Jokes:  

---

Whenever Tom Cruise is driving, his car is always on “Cruise Control”.

---

What do birds say on Halloween?

• Trick or Tweet

---

Geology rocks!

---

Geography is where it’s at

---

We all know that Halloween is Dracula’s favorite holiday. But what’s Dracula’s second favorite holiday?

– Fangs-giving

---

---

I threw a boomerang at a ghost the other day. 

• I knew it would come back to haunt me. 

---

Why did the witch turn someone into a road? 

• Forgot to use spell check. 

---

Why did the Cowboy adopt the Dachshund?

• He wanted to get a long, little doggie

---

I have a chicken proof lawn. 

• Yep, it’s impeccable

---

What is a skeleton’s favorite instrument?

• Trombone

---

Back in his day, Samuel Morse was considered to be….

• A dashing young man

---

If Watson isn’t the most famous Doctor, then Who is. 

---

Pre means before.

Post means after.

To use both of them together would be…

• Preposterous

---

There is only one thing that scares me about Halloween. 

Shawn says: Which is…

Exactly. 

---

My first time using an elevator was an uplifting experience. 

The second time let me down. 

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Middle School Science Minute: The New Normal

I was recently reading the September/October 2020 issue of “Science Teacher” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. 

In this issue, I read the “Current Science Classroom“ column written by Chris Anderson.  Her article was entitled “The New Normal.”

What can we do, as educators, in the face of the worst pandemic in the last 100 years.? It can seem like an insurmountable problem, but in this podcast we share six things that are within our control that can have a positive impact on our school and community.

AND, A SPECIAL “Happy Birthday” to the one and only, the fantastic, Mr. Dave Bydlowski. 

Reports from the Front Lines

• Normalcy setting in?
  • Reading
  • Calendar/Planners/Organization
• Will this be permanent?
• Schools moving back to virtual

The Twitterverse

Typical EduCelebrity  @EduCelebrity

Is there a cure for the condition that renders students incapable of seeing an assignment posted online until a zero is posted as their grade?  

Phyllis Fagell, LCPC  @Pfagell

This 7th grader’s response to the question: “What do you think is the biggest challenge for middle schoolers right now, during the pandemic?” is Exhibit A of why I love middle schoolers so much.

NJAMLE  @NJAMLE

Middle School Mini-Conference (via http://smore.com) https://smore.com/q3g1y Brought to you by your friends @NJAMLE. We celebrate you the Middle School educator and your consistent grit and resilience. Join us for this live virtual event. #becauseyoudeserveit #njed @AMLE

Nick LaFave  @NFLaFave

Happy Halloween! The EdTech Graveyard: a page to remember EdTech tools that have passed away and provide suggested alternatives to help as you mourn your loss. https://buff.ly/2PA3evA #EdTech #HappyHalloween    #HappyHalloween2020 

Don’t forget #mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm!  Todd Bloch will have a topic all ready to go and another great discussion will ensue.  

Strategies:  

20 juicy questions to ask students (#5 will REALLY get them talking!)

https://ditchthattextbook.com/juicy-questions/#annotations:hGaeWBYgEeukDeMN8dPRKg

Resources:

IDA Treaties Explorer

While treaties between Indigenous peoples and the United States affect virtually every area in the USA, there is as yet no official list of all the treaties. The US National Archives holds 374 of the treaties, where they are known as the Ratified Indian Treaties. Here you can view them for the first time with key historic works that provide context to the agreements made and the histories of our shared lands.

https://digitreaties.org/

Web Spotlight:  

Random Thoughts . . .  

Personal Web Site   

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Jokes:  

---

What is muffins spelled backwards? 

• What you do when the muffins come out of the oven

---

---

I attempted to exercise this morning.

• Didn’t work out

---

So I ate some Skinny pop, that didn’t work out either.

---

How do you fix a broken pumpkin?

• With a pumpkin patch

---

---

There once was a king who was only 12 inches tall. 

• He was a horrible king, but a great ruler. 

---

I tripped on a snare drum and hit my head.

• I may have a percussion

---

Kid runs in the room, “I mustache ask you a question, but I’ll shave it for later”

---

How does Mr. Miyagi eat his Babybel?

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Middle School Science Minute: Citizen Scientists

 I was recently reading the July/August, 2020 issue of “Science and Children” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. 

In this issue, I read the “Methods and Strategies “ column written by Meredith Hayes, P. Sean Smith, and W. Robert Midden.  Their article was entitled “Students as Citizen Scientists.”

Citizen Science involves individuals who are not professional scientists in authentic scientific endeavors, typically in collaboration with or supervised by professional scientists or scientific institutions.  

Increasingly, Citizen Science is making its way into schools and into science classes in particular.

Reports from the Front Lines

• Classroom culture:  establishing patterns and rhythms in the schedule.  
• “Hi Mr. McGirr!  I’m in class from . . . “
  • On my way to Mt. Rushmore!  
  • The back seat of our new family car!  
• Google Meet 
  • Student Interlopers
  • Students being able to keep the teacher from hearing their conversations in class.  
• These kids have bonded, They are my kids.
• From learning to scroll to advanced features
• Kids being used to what is happening – moderating their own learning
• H5P
  • Dictation
• Talk to the Kids – online vs in room
  • Pragmatics

The Twitterverse

MBL @skiandsurf1964

Ss did research on the French and Indian War and completed this activity “Caption This”. Impressed with Ss creativity, some blended both humor & history. This S took it to another level and wrote in French.  

Fixing Education  @FixingEducation

Maybe we should have potato chip companies determine class sizes in classrooms.

Rjoseph852 @rjoseph852·Oct 7

Let’s reach and teach, not test! The Lost Year Fallacy https://teacherinastrangeland.blog/2020/10/07/the-lost-year-fallacy/… via @nancyflanagan @pepinosuave @blocht574 @pr05bps @pamlpugh   

@casandraulbrich @ncte @mieducation @BirminghamPS @TheJLV

https://t.co/bLGHSUwBAI?amp=1

Resources:

Together, Apart, and “Among Us” 

What it is: Among Us, a 2018 murder mystery game set in space, is attracting millions of new players.

