MSM 536: Law of Unintended Consequences

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about mask mandates, posting lessons, students cheating, and more. Dave has designs on success in science.

Jokes:  

“Do you want a box for your leftovers?” 

  • No, but I’ll wrestle you for them!”


Set your wifi password to

2444666668888888

Then when someone asks for your password tell them

12345678


The other day, at a thrift store, I bought an old record album called “Sounds Wasps Make”. When I got home and played it, I said to myself, “This doesn’t sound like wasps sounds”. 

  • Then I realized I was playing the Bee side. 

Yesterday I was at physical therapy for an injury and found myself in the middle of a very loud back-and-forth between a couple therapists about a bridge over a local river.  It went like this:

Therapist 1:  It’s a viaduct

Therapist 2:  No, it’s a causeway

Therapist 1:  It’s a viaduct, because of the arches

Therapist 2:  But it’s crossing water, so it’s a causeway

Me:  At least we know it’s not a henway.

Therapist 1 & 2:  What’s a henway?

Me (barely containing myself):  Oh, about five pounds

I was so proud of myself!


What is the name of that girl that stands in the middle of the tennis court ?

Annette


What kind of shoes do frogs wear?

  • Open Toad

I asked my dog what’s two minus two.She said nothing.


Bono and the Edge walked into an ice cream shop. The server said, “Oh no, not U2 again”.


I have a fear of speed bumps! I’m slowly getting over it


Why are elevator jokes so classic and good? 

  • They work on many levels!

Why can’t you hear a psychiatrist using the bathroom? 

  • Because the P is silent

​​I wonder if the guy who coined the phrase, “One Hit Wonder,” ever came up with another Iconic phrase.

Eileen Award:  

  • Tom Acker, Technology Integrator

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Design Thinking

I was recently reading the January/February 2022 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.  She wrote an article entitled, “Design Thinking.” 

  • Design Thinking is a solution-based technique used to solve problems.    The basics of Design Thinking are:
  • Empathize – consider others’ needs, not just solve the problem
  • Define – define the problem and create a meaningful and actionable problem statement
  • Ideate – encourage innovation through brainstorming
  • Prototype – identify and develop the best solution through multiple iterations
  • Test – evaluate prototypes and consider improvements

http://k12science.net/design-thinking/

Reports from the Front Lines

The Twitterverse  

AIMS  @aimsnetwork

7 #strategies for #students who #struggle with executive functioning https://ditchthattextbook.com/executive-func

Ryan Sheehy @sheehyrw

I am scared. Educators are tired. They are getting burned out. How can we keep so many amazing educators in their jobs. Everyone rushes to say pay them more. Money is not the only answer. Society appreciation goes a long way. #BeTheOne

Ian Jukes  @ijukes

First Sign of Spring

Ian Jukes  @ijukes

One Kit Kat left..

Doug Robertson  @TheWeirdTeacher

The announcers for bobsled could say literally anything about the sport and I’d believe it. “This German team trains by push starting the most popular roller coaster in the country- Der ZoomenLooper.” “The Canadian driver wrestles moose in the off season to stay in shape.”    (I wanna say that I regret not adding umaults to Der ZöomënLüper)  

Typical EduCelebrity @EduCelebrity·Want a fun activity to do? Record the presentation of the person running your professional development – the one who tells you to have a positive attitude and just persevere. Then, say those exact same words to your students. Certainly, nothing could go wrong by doing this!  

