MSM 490: The Blob Opera, Can I get you off task….

Jokes:  



Why don’t crabs give to charity? 

  • Because they’re shellfish.

You know, birds might use Facebook. 

– We know they already tweet so… 


What’s the best way to watch a fly-fishing tournament? 

  • Live stream.

How do you tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? 

  • You will see one later and one in a while.

A friend of mine didn’t pay his exorcist. 

  • He got repossessed.

Why do you never see elephants hiding in trees? 

  • Because they’re so good at it.

What did the drummer call his twin daughters? 

  • Anna one, Anna two…

Police arrested a bottle of water because it was wanted in three different states: 

  • Solid, liquid, and gas.

A steak pun is a rare medium done well.


The rotation of earth really makes my day.


The difference between a numerator and a denominator is a short line. Only a fraction of people will understand it.


Do I enjoy making courthouse puns? 

  • Guilty.

I remember as a kid, my dad got fired from his job as a road worker for theft. 

  • I refused to believe he could do such a thing, but when I got home, the signs were all there. 

Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast on Traditional Science Songs and Science

As the holiday season approaches, I am reminded of some of the songs that I recorded with the group, Science Explosion.  All of the songs that we sang were written by group member Fred Ribits.  Many of the songs were written to familiar tunes and some of them were written to the tunes of traditional Christmas songs.  

I share three of the songs.  If you enjoy them and want to share them with others, just visit:

http://k12science.net/scienceexplosion/songs

There you will be able to listen to and download the vocal and instrumental tracks for the songs.  You will also be able to download a Science Explosion songbook that includes the lyrics, critical thinking questions, and mind-mapping opportunities for each song.  

The three songs are most appropriate for elementary and middle school students. 

  1. The first song will be a life science song entitled “Energy Flow” (1:13) written to the tune of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” 
  2. It will be followed by another life science song, “Natures Way” (1:00), written to the tune of “Jingle Bells.” 
  3. The final song is a science practices and concept song entitled “Creative Expression” (1:14) written to the tune of “What Child Is This?”  

Happy Holidays!

Reports from the Front Lines

  • Time to Reload:
    • Curate Content Resources
    • Pull together portfolio items
    • Rest 
    • Where are the kids in terms of curriculum?
    • Shawn’s Kids aren’t Happy with him. 

Advisory:  

Identical Twins Who Look Nothing Alike

Adam and Neil Pearson are identical twins, but you’d never know it from looking at them. Although they share the same DNA, their appearances are vastly different; each suffers from neurofibromatosis, a rare genetic disorder that has affected them in divergent ways. They tell their story in this deeply moving short documentary. 

“I was always aware that I had the same condition as him, but also fully aware that he had the facial disfigurement and I didn’t,” Neil says in the film. Adam suffers from benign tumors that began forming on his face when the Pearsons were boys. They grew progressively worse over time. In school, he endured much bullying-“one of the worst things a human can do to another human,” as he describes it in the film. As an adult, Adam explains that he can never go anywhere without being gaped at. Neil, meanwhile, appears physically unscathed but experiences neurological problems that severely impair his memory.

The Twitterverse

Dr. John Spencer  @spencerideas

What’s the worst typo you’ve made in a professional email? I once invited 100 parents to check out the “International Bachelorette Program.” I had a principal who told parents their kids needed to show up to a “meth intervention.”

The Tatted Teacher (Randy Norman) @english_maven

When you give your students an online quiz, and you give them 6 days to complete it with unlimited attempts, ability to use notes, and automatically take the highest score… Then, a parent asks if you can reopen the quiz because his child didn’t take the quiz… you had 6 days

Apple Education  @AppleEDU

See Apple resources for teachers featured on Gov @GavinNewsom’s new webpage helping educators in CA ensure student success while #LearningFromHomehttps://t.co/XnxZWvtt2b?amp=1  

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

Strategies:  

Formative and Summative Assessment in a Hybrid Classroom

After summative assessments, I designate time within my class for them to review digital feedback so that it does not get lost in their email and so that they can ask me questions. Post-assessment student reflection questions include the following: Did you feel prepared for the assessment? What strategies did you use to prepare for the assessment? What would you do the same and what would you improve? Do you think the assessment gave you an opportunity to showcase your knowledge of the topic?

https://www.edutopia.org/article/formative-and-summative-assessment-hybrid-classroom

Resources:

Welcome to the launch of Enslaved.org

As of December 2020, we have built a robust, open-source architecture to discover and explore nearly a half million people records and 5 million data points. From archival fragments and spreadsheet entries, we see the lives of the enslaved in richer detail. Yet there’s much more work to do, and with the help of scholars, educators, and family historians, Enslaved.org will be rapidly expanding in 2021. Don’t hesitate to give us feedback by visiting our About page.

We are just getting started.

https://enslaved.org/#annotations:Wmr3NDypEeuy9Dund5P7hQ

Web Spotlight:  

Pocket Casts App

Podcast feeder with some benefits.  Gift it to yourself or a friend!  

https://www.pocketcasts.com/podcast-player/

How Ending Behavior Rewards Helped One School Focus on Student Motivation and Character

You would get them for a bunch of different things, like helping the teacher,” said Brian Smith, when recalling the class reward system. “It made the problematic kids not want to be as problematic.”

Rewards can be seductive, …

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/48578/how-ending-behavior-rewards-helped-one-school-focus-on-student-motivation-and-character#annotations:wYOaij8KEeulo-d-o3Oj8w

Random Thoughts . . .  

Blob Opera – A Google Experiment

Which means it is a limited time offer and headed to the Google Graveyard too soon.  

https://artsandculture.google.com/experiment/blob-opera/AAHWrq360NcGbw?hl=en

Fireside Fellowship

Free holiday performances of literature.  Max McLean is an incredible oral performance artist.  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!