Why it’s lonely quaranteen bait: Among Us didn’t get a lot of buzz in the US when it was first released, but was featured recently by a few prominent Twitch gamers and is now experiencing a meteoric surge in popularity. The premise of Among Us is similar to any “murder mystery”: Players have to find a randomly assigned “killer,” while the “killer” (who is also a player) bluffs their way out of being found out. The game is rated “E” and none of the “murdery” elements are very graphic in nature, but the game is suspenseful and intense as players test their skills of strategy and social awareness. With teens missing complex peer interactions, it makes sense that this game hits a bit different in 2020. And with a promised sequel now canceled to focus on improving the existing gameplay, more teens will probably be hopping on soon.  – From The Culture Translator – Axis.org  

Online Thinking Routines

Project Zero at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education has created a collection of Core Thinking Routines as part of their Visible Thinking Project. 

Support Online Learning with Powerful Thinking Routines

Web Spotlight:  

These Are Words Scholars Should No Longer Use to Describe Slavery and the Civil War

Let’s face it: a new generation of scholarship has changed the way we understand American history, particularly slavery, capitalism, and the Civil War. Our language should change as well. 

We no longer call the Civil War “The War Between the States,” nor do we refer to women’s rights activists as “suffragettes,” nor do we call African-Americans “Negroes.” Language has changed before, and I propose that it should change again.

 …he rejects “plantations” (a term pregnant with false memory and romantic myths) in favor of “labor camps”; instead of “slave-owners” (which seems to legitimate and rationalize the ownership of human beings), he uses “enslavers.”

 Specifically, let us drop the word “Union” when describing the United States side of the conflagration, as in “Union troops” versus “Confederate troops.” Instead of “Union,” we should say “United States.” By employing “Union” instead of “United States,” we are indirectly supporting the Confederate view of secession wherein the nation of the United States collapsed, having been built on a “sandy foundation” (according to rebel Vice President Alexander Stephens).

 The dichotomy of “Union v. Confederacy” is no longer acceptable language; its usage lends credibility to the Confederate experiment and undermines the legitimacy of the United States as a political entity. The United States of America fought a brutal war against a highly organized and fiercely determined rebellion – it did not stop functioning or morph into something different. We can continue to debate the nature and existence of Confederate “nationalism,” but that discussion should not affect how we label the United States during the war.

http://historynewsnetwork.org/article/160266

Random Thoughts . . .  

Personal Web Site   

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Jokes:  

I started with simple origami. Now I’m into much more complex pieces. 

• You could say that it is a ten-fold increase. 

---

I went to the library to get a book on the fall of the Roman Empire. 

• Turns out that are no pictures of autumn foliage in there though. 

---

Circumnavigating the globe. 

• Is that a one-way trip or round trip?

---

What’s the difference between a politician and an electrician? 

• An electrician will never go for a power grab. 

---

I’m not very active on social media. Seems like people are aggressively trying to grab eyeballs. 

• That sounds pretty messy and painful. 

---

Some friends who are programmers have started a new Beatles-inspired band. They have a new song about a lengthy, convoluted program. 

• It’s called, “The long and winding code”/

---

I have a friend who got hired to during the pandemic to make sure that those entering the school building do not have a fever. 

• It’s temp work.

---

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Middle School Science Minute: Equity for All

I was recently reading the July/August, 2020 issue of “The Science Teacher,” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. 

In this issue, I read the “Notes from the Editor “ column written by Ann Haley MacKenzie.  Her article was entitled “Equity for All: Essential for All Facets of the Scientific Enterprise.”

Under the microscope, the cell being observed does not care who is observing it.  Woman, man, African American, Latinx, Asian, gay, middle-class, hearing-challenged, Native American: why has the scientific playing field not been equal for ALL?  How can we, as science educators, erase inequitable practices in our teaching?

Reports from the Front Lines

• “We’ll have the teachers do it . . . “  
• Availability? 
• NWEA and other tests 
  • Test security & parental units  
• Replicating the Classroom? 
• Learning Process
  • Video
  • Audio
  • Text
• Book Study
  • The Perfect Blend – Michelle Eaton
  • The Distance Learning Playbook, Grades K-12
  • Best Practices for Teaching with Emerging Technology – 50% available online via CC rights
  • Remote Learning Online (Matt Miller – Ditch That Textbook)

The Twitterverse

𝒯𝒶𝓂𝓂𝓎 𝑀𝒸𝐿𝒶𝒾𝓃  @tmclain903

Learn how to create Google Meet breakout rooms for differentiated learning. http://ow.ly/YiIZ50BBgvR @DitchThatTxtbk @jmattmiller #remotelearning #edtech #distancelearning #teachertwitter

Steven Weber @curriculumblog

Chunking An instructional strategy that may be more important now than ever https://youtu.be/hydCdGLAh00 via @YouTube #edchat

Christine Dixon  @christinekdixon

Here’s #6 of @teachseuss & my STEAM Challenges!

  This one is teaching about our National Parks

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vQUtnm2pSS5PnaLvBc8E_E-abEffw_HyyMnz1HNPutdTiAj_BOZqdlw722Y6t_RDoR4BQV6fT_v-hQn/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=60000&slide=id.p1

Here's #6 of @teachseuss & my
S🔬T🖥E💡A 🖼M Challenges!

This one is teaching about our National Parks
🏞🏔https://t.co/0Yfv9C5OEn 🏞🏔

🙏Pls share &spread #STEAM learning during #distancelearning💡#BetterTogether #TsGiveTs@Portsprogram @NatGeoExplorers @NatGeoEducation https://t.co/hE7MtOwOgJ pic.twitter.com/TCM039c5xg

— Christine Dixon (@christinekdixon) May 13, 2020

Krista Leh, Ed.D.-C  @Krista_Leh

Educators ~Download our FREE starter set of interactive slides designed to facilitate SEL through connection & collaboration in your classroom!

https://buff.ly/3kNwGdW

#SEL #socialemotionallearning #education #students #connection #collaboration #classroom

Joanne Freeman  @jbf1755

We’ve already jumped the shark. So many sharks. A sea of sharks. Stop.

