MSM 667: Ouiji(PT)

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about ISTE plans, summer, mistakes, and more. Dave documents the logistics. 

Jokes:  

When God created ducks he thought, “I’ll waterproof that chicken and give it a kazoo.”


Guy just went by with a cart of horseshoes and rabbits’ feet. 

  • I think he’s pushing his luck.

There wasn’t one artist gun fight that didn’t end in a draw.


Not sure if I’ll lolly gag or dilly dally today


It’s challenging for bank managers at parties. 

  • They’re loaners.

Onya Marx must be SO sick of being asked if she’s ready.


I remember that time I woke up in a panic that I was late for work. 

  • Fortunately I was already at my job.

I finished the 14 Day Diet in two hours and 11 minutes.


Those who are organized are just too lazy to look for things.


No need to drive me crazy. I can walk from here.


Free Geese? 

  • Not sure what I’d do with one but I might go take a gander.

We all understand good, better and best. 

  • Why then do we contact the Better Business Bureau?

"Sorry, I couldn't resist" is written above the image of a physical resistor (oval, green in color, with four dark red stripes). The resistor is split apart and shows signs of burning.

Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  Logistics Engineer

I was recently reading the May – June 2025 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  She wrote an article entitled, “‘Logistics Engineer Ron Charest.”

Logistics engineers typically work on supply chains, which encompass all of the steps required to get finished products to users, from procuring raw materials for factories, to warehousing and transporting goods.  Ron Charest is a logistics engineer for the Coast Guard in Washington, DC.

 http://k12science.net/logistics-engineer/

Reports from the Front Lines

  • Ahh…Summer time
  • ISTE
    • Devices (MacBook, iPad, iPad, iPhone, Insta360)
    • Sessions

The Social Web

‪Keep Indiana Learning‬ ‪@keepinlearning.bsky.social‬

Summer plans + license renewal? Get your PGPs done with ease! Our Digital Content Library lets you learn wherever you are this summer. Flexible & convenient & ready for you! keepindianalearning.org/digital-cont… #EduSky

Brian Klaas ‪@brianklaas.bsky.social‬

After the latest round of grading papers, I wrote about AI, ChatGPT, the death of the student essay, and what it means for the future of human cognition.  https://www.forkingpaths.co/p/the-death-of-the-student-essayand 

MiddleWeb‬ ‪@middleweb.bsky.social‬

OUR 2025 SUMMER BOOK REVIEW FESTIVAL Doing some personal PD this summer? We’ve pulled together 23 of our reviews from the past year, highlighting books for teachers, school leaders & other educators working with grades 4-8. Check out these summaries! #edusky middleweb.substack.com/p/mw-substac…

‪Ron King‬ ‪@mthman.bsky.social‬

Wrapping up year 27 today! #edchat #mtbos #mschat #EduSky

‪Bernie Goldbach “topgold”‬ ‪@topgold.bsky.social‬

Reuters survey asked about AI platforms and chatbots. Publisher worry that these could further reduce traffic flows to websites and apps. But _all_ generations still prize trusted brands with a track record for accuracy. reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news… h/t @marklittle.bsky.social

PUNS  @ThePunnyWorld

For the science nerds.

Image of a modern cursor and the image of a antique arrowhead.

Susie Dent @susie_dent

Thanks to everyone who voted for ‘went’ – an example of language swerving the expected. Instead of ‘go, goes, goed’ we have ‘go, goes, went’, because speakers decided to opt for the past tense of ‘wend’. This process is called ‘suppletion’.

