Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about AI, summer, and more. Dave has a phenomenal section on phenomena. 

Jokes:  

I got an A on my origami assignment when I turned my paper into my teacher

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The value in origami is in creasing.

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Odorless perfumes are non-scents.

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Imagine the self control required to work at a bubble wrap factory …

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I had a dream where I weighed less than a thousandth of a gram.

• I was like 0mg.

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If you’re struggling to think of what to get someone for Christmas. Get them a fridge and watch their face light up when they open it.

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It’s kind of weird that “dial it in” and “phone it in” mean nearly opposite things.

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I had an operation on my funny bone today.

• The doctor said I will be in stitches for two weeks.

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To be Frank, I’d have to change my name.

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Rare photo of a roundabout reproducing through mitosis.

Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  Phenomena in the Classroom

I was recently reading the July-August 2024 issue of Science Scope, a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association.

In this issue, I read an article entitled “Phenomena in the Classroom,” written by Patty McGinnis.  

An engaging phenomena is determined more by how the students generate compelling lines of inquiry that create real opportunities for learning.  Paul Anderson’s “Wonder of Science” website has an extensive list of phenomena organized by grade level and standard.  It is available at:

https://thewonderofscience.com/phenomenal

http://k12science.net/phenomena-in-the-classroom/

Reports from the Front Lines

• Planning Parent Contacts
  • Keeping Track of Ideas
  • Resources
• Time for?
  • Pi Time
  • Curriculum Time
  • Oracle of Ancient Civ
  • Independent Study
• Student Access to Book Material Online

The Social Web

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

I’m coming (back) to Scotland for some of the final dates of my tour. I will definitely be mentioning some of my favourites from the Scots dictionary, including ‘tartling’: hesitating when introducing someone because you’ve completely forgotten their name.  Word of the day is ‘willanthropy’: the act of leaving a gift, however small, to a charity in your will.  

BigBlueButton  @bigbluebutton

Yes, we are integrating H5P into BigBlueButton. Why? Because the goal of the virtual classroom is not to meet, it is to learn. H5P extends our built-in tools for active learning and live analytics to ensure every student learns.  @H5PTechnology  #edtech

Kris Kashtanova  @icreatelife

This is another use of AI for good. Steve Gleason is a football legend and an ALS activist. He is using AI (Adobe Firefly) with eye tracking to create images from his pre-diagnosis artwork. ALS causes loss of muscle control, so AI is a way for Steve to make art.

Trending:  Katato – a loud annoying person with a high pitched voice that can’t take a hint.  

Resources:  

AXIS The Culture Translator

Really Anxious

What it is: Lenore Skenazy, founder of the LetGrow project, makes an argument that smartphones are “trust-blockers” for parents.

Why it’s worth thinking about: There’s a lot of discussion around how smartphones can shape child development in unhealthy ways. (So much discussion, in fact, that Axis just created a whole free toolkit breaking down everything you need to know before you give your son or daughter a phone—check it out!) But there hasn’t been as much talk about how much parents have grown accustomed, and maybe a little bit addicted, to being able to call their kids at any time, track their movements, and send them a heart-eyes emoji whenever they feel like it. Parents are relying on phones more and more as a parenting tool, but Skenazy wonders if this constant communication only serves to facilitate these parents’ own neuroses.

New Teachers

https://www.middleweb.com/51048/25-of-our-best-posts-for-new-ms-teachers/

Web Spotlight: 

Sydney Letter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgtHJKn0Mck&list=TLGGqWOPRo8tEqMyNzA3MjAyNA

Random Thoughts . . .  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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Summary:

Shawn and Troy share some jokes, middle school endorsements, and more. Dave gets us thinking about Science education, the why, and the cost.  

Jokes:  

Elton John’s E-reader was swept up in a tornado…like a kindle in the wind

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Three people turned up to play the part of The Cloud.

• It was overcast.

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It was an easy move from installing air conditioning units to being a Chief Information Officer.

• Both jobs are all about losing efficiency when people start opening windows.

