Summary:

Shawn and Troy share some jokes, summer, and more. Dave brings the pun game to Science.

Jokes:  

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

• Hey, get off mi-to-sis!!!

---

An amoeba sits down to eat at a restaurant. Across the room, another Amoeba is undergoing mitosis. The first amoeba flags down the waiter and says, “I’ll have what she’s halving.”

---

A friend asked if he looked special in his bright red shirt. 

• I told him he looked like one in a vermilion. 

---

I gave my friend a gift certificate for mime school for his birthday. 

• He’s still giving me the silent treatment.

---

How do you fix a broken tomato?

• Tomato paste.

---

Why do milking stools only have 3 legs? 

• Because the cow’s got the udder.

---

Many people are investing in shoes these days. Some are going for hundreds or thousands of dollars. I disagree with this. Shoes are for wearing. 

• That’s their sole purpose. 

---

Did you hear about the rancher who had 196 cows?

• When he rounded them up, he had 200.

---

A truly good pun is it’s own reword.

---

Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast: Chemical Puns

I was recently reading the May/June 2022 issue of “The Science Teacher” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  

In this issue, I read the “Idea Bank” column, written by Nick Thomas.  He wrote an article entitled, “Chemicals Gone Funny.”

Using humor in the classroom at any level can be a gamble for teachers and most have probably experienced students collectively rolling their eyes at a corny joke.  Puns, of course, frequently elicit that response along with the almost requisite group groan.  Yet this ancient and simple form of humor can effectively impart a message if carefully worded, although any attempt at a science pun relies on the teacher first ensuring students understand the scientific principles tied to the humor.

http://k12science.net/chemical-puns/

Reports from the Front Lines

• New positions???
• Summer Off
• MOOSE
• Kids and Summer

The Twitterverse  

TeacherGoals  @teachergoals

Gotta love summer! 

Adam Moler  @moler3031

The guy who invented the merry go round never met the guy who invented the Ferris wheel. They ran in different circles.

Ditch That Textbook  @DitchThatTxtbk

Fun formative assessment: 12 easy, no-tech ideas you can use tomorrow Graffiti wall Sketch artist Quiz maker Sculptor Word puzzler and more PLUS 2 creative ways to use them https://ditchthattextbook.com/no-tech-format

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

Strategies:

How To Create Fake Text Messages

https://chat-animator.com/

Six Ways to Add Rigor by Deepening Thinking

By Karin Hess

What does it look and sound like when your students are doing rigorous work and thinking deeply?

Raising expectations is NOT as simple as assigning difficult texts to read or using higher-order verbs (e.g., analyze, synthesize) to describe what students are going to do during a lesson.

https://www.middleweb.com/47245/6-places-to-find-true-rigor-in-your-classroom/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=6-places-to-find-true-rigor-in-your-classroom

5-Minute SEL Activities You Can Do Every Day – Virtually or In Person

…try these three activities throughout this year: Good News, Mindful Movement, and Hot Seat.  

https://www.teacher2teacher.education/2022/01/21/5-minute-sel-activities-you-can-do-every-day-virtually-or-in-person/

Resources:

What’s Going on With This Graph?

Graphs, maps and charts from The Times — and an invitation to students to discuss them live.

https://www.nytimes.com/column/whats-going-on-in-this-graph

Quizdini

Quizdini is shutting down. 

https://www.freetech4teachers.com/2022/06/quizdini-is-shutting-down.html

New options for styling fonts in Google Forms

We’re adding additional font style and sizing options, and the ability to customize header, subheader, and body text separately in Google Forms. 

https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2022/06/new-font-options-google-forms.html

One Pagers Refresh!

The one pagers include a range of distilled research from educational psychologist, edu-Twitter influencers and inspirational teachers. 

Jamie Clark (@XpatEducator)

https://www.jamieleeclark.com/blog/one-pagers-refresh

AXIS The Culture Translator

Can’t Find It

What it is: People are expressing dissatisfaction (language) with the way Google’s flagship product, its search engine, has changed over the past few months as it seems to rank sponsored content and ads more highly than before.  

Web Spotlight:

Moving Beyond SAMR with the Rigor Relevance Framework

While there are many different frameworks to choose from when it comes to the effective integration of technology, SAMR is typically the one that most people and schools leverage. At face value, it is relatively straightforward while conveying how the use of technology can move from enhancement to transformation.

http://esheninger.blogspot.com/2022/06/moving-beyond-samr-with-rigor-relevance.html 

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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Summary:

Shawn and Troy issue an Eileen Award, reflect on Genius Week, and more. Dave is all-inclusive.

Jokes:  

Why did the integers have to quarantine?

• Because half of them were positive

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Every time my doorbell rings my dog hides in the corner. 

• She’s a boxer

---

I prefer warm weather, but 

• Only to a certain degree

---

Why did Darth Vader have such a hard time measuring spaceships?

• He was using the Imperial System.

---

Everyone should learn to use sign language. 

• It’s pretty handy

---

My air conditioner broke and the parts are on back order for what seems to be forever. 

