MSM 525: Put the Kids in Rows and See How it Goes

Summary:

Shawn and Troy discuss kids “scamming” Mr. McGirr and looking to self-assessment. Dave shares Nature’s Notebook. 

Jokes:  

What do you wear to a Thanksgiving dinner?

  • A Har-vest

What’s a pumpkin’s favorite sport?

  • Squash

I saw a dwarf climbing down a prison wall.

  • I thought, “that’s a little condescending” 

Did you know that Raymond Burr had a brother? 

  • He was a lumberjack. His name was Tim. 

Life is like a helicopter.

  • I don’t know how to operate a helicopter

Hey, I got a new electric car.

  • Now I need a “current” driver’s license
  • When I park, I have to park in parallel

There’s no training to be a trash collector.

  • You just pick it up as you go along



Middle School Science Minute  

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

Nature’s Notebook

http://k12science.net/natures-notebook/

I was recently reading the November/December 2021 issue of “Science Scope” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the section “Citizen Science” written by Jill Nugent.  Jill wrote an article entitled “Taking the Pulse of Our Planet with Nature’s Notebook.”

Nature’s Notebook, a project of the USA National Phenology Network, invites participants to help scientists “take the pulse of our planet.”  With Nature’s Notebook, your students will have the opportunity to observe, document, and share seasonal changes in your geographic area.  For more information, please visit:

https://usanpn.org/natures_notebook

Reports from the Front Lines

The Twitterverse  

Alex Shevrin Venet  @AlexSVenet

Middle grades teachers! I’m excited to be giving a keynote at the FREE Middle Grades Collaborative conference on January 29. Deets and registration: https://middlegradescollaborative.org/conference/  

Alice Keeler  @alicekeeler

6 Chrome Extensions for Teachers https://alicekeeler.com/2021/11/07/6-c  

Slava Bobrov  @slava__bobrov

Two neurons sensing each other. And trying to connect: #neuroscience  https://twitter.com/i/status/1459398961404518402  

Jcorippo  @jcorippo

Gentle reminder for all of us right now. #eduprotocols  

Typical EduCelebrity   @EduCelebrity

Good administrators allow their staff to wear jeans on Fridays. Elite administrators allow their staff to wear sweatpants.  

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

Strategies:  

The Greatest Enemy of Creativity In Schools Isn’t Testing, It’s Time

“Creativity is one of those ineffable skills that’s important—especially for jobs of the future—but hard to pin down. We know when we feel creative, and we know what creative work looks like. Measuring and assessing such work in a way that keeps kids inspired is another matter,”  

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2018-12-18-the-greatest-enemy-of-creativity-in-schools-isn-t-testing-it-s-time/

Resources:  

Slinky Drop

https://www.gifbin.com/bin/092011/1317143770_slinky_dropped_in_slowmotion.gif

6 Toilets From History, and What They Taught Us

Across the world, and throughout history, different peoples have developed different ways to deal with their own waste. And while they didn’t always nail the design, their efforts to keep themselves safe have led to the thrones and sanitation systems we know and love today.

Web Spotlight:  

Living in the Coldest Place on Earth

https://www.wired.com/2015/01/amos-chapple-the-coldest-place-on-earth/

Random Thoughts . . .  

Personal Web Site   

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