MSM 270: We’re Baaaaacccckkkk….with Numbers, Yoga & Advisory! Yogurt optional . . .

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

Jokes You Can Use:

A guy walks up to the door of a bar, rolling a wheel along with him. The bouncer says, “Hey, what are you doing with that?”

“Last time I came here, they said we had to have proper IDs and a tire.”

 

The teacher wrote on the blackboard, “I ain’t had no fun all summer.”

“Now Paul,” she said. “What shall I do to correct this?”

“Get a boyfriend.” Paul replied.

 

Dad: “What happened to your eye?”

Tom: “I was staring at a ball from afar, and I was wondering why it was getting bigger and bigger. Then, it hit me.”

 

Stranger: Catch any fish?

Fisherman: Did I! I took 25 out of this stream this morning.

Stranger: Do you know who I am? I’m the game warden.

Fisherman: Do you know who I am? I’m the biggest liar in the country.

Q. What’s the difference between a cat and a comma?

A. A cat has its claws at the end of its paws; a comma is a pause at the end of a clause

 

Why did the owl make everyone laugh?

“Cause he was a hoot!

 

A kindergarten teacher handed out a coloring page to her class. On it was a picture of a duck holding an umbrella. The teacher told her class to color the duck in yellow and the umbrella green, however, Bobby, the class rebel, colored the duck in a bright fire truck red. After seeing this, the teacher asked him: “Bobby, how many times have you see a red duck?” Young Bobby replied with “The same number of times I’ve seen a duck holding an umbrella.”

Eileen Award:

  • Google+: Kris Ham,

 

Advisory:

Yoga

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/low-income-students-combat-stress-mindfulness/

 

58 Everyday Things You Never Knew Had Names

http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/58-everyday-things-you-never-knew-had-names

77 Facts That Sound Like Huge Lies But Are Actually Completely True

http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/77-facts-that-sound-like-huge-lies-but-are-completely-true

Middle School Science Minute

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

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE MINUTE-ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS

 

I was recently reading the January, 2014 issue of Science Scope, a magazine written for Middle School Science Teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association.  In this issue, I was reading the article, “Supporting Linguistically Diverse Students” written by Joseph Johnson, Randy Yerrick, and Erin Kearney.

In this article, they look six strategies to help provide success for English Language Learners.

 

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2014/1/24_Middle_School_Science_Minute-English_Language_Learners.html

 

From the Twitterverse:

RT @ToddWhitaker: So true. pic.twitter.com/fpMe9FNVjuEmbedded image permalink

* Seymour Simon ‏@seymoursimon 49m

If you’re a teacher and you don’t know what a #hashtag is, you’re missing out on a community of helpful colleagues #teacher

* Ryan Bretag ‏@ryanbretag 19m

Interested in presenting at the Chromebook Institute? Visit here for more info: http://www.chromebookinstitute.com/call-for-proposals/ … #chromebookinst #chromebookedu #gafe

* Shawn Canady ‏@PMCOACH 12h

Trend Alert: 6 Messaging Apps That Let Teens Share (Iffy) Secrets http://zite.to/OZFhLB

* Kevin Cummins ‏@edgalaxy_com 51m

Massive collection of maths ideas and lesson plans. Fractions, Algebra, Space, measurement, and more http://brev.is/b8j2

* CMLACMU ‏@CMLACMU Mar 26

Our sharing circle bringing back all we learned from @MI_MAMSE to our fellow Chipps! pic.twitter.com/jU8THa9AxREmbedded image permalink

* Monte Tatom ‏@drmmtatom Mar 28

4 Reasons Why You Need A Course Syllabus Dashboard http://feedly.com/k/1hDnukd  ~ #highered #fhucid #sigadmin

* Monte Tatom ‏@drmmtatom now

The Strength of Simple Videos http://feedly.com/k/1gBMBrk  ~ #fhuedu642 #fhuedu320 #edwebchat #tn_teta

* Monte Tatom ‏@drmmtatom 4m

Two Great Web Tools to Create Visual Stories http://feedly.com/k/1i3CKYW  ~ #edwebchat #fhucid #fhuedu320

 

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

 

Strategies:

How to Trick a Child Into Playing the Violin (or Other Boring Things)

the fact is, incentivizing a child’s behavior reduces intrinsic motivation (also HERE). This is even true to the point that offering incentives for an activity that a child likes detracts from his or her enjoyment and makes the child less likely to continue the activity in the future.