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Just bought a boomerang from a ghost.

• That’ll come back to haunt me.

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I’m an American Sign Language interpreter, so for me, every single job is a near Deaf experience.

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What’s the difference between gray and grey?

• One is a color and the other is a colour.

---

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People saying ‘boo! to their friends has risen by 85% in the last year…. 

• That’s a frightening statistic.

I made a playlist for hiking. It has music from Peanuts, The Cranberries, and Eminem. 

• I call it my Trail Mix.

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Scientists finally did a study on forks. 

• It’s about tine!

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Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  Why Teach Science?

I was recently reading the book, “Transformative Science Teaching: A Catalyst for Justice and Sustainability,” written by Daniel Morales-Doyle.

In this book, Daniel looks at two questions:

• “Why teach science?”
• “How does my teaching reflect the world in which my students live and project the world they would like to see?”

http://k12science.net/why-teach-science/ 

Why Shawn does Science:  https://www.backyard-ballistics.com/  

Reports from the Front Lines

• Crowdstrike
• MAMSEBoard Meeting
  • Hall of Fame
• Prep for Teacher Return
• Book Study
  • Start with Why by Simon Sinek
  • Boredom Busters by Katie Powell  

The Social Web

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Word of the day is ‘forslug’ (14th century): to neglect something important, or squander a good deal of time, through sheer sluggishness.  

A few smiles, dictionary-style, for those in need: the collective noun for penguins on land is a ‘waddle’, eggs were once known as ‘cacklefarts’, someone in a bad mood would be described as ‘ill-willy’ (or worse, ‘evil-willy’), and to be totally bewildered was to be ‘bumfuzzled’.

Rick Wormeli @rickwormeli2

Yes! Middle School has significant impact on future success — The Middle Matters https://ascd.org/el/articles/the-middle-matters  via  @ASCD

ZUM-Apps  @ZUMApps

Super creative! Who wants to be a millionaire as #H5P #GAMEMAP of @floriandagner

as a template for more #Gamification ! This is the #H5PWorkflow collection Gamification with H5P https://apps.zum.de/gamification Thanks for sharing! https://apps.zum.de/apps/33868 #OER #OERde #moodle #freieBildung

𝗧𝗖𝗘𝗔  Next Up: AI for EDU Conference  @TCEA

Evaluate your resources with this easy-to-remember acronym: CRAAP! Currency Relevance Accuracy Authority Purpose https://sbee.link/w8kjn6rxam via Sequoia High School Media Center #mschat #hschat #teachertwitter

Strategies:  

How Actors Remember Their Lines

In describing how they remember their lines, actors are telling us an important truth about memory.

Actors face the demanding task of learning their lines with great precision, but they rarely do so by rote repetition. They did not, they said, sit down with a script and recite their lines until they knew them by heart.

Repeating items over and over, called maintenance rehearsal, is not the most effective strategy for remembering. Instead, actors engage in elaborative rehearsal, focusing their attention on the meaning of the material and associating it with information they already know.

…actors search for meaning in the script, rather than memorizing lines.

Script lines are carefully analyzed to understand the character’s motivation. This deep understanding of a script is achieved by actors asking goal-directed questions, such as “Am I angry with her when I say this?”

At the age of 58, John Basinger began studying this poem as a form of mental activity to accompany his physical activity at the gym, each time adding more lines to what he had already learned. Eight years later, he had committed the entire poem to memory, reciting it over three days. When I tested him at age 74, giving him randomly drawn couplets from the poem and asking him to recite the next ten lines, his recall was nearly flawless. Yet, he did not accomplish this feat through mindless repetition. In the course of studying the poem, he came to a deep understanding of Milton.

https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/how-actors-remember-their-lines

9 Habit-Stacking Tips for Low-Key Summer Prep

• Habit Stack #1: Visualize the upcoming year.
• Habit Stack #2: Identify specific, doable sanity savers.
• Habit Stack #3: Prioritize one goal.
• Habit Stack #4: Reach out to a teaching buddy.
• Habit Stack #5: Note the good things.
• Habit Stack #6: Do some homework (but not too much).
• Habit Stack #7: Learn names.
• Habit Stack #8: Create friction for distraction.
• Habit Stack #9: Practice self-compassion.

https://www.middleweb.com/50960/9-habit-stacking-tips-for-low-key-summer-prep/

Resources:  

Want to spur your child’s intellectual development? Use audiobooks instead of videos, says researcher

Listening to audiobooks requires children to focus and pay attention to the spoken word, promoting the development of listening skills.

