Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about tablets, a few ratholes, add-ons, and more. Dave has the Language of science. 

Jokes:  

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What if your Dad was a minotaur, and your Mom was a Mermaid. 

• And you got human half from each and are just some guy. 

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Albert Einstein’s little brother Frank was some monster. 

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My friend Joe just went on the Dolly Parton diet. 

• *Shawn- “How did that work out?”
• It made Joe Lean, Joe Lean, Joe Lean

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I have a friend who considers herself the Robin Hood of Memes. 

• Stealing from one group to feed another

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Just a thought, there are more airplanes underwater than there are submarines in the air. 

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How much does a roof cost? 

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I bought a can of evaporated milk. When I opened the can, it was empty. 

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I have a friend who is great at selling home security systems. If they aren’t home, he just leaves a brochure on their kitchen table.

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What has four letters, occasionally has twelve letters, always has six letters, but never has five letters.

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Middle School Science Minute  

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

The Language of Science

I was recently reading the November/December 2021 issue of “Science & Children” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  

 In this issue, I read the section “Editor’s Note” written by Elizabeth Barrett-Zahn.  Elizabeth wrote an article entitled “The Language of Science.”

 The language of science is much more than just knowing technical or content-specific words or phrases. Understanding science requires the development of an academically social language. Students need opportunities to see how language can be used to describe, represent, question, refute, and reach a consensus when learning to make sense of the natural world.

http://k12science.net/the-language-of-science/

Reports from the Front Lines

• Some districts report that they are assuming a spike in COVID is coming and they’re just going to take the next two weeks virtual as a pre-emptive strike on an attendance problem.  
• School Closing Tracker: https://districtadministration.com/school-closings-tracker-where-covid-shut-down-schools-again/ 

The Twitterverse  

Elizabeth Curtis  @Eli2003_10

Differentiating for English Learners posters have been placed in every EL classroom and every teachers lounge in our district. Can’t wait to see how our Gen Ed teachers will use these strategies! QR code on the poster provide a TON of resources! @PLSD @PlsdSupt @AlesiaGillison

John R. Sowash @jrsowash

Do you accessorize Google Drive with add-ons? What are your favorites? Here are some of mine:

WORLD Radio @TWERadio

Listen to Sarah Schweinsberg take us with her on a tour of #Plymouth, #Massachusetts to discover what life in the #colony was really like. #Thanksgiving  https://wng.org/podcasts/a-walk-through-plymouth-1637816933  

Alice Keeler  @alicekeeler

ONLY $39 for Premium AliceKeeler membership Black Friday Special Save 84% on premium membership! Only $39 for the rest of the school year! https://sowl.co/s/roFay

Chris Quinn  @ChrisQuinn64

Our children are great observers and learners! What we model matters! #Friday #edutwitter #teaching #leadership #parenting

AppleInsider  @appleinsider

Apple AR headset to feature M1 Mac levels of processing power, says analyst

https://t.co/27jYu49hwV?amp=1

Gratitude HQ  @gratefuledu64

Simple actions that can make a big difference in your life… #FridayFeeling #selfcare #mentalhealth #grateful  

John R. Sowash  @jrsowash

Annotate Meet is a free Chrome extension by  @MathDenisNJ

that will allow you to draw on your screen while presenting through #GoogleMeet. A great tool for quick demonstrations or impromptu lessons! Install link: #edTech #remotelearning #ChromebookEDU

Stephanie Howell  @mrshowell24

Love this upgraded version of Tearable slides for history! Thanks

@scottmpetri #edtech #ditchbook #tlap #ETCoaches #hacklearning #GSuiteEdu #GoogleEDU #celebratED #cuechat #k12artchat #masterychat #edchat #LeadLAP #eduprotocols #ShareStuffSunday #googlei #educoach

Ian Jukes  @ijukes

The noise is coming from HERE

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

Resources:  

H5P.org Gamification

H5P is working on a way to gamify the content you create.  “The Chase” turns your H5P activities into a game students can compete in.  With the popularity of Quizziz and Blooket, this should be a nice open source addition to the stable.  https://h5p.org/june-2021-roadmap-update  

Web Spotlight:  

PianoTV  

What are you passionate about?  Well, she’s passionate about pianos.  And TV.  You might be too.  

