MSM 325:  Bomb messages in Word Clouds?  What?!?!

 

Jokes You Can Use:

 

You heard about the soldier who survived mustard gas exposure?

He came back and protested. He was pepper sprayed. He’s now a well seasoned vet.

 

What did they give the guy who invented the door knocker?

The NO-Bell prize.

 

What did the Buddhist ask the Hot Dog vendor?

Make me one with everything.

 

What do you call a group of killer whales playing instruments?

An ORCA-stra

 

Conjunctivitis.com – now that is a site for sore eyes.

 

I’m reading a book on the history of glue. I just can’t put it down.

 

Eileen Award:  

  • Email:  Sierra Bishop

 

Advisory:

 

Middle School Science Minute  

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

 

Historical Problem-Based Learning

 

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, “From Mendel to Me: Constructing Genetics Knowledge Through Historical Problem-Based Learning.”  It was written by John Pecore and Corey Nagle.  The purpose of the article is to show how historical problem-based learning can be used to help students learn about genetics, which has traditionally used a lecture and copy method to help students begin their study of genetics.

 

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2016/3/17_Middle_School_Science_Minute-Historical_PBL.html

 

From the Twitterverse:  

Andrew Tawfik ‏@andrewatawfik

#ETT570-Here is infographic I created of needs assessment model discussed in our @voicethread! Feel free to share!
Rossett's Needs Assessment

Michael Matera ‏@mrmatera

Q2: Challenges are what games and schools are all about… Lets make the later a bit more engaging… #SAtchat

SatChat

Karin Hermansson ‏@karinherm

Why do teachers need to be research literate? Tom Bennett. #rEDScand
Podcast 325 -Today - Google Docs 2016-03-19 12-36-03


Katrina Hall ‏@MrsKatrinaHall
Urban Myths about Learning and Education #leadership #edreform #rEDScand #ntchat https://books.google.com/books?id=7h4tBAAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=urban+myths+about+teaching+and+learning&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwip9czT1czLAhXKGD4KHYHeD8QQ6AEIGzAA#v=onepage&q=urban%20myths%20about%20teaching%20and%20learning&f=false …  

 

edutopia ‏@edutopia

This educator thinks that #growthmindset is dead. Find out why: http://edut.to/1pOE9ga .

 

John Norlin ‏@johnnorlin

People support what they help to create. #leadupchat
People Support What they Help Create

Brian Wyzlic ‏@brianwyzlic

One of my favorite slides from my presentation this weekend. See you Saturday at 12:30! #MRADiamond
Destress

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

 

Strategies:

 

10 Bomb Messages Students Hide In Essays To Get A+

Bomb Message Hidden in Essay

http://www.lifehack.org/373033/10-bomb-messages-students-hide-essays-get

 

Three Tips for Planning Video Projects

 

I love video projects because the entire process of developing project ideas, creating the video, and sharing the video engages almost all students.

 

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2016/03/three-tips-for-planning-video-projects.html#.Vu1jshIrJdA

 

200 Ways to Use Word Clouds in the Classroom

 

https://21centuryedtech.wordpress.com/2016/03/17/200-ways-to-use-word-clouds-in-the-classroom/

Resources:

 

Women in the 19th Century | Crash Course US History #16

In which John Green finally gets around to talking about some women’s history. In the 19th Century, the United States was changing rapidly, as we noted in the recent Market Revolution and Reform Movements episodes. Things were also in a state of flux for women. The reform movements, which were in large part driven by women, gave these self-same women the idea that they could work on their own behalf, and radically improve the state of their own lives. So, while these women were working on prison reform, education reform, and abolition, they also started talking about equal rights, universal suffrage, temperance, and fair pay. Women like Susan B. Anthony, Carrie Nation, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the Grimk’s, and Lucretia Mott strove tirelessly to improve the lot of American women, and it worked, eventually. John will teach you about the Christian Temperance Union, the Seneca Falls Convention, the Declaration of Sentiments, and a whole bunch of other stuff that made life better for women.

http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/64ce26b6-3607-4374-8bff-860376f7fdf3/women-in-the-19th-century-crash-course-us-history-16/

 

Disaster Detector

The citizens of Smithsonville are in dire need of a Disaster Detector! Help Smithsonville and other cities predict and prepare for natural disasters. Use tools to make predictions and save the city from damage by helping citizens prepare properly. Are you up for the challenge?

Disaster Detector teaches players how to analyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and how to implement tools to mitigate the effects of those disasters.

https://ssec.si.edu/disaster-detector

 

Web Spotlight:

 

A student-created digital textbook: Their process and resources

Garth Holman’s students created something spectacular, and I cringe at calling it a “textbook.”

Garth’s students’ work does that. And they put it on display for anyone to see.

 

http://ditchthattextbook.com/2016/03/18/a-student-created-digital-textbook-their-process-and-resources/

 

The biggest indictment of our schools is not their failure to raise test scores

MARCH 16, 2016 BY SCOTT MCLEOD

The latest results are available from the annual Gallup poll of middle and high school students. Over 920,000 students participated last fall. Here are a couple of key charts that I made from the data:

Percentage of Students Engaged

 

 

The biggest indictment of our schools is not their failure to raise test scores above some politically-determined line of ‘proficiency.’ It’s that – day in and day out – they routinely ignore the fact that our children are bored, disengaged, and disempowered. We’ve known this forever, but we have yet to really care about it in a way that would drive substantive changes in practice. The disenfranchisement of our youth continues to happen in the very institutions that are allegedly preparing them to be ‘life long learners.’