Giant Gundam Robot:  https://twitter.com/i/status/1309818272934768640 

Yong Zhao, Ph.D  @YongZhaoEd

In 15 minutes, watch #silverliningforlearning MOOCs and Open Education in Southeast Asia: New Models, Fresh Ideas, Untold Hope guests from South East Asia hosted by @travelinedman @chrs_dede @punyamishra @mcleod @shynicola @YongZhaoEd #edtech #edchat https://youtu.be/9e2L54xpNmA 

Don’t forget #mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm!  Todd Bloch will have a middle school topic all ready to go for copious conversations.  Make this a strategic part of your professional learning.   

Resources:

Foundation for Economic Education – I, Pencil Lesson www.fee.org  

If you haven’t yet downloaded your copy of “I, Pencil” along with an engaging study guide, now is the time! Your free “I, Pencil” Lesson Plan takes your students on an intellectual journey of discovery and intrigue as they glean unforgettable lessons from the unassuming pencil.

When seen through the lens of economics, the how-it’s-made story of the humble yellow writing stick becomes more fascinating than you’d ever imagine..  

https://go.fee.org/e/808113/ipencildownload/xkpp/53928931?h=oHka5taAPJ7VcKs80f5KONqmUiloiAGrf2bJsx8RLDA

Trevor Muir- The Epic Classroom

How have your virtual meetings been lately?  I am holding a FREE webinar this Sunday evening. We’ll be talking about how to have engaging virtual classroom meetings. I’d love to see you there!  And if you can’t make it on Sunday, register anyway and I will send you the video as soon as it is over.

https://event.webinarjam.com/register/26/r409kcv8

Spot The Troll

Each of the following 8 profiles include a brief selection of posts from a single social media account. You decide if each is an authentic account or a professional troll. After each profile, you’ll review the signs that can help you determine if it’s a troll or not.

https://spotthetroll.org/start

Classroomscreen 

Classroomscreen is an online tool that allows you to display the instructions for your lesson in a clear and visual way. Choose from over 12 widgets to support your class activities and help students get to work.

https://classroomscreen.com/learn/

Web Spotlight:  

Selling the Future of Ed-Tech (& Shaping Our Imaginations)

…one could say something similar about education as a whole: our beliefs about it are often unmoored from reality. 

http://hackeducation.com/2020/09/15/future-catalog

How Quickly Can a Girl Go Viral on TikTok?

Teens are making it big overnight, but that kind of fame can be a mixed bag.

This video, uploaded to TikTok in July, has more than 11.4 million views. It was posted by @mooptopia, who emerged from nowhere at the beginning of July and has since become an unexpected star. She now has 2.5 million followers, despite the fact that nothing about her account is remarkable: She’s a teenager in what seems to be an average suburb, where she walks around and dances awkwardly and sometimes growls.

Young people go viral on social-media platforms such as YouTube and Instagram too, but TikTok is unique in how its algorithm pulls oddities out of the blue and pushes them into a main feed seen by millions of people. 

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/09/tiktok-teens-fandom-mooptopia/616371/

The Kids Have Left the Candy Store

What it is: Research from a UK-based fintech app for kids called RoosterMoney shows that tweens and young teens now spend more of their pocket money on Roblox and Fortnite than previous favorites like candy and books.

Why it’s worth thinking about: Fortnite was released in 2017, and gift cards for in-app purchases in the battle-royale game have topped teens’ wish-lists ever since. Roblox makes fewer big headlines, but the platform for code-based, accessible game design has actually been around since 2006. Users purchase “Robux” to use in the game and, in turn, fund creators—mostly teenagers—who craft different variations of gameplay. As these gaming platforms gobble up your teen’s allowance one dopamine hit at a time, consider how differently your teens may come to view money as they exchange an invisible currency for things they can neither touch nor keep.   

Building an Oasis in the Screentime Desert

What it is: Now that school is back in session and (mostly) happening via Google Meet and Zoom, many families are feeling the “burnout” (language) of a life that feels screen-bound. An advice columnist on Mashable suggests that now is the time to do a “screen-time audit” to cut back on how much time kids spend with their tech.

Why it’s important: A “screen-time audit” takes back control of which activities take place in front of a screen, and shifts activities back to analog counterparts whenever possible. If you’ve got a bookworm on your hands, for example, you might redirect them to bury their nose in a paperback instead of a reading app. Storytelling podcasts you’ve vetted and approved could take the place of time spent watching television. Screens aren’t evil, but our tech was created to be habit-forming (as we pointed out in last week’s review of The Social Dilemma documentary). Even short breaks from screens can improve your family dynamic and the mental health of the teens entrusted to your care.

Random Thoughts . . .  

Personal Web Site   

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Jokes:  

I bought some eggs that were already hatching. 

• They were Cheep

---

I bought a cake the other day. It was to celebrate making progress on my To-Do List. 

To Do:

• Buy a cake
• Organize Classroom
• Clean off desk
• Put bulletin boards up
• Restack books

---

My kid asked me why the book was so thick. I had to tell her it was a long story. 

---

Did you hear about the Mega Concert coming up? It’s an event to support kids with minor cuts and bruises. 

• They’re calling it Band-Aid

---

Did you hear about the Nihilist that gave his friend an empty box? Upon being thanked, he responded:

• “Oh, it’s nothing”. 

---

Did you hear about the semi truck carrying fruit that overturned on the highway?

• It created a real jam.

---

I had to enter a new password the other day. I tried “chicken”, but the site informed me that it had to have a capital. Thus, my new password?

