Web Spotlight

March 12, 2016

MSM 324: A Day in the Life of The Mind of a Middle Schooler

Troy Patterson / MSM, Web Spotlight /

Jokes You Can Use:

How do you find Will Smith in a snow storm? Follow the Fresh Prints.

It’s difficult to say what my wife does, She sells seashell by the sea shore.

How did the hipster burn his mouth? He ate pizza before it was cool.

A neutron walks into a coffee shop and orders a coffee. The barista says “No charge”.

Two goldfish are in a tank. One looks at the other and says “Do you know how to drive this thing?”

How does the NASA organize a party? They planet.

Advisory:

A Day in the Life

Use the pictures for the students to create stories of the times. Have students replicate the project in their neighborhood.

http://mashable.com/2016/03/05/london-ohio-great-depression/#gZr.u31ngkqb

Middle School Science Minute

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

NGSS: Where Do You Start?

I was recently reading the February, 2016 issue of “Science Scope,” a magazine written for middle school science teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association.

In this issue, I read the article, “Planning NGSS Instruction – Where Do You Start?” It was written by Mary Colson and Russ Colson. If you are planning to implement NGSS, you should consider:

Authentic Questions
Engagement in Scientific Practices
Big Explanatory Ideas

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2016/3/10_Middle_School_Science_Minute-NGSS__Where_Do_You_Start.html

From the Twitterverse:

Glenn Robbins ‏@Glennr1809

A4: Too often schools buy 3D printers because they are “bright/shining” items. We need designer first- DON’T BUY TO BUY! #satchat

achievethecore.org ‏@achievethecore

Achieve the Core has done some early spring cleaning: check out our newly streamlined site http://bit.ly/1ToN5pf

Dr. Justin Tarte ‏@justintarte

The best homework assignments EVER … make the world a better place: via @peterlynch11 #edchat #education

TeacherPolicy ‏@teacherpolicy

Southern Lawmakers Reconsidering Role of Test Scores in Teacher Evaluations http://mobile.edweek.org/c.jsp?cid=25920011&item=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.edweek.org%2Fv1%2Fblog%2F62%2F%3Fuuid%3D57209 …

Sarah Allred ‏@RockStarTchr Archdale, NC

Explains a lot!

Bill Powers ‏@MrPowersCMS

As adults sometimes we are our worst enemy in allowing students to tinker. We must give up control #satchat

Daisy Dyer Duerr ‏@DaisyDyerDuerr 3m3 minutes ago

16 Apps and Websites Kids Are Heading to After Facebook | Common Sense Media https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/16-apps-and-websites-kids-are-heading-to-after-facebook?utm_source=031116+Default&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly# … via @commonsense

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

Strategies:

Media Center

“You can’t have things that are in one spot,” Kitchen says. “If you put things in fours, they’re going to stay in fours. So everything we have there is movable, whether it’s the chairs, the interactive boards, or the flat panels.”

http://www.cultofpedagogy.com/school-library/

Resources:

Periodic Table Puns – Teachers Pay Teachers: FREE

A set of puns science teachers can use to help students learn about the periodic table of elements.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Periodic-Table-Puns-547062

The Science Of Getting Kids Organized

To help Lilli get stuff done, her parents hired Melissa Power-Greene, a former tutor and special-education teacher, to work with Lilli on something called executive function.

“I think having the routine of meeting once a week is helpful to know that I have a point where I stop what I’m doing and kind of figure out if I’m on the right track,” she says.

That’s something many educators and psychologists say can come from less expensive forms of help — or, in an ideal world, for free in the public schools.

http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/02/02/463593878/the-science-of-getting-kids-organized

Experts Say Measuring Non-Cognitive Skills Won’t Work, But Districts Still Try

Federal education law now requires one non-academic measure of school progress, which has led some districts to consider including students’ social and emotional growth as a performance measure.

http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2016/03/02/experts-say-measuring-non-cognitive-skills-wont-work-but-districts-still-try/

10+ Tips for Using Brain-Based Methods to Redesign Your Classroom

Creating a Brain-Friendly Enriched Classroom Environment

Layout and Use of Space:
Furniture Choices:
Color Selections:
Lighting:
Nature:
Environmental Print and Design:
Organization of Materials:

However, many indirect benefits also followed. We created a space that made it more natural to take our time, relax, and be reflective as we worked towards mastery and understanding. The physical landscape of our room took on a different emotional feel upon entering. Our space was inspiring. It was warm. And most of all, it was an invitation for learning where all felt welcomed and valued. After all, students knew their voice mattered—they helped created their space.

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2016-03-01-10-tips-for-using-brain-based-methods-to-redesign-your-classroom

Web Spotlight:

The Changing Role Of The Teacher

This does not mean that the teacher is to stand off and look on; the alternative to furnishing ready-made subject matter and listening to the accuracy with which it is reproduced is not quiescence, but participation, sharing, in an activity. In such shared activity, the teacher is a learner, and the learner is, without knowing it, a teacher—and upon the whole, the less consciousness there is, on either side, of either giving or receiving instruction, the better.

http://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/changing-role-of-the-teacher/

Comparing Textbooks to Wikipedia – A Student & Teacher Lesson

Last week during NCTIES I shared an activity that I have done with students and teachers to help them identify the similarities and differences between information presenting in their textbooks and information presented in Wikipedia articles on the same topics. An outline of the activity is available here.

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2016/03/comparing-textbooks-to-wikipedia.html#.VuQfs5MrJdA

20 Strategies for Motivating Reluctant Learners

Perez says when students are engaged, predicting answers, talking with one another and sharing with the class in ways that follow safe routines and practices, they not only achieve more but they also act out less. And everyone, including the teacher, has more fun.

PEREZ’ BRAIN-BASED STRATEGIES

Don’t Be Boring
Vote
Set Goals
Form Groups
Quick Writes
Focus on the ABCs: Acceptance, Belonging and Community
Continually change the “state” of the classroom
Empathize
Do a BRAIN checklist
Simplify
Chunk Information
Props
Breaks
Post-Its
Make Snowballs
Guessing Games
Balanced Inquiry
Mind-streaming
Be Interactive
HOPE

http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2016/03/03/20-strategies-for-motivating-reluctant-learners/

Random Thoughts . . .

Personal Web Site

January 30, 2016

MSM 319: Try this…Emoji(s) and more

Troy Patterson / MSM, Podcast, Strategy, Web Spotlight /

Jokes You Can Use:

WARNING: You might not want to read this unless you are in a place where you are free to laugh out loud occasionally.

When deep cuts were made in the guillotine industry, heads rolled.
When fish are in schools, they sometimes take debate.
The batteries were given out free of charge.
I heard the new auto body shop that opened comes highly wreck-a-mended.
The president of the Ennui Club was also chairman of the bored.
The tarantula found his partner online. He spider on the web.
I decided not to go to Pisa, though I was leaning towards it.
Broken puppets for sale. No strings attached.
The historian loves reading about bobcats. They are lynx to the past.

Two guys are walking down the street when a mugger approaches them and demands their money.

They both grudgingly pull out their wallets and begin taking out their cash. Just then one guy turns to the other and hands him a bill. “Here’s that $20 I owe you,” he says.

Advisory:

Psychological Tricks:

*Warning, there are a couple of “teacher tricks” here.

http://twentytwowords.com/clever-psychological-tricks-you-can-use-to-your-advantage/gallery/1/

10 Dining Etiquette Don’ts From Around The World

Navigating foreign countries can be tough, and that includes making it through a meal without inadvertently offending the natives. Here are 10 dining etiquette don’ts from around the world, courtesy of Langfords.com. Number

Britain. Talking with a mouth full of food is never recommended, but is something the people of this nation find to be particularly repellent.
Denmark. Never take the last danish – or any food item for that matter. The proper way to get one more bit of deliciousness is to keep cutting the remaining tidbit in half until nothing but crumbs remain.
Thailand. Placing chopsticks in an empty bowl can send a message sure to dampen dinner conversation. The arrangement is a symbol of death.
Mexico. Being punctual is usually a good thing, but not when it involves gathering for meals. In that situation, 30 minutes late is considered being perfectly on time.
Germany. A note to those who cut up their salad greens with a knife – Germans would rather you don’t. The preferred method is to fold them with a fork.
U.S.A. If your meal is too hot, either wait for it to cool or deal with the blistering consequences. Blowing on one’s food is considered bad table behavior.
Egypt. Desiring another person’s better-looking dish is natural, but, when experiencing such envy in Egypt, don’t stare at their plate. In fact, don’t look at anybody else’s food for any reason.
Spain. Using bread as an additional utensil for eating soup is popular in some places, but Spain is not among them. There, dunking is considered rude.
Russia. Vodka purists to be sure, the national belief is that nothing, not even ice, should be mixed or otherwise come into contact with the beloved beverage.
Zambia. In an age rife with food allergies and intolerances, it’s become common to question a dish’s ingredients. However, doing that in Zambia is akin to suggesting the cook is trying to serve you poison.

