Monthly Archives: April 2020

MSM 461: Well, that was untimely…

MSM 461: Well, that was untimely…

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Jokes:

Never climb into a deep vat of curdled milk. 

  • You’ll be in whey over your head.

What do you say to your sister when she is crying?

  • Hey, are you having a crisis?

Thought for the day: Can you buy chickens on the layaway plan?

I used to be a baby, then I grew out of it. 

I really, really don’t like Russian dolls.

  • They are so full of themselves

Where do they build Robot noses?

  • The Ol’Factory

Why is the alphabet so terrifying?

  • A bee sea….

My Czech Mate is surprisingly bad at chess.

Did you hear about Jamie who was arrested. 

Jamie: “I’m not saying a word without my lawyer present”. 

The officer said: “You’re a lawyer.”

Jamie: “Right. Where’s my present?”

You know what makes me smile?

  • Facial muscles.

I have a friend with a Parrot and an Alexa. All day the parrot keeps asking Alexa to play “Free bird”. 

Here’s hoping Elon Musk doesn’t become a politician and get involved in a scandal. 

  • Elon- gate would be really drawn out

Why is Spring the favorite season of trees? 

  • After a long winter, trees are releafed. 

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Middle School Science Minute: Mindful Modeling

I was recently reading the March, 2020 issue of “Science & Children,” a publication published by the National Science Teaching Association. 

In this issue, I read the Editor’s Note column “Mindful Modeling,”  written by Elizabeth Barrett-Zahn.

She discusses bringing the practice of Developing and Using Models into our classrooms as a communication tool for developing and revealing student thinking.

Reports from the Front Lines

  • Educational Disruption:  
    • Increasing value of Instructional Tech Coaches?  
    • Future scheduling
    • Constructs for “Classrooms”
  • Guidelines for Using Zoom with students
    • District level suggestions
    • Teacher level suggestions
  • Alternatives to using Zoom?  Viable alternatives?  
  • Bring back letter writing!  
    • 116 handwritten, hand-addressed postcards . . . keeping connected in COVID-19.  
    • Cursive enthusiasts of the world, unite!  
  • What kind of PD do teachers need based on where this could take us going into 2021 and 2022?  
  • Challenge to our listeners – 
    • Ideas for holding a Zoom (or other App) COVID-19 Scavenger Hunt!  
  • Discipline online
  • Security of Accounts
  • Parent Supports

The Twitterverse

Monte Tatom, Ed.D.@drmmtatom

Via @E_Sheninger

~ 8 Fantastic Considerations for Leading Remote Learning ~ https://twitter.com/drmmtatom/status/1252724726901989384

@hcu_dot_edu @DebbieWiles50 @Frideswidel @CounselorTatom

Maria Pickering  @PickeringM42

So many ways to record yourself and your screen for teaching online…Check out this list of options and instructional resources on Wakelet – Video Options for Teaching Online #Covid19 #teachingonline #onlineteachingtools #edtech https://wke.lt/w/s/UCD9ft via

@wakelet

Look for your host, Todd Bloch, to have a middle school topic all ready to go!  Make it a strategic part of your personal professional development.

Resources:

Our American Voices:  Citizenship Choice Board #2

Students make choices on a board that demonstrate four different American values.  

https://bit.ly/3434UASic_OAV_Choice_board2

Web Spotlight:  

April 24, Remembering the Armenian Genocide  

Random Thoughts . . .  

Personal Web Site  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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MSM 460: Zoom on in and say “Hi” in mandarin.

MSM 460: Zoom on in and say “Hi” in mandarin.

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Jokes:

Sasquatch is disrespected by people who question his existence. 

  • Yeti never complains

Why did the old woman buy a single roller skate?

  • She wanted a mobile home.

I was attacked by 1,3,5,7, and 9.

  • The odds were against me.

Did you hear about the new metal band. All their songs about people who criticize them while pretending to be their friends. 

  • The Band is “Back Stabbath”

Here’s a corny one:

What happens when you sing in the shower and get shampoo in your mouth?

  • It becomes a soap opera
  • *It’s important to note that if you want to be Suave, you need to have a bit of Finesse and keep your Head & Shoulders in the game. Don’t foam at the mouth (that could cause a slip of the tongue). 

