextual understanding and to extract information to make informed judgments.

Use these worksheets — for photos, written documents, artifacts, posters, maps, cartoons, videos, and sound recordings — to teach your students the process of document analysis.

https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/worksheets

Web Spotlight:  

Walk the Great Wall

https://artsandculture.google.com/project/great-wall-of-china

School Surveillance

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/oct/12/school-surveillance-dragnet-suicide-attempt-healing#annotations:3_Ks1ixEEeyEl8NFauiN3w

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about how the fall is going, substitutes, and culture. Dave gets scientifically creative. 

Jokes:  

In order to address security concerns, all the passwords have been changed to Kenny.

• As a result, everyone has Kenny Logins. 

---

Archaeologists have discovered a series of short stories that stress the importance of punctuality. 

• They’re called ASAP’s Fables

---

Whenever I think of the 80’s, my first thought is a boom box.

• Yep, it’s just a stereo type

---

I might never get over my addiction to referencing the Beach Boys, but wouldn’t it nice?

---

Pre means before.

Post means after. 

Using them together would be….

• preposterous

---

I have a friend who never finishes anything. 

• He has a black belt in partial arts. 

---

I have a friend who claims that he can communicate with vegetables. 

• Jack and the beans talk. 

---

---

---

This is sooooooooooooo middle school:  

---

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Creativity in the Science Classroom

I was recently reading the September/October 2021 issue of “Science Scope” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the section “From the Editor’s Desk” written by Patty McGinnis.  Patty wrote an article entitled “Creativity in the Science Classroom.”

Students learn science—and use critical and creative thinking—by doing science.  Rather than focusing on memorizing facts, they are engaged in application in which they apply content knowledge to real-world situations.

http://k12science.net/creativity-in-the-science-classroom/ 

Reports from the Front Lines

• Teachers are TIRED!
• Homecoming
• Importance of Documenting
• Core Competencies for Teachers
• Kids and behavior
• Remote Learning?
• Sub plans
• Substitute Shortage

The Twitterverse  

Steve Chisik  @schisik

October is National Principals Month. It is an absolute privilege to work with this team of outstanding elementary principals. Our HVS family is very fortunate to have each and every one of you on the front lines every day!

Russell Stannard  @russell1955

Where can you find FREE images for your website? #Copyright #freeimages Video: https://bit.ly/36Ipokb

https://twitter.com/russell1955/status/1444243714025705478/photo/1

Dr. Joanne Freeman  @jbf1755

Next week I have my first in-person lecture (not a public event) since February 2020. And it feels weird. Good! But weird.

Yong Zhao, Ph.D  @YongZhaoEd

Tomorrow (Sat) 5:30-6:30pm EDT watch live Ep77 #silverliningforlearning The Education We Need: A Conversation with @DrTonyWagner and @dintersmith Ted Dintersmith hosts @chrs_dede @travelinedman @punyamishra @YongZhaoEd @shynicola

https://silverliningforlearning.org/episode-77-the

Fixing Education@FixingEducation

In education, it’s especially important to distance yourself from people who have a problem for every solution.

David Geurin  @DavidGeurin

Stronger relationships = stronger schools. Maybe you can help someone answer one of these questions today. 1. Am I important to someone here? 2. Do I belong here? 3. Am I good at something here? 4. Who will listen to me here? 5. Is my presence here making a difference?

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!” 

Resources:  

3D Resources

Our project is a constantly growing collection of free 3D icons that you can use in your next project, without specifying the author. There are also paid versions of these icons and let’s find out how they differ.

About this project

Preteen with anxiety and ADHD takes frustrations out on family

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/on-parenting/angry-adhd-anxiety-tween/2021/09/28/10c04a12-1d72-11ec-bcb8-0cb135811007_story.html#annotations:kFUy6CIhEeyOuIvW7reDPA

AMERICAN INDIAN REMOVAL

What Does It Mean to Remove a People?

https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/removal#annotations:h1xJLCLSEeyKSut11q6S6g

Primary Sources Resource:  

https://guides.loc.gov/indian-removal-act

Monster Month with Chad Frye, Illustration Guy

Enjoy.  https://www.facebook.com/ChadFryeIllustrationGuy?__cft__[0]=AZV-jqdeFDvozhkjMvTcWsS_AUIN0IMXaZDJhTX_FERR1H6XBW9Hlcwgk0O-giYsS81qCvt6k_l6T0UU2u132C0x-XZC48obZ6mTtjxELeVLZbdp6G0xzAtWH3bZ2r1hS4Hn4M7rfONJkdxQpqEqQ2N-RYkcpnDPzmyQZnufiF_5eU3VFlrt1hPnzmQmWkmmAXU&__tn__=-UC%2CP-R  

Web Spotlight:  

AXIS:  The Culture Translator

1. Toxicity Levels – Internal documents published by the Wall Street Journal reveal that Facebook knows how damaging its Instagram app can be for teen girls.  
2. Gamers have replaced traditional celebrities with 13-39 year olds:  Based on input from 13-39 year olds, YPulse has put together a helpful list of some of the most-followed YouTubers and streamers in the gaming world.
3. TikTok hits 1 billion users.  
4. Slang of the Week:  

• Big Yikes: When you take something well-intentioned just a little bit too far..  
• Soft Launch:  When you post pictures of a budding romance, but nothing definitive to say there’s a relationship between two people.  
• 3rd world: Refers to a TikTok challenge that uses the song “3rd World Free Boski Turnt Up.” While recording a video set to the song, users simply pass the phone to a friend every time the words “third world” are repeated.

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Summary:

Shawn and Troy discuss how the kids are doing coming back to school. Are there gaps (learning, social, behavioral)? Kids are making connections with adults. Learn about helping students study. Dave tells us which came first the Chicken or the Egg?

Jokes:  

If you ever get locked out of your house, why is it important to talk calmly? 

---

I was trying to help my wife with her crossword puzzle the other day. The clue was, “Overworked mailman”. I asked how many letters. She said, “I’m guessing too many”. 

---

I friend just got a personalized license plate: BAA BAA

• It’s for a Black Jeep

---

Did you know that Mortal Kombat is actually based on an old Scandinavian church song?

• Yes,  Finnish Hymn

---

Tom Cruise has succeeded 6 times in a row. Why do they keep calling them “Mission Impossible?”

---

Did you hear about the two silk worms that had a race?

• They ended in a tie

---

I have a friend who is starting a new business. It’s a kissing booth where you can have one last kiss with someone you used to date. It’s called “Great Ex Peck Stations”. 

---

Did you hear about the invisible man and the invisible woman who got married? I’m not sure what they saw in each other, and their kids are nothing to look at. 

---

---

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I don’t always whoop, but when I do, there it is. 