Which of the world’s dining etiquette gaffes most surprise you?

Taylor Swift Inspired This Mega Fan to Shake Off 425 Pounds

Two years ago, 28-year-old Ronnie Brower weighed almost 700 pounds.

His doctors had told him that if he didn’t make some serious lifestyle changes, there was no way he’d live to see 35.

Now, at the ripe old age of 30, Ronnie has lost an incredible 425 pounds and completely turned his life around — all thanks to a Facebook friend who put him in touch with a personal trainer, and the healing powers of Taylor Swift.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0UeRh7huME

6 Photographers Shot the Same Person and the Results are Astonishing

http://www.worldvillage.com/6-photographers-shot-the-same-person-and-the-results-are-astonishing/

Using MyFitness Pal with Students

http://www.theedublogger.com/2016/01/29/myfitnesspal/

Middle School Science Minute

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

MYTHS ABOUT NGSS

I WAS RECENTLY READING THE JANUARY, 2016 ISSUE OF “SCIENCE SCOPE,” A MAGAZINE WRITTEN FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHERS, PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.

IN THIS ISSUE, I READ THE ARTICLE, “ADDRESSING THREE COMMON MYTHS ABOUT THE NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS.” IT WAS WRITTEN BY KENNETH L. HUFF. THE ARTICLE IDENTIFIES THREE COMMON MYTHS ABOUT THE NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS. THEY ARE:

SCIENCE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS ALREADY CONTAINED IN THE COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS, ELA.
WE ARE ALREADY DOING THIS.
NGSS LIMITS WHAT SCIENCE CAN BE TAUGHT IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL.

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2016/1/27_Middle_School_Science_Minute-Myths_About_NGSS.html

From the Twitterverse:

Hadi Partovi ‏@hadip

Republicans and Democrats ALL agree on computer science. Today The White House joined the movement. #CSforAll https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5QGo_Yb_Pc&feature=youtu.be …
RE: Steve Cushing SteveC ‏@Montberte

President Obama Announces ‘Computer Science for All’ Initiative – Curriculum Matters – Education Week:… http://bit.ly/1KMWiir #SteveC

Wired Educator ‏@WiredEducator

. @iPadAgTeacher @DweaverRick awesome I also wrote this article on Edmodo for using it for formative assessment http://wirededucator.com/edmodo-great-for-exit-tickets-and-other-formative-assessment/ …

George Couros ‏@gcouros

What Makes a Master Teacher http://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/267 …

Mark Barnes ‏@markbarnes19

Mike Fisher pulls no punches in his forthcoming Hacking the Common Core. #HackLearning

edutopia ‏@edutopia

Lesson didn’t go as planned? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered: http://edut.to/1Sp4gED .

Justin Baeder ‏@eduleadership

Why Everyone Believes In Formative Assessment, But Nobody Does It http://www.principalcenter.com/x/a5

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

Strategies:

Exit Ticket Emoji

http://www.uked.directory/product/wsr00034/

A Google Drive link that you can use:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B47VAie_5f7YeVR5LUV1a0E1MmM/view

Songs To Get Students Thinking ….

BY DDEUBEL · JANUARY 25, 2016

“Most often, I used songs to either introduce a topic but most often to introduce a “sensitive” topic or one about a personal, social or global issue. They are great at getting students thinking about things we usually don’t and for prompting discussion.”

http://ddeubel.edublogs.org/2016/01/25/songs-to-get-students-thinking/

Resources:

BEGINNING AND ENDING CLASS LIKE A PRO WITH BRIAN SZTABNIK

http://www.coolcatteacher.com/brian-sztabnik-beginning-ending-class/

Real Vocabulary

http://www.macmillandictionary.com/learn/real-vocabulary/

Choosito

Free Leveled Web search.

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

Cherrypal:

http://www.cherrypal.com/home.htm

Cheap computer company is back online making tablets.

Web Spotlight:

30 of The Creepiest Valentine’s Day

http://twentytwowords.com/the-creepiest-vintage-valentines-youll-ever-see/gallery/1/

Random Thoughts . . .

Reading the Test.

Personal Web Site

September 5, 2015

MSM 310: Google Stuff, Book Stuff, Middle School Stuff.

Troy Patterson / MSM, Podcast, Web Spotlight /

Jokes You Can Use:

Where do skunks go to pray?

The pew.

What sound does a squirrel make when it sneezes?

Cashew.

Why did Mozart kill all his chickens?

He asked them who their favorite composer was: “Bach, Bach”

How do you stop bacon from curling in the pan?

Take away their little brooms.

Eileen Award:

Facebook: Jack Berckemeyer (Happy Birthday).
Alex Felton

Advisory

Vizier Closed Circuit Camera Ads:

https://youtu.be/S-fvxEq_3DA

“There is much more truth that you are blind to” is an ad for Vizier CCTV products, but reminds us that we don’t always see the whole story.

Pictures to respond

http://john-holcroft.tumblr.com/#

http://john-holcroft.tumblr.com/

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/these-20-sarcastic-pictures-will-make-you-rethink-the-way-live.html

Middle School Science Minute

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

Nature of Science

I was recently reading the March, 2015 issue of “Science Scope,” a magazine written for middle school science teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association.

In this issue, I read the article, “Why Theories Do Not Change Into Laws,” written by Sissy Wong and Tonya Jeffery. In the article, they discuss the importance of integrating Nature of Science in instruction throughout science instruction.

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2015/6/24_Middle_School_Science_Minute-Nature_of_Science.html

From the Twitterverse:

Glen Westbroek ‏@gardenglen

Easy 2 use! “How to Create Custom, Multimedia Maps on Scribble Maps – No Account Required” #EdChat http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2015/09/how-to-create-custom-multimedia-maps-on.html#.Ver9C3jBhZa.twitter …

MiddleWeb ‏@middleweb

Responsive teachers learn to scaffold lessons so all students succeed, says @regieroutman http://www.middleweb.com/24923/how-to-fill-your-class-with-joyful-learning/ … #elachat #educoach #edchat

Vicki Davis ‏@coolcatteacher

Free Technology for Teachers: Email Etiquette Tips for Students and Teachers http://cctea.ch/1UrsvFt

Alec Couros ‏@courosa Aug 12

“A Guide to Crap Detection Resources” from @hrheingold https://docs.google.com/document/d/163G79vq-mFWjIqMb9AzYGbr5Y8YMGcpbSzJRutO8tpw/edit … #diglit #eci832

NPR ‏@NPRextra

Going to the #NatBookFest15? Use this guide to plan your day: http://n.pr/1fJlGMw

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

Strategies:

Dictation in Google Docs

For an easy way to put words on a page, you can type with your voice in a document. At the moment, this feature is only available in Chrome browsers.

Before you get started, make sure that you have a working microphone either built in to your device or connected externally.
In a Chrome browser, open a document.
Click the Tools menu > Voice typing.
A pop-up microphone box will appear. When you are ready to speak your text, click the microphone or press Ctrl + Shift + S (Cmd + Shift + S on a Mac) on your keyboard.
Speak your text clearly, at a normal volume and pace. See below for more information on using punctuation.
When you’re finished, click the microphone again.

Note: While voice typing in Google Docs is only available on computers, many Android and iOS phones and tablets have built-in microphones that you can use with a document. Look for the microphone icon on your mobile keyboard.