Audiobooks are a valuable tool for expanding a child’s vocabulary and enhancing language skills. 

https://phys.org/news/2024-07-spur-child-intellectual-audiobooks-videos.html

Electoral-Vote.com

National Elections are in November.  Keep up with the current polls across the country with www.electoral-vote.com ‘s Electoral College map.  He updates it very frequently and it is a good visual to help students understand how the Electoral College works.  

Magna Carta:  Cornerstone of the Constitution

https://a.co/d/jaQuHYh

Web Spotlight:

REVOLUTIONIZE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP WITH THE HERSEY-BLANCHARD MODEL

The Hersey-Blanchard Model (pictured above) identifies four distinct leadership styles that instructional coaches and principals can employ when working with teachers. Each style combines different levels of directive and supportive behaviors to meet the needs of teachers at various stages of development.

https://blog.tcea.org/revolutionize-school-leadership-hersey-blanchard-model/

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about conferences, H5P, summer, and more. Dave sets the goal on Science education. 

Jokes:  

To develop massive thighs all you need to do is diddly squat. 

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A survey you fill out after staying in a motel is an…

• Innput.

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A truck loaded with Vicks Vaporub overturned on the highway. Amazingly, there was no congestion for eight hours.

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Tomorrow is the day that I really start procrastinating.

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Did you hear about the submarine industry? 

• It really took a dive…

Statistically 6 out of 7 dwarfs aren’t happy…

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Librarians operate by the book.

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Don’t buy flowers at a monastery. Because only you can prevent florist friars.

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Does ke$ha go by k€sha in Europe?

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Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast: Goal of Science Education

I was recently reading the book, “Transformative Science Teaching: A Catalyst for Justice and Sustainability,” written by Daniel Morales-Doyle.

In this book, Daniel challenges the goal of science education.  

http://k12science.net/goal-of-science-education/

Reports from the Front Lines

• PSU (PowerSchool University)
  • Formatted Presentations
  • Multiple Screens
  • SWAG – Give Aways
• H5P
• Shawn’s Upgraded Laptop
  • Multiple screen use
• Back to School Parent Communication
• MAMSE

The Social Web

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Niche tweet, but if we’re talking about impossible situations, the expression ‘between the devil and the deep blue sea’ began as a bold translation of a Latin proverb ‘a fronte praecipitium, a tergo lupi’: literally ‘a precipice in front, wolves behind’.

Word of the day is ‘ultra-crepidate’ (19th century): to comment at length on a subject you know virtually nothing about.

D2L  @D2L

Reflecting on #D2LFusion 2024! A global gathering shaping the future of education with participants from 16+ countries. From D2L Lumi to H5P Group, we’re advancing learning innovation. Explore:  https://t.co/ZAfWelwscT  

EducationInvestor Global  @EduInvestor

Norway: D2L acquires ed tech firm H5P Group https://educationinvestor.co.uk/canada-d2l-acquires-edutech-firm-h5p-group/

otacke @otacke@chaos.social

You asked for it: My view on “#D2L all in on #H5P” https://www.olivertacke.de/labs/2024/07/12 

Resources:  

Econlowdown

Economic lessons and activities for the middle school classroom from the St. Louis Federal Reserve.  Free sign up, link your classroom to the activities.  To access Econ Lowdown:  Visit the following URL:  https://www.econlowdown.org.