---

Advisory:  

Ernie Johnson: ‘Make somebody’s life Better’ ‘There’s value in everybody’

Middle School Science Minute  

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

“Which Came First – the Chicken or the Egg?”

I was recently reading the July/August 2021 issue of “Science & Children” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the section “Science 101” written by Matt Bobrowsky.  Matt wrote an article entitled “Which Came First – the Chicken or the Egg?”

This is one of those questions that people jokingly ask assuming there is no answer to it – like “If a tree falls in a forest….” In this podcast we realize how the methods of science can provide us with “egg-celent” answers to so many questions.

http://k12science.net/the-chicken-or-the-egg/

Reports from the Front Lines

• Tiktok “Challenge”/Vandalism – Soap in the Toilet  
• Flu Shot + Shingles Shot = Ouch!  
• Learning Gap?
• Social Gap?
• Behavior Gap?

The Twitterverse  

Typical EduCelebrity @EduCelebrity

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s still September.

Alice Keeler  @alicekeeler

Using Google Slides Game Board – Free Template For Teachers Use http://alicekeeler.com/slidesgameboard to create a game for your class.

Kelly Malloy @kellys3ps

Please and thank you!

Daniel Pink @DanielPink  

Too little free time burns us out. But too *much* free time bores us out. So, chill this weekend — but also do things that are active, productive, and meaningful.

https://t.co/SQWMwZaFPB?amp=1

Phyllis Fagell, LCPC  @Pfagell

4th grade boy: “I’m producing a TV show and holding auditions all recess.” Me: “What will you do if someone is disappointed with their part?” Boy: “As I told them all earlier, that’s just part of show biz.”

Bob Harrison  @bharrisonEDU

I’ve met with too many students and parents who were not doing well in a class, but were convinced they were “studying hard”. I always ask them what they are doing as they study. Here are 6 concrete strategies that can work across the curriculum:

https://t.co/mMHCuXBo2Q?amp=1

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!” 

Strategies:  

Thou Shalt Not Commit Logical Fallacies

https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/#annotations:D4N_PBlGEeyqLZ8PY3dDNQ

Resources:  

The Festival Near You

This year, the Library of Congress brings the National Book Festival closer to home. On each state’s page, you can find events such as watch parties, community conversations, story walks, poetry slams, book club meetings and more, brought to you by local organizations and affiliate Centers for the Book. You can also find information about each affiliate Center’s Great Reads from Great Places book pick and watch the video series. Select a state or territory below, or view all local events to create your personal Festival Near You experience.

https://www.loc.gov/events/2021-national-book-festival/festival-information/festival-near-you/?loclr=blognbf#annotations:-lLlMBzTEeyte9u7fcTg5A

 

The Critical Thinking Quiz

See if you can pick which fallacies are being committed in the following absurd examples.

https://www.schoolofthought.org/critical-thinking-quiz#annotations:BJBhMBlGEey3LeutpHRnDQ

Web Spotlight:  

AXIS:  The Culture Translator

1. Toxicity Levels – Internal documents published by the Wall Street Journal reveal that Facebook knows how damaging its Instagram app can be for teen girls.  
2. Gamers have replaced traditional celebrities with 13-39 year olds:  Based on input from 13-39 year olds, YPulse has put together a helpful list of some of the most-followed YouTubers and streamers in the gaming world.
3. Slang of the Week:  Big Yikes: When you take something well-intentioned just a little bit too far..  Soft Launch:  When you post pictures of a budding romance, but nothing definitive to say there’s a relationship between two people.  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Jokes:  

---

Want to hear a joke about construction?

• Wait, I’m still working on it

---

Someone broke into my garage and stole my limbo bar. 

• Seriously, how low can you go. 

---

Who built the Round Table?

• Sir Cumference

---

I just finished writing an essay on penguins. 

• It would’ve been a lot easier to on paper.

---

---

---

I’m writing about all the things I ought to do before I die.

• Yep, it’s my oughtobiography

---

---

Middle School Science Minute  

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

The Great Sunflower Project

I was recently reading the July/August 2021 issue of “Science Scope” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the section “Citizen Science” written by Jill Nugent.  Jill wrote an article entitled “The Great Sunflower Project.”

The Great Sunflower Project launched in 2008 to address questions about pollinator populations across varying habitats including urban, rural, and suburban landscapes.  The project has over 100,000 participants contributing to pollinator citizen science.  For more information, please visit:

https://www.greatsunflower.org

http://k12science.net/the-great-sunflower-project/

Reports from the Front Lines

• Sept. 11th Anniversary
• Second week with kids
• Parent Conferences 
• Setting up the students for “How We Do Things” becoming the standard.  

The Twitterverse  

Typical EduCelebrity  @EduCelebrity

Good teachers see the weekend as two days of being deprived of the classroom. They mourn the lack of instructional opportunities. If you are glad that it’s the weekend, then people would be glad if you found another line of work.  

MMUKrull  @Krullsworld

This is a dangerous paradigm that encourages tireless self-sacrifice. Good teachers, and good humans, recognize the need for life balance and that time away from work makes you more effective. They need to see this in themselves, so they can also promote it in their students.

Typical EduCelebrity @EduCelebrity

[Read the profile]

Bob Harrison @bharrisonEDU

Teachers need to be just as accurate at deciding when students understand as when they don’t understand. What are the signs that engagement has stopped and confusion has set in?

Matt Miller @jmattmiller

What if we took cues from popular YouTube video styles to create memorable classroom activities? 8 YouTube-inspired classroom video ideas like: The unboxing video. The makeup tutorial. The travel vlogger tour videos. more! https://ditchthattextbook.com/youtube-classroom-video-ideas/

#Ditchbook

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!” 

Strategies:  

4 Reading Strategies To Retire This Year

Reading logs (and other rote accountability tasks):

1. Reading logs (and other rote accountability tasks):
2. Turn-taking oral reading practices:
3. Awarding prizes for reading:
4. Overemphasis on reading as a discrete skill:

6 READING APPROACHES THAT WORK BETTER

1. Reading accountability partners:
2. Choral reading:
3. Scaffolded silent reading:
4. Teacher read-aloud and modeling:
5. Reading buddies:
6. Building background knowledge:

https://www.edutopia.org/article/4-reading-strategies-retire-year-plus-6-try-out#annotations:VOkBQg3TEeyTqCvLQ7bkuw

A Close Reading of the Best Opening Paragraph of All Time

 One of my best writing teachers used to ask her class, after finishing a novel, to go back and read the first paragraph for the ways in which it predicted the rest of the text, or in the most skillful cases, taught us to read it.

https://lithub.com/a-close-reading-of-the-best-opening-paragraph-of-all-time/#annotations:DmiIMhAIEeyTFF-puLc9tQ

Resources:  

TOSDR

https://tosdr.org/en/frontpage

Educator Kati Bakradze Talks Teaching

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAamyJzoyealoH3dsugrwSw  (Turn on translation.)  