Correct mistakes while voice typing

If you make a mistake while you’re typing with your voice, you can move you cursor to the mistake and fix it without turning the microphone off. After correcting the mistake, make sure to move the cursor back to where you want to continue voice typing. You can also right-click words underlined in grey to see a list of suggestions.

https://support.google.com/docs/answer/4492226?hl=en

FEEDBACK SHOULD BE MORE WORK FOR THE RECIPIENT

He argues that instead of collecting homework, marking problems right and wrong and then handing papers back with a grade, a teacher could tell each student nothing more than the number of wrong answers that can be found on their papers.

He argues that instead of correcting grammar and punctuation mistakes FOR students, teachers should make simple marks in the margin indicating sentences where students have made errors.

http://blog.williamferriter.com/2015/09/03/feedback-should-be-more-work-for-the-recipient/

5 Common Teaching Practices I’m Kicking to the Curb

Popcorn Reading
Giving Students Prepared Notes
Whole-Class Punishments
Using Learning Styles to Plan Instruction
“Differentiating” by Having Advanced Students Help Struggling Students

http://www.cultofpedagogy.com/ineffective-teaching-methods/

Resources:

Wildcard – Know the Day in News & Entertainment

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wildcard-know-day-in-news/id930047790?mt=8

Wildcard is a news curator app. It brings you the stories of the day, which is convenient if you are teaching current events in a social studies class. Do keep in mind that it is editorially curated.

Google for Education Cheat Sheet

http://goo.gl/y3IuLM

Need a back to school cheat sheet for the +Google Docs updates? Click on the link in the show notes for new templates and ways for Docs to make you look better.

Google Chrome Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet

Love #Chromebook keyboard shortcuts, but can’t keep track of them all? Hit “ctrl + alt + ?” for the ultimate cheat sheet. #chrometip

Start with Why

Simon Sinek discusses the principle behind every successful person and business. A simple but powerful model for how leaders inspire action, starting with a golden circle and the question “Why?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sioZd3AxmnE

Google Share to Classroom

Want to share a webpage with the entire class? Use the new Share to Classroom extension to get your #GoogleClassroom students on the same (web)page, instantly. g.co/ShareToClassroom

Plickers App

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/plickers/id701184049?mt=8

All the great things about Plickers, and more! In an app! You can preplan questions, not just on the fly and record answers on the Plickers website. Great for putting into a portfolio at the end of the year!!

NoiseTrade Books

Books for personal use. Free for the exchange of information. They also accept “tips”.

http://books.noisetrade.com/

Web Spotlight:

How The Ballpoint Pen Killed Cursive

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/08/ballpoint-pens-object-lesson-history-handwriting/402205/

Random Thoughts . . .

Personal Web Site

June 6, 2015

MSM 307: Quotes, Nitrogen – Cheat and Don’t Get Caught. We’ll be back!

Troy Patterson / MSM, Podcast, Strategy, Web Spotlight /

Jokes You Can Use:

A man walks into the psychiatrist’s office with a zucchini up his nose, a cucumber in his left ear, and a breadstick in his right ear. He says, “What is wrong with me?

The psychiatrist replies, “You are not eating properly.”

Q: Do you know why dogs don’t dance?

A: They have two left feet!

A little boy asked his dad for a dollar to give to a little old lady in the park. His father impressed by his son’s kindness, gave him the dollar. “There you are my son,” said the father. “But, tell me, isn’t the little lady able to work any more? “She sells candy” was the boy’s reply.

Eileen Award:

Twitter: Jeff Faria

Advisory:

Shopping in Bethel, Alaska

Compare shopping in your town with Bethel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=43&v=qyVgDW7h0Fw

10 Quotes From Audrey Hepburn That Will Teach You Valuable Life Lessons

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/10-quotes-from-audrey-hepburn-that-will-teach-you-valuable-life-lessons.html

101 Bruce Lee Quotes

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/the-101-ultimate-bruce-lee-quotes.html

The Paper Airplane that you wish you’d made

Warning: A couple of swear words in the beginning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0stHV0s7XaU

21 Proverbs from Around the World

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jamiejones/the-most-beautiful-proverbs-from-around-the-world#.vbY8dkGGw

Middle School Science Minute

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

NITROGEN, ROBOTS AND CAMERAS

I was recently reading the February, 2015 issue of “Science Scope,” a magazine written for middle school science teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association.

In this issue, I read the column, “Scope on the Skies” written by Bob Riddle. In his column, Bob provides questions that students would have fun answering. In this issue, he asks questions about nitrogenous breathing organisms, planets inhabited by robots and cameras that simulate our eyes.

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2015/5/18_Middle_School_Science_Minute-Nitrogen%2C_Robots_and_Cameras.html

From the Twitterverse:

Todd ‏@ToddWhitakeriBooks has launched their “Summer Reading For Educators” campaign which will run June 1-July 13. (Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/collection/summer-reading-for-educators/id136548?fcId=993535882&mt=11 …)

Dru Tomlin ‏@DruTomlin_AMLE Westerville, OHExcited that lots of folks R WebCamping w/ @AMLE this summer! Free online learning 4 middle grades at http://www.amle.org/webinars Boom! #mschat

Chris Hubbuch ‏@ChrisHubbuchSeven Tech Tools for Fast Formative Assessment http://ow.ly/NXq4Y from @MiddleWeb #mschat #sblchat #essd40pd

MiddleWeb ‏@middlewebIf we were new 6-8 teachers, we’d be reading: “8 Things I Know for Sure about Middle School Kids” http://www.middleweb.com/19645/8-things-about-middle-school-kids/ … #ntchat #newteacher

Monte Tatom ‏@drmmtatom Tennessee, USA #edwebchat ~ @newteacherhelp shares @TeacherKit ~ #fhuedu320 #tn_teta

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

Strategies:

Create image quiz on Riddle

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2015/05/how-to-create-image-based-quizzes-and.html#.VXMD-VxVhBd

Resources:

Writing Prompts

An entire book from MakeBeliefsComix to share with students.

http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/_downloads/eBooks/Something-To-Write-About.pdf

Ten Great Resources for telling stories

from Richard Byrne

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2015/05/ten-great-tools-for-telling-stories.html#.VXMFpVxVhBe

https://app.box.com/s/5htchviyphrnsopjl9tysapcpro71c2c

Education Endowment Foundation Toolkit

List of strategies ranked by cost and effectiveness.

https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/toolkit/toolkit-a-z/

Web Spotlight:

How to Cheat on State Standardized Tests and Not Get Caught

It could be my college experience that leads me to write this article. I’m not encouraging anyone to follow the advice given here, but I’m sure that many have already done so. The fact is that any time you create a game, people will game the system, and that is just what our current test and punish culture has lead to.

If you are going to do some erasing, you better be selective and not get carried away. Here are my tips.

On the papers of your top students and your bottom students, don’t erase anything.
Focus on your bubble kids. I wouldn’t correct more than two questions per test. I would use a high-end eraser, and use almost a surgical technique.
Most of the efforts I have seen to fire poor teachers depend on at least two consecutive years of poor performance on the tests combined with other criteria. If this is the case, it’s fine if your students do crappy year one as long as they do better year two.
Most teachers are concerned about students cheating on assessments of all kinds, and usually take action to control cheating opportunities. When it comes to the state tests, however, you just might want to lower the cheating barriers.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, this article was written with tongue firmly in cheek.

Random Thoughts . . .

Personal Web Site

January 11, 2015

MSM 294: Another Rathole! Formative Sideburns and Pexels.

Troy Patterson / advisory, Conferences, MSM, News, Strategy, Web Spotlight /

Jokes You Can Use:

Why can’t you hear a pterodactyl use the bathroom?

Because the “P” is silent

What do you call a group of musical pigs?

An oinkestra!

Why did the belt get locked up?

He held up a pair of pants!

Thoughts for the day:

Seniors graduating in the class of 2015 have never been alive while The Simpsons was not on TV.
New York City is further south than Rome, Italy.
There were still people making their way across the United States via the Oregon Trail the year the fax machine was invented.

Eileen Award:

Twitter: Kevin McGoldrick,
Google+: Whitney Hickman

Advisory:

He Was Tormented By Bullies But What He Did In Response Taught Everyone An Important Lesson

“Being nice should be the norm,” Josh explains. “It’s not something I expected to stand out.”

http://www.reshareworthy.com/opening-doors-against-bullying/#Xkq473Jlu9APkj3R.99

Middle School Science Minute

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

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE MINUTE-COMPUTATIONAL THINKING

I was recently reading the November, 2014 issue of “Science Scope,” a magazine written for middle school science teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association.