• chickenkiev

---

---

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Middle School Science Minute: Safe Home Science Instruction

I was recently reading the NSTA Safety Blog, published by the National Science Teaching Association and found on their website at:

https://www.nsta.org/blog/safety-hands-science-home-instructions

On the blog, I read “Safety for Hands-On Science Home Instruction”  written by Kenneth Roy.

The information provided in the blog should be helpful for teachers, students, and parents/guardians in planning for safer home science/STEM activity assignments.  Whether hands-on activities are done in a formal academic school laboratory or out in the field or at home, all modes are a springboard for developing scientific concepts and methodology.  This, however, can be a double-edged sword.  Be aware that school staff and school district leaders have a “duty of care” obligation that extends outside the classroom or laboratory to family members who supervise the students during these assignments at home or in the field.

Reports from the Front Lines

• Family Support
• Tech Support
• “Free” Options
• What Class Looks Like Now 
• Things I learned this week in online learning:  
  • Are there positives to this type of learning?  
    • I have a train of thought, I can actually ride that train.  It now leaves the station with me on that train.  
    • Repetitive teaching reduced.
  • Are there negatives to this type of learning?
    • WXYZ television report teaching the kids how to cheat on a computer test – not helpful.  
    • Chaos in the background
      • TV, little blisters and bothers, I mean sisters and brothers.  
      • I have never taught to any current pop music as my background music to my teaching.  I learned this week that that is no longer true.  
    • Repetitive teaching reduced.  
  • Parents will enter your class, hijack it because they’re adults and you will talk to them before you talk to any children.  And they’re adults.  And they have questions that must be answered now.  
  • If you leave the Google Meet room open well before class starts . . . they will come.
  • If your students are done with work in their current class, they will join your Google Meet to hang out with you and your current class.  OR if it is before school, they will join your room as soon as they think you will open it just to hang out with you while you get ready for class.  And run a 99Math game for them.  Please.  
  • Google Meet Closed Captioning “on the fly” isn’t helpful.  Abdul gets translated into something nasty, consistently.  
  • My students are super helpful with each other – I really appreciate their kindness.  
  • Communication streams turn into a raging deluge once school begins.  The excess of access to a teacher.  Creating a culture of communication with parents, students, and administration is the next big challenge.  
• The New “Snow” day?

Advisory:

Hidden

https://en.dailybee.com/40-genius-little-things-that-were-hiding-in-plain-sight-all

Penny or a Million

If you were offered a penny that doubles every day, or a million dollars, which would you take?

https://www.newtraderu.com/2013/08/19/how-much-does-a-penny-doubled-every-day-for-month-end-up-being/#annotations:BoKvXvIwEeqQzUtVe25Q_Q

Ireland Lacrosse sacrifice place in ‘Medicine Game’ tournament for greater good

Would you make the same choice as part of the team?

https://www.rte.ie/sport/other-sport/2020/0905/1163463-iroquois-nationals-lacrosse-ireland-world-games/

The Twitterverse

Typical EduCelebrity  @EduCelebrity

Remember laughing at that colleague who flipped their entire curriculum a few years back for wasting so much time? Don’t you feel stupid.

The Modest Teacher  @ModestTeacher

Just an FYI…. Google certification is a marketing ploy.

Dr. Indira Koneru  @indirakoneru

#CCIndia workshop participants also learnt how to generate a #CreativeCommons license & apply to their work (PPT & Word doc) and release as #OER on @SlideShare and transform into #prosumers of OER. https://creativecommons.org/choose/

Savithri Singh and 2 others

Typical EduCelebrity  @EduCelebrity

If you are a teacher with children, the next time a parent lectures you about how to teach better at home, you can lecture them on how to parent better at home.

Bill Maher  @billmaher

I mark the onset of American decline to the moment parents started siding with their children instead of with the teachers. #SideWithTeachers

Look for your host, Todd Bloch, to have a middle school topic all ready to go!  Make it a strategic part of your personal professional development.  #mschat on Thursday @8:00 pm.  

Strategies:  

Gaming The Grade: How One Middle Schooler Beat A Virtual Learning Algorithm 

When Lazare’s first history assignment of the virtual school year came back scored 50/100, a resounding F, the seventh-grader was crestfallen. 

https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2020/09/03/online-learning-algorithm#annotations:IAvlDu_hEeqKgo_Tg0XLtA

Looking at a Hokusai picture

http://diamantia-kai-skouria.blogspot.com/2011/03/looking-at-hokusai-picture.html#annotations:mowAwu_uEeqw_IPaeiUi8A

Resources:

AMLE & the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Call for Nominations

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is launching its 26th annual search for exemplary young volunteers. Once again, the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) is proud to support this unique youth recognition program–-especially in a year when so many students have had to go above and beyond to continue their volunteer service. I hope you’ll encourage your school to take advantage of the opportunities that it provides.  

https://spirit.prudential.com/?_cldee=ZnJpZGVzd2lkZWxAZ21haWwuY29t&recipientid=contact-7fa4693c4f5bde1196b00050568361fd-8762e9e7558e4c73a30ed754063fe8c9&esid=3c1ed941-f5ed-ea11-8109-000d3a044486

H5P OER Hub

The most important part of our roadmap has long been to finish up and integrate an OER Hub in the H5P authoring tool to facilitate global collaboration. It was also the most requested roadmap item by far on the last H5P Conference. The H5P Core Team has now tasked all developers with finishing up the H5P Hub as fast as possible. It will be an integral part of the H5P authoring tool and allow users to easily share their content with every H5P user in the world! Content shared by others will of course be searchable and repurposable.

https://h5p.org/oer-hub-coming#annotations:N-9c-vFTEeq2D39pvx7bTg

Why people fall for misinformation

How does a fact become a misconception? Dig into the world of misinformation to see how facts can become distorted and misleading.

Disinformation

https://www.commoncraft.com/video/disinformation

Lateral Reading

Credibility training on reviewing credibility of websites. 