If anyone gets some canned meat delivered with their groceries, don’t open it. 

  • It’s Spam

With baseball on hiatus, they are trying baseball with Turkeys vs Ducks. 

  • There’s a lot of fowl play

A friend told me an anecdote about touching an electric fence. 

  • It was a short story, but it had a good arc.

How does Spider-Man think of such witty comebacks?

  • Because with great power comes great response-ability

What did the pirate say on his birthday following his 79th?

  • Aye Matey!

Status Update:

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Middle School Science Minute: Executive Functioning

I was recently reading the March, 2020 issue of “Science Scope,” a publication for middle school teachers, published by the National Science Teaching Association. 

In this issue, I read the column “The Forgotten Factor: Executive Functioning and Success in the Classroom,”  written by Kaitlyn McGlynn and Janey Kelly.

Executive functioning skills are the skills that encompass our mental control and self-regulation and are controlled by the frontal lobe of the brain.

The Twitterverse

Dave Schmittou EdD  @daveschmittou

I would love your help with this. I am hoping to collect data on 500 assistant principals. If you are an AP, would u be willing to take 3 minutes to complete this survey? For everyone else, can u tag an assistant principal you know? I appreciate you!

Typical EduCelebrity  @EduCelebrity

In honor of International Haiku Day: 

Think teaching is easy? 

How’s learning at home going? 

Sorry is a tough word.

Look for your host, Todd Bloch, to have a middle school topic all ready to go!  Make it a strategic part of your personal professional development.

Resources:

Stuff You Need:  The Social Distancing Badge

Get this innovative accessory to your school ID badge!

Stuff You Need:  1350 – Music for a Plague  

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/falsobordone/1350-music-for-a-plague?ref=user_menu

SEL Resources from Dr. John Spencer

Grab his original graphics for engaging starter topics for your Zoom meetings with students.  Catch him on Instagram where he posts quick writing or speaking activities to do with your students in a Zoom meeting.  

https://www.instagram.com/spencereducation/

Random Thoughts . . .  

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MSM 459: Hey parents! BeatBox your way to happiness!

MSM 459: Hey parents! BeatBox your way to happiness!

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Jokes:

What kind of music does the Easter Bunny like?

  • Hip hop

What do you call an anesthetized rabbit?

  • The Ether Bunny

For Christmas, I bought my wife beads from an abacus.

  • It’s the little things that count

What’s one good thing about a bad haircut?

  • It grows on you

I think I made a mistake. I clicked on “Start Your Free Trial” and now I’ve been convicted of theft. 

If you’ve ever seen pictures of Mount Rushmore before the carvings, you know that its beauty was unpresidented. 

What did one cell say to his sister cell that stepped on his foot?

  • mitosis

Why don’t eggs tell each other jokes? 

  • They are afraid to get cracked up.

Status Update:

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Middle School Science Minute: Grasping The Concepts

I was recently reading the April, 2020 issue of “NSTA Reports,” a publication published by the National Science Teaching Association. 

In this issue, I read the advice column “Ask A Mentor,”  written by Sharon Delesbore. A teacher in New York asked the following question: “As I continue to teach my science class, I often wonder throughout my unit if the students are really grasping the concepts.  How do I know my students are getting it?” Listen in as Sharon provides a great answer to this question.

The Twitterverse

Andrea Sherman  @Ed_Stories

“Remind your students that they are creating a primary source – documentation of what one student was thinking in March of 2020 during the global pandemic. Now we are all a part of history.”  @USHistoryIdeas @middleweb https://middleweb.com/42521/kids-jou  Don’t forget #mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST.  

Bob Harrison  @R_O_Harrison

The @H5PTechnology Essay activity is exactly what I’ve been looking for for years! Great way to automate feedback on a free response based on key words—the presence or absence of. Just absolutely outstanding!!

Image

TeacherGoals  @teachergoals

Yong Zhao, Ph.D  @YongZhaoEd

Tomorrow (Sat 5:30pm EDT) live Ep4 #silverliningforlearning Using COL and Cool Open Education Resources hosted by  @punyamishra  @travelinedman  @chrs_dede  @mcleod

with guests from Commonwealth of Learning https://silverliningforlearning.org/category/video

Getty@GettyMuseum

We challenge you to recreate a work of art with objects (and people) in your home.