In this issue, I read an article entitled “Exploring the Science Framework and NGSS: Computational Thinking in the Science Classroom, written by Cary Sneider, Chris Stephenson, Bruce Schafer and Larry Flick. Computational thinking is a fundamental skill for everyone, not just computer scientists. To reading, writing and arithmetic, we should add computational thinking to every child’s analytical ability.

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2014/12/19_Middle_School_Science_Minute-Computational_Thinking.html

From the Twitterverse:

Ron Houtman ‏@ronhoutmanParaphrasing @tebotweets -it’s time for educators that are circling the airport to leave our airspace. #miflip15

Maria Popova ‏@brainpickerAmbiverts, problem-finders, and the surprising psychology of making your ideas happen http://buff.ly/14eV2Fp

Kristine Quallich ‏@KQuall“@justintarte: Great steps to have in a school: #edchat #mathchat ” @KarenMcGinty @ClaggettWay2BEE #mathpractice

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B6_OkMjCAAAgUC3.png:large

Scott McLeod ‏@mcleodAll You Need to Know About the ‘Learning Styles’ Myth, in Two Minutes http://wrd.cm/1y2y92T #edchat #plaea

Adam Savage ‏@donttrythis“@HistoricalPics: Advertisement for the TRS-80 Pocket Computer with Isaac Asimov from 1982. ” EPIC SIDEBURNS!!

https://twitter.com/HistoricalPics/status/553642446845124608/photo/1

Patti Kinney ‏@pckinney5 Strategic Tips for First-Year Administrators | @scoopit http://sco.lt/75sIyn

pammoran ‏@pammoranguess it’s better 2b able 2 print a wrench in space than come back to earth 4 one #satchat

Wrench printed in space.

Monte Tatom @drmmtatom · I liked a @YouTube video http://ln.is/www.youtube.com/f96Aq … Using Technology to Connect Students & the Environment

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

Strategies:

13 Ways to Use Socrative as a Formative Assessment

True or False Questions
Multiple Choice Questions
Short Response
Visual Data (Bar graphs and visual short responses)
Exit Ticket
Pre-Assessment
Post-Assessment
Create Short Quizzes
Upload Premade Quizzes
Reflection
Collect Background Knowledge
Quick Check for Understanding
Voting on best responses

http://www.thelandscapeoflearning.com/2012/02/11-ways-to-use-socrative-as-formative.html

Moodle eCommunity

https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=277170

Resources:

Pexels

Free High Quality Images that are free to use.

http://www.pexels.com/

DuoLingo for Schools

Bring the world’s most popular language-learning platform to your classroom. No ads, 100% free.

https://schools.duolingo.com/

Oregon Trail – Online

https://archive.org/details/msdos_Oregon_Trail_The_1990

Web Spotlight:

Minnesota schools hit glitches with online testing

Minnesota’s $38 million contract with Pearson for online proficiency testing is just a few months old, but it already has technology staff in many schools scrambling to ensure their systems are compatible.

…shocked when Pearson suggested schools run computers online in what they consider an “unsecure” mode.

Pearson’s vice president of state services, acknowledges that her company should have been more specific about its system requirements.

Unfortunately, Apple’s popular Safari Web browser and Pearson’s TestNav testing portal don’t play well together.

Pearson’s system relies on versions of Java and Flash software that are no longer supported by Apple’s browser and will work only if security is disabled on students’ computers.

“I was very surprised they rolled out a memo that said just turn your security off,” said Dave Heistad, director of assessment, evaluation and research for Bloomington schools. “That blew me away. I couldn’t believe a multimillion-dollar company would roll something out that wasn’t secure.”

…both Java and Flash are notorious for their vulnerabilities and need for their code to be updated.

Despite problems, district across Minnesota have successfully used Pearson’s TestNav system to administer practice tests.

Tomhave said the challenges his district faced ranged from problems with Pearson’s test portal to issues with their Internet services provider and the district’s internal system.

“We are looking forward to a future online testing experience that is device agnostic with fewer software interventions,” he said.

Schaeffer says a national Gallup poll of teachers from last summer shows a majority don’t feel their students or schools are ready for online tests. Just 17 percent of educators polled said their schools were “very well prepared” for online testing, with 46 percent answering their schools were “not well prepared” for Web-based tests.

http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_27211647/minnesota-schools-hit-glitches-online-testing

Grading Thaime! The Originals.

Last year, I swept the nation with an album I posted on reddit where I explained my “Little Red Writing Pen” rule. Unfortunately the nation didn’t know it was being swept. So now I will attempt to re-sweep (and possibly mop, wax, and finally get that weird brown-yellow stain out of) the nation by releasing the same exact images! But this time with some descriptions and the names blacked out. Also I am going to release the rest of the collection.

To explain, I was an 8th-9th grade science teacher at an all girls Thai school in Bangkok, and I established a rule with my students: If you draw something, I will add to it.

They drew, I added, and this is the original album of drawings I posted. I continued to draw on their papers, but I did not continue to post them. This is what is referred to as “foreshadowing.” I have many more images to come!

http://squeezymo.wordpress.com/

Higher Level Thinkers

http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2015/01/higher-level-thinkers-dont-just-magically-emerge-from-low-level-thinking-spaces-slide.html

Random Thoughts . . .

Conference Thoughts

Personal Web Site

December 27, 2014

MSM 292: Riddle Me This Sherlock, We’re done for this year.

Troy Patterson / advisory, MSM, Podcast, Web Spotlight /

Jokes You Can Use:

An elderly woman walked into the local country church. The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of steps. “Where would you like to sit?” he asked politely.

“The front row please.” she answered.

“You really don’t want to do that”, the usher said. “The pastor is really boring.”

“Do you happen to know who I am?” the woman inquired. “No.” he said.

“I’m the pastor’s mother,” she replied indignantly.

“Do you know who I am?” he asked.

“No.” she said.

“Good,” he answered

Why did the 3-legged dog go back to Dodge City?

To see who shot his “paw.”

Q: An electric train is traveling South and the wind is blowing East. Which way is the smoke blowing?

A: There is no smoke it’s an electric train.

It was the end of the school year, and a kindergarten teacher was receiving gifts from her pupils. The florist’s son handed her a gift. She shook it, held it overhead, and said, “I bet I know what it is. Flowers.” “That’s right!” the boy said, “But, how did you know?” “Oh, just a wild guess,” she said. The next pupil was the sweet shop owner’s daughter. The teacher held her gift overhead, shook it, and said, “I bet I can guess what it is. A box of sweets.” “That’s right, but how did you know?” asked the girl. “Oh, just a wild guess,” said the teacher. The next gift was from the son of the liquor store owner. The teacher held the package overhead, but it was leaking. She touched a drop off the leakage with her finger and put it to her tongue. “Is it wine?” she asked. “No,” the boy replied, with some excitement. The teacher repeated the process, tasting a larger drop of the leakage. “Is it champagne?” she asked. “No,” the boy replied, with more excitement. The teacher took one more big taste before declaring, “I give up, what is it?” With great glee, the boy replied, “It’s a puppy!” SURPRISE!

Eileen Award:

Twitter: Sandy Cameli, Leigh Ann Eck, Todd Bloch
Email: Camilla Elliot

Advisory:

Middle School Science Minute

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

Hazardous Glues

I was recently reading the October, 2014 issue of “Science Scope,” a magazine written for middle school science teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association.

In this issue, I read an article entitled “Scope on Safety,” written by Ken Roy, Director of Environmental Health and Safety for the Glastonbury Public Schools in Glastonbury, CT. Within this article is the “Question of the Month.” This month’s question is, “Are some glues hazardous to use?”

BTW, I liked the comment on podcasting being the new radio. It has been like that for me, for quite a while. I hardly ever listen to radio in the car, it is always podcasts. My son has finally jumped on the bandwagon. It was funny hearing his share items he heard on a podcast, with me the other day.