National History Day

Each year, students around the world discover history through National History Day^® (NHD) by creating historical research projects. Through the process, students develop skills in communication, project management, and historical thinking.  

https://nhd.org/en

Michigan Youth In Government

Time to plan for your Youth in Government projects!  

https://www.myig.org/Middle-School

Michigan Social Studies Olympiad

Time to plan for your Olympiad!  

https://www.mcssmi.org/Olympiad-24

AXIS The Culture Translator

Nobody Wants to BeReal

What it is: An article in The Free Press documents the rise and fall of the social media app BeReal, examining why it never took off the way it could have.

Web Spotlight: 

Informative Images

Informative images convey a simple concept or information that can be expressed in a short phrase or sentence. The text alternative should convey the meaning or content that is displayed visually, which typically isn’t a literal description of the image.

In some situations a detailed literal description may be needed, but only when the content of the image is all or part of the conveyed information. Whether to treat an image as informative or decorative is a judgment that authors make, based on the reason for including the image on the page.

Part of ADA compliance responsibility

https://www.w3.org/WAI/tutorials/images/informative

Brickfield Labs Tips Cube:  https://www.brickfield.ie/tips/   

Random Thoughts . . .  

Lithuania “Century of Song” Celebration

“Lithuania’s very first Song Festival was organised exactly 100 years ago in Kaunas. Then it lasted for two days – and the centennial event this June will continue a whole week. The programme includes 14 events, all of them part of the long and ever-growing tradition.”

https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2305028/37-000-performers-to-celebrate-centenery-of-lithuanian-song-celebration

https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2251372/tradition-that-survived-wars-and-occupations-lithuania-prepares-for-centennial-song-festival

Music:  https://youtu.be/v4mrhODa77M?t=7270  and https://youtu.be/p5f20vbQK-8  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about summer plans, COVID impacts, and more. Dave takes on AI in Science. 

Jokes:  

Sore throats are a pain in the neck!

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How many seconds are in a year?

• 12.

January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd, April 2nd…. etc

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C-flat: Perfect boating weather.

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I’ve made the decision to take a role at this startup that makes knives.

• What they’re working on is cutting edge!

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The best friends to take to dinner are your taste buds.

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How do locomotives know where they’re going? 

• Lots of training

Mrs Doc was worried about meeting new people on our upcoming cruise. @speecherkelly said: Don’t worry. We’ll all be in the same boat.

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“Be nice to everyone. You never know who might have a pool.”

-Gandhi

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Every morning when I go out, I get hit by bicycle. Every morning!  

• It’s a vicious cycle.

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How does a thermos know if the drink should be hot or cold?

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When she heard me sing, my music teacher told me I should be tenor. 

• Tenor twelve feet away from every musical instrument.

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Remember, the best angle to approach a problem from is the “try” angle.

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Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  AI:  Friend or Foe?

I was recently reading the March/April 2024 issue of “The Science Teacher,” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.

In this issue, I read “Editor’s Corner” written by Ann Haley Mackenzie. She wrote an article entitled, “Artificial Intelligence: Friend or Foe?”

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here, in a big way.  Do you see it as a friend or foe in your science classroom?  The possibilities for AI are endless.  Do you feel comfortable with AI developing further?  Are you skeptical of AI?  Do you see the many possibilities of AI for your science teaching?  Should we fear AI?  These are all questions being considered by users and developers.

http://k12science.net/ai-friend-or-foe/

Reports from the Front Lines

• PowerSchool University
• Year 17
• COVID or Just figuring out
• Thinking in Public:  Bad Therapy, Cultural Seduction, and Children in Crisis – https://youtu.be/xlKppernd-M  or  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thinking-in-public-with-albert-mohler/id390278978  

The Social Web

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Word of the day is ‘ultra-crepidate’ (19th century): to comment at length on a subject you know virtually nothing about.