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz0PmHG0RvQHazlEsFU-4uQ

Unfiltered: Teens get real about the fake lives lived on social media

*Warning: Explicit Language

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/unfiltered-teens-social-media-1.6250963#annotations:MZPcBkumEey4_98Rqte24w

Random Thoughts . . .  

Food you need to try:  Cepelinai

https://www.linoslithuanianfood.com/product-page/cepelinai

 

Michigan Marching Band – Pregame Show 11-27-2021  

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=notif&v=596257688277652&notif_id=1638031774995373&notif_t=live_video

Personal Web Site   

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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Summary:

Shawn and Troy discuss kids “scamming” Mr. McGirr and looking to self-assessment. Dave shares Nature’s Notebook. 

Jokes:  

What do you wear to a Thanksgiving dinner?

• A Har-vest

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What’s a pumpkin’s favorite sport?

• Squash

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I saw a dwarf climbing down a prison wall.

• I thought, “that’s a little condescending” 

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Did you know that Raymond Burr had a brother? 

• He was a lumberjack. His name was Tim. 

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Life is like a helicopter.

• I don’t know how to operate a helicopter

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Hey, I got a new electric car.

• Now I need a “current” driver’s license
• When I park, I have to park in parallel

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There’s no training to be a trash collector.

• You just pick it up as you go along

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Middle School Science Minute  

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

Nature’s Notebook

http://k12science.net/natures-notebook/

I was recently reading the November/December 2021 issue of “Science Scope” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the section “Citizen Science” written by Jill Nugent.  Jill wrote an article entitled “Taking the Pulse of Our Planet with Nature’s Notebook.”

Nature’s Notebook, a project of the USA National Phenology Network, invites participants to help scientists “take the pulse of our planet.”  With Nature’s Notebook, your students will have the opportunity to observe, document, and share seasonal changes in your geographic area.  For more information, please visit:

https://usanpn.org/natures_notebook

Reports from the Front Lines

• New Hampshire & the Law 
  • https://www.newsweek.com/conservative-group-offers-500-catching-teacher-breaking-critical-race-theory-law-1651003  
• Kids “Scamming” Mr. McGirr
• Mr. McGirr is sitting pretty
• Mr. McGirr, please delete my attempts…sure, it’s midnight, but can you get on this?
• Troy’s Self-Assessment journey
  • Moodle Forum
  • Blog Post

The Twitterverse  

Alex Shevrin Venet  @AlexSVenet

Middle grades teachers! I’m excited to be giving a keynote at the FREE Middle Grades Collaborative conference on January 29. Deets and registration: https://middlegradescollaborative.org/conference/  

Alice Keeler  @alicekeeler

6 Chrome Extensions for Teachers https://alicekeeler.com/2021/11/07/6-c  

Slava Bobrov  @slava__bobrov

Two neurons sensing each other. And trying to connect: #neuroscience  https://twitter.com/i/status/1459398961404518402  

Jcorippo  @jcorippo

Gentle reminder for all of us right now. #eduprotocols  

Typical EduCelebrity   @EduCelebrity

Good administrators allow their staff to wear jeans on Fridays. Elite administrators allow their staff to wear sweatpants.  

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

Strategies:  

The Greatest Enemy of Creativity In Schools Isn’t Testing, It’s Time

“Creativity is one of those ineffable skills that’s important—especially for jobs of the future—but hard to pin down. We know when we feel creative, and we know what creative work looks like. Measuring and assessing such work in a way that keeps kids inspired is another matter,”  

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2018-12-18-the-greatest-enemy-of-creativity-in-schools-isn-t-testing-it-s-time/

Resources:  

Slinky Drop

https://www.gifbin.com/bin/092011/1317143770_slinky_dropped_in_slowmotion.gif

6 Toilets From History, and What They Taught Us

Across the world, and throughout history, different peoples have developed different ways to deal with their own waste. And while they didn’t always nail the design, their efforts to keep themselves safe have led to the thrones and sanitation systems we know and love today.

