Summary:
Shawn and Troy go through the process of using AI to create a chatbot for special education students. Dave gets the picture of storybooks.
Jokes:
Time flies like an arrow, Fruit flies like a banana
Them: Name as many animals as you can in one minute
Me: (Pointing at the squirrels out the window) Gerald, Billie, Andrew, Jon—
Them: No that’s not what I meant
Me: Well maybe you should have said what you meant
Ordered “How to Accept Rejection” online.
- They never shipped it.
I just bought a new television remote control with fifty buttons.
I was quite surprised they allowed me to pay with buttons.
I threw away a permanent marker the other day. Today it showed up on my desk again with the word “permanent” slightly bigger and underlined
I give respect to everyone that I meet.
It’s up to them to keep it.
Middle School Science Minute
by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)
K12Science Podcast: Middle School Picture – Books
I was recently reading the September-October 2025 issue of “Science Scope”, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.
In this issue, I read the section, “Interdisciplinary Ideas” written by Katie Coppens. She wrote an article entitled, “Enhancing Understanding Through Science-Themed Picture Books.”
Embedding a high-interest, science-themed picture book into a unit enhances students’ ability to learn vocabulary and visualize scientific concepts. The approachable style and ability to convey information visually makes picture books an engaging learning tool for students of all ages.
https://k12science.net/middle-school-picture-books/
Reports from the Front Lines
- Zip Zap, Wickity Whack picture book (https://www.matthewdiffee.com/ )
- Creation of Danu
- Google Gem Construction
- Files – Resources uploaded/linked, OER
- Instruction Set
- Refining
- Student Prompt Support: https://chatgpt.com/canvas/shared/68e9c21d9d348191b23277f5f04e1d47
- ChatGPT Does it Better . . .
- Google Gem Construction
The Social Web
National Park Service @NatlParkService
When hiking, the early bird gets the face full of spider webs. Bring a tall friend and let them lead.
Word of the Day is ‘tandsmør’, from Danish. It describes bread that is buttered so thickly you can see tooth marks in it after every bite. Its literal translation? ‘Tooth butter’.
Resources:
Angel Studios – Somebody’s Gotta Do It
“Mike Rowe’s Somebody’s Gotta Do It brings viewers face-to-face with men and women who march to the beat of a different drum. In each episode, Rowe visits unique individuals and joins them in their respective undertakings, paying tribute to innovators, do-gooders, entrepreneurs, collectors, fanatics-people who simply have to do it. This show is about passion, purpose, and occasionally, hobbies that get a little out of hand.”
https://www.angel.com/shows/somebodys-gotta-do-it
Google’s Gemini Platforms for Kids and Teens Pose Risks Despite Added Filters, Common Sense Media Reports Find
Portrait of a Graduate
Web Spotlight:
Shade Map
How to Get Kids to Give Up Social Media on Their Own
https://www.wsj.com/tech/personal-tech/how-to-get-kids-to-give-up-social-media-on-their-own-dc863027
OR
Photos celebrate the glory of girls on ‘International Day of the Girl’
Random Thoughts . . .
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