 

http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2016/03/the-biggest-indictment-of-our-schools-is-not-their-failure-to-raise-test-scores.html

Random Thoughts . . .  

 

Personal Web Site

 

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

 

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:

  1.  Authentic Questions
  2.  Engagement in Scientific Practices
  3.  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

 

Dr. Justin Tarte ‏@justintarte

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

Year Seven Assignment

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!

How the Mind of a Middle Schooler Works

Bill Powers ‏@MrPowersCMS

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

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

  1. Layout and Use of Space:
  2. Furniture Choices:
  3. Color Selections:
  4. Lighting:
  5. Nature:
  6. Environmental Print and Design:
  7. 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

 

  1. Don’t Be Boring
  2. Vote
  3. Set Goals
  4. Form Groups
  5. Quick Writes
  6. Focus on the ABCs: Acceptance, Belonging and Community
  7. Continually change the “state” of the classroom
  8. Empathize
  9.  Do a BRAIN checklist
  10. Simplify
  11. Chunk Information
  12. Props
  13. Breaks
  14. Post-Its
  15. Make Snowballs
  16. Guessing Games
  17. Balanced Inquiry
  18. Mind-streaming
  19. Be Interactive
  20. HOPE

 

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

Random Thoughts . . .  

Personal Web Site

 

MSM 323:  6 Avoidable Mistakes and Hey!  The Letters Keep Jumping Around!

 

Jokes You Can Use:

 

What did the left eye say to the right eye?

  • Between you and me, something smells.

 

What do you call a sleepwalking Nun?

  • A Roamin’ Catholic

 

Why was the teacher cross eyed?

  • The teacher couldn’t control her pupils

 

Why should you knock before opening the refrigerator door?

  • There might be salad dressing

 

Why did the cowboy get a weiner dog?

  • He wanted to get a long little doggie.

Podcast 323 - Today - Google Docs 2016-03-05 13-04-55

Advisory:

 

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg  

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Epigenetics

 

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, “Epigenetics: A New Science for Middle School – And Why You Should Teach It.”  It was written by Lisa Marriott, Alison Charbonneau, Berk Moss, Jackilen Shannon, Kent Thornburg, and Mitchell Turker.  Epigenetics is the name of a powerful biological process by which gene switches can be regulated.

 

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

 

From the Twitterverse:  

 

Vox ‏@voxdotcom

This simulation helps show you what it’s like to have dyslexia http://www.vox.com/2016/3/5/11162158/dyslexia-simulation?utm_campaign=vox&utm_content=chorus&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter …

 

Ms. Oxendine ‏@MsOxendine

“What is a fart, except a a lonely cry from a trapped turd.” #stuffmiddleschoolerssay #scamle2016

Rodney Hetherton ‏@RodneyHetherton

27 ways to be a better 21st Century educator via @MiaMacMeekin #COLchat #swcrkPLN

AJ Hartley, Ed.D., Michele Corbat, Dragonometry and 7 others

Sue Gorman ‏@sjgorman

The 8 Best Chrome Extensions As Chosen By Teachers https://www.thegooru.com/8-chrome-extensions-teachers-love/ … via @thegooglegooru #gafe

 

Marci Houseman ‏@marcihouseman Pinehurst, NC

Marci Houseman Retweeted Donald Gately Ed.D.

I love seeing how teachers and admin are using @periscopeco to give SS greater audience for their work! #satchat

Marci Houseman added,

 

Donald Gately Ed.D. @donald_gately

Teacher was using @periscopeco and Ss were responding to Qs in comments in 6 different languages #amazing #satchat

Wired Educator ‏@WiredEducator

Why every educator should apply to at least one conference or institute a year! http://wirededucator.com/the-importance-of-reflection-why-i-apply-to-conferences-and-institutes/ …

 

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

 

Resources:

 

Dyslexia Experience

Wonderful experience of reading while the letters are moving.

http://geon.github.io/programming/2016/03/03/dsxyliea

 

6 Avoidable Mistakes That Can Kill A New Teacher’s Career

 

http://www.evidencebasedteaching.org.au/6-avoidable-mistakes-that-can-kill-a-new-teachers-career/

 

Providing Extrinsic Reward for Test Performance Undermines Long-Term Memory Acquisition

 

http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00079/full

 

Teens do better in science when they know Einstein and Curie also struggled

“In our culture we always say you don’t want to intimidate kids, you don’t want to tell them how hard the work is,” she noted. But the experiment showed the opposite strategy works better: Showing how great scientists had to muddle through lots of tough stuff made the subject matter real and allowed students to connect with them as people.

Lin-Siegler argues that teaching and science textbooks could be vastly improved, to help engage students and promote STEM—if they were transformed from overweight catalogues of formulas to explorations of the fascinating back stories that led to all that scientific knowledge.

http://qz.com/622749/teens-do-better-in-science-when-they-know-einstein-and-curie-also-struggled/

My First Job

From Linked IN:

 

President Obama

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/heres-scoop-why-my-first-job-mattered-president-barack-obama

Ralph de la Vega

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dream-big-humble-lessons-led-me-from-factory-floor-ralph-de-la-vega

Meg Whitman

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-designing-shampoo-bottle-taught-me-business-meg-whitman

Suzie Orman

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-i-lacked-qualifications-learned-make-up-courage-suze-orman

Bernard Tyson

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/practice-makes-career-bernard-j-tyson

Katie Couric

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/my-first-job-lasted-one-summer-changed-way-i-see-world-katie-couric

 

Random Thoughts . . .  

 

Moodle FlashCards

Yes, Moodle can do FlashCards.

http://troypatterson.me/2016/03/05/moodle-flashcards/

 

Personal Web Site