Slang of the Week

Aggro: A term often used in gaming but in real-life situations too; drawing aggression to yourself through your actions; instigating.

Example: “My mom was majorly aggro this morning when I wouldn’t get out of bed to go to school.”

Web Spotlight:  

A Decade of Expensive Video Lessons for K-16 Math Entrepreneurs

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2019-12-23-a-decade-of-expensive-video-lessons-for-k-16-math-entrepreneurs#annotations:3NUdXBGnEeyr0UtF8PDlmw

Random Thoughts . . .  

Personal Web Site   

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Summary:

Welcome back to school. ClearMask as a potential retirement plan. Dave talks about the importance of Lesson Closure. 

Jokes:  

If this is a pair of scissors:

What is this? 

---

Why do they call them apartments? They are all stuck together.

---

---

---

Shouldn’t the word ambiguous have more than one meaning?

---

I told my carpenter not to carpet my steps. 

• He gave me a blank stair

---

---

Lance is an uncommon name these days. In Medieval Times people were named Lance A Lot. 

---

Why can’t you run through a campground?

• You can only ran, it’s all past tents. 

---

I just built a car using the motor from a washing machine. 

• I’m taking it for a spin later.

---

Here’s a question for all you mind readers out there. 

Advisory

Eating Lunch To Go Around The World

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPfXegudHdw

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Lesson Closures

I was recently reading the July/August 2021 issue of “Science Scope” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the section “Science For All” written by Kaitlyn McGlynn and Janey Kelly.  They wrote an article entitled “Wrapping It Up: Meaningful and Inclusive Lesson Closures to Recap the Day’s Learning.”

Lesson closure provides a time for students to pause and ponder what they have just learned during the lesson as well as where their level of understanding currently lies.  They discuss their favorite lesson closures, which include:

• Whip Around
• Elevator Pitch
• Thumbs Up, Middle Thumbs, Thumbs Down
• Stick it!
• Any Questions?

Reports from the Front Lines

• Larry Ferlazzo’s First Day Back
• I’ll take the crap that they give me
• A story from Shawn – Mara
• Read the directions
• Finding Employees
  • Bus Drivers
  • Teachers
  • Admins 
• Story:  Class Pets & Quail Eggs
• Observation:  The kids have been on the computer a lot – Page 3.  

The Twitterverse  

Apple Education  @AppleEDU

That’s a wrap of week two of our Creativity Challenge! The #MotionGraphics ideas you designed were so good, we had to share a few of them. Get ready for next week’s challenge at http://apple.co/creativitychallengetwitter

. #MadeOniPad #EveryoneCanCreate  

Alice Keeler  @alicekeeler

I coded a way to get a list of your YouTube videos. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1V-FPuN3q0nhkiikFdcjmf9dHF3ngHQ7yDelQXt5LT18/copy

#googleEDU #appsscript

Alice Keeler  @alicekeeler

Exporting Scores from Google Classroom Description:Google Classroom is limited in the reports that you can create. Create your own reports https://youtube.com/watch?v=Oyk0fWJEJZQ

#BackToClassroom

Stephanie Howell  @mrshowell24

Reading Choice Board https://youtu.be/kliVTGO_4v0 #edtech #ditchbook #tlap #ETCoaches #hacklearning #GSuiteEdu #GoogleEDU #celebratED #cuechat #k12artchat #masterychat #EduGladiators #edchat #LeadLAP #eduprotocols #googlei #educoach

@eduprotocols

@Flipgrid

TCEA  @TCEA

Make student thinking VISIBLE via

@finleyt #edchat #globalED #learning #edutwitter #teachertwitter

Russell Stannard  @russell1955

How to use Moodle for teachers: Useful design tips #moodle #onlineteaching 

Video: https://bit.ly/2H01yWY

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!” 

Resources:  

#46 – Do bigger animals take longer to pee? 3 more CER examples based on FUN science

https://www.realsciencechallenge.com/46-more-cer-examples/#annotations:zeC_DgmbEeyjuQeEVnQ0fg

AXIS – The Culture Translator

The D’Amelios Are Here

What it is: TikTok’s biggest star, Charli D’Amelio, will take on a (slightly) bigger screen with a reality show based on her family, debuting on Hulu today.

Why it could be the new Keeping Up with the Kardashians: Charli, her sister Dixie, and their parents started out living an ordinary suburban life in Connecticut just a couple of years ago. That was until Charli’s dance videos on TikTok turned her into a breakout star with countless brand deals and promotional contracts. The D’Amelios aims to explore how the family navigates the dynamics of TikTok fame. It’s a very similar premise to Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which touted the concept of “family above all” as it followed the daily doings of the California-based clan. But while KUWTK turned one family into stars, Charli and Dixie don’t necessarily need a television show to become more famous. It’s unclear why, exactly, the D’Amelios feel the need to even do a show like this, but that doesn’t mean that there won’t be a significant amount of young fans tuning in and comparing their own family to what they see on TV.  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about COVID restrictions reopening school. What can you do? How do you handle group work? Dave colors our world with sunshine. 

Jokes:  

The FBI showed up at my house. I just got back from an international trip. First I went to China. Then I went to Peru. Next up, Greenland, which is a territory of Denmark. Finally, I went to the province of Ontario in Canada. 

• The algorithm detected one red flag after another. 

---

---

How do you roast a cobbler?

• Make fun of his shoes

---

---

Where do bad rainbows go?

• Prism
• But, they always get a light sentence

---

---

I got hit by a rental truck: 

• It Hertz

---

---

My cellphone took about 30 minutes of video of me walking. 

• It was pretty good footage. 

---

If a medium can communicate with the dead, just think about what a large can do. 

---

---

Eileen Award:  

• Facebook:  Jack Berckemeyer 

Middle School Science Minute  

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

What Color is the Sun?

I was recently reading the May/June 2021 issue of “Science and Children” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the section “Science 101” written by Matt Bobrowsky.  Matt wrote an article entitled “What Color is the Sun?”

The fact that the Sun is white is why we can see so many different colors in the outdoor world.  If sunlight were purely green, then everything outside would look green or dark.  We can see the redness of a cardinal and the blueness of a blue jay because sunlight contains red and blue light.  The same is true for all the other colors.  All of these colors combined make the light from the Sun look white.

http://k12science.net/what-color-is-the-sun/

Reports from the Front Lines

• “Open House” 
  • DaVinci Resolve
• COVID Policies in the Classroom, Who takes the blame if the kid gets sick?  
  • Lunch Room
  • Group Work
  • Lockers
  • Hall Passes
  • Water fountains
• Building Relationships & Dealing with COVID 
  • Project Adventure
  • Growth String
  • Question to Leave
• And now for the “Maine Idea!”  