Mr H5P  @mrh5p

Learn how to create interactive content for your students with #H5P. Join webinars by the H5P team on new AI tools, live engagement tools branching scenarios and about the product roadmap.  https://h5p.org/h5p-webinars-2024  

Ron King @mthman

Algebra Ss are working on parallel & perpendicular lines by designing a city on paper, then converting their maps to @Desmos. Maps include shading & using the polygon command. Bonus is offered for Ss willing to add motion. #mschat #mathchat #mtbos #edchat

𝗧𝗖𝗘𝗔  Next Up: AI for EDU Conference @TCEA

 7 Effective Ways to Teach Vocabulary in the Middle School Classroom https://sbee.link/ckarvw4efj via Teach Like Midgley #mschat #ela #engchat #writing

Resources:  

TeacherServer

TeacherServer is a cutting-edge educational platform designed to support teachers in their daily tasks. Our mission is to provide high-quality, easy-to-use tools that enhance teaching and learning experiences.

TeacherServer.com operates using a local AI server rather than relying on remote services. This means our platform processes your requests much faster than other AI servers like ChatGPT and Gemini. For example, whether you’re generating lesson plans or creating quizzes, the response time is significantly reduced, ensuring you can complete your tasks without unnecessary delays.

Your privacy is our top priority. Unlike other services that might store your data, TeacherServer.com ensures that your data and sessions are not saved. Everything is processed locally, meaning your information remains private and secure. You can confidently use our tools without worrying about your data being stored or shared. For instance, when you use our Assignment Feedback tool, your assignment details are not retained, ensuring complete confidentiality.

At TeacherServer.com, we believe in providing high-quality tools without any cost. Our platform is entirely free to use, with no subscription fees, no ads, and no distractions. This allows you to focus on what matters most – enhancing your teaching and educational outcomes. You can access all our tools, from the K-12 Curriculum Quiz Maker to the Vocabulary Builder, without any financial commitment.

https://www.teacherserver.com

WordMark

Helps you choose fonts for your creative projects

https://wordmark.it

Colossal Cranium

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPwiAPYRT1JCna3GYf-vkCg

Moodle Glossary Block:  ForBetterLife.org

Looking for something to hang out on the side of your Moodle classroom page that rotates information each time a student loads it?  How about with messages about character?  ForBetterLife.org has a daily email with such messages.  Imagine taking 440 of those and putting them in a Random Glossary Block.  Well someone did!  Character Glossary – Random Glossary Entry Block  

AXIS The Culture Translator

Slang of the Week: “Dusty”

“Dusty” can mean multiple things, but luckily, they all share the word’s original meaning: to be covered in dust. For many young people, the term has evolved to refer to someone who is maybe a little older or slightly out-of-touch. They’re “dusty” like a cup in the back of a cupboard that’s been forgotten. It also refers to someone who is past their prime or out of practice.

There’s No Place like Noplace

What it is: A new social media platform called “noplace” is currently the most popular app on the Apple app store. 

Why it’s attractive to Gen Z and Gen Alpha: The trend of nostalgia for the 2000s continues to grow, and MySpace and other early forms of social media might be the next vein to tap. Enter “noplace,” which seems to be trying to refocus on social connections instead of today’s social media, which leans heavily on being entertaining. Noplace gives users a customizable profile, a wall for friends to post on, and a feature where users highlight their “top ten friends.”  

Web Spotlight: 

CHAPEA

Mission Overview

Mission 1 will be the first of three one-year simulated Mars missions. The overarching goal of the mission is to assess human health and performance in relation to Mars relevant resource limitations in isolation and confinement. To collect sufficient data, the crew members will live and work in a simulated Mars habitat at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, complete with communication delays and environmental stressors. The crew will also participate in various activities, including crop growth, simulated spacewalks, habitat maintenance, and science experiments.

Mission 1 began June 25, 2023 and will end on July 6, 2024.

https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/chapea/chapea-mission-1

Random Thoughts . . .  

We can agree that speeding in a school zone is dangerous. Now, cities are installing cameras that read license plates and automatically send a ticket. Most cars now have GPS built in. Should we just use GPS to issue tickets? 

Which of the following was a world boxing champion?

1. Lyndon Johnson
2. Ronald Reagan
3. Jimmy Carter
4. Franklin Delano
5. Abraham Lincoln
6. Pat Paulsen
7. None of the above

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