Monthly Archives: November 2018

MSM 410: So, I’m the grownup? We’re in trouble.

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Jokes You Can Use:  

 

An NSA agent walks into an ice cream shop. “Hey, I’ve got a joke for you” says the owner.

  • Already heard it

 

Comic Sans walks into an ice cream shop.

  • Hey, we don’t serve your type in here.

 

Hey, did you hear about the mathematician who is afraid of negative numbers?

  • He’ll stop at nothing to avoid them.

 

I have a friend who’s dog ate all of the scrabble tiles.

  • Yeah, he left messages all around the house the next few days.

 

Hey, did you hear about the claustophic astronaut?

  • He needed a little space

 

What did one hat say to the other hat?

  • You go on ahead. I’ll wait here.

 

What do you call a parade of rabbits hopping backwards?

  • A receding hare line

 

What does Charles Dickens keep in his spice rack?

  • The best of Thymes, the worst of Thymes

 

Why should you never use the number 288?

  • It’s two gross

 

What sits at the bottom of the ocean and twitches?

  • A nervous wreck

 

Why can’t you explain puns to a kleptomaniac?

  • They take everything, literally.

 

Advisory:

 

Teen ate lunch alone for years, then the student council stepped in

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/teen-ate-lunch-alone-for-years-then-the-student-council-stepped-in/

 

6th Grader Leaves Detailed Note For Man After His Car Gets Hit

https://twentytwowords.com/6th-grader-leaves-detailed-note-man-car-gets-hit/

 

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Forces and Motion

I was recently reading the November/December, 2018 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 section “From the Editor’s Desk” written by Patty McGinnis. She wrote an article entitled, “Playing with Forces and Motion.” Patty shares information about Isaac Newton’s life and how his simply stated laws of motion still play a foundational role in our students’ lives.

 

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2018/11/22_Middle_School_Science_Minute__Forces_and_Motion.html

 

From the Twitterverse:  

DisruptED TV‏ @DisruptedTv

Are you creating irresistibly engaging learning experiences? Your answer matters. @MichaelFullan1

Brad Dale‏ @bradjdale

Need to create a permission slip or field trip letter? Try Template Lab. Has 30+ templates. http://www.timetotalktech.com/2016/08/need-to-create-permission-slip-or-field.html …

 

Marvin Olasky‏ @MarvinOlasky

Crises R Us – WORLD history books of the year

https://t.co/54V54uU7ky  

War on Poverty: Nearly Won (and Lost) – WORLD

https://t.co/rPGBlo3kNX  

 

Marvin Olasky‏ @MarvinOlasky

Important, if true: Don’t Tell Anyone, But We Just Had Two Years Of Record-Breaking Global Cooling https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/climate-change-global-warming-earth-cooling-media-bias/ … via @IBDeditorials

 

RUTH BUZZI‏Verified account @Ruth_A_Buzzi

I find it a little ironic the Flat Earth Society has members all around the globe

 

Secondary Principals‏ @massp

Local superintendents discuss teacher shortage:

https://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/20181123/local-superintendents-discuss-teacher-shortage-at-west-coast-breakfast

 

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

 

Strategies:

 

iReporter

Students get to be a reporter through the BBC app. This focuses on Speed, Accuracy and Impact. Interesting, interactive activity.

Your role as a BBC journalist is to cover a breaking news story – publishing your story to a “BBC Live” site. Your story will be judged on how well you balance accuracy, impact and speed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-8760dd58-84f9-4c98-ade2-590562670096

 

INTRIGUING STRATEGY IN ASSESSING MULTIPLE CHOICE TESTS – GIVING CREDIT FOR EXPLAINING WHICH OPTIONS ARE WRONG

 

http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2018/11/17/intriguing-strategy-in-assessing-multiple-choice-tests-giving-credit-for-explaining-which-options-are-wrong/#annotations:HvKMJOp9Eeigk_9N3R05Pw

 

Always feel rushed in class? How to let go of the GOOD to make time for the GREAT

 

https://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/truth-for-teachers-podcast/time-management-in-classroom-teaching/

 

The Secret to Student Success? Teach Them How to Learn.