Advisory:  

Amazing Designs

https://dailytimewaste.com/movies/fb/161878301/the-most-amazing-design-ideas-people-have-come-across/

The Twitterverse  

Shabana Basij-Rasikh  @sbasijrasikh

In March 2002, after the fall of Taliban, thousands of Afghan girls were invited to go to the nearest public school to participate in a placement test because the Taliban had burned all female students’ records to erase their existence. I was one of those girls.  Nearly 20 years later, as the founder of the only all-girls boarding school in Afghanistan, I’m burning my students’ records not to erase them, but to protect them and their families.   https://twitter.com/i/status/1428776691820908548  

MiddleWeb  @middleweb

NEW TEACHERS!  25 Best Posts for New Teacher Mentors   #mschat #middleschool

@AMLE #ntchat #newteachers #mentoring #educoach #profdev #teachingtips   https://middleweb.com/23435/25-of-mi

Matt Miller  @jmattmiller

Why your students need a podcast: How to do it fast and free http://ditchthattextbook.com/2018/02/28/why-your-students-need-a-podcast-how-to-do-it-fast-and-free/

Cheryl Morris  @guster4lovers

Teacher friends, I wrote a MS/HS unit that can be taught in person, remote, or hybrid that covers #growthmindset, neuroplasticity, emotions, #sel and the science of happiness. Please use/share freely: https://bit.ly/gmselunit It would be a great way to start the year

@jcorippo  https://t.co/HWWlxIvFGg?amp=1  

From a Facebook post:

Write a scary story using *exactly* four words.  There was this response:  

Shawn McGirr Elliott wrote a story one time when she was probably in second grade. The title was “The Teacher Without Coffee”

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!” 

Strategies:  

Manual Water Pump for 5 Gallon Water Bottle

Need to get around the water fountain/hall pass issue?  Put a 5 gallon water jug on the table and insert the pump.  Water bottle filler and your students don’t have to ask for a hallway pass.  https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B087PCMSVV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1  

Clean/Dirty Dishwasher Sign

Use the Clean/Dirty dishwasher sign on your door to tell custodial if you’ve been in the room today.  

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B078MMXJPC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Mask Extenders – Save your ears!

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08K3RDC6H/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Resources:  

3D Periodic Table

https://artsexperiments.withgoogle.com/periodic-table/#annotations:tQtVJACCEeyyWFfoKUYuiA

Welcoming Staff Back to the Building

• Be mindful as you plan for return to school team-building activities. Consider your staff’s comfort level.
• You can survey staff prior to the start of the school year.
• In this post, you will learn some suggestions on how to build school culture at the beginning of the year.

https://www.teachbetter.com/blog/welcoming-staff-back-into-the-building/

10 Secrets to Raising Good Listeners

So my principal changed my schedule yesterday and I now have to take a project and interactive simulation based class and turn it into a lecture based class.  They’re going to have to learn differently.  

https://www.janetlansbury.com/2011/03/10-secrets-to-raising-good-listeners/

Web Spotlight:  

Can you fix middle school by getting rid of it?

Proponents of K-8 schools, or “elemiddles” as they’re sometimes called, say they promote strong relationships between not only teachers and students but also teachers and parents and offer stability to young teens during a tumultuous time in their lives. 

The research comparing outcomes of students at K-8 and middle schools remains inconclusive.

…many of the new middle schools had been built for pragmatic reasons, rather than ideological ones, they tended to resemble the junior highs they’d replaced. They were “middle schools in name only,” said Mary Beth Schaefer,

Can you fix middle school by getting rid of it?

LMS Showcase

https://michiganvirtual.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LsMWNUV4SoKcsv05uqBSMQ

Axis – The Culture Translator 

No Emoji is Safe

What it is: Digital natives tend to use emoji less sincerely than their older counterparts, which makes for some confusion when it comes to the family group text.

Why it’s best to stick with words: As we’ve written about before, the “cry-laughing face” emoji has long been banned from the Gen Z-approved emoji lexicon. Now, as the Wall Street Journal reports, your emoji keyboard is practically a buffet of faux pas potential. That pained-looking frowny-face guy? He’s what Gen Z uses to express desire, not frustration. And that smiley face emoji, once the most straightforward of fellows, is mostly interpreted by Gen Z as a passive-aggressive dig. (After all, nobody looks that happy in real life.) You might want to ask your teen if your emoji-vocabulary needs some brushing up.  

Slang of the Week

Caught in 4K: Capturing someone’s reaction on camera or catching someone “red-handed.”

For Example: 

“You tried to pretend you were over that girl, but your face says it all! Caught in 4k!”

Random Thoughts . . .  

Personal Web Site   

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about how the Delta variant has changed back to school plans. Dave is all about Digital Literacy. Teachers will need to relearn how to project. Mask mandates? What will the school year look like? Groupwork?

Jokes:  

Just in from the world’s biggest producer of yardsticks. They aren’t making them any longer. 

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A Rancher burst into the bar and shouted “can somebody help me round up18 cows?” 

• I stood up and said I will help, it’s 20 cows

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If you’re on the road to nowhere, how do you know when you get there?

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I strained myself getting through the screen door. 

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What is the best time?

• 6:30 – hands down

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Middle School Science Minute  

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

Digital Literacy

I was recently reading the May/June 2021 issue of “Science and Children” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the section “Editor’s Note” written by Elizabeth Barrett-Zahn.  Elizabeth wrote an article entitled “Digital Literacy.”

Digital Literacy, according to Cornell University, is the ability to find, evaluate, utilize, share, and create content using information technologies and the internet.

http://k12science.net/digital-literacy/

Reports from the Front Lines

• Reopening Plans
• Delta Difference
• Tech in Schools

Advisory:  

50 Little Etiquette Rules You Should Always Practice – Reader’s Digest  

Do one or two a week in Advisory perhaps?  

https://www.rd.com/list/etiquette-rules/?fbclid=IwAR3RNR3Ik3Fc7iwFXVPmF3S1A5n1Etj-7BK6JfIpaNswkSw1GmnGA4_ibC0

The Twitterverse  

The Modest Teacher  @ModestTeacher

Does your school lock the only color printer in a bank vault guarded by Navy Seals too?

Fixing Education  @FixingEducation

For the new school year, let’s remember THIS. Asking teachers to do ‘ONE MORE THING’ and not removing anything else from their plate doesn’t help anyone. •It doesn’t help Teachers! •It doesn’t help Test Scores! And it certainly doesn’t help STUDENTS!

Chairman Meow  @catsaysnyaa

Breaking News: Wilson has defected to the USA.