Web Spotlight:  

Wawa is Offering Free Coffee for Teachers

Wawa offering free coffee to teachers, school faculty

How Google Classroom became teachers’ go-to tool—and why it’s fallen short

Too often, educators spend their professional development time mastering specific digital tools, rather than broadly applicable best practices. 

https://www.fastcompany.com/90541246/how-google-classroom-became-teachers-go-to-tool-and-why-its-fallen-short#annotations:ZUq1QvBYEeqqtPfzOPMe2g

America Runs on Charli – Axis’s “The Culture Translator”  

What it is: Dunkin’ recently made TikTok star Charli D’Amelio’sgo-to order an official item on the menu.

Why it’s an act of marketing genius: Connecticut native Charli D’Amelio is known for three things: her viral TikTok dance videos, her authentic (and often teary-eyed) Instagram Lives with fans, and carrying an ever-present, mega-size iced coffee. Charli’s favorite drink (cold brewed coffee with whole milk and three pumps of caramel, in case you’re interested) launched as a Dunkin’ menu item on September 9. To market her eponymous drink, a tie-dye clad Charli dances enthusiastically with coffee in hand to a hip-hop song called “The Charli,” which is the perfect TikTok clickbait. If the TikTok enthusiast under your roof is suddenly “running on Dunkin’,” this is why.  

TikTok Fails Its Users, Big Time – Axis’s “The Culture Translator”  

What it is: Over the weekend, footage of a man who live-streamed his death by suicide was edited into harmless-looking TikToks. TikTok’s main “For You Page” algorithm started recommending the posts before it could be contained, exposing countless users to this graphic, heartbreaking footage.

Why it’s a feature, not a bug, of TikTok’s interface: Much has been made over the past year about the possibility that TikTok is used as a tool of Chinese “spyware,” and we’ve yet to know what the outcome of that political battle will be. But perhaps the real hidden danger of the app isn’t its role in geopolitical conflict, but how its algorithms recommend videos they can’t fully comprehend. Young users in the thousands flooded the comment sections of these truly evil posts, and dozens more posted reaction videos on Instagram and other platforms urging viewers to “stay off TikTok” for the weekend, confessing that the footage was “haunting” them and giving them nightmares. When you bring this up to your teen, do it gently, keeping in mind that the posts were deceptively spliced so that they didn’t appear to be upsetting or violent, and your teen most likely wasn’t seeking out the footage. But do ask about what they saw, and if they want to talk about it.  

Singing the Screentime Blues – Axis’s “The Culture Translator”  

What it is: With notifications, texts, and social media always beckoning, teens and adults are looking for a way to send the message that they’re “not available” (language).

Why this thing has legs: If we’ve learned anything from the pandemic restrictions over the past year, it might be this: Being online gets old! While screens continue to be the main source of social interaction for kids who are remote learning, socialization via smartphones can easily become exhausting. And now that notices of all of our obligations come through our handheld devices, people of all ages are looking for ways to “politely disconnect.” We suspect that some forward-thinking app developers will be working on a new auto-reply feature, which can respond to any and all notifications with an “away” message (circa the heyday of AOL Instant Messenger). Until such a thing becomes widely available, ask your teen if they’re sick of their screen yet. Talk as a family about ways to put digital life on “pause,” and try to set an example by doing it yourself for a few hours each day.

Random Thoughts . . .  

Personal Web Site   

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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Jokes:  

Did you hear about the person who asked to sign up for the 401K?

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The Lego store is reopening

• People are lined up for blocks

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I wanted to name my son Lance.

My wife objected. 

I told her that in Medieval days, people were named Lance a lot.

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Does swimming in debt count as cardio?

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Did you hear about the doughboy with a dough dog? 

• He’s pure bread

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A pirate went to the doctor and says, “I have moles on me back, aaarrrghh”

The Doctor says, “It’s OK, they’re benign”. 

The pirate says, “Count again. I think there be ten”

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If a knight in Prague dons his armor, does that mean the Czech is in the mail?

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Middle School Science Minute: Straight from the Headlines

I was recently reading the September/October, 2020 issue of “Science Scope,” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. 

In this issue, I read the Editor’s Note column “Straight from the Headlines”  written by Patty McGinnis.

There are many ways that current events can be incorporated into the classroom.  Current events can be used as an introductory phenomenon to a problem, can support a claim, or can be utilized to provide students with an engineering task.  The use of websites can provide teachers with vetted articles about recent events and current events, most of which are identified by Lexile score.  Resources include:

Readworks — http://readworks.org

• TweenTribune — https://www.tweentribune.com
• Science News for Students — https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org
• Science Daily — https://www.sciencedaily.com

Reports from the Front Lines

• First Week of Virtual Learning
• Kid response?
  • HELP (How to Enjoy Living with Preadolescent)  (https://www.amle.org/shop/productdetails.aspx?productid=%7B6F1D07E3-3A67-4ABB-9C9A-8C9178167B97%7D) 
• Record Keeping
• Defining Success
• Where do you work from?
• Will this change education in the future?
• Leaving education?

Advisory:

The Big Picture

https://www.gocomics.com/thebigpicture/2020/08/31

The Twitterverse

Typical EduCelebrity @EduCelebrity

I am a strong advocate for state testing in virtual schooling if parents are made to proctor. One year’s worth of those training videos and there-is-nothing-more-important-in-life-than-test-security and that’ll be end of that.

𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 @DrBradJohnson

It’s not just students who need Maslow. Teachers need: 1) feel safe / supported 2) emotional connection/ relationships 3) feel respected 4) attention/ appreciation 5) value within the team 6) Volition/ autonomy 7) innovation/ creativity 8) self care

Typical EduCelebrity @EduCelebrity

This year is already challenging for many students. Some are thinking about taking a gap year before starting middle school.

CBLibraries @CBLibraries

Coming soon… Our @CBLibraries will be offering #curbsidepickup! Librarians will be sharing how students can continue to check out library books during distance learning! Stay tuned for more details…  

SanjayaMishra @SanjayaMishra

Happy Teachers’ Day to all teachers in India.  