A hint comes from THIS article published in the March/April issue of the journal Child Development. Specifically, the authors from Northwestern University ask how they can “motivate children’s sustained engagement in an otherwise boring task.”

kids who were given causally rich information made it through an astounding 4 pegboards. Read that again: interesting information beat stickers! Stickers,for gosh sake!

because causally rich rewards inherently capitalize on children’s intrinsic desire to learn, we suggest that they may be less likely to have this detrimental effect on a child’s overall intrinsic motivation.”

http://geekdad.com/2014/03/trick-a-child-into-violin/

Resources:

Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy Wheel

http://eductechalogy.org/swfapp/blooms/wheel/engage.swf

Classic Books

http://read.gov/books/

Evolution of a Story from Idea to Publication: A Behind-the-Scenes Look

Explains the writing process from a writer.

http://www.jamierubin.net/2014/02/26/evolution-of-a-story-from-idea-to-publication-a-behind-the-scenes-look/

 

Web Spotlight:

Two months in, Eli Broad’s new foundation president still learning the ropes

Reed began two months ago as president of the Broad Foundation, a newly created job. He’ll take over deciding who receives millions of dollars in education grants on behalf of the philanthropist who some say has an inflexible agenda to shape schools.

“It would look like a national system,” said Broad, describing what he would see as a perfect education infrastructure. “Rather than having 14,000 school boards across America, it would get governors involved, big city mayors involved, and it would have a longer school day and a longer school year.”

http://www.scpr.org/blogs/education/2014/03/03/15966/eli-broad-appoints-head-of-philanthropic-education/

 

Virtual autopsy: explore a natural mummy from early Egypt

http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/past_exhibitions/2012/virtual_autopsy.aspx

Free CopyRight Courses

Peer 2 Peer University is again offering some free courses on Copyright and Creative Commons for educators. Copyright for Educators and Creative Commons for Educators begin in March and run through early May. Copyright for Educators has an enrollment limit and requires an application. Creative Commons for Educators does not have an enrollment limit nor does it require an application.

 

Creative Commons for Educators:

The course will run for a period of 7 weeks, as split up to the left and below. Each week has a different task to complete, which is due the following Sunday. Tasks may take anywhere from half an hour to two hours or more, depending on how much effort you and your small group wants to put in that week. Like most things in life– the more time you put into it, the more you will get out of it.

Course break-down

  • 3 March – Week 1: Introduce yourself and your classroom need

  • 10 March – Week 2: Creative Commons in Context

  • 17 March – Week 3: Find the materials with the rights you need

  • 24 March – Week 4: Remix and attribute

  • 31 March – Week 5: Share your work

  • 7 April – Week 6: Collaborate and create

  • 14 April – Week 7: Share your resource about CC

https://p2pu.org/en/courses/1283/creative-commons-for-k-12-educators/

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2014/02/free-copyright-and-creative-commons.html#.Uxsu1NyxNTN

Good Parenting Skills

http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/11/good-parenting-skills/

Random Thoughts . . .

Personal Web Site

MSM 269: For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face . . .

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

Jokes You Can Use:

When I had my surgery, the doctor gave me a local anesthetic. I could not afford the imported kind.

 

A monastery decided to start a fish and chips store. When the store opened, a client comes in, and asks one of the clerics: are you the fish fryer? Oh, no, the cleric answers, I’m the chip monk!

 

Q: Why did the farmer get a Nobel Prize?

A: He was outstanding in his field!

 

Name?,” was the first thing the manager asked. “John,” the new guy replied. The manager scowled. “Look, I don’t know what kind of a namby-pamby place you worked at before, but I don’t call anyone by their first name! It breeds familiarity and that leads to a breakdown in authority,” he said. “I refer to my employees by their last name only – Smith, Jones, Baker – that’s all. Now that we got that straight, what is your last name?” The new guy sighed and said, “Darling. My name is John Darling.” The manager said, “Okay, John, the next thing I want to tell you…”

 

Eileen Award:

  • Twitter:  William Gould, Val Jones, Mark Maudlin, Jessica Herring, Bren Martin

 

Advisory:

Skeptic 101

THE SKEPTICAL STUDIES CURRICULUM RESOURCE CENTER is a comprehensive, free repository of resources for teaching students how to think skeptically. This Center contains an ever-growing selection of books, reading lists, course syllabi, in-class exercises, PowerPoint presentations, student projects, papers, and videos that you may download and use in your own classes. Lessons in these resources include:

  • what science is, how it differs from pseudoscience, and why it matters

  • the scientific method and how to use it to investigate and conduct skeptical analyses of extraordinary claims

  • how to construct effective arguments and rhetorical strategies

  • how to effectively use presentations and papers to present an argument

  • reason, logic, and skeptical analysis

  • the psychology of belief

  • how ideas are presented within academia

  • how peer review works

  • and much more…

http://www.skeptic.com/skepticism-101/

Hand gestures

Source: Pimsleur Approach Language Learning

http://www.pimsleurapproach.com/blog/language-learning/the-hand-jive-hand-gestures-infographic

 

Middle School Science Minute

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

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE MINUTE-THE LEONARDO STRATEGY

 

I was recently reading the January, 2014 issue of Science Scope, a magazine written for Middle School Science Teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association.  In this issue, I was reading the article, “The Leonardo Strategy” written by Renee Clary and James Wandersee.