Eric Curts  @ericcurts

Super excited for #ISTELive in a few weeks! Get details on all 16 of my presentations, booth sessions, and events here: https://controlaltachieve.com/2024/12/my-iste-2025-sessions.html

Strategies:  

Don’t Erase That Mistake

https://www.ascd.org/blogs/dont-erase-that-mistake

Resources:  

Cartoon Academy

Pittsburgh cartoonist Joe Wos takes students through the creative steps of drawing cartoon characters while sharing educational facts on the cartoon subjects. Viewers will also learn artistic terms during each lesson. The videos will be produced in chapter clusters of three, by topic, with episode one in the chapter being the most elementary, and the second and third being slightly more advanced. For ages 6-12.

https://mainepublic.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/cartoon-academy

Than Average

ThanAverage is a small unscientific investigation into how we value and compare ourselves to each other.

https://thanaverage.xyz

Connect Safely

ConnectSafely is a nonprofit based in Silicon Valley that educates people of all ages about online safety, privacy, security and digital wellness. Our resources include research-based safety tips, parents’ guidebooks, advice, news and commentary on all aspects of tech use and policy. We offer in-depth guides and “quick-guides” for parents, educators, youth and policymakers along with resources for seniors and other adults. We also produce the twice-weekly ConnectSafely Report for CBS News Radio along with webcasts, podcasts and special events.

Whether it’s social media, virtual reality or the emerging metaverse, connected technologies bring us enormous advantages, along with some challenges. ConnectSafely’s job is to help users get the most from their technology while managing the risks and help decision-makers craft sensible policies that encourage both innovation and responsible use. ConnectSafely has been a leading voice for rational, research-informed policies — not “moral panics” — when it comes to dealing with challenges brought about by emerging technologies.

We are the U.S. host of Safer Internet Day, a global celebration that takes place on the second Tuesday of each February, and founders of the One Good Thing campaign to surface and celebrate the many ways people of all ages and cultures use connected technology to make the world a better place.

ConnectSafely was founded in 2005 by technology journalist Larry Magid, also founder of SafeKids.com, and Anne Collier of NetFamilyNews.

https://connectsafely.org

AXIS The Culture Translator

“Fridge Sigs”

What it is: “Fridge cigs” are now some teens’ favorite way to take the edge off.

Why it’s not as scary as it sounds: A “fridge cig” doesn’t have any nicotine in it. In fact, it isn’t a cigarette at all—it’s a Diet Coke, chilled to perfection and sipped straight out of the can. Coca-Cola products, in general, have become extremely popular with young people, and now some TikTokers have been coming up with a bevy of tobacco-product inspired nicknames based on the type of cola being consumed. According to some, regular Coke in a glass bottle is a “cigar,” and a Coke Zero is akin to American Spirit cigarettes. As Eve Upton-Clark put it in Fast Company, “In a world full of prebiotic soda and protein water, sometimes all you really want is a crispy “fridge cigarette” to take the edge off.” As far as vices go, Diet Coke barely ranks—and it’s way better than mindlessly trawling on YouTube to de-stress.

Artificial Wisdom

What it is: Some ChatGPT users now believe they’re speaking with spirits.  

Why it’s unsettling: A New York Times article shared the stories of people who became emotionally entangled with AI—convinced it was offering companionship, secret knowledge, and even spiritual insight. Part of the problem is how convincing talking to ChatGPT can feel. It doesn’t “know” anything but it can echo our thoughts, wounds, and desires with uncanny precision. A recent reflection on St. Augustine’s De Doctrina Christiana compares the experiences of these AI users to how demons deceive: not through producing misleading signs directly but through encouraging observers’ mistaken interpretation of what they see. AI works similarly: it mimics meaning, and we supply the rest. AI may be a tool we can use—but it is not a voice we can trust.  

Web Spotlight: 

The Death of the Student Essay—and the Future of Cognition

That’s why convincing students that intelligence is a skill they must cultivate through hard work—no shortcuts—has become one of the core functions of education.

https://www.forkingpaths.co/p/the-death-of-the-student-essayand

Random Thoughts . . .  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

MSM 666: Spending The Shekels to Keep Up

Summary:

Shawn and Troy discuss ISTE, summer, and more. Dave has us naturally looking. 

Jokes:  

My kids love their trampoline, but they only spend 50% of the time bouncing up, wasting the other 50% falling down.

That’s why I’m not spending another penny on trampoline maintenance until they can improve efficiency and reduce wasted falling time to at most 25%.