Have a great Christmas,

Dave

From the Twitterverse:

Rovy Branon ‏@rovybranoniPads are Replacing Waiters in Airport Restaurants | Digital Trends http://ht.ly/Gtani

Scholastic Teachers ‏@ScholasticTeachWe applaud these 9 celebrities who are self-proclaimed #booknerds & champions of #literacy! http://bit.ly/1B3t9el #sharepossible

Mary Appleget ‏@teachtothebrainYep…the brain likes that 🙂 TY!“@Fashions_life: A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything. ”

TED Talks ‏@TEDTalks7 TED Talks to watch on your holiday travels: http://t.ted.com/KCB4fco

Silke Yardley ‏@SilkeYardley“@Joe_Mazza: Latest Post – Principals’ 15 Point Winter Break Inspection http://www.leadlearner.com/principals-15-point-winter-break-inspection/

Collette Reynolds ‏@ColletteRIt made me laugh! #christmas #funny

Scott McLeod ‏@mcleodComparison Chart: Backchannel / Informal Assessment Tools | @rmbyrne http://bit.ly/1viA3Ie

Larry Ferlazzo ‏@LarryferlazzoStatistic Of The Day: The Myth Of Data-Driven Instruction http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2014/12/27/statistic-of-the-day-the-myth-of-data-driven-instruction/ …

Ian Jukes ‏@ijukes Cape Town, South AfricaThe 27 Characteristics Of Highly Effective Teachers http://www.edudemic.com/2013/06/the-27-characteristics-of-highly-effective-teachers/ …

27 Ways to be an Effective Classroom Teacher

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

Strategies:

Travel by Drone

http://travelbydrone.com/

Teach using graphics

http://www.coolcatteacher.com/links/how-to-write-a-letter/

Digital Workstations

As children rotate through a series of stations throughout the week, I am free to work with small groups on differentiated needs, offering personalized instruction. In a way, I’ve cloned myself. Now, there are two of me teaching at the same time!

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/top-teaching/2013/12/how-set-digital-workstations

Resources:

How It Happens

Understand the science behind the headlines in How It Happens, which combines simple explanation and elegant animation to reveal the inner workings of the physical world.

http://www.nytimes.com/video/how-it-happens/

15 Uses for a Swivl

http://www.coolcatteacher.com/15-uses-swivl/

3 Timers

Google
Russ Tarr’s Classroom Timer – Multiple Timers available.
Online Egg Timer – 3 Timers (But all start at once).

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2014/12/three-handy-timer-tools-for-teachers.html#.VJ7GosAA

Word Usage Through History

Type in a word or two and see a graph of how often it has been used.

http://chronicle.nytlabs.com/?keyword=civil%20rights

https://books.google.com/ngrams

Web Spotlight:

Random Thoughts . . .

Happy New Year!! See you next year!

Personal Web Site

December 20, 2014

MSM 291: (Mystery) Science Theater, SAMR and Plagiarize Check This. Bye Doug.

Troy Patterson / advisory, AMLE, MSM, Web Spotlight /

Jokes You Can Use:

A businessman dragged himself home and barely made it to his chair before he dropped exhausted.

His sympathetic wife was right there with a tall cool drink and a comforting word. “My, you look tired,” she said. “You must have had a hard day today. What happened to make you so exhausted?”

“It was terrible,” her husband said. “The computer broke down and all of us had to do our own thinking.”

EVER WONDER

– Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin?

– Why women can’t put on mascara with their mouth closed?

– Why don’t you ever see the headline “Psychic Wins Lottery”?

– Why is “abbreviated” such a long word?

– Why is it that doctors call what they do “practice”?

– Why is it that to stop Windows, you have to click on “Start”?

– Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons?

– Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?

– Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?

– Why isn’t there mouse-flavored cat food?

– When dog food is new and improved tasting, who tests it?

– Why didn’t Noah swat those two mosquitoes?

– Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?

– You know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes? Why don’t they make the whole plane out of that stuff?

– Why don’t sheep shrink when it rains?

– Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?

– If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?

– If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

Did you hear about the elephant who was always left out of things and thus felt irrelephant?

Eileen Award:

Twitter: Angie Jenny, Christopher Pappas, Aaron Andrew Alford
Diigo: Sue Highly, Ron King

Advisory:

Advisory Activities:

http://roosevelt.4j.lane.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/great_advisory_ideas.pdf

Pinterest Ideas:

https://www.pinterest.com/bernern1/middle-school-advisory/

Middle School Science Minute

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

Science Theater

I was recently reading the October, 2014 issue of “Science Scope,” a magazine written for middle school science teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association.

In this issue, I read the article, “Students Modeling Molecule Movement Through Science Theater,” written by David Stroupe and Anna Kramer. In the article, they describe how Science Theater served as an intellectual and instructional anchor for students and for teachers, as they all made sense of observing relationships and interactions between matter and energy.

From the Twitterverse:

Sylvia Duckworth ‏@sylviaduckworth

@jennyluca @joedale @anamariacult Caution: Chrome extensions can slow down your browser. Use Extensity to manage https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/extensity/jjmflmamggggndanpgfnpelongoepncg?hl=en …

Joanna Van Raden ‏@joannavrteaches

Teacher’s week before winter break activity results–>13 hours of sleep! Myth: teachers have an easy job.

Brad Wilson ‏@dreambition

welcome to the podcast age http://ow.ly/FZSQg more production, more storytelling, more narrative

Steve Reifman ‏@stevereifman

Looking 4 a set of short, inspirational non-fiction texts that support the Common Core standards? NEW book @ http://tinyurl.com/pox8w3s

Steven Singer ‏@StevenSinger3

When you require teachers to learn every new unproven education fad, they have no time left to teach

Katherine Schulten ‏@KSchulten

So good: “Everything You Need To Know About The Dangerous Teen Trend ‘Wodehousing’” http://www.clickhole.com/article/everything-you-need-know-about-dangerous-teen-tren-1138 …

Lori DiMarco ‏@TCDSB21Csup

Predictions for K-12 Education in 2015 | @Edudemic #tcdsb21c http://www.edudemic.com/predictions-for-k-12-education-in-2015/ …

Alex Fitzpatrick ‏@AlexJamesFitz

Heh

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

Strategies:

SAMR

A variety of videos to introduce and explain SAMR.

http://edtech-mi.blogspot.com/search?q=SAMR

Study better

One of the interesting things about the mind is that even though we all have one, we don’t have perfect insight into how to get the best from it.

Karpicke and Roediger asked students to prepare for a test in various ways, and compared their success

On the final exam differences between the groups were dramatic. While dropping items from study didn’t have much of an effect, the people who dropped items from testing performed relatively poorly: they could only remember about 35% of the word pairs, compared to 80% for people who kept testing items after they had learnt them.

dropping items entirely from your revision, which is the advice given by many study guides, is wrong. You can stop studying them if you’ve learnt them, but you should keep testing what you’ve learnt if you want to remember them at the time of the final exam.

the researchers had the neat idea of asking their participants how well they would remember what they had learnt. All groups guessed at about 50%. This was a large overestimate for those who dropped items from test (and an underestimate from those who kept testing learnt items).

But the evidence has a moral for teachers as well: there’s more to testing than finding out what students know – tests can also help us remember.

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20141202-hack-your-memory-learn-faster

Resources:

Plagiarism Checkers:

PaperRater – http://paperrater.com/

PaperRater.com is a FREE resource that utilizes Artificial Intelligence to improve writing. We believe that accessibility to quality educational tools is the fundamental component of our mission. We thank our advertisers, users, and socially-minded investors for allowing us to continue improving the quality and scope of our services.

We also offer a premium membership for those who are interested in an ad-free experience and those who would like to submit longer papers in a single submission.

How do you make money off this service?

We are focused primarily on growth at this point (we are a startup), but we offer a premium membership for those interested in more features. Costs are also offset by the ads that you may have noticed on some pages of our site.

What is the maximum length of text that I can submit?

We allow 6 pages at roughly 300 words/page for our free service. We have a premium service at http://premium.PaperRater.com that allows up to 15 pages.

PlagChecker – http://www.plagtracker.com/

For teachers, PlagTracker.com offers:

A fast, easy method for scanning students’ papers for plagiarism violations

Free plagiarism checking (TurnItIn licensing for colleges and universities is expensive)

Accurate plagiarism scanning against a huge database of millions of published works

We at PlagTracker want our customers to be able to check a great amount of words for FREE, so we give you a limit of 5000 words. However, if you are exceeding that amount, you can always sign up for our Premium account and have unlimited access.