  • Choose your favorite artwork
  • Find three things lying around your house⠀
  • Recreate the artwork with those items 

And share with us.

https://www.getty.edu/art/

Look for your host, Todd Bloch, to have a middle school topic all ready to go!  Make it a strategic part of your personal professional development.

Resources:

Beat Boxing

2005 Female World Beatbox Champion Butterscotch explains the art of beatboxing in 13 levels of difficulty. Starting with just the bass drum, Butterscotch layers more and more vocal drums and instruments on top of each other until she starts adding real, live instruments as well.

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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MSM 458: An Interview with Bob! (That’s Me!)

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Jokes:

Why is everyone so tired at the beginning of April?

  • Just finished a 31 day march

What do you call a bear with no teeth?

  • A gummy bear

Hey, did you hear that they are banning the fifth month of the year?

  • Everyone is dismayed.

If you think Thursdays are depressing, wait two days.

  • It will be a sadder day

I saw a Delorean for sale. 

  • Good shape, low mileage. 
  • Yep, it was only driven from time to time.

What’s the fastest liquid on earth?

  • Milk

I’m a kleptomaniac.

  • Don’t worry though, I’m taking something for it. 

People said the I’d never get over my obsession with Phil Collins.

  • Sussidio,  Against All Odds, Take a Look at Me Now

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Middle School Science Minute: Journaling Outdoors

“Journals provide a non-threatening place to explore learning, emotions, daily events, and language through writing.”  This statement is provided by Eva Varga, in her blog “Integrating Writing with Middle School Students.  

Journals can take many forms.  Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources provide a nature journal lesson for grades 6-8 on its “Natural and Historical Education Resources for Home” website,  which can be found at:

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/MS_HS_Journaling_Outdoors_684892_7.pdf

An example of a journal starter:

Compare two natural objects.  How are they different besides size? How are they alike? What do they resemble?

Interview:  Transitioning to LMS Based Learning – An Interview with Mr. Bob Harrison

Twitter: @R_O_Harrison

Introductions & Foundational Knowledge

Topic 1:  LMS Based Learning

Topic 2:  Pedagogy

  Differentiation

  • More efficient than working on one’s own.  
  • Teacher efficiency
  • Student efficiency
  • Use of teacher time  

Feedback based on the choices students make.  

Automating some of the tasks to free up time for prepping for the next student activity.  

Providing feedback for student work with immediacy.  

Enrichment vs. Taking Grades and Student Engagement

  • Motivating students beyond doing it “just for grades”
  • Using Badges  
    • Set Criteria
    • Arrange for multiple attempts at success  
    • Shifts learning from “just getting grades” to the importance of feedback in learning.  
    • Useful feedback.  
    • Emotional attachment
    • Useful data for the teacher to see student completion and rates of success.
  • Creates a sense of “normality.”  
  • Shifting from “Enrichment” to “Assessment”
  • Course Collaboration – the Network is Smarter than the Node.
  • Shared resources in a course
    • Discussions on student success within the LMS.  
      • Blind Grading
      • Sharing Strategies/Skills in the PLN.  

Strategies

  • Discussion Forums
    • Creates a sense of community in learning
  • Virtual Lessons
    • A progression of pages with formative assessment interspersed.  
  • Interactive Videos
    • H5P plug-in to insert prompts in the video.  
  • Print outs
    • Concept map, illustration
    • Alternative – use the drawing in Google Draw to illustrate the item.
  • Quizzes
    • Bank of questions
    • Randomized assessment
    • Another way to give feedback
    • Share grading with PLC
  • Big Blue Button
    • Video Conferencing – Not every teacher has to be on.  Share content delivery.  
  • Blind Grading  

Meeting Student Needs

Asynchronous learning meeting teen sleeping/waking schedules.

Using Google Classroom

  • It is a good beginning.  
  • Understand what the tool does

Returning to Blended Model

  • How has this changed your approach?  
    • Challenging educational philosophy
    • Opportunities for reflection 
      • Pedagogy – What does/should teaching look like?  
      • Student expectations
    • Building a library of content – useful for more than just “now.”  
      • Intervention strategy
      • Alternate teaching strategy
      • Student absence/ISS 

Closing:  Troy & Bob

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