• Sorry, I just had to vent

---

A lady bought a talking parrot, the pet shop promised a “nice” bird and so took it home. However the bird started cussing, once home and so she threatened to put it in the freezer. When it wouldn’t stop, she put it in the deep freezer and left it for about 5 minutes. When she took it out, she asked if he’ll behave. He promised but wanted to know something, what did the turkey do to be put into the freezer and she said that he was a fowl bird!

---

“So you currently work 9 to 5, Monday through Friday,” said my boss.

“That is right,” I replied.

He said, “Would you be able to work outside those hours?”

I said, “But I might catch a cold.”

---

What did the amoeba say when his sister stepped on his foot?

My toe sis!

Sorry, but this is a divisive joke.

---

Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast: Inclusive Science Classrooms

I was recently reading the May/June 2022 issue of “The Science Teacher” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  

In this issue, I read the “Editor’s Corner” column, written by Ann Haley MacKenzie.  She wrote an article entitled, “Inclusive Strategies for the Science Classroom.”

The time is now for more attention to be paid to providing an inclusive environment for all learners.  Our STEM pipeline depends on it.  Our future as a progressive scientific country depends on it.  Our scientific literacy depends on it.  Our goal for an inclusive science classroom is to make sure all of our students can bring their authentic selves to school and feel that they belong, while providing engaging, responsive, and stimulating learning environments. 

http://k12science.net/inclusive-science-classrooms/

Eileen Award

• New Listener – Mike Maffesoli LOVES the jokes section of the show and would like to make requests.  

Reports from the Front Lines

• Genius Week Review
  • Teacher Reflection
  • Student Discussion (in Moodle)
• Summer Break!
• End of the Year Picnic
  • Maine-ly Meatball
  • Mr. Tuna
  • Oysters
• MOOSE

The Twitterverse  

Richard Byrne  @rmbyrne

How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall? – A Geography Lesson https://buff.ly/3MtuMga

Senator Sean McCann  @SeanAMcCann

I was proud to join a bill package to attract and retain teachers in Michigan led by my colleagues @SenPolehanki and @WinnieBrinks. My bill, Senate Bill 1100, would create a no-cost pathway for support staff members to become certified teachers.  https://senatedems.com/polehanki/news/2022/06/16/polehanki-brinks-introduce-a-bill-package-to-attract-retain-teachers-in-michigan/  

TeacherGoals  @teachergoals

No lies detected. 

MiddleWeb  @middleweb

HAMMOCK PD: Find a great choice for summer professional reading! Your review book is free. We’ll send it by priority mail. You set your own deadline. https://middleweb.com/1153/review-for-us/

#mschat @AMLE #elachat #scichat #mathchat #gtchat #educoach #leadupchat #crazyPLN #satchat #ntchat #ELLs

Beth Houf  @BethHouf

So great to reflect with other leaders on stress busters to prioritize. Moving my body is my number one goal. I’ve gotten away from this and ready to get back at it! #mola36 #LeadLAP

Ditch That Textbook @DitchThatTxtbk

Get 25 FREE Google Drawings graphic organizers AND learn how to create your own http://ditchthattextbook.com/15-free-google-drawings-graphic-organizers-and-how-to-make-your-own/  #ditchbook

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

Strategies:

Unraveling a Copyright and Email Scam

Great review of a scam attempt. 

(Also, he has 22,000 emails in his Inbox). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE7_sPrzF6w

Design Thinking

Design thinking is a problem-solving process that typically includes the following elements: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test.

https://www.middleweb.com/47238/teach-design-thinking-to-middle-schoolers/

Resources:  

AXIS:  The Culture Translator

Song of the Week:  “As it Was”  Harry Styles’s take on the pandemic world.  Lots of “As it Was” in the lyrics.  Lots.  And even more after that.  

160 Oral Language Prompts

This year, in my ELL Newcomers class, we began with students spending ten minutes using their laptops to work on various English-learning sites of their choice.

Then, I would display an oral language prompt on the screen (a question and a sentence-starter as a response).  I would model saying it, and then students would write down the question and their response in a notebook. 

https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2022/06/12/160-oral-language-prompts-i-used-in-my-ell-newcomers-class-this-year/

Web Spotlight:

How Long Would It Take To Count to A Million

So, how long would it really take to count to a million? Out loud, for good measure?

Thanks to a guy named Jeremy Harper, we don’t have to guess. In fact: we got to watch.

https://nowiknow.com/how-long-would-it-take-to-count-to-a-million/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aqCC2PVNcA

BEWARE OF THE UNICYCLING CLOWN

Hyman wanted to measure the “inattentional blindness” — basically, the inability to see things because you’re not paying attention to them — which occurs when our minds are on our phone conversations.

https://nowiknow.com/beware-of-the-unicycling-clown/#annotations:F2XyquzJEeyTp59LA0ywKg

Random Thoughts . . .  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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Summary:

Troy and Shawn talk about the end of the year, summer, presentations, and more. Dave is about making scientists from students.

Jokes:  

Two fish are in a tank.

• One fish turns to the other and says: “Do you know how to drive this thing?”

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Did you hear about the burglar who always stole some soap in his crimes? 

• He wanted to make a clean getaway.