What do you call a snail on a boat?

  • A snailor.

Im color blind and the other day I thought I could actually detect purple… …but it was just a pigment of my imagination.


don’t run behind a car…

  • you’ll get exhausted

don’t run in front of a car

  • you’ll get tired

Me: I used to use an exercise bike

Daughter: Did you?

Me: Yeah, but I stopped

Daughter: Why?

Me: It was getting me nowhere


When I was abducted the aliens made me wipe my feet, blow my nose, and eat my greens…I think I was on the mother ship…


What do you call someone who has 10 ants? 

  • A landlord.

Do you think the movie Singing in the Rain would have been more effective is it was filmed in Singapore?


"Every child needs a champion. An adult who will never give up on them. "
- Rita Pierson

An old black and white photo with a very large box (6 foot by 12 foot?) being slid off of a trailer. Six men are sliding the box.

Two people watching TV. Once says, "Have you see the Movie 'RV'?" The other responds: "No, But I Saw the Trailer".

Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  Nature Scavenger Hunt

I was recently reading the May – June 2025 issue of “Science and Children”, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.

In this issue, I read the section, “Science 101” written by Matt Bobrowsky.  He wrote an article entitled, “‘What Would Be An Activity That Involves Both Learning and Play?.”

A nature scavenger hunt can encourage exploration, observation, and critical thinking while being fun and engaging which shows that it can be an activity that involves both learning and play.

 http://k12science.net/nature-scavenger-hunt/

Reports from the Front Lines

  • New Building
  • Alaskan Heat Advisory
  • WWDC
  • Room Clean Out
    • Flags
  • Next Year Planning
    • Field Trips
    • Mi Youth in Government
  • ISTE Prep
    • EduCelebrity Sessions
    • Food
    • Wander
  • Poetry Update

The Social Web

The OED  @OED

OED #WordOfTheDay: spring fret, n. A sense of restlessness or desire to wander, felt by humans or animals in the spring. View entry: https://oxford.ly/4kjWTj8

Gitanas Nausėda  @GitanasNauseda

84 years ago, on June 14, the Soviet occupiers began the mass deportations from Lithuania. On this Day of Mourning and Hope,  honor the memory of the hundreds of thousands of Lithuanians who were torn from their homes, families, and homeland by totalitarian Kremlin regime. Children, parents, intellectuals—entire generations—were deported in cattle cars to the unknown, condemned to hunger, suffering, and death. Their broken lives became the price of our lost freedom. But Lithuania did not surrender. Through resilience and courage, our people endured and reclaimed liberty. The pain of the past became the seed of our freedom. We remember. We carry their names, their stories, their truth. And we vow: never again.

MiddleWeb  @middleweb

REVIEW: Support student-driven learning in ELA classes. “Step Aside” is full of ideas secondary teachers can use to build classrooms that support and encourage students to be involved and engaged readers and writers. By Sarah Zerwin. https://middleweb.com/52319/support-

MiddleWeb‬ ‪@middleweb.bsky.social‬

Review: SUPPORT STUDENT-DRIVEN LEARNING IN ELA CLASSES. “Step Aside” is full of ideas secondary teachers can use to build classrooms that support and encourage students to be involved and engaged readers and writers. #edusky #educoach @laurenadavis.bsky.social www.middleweb.com/52319/suppor…

‪Foeke Postma‬ ‪@foeke.bsky.social‬

We ran 500 tests and: LLMs are quickly passing the threshold of being the most useful tool out there, if you’re looking for the location of a photo from scratch.