Janine Campbell  @campbellartsoup

New semester, new set of dots inspired by #thedot from @peterhreynolds – these works will join the collaboration in the hall! #k12artchat #mschat

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

Strategies:  

Hack Your Classroom Activity

No, not you, your students can.  “School Cheats is a revolutionary platform that allows you to gain access to answers for your favorite school platforms. We support platforms such as Quizizz, Edpuzzle, Kahoot, Blooket, Quizlet, Khan Academy, and Classkick.”

https://schoolcheats.net/dashboard/

Blooket Hacks

Resources:  

Illusion of the Year

Top 10 Finalists

http://illusionoftheyear.com/cat/top-10-finalists/2021/ 

The Changing Room Illusion

Airzooka

https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=Airzooka&crid=1L7C6SLYM9AIP&sprefix=airzooka%2Caps%2C188&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

Web Spotlight:

45 Eighth Grade Science Fair Projects and Classroom Experiments

https://www.weareteachers.com/8th-grade-science-projects/

Google Slides is Hilarious

Middle Schoolers Launch Boat

The 6-foot-long Rye Riptides, decorated with artwork from the kids and equipped with a tracking device that went silent for parts of the journey, was found Feb. 1 in Smøla, a small island near Dyrnes, Norway, the Portsmouth Herald reported Monday.

Teachers Are Not Superheroes (And That’s A Good Thing!)

  1. The Superhero mentality leads to burnout.
  2. Being the “Savior of Students” is an unattainable status.
  3. There is a difference between Superhero and Hero.  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

MSM 535: I’ll Buy the Cake, You Eat It . . . or the Cepelani

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about cake, celebrations, and cats. Dave has some great books for middle schoolers. 

Jokes:  


Parent Hearts: 




I’m confused. They say that nothing rhymes with Orange. 

  • It doesn’t.

A policeman is driving along on his motorcycle and coming the other way is a convertible.

In the passenger seat is a bear.

The cop turns around and pulls them over.

How come you got a bear in your front seat?

The driver says he was hitchhiking and I’m giving him a lift.

The cop says you ought to take that bear to the zoo.

And he lets him go.

Next day.. guess what?

The same policeman is riding on his motorcycle and coming the other way is the man driving the convertible with the bear in the passenger seat wearing sunglasses!

He turns around and pulls them over.

I thought I told you to take that bear to the zoo!

The man says I did!

And today we’re going to the beach!


Not many people realize that Wilson in Castaway was the same actor from the volleyball scene in Top Gun. 


I have a friend who writes songs for sewing machines. 

  • That’s right, he’s a Singer songwriter.
  • Or, at least, so it seams. 

If a drummer comes out of retirement, are there….

  • Repercussions?

I have two unwritten rules:

  1.  
  2.  

I once was attacked by Dennis DeYoung and Mick Jagger until David Crosby came to my rescue. 

  • Just goes to prove that Styx and Stones may break my bones, but Byrds would never hurt me.

How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges?


Middle School Science Minute  

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

Outstanding Science Trade Books for Middle School Students

I was recently reading the January/February 2022 issue of “Science Scope” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. 

In this issue, I read the article listing the “2022 Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students.” 

In this podcast, we look at eight “Outstanding Science Trade Books” recommended for middle school students in grades 6 – 8:

  • “Beavers: Radical Rodents and Ecosystem Engineers” by Frances Backhouse
  • “Inside In: X-Rays of Nature’s Hidden World” by Jan Paul Schuttten
  • “Tracking Tortoises: The Mission to Save a Galapagos Giant” by Kate Messner
  • “Ocean Planet: Animals of the Sea and Shore” by Ben Rothery
  • “Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear” by Trang Nguyen
  • “Fungarium: Welcome to the Museum” by Gaya Ester
  • “Fred and Marjorie: A Doctor, A Dog and the Discovery of Insulin” by Deborah Kerbel
  • “Wonder Women of Science” by Tiera Fletcher and Ginger Rue

http://k12science.net/outstanding-science-trade-books-for-middle-school-students-2/ 

Reports from the Front Lines

The Twitterverse  

Jack Berckemeyer@JBerckemeyer

As I mentioned in previous posts- this year educators need to find 3 people- one who makes you laugh, one you can vent with and one who will help you with teaching ideas. Post a pic of you and your peeps – #chooseoptimism  

Jenny Luca @jennyluca  

If you’re a cat lover, you’re going to love the replies to this tweet.  