Matt Miller  @jmattmiller

100 Remote Learning activities, templates, and tutorials This post keeps growing!  Video project ideas Digital writing activities Sites for early finishers LOTS of File > Make a copy templates http://DitchThatTextbook.com/elearning-acti

Jason Neiffer, Ed.D.  @techsavvyteach

5 Ways to Effortlessly Transcribe Your Podcast for Free https://buff.ly/3jW8nvo #accessibility

https://t.co/4jvkFdVDPP?amp=1

Lisa C. Sproul   @MrsRCSproulJr

Gossip has no friends, just addicts.

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!” 

Strategies:  

Picking Up Words On A Walk

“Walking isn’t just a form of exercise, or a way to clear your mind (although it is very good for both of those things). It’s a way to learn about nature and the associated vocabulary. Next time you go for a walk, really pay attention to where you’re going. Not just so you don’t trip over, but so that you notice all the things around you. Then when you get home, you’ll have a collection of new words to practise with your students. And a free pass to eat a big slice of cake.”

Picking up words on a walk

Resources:  

You Need Soup.  Here’s the Best:  

12 Principles of Modern Learning

AXIS – The Culture Translator

Slang of the Week

Thirst Trap: A photo or post that is an obvious ploy for attention; typically a post where the person looks attractive or enticing.

For Example:  “Why did she even bother with writing a caption, that IG post was such a thirst trap.”

ClearMask  

Medical grade see-through mask that is comfortable to wear.  So far, so good.  

https://www.theclearmask.com/

Clear Fog-free face shields – Blany.co

Yes, it looks like a fly-by-night website.  Yes, they’re made in China.  But they have fog-free face shields.  

https://blany.co/product/transparent-face-shield/

Free eBooks

Catto Creations supports ePub3 and makes the following books available for download. They work well with AZARDI’s desktop eReader. They are also available as free eBooks in the Apple iBookstore.

http://www.cattocreations.com/ePub3.html 

Web Spotlight:  

Blended Learning: What It Is and What It Is Not

https://catlintucker.com/2021/07/blended-learning-what-it-is-and-is-not/#annotations:THuAdOybEeuGI0ccjUR8hQ

Hitting the Books: How our lying eyes trick the brain into seeing motion during movies

“What a projector actually does is exactly this: It brings each frame into fixed position with the light source blocked. That’s the function of the shutter. Then the shutter opens and the illuminated frame projects onto the screen. Then the shutter closes. Then it opens again, and the illuminated frame is projected a second time onto the screen. Then the shutter closes and the next frame slides into position, and so forth.”

https://www.engadget.com/hitting-the-books-biography-of-the-pixel-alvy-ray-smith-mit-press-153048574.html

5 Tips for Making Digital Learning Accessible to All Students

In many ways, Rhianon Gutierrez did not have a typical education growing up. Born hard of hearing, she learned early on the difference that the accessibility of educational content can make.

https://www.iste.org/explore/tools-devices-and-apps/5-tips-making-digital-learning-accessible-all-students

Random Thoughts . . .  

Dr. Edward Panosian 

https://livestream.com/bju/panosian?t=1628886549&fbclid=IwAR2sJFm6N2EPoDnkLX8Sz96kOhcF_wV4eSfqMQg_zfQKsISqan92fg4ocWM

Personal Web Site   

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Summary: 

Shawn and Troy talk about taking a break, resetting, and more. Dave talks about weather predictions and NOAA. 

Jokes:  

Hey, do you remember the chiropractor joke I told about a week back? 

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Hey, did you hear that it now costs $1.50 to air have put into your tires. 

• That’s the cost of inflation these days

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Do you want to hear a joke about a ghost?

• That’s the spirit

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Did you hear about the fraudster who was installing kitchen worktops? 

• He was charged with counter fitting

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How come the penguin charged with a felony didn’t have to post bail?

• Not a flight risk

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Did you hear about the kid who didn’t want to make butter? 

• He had to anyway; it was his churn.

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A guy was walking through a jungle and saw a lizard on his hind legs telling jokes. He turned to his friend and said, “That lizard is really funny!”

The friend said, “That’s not a lizard, that’s a stand up chameleon”. 

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Did you hear about the guy who talks with sneakers? 

• Well, actually, he converses. 

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To the person who stole my glasses. 

• I will find you. I have a contacts. 

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Middle School Science Minute  

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

NOAA Satellites Predict and Protect

I was recently reading the May/June 2021 issue of “Science Scope” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the section “Scope on the Skies” written by Bob Riddle.  Bob wrote an article entitled “Earth Watch.”

The planet Earth is currently the only place where we can live, and just like our homes, classrooms, and local communities, there is a constant need for environmental awareness.  This should highlight both the importance of thinking globally while dealing with local circumstances and the importance of monitoring our ”home” from a global perspective, using for example, NOAA Satellites.

http://k12science.net/noaa-satellites-predict-and-protect/

Reports from the Front Lines

• PD
  • Text grabber
  • Logoist 4
  • GIMP
• Reset
• Tech Use

The Twitterverse  

Typical EduCelebrity   @EduCelebrity

People who see a horse in this image are right brain thinkers. People who see a dolphin are left brain thinkers. If what you see looks like a blurry closeup of my living room wall, then you’re using your whole brain.  

Lisa C. Sproul   @MrsRCSproulJr

Gossip has no friends, just addicts.

Ryan Hazen  @MisterHazen

For everyone that missed @moodler‘s keynote @mtmoot yesterday, here it is! We’re still processing all of the videos from #mtmoot, I’ll update as we add more. Lots of info about #Moodle 4.0, @brickfieldlabs, @moonamihq, @MLC_Moodle, and @ElearningExp

Phyllis Fagell, LCPC  @Pfagell

I reassure parents that middle schoolers aren’t lazy – most just lack planning skills. But sometimes kids won’t produce because of an approach-avoidance conflict — e.g. they may WANT to complete & share an assigned poem but worry they’ll get teased. Try to ID any unspoken fears.

Social Studies@socialstudiestx 

#Socialstudies educators: we are looking for people that are interested in joining our #ssunconference this December. It will be free and we need help with planning presenters and more. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedAmLwA2EYqIDGLX8QDenN0uGTuomFqOjb4xJlLRARUezehg/viewform?usp=sf_link  Join us! #sschat #sstlap #education #teachertwitter  

Wesley Fryer, Ph.D.   @wfryer

Closing #digiURI challenge from @khokanson: Write a letter to your future self with @futureme https://futureme.org (or write an analog letter, seal it in an envelope, w/ the cover message, “Do not open until…”) #MediaLit #change #YouCanChange #teaching #learning #pedagogy

Evan Robb @ERobbPrincipal

A simple leadership tip- Look for more reasons to elevate than to criticize. It will change a school culture.

Mike Szczepanik@MikeSzczepanik

Everything is Formative until it’s not! –@rickwormeli2 from #12hourlive #Teachbetter

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!” 