‪Yanis Varoufakis‬ ‪@yanisvaroufakis.bsky.social‬

Against Technofeudal Education – Pillars For Protecting Our “Core Infrastructure” From OpenAI theamericanvandal.substack.com/p/against-te…

‪AMLE‬ ‪@amleorg.bsky.social‬

AMLE is committed to supporting future educators. ⭐ That’s why we’re excited to announce a new program to celebrate exceptional middle level teacher prep programs. Congrats to @GeorgiaCollege & @NationalLouisU for their 2025 recognition! 🥳 Learn more: ow.ly/GJr050W7FRM

Strategies:

How to Make Learning Stick

For decades, there has been evidence that classroom techniques designed to get students to participate in the learning process produce better educational outcomes at virtually all levels. A Harvard study suggests it may be important to let students know it. The study shows that, though students felt as if they learned more through traditional lectures, they actually learned more when taking part in classrooms that employed so-called active-learning strategies by scoring higher on tests. 

https://esheninger.blogspot.com/2021/05/how-to-make-learning-stick.html

Scaffolding Strategies to Teach Challenging Text

1 – Frontloading Key Concepts or Vocabulary

2 – Making Connections to Prior Experiences

3 – Partially Completed Graphic Organizers

Question-Answer Relationships, or QAR (Raphael, 1986)

https://www.middleweb.com/52305/scaffolding-strategies-to-teach-challenging-text/

Getting Math Students to Show Their Reasoning

…it feels like no matter what we do, students resist showing their reasoning.

https://www.middleweb.com/52313/getting-math-students-to-show-their-reasoning/

Resources:  

AXIS The Culture Translator

Fake Plastic Trees

What it is: A new game on Roblox called “Grow a Garden” is attracting millions of players—and was reportedly created by a 16-year-old.

Why it’s popular: You might have guessed that the game would be about tending to a virtual garden. What you might not have guessed, unless you’re familiar with Roblox’s game mechanics, is how the game incentivizes spending (your parents’) real-life money to get ahead. Players start with a small amount of in-game currency, called “Sheckles.” They get enough to buy a few seeds, which grow into carrots, strawberries, and other crops—and they can then sell their harvest to make more Sheckles. It’s satisfying, but it also takes time—and seeing other players’ elaborate, gorgeous gardens might make the average player want to ask mom for her credit card to purchase more Sheckles and keep up. For more on how Roblox works, check out our 7 Minute Video.  

Rock Lobster

What it is: Nautical-themed knitwear, such as lightweight beach sweaters emblazoned with lobsters, are selling out for Gen Z this summer.  

Why it makes sense: “Coastal grandma” and “tomato girl summer” were both trending aesthetics in the warmer months last year, and this summer’s must-haves combine both. Searches for “lobster sweater” are surging, but the trend is bigger than Maine’s favorite fresh catch. Teen girls are aiming for a look that feels breezy, luxe, and kitsch—informed by proximity to wealth, but ultimately too cool to care. (See also: jewelry that celebrates sardines). This trend also reflects a change in how Gen Z wants to spend their summer. Jet-setting to a splashy (read: spendy) destination is still seen as desirable, but young people are also looking to elevate more humble experiences, like road tripping to quaint beach towns in Massachusetts or Rhode Island (“townsizing”)—locations where an embroidered crustacean is right on vibe. 

National History Day Theme 2026

Revolution, Reaction, and Reform in History:  https://nhd.org/en/contest/theme/  

Organizer:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1baC7qfreopboC5D19RRAQfmhAHCcx_URFT2q2SxyO5g/copy?usp=sharing  

Web Spotlight: 

The Phrases That Keep Us Stuck and What to Do About Them

These phrases are more than just words—they’re warning signs of fixed mindsets, low expectations, and a resistance to change. Left unchecked, they become part of the culture, quietly influencing decisions, limiting innovation, and undermining student success.

1. “That’s the way we’ve always done it.”

2. “These kids can’t…

3. “We tried that already.

4. “It’s not my job.

5. “They’re just not motivated.

6. “That won’t work with our kids.

https://esheninger.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-phrases-that-keep-us-stuck-and-what.html

Random Thoughts . . .  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

MSM 665: Unferhoodled

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about summer, jobs, and more. Dave is planning an amazing summer.

Jokes:  

My friend who’s a knitter told me she has a pattern for sunglasses.

  • I think she’s trying to pull the wool over my eyes.

According to the will, I’m getting a couple of yurts.