In this article, they look at scientific discourse and argumentation in an online environment.

 

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2014/1/19_Middle_School_Science_Minute-The_Leonardo_Strategy.html

 

From the Twitterverse:

* Audrey Watters ‏@audreywatters 11h

Hack Education Weekly News: Facebook’s MOOC plans, startup funding, ed-tech “privacy” guidelines and more http://hackeducation.com/2014/02/28/hack-education-weekly-news-2-28-2014 …

* Wendy Darga ‏@wdarga 41m

40+ iPad Apps for Reading Disabilities #rcshms http://zite.to/1kjtzIY

* Wendy Darga ‏@wdarga 43m

Other Data: 20 Signs You’re Actually Making A Difference As A Teacher #rcshms http://zite.to/1eKgYq9

* SC Middle School Asn ‏@The_SCMSA 1h

What are your ” little bits of joy ” activities? @deesme #scmsa14 pic.twitter.com/IcxOcqTSMZ

* Richard Byrne ‏@rmbyrne 1h

Teaching With Primary Sources on iPads http://ow.ly/u8aI2

* Joy Kirr ‏@JoyKirr 2h

And THIS is why you shld to #20time / #geniushour in your classroom, too: http://geniushour.blogspot.com/2013/04/this-is-why.html … (An oldie, but goodie.) cc @thenerdyteacher

* NCMLE-formerly NCMSA ‏@NCMiddle 2h

The NC 2014 summer Read 5 Give 5 program just announced! Promoting summer reading…. http://fb.me/1TByEMjvo

* Bruce Baker ‏@SchlFinance101 2h

The Opportunity Costs of Teacher Evaluation: A Labor and Equity Analysis of the TEACHNJ Legis… http://wp.me/p3huma-1p  via @wordpressdotcom

* NCMLE-formerly NCMSA ‏@NCMiddle 3h

Not a part of our mailing list? It is FREE!!!!!! http://fb.me/2k8yeOQxb

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

 

Strategies:

Professional Development

Be glad this isn’t you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAy3vJn4pbs#t=34

 

Cultivate a Learning Mindset: Passion

 

What can be seen in an organization with a learning mindset characterized by passion?

http://blog.clerestorylearning.com/cultivate-a-learning-mindset-passion

 

Characteristics of Good Leadership

http://infographicjournal.com/characteristics-of-good-leadership/

Resources:

Chogger

Create comics online.

http://chogger.com/

Web Spotlight:

25 Literary Opening Lines Diagrammed on One Giant Poster

 

http://mentalfloss.com/article/55248/25-literary-opening-lines-diagrammed-one-giant-poster

 

25 maps and charts that explain America today

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/02/24/25-maps-and-charts-that-explain-america-today/

Real Discipline in School

The new regulations came just three weeks after Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. warned school districts that a continuation of the large disparities in suspension and expulsion rates constituted a possible civil rights violation and could trigger a federal investigation.

But too many schools still use severe and ineffective practices to address student misbehavior. Large numbers of students are kicked out, typically for nonviolent offenses, and suspensions have become the go-to response for even minor misbehavior, like carrying a plastic water gun to elementary school or sometimes simply for talking back.

 

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/02/17/opinion/real-discipline-in-school.html

Nine-hour school day is the norm – and a national model – at Oakland middle school

Every student at Elmhurst, in the Oakland Unified school district, attends the expanded learning program, making it part of their normal school day. Classes begin at 8 a.m. and end at 5 p.m., at least two hours after most other Oakland students are done for the day.

What makes the expanded school day economically possible is the school’s reliance on AmeriCorps teaching fellows like Bratt.

“Direct instruction didn’t work with them,” Aames said, requiring her to develop more hands-on approaches to teach the concept.

http://edsource.org/today/2014/oakland-middle-schools-9-hour-school-day-is-model-program/57269

Random Thoughts . . .

Special shout out to Ron King for his contributions.