Strategies:  

Cognitive Learning Review

https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/evidence-summaries/evidence-reviews/cognitive-science-approaches-in-the-classroom/

Three Ideas for Encouraging Students to do Research in Digital Archives

Richard Byrne has a great example of a search challenge. Help your students learn how to search. 

https://www.freetech4teachers.com/2021/07/three-ideas-for-encouraging-research-in.html

And the Follow UP:

https://www.freetech4teachers.com/2021/07/what-car-did-harry-lyon-drive-answer-to.html

Resources:

Three Strategies for Productive Teacher Mentoring – Edutopia

Teacher mentoring programs, no matter the locale, tend to provide yearlong, one-to-one guidance to less experienced teachers, with mentors and mentees typically meeting at least once a week. Through those meetings with veteran teachers, plus impromptu classroom visits, lunchtime chats, texts, and phone calls, new teachers gain professional knowledge, skills to reflect on the status quo, and a vision for the future.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/3-strategies-productive-teacher-mentoring?fbclid=IwAR1QI5P99J12VyiOWRAHGaKaGbNVvt5U1Tn4RWtnNMVe7mT9N_a4SF23Cpk

The Three Most Effective Instructional Strategies for Science—According to Teachers

• ‘My Favorite Word Is the F-word’
• Revising Models
• Play

https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-the-three-most-effective-instructional-strategies-for-science-according-to-teachers/2021/07

House Flipper:  How Not To Fall For A Sower of Dissatisfaction – World  

“Now that our money isn’t worth anything anymore, we see prospectors like flies around carrion making offers on our house. Sign of the times. As when Joe Kennedy discerned the signal to exit the stock market the day a shoeshine boy gave him stock tips.”  

https://wng.org/articles/house-flipper-1625880652?fbclid=IwAR2J3x6Ti_QFD3hOON3NoMyUWnC86AKOFHMdJxFhPIW6QVJTip_y61d-eyc

Slang of the Week:  

bussin: something really delicious or enjoyable, usually food-related. (Ex: “Check out what my mom made for dinner last night… Bussin!”)  

Axis – The Culture Translator 

#narcissisticparent

What it is: A TikTok trend called #narcissisticparent (paywall) started as a way to vent about emotionally abusive relationships. Now it has become a catch-all for posting about complicated family dynamics.

Why it’s affecting your relationship with your teen: The rise of “therapy-speak” has equipped young adults with a way to talk about abusive behavior and hurt they have experienced. Unfortunately, it’s also armed a generation of teens with overly-simplistic explanations for human behavior that they don’t like. Videos that use clinical diagnostic terms like “narcissistic personality disorder” (NPD) and “borderline personality disorder” (BPD) to describe behavior in their families have hundreds of millions of views, each with dozens of commenters congregating underneath to cheer on the OP (original poster) in any efforts to ditch these “toxic” relationships. When caretakers try to establish boundaries or enforce discipline on their children, there’s an army of cyber-warriors standing at the ready to offer teens validation while they villainize their parents.  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Jokes:  

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I had a dog named “5 miles” so I could tell people I walked “5 miles.”  But today I ran over “5 miles.”  

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Did you hear about the Dad who had his worst fear happen when the family bunnies escaped? 

• Yep, hare loss

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My friend loaned his girlfriend $100. Three years later, they broke up. She paid him back the $100. I guess you could say he lost interest in that relationship.

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My friend started a new band. The band is called “Duvet”. 

• They’re a cover band. 

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We went to a new restaurant. It has a “Mary Poppins” theme. 

• Super cauliflower cheese but the lobster was atrocious

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Middle School Science Minute  

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

What the 2020-2021 School Year Taught Us About Science Teaching and Learning

I was recently reading the May/June 2021 issue of “The Science Teacher” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the section “Editor’s Corner” written by the editor, Ann Haley MacKenzie.  Ann wrote an article entitled “What the 2020-2021 School Year Taught Us About Science Teaching and Learning.”

The school year has drawn to a close, although many schools have extended learning into the summer to address the gaps in learning experienced this year due to COVID.  Some schools were remote all year, some have been face-to-face, and others have been hybrid.  The year was surreal and reminded many of their first year of teaching or starting teaching all over again.

http://k12science.net/what-the-2020-2021-school-year-taught-us-about-science-teaching-and-learning/

Reports from the Front Lines

• Shawn has delayed summer vacation AGAIN!  
• Summer Conference Series  
  • The Future of Conferencing?  

Advisory:  

Google Arts & Culture – Art Freefall

Click a pic and watch an exploding ball of art.  Use the mouse to navigate around the “ball” and see individual pictures from Google Arts & Culture.  Pick a pic and share what draws you to it.  Alternatively, they could pick a pic that describes them that day.  

TWO-MINUTE TALKS – Edutopia  

Hand out a few slips of paper to each student and ask them to write down questions they’d like to discuss as a group. These can be prompts like “Which restaurant serves the best pizza in town?” or “Would you rather _____ or _____?”

Once you have the questions, you can set aside two minutes at the beginning or end of class—depending on your other classroom routines—for student-led discussions twice a week. Arrange a schedule that allows for each kid to have a chance to lead the talk. Put the schedule on the whiteboard and encourage the class to take ownership of this activity by having the students design a set of discussion norms.

On the designated days, all you need to do is hand a prompt to the facilitator. After that, stand to the side and listen to the conversations, but don’t participate—this is a chance for students to chat about a non-academic topic of interest.

Introverts may be anxious about leading a discussion; you can ease this worry by allowing students to co-lead with a peer. To encourage self-advocacy, you can ask them to arrange this before their turn to lead comes.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/4-ways-foster-positive-student-relationships

Design a Team Sticker – Sticker Giant

These folks have sponsored educational events in the past and been generous.  Make a sticker, pass them out to your team.  Create a team identity together and build your learning community for the year.  

https://www.stickergiant.com/

The Twitterverse  

Eric Curts  @ericcurts

How to Play YouTube Videos Safely in School http://controlaltachieve.com/2016/01/play-youtube-videos-safely.html… #ControlAltAchieve  

John R. Sowash  @jrsowash

Explore your #Chromebook with @ThingLink_edu http://bit.ly/2CgOdcj #ChromebookEDU #googleEDU

Phyllis Fagell, LCPC  @Pfagell

With my 13-year-old, I would get the death stare if I became visible to his Zoom classmates. With my 19-year-old—who took a summer course from my car during a road trip—I had to beg him to warn me if he was going to turn the camera on me & announce: “Say hi to my mom, everyone!”  

The Daily Wire  @realDailyWire

Radioactive Boar-Pig Hybrids Emerge From Fukushima Disaster Site, According To Study http://dlvr.it/S2spZt 

Joy Kirr @JoyKirr

This summer: Realizing that I don’t need to go many places, do many things, or see many people in order to be content and recover from last year. I appreciate it when it happens, but I’m loving the life I’m fortunate/privileged enough to have. Working on learning + relaxing. 