Web Spotlight:  

Living in the Coldest Place on Earth

https://www.wired.com/2015/01/amos-chapple-the-coldest-place-on-earth/

Random Thoughts . . .  

Personal Web Site   

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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Summary:

Professional Development for staff, a few ratholes, and how teachers can continue to grow. Hey, Dave has PD tips too. 

Jokes: 

What do you call a guy standing in a hole? 

• Phil

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I have a new pen that writes underwater. It’s amazing. It writes other words as well. 

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How do you get down off an elephant?

• You don’t. You get down off a duck.

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Did you know the first french fry wasn’t cooked in France?

• It was cooked in Greece

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I fear that Elon Musk is going to get into a scandal. It would last for, like, ever.

• Elongate

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I finished writing my book on penguins. 

• In hindsight, it would’ve been easier to use paper.

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I had a happy childhood. My Dad used to roll me down hills in tires. 

• Those were Goodyears

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I called Siri “Alexa”. Now neither one will talk to me. 

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My friend has a new boyfriend. However, he’s in another nation. 

• Imagination

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A farmer caught his cow smoking weed. 

• The steaks have never been higher

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Why should you keep a knife in the freezer?

• For making cold cuts

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Hey, did you know that Bruce Lee had a brother? That brother was a vegetarian. 

• Broco Lee

Middle School Science Minute  

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

The Importance of Professional Development

I was recently reading the November/December 2021 issue of “Science Scope” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the section “From the Editor’s Desk” written by Patti McGinnis.  Patti wrote an article entitled “The Importance of Professional Development.”

Professional Development is best conducted via opportunities to learn in the workplace through Professional Learning Communities, instructional coaching, or any vehicle that focuses on improving student achievement through teacher practices.

http://k12science.net/the-importance-of-professional-development/ 

Reports from the Front Lines

• Quality Professional Development 
  • Coaching
  • Self-selected

The Twitterverse  

Typical EduCelebrity  @EduCelebrity

Good administrators allow their staff to wear jeans on Fridays. Elite administrators allow their staff to wear sweatpants.

Sam  @SamIAm2021MD

I am blown away by this COVID vaccine video, one of the coolest things I have seen in a long time

https://twitter.com/i/status/1459051952831189013

Rick Wormeli@rickwormeli2

Middle School Educators: This is one of the best books to maintain middle school focus this year and in the years ahead – Take a look! @AMLE @DruTomlin4Edu @blocht574 The Successful Middle School This We Believe promotional video with Rick… https://youtu.be/TQZTwE6QqJw via @YouTube  

𝐓𝐂𝐄𝐀@TCEA

8 Ways to Scaffold #Writing for English Learners   @ValentinaESL

#ell #mllchat #learning #langchat #teachertwitter #readingwritingELs #EB

Moodle Users Association  @moodleassoc

Replying to  @VertalerJoost

Hi Joost, yes all our Town Halls are recorded and available for members to view at their own time and pace. You will find them here:

Dr. Bryan Pearlman, EdD, LMSW – #MaslowBeforeBloom @DrP_Principal

Stress Response In Kids… Fight, Flight, Freeze… #maslowbeforebloom

Alice Keeler  @alicekeeler

“We are always demanding teachers to innovate and create. We want them to use tech to make all the units. But teachers need time.” –  @maprats

Justin McMillan  @justinwmcmillan

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

Strategies:  

Student Self-Assessment

https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=428873

Resources:  

Open ClipArt

Since 2004, Now with 168094 clipart.

In the Open Clipart collection, all graphics are stored using the Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) format. Major standard supported all across the web, SVG files are very portable and can easily be scaled, edited or printed without deformation.