---

What musical genre are anthems?

• Country.

---

What do you call a Bee that lives in America? 

• A US B

---

I just bought a new first aid kit.

• I thought that I’d treat myself

---

Did you hear about the actor who fell through the floorboards? 

• He was just going through a stage.

---

A pirate lost his leg. He was able to walk again after getting an iron leg to replace it, but the leg soon rusted and he could no longer walk.

• Oh the iron knee!

---

Where do bad card players go to be “pun”ished?

• They go to solitaire-y confinement.

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Why could Bill Clinton always match his VP’s dance steps?

• He knew the Al Gore rhythm.

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Middle School Science Minute

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

K12Science Podcast: Do Students Work Like Scientists?

I was recently reading the May/June 2022 issue of “Science and Children” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. 

In this issue, I read the “Science 101” column, written by Matt Bobrowsky.  He wrote an article entitled, “What Makes a Great Science Investigation?”

Real-world science doesn’t involve a series of steps, and there’s not always a single correct answer.  Real science is exploration and discovery and lots of fun!  Scientific investigations are open-ended and can keep being extended or expanded, so too is learning an ongoing endeavor.  Isaac Asimov said, “Education isn’t something you can finish.”

http://k12science.net/do-students-work-like-scientists/

Reports from the Front Lines

• Graduation
• Summer Plans
  • MoodleNet
• Presentations 
  • AMLE November – H5P Tools  
  • ACTEM 
    • H5P
    • Moodle
    • Open Source Options
    • OER
• Genius Week Radio
  • Great way to set the tone, set expectations
• Reflections

The Twitterverse  

Ian Jukes  @ijukes

Tenacity

Megan Basham  @megbasham

Here’s what I would like my from punditry class. I would like them to be able to argue that something is bad, even very bad, without resorting the most superlative, hyperbolic terms they can find. When everything is an apocalypse, nothing is.  

Megan Basham  @megbasham

According to the most comprehensive Department of Education study, roughly 10 percent of K-12 public school students experience sexual misconduct at the hands of a school employee. How much is the media writing about this? https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/resea

Typical EduCelebrity  @EduCelebrity

Gooder.

Dan Van der Vieren  @RTBCoaching

Replying to @EduCelebrity

“Good” is not a strong enough adjective in this context. Please provide one that really honors those who desire the opportunity to spend nearly the entire year with students. Thank you for your consideration. 

Jenna  @jennavd22

Sounds about right. Happy Thursday to all you fellow spuddlers.

Cayne Letizia  @CayneLetizia

anyone: “I’m not a teacher but if I were…”

 teachers:

Todd Sepulveda  @tsepulveda

Chromebook shortcut stickers in @jrsowash session in the Cypress Room!

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

Strategies:

Dropdown in Google Docs

• Group work
• Tracking
• Emoji
• Rubrics

https://shakeuplearning.com/blog/15-ways-to-use-drop-down-menus-in-google-docs-suls0161/

Resources:

Interesting State Names

https://www.interestingfacts.com/state-nicknames/Ynm4_lm3LQAHz-rV

Flags

There is only one country with a non-quadralineal flag. 

https://flagmakers.co.uk/flag-history/nepal/

Gerrymandering

Limit voting rights in 3 easy steps. (And how to teach your students about it.) Gerrymandering 101.

Quick primer. Gerrymandering is the legislative act of creating voting maps that favor your particular political party. 

https://historytech.wordpress.com/2022/06/03/so-you-want-to-limit-someones-voting-rights-or-maybe-just-want-your-kids-to-know-more-about-it-gerrymandering-101/#annotations:_FxghuWbEeyjyR8fqvNhlg

AXIS:  The Culture Translator

Time to Wake Up

What it is: The state of California will require all public high schools to start classes no earlier than 8:30am.  

La Croke

What it is: A viral hack for “healthy” Coke on TikTok requires two ingredients: balsamic vinegar and any flavor of sparkling beverage.  Why it’s dividing the internet: The original post about the trend, which apparently was invented by @mandyjones’ Pilates instructor, has over 5 million views. Several famous influencers plopping a splash of balsamic in their La Croix and hoping for the best. People who have tried the fad seem to be divided firmly into two camps: “This tastes better than I thought” vs. “This is absolute internet madness.” If your family is curious, it could be fun to give this one a try together — although with the caveat that there is no clear health benefit to drinking fizzified acid, Coke or no coke.

Slang of the Week

Mid: used on TikTok to describe something that’s simply average, poor, or mediocre; based on a TikTok that went viral in December 2021 in which wrestler Maxwell Friedman was seen declaring, “It’s called the Midwest because every single person who lives here is… mid!”

Web Spotlight:

7 Interesting Facts About Ancient Pyramids

https://www.interestingfacts.com/pyramids-facts/YowCvFuKogAHE3m0

How 6 Sports Teams Got Their Distinctive Names

https://www.interestingfacts.com/sports-team-names/YagaiE7cAQAHtnRG

Nepal has one of the most unusual time zones in the world.

https://www.interestingfacts.com/fact/62968a557ede000008986bfe

Random Thoughts . . .  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download