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2018-10-31-the-secret-to-student-success-teach-them-how-to-learn

 

Resources:

 

The One Thing Teachers Want That No One is Talking About

http://ideasandthoughts.org/2018/11/17/the-one-thing-teachers-want-that-no-one-is-talking-about/

 

4 Skills and Traits Great Schools Teach That Will Always be Essential

  1. The Value of Hard Work.
  2. Time Management.
  3. Humility.
  4. Kindness.

https://connectedprincipals.com/archives/18494

Web Spotlight:

Teachers Are the #3 Influencer

https://www.tes.com/news/teachers-are-third-biggest-influence-peoples-lives?fbclid=IwAR0WhPjgJ53rXv6V4-PRp3FNIx4buCIMkzr7jKN3R_f65cFT7U308aR9bX4  

Teachers are the biggest influence on a person’s life, behind only parents and friends, new research suggests.  Some 82 per cent of people said teachers were very, or quite, influential on the lives of others, according to the results of a survey published by the Get Into Teaching campaign.

 

The Seven Most Powerful Words In Education

 

What can I do to help you?

 

http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2018/11/what-can-i-do-to-help-you-these-words.html

 

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

 

MSM 409: Oyez, Oyez, Oyez, The AI Knows Things About You . . .

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Jokes You Can Use:  

 

One winter morning, an employee explained why he had shown up for work 50 minutes late: “It was so slippery out that for every step I took ahead, I slipped back two.”

The boss eyed him suspiciously, “Oh, yeah? Then how did you ever get here?”

“I finally gave up,” he said, “and started for home.”

 

Advisory:

 

Thirteen Virtues

  1. Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
  2. Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
  3. Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
  4. Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
  5. Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
  6. Industry. Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
  7. Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
  8. Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
  9. Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
  10. Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths [sic], or habitation.
  11. Tranquillity. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
  12. Chastity. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.
  13. Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

http://www.thirteenvirtues.com/

 

Daily Planner

Benjamin Franklin's daily schedule

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nickbilton/3779169741/

 

How to Deal with Haters

 

https://youarenotsosmart.com/2011/10/05/the-benjamin-franklin-effect/

Middle School Science Minute  

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

I See Change

I was recently reading the October, 2018 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 “Citizen Science” section, written by Jill Nugent.  The title of the article was “I See Change: Do You?” In this article, we learn about the I See Change Citizen Science Project which integrates citizen science, journalism, and weather and satellite data from NASA within a globally networked community that is actively contributing observations of environmental changes.  To learn more about this project, visit:

http://iseechange.org

 

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2018/11/15_Middle_School_Science_Minute__I_See_Change.html

 

From the Twitterverse:  

Kasey Bell‏ @ShakeUpLearning

Teaching responsibility and preparing students for the real world: 20 alternatives to homework http://bit.ly/2PZS2ZO  via jmattmiller #ditchbook #shakeuplearning #edtech

 

Valeria Rodriguez‏ @Valeriasketches

Drawing is the fastest, most effective way to learn according to new research: givesdifferent ways to engage w/ info has 2 visualize what is being shared in detail think of how to render thaton go through physical process of creating https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/drawing-is-fastest-most-effective-way-to-learn-according-to-new-research.html …

Alice Keeler‏ @alicekeeler

As @joboaler says… it’s not my job to rescue students from thinking. Am I doing the thinking or are the students? How much of the lesson is “figure it out?” #edtechperu @EdTech_Tips

Alice Keeler‏ @alicekeeler

Activity dashboard front and center! See who has never looked at the document or when they last looked at it. Click the chart icon in the upper right. #googleEDU

SIGOBL‏ @SIGOBL_MACUL Nov 16

Want to be our neighbor? Join us at our workshop! We’re excited to see hear more from @lkolb and @evelyndaughtery (Maybe @csteenst will provide us with another round of tributes to Mr. Rogers, too?) https://buff.ly/2RSnes0