” All of Openclipart’s content is public domain due to expired copyright, failing to reach the threshold of originality, or being deeded into the public domain to the greatest legal extent possible by its owners.

https://openclipart.org/#annotations:gQp1DD9mEeyg5oOcAXkM3A

SMART – Servier Medical ART

3000- Free medical images to illustrate your publications and Powerpoint presentations

https://smart.servier.com/#annotations:a8jOokFxEeykE_d5oqZQKg

Web Spotlight:  

16 Powerful Little Known Facts to Help Manage Your Life

https://charliestephen6.medium.com/16-powerful-little-known-facts-to-help-manage-your-life-821fe4006120#annotations:GfF3MEHDEey1GYuLjOFFyw

Slang of the Week

Bugman:  A man who loves being part of consumer culture, loves buying the newest technology, and doesn’t appear to be ashamed of the part they play in the collective “hive-mind”  (hence:  he is a bug man).  Example:  Is Mark Zuckerberg a person, a robot, or the king of the Bugmen?  

Estonian Poet Marie Under – Six Poems

Who was Marie Under and why is she so important for Estonians? Like many Estonian cultural greats of the turbulent 20th century, who lived during the oppressive Soviet occupation, her story is full both of joy and sadness.

https://estonianworld.com/culture/six-poems-estonian-poet-marie/?fbclid=IwAR1ShKLhQztl3D907c4y4kv_QKoOi3k4IL0F4DdjsvVH4ZQsWmiups6BoBo

Random Thoughts . . .  

Personal Web Site   

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Summary:

Shawn and Troy start with a rathole, Dave gets down and dirty. 

Jokes:  

Why are there POPTarts but no MOMtarts?

• It’s a pastryarchy

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Last night I dreamed that I weighed less than a thousandth of a gram. 

• I was like 0mg. 

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Is an argument between two Vegans still called a “beef”. 

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Steve Winwood began his solo career in 1977.

• He would’ve started earlier, but he was stuck in Traffic.

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If you have any vegetable jokes, please lettuce know. 

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Bigfoot is sometimes confused with Sasquatch.

• Yeti never complains

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Middle School Science Minute  

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

Soil Scientist

I was recently reading the September/October 2021 issue of “The Science Teacher” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the section “Career of the Month” written by Luba Vangelova.  Luba wrote an article entitled “Soil Scientist.”

Soil scientists study the soil, for the purpose of understanding it in its natural state, or in its capacity to serve human purposes.  The podcast features Janes Hartsig, a soil scientist working in the role of vegetation manager, an Invenergy LLA in Denver, Colorado.

Reports from the Front Lines

• Why Vocabulary?
• Remote Learning
• Ice Breakers Virtually
• Moodle Student Tracking 

The Twitterverse  

Andrew Wheelock @AMWheelock

Really love the connections between @pixar and education. Great work  @jmattmiller

https://ditchthattextbook.com/pixar/

Tara Maynard @tmaynard5

Just got done presenting about Formative Assessment at #AMLE21 If you missed it, here are the slides. Formative assessment is great but if you don’t change instruction or do something with the data, then it’s pointless! #mschat #miched  https://t.co/YcfJt64sSd?amp=1  

Erika Garcia  @flyingmonkey13

Today was a long week. I’m exhausted. Y’all, this education thing is no joke.

Ian Jukes  @ijukes

Time for school!  

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

Resources:  

 AXIS:  The Culture Translator

1. Resigned to “Lie Flat:”  Data shows that 4.3 million American workers quit their jobs in August alone, capping  five month trend of mass resignations all over the country.  Sociologists are interpreting this as Gen Z’s reinterpratation of how the world of work should work.  
2. Slang of the Week:  Trap House – Originally used to describe a house where illegal drug sales occur, now used by younger people to describe the location of a party where there’s alcohol or simply a wild party.  

Web Spotlight:  

Can Data Die?

The Lenna image may be relatively unknown in pop culture today, but in the engineering world, it remains an icon. 

https://pudding.cool/2021/10/lenna/#annotations:nEFEYjzTEeyOrE8VMdrBQg

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download