Don’t forget #Look for your host, Todd Bloch, to have a middle school topic all ready to go!  Make it a strategic part of your personal professional development.

Resources:

Does This Text Make Me Look Angry?  From Axis Team’s “The Culture Translator” Newsletter

What it is: For teens, “full stops” (i.e. sentences that end with a period) are seen as “intimidating,” and are assumed to convey a tone of anger or frustration.

Why it’s wrecking your text threads with your teen: “Pistaphobia,” or fear of the period punctuation mark, is definitely a thing amongst teens. Since teens see each individual text as a full thought, adding a period can seem unnecessary and even passive-aggressive. Of course, for those of us who aren’t digital natives, skipping the period at the end of a text isn’t exactly second nature. But when your teen pings you with team practice times or a quick message to say they’ll be a little late, be aware that your quick response of “Okay.” could be interpreted as terse or foreboding.  

www.axis.org  

Challenge Unacceptable – From Axis.org  

What it is: The #newteacherchallenge drew headlines this week as parents used the hashtag to prank their kids. The hashtag has 43 million views.

Why it’s pretty sad, actually: Participants pretend to be on a video chat with their child’s new teacher. They then call their child over to “meet their new teacher,” using a photo of a random celebrity, cartoon villain, or visually unusual person, and film their child’s reaction. Several parents who participated in this challenge thought it would be funny to see their child’s reaction if the new “teacher” was a person with a physical abnormality or disability. Some of the photos used were of prominent disability advocates, who have since penned essays on how it feels to be derided and presented to children as some sort of scary monster. Instead of letting your children think that people with disabilities are something to fear, be a part of showing them how every human being has incredible value.  

99Math

Teacher organized, content selected, math game challenge.  Challenge your class, challenge other classes, challenge the world.  www.99math.com  -or- https://99math.com/live-games  where you can join a live 20 min. game and take on others from around the world!  

Web Spotlight:  

We the Young People: For our Teachers

• Please Manage Zoom (or other online learning platforms) better
• Understand the emotional impact of COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter uprising on our capacity to learn. 
• Rethink how you engage us online.  
• Engage us offline in different ways
• Please call/text us before you call our parents or guardians.
• Change the way you evaluate us with homework and tests and be clear about grading.

We the Young People: For each other

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1j1yHO2GGWzb8SF14qrV0Wm8M2wPoDLRDHGpu0klE_sw/mobilebasic?fbclid=IwAR3urcNSrL7L-_sdGSpfB-nurn_zOlmWiER7XjHLKH01MwEl-1HFSStH2TU#annotations:-MDZZO7cEeq3d3fudGiqjQ

Blended and Online Learning Strategies from Yong Zhao

Podcast from Silver Lining for Learning   

“Dr. Catlin Tucker is a bestselling author, international trainer, and keynote speaker. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2010 in Sonoma County, where she taught for 16 years. Catlin earned her doctorate in learning technologies at Pepperdine University. Currently, Catlin is working as a blended learning coach and education consultant. Catlin has written a series of bestselling books on blended learning, which are available below. You can find Catlin on Twitter at @Catlin_Tucker and can access numerous free resources at her internationally-ranked blog.”

https://silverliningforlearning.org/episode-24-blended-and-online-learning-with-catlin-tucker/

Google Image Search 

Google has updated the Usage Rights panel. 

Random Thoughts . . .  

Personal Web Site   

Remember to sign up for notifications.

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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Jokes:  

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Classical music themes are easy to come up with. 

• I could make you a Liszt.

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What did the chemist say when he found two isotopes of Helium?

• HeHe

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What happens when you forget to take your restless leg medicine?

• You want to kick yourself

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8 vowels, 11 consonants, an exclamation point, and a comma appeared in court today. 

• They are due to be sentenced next week. 

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Hey, I just got a job offer at a coffee bar. 

• Pays not great, but it has a lot of perks.

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I think the Discovery Channel should be on a different channel number every day. 

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I went to see a show about puns.

• It was just a play on words.

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Never lie to an x-ray technician.

• They can see right through you.

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To the guy who invented the zero:

• Thanks for nothing!

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Is your wife technically your ex-girlfriend?

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Middle School Science Minute: Create Your Own Rainbow

I was recently looking at ideas for at-home learning and I came across a fun investigation from “Physics Central.”

The investigation is entitled: “Create Your Own Rainbow.”

The investigation and rainbows share the same principles:

• refraction — light bending
• reflecting — light bouncing back

Reports from the Front Lines

• District preparations for teaching online, hybrid, or other.  
  • Teacher stress
  • Strategies
  • Our Best-In-Class Tools
• Resources for teaching remotely/surviving the first week of school B.A. (before academics):
  BBC | Teen’s Anxiety levels dropped during pandemic
• Studio Update – What Shawn is doing -or- What is Shawn doing?
• Video Platform
  • Zoom
  • Google Meet
  • Others
• Video Creation
  • Loom
  • Screencast-o-matic
  • Flipgrid
• Sharing Videos
  • Embed in Moodle (or Slides, etc)
  • The “dot” trick (reference)
  • QuietTube
  • AdBlock for YouTube – Chrome extension
  • SafeShare.TV
• Quizzes
• Bitmoji classrooms (ADA compliant)

The Twitterverse

Mr. Gupton @GuptonTeaches

I. Want. To. Be. In. The. Building. With. My. Kids. Being selfish today. Ignore me.

NJAMLE @NJAMLE

Special thanks to Lori Chen, @StephJWhite14 @AdamsntheMiddle @LynnThompsonELA @tinamonte @ProfJPizzo for helping me @snydesn2 to establish the first 23 episodes of the Middle Ground Minute. Check out the @NJAMLE website for the Archive and more in the near future. #njed @Amle

Typical EduCelebrity @EduCelebrity

Don’t get too caught up in the aesthetics of your virtual classroom. While building the airplane that you’re trying to fly at the same time, few are worried about the in-flight movie.