Nick LaFave‏ @NFLaFave

PD on the Potty – Tissue #8 “Attention getters” for any lesson, and zooming shortcuts that work in any browser. https://buff.ly/2TiKyjz  #EdTech #PDonThePotty #learningintheloo

Message:  Hey Middle School Matters! Thanks for the follow. I am building a free online tool for teachers. Drop in any URL and we convert it into a quiz for kids. It’s called Mt. Cleverest and it’s just been accepted as an IBM AI XPRIZE competitor. Would love for you or any teachers you know to check it out (http://bit.ly/2wAN5Lj ). Let me know what you think!

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

 

Strategies:

Teaching ELLs with Short Animated Videos

Short animated videos are excellent for supporting literacy skills while making the learning fun and engaging. They are especially effective for English learners because they are visual in nature.

https://www.middleweb.com/39038/teaching-ells-with-short-animated-videos/

 

INTRIGUING STRATEGY IN ASSESSING MULTIPLE CHOICE TESTS – GIVING CREDIT FOR EXPLAINING WHICH OPTIONS ARE WRONG

 

http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2018/11/17/intriguing-strategy-in-assessing-multiple-choice-tests-giving-credit-for-explaining-which-options-are-wrong/

Resources:

 

Oyez, Oyez, Oyez

 

https://www.oyez.org/

Bonus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bct6RRAe0_s

 

What Learners Really Need

 

http://esheninger.blogspot.com/2018/11/what-learners-really-need.html

 

Web Spotlight:

PBIS Is An Incentive System, Venezuela Has An Incentive System . . .  

 

The still-evolving system, part of which uses “smart citizen cards” developed by ZTE, grades citizens based on behavior including financial solvency and political activity.

Good behavior can earn citizens discounts on utilities or loans. Bad marks can get them banned from public transport or their kids blocked from top schools.

Ahead of the vote, ruling party officials urged voters to be “grateful” for government largesse dispensed via the fatherland cards. They set up “red point” kiosks near voting booths, where voters could scan their cards and register, Maduro himself promised, for a “fatherland prize.”

https://www.businessinsider.com/venezuela-id-card-tracks-citizens-like-china-2018-11

 

Teachers at Staff Meetings

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebq9ucIWlQg

 

AI Explainer

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/26/opinion/halloween-spooky-costumes-machine-learning-generator.html

 

Random Thoughts . . .  

Ian McGirr of London – I Know Things About You  

  1. I know your favorite Pizza from Papa Johns.
  2. I know you gamble at Red Casino, and they miss you.  
  3. Kala Jean from kalajean@icloud.com says, “Hi.  This is Kala.”  She sounds nice.  

 

Moodle Word Wall

 

Personal Web Site  

 

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

 

MSM 408: READI for Reading? Should You Log It?

MSM 408: READI for Reading? Should You Log It?

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Jokes You Can Use:  

What is the most popular romantic song for fish?

  • Salmon enchanted evening

 

Thoughts on why English is tough:

 

  • The bandage was wound around the wound.
  • The farm was used to produce produce.
  • The dump was so full it had to refuse more refuse.
  • We must polish the Polish furniture.
  • He could lead if he would get the lead out.
  • The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
  • Since there was no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
  • A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
  • When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
  • The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
  • They were too close to the door to close it.
  • I did not object to the object.
  • A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
  • Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
  • I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

 

Eileen Award:  

  • District Email:  Anthony Loccricio – IT Coach Extraordinaire!  

 

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Mary Colson

I was recently reading the October, 2018 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 “Member Spotlight” section where NSTA highlights a middle school science teacher, from across the United States.  This month, Mary Colson is featured. She is a middle school Earth Science teacher in Minnesota. Her advice for a new science teacher is:

“Ask for help.  Develop your own curriculum and then learn to revise on the fly.  Enjoy your mistakes and learn from them. Get plenty of sleep every night.  Have fun and laugh with your students every day.”