Brianna Parkins  

What made this morning’s trip to the bathroom interesting is that I don’t actually own a cat.  

I read once in Readers Digest. Family cat went out disappeared for 3 months.  Returned. Year later same thing.  Gone 3 months and back. Mentioned it to neighbours a few doors away. They thought cat was stray showing up at their house. They took it to Florida with them each year.

A friend of mine had that happen with her childhood cat. They didn’t have air conditioning, and he’d always vanish for the summer. One July day, she saw him in her neighbor’s window.

The neighbor had air conditioning.

My next door neighbour was selling their house and I had a nosey on the website and my cat was on their bed in one of their bedrooms.  

Replying to @parkinsbrea

That’s my laptop. That’s not my cat.  

Pat Sajak  @patsajak  

Not to be morbid, but I just designed my tombstone. It’ll read: R _ P. I’d like to buy a vowel.  

🧩🍎Jen Davies🍎🧩@jendavies1030 

I start almost every lesson with, “Last time we were… Today we’re going to… This will lead to us learning…” But to write it and post it in the room? Pointless. 

Kevin W. Pledger (he/him/his)@kwpledger_

Replying to @JohnPowersYYZ and @AfroFranco2″Learning Objectives” doesn’t have a clear definition or purpose. Even still, empirical evidence shows that they have no effect on student outcomes.

https://t.co/qbC6dZg108

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

Resources:  

You’ve Got Perseverance!

The “You’ve Got Perseverance!” opportunity is for students who have demonstrated perseverance in their academic pursuits. Teachers, educators, and community leaders are encouraged to nominate students who’ve shown that nothing will deter them from their educational journey.

NASA’s Perseverance mission team is no stranger to challenges, as the team has faced and overcome many hurdles to get the rover to Mars. The team wants to encourage students to persevere, to embrace the idea of not giving up when things get tough and to overcome seemingly impossible challenges. We want to hear how your students persevered!

Selected students will:

  • Get a special message sent directly from the Perseverance rover on Mars!
  • Chat with the rover team members from mission control at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
  • Get a printed materials award pack loaded with mission essentials

Be sure to read the full nomination rules before starting your nomination. You might also like to read our frequently asked questions.

Fill out the nomination form. You will need:

  1. Permission and contact info of student’s parent or legal guardian
  2. Contact info for a second eligible person who can confirm your nomination
  3. Clear and brief description of how this student has shown perseverance
  4. A brief description of how the student has improved their academic performance

https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/participate/got-perseverance/#annotations:UMvRXIqrEeyfjqPEK374zw

Nightly News for Kids

https://www.nbcnews.com/nightlykids#annotations:TXOUyoj_Eey1EZ_BW9DnQg

Worldle

HOW TO PLAY

✖️

Guess the WORLDLE in 6 guesses.

Each guess must be a valid country, territory, …

After each guess, you will have the distance, the direction and the proximity from your guess and the target country.

Examples

CHILE 13557km ↗️ 32%

Your guess CHILE is 13557km away from the target country, the target country is in the North-East direction and you have a only 32% of proximity because it’s quite far away!

FINLAND 3206km ↘️ 84%

Your second guess FINLAND is getting closer! 3206km away, South-East direction and 84%!

LEBANON 0km 🎉 100%

Next guess, LEBANON, it’s the country to guess! Congrats! 🎉

A new WORLDLE will be available every day!

About distance

The distances displayed correspond to the distances between the selected and the target territory centers.

For instance, the computed distance between United States and Canada is around 2260km even if they have a common border.

WORLDLE has been heavily inspired by Wordle created by Josh Wardle (@powerlanguish).

https://worldle.teuteuf.fr/

Web Spotlight:

Do We Really Need PD?

His focus is to shift practice in classrooms to impact learners and he saw this happening as a result of this visit, so naturally, he wondered: Why do we need professional development when teachers learn through experience?

My first reaction was, why isn’t that considered professional development?!?!  