  • That’s my inheri-tents.

What’s a dinosaur’s least favorite reindeer?

  • Comet!

Odorless perfumes are non-scents.


I’ve got some racing geese for sale. 

  • Let me know if you want a quick gander

My book, How to say no emphatically in German, Is now available –

Only $9.99.

In all good bookstores…


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

I was like 0mg.


I just discovered that the word nothing is a palindrome…

  • Backwards it spells gnihton, which also means nothing.


Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  Amazing Summer

I was recently reading the May – June 2025 issue of “Science and Children”, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.

In this issue, I read the section, “The Poetry of Science” written by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater.  She wrote an article entitled, “‘Out of the Box Summer.”

As we enter, “Summer Vacation Time,” it is helpful to provide students with some creative ways that they can enjoy summer outdoors. 

http://k12science.net/amazing-summer/ 

Reports from the Front Lines

  • End of the school year
  • WWDC

The Social Web

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Word of the day, from Pennsylvanian Dutch, is ‘ferhoodled’, meaning ‘tangled’ or ‘all mixed up’. Can be used of anything from a sock drawer to life.

‪Ron King‬ ‪@mthman.bsky.social‬

Good morning from the #PNW #pnwonderland

‪MiddleWeb‬ ‪@middleweb.bsky.social‬

REVIEW: Grammar Inquiries in Middle School. In his latest book, teacher educator Sean Ruday prioritizes inquiry-based learning and asset-based practices to foster a deeper understanding of English grammar. @seanrudayliteracy.bsky.social #edusky #iteachEnglish www.middleweb.com/52298/integr…

‪Keep Indiana Learning‬ ‪@keepinlearning.bsky.social‬

Level up your skills this summer! ☀️ Dive into Building Thinking Classrooms, Secondary Science of Reading, ILEARN Checkpoints, Supporting multilingual learners, SIOP, & Teacher Evaluations. Invest in YOU! Register now: keepindianalearning.org/events #EduSky

Resources:  

AXIS The Culture Translator

The Ties That Bind

What it is: A story in the New York Times explores the unique challenges of so-called “grandfamilies,” in which grandparents serve as primary caregivers for their grandkids.  

Who it is impacting: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 6.7 million adults live with their grandchildren. Of this number, about a third are the primary or sole caretaker for their grandkids. This dynamic occurs for all sorts of reasons—financial convenience or a preference for community living, for example. But oftentimes, there are tragic circumstances at play, including mental illness, disability, and death of an adult child. The grandparents highlighted in this first-person essay are a Christian couple raising four grandchildren after raising five of their own kids. They admit that they’re very, very, tired. But they also say that raising their daughter’s children feels like a deep and special way to love their daughter, who lives with substance use disorder.  

Twine

https://twinery.org

Web Spotlight: 

It’s Not Just a Feeling: Data Shows Boys and Young Men Are Falling Behind

https://archive.md/GB8QH

Impossible Fold

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Uph85if3lEs

You Can Use ChatGPT for Looksmaxxing, but You’ll Regret It

https://www.vice.com/en/article/you-can-use-chatgpt-for-looksmaxxing-but-youll-regret-it/

Greater awareness behind ADHD surge, study suggests

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg5vp62dnnro

Random Thoughts . . .  

Forget Paper Routes—12-Year-Olds Are Making Bank Online

Side hustles used to mean lemonade stands, mowing lawns, or babysitting your neighbor’s kid. Now, some 12-year-olds—barely out of elementary school—are making $14 an hour streaming Minecraft, flipping sneakers, or editing TikToks from their bedrooms.

Popular online income streams include selling clothes (20.1%), streaming games (14.1%), editing content (10.5%), and influencer marketing (9.1%). For a growing number of Gen Z and Gen A, this work is structured, intentional, and profitable. It’s starting to replace traditional part-time jobs altogether—and, in many cases, out-earning them.

https://www.vice.com/en/article/forget-paper-routes-12-year-olds-are-making-bank-online/

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!