Bridget Bryson @BrysonBridget

Had wonderful and uplifting @AMLE virtual ‘bonfire’ yesterday. Mod’ asked us to share positives about the current teaching scenario. Awkward silence. A brave teacher found one…then ideas flowed. Mine? The sheer joy and humor of amateur videos & unexpected during live meets

Look for your host, Todd Bloch, to have a middle school topic all ready to go!  Make it a strategic part of your personal professional development.

Strategies:  

Resources:

The Perfect Blend:  A Practical Guide to Designing Student-Centered Learning Experiences

Michele Eaton, Author

Annotate PDFs Collaboratively Using Google Drive

The sequence goes something like this:

• Upload a PDF to your Google Drive (New>File upload, or click-and-drag the PDF into your Google Drive).
• Click the PDF to preview it.
• (Optional) Click the share button in the upper right to add other people, or get a link to share.
• Click on the annotate icon in the upper right to start adding notes.  Highlight text or illustrations throughout the document to comment on them.
•  

Annotate PDFs Collaboratively Using Google Drive

Web Spotlight:  

Make Your Classroom More Like…El Pollo Loco?

Most people have a favorite restaurant. I go to El Pollo Loco for the avocado salsa. I go for the green sauce. 

http://www.brentcoley.com/blog/make-your-classroom-more-likeel-pollo-loco#annotations:OrQsyOSWEeqOtjOVcsVaKA

Random Thoughts . . .  

Personal Web Site  

Codicil

1. Content Resource Ideas:  
   1. Begin the year with a Team Olympics:  https://ditchthattextbook.com/end-the-school-year-with-epic-review-olympics-free-templates/  (You’ll have to modify some of this.)
   2. Make a video about myself (the student):  Bill Ferriter  @plugusin

Remember that quick @Flipgrid activity I shared with y’all last week? The private Introduction Video that I asked students to make with 3 facts about them, 2 questions for me and 1 clear pronunciation of their name?  Can be done in Moodle as well.  

1.  Warm-up ideas:  https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Efd2lwYWkAE-xOV?format=jpg&name=4096×4096  
2. Create a self-portrait and share it to the group:  https://t.co/lfBvXNmqLe?amp=1  
3. Dave Burgess’ 50 back to remote learning activities:  https://t.co/Igha8MUr2U?amp=1  
4. Teacher created Kahoot Trivia Challenges
   1. Wooclap . . . meme chose.  
5. Digital Citizenship Presentations:  Digital Citizenship Tips   
6. Self-Care Challenge:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oFT1w59feNVneXGqU-eWa5PwmpBec1eQeMIR8ihmXmY/edit?usp=sharing  
7. Three Family Sale (online radio drama):   https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oFT1w59feNVneXGqU-eWa5PwmpBec1eQeMIR8ihmXmY/edit?usp=sharing  
8. Building an Empowered Community (Dr. J. Spencer):  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XSH-iSvAfMj3w1VdE6zkpBzQT9ran13q87ri54EiTf0/edit
9. Create Team Online Expectations?
   1. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1LGpT1NZ8m07Q7YLGxMztMa0k8kJ-LJobXx07e55Y4M0/edit?usp=sharing  
10. Design a structure for “Team Meetings” 

Potential topics to cover the first week:  

1. School Schedule  
2. How the team works
3. What Distance Learning looks like this year vs. last year.
4. Team expectations
5. How a Team Meeting works
6. What the sticker in the envelope is for.
7. Introduction letter we sent home and the booklet inside.  
8. Setting a goal for the first five weeks.
9. Setting up a learning zone in the house.
10. What does it mean to study?
11. Finishing the job – the assignment gets done.
12. Team/Teacher expectations for online interactions.
13. Definitions and examples of Civil Discourse.  
14. How to find an assignment online.
15. Understanding a calendar.  
    1. Creativity takes time video
16. Digital Citizenship materials from Wayne RESA.  
    1. Password security
17. Wellness check as a repeated activity each advisory.  
18. Cardinal Challengers Olympics – Wooclap (or other) trivia game, basic facts I should have learned in 6th grade, Science, Math, English, Social Studies general knowledge questions.  
19. Student code of conduct (I heard the planners are in this year . . . )  
20. People at Strong faces recognition game “Who are the people in your neighborhood?” in Wooclap, or other type of app.  
21. AMAA – Ask Me Almost Anything 
22.  Table Topics Cards – Conversation starters  
23. Explain to me:  
    1. how 
       1. to play your favorite game (video or otherwise).  
    2. When 
       1. Is a good time to do homework?
    3. Where 
       1. Is a good place to study?
       2. Is the best place to get ice cream?
       3. Are your little siblings hiding during this Google Meet ‘cause I can hear them!  🙂  
    4. Why 
       1. Did you choose this spot?
       2. Do you listen to that particular music?  
    5. To what extent do you 
24. Brainstorm a list of things you (the student) can do at home to make someone’s day better.  
    1. Make a plan and do it.
25. Short podcasts we could play to generate discussion:  
    1. Astropup and the Seven Mountains of Genius (Video Game addiction):  https://www.storynory.com/astropup-and-the-seven-mountains-of-genius/  
    2. Which is more important:  Liberty or Security?  https://tuttletwins.com/podcast/which-is-more-important-liberty-or-security/  
    3. The Swing (Robert Louis Stevenson) – Short poem:  https://www.storynory.com/the-swing/  
    4. The Moon (Robert Louis Stevenson) – Short poem:  https://www.storynory.com/the-moon-poem/  
    5. The Moon Song (goes with above):  https://www.storynory.com/the-moon-song/  
    6. Six Honest Serving Men (Kipling):  https://www.storynory.com/six-honest-serving-men/  
26.  Reasons why should dihydrogen monoxide be banned – make a list:  
    1. https://www.dhmo.org/facts.html  
    2. https://www.dhmo.org/truth/Dihydrogen-Monoxide.html  
    3. https://www.gulfcoast.edu/current-students/academic-divisions/natural-sciences/biology-project/chemistry-1/documents/dihydrogen-monoxide.pdf
27. 99Math.com competition (not every day) when it gets ready for the new year:  https://99math.com/live-games  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Jokes:  

What creature is smarter than a talking parrot?