He said, “I didn’t bring them in a room and tell them what to do.” #UGH

Quordle

It’s Wordle times 4

https://www.quordle.com/

Slang of the Week

Purr: a comment used to signal delight or approval; most likely to be found under a friend or influencer favorite’s TikTok post. (Ex: Did you see that selfie my bestie posted yesterday? Purr.)

Random Thoughts . . .  

An oldie, but a goodie….

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

MSM 534: Teaching All Day Not Enough, We’ve Got a Plan

Summary:

Shawn and Troy explain last week (the missing Mr. McGirr), what does a “snow day” look like? Dave takes a look at Woodpeckers.  

Jokes:  

There are 10 types of people in this world, those who can read binary and those who can’t. 


I have some dead batteries that I’m getting rid of. They are available free of charge. 


I was going to tell a joke about construction here…

  • But I’m still working on it.

Did you hear about the new cryptocurrency called Decibel?

  • It’s a sound investment

Respect people who wear glasses.

  • They paid money to see you.

I told my wife she should embrace her mistakes. 

  • She hugged me.

A coworker named Celcius just retired recently at work, so they hired a guy named Kelvin to replace him.

  • He’s a temp…

I bought a new pair of camouflage pants last week. I’m not sure if it was my best purchase or not. 

  • I can’t find them anywhere.

I have a joke about pizza. It’s kind of cheesy…..

  • But really, it’s all about the delivery.

How many apples grow on trees….

  • All of them

What grades did the pirate get in middle school?

  • High Seas



Eileen Award:  

  • Shannon Lundgren…..

Middle School Science Minute  

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

The Woodpecker Cavity Cam Project

I was recently reading the January/February 2022 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 “The Woodpecker Cavity Cam Project.”

The Woodpecker Cavity Cam Project study site is based at the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve in Eastern Minnesota.  The research site features the oak savanna habitat and is home to over 100 breeding red-headed woodpecker adults each year.  Researchers have deployed nest cavity cams at this location to study the woodpeckers and life at the cavity nest sites.  For more information, visit:

https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/elwest/woodpecker-cavity-cam

Reports from the Front Lines

  • Last week’s Show (i.e. the Missing Mr. McGirr)
  • Moving classrooms
  • Weather-related days

The Twitterverse  

Typical EduCelebrity  @EduCelebrity

Teachers who are required to submit their lesson plans one year ahead of time: it’s important that you also describe when you plan to blink and breathe during instruction. Admin can provide guidance on how to do that more efficiently and thus have more time for teaching.

Teachers, stop complaining about not being able to go to the bathroom in school. If you weren’t so selfish taking time away from your students to eat and drink, you wouldn’t have a problem of taking MORE time away to use the restroom. This is why people complain about teachers.

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

Strategies:  

7 Attention-Getters to Use Instead of Raising Your Voice

To avoid creating a negative classroom culture, which ultimately impedes learning, new teachers, or teachers facing new circumstances in this less than ideal school year, can employ these attention-getters.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/7-attention-getters-use-instead-raising-your-voice#annotations:E6RM-oQ0EeygN3OhWIgbwQ

Resources:  

Our 2022 Winter Book Review Festival

Shawn’s Reading Reference:  

 

A parenting expert shares the 5 toxic mistakes that can make kids more ‘selfish and entitled’

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/11/psychologist-shares-toxic-parenting-mistakes-that-make-kids-more-selfish-and-entitled-in-adulthood.html#annotations:Yn7ptoKfEeyFX6spqUCu1A

Web Spotlight:

What Happens to Your Brain When You Pay Attention

Attention isn’t just about what we focus on — it’s also about what our brains filter out. By investigating patterns in the brain as people try to focus, computational neuroscientist Mehdi Ordikhani-Seyedlar hopes to build computer models that can be used to treat ADHD and help those who have lost the ability to communicate. Hear more about this exciting science in this brief, fascinating talk.

Random Thoughts . . .

Time to make the Ceppalini . . . 

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!