Thomas Sowell  @ThomasSowell

Advice to the young: You don’t have to listen to anybody. You can learn everything from your own personal experience. Of course, you will be at least 50 years old by the time you know what you need to know at 25.

Michael Fricano II  @EdTechnocation

Top secret! @CoSpaces_Edu is working on a new virtual tour creator tool! #ARVRedu #edtech #cospacesedu

MindShift  @MindShiftKQED

It is the inherent messiness of this stage that gives parents an opportunity to “get in there and make a difference.”

Joy Kirr   @JoyKirr

I understand giving students choice. As it shows here, though, what’s the learning objective?  As a reader, I don’t do any of these when I finish a book. If it’s good, I want to share it (or part of it) w/someone. Other ways students can “prove” they’re reading? #ShiftThis

 Typical EduCelebrity   @EduCelebrity

My new learning pyramid… Students remember: 10% of what they hear, 20% of what they see, 40% of what they see and hear, 100% of what’s on Tik Tok!  

Mountain Moot @mtmoot

keynote #2 Martin Dougiamas will be joining us from Australia to talk about Moodle, changes and what is coming soon. @moodler Friday 9:00am (MST). #mtmoot

Typical EduCelebrity  @EduCelebrity

Listen, I am all about knowing classical languages, but there are better ways to learn the Greek alphabet than through Covid variants.

WeAreTeachers  @WeAreTeachers

Asking for a friend…how’d we go from June 9th to July 9th in the blink of an eye? #teachertwitter #teachers

cpjones FCCT  @icpjones

Very very concerning …. Millions of pupils in England had no language teaching in lockdowns – survey

https://t.co/kcuGpSy8RM?amp=1

Mark Glynn @glynnmark

#Moodle Board is now Available – a plugin design to improve student engagement http://enhancingteaching.com/2021/07/09/moodle-board-is-now-available/

Phyllis Fagell, LCPC  @Pfagell

I have my best ideas at 3 am, then forget them by morning. So last night, I decided to end this frustrating cycle by emailing myself the idea right away. Anyway, here’s the brilliance I found in my inbox this morning. Getheng all as is at cosdoqnsis wto being good at wvwetryitb

Social Studies @socialstudiestx

#Socialstudies educators: we are looking for people that are interested in joining our #ssunconference this December. It will be free and we need help with planning presenters and more. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedAmLwA2EYqIDGLX8QDenN0uGTuomFqOjb4xJlLRARUezehg/viewform?usp=sf_link

Join us! #sschat #sstlap #education #teachertwitter  

H5P  @H5PTechnology

Major new features coming soon to H5P: – The H5P OER Hub – Virtual escape room – Real time competition mode (http://H5P.com) – Augmented reality – Paragraph sorting – Cornell notes https://h5p.org/june-2021-roadmap-update

Kevin Honeycutt  @kevinhoneycutt

Mr. Taylor Lewis  @TeachMrLewis

Make the venn diagram shape squares , not circles. Much easier for students to type into and a better use of space.

Matt Miller  @jmattmiller

20 useful ways to use Padlet in class now http://ditchthattextbook.com/2014/11/03/20-useful-ways-to-use-padlet-in-class-now/

#DitchBook

Launch Michigan @launchmich

#Michigan teachers are retiring in record numbers. Our latest statewide survey of 5,000 educators revealed retirements are up 44%, and college graduates with a teaching degree are down 70% over the last eight years.

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!” 

Strategies:  

20 Questions – Matt Miller’s Ditch That Textbook!

Summer is a time of reflection for teachers.  Matt Miller has some questions to get your thinking started.

https://ditchthattextbook.com/teacher-questions/

Taking Middle Schoolers’ Reading Journals Online

Talking Through Reading and Writing you make a case for a broad definition of text. You draw the students in through discussions about song lyrics, tv shows, YouTube, poetry, and art.

Taking Middle Schoolers’ Reading Journals Online

Resources:

AMLE Schools of Distinction

AMLE Schools of Distinction is both a recognition and continuous improvement program open to any school that educates students aged 10-15. Schools will be celebrated for their commitment to the middle grades best practices outlined in AMLE’s foundational text, The Successful Middle School: This We Believe, while also being guided through a process of self-assessment and strategic vision setting to help foster ongoing growth and success.  https://www.amle.org/amle-schools-of-distinction/  

Truth & Propaganda – World Radio

Before we can spot lies, we have to know what’s true

https://wng.org/podcasts/cal-thomas-truth-and-propaganda-1623303304?fbclid=IwAR1PhsfKq-lE0dZbmi7yW5n9nyh_JHD1iLPxmcZoNvK0EwnYDOGu96dHH4U

Reference:  

• US Dept. of Education report:  https://medialiteracynow.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/U.S.-Media-Literacy-Policy-Report-2020.pdf  
• StateScoop Article:  https://statescoop.com/secretaries-state-dhs-expand-anti-disinformation-fight/  
• https://www.dhs.gov/news/2021/05/12/oral-testimony-secretary-homeland-security-alejandro-n-mayorkas-senate  

Gamification:  Netflix Binge Learning

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1JjU5dz2YdaHk-UPYxTPsfaJUNlGnTe-Hm-RLZbMqmDI/copy

Turn binge watching into binge LEARNING with this fully editable template inspired by Netflix!  This Netflix-inspired “Binge Learning” Google Slides Template offers students a low stress, low hassle way to give your students a “big picture” overview of a concept and the possibility to zoom in with individual “episodes” related to a particular topic of your choice. 

Netflix Binge Learning

Google Arts & Culture – X Degrees of Separation

Click on two pictures and watch Google build you a timeline on how the history of art got from that art piece to the other one.  

https://artsexperiments.withgoogle.com/xdegrees/

HackEducation – Audrey Watters

Remember the book?  Well, the website is now on hiatus until further notice.  I get the feeling it is gone, but that could be the beans from breakfast.  Audrey has completed a book on Teaching Machines.  You can order it from MIT Press, or save some money and pre-order it from Amazon.  The book ships August 3, 2021.  