• A spelling bee

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Who did the zombie take to the prom?

• Ghoul-friend

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What did one toilet say to the other?

• You look flushed

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What kind of shoes do spies wear?

• Sneakers

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What gets wet while drying?

• A towel

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How much does it cost a pirate to get ears pierced?

• A buck an ear

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Help Stamp out and Abolish Redundancy

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What word becomes shorter when you add 2 letters to it?

• Short

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Middle School Science Minute  

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

Middle School Science Minute: Engaging Families

I was recently reading the July/August, 2020 issue of “Science and Children,” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. 

In this issue, I read the Editor’s Note column “Engaging Families”  written by Elizabeth Barrett-Zahn.

During the pandemic, she attended quite a few professional development opportunities.  She has had three essential takeaways:

1.  Access and equity
2.  Social-emotional sensitivities
3.  Sensemaking and other 21st century skills

Reports from the Front Lines

• Did you ever get the nagging feeling that “COVID Stage X” could turn into a viral Chinese Fire Drill where the governor could just pop us in and out of school . . . Things I think About.  
• Online Resources
• Engaging Kids
• Online vs Face to Face
• Studio 
  • Light ring:  https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20200822075018&SearchText=light+ring  

Advisory:

Pointless Inventions

The man who has created 100+ pointless inventions

Inspirational Quotes

https://www.lifehack.org/882953/overcoming-challenges-quotes

The Twitterverse

Bill Ferriter @plugusin

Remember that quick @Flipgrid activity I shared with y’all last week? The private Introduction Video that I asked students to make with 3 facts about them, 2 questions for me and 1 clear pronunciation of their name? Here’s proof that it was totally worth the time.

Tamarindtree  @tamarindtree2

When we launched in March, we were skeptical of having volunteers on a sustainable basis. But here we are, running an Orientation every week engaging with folks who want to teach online, create content – help bridge the learning divde. Join! https://tamarindtree.org/main/index.php/our-volunteer-programme/

Mark Moran @markemoran

Imagine searching a history topic on Google and then clicking a filter to eliminate the [worthless] results. It would be just like doing a search on SweetSearch History. http://history.sweetsearch.com #satchat #sschat #historyteacher #HistoryMatters

R Graham Oliver: The Purpose of Education replied

Erin Harrington, emotional junior staffer @ladyhorrors

Had a terrible morning in the #NZHellhole. Visited a busy farmers market where the leeks were too big & I was nearly set upon by a vicious bichon frise. Drove through sea fog (designed to keep us trapped) and had ice cream for brunch bc cereal is rationed. Cried all the way home

R Graham Oliver: The Purpose of Education @rgrahamoliver

You know how we feel for you

Greg Perry @futurebehaviour

Following the success of the government’s recent slogans ie Stay Home, Stay Safe and Eat Out to Help Out, here are some new suggestions: Go swimming, Stay Dry Drink Booze, Stay Sober Avoid the Wind, Fly Kites

Look for your host, Todd Bloch, to have a middle school topic all ready to go!  Make it a strategic part of your personal professional development.

Strategies:  

How Do We Know When Kids Understand?

https://robertkaplinsky.com/know-kids-understand/#annotations:9keyRuDEEeqmnLvAa86dUA

22 Tips for Online Instruction

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/classroom_qa_with_larry_ferlazzo/2020/08/twenty_tips_for_online_instruction.html

Resources:

Open Education Resource:  Open Textbooks for Hong Kong

http://www.opentextbooks.org.hk/

The Noun Project

The use of visual aids in education has proven vital for classrooms since time immemorial, from preschool through senior year.

learners absorb information more easily — and can better retrieve it later on — when they’re given both verbal and visual cues to “encode” a concept in their minds.

https://blog.thenounproject.com/free-resources-for-teachers-a6a1e32351e6#annotations:a9ZUeOMIEeqMFFtpTxxVPQ

Math Tutorials

LOTS of videos.

http://patrickjmt.com/#annotations:C5bV9OAXEeq6KBc_dKvVDw

Web Spotlight:  

U.S. Billionaire Wealth Surged During The Pandemic

U.S. billionaires saw their wealth surge 20 percent since the start of the pandemic according to an analysis by the Institute for Policy Studies and Americans for Tax Fairness. Between March 18 and June 17, the total net worth of 643 American billionaires increased from $2.9 trillion to $3.5 trillion while a further 29 individuals joined the club. While their collective wealth grew by $584 billion, some 45.5 million Americans filed for unemployment.

https://www.statista.com/chart/22068/change-in-wealth-of-billionaires-during-pandemic/#annotations:GR6DROKREeqHly8iFRFHqQ

Do We Still Believe?

AMLE article by Jack Bereckemeyer

1. Teaming
2. Advisory
3. Flexible block schedule
4. Offering of a variety of exploratory or essentials classes
5. Various forms of assessments
6. Educators who are trained to teach this age group
7. Empowerment of students in their learning
8. Comprehensive guidance programs
9. Ongoing professional development that reflects best middle level practices
10. Students and teachers who are actively engaged in the classroom

http://www.amle.org/BrowsebyTopic/WhatsNew/WNDet.aspx?ArtMID=888&ArticleID=384

Native Land

Native Land

What Will Middle Schoolers Need When School Reopens?

http://www.amle.org/BrowsebyTopic/WhatsNew/WNDet/TabId/270/ArtMID/888/ArticleID/1171/What-Will-Middle-Schoolers-Need-When-School-Reopens.aspx#annotations:waTQbOC8Eeq5tuunF0NO0A

Name Shoutouts 

https://www.nameshouts.com/#annotations:DkXNmt_cEeqrBU9SJzh_4g

Random Thoughts . . .  

Personal Web Site  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

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