 

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2018/11/6_Middle_School_Science_Minute__Mary_Colson.html

 

From the Twitterverse:  

Mr Moon‏ @MrMoonUK Nov 8

Sentence development resource: students, at the throw of a dice, add an adverb, adjective, simile etc. to enhance the quality of their original simple sentences. #Writing #TeamEnglish

tanny mcgregor‏ @TannyMcG Nov 8

Ultimately, sketchnotes can help us to merge our thinking with the text (or with visual art, realia, music, etc) It’s all about meaning-making. #G2Great #InkAndIdeas

Evan Robb‏ @ERobbPrincipal Nov 8

Excellent graphic @trev_mackenzie Consider different types of inquiry learning-

Rich Czyz‏ @RACzyz

A6: Try using the READI framework when planning PD! https://fouroclockfaculty.com/2018/08/the-readi-framework/ … #4OCF #satchat

Annemieke Akkermans‏ @shelearner

Teach copyright. Check whether an image can be used – even if it is only used in the #classroom. Use #creativeCommons to make sure that images may be used, and mention the #source of your images. Use this #poster to find the way to proper #copyright usage. Image by CurtisNewbold.

Richard Erdmann 🇨🇦‏ @rerdmann

A.4 Technology can support learning or distract ! Important to remember that technology is a tool and not a learning outcome! @plugusin #satchat

Kelly Gallagher‏ @KellyGToGo

For the 1984 file: Two news anchors at China’s state-run news agency aren’t human

(Kinda like the Chinese Communist Party)  

 

Google Drive‏Verified account @googledrive

Check out this quick tip for quicker results: Type “drive” in your address bar to access your files https://goo.gl/8w39ns

 

Dr. Bob Pritchard‏ @SOCSD_Supt

In observance of Veterans Day, schools will be closed on Monday, November 12, 2018. This is a day when we honor the men and women who have served in the military. #veteransday2018 See my blog about Selfless Service at http://blogs.socsd.org/superintendent/2018/11/09/happy-veterans-day/ …

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

 

Strategies:

 

Let’s Talk About Reading Logs Again

 

https://pernillesripp.com/2018/11/03/lets-talk-about-reading-logs-again/#annotations:snjb2uFwEei4zjvXGqJAxQ

 

Public Math

 

https://www.public-math.org/news/

 

Resources:

 

Library of Congress Project

Get Involved: Volunteer to uncover our shared history and make documents more searchable for everyone.

https://crowd.loc.gov/

 

Build a body

Learn about the body’s systems with this drag and drop game. Choose organs from the organ tray, and place them in their correct position within the body to create organ systems.

 

Build-A-Body is a drag and drop game where players are tasked with assembling an organ system from a set of organs. Players may then attempt case studies where a functional problem with a system must be linked to the organ affected.

http://www.spongelab.com/game_pages/bab.cfm

 

MyBib

It’s back.

https://www.mybib.com/

 

World War I Centennial Resources

Centennial Commission:  https://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php  

The Commission’s mission is to plan, develop, and execute programs, projects and activities to commemorate the Centennial of World War I (WWI).

Over the next five years the Commission intends to:

  • Develop educational programs targeted at a variety of audiences and delivered through a variety of broadcast, print and digital media, with the goal of teaching Americans about the country’s most forgotten war.
  • Organize activities, events, and symposia to commemorate American involvement in “the Great War.”
  • Establish a National World War I Memorial in Washington DC, and bring attention to the thousands of World War I memorials in communities across the country that honor Americans who served in the war.
  • Serve as a clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination of information about events and activities related to the Centennial Commemoration.

Bells of Peace App and Activity

Use the app to ring the Bell of Peace 21 times on November 11 at 11:00 am.  Or in your classroom on November 12th.

https://www.worldwar1centennial.org/commemorate/event-map-system/ace-smartphone-app.html  

World War I Memorial Video (and fundraiser)  

https://vimeo.com/188363930  

BBC Armistice Day – What Would You Have Done?  

https://armistice-day.bbcrewind.co.uk/#/  

 

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

 

MSM 407: Synth-etic Boo! What Does That Sound Like?