If you have a Premium account, you will be able to upload your .doc or .txt file, and PlagTracker will scan it for you. This service is only available through our Premium subscription.

DupliChecker – http://www.duplichecker.com/

Q: How does Duplichecker work?

A: Duplichecker analyzes each sentence entered in the text box. The text can be entered either ways; copy-paste your text into the text box, enter the URL of the content destination required to be checked, or upload a text file.

Q: How to use Duplichecker?

A: Using Duplichecker is quite simple, and everyone can use it; registered users (unlimited searches) as well as unregistered users (3 searches per day). A user can enter text by copy-paste method, entering the url, or by uploading a text file. Press the ‘Search’ button below the box to enter text. The results will be displayed immediately.

Q: Is it necessary to register?

A: You can only perform 1 searches per day as an unregistered user. In case, you are a person related to the field of writing or editing, then it is beneficial to register yourself, as a registered user has the privilege to perform 50 searches per day.

PBL

You have to give up your email address to download. The “book” has a few interesting projects. You get access to three “books” K-5, 6-9, and 10-12.

http://hub.globaldigitalcitizen.org/download-pbl-ebook?mc_cid=8727b94086&mc_eid=b72d6a747f

Online Games

The games found on Try Engineering are appropriate for middle school and elementary school use. The games could be good activities for students to try after you have used one of the Try Engineering lesson plans addressing a game topic.

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2014/12/36-online-games-kids-can-play-to-learn.html#.VJXOmsAA

Web Spotlight:

Are you a bad teacher?

I lost it. I actually only dimly recall what happened next. I’m sure I didn’t actually drag him by the collar into the hall, but that’s what I remember. All I know for sure is that a friend of mine who taught several doors down said that she could hear me yelling at him even with her door shut.

All I could think was: I am a terrible teacher. I was ashamed of my loss of control.

Despite everything the books tell you, teaching is above all a deeply messy human endeavor; for all the exhilarating highs, there are terrible days when you feel like a profound failure, and those are the days when you long for a reality check. Am I really a bad teacher? How would I know?

I know, I know: teacher evaluation rubrics are supposed to alleviate this worry, but if like me you don’t believe that the rubric measures what you’re doing, they’re no comfort and can actually be crazy-making when you score low on something you don’t even value, like the robotic re-iteration of a three-part objective, which would send me into a tailspin of that’s insane! and then no, what if I’m insane? and then a dystopic the whole world has gone insane and I’m completely alone because nothing has any meaning any more! a conviction that rarely leads to good teaching.

Take this short quiz and at the end I will tell you if you’re a bad teacher.

https://gatsbyinla.wordpress.com/2014/02/21/are-you-a-bad-teacher/

Random Thoughts . . .

Doug Herlensky leaves AMLE – Thanks for all the affiliate work and good luck on the next part of your career.

Personal Web Site

November 10, 2014

MSM 289: Upcoming Vacation, Back to the Future – Grammar, and Election (Signs)

Troy Patterson / advisory, MSM, Podcast, Web Spotlight /

Jokes You Can Use:

A skeleton walks down empty Main Street. Suddenly he sees another skeleton carrying a gravestone. “Hey, what are you doing?” the other skeleton answers “Just strolling”, “Why do have the gravestone, buddy?”, “Because I always want to have some ID”.

A crying, three-legged dog walks into a ice cream and says, “I’m looking for the man who shot my paw.”

A mother mouse and a baby mouse were walking along, when all of a sudden, a cat attacked them. The mother mouse goes, “BARK!” and the cat runs away.

“See?” says the mother mouse to her baby. “Now do you see why it’s important to learn a foreign language?”

During a recent password audit by a company, it was found that an employee was using the following password:

“MickeyMinniePlutoHueyLouieDeweyDonaldGoofySacramento”

When asked why she had such a long password, she rolled her eyes and said: “Hello! It has to be at least 8 characters long and include at least one capital.”

Eileen Award:

Twitter: Dan Balestrero

Advisory:

Halloween Candy

http://mentalfloss.com/sites/default/files/styles/insert_main_wide_image/public/candyx600_103014.png

Idioms

http://www.hotelclub.com/blog/idioms-of-the-world-infographic/

Back to The Future Grammar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXIZoaD8NBg#t=119

10 Greatest Changes of the past 1,000 years

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/oct/30/10-greatest-changes-of-the-past-1000-years

Octothorpe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEVOM0VycMI

Middle School Science Minute

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

Lakes Alive!

I was recently reading the October, 2014 issue of “Science Scope,” a magazine written for middle school science teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association.

In this issue, I read the article, “Lakes Alive,” written by Karla Eitel, Frank Wilhelm, Ross Parsons, and Jan Eitel. In the article, the authors explain how they used the 5E Learning Cycle to engage their students in authentic field-data collection of the conditions for life under lake ice in winter.

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2014/10/28_Middle_School_Science_Minute-Lakes_Alive!.html

From the Twitterverse:

EdTechFam ‏@EdTechFamCould This Chicago Teen’s App Put an End to Cyberbullying? http://buff.ly/1szrcjA #Edtech

Chris Kesler ‏@iamkeslerI’ll go on record and say I agree w/ a lot if this RT: Much of what we believe about teaching science is wrong http://zite.to/1DFPGOJ

Chris Sousa ‏@csousanhCommon Core and the End of History http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/6050456 … #nhed #ccchat

Apple Plaza ‏@ApplePlazaCops Can Force You To Unlock Phone With Apple Touch ID, Judge Rules http://www.snsanalytics.com/Ultry0

Mark Barnes ‏@markbarnes19Let Them Play: Enhancing Student Motivation Through #Simulations http://goo.gl/fb/sLC1GZ #pbl #strategy #gaming

Bill McShane ‏@billmcshaneNew post: “Leaving The Church Of Data” http://ift.tt/1DEDzBs

Ian Jukes ‏@ijukes Auckland City25 Things Skilled Learners Do Differently http://www.innovationexcellence.com/blog/2014/10/16/25-things-skilled-learners-do-differently/ …

Mark Hess ‏@MarkHess98The “Really Loves Signs” Party http://chzb.gr/1wGePGO

He really loves signs.

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

Strategies:

Counter Factuals

Given the perilous political circumstances in some regions of our world today, understanding what could have been, may in fact help us better understand what might be.

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119357/altered-pasts-reviewed-cass-r-sunstein

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/27/opinion/history-without-hitler.html?smid=nytcore-ipad-share&smprod=nytcore-ipad&_r=0

Resources:

6th – 8th Grade Paired Text Question Sets

http://www.readworks.org/rw/6th-8th-grade-paired-text-question-sets

Yummy Math

http://opencurriculum.org/user/yummymath/

NASA Library of Space Sounds

http://createdigitalmusic.com/2014/10/nasa-posts-huge-library-space-sounds-youre-free-use/

https://soundcloud.com/nasa

Socrative Quiz List

One of the nice administrative aspects of Socrative is the ability to share quizzes with colleagues and import quizzes that are shared with you. This morning on the Socrative Facebook page I found their massive spreadsheet of more than 1,000 shared quizzes. The spreadsheet is arranged by subject and grade level. You can find a quiz by opening the filter menu and selecting a subject. Once you have found a quiz you can import it into your Socrative account. Click here for directions on that process.

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2014/10/access-more-than-1000-socrative-quizzes.html#.VFTVdlPF94U

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dtoP6ivVNJtqTw0d6OSKLEq5WlZZ7ak9onjU1kph0Co/edit#gid=20451944

Election Day Resource

www.electoral-vote.com

Teacher & Student Assessment

http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2014/10/26/here-are-forms-my-students-are-using-to-evaluate-themselves-me/

Web Spotlight:

Gifted & Talented…and Afraid

http://eduguideblog.wordpress.com/2014/10/29/gifted-talented-and-afraid/

50 Great Teachers: Socrates, The Ancient World’s Teaching Superstar

Today, NPR Ed kicks off a yearlong series: 50 Great Teachers.

We’re starting this celebration of teaching with Socrates, the superstar teacher of the ancient world. He was sentenced to death more than 2,400 years ago for “impiety” and “corrupting” the minds of the youth of Athens.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2014/10/29/359325963/50-great-teachers-socrates-the-ancient-worlds-teaching-superstar

Random Thoughts . . .