Moodle Close and GIFT Code Generator V3.31

Download a code generator for creating simple Moodle compatible embedded answer (cloze) question strings and GIFT formatted import strings in Excel.  Thanks to Jordan Svien of the Bunkyo English Communications Center for producing this handy tool.  https://dl.orangedox.com/e9uS92  

Compass Classroom – Word Up!  – Complete Set

Dwane Thomas of Visual Latin fame stars in a zany show teaching Latin and Greek roots, as well as hundreds of English words. Utilizing a new approach to learning, WordUp! seriously expands a student’s grasp of the vocabulary used in literature, science, and standardized tests.  Includes Vol. 1 – 3.  $65.00 while on sale.  

https://compassclassroom.com/shop/product-category/latin-vocab/vocabulary/

Civic Online Reasoning

Students are confused about how to evaluate online information. We all are. The COR curriculum provides free lessons and assessments that help you teach students to evaluate online information that affects them, their communities, and the world.

https://cor.stanford.edu/#annotations:DYnoJtEFEeu9woc6YTwGRA

Spelling Words

We’ve dropped the Merriam-Webster definitions beside them, to help if you’re testing your friends and family (National Spelling Bee competitors are allowed to ask for this, so your loved ones are, too).

https://mashable.com/article/words-2021-national-spelling-bee

BBC COUNTRYFILE MAGAZINE

Explore the British countryside and delve into the big rural issues with the team at BBC Countryfile Magazine. Follow us on walks into beautiful places and meet fascinating people. Lots of sound scapes available.

https://play.acast.com/s/bbccountryfilemagazine/

Lift Every Voice

For more than a century, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” has held a powerful place in American history. The hymn is known as the Black National Anthem, but it’s more than that. It’s a history lesson, a rallying cry, a pledge of unity, and as people gather to fight for equality and justice, it is an ever-present refrain.

Here’s a tour of the historical and cultural meaning behind the lyrics.

https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/09/us/lift-every-voice-and-sing-trnd/#annotations:m0L4HuXYEeu07svorWkJzw

Web Spotlight:  

Flippity

Turn your spreadsheets of information into flashcards.  

https://www.flippity.net/

The Class is LAVA! – Edrenaline Rush  

Back to school activity where students accomplish tasks to collect things like furniture for the classroom.  As they navigate the room, they encounter the . . . LAVA!  

Class is Lava!!

Google Arts and Culture

This is the landing place for Google Expeditions and Google Poly.  If you haven’t seen the site in a little while, I’d check it out.  There are a variety of different ways to explore the site, including by timeline.  As you explore the site, you can earn badges.  There was some speculation at #ISTE21 LIVE! that some of the Google Experiments stuff may be moving over to Google Arts & Culture in the future to make the feature more robust.  Looking for Blob Opera?  Sneak over to Google Arts & Culture.  You’ll also find GAC on giphy.  

https://artsandculture.google.com/

AXIS – The Culture Translator

Vax On, Vax Off

What it is: Teens are rebelling against their parents by getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Legal loopholes mean that they sometimes are able to get these shots without their parents knowing.  

This American Friendship

What it is: Survey results reveal young Americans have far fewer close friends than they did thirty years ago.

Why it’s affecting your sons and daughters: In 1990, three percent of Americans reported that they had three or fewer close friends. In 2021, that number jumped to twelve percent. This same data set reports that young men are relying more on their parents than close friends for everyday emotional support, and that men of all ages are far less likely than women to have recently had any type of private conversation with a friend in which they confided a problem or expressed affection. 

The Purge: TikTok

What it is: TikTok deleted over 11 million accounts this quarter for violations of their community guidelines. More than 7 million of those were removed due to violating TikTok’s rules about age.

Why it’s a promising sign: In the past, TikTok hasn’t published numbers that show how many underage accounts they found and expunged from the platform. TikTok’s standard is that a user needs to be 13 or older to manage their own individual account. The fact that the app, which currently has 1 billion global users, is getting publicly honest about younger user’s presence on the platform while doing something to limit their access shows that maybe the platform is taking the rules they adopted in December of 2020 seriously.  

#WatermelonMustard Challange

What it is: A viral TikTok trend you might actually want to try at home: mustard on a slice of watermelon.

Slang of the Week

snatched: a compliment typically used for physical attributes, especially the smallness of someone’s waist, but also sometimes their makeup or outfit. 

Poggers: an expression of excitement that typically refers to something surprising, impressive, or delightful, usually during a video game (see also: Pog, PogChamp). 

Cap: to lie or to exaggerate; sometimes represented with a baseball cap emoji. The opposite of “cap” is truth or authenticity, referred to as “no cap.” 

Ex: “I’ll be swinging by your house to pick you up in the nicest car you have ever seen, no cap.”

Other Data: 20 Signs You’re Actually Making A Difference As A Teacher

Other Data: 20 Signs You’re Actually Making A Difference As A Teacher

Random Thoughts . . .  

Semi-Conductor

If you’re like Troy, you’ve always wanted to be a conductor.  Personally, I’m best at electricity.  You, however, might enjoy Google’s Semi-Conductor:  https://semiconductor.withgoogle.com/  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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Summary:

Shawn and Troy catch up on the challenges and changes coming in education. Dave continues his thoughts on computational thinking. 

Jokes:  

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What do you call it when someone steals your coffee?

• A mugging

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A friend went into a pet store and inquired about bird cages. He asked one of them was made of. The employee said aluminum. He asked if the bird cage was made of nickel. He was told that it wasn’t. He was thrown out when he declared, “So, it’s a nickel-less cage?”

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I’m pretty sure that someone hid the final paragraph of my essay on a shelf way up high, but I don’t want to jump to conclusions. 

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What did they yell at Edgar Allan Poe as he was walking toward a maple tree?

• Poetry

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I bought a new wig for $1.00

• It was a small price toupee

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You know, many people enjoy a day off on July 4th. But not fire. 

• Fireworks on July 4th

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No matter how much you push the envelope, it will still be stationery. 

Middle School Science Minute  

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

The Intentional Integration of Computational Thinking

I was recently reading the May/June 2021 issue of “Science Scope” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the section “Interdisciplinary Ideas” written by Raja Ridgway.  Raja wrote an article entitled “The Intentional Integration of Computational Thinking.”

Computational Thinking Practices:

• Decomposition — Breaking down into components.
• Pattern Matching — Finding similarities between components.
• Abstraction — The process of reducing complexity by focusing on the main idea.  By hiding details irrelevant to the question at hand and bringing together related and useful details, abstraction reduces complexity and allows one to focus on the problem.
• Algorithms — A step-by-step process to complete a task.

http://k12science.net/the-intentional-integration-of-computational-thinking/

Reports from the Front Lines

• Changing sunrise by 45 minutes or so . . . 
  • Vocab Quiz:  https://www.visitmaine.net/page/157/maine-slang  
• ISTE21 LIVE! Was last week.  Future of educational conferences.  
  • Interesting interview with Susan Cain about introverts and how schools aren’t supporting the “Quiet” kids by providing individual options to show mastery. Research shows a critical component of creativity is quiet and solitude.  Not exclusively mind you.    https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts?language=en  
• I’m not going to close my Advisory Google Classroom for the summer . . .
• New beginnings
• Video Conferencing this Fall?

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download