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Jokes You Can Use:  

 

I go to the gym so infrequently that I still call it the James.

 

I earn a seven-figure salary. Unfortunately, there’s a decimal point involved.

A hungry little boy was beginning to eat his dinner when his father reminded him that they hadn’t prayed.”We don’t have to,” said the little boy. “Mommy is a good cook!”

 

Silence is golden…

Unless you have children…

If that is the case, silence is suspicious.

 

What plant like Halloween the most?

  • Bam-BOO!

 

What would you find on a haunted beach?

  • A sand-witch!

 

What would you get if you crossed a vampire and a teacher?

  • Lots of blood tests!

 

What did the ghost say when the skeleton lied to him?

  • I can see right through you.

 

Why do ghosts like to ride in elevators?

  • It raises their spirits.

 

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Adolescent Brain

 

I was recently reading the October, 2018 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 section “From the Editor’s Desk” written by Patty McGinnis. She wrote an article entitled, “Critical Thinking and the Adolescent Brain.” She reminds us that brain development is all the more reason for us to develop engaging activities that require our students to think critically.

 

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2018/10/24_Middle_School_Science_Minute__Adolescent_Brain.html

 

From the Twitterverse:  

Christopher Moore‏ @ChrisMooreSci

Christopher Moore Retweeted Oscar Mayer

The most important scientific debate since the classification of Pluto. Seriously, this is an excellent #5E “Engage” question for an #ngss learning experience on taxonomies. #ChangeOscarsMind #scichat #scied

Christopher Moore added,

Oscar MayerVerified account @oscarmayer

We know what’s true… But we’re gonna give you 24 hours to change our mind. Call to tell us why you think a hot dog IS NOT a sandwich. #ChangeOscarsMind

0 replies 1 retweet 2 likes

 

Amy Fast, Ed.D.‏ @fastcrayon

If you planned by considering the question, “I’ve got 5 hours a day with these little humans. What do they need?” as opposed to “I’ve got 5 hours of the day to cover all the standards. How do I fit it all in?” how would your teaching change? How would learning change as a result?

 

Angie Goćur‏ @AngieGocur

Replying to @rickwormeli2 @CNN

How saddening. I have found that it’s easy for me to challenge my students’ biases but harder for me to challenge my colleagues, but I can’t help but think that some uncomfortable lunch room conversations could have prevented this.

 

Jonathan Alsheimer‏ @mr_Alsheimer

The best teachers are the ones in the trenches. 3 essentials for teachers – Be in the hallway, Be visible, and Be INVESTED in their life! Handshakes and fist bumps work wonders! #buildrelationships #leadfromthefront #education101 #FLHornets #tlap #LeadLAP #classroomchampions

Todd Nesloney‏ @TechNinjaTodd

“Being an educator is more than just accepting a position. It’s a calling. It’s that drive to change a child’s life” via #StoriesFromWebb

Synth‏ @gosynth

Podcasting in the Classroom? Here’s a Byte-Sized Option https://classtechtips.com/2018/10/29/podcasting-in-the-classroom/ … via @classtechtips

 

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

 

Resources:

 

The Sound of Text

“Sound of Text creates MP3 audio files from text and allows you to download them or play them in the browser — using the text to speech engine from Google Translate.

Originally, Sound of Text was just for myself so that I could attach sound to my flashcards in Anki. Now, thousands of people use this site for many different purposes.”

https://soundoftext.com/

 

13 Alternatives to Google Image Search

Richard Byrne (FreeTech4Teachers) provides a document for more than just Google Slides. Why? Many times, google image searches produce copyrighted images (though there is also a setting to restrict results).

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z8ySPgLOE0UNH01HMQ___-BF6cRxfytc-4_MrSTWA1o/edit

 

Your Fallacy Is

Downloadable posters and cards that are great resources. These apply to Biases and Fallacies.

https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/shop

 

Web Spotlight:

 

Random Thoughts . . .  

 

Personal Web Site  

 

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!