Personal Web Site

eCommunity

October 18, 2014

MSM 287: If Siri can answer, don’t take the bet or the bribe!

Troy Patterson / advisory, MSM, Podcast, Strategy, Web Spotlight /

Jokes You Can Use:

Everybody should pay their taxes with a smile, said Bob. “I tried it but they wanted cash.”

Wife: “There’s trouble with the car. It has water in the carburetor.”

Husband: “Water in the carburetor? That’s ridiculous.”

Wife: “I tell you the car has water in the carburetor.”

Husband: “You don’t even know what a carburetor is. Where’s the car?”

Wife: “In the swimming pool.”

A girl walks into a supermarket and asks the clerk,” Can I have a turkey for my grandma?” the clerk responds,” Sorry. We don’t do exchanges.”

CHICAGO CUBS VIRUS: Your PC makes frequent mistakes and comes in last in the reviews, but you still love it.

AT&T VIRUS: Every three minutes it tells you what great service you are getting.

MCI VIRUS: Every three minutes it reminds you that you’re paying too much for the AT&T virus.

PBS VIRUS: Your programs stop every few minutes to ask for money.

ELVIS VIRUS: Your computer gets fat, slow and lazy, then self destructs; only to resurface at shopping malls and service stations across rural America.

PAUL REVERE VIRUS: This revolutionary virus does not horse around. It warns you of impending hard disk attack—once if by LAN, twice if by C:>

A butcher saw a Lawyer passing by his shop one day, and asked him: Atty., what would you do if a dog came in and stole your meat? Lawyer replied: why? of course, I’ll make the owner pay for it! The butcher said: If that is so, now you owe me $15 because it is your dog. The Lawyer replied: very well, just deduct the $15 from the $25 you owe me for the advice, I’ll collect the remaining $10 the next time I pass by here.

Eileen Award:

Twitter: Jenny Lee, Amy Rugg

Advisory:

10 Amazing Bets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4sapsEXKpQ#t=92

Middle School Science Minute

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

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE MINUTE-CUSTODIAL SCIENCE TRAINING

I was recently reading the September, 2014 issue of “Science Scope,” a magazine written for middle school science teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association.

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2014/10/10_Middle_School_Science_Minute-Custodial_Science_Training.html

From the Twitterverse:

Lucy Gray ‏@elemenous 12m12 minutes ago

American Schools Are Training Kids for a World That Doesn’t Exist | WIRED http://www.wired.com/2014/10/on-learning-by-doing/ …

juandoming ‏@juandoming 26m26 minutes ago

List of 20+ #Apps and Extensions for Chromebookers – #EdTechReview™ (ETR) via @jtoufi http://sco.lt/845uFt

HP Storage ‏@HPStorage Oct 15

Add highly available shared storage to virtualized #Intel servers. Get your free 1TB of HP #storage to get going.

Ms. Diem ‏@GetTeaching 33m33 minutes ago

Homework conversation in full swing! #edcampou (Hint: if Siri can answer all your HW questions, it’s not good HW!)

Todd Bloch ‏@blocht574 46m46 minutes ago

Want to know more about #michED https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1tfeVBvTSQwzza8SwQVbR3rX1qcPsqrwGESt0-FDWqI8/edit?usp=sharing … This might help! #edcampAMI #edcampNoMI #edcampou

Scott McLeod ‏@mcleod 1h1 hour ago

The State of Educational Blogging 2014 | @edublogs http://bit.ly/1tBgCj7 #edtech

Jennifer L. Scheffer ‏@jlscheffer 42m42 minutes ago

5 key elements of effective PD via @MaineSchoolTech #edscape

http://images.pearsonassessments.com/images/NES_Publications/2002_08Dunne_475_1.pdf

Erin Klein ‏@KleinErin 10m10 minutes ago

Why It Is So Important to Visit Other Schools (and how to do it right) http://bit.ly/ZwuIoT via @ajjuliani

Monte Tatom @drmmtatom · 20h20 hours ago

Here’s the link for the #K12online14 Conference: http://k12onlineconference.org/ / #fhuedu642 Advanced Technology http://moi.st/6897c01

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

Strategies:

BoomWriter

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2014/10/halloween-themed-writing-lessons-from.html#.VEJ-_JPF_Kg

A veteran teacher turned coach shadows 2 students for 2 days – a sobering lesson learned

http://grantwiggins.wordpress.com/2014/10/10/a-veteran-teacher-turned-coach-shadows-2-students-for-2-days-a-sobering-lesson-learned

Resources:

Schools told: cash bribes ‘fail to improve GCSE grades’

Schools are wasting thousands of pounds each year attempting to bribe pupils to try harder in exams, according to government-funded research.

In the biggest study of its kind, it was claimed that promising children cash rewards in exchange for higher levels of attendance, behaviour and homework led to increased effort in the classroom.

But the use of incentives had little “direct impact” on pupils’ ability to learn and failed to actually improve their GCSE scores in core academic subjects, it emerged.

The conclusions raise serious questions over tactics employed by schools across Britain that spend tens of thousands of pounds each year on elaborate reward schemes.

One popular scheme – Vivo Miles – allows pupils to accumulate points for good work and behaviour before cashing them in for rewards such as iPods, iTunes vouchers, digital watches, bike equipment and clothes.

It is used by around 500 secondary schools in the UK, with more than nine-in-10 saying it has aided academic performance and improved student motivation and behaviour.

Many parents also make similar promises, with a survey this summer suggesting that 38 per cent of pupils were offered cash incentives by mothers and fathers. This includes those promised laptops, holidays and even cars.

“The study suggests that while incentives can increase effort in the classroom, their direct impact on learning is low. “

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/11135444/Schools-told-cash-bribes-fail-to-improve-GCSE-grades.html

Web Spotlight:

Online Conference

The Pre-Conference Keynote is up today, Monday, 10/13/2014.

This online conference is a little different in that the sessions have already been taped and will be opened on the day of the presentation.

Here is the link to today’s Keynote and introductions to upcoming sessions: http://k12onlineconference.org/

Here is the link to the various topics being presented over the two week period: http://k12onlineconference.org/?page_id=2480

Dr. Tatom’s Presentation:

My presentation is scheduled for Friday, 10/24/2014. It will be available at 8:00 AM, EDT.

Why I now Friend Student via Social Media

I tell my students that if they choose to friend me, I will friend them back but they need to know that I’m relating to them as a teacher. Anything they communicate to me is as if I am at school.

They can unfriend me at any time and refriend me — just as they wish, no questions asked. If they communicate anything to me, I keep screenshots (with time and date stamps.)

http://www.coolcatteacher.com/videos/now-friend-students-social-media/

8th-grader Writes Hilariously Epic Algebra Problem. JJ Abrams Would Be Proud…

When Cody Swanek was told by his math teacher to take a certain algebra problem and convert it into a story, the 8th-grader dug deep into his knowledge of the Star Wars universe and wrote the most epic possible math question.

http://twentytwowords.com/8th-grader-writes-hilariously-epic-algebra-problem-jj-abrams-would-be-proud/

A surprising new argument against using kids’ test scores to grade their teachers

When a teacher whose students do well on tests moves to a school where test scores were improving the previous year, and average scores continue improving after that teacher arrives, it is hard to know how much of that continued improvement is due to the new teacher and how much to other factors.

This dispute is just one example of the mathematical acrobatics required to isolate the effect of one teacher on their students’ test scores, when so many other factors inside and outside the school’s walls affect how students perform.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/10/13/a-new-argument-against-using-kids-test-scores-to-grade-their-teachers/

Random Thoughts . . .

Personal Web Site

September 20, 2014

MSM 284: Note(Take) this: Trading Cards, Mentally Strong, Failure in 3D.

Troy Patterson / MSM, Podcast, Web Spotlight /

Jokes You Can Use:

Q: How do trees access the internet?

A: They log in.

Chuck Norris will never have a heart attack. His heart isn’t so foolish to attack him.

– Who is there?

– Police?

– What do you want?

– We want to talk.

– How many of you are there?

– Two.

– So talk with each other.

I hate it when you offer someone a sincere compliment about their mustache, and suddenly she is not your friend anymore…

A: Why are you late?

B: There was a man who lost a hundred dollar bill.

A: That’s nice. Were you helping him look for it?

B: No, I was standing on it.

On a beach a man shouts at another man:

– Tell your son not to imitate me.

A man to his son:

– Son, stop playing the fool.

The best way to make somebody remember you is to borrow money from them.

Eileen Award:

Twitter: Daniel Edwards, Peter Rattien, Kim Allen
Facebook: Coco Gibson Burks

Advisory:

18 Things Mentally Strong People Do

http://media.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/09/18-things-mentally-strong-people-do.jpg

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/18-things-mentally-strong-people.html

15 People Who Failed on Their Way to Success

Before their success, some of the world’s most successful people experienced epic failure. We celebrate their success but often overlook the path that got them there. A path that is often marked with failure.

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/15-highly-successful-people-who-failed-their-way-success.html

Middle School Science Minute

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

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE MINUTE-3 DIMENSIONAL ASSESSMENTS

I was recently reading the September, 2014 issue of “Science Scope,” a magazine written for middle school science teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association.

In this issue, I read the Editor’s Roundtable, entitled “Align Your Assessments With Three Dimensional Learning.” It was written by the editor of “Science Scope,” Inez Liftig. The purpose of the column was to emphasize that effective assessment is integral to the three-dimensional learning and teaching needed to realize the vision of the NGSS and the Framework for K-12 Science Education.

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2014/9/4_Middle_School_Science_Minute-3_Dimensional_Assessments.html

Have a great vacation!

From the Twitterverse:

Think with Google ‏@ThinkwithGoogle Sep 173 steps to turn your data into actionable insights http://goo.gl/1y2DQn

Exam Elf ‏@ExamElf 17m #ExamElf is listed as a top new app for teachers to try in the new school year! Check it out: http://ow.ly/Bye7O #edapps

MichaelSmithSupt ‏@principalspage 1hChange Your Words…. Change Your Mindset…. pic.twitter.com/jwS0B3CsWJ

Expand

Change Your Words- Change Your Mindset

Sue Gorman ‏@sjgorman 1hGoogle for Education Blog: Pope Francis launches Scholas to connect students online http://googleforeducation.blogspot.com/2014/09/pope-francis-launches-scholas-to.html … via @googleforedu

MiddleWeb ‏@middleweb 1hRT @SchwartzGMS: Ideas for growth within co-teaching relationship – qualities of effective partnerships http://flip.it/zmEdz @amle @naesp

Amanda Dykes ‏@amandacdykes 1hTop 15 Things Your Middle School Kid Wishes You Knew http://huff.to/1r3CTmz via @HuffPostParents

Karen Miller ‏@Kdmiller4 1hiPad Educators’ Guide to Apps for Film Making http://www.ipadeducators.com/#!film-making/c224x … #doink #ipaded

Sue Waters ‏@suewaters 1hRT @tasteach: I am looking for 18 more mentors for age 12/13 year old students blogging http://studentchallenge.edublogs.org/2014/08/17/mentors-wanted/ … #14stubc

Beth Still ‏@BethStill 2h25 Signs You’re Teaching In 2015 http://goo.gl/ZN3ZtO via @TeachThought

Cara Whitehead ‏@WhiteheadsClass 33mJoin the Attendance Awareness Campaign today and end chronic absence in our schools: http://bit.ly/1oqfID7 #SchoolEveryDay

Monte Tatom @drmmtatom · Sep 16The Hattie Effect: What’s Essential for Effective PBL? http://feedly.com/k/1qKThJO ~ #fhuedu642 #fhuedu613 #tn_teta #edwebchat => @MSMatters

Monte Tatom @drmmtatom · Sep 16Deeper Learning Student Profile: Portfolio Defense http://fhu.edu/s/m8D2E via @All4Ed ~ #fhuedu613 #tn_teta #ISTEAPLN => @MSMatters

Tweechme ‏@TweechmeApp 2h10 Reasons Why Teachers Use Twitter as a PD Tool http://ow.ly/BFtlo #nt2t #satchat #edtechchat

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

Strategies:

Trading Cards

Nice find by Richard Byrne. He has also provided a screencast exemplifying how to use it.

You can create trading cards for a wide variety of topics. Real people, fictional people, places, objects, vocabulary words and more.

ReadWriteThink includes some nice lesson plans lower on the page as well.

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2014/09/how-to-create-trading-cards-for.html#.VB2CbytdXFc

http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/trading-card-creator-30056.html

Note Taking Skills

Note taking skills aren’t just automatic. We tell students “take notes” but they have no idea what that means. What makes “good notes.” What do they write down? What should notes look like?

If they don’t have basic notetaking skills down in an analog way adding a new technology AND teaching how to take notes at the same time is too much.

So, now, I’m taking the approach of helping students master analog notetaking. This is for several reasons the first is just to teach the analog notetaking skills they need but secondly, I’m full out an IN-FLIP classroom. When I’m teaching concepts on the computer or anything point and click, I always do it with videos embedded in our LMS.

We want them DRAWING. Why? So they can use all parts of their brain. Using symbols and notes and such can help connect ideas in powerful ways. So, at this point, I take my students on a visual notetaking journey.

http://www.coolcatteacher.com/note-taking-skills-21st-century-students/

Resources:

Socratic Smackdown

A versatile discussion-based humanities game to practice argumentation around any text or topic for grades 6 through 12.

The game is designed for 4-40 students. Includes a video tutorial, and a PDF of the instructions. Students earn points. All instructions, support material and score cards are included. Links to Common Core standards are also available.

The beauty of Socratic Smackdown is its flexibility. Here are some ways Rebecca Grodner has used the game:

“Playing it in small groups, it can encourage shy students. In large groups, it can help you focus on specific learning needs.”

“Using it as a form of assessment, or as a practice space for finding supporting evidence for one’s ideas.“

“Framing it as a game to help students learn to negotiate conflict. As a facilitator, some days I found myself helping students mediate arguments in their small groups.”

http://www.instituteofplay.org/work/projects/print-play-games-2/socratic-smackdown/

Web Spotlight:

Is character education the answer?

Laurence Steinberg, Ph.D.

September 17, 2014

Over the last few years, there has been a growing awareness of the need to incorporate character development into school curricula, and various efforts to do so have received wide attention. Perhaps the best-known effort is the Knowledge Is Power Program, or KIPP, which has been implemented in close to 150 charter schools across the country.

KIPP has a long record of impressive accomplishments that have garnered much media attention, including Paul Tough’s bestseller, How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character. Students attending KIPP schools have higher rates of high-school graduation, college enrollment, and college completion than students from similarly disadvantaged backgrounds who attend other types of schools. Numerous evaluations of KIPP schools have found that students show larger-than-expected gains on various measures of achievement.

With this parental predisposition in mind, a recent evaluation of KIPP middle schools by an independent evaluator is particularly intriguing. This evaluation drew its comparison group from a sample of children whose families had entered, but didn’t win, a lottery to gain admission to the local KIPP school.

Consistent with the prior studies, in this objective evaluation, KIPP students outperformed the comparison children on numerous measures of achievement, across a range of subject areas. KIPP students also spent more time on homework. The differences were not only statistically significant, but substantial. This is the stuff of headlines, and rightly so.

However, some of this study’s findings were not so widely broadcast. The KIPP children showed no advantage on any of the measures of character strengths. They weren’t more effortful or persistent. They didn’t have more favorable academic self-conceptions or stronger school engagement. They didn’t score higher than the comparison group in self-control. In fact, they were more likely to engage in “undesirable behavior,” including losing their temper, lying to and arguing with their parents, and giving teachers a hard time. They were more likely to get into trouble at school. Despite the program’s emphasis on character development, the KIPP students were no less likely to smoke, drink, get high, or break the law. Nor were their hopes for their educational futures any higher or their plans any more ambitious. A different study found that rates of college graduation among KIPP graduates, while three times as high as those of students from comparable disadvantaged backgrounds, were still disappointing: Nearly 90 percent of the KIPP students enrolled in college, but only a third graduated—less than half the proportion the program’s developers have hoped for. College-graduation rates have since improved a bit in several KIPP schools, according to KIPP’s founders, but they are still far behind KIPP’s expectations.

http://edexcellence.net/articles/is-character-education-the-answer#.VBrfSAYaQ7k.twitter

Random Thoughts . . .

Personal Web Site – Moodle & Google Classroom

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