Items & Events

1. NMSA Annual Conference, October 30 – November 1 (Video sample)  Watch the video invitation on the main page of NMSA’s website. (4 days …)
2. Ohio Middle School Association’s Annual Conference, February 19-20, 2009 in Sandusky, OH.  Presenter information is posted on the page.  Download now and get it it in to your administration while they’re too confused and dazed with the opening of school’s events to say, “No.”  (You could argue . . . )
3. Michigan Internet Technology Chief Bruce Umpstead talks about using technology in education in a podcast here at Inside Michigan Education that proposes some ways to incorporate technology in your classroom and get the community to support it.  (Interesting how he admits IT people in districts are actively blocking the iTunes U software.)
4. Canadian National Middle Years Conference, November 5, 6, & 7 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
5. The Michigan Department of Education has posted new proposed Tech Standards for K-12 and opened a Zoomerang survey page for posting comments and replies.  You can get to the proposed standards directly here and you can go to the survey page here.  No one will stop you at the front door of the survey if you’re not in the Great State of Michigan, so have at.
6. PBS has turned the Media Infusion board to a middle school teacher for the month of October!  You can read her insights and postings to the world about middle school at the Media Infusion website.  Rebecca Lawson is a frequent contributor to the MiddleTalk listserv hosted by NMSA.  Membership in the listserv is open to NMSA membership and you can get more detailed information here at the webpage.
7. The New England League of Middle Schools has a whole bevy of professional development planned for the 2008-2009 school year and you can access it here.
8. ADVISORY IDEAS NEEDED:  NELMS is putting together an Advisory Resource page with lessons for you to use.  They are asking for submissions here by January 1, 2009.  If your entry is used, you will be entered in a raffle for a 3 day NELMS conference ticket.
9. Are you a member of the National Middle School Association?  You are eligible to join MiddleTalk, a listserv for middle school teachers that engages in middle level “shop talk.”  Sign up here.
10. Research Summary Posted:  Vocabulary Teaching and Learning Across Disciplines is now available at NMSA.
11. Join the gang going to NMSA’s Annual Conference by signing up at the Ning site and connecting with other Conference goers:  NMSA08 Please do sign up and connect with other conference attendees.  Of course, you’re always welcome to post here too . . .
12. There’s a new research document on counselors in middle schools and the importance they play in our students’ lives.  The research summary details the importance of each student knowing one adult well and how to do that before the counselor’s role can become multifaceted.  In a way, think of them being the ultimate super Advisory teacher first then counselor.  Check it out here.
13. If you get a chance to visit Second Life, zip over to the ISTE island for their speaker series on Tuesdays & Thursdays.  This Tuesday’s topic is Open Sim as Prototyping (TBA).  It begins at 6:00 pm Pacific and is scheduled to end at 7:00 pm pst.
14. Denver Weather Watch is now on patrol!  Get your National Weather Service information before you go.

NMSA08

1. Bring a laptop, or if into weightlifting, a desktop to create an e-conference experience.
2. Entertainment:  Mutton Busting

Advisory Idea:

1. Sum up your week in 3 words.  Get creative with a camera and video tape your three words for a montage.  Air it in house, on the team, or just in your own advisory.  Good Morning America might be interested in it for their weekend edition.  Could be a way to blow off some steam after state testing.
2. Depending on your comfort level in dealing with election politics (Canadian politics can be ruthless) you could have the kids list a number of issues they find important (they don’t have to share) and then have them take the ABC News political identifier quiz.  Reference these:  Harlem voters, Rick Mercer, Kids in Parliament, Voter turnout discussion,

Topics

The 35th Annual Conference (NMSA08) features more than 400 sessions in 40 topic areas, including:

Concurrent Sessions Strands List

Choose a strand to see the list of related sessions.

< Return to concurrent sessions main page

Assessment and Evaluation to Ensure Student Achievement
Components of the Curriculum
Courageous, Collaborative Leadership
Integrating the Curriculum
Professional Preparation Advisory Board
Relationships that Foster Learning and Social Growth
Research
Research Advisory Board
Safe and Healthy Learning Communities
Structures that Support Student Learning
Teacher Quality
Teaching and Learning for Student Success
Technology
Understanding Our Students and Ourselves

Sessions:
There seems to be no way to print out a list of sessions with descriptions. Bummer.

Thoughts:
How many people will microblog?
Ning= 30 members. What is their definition of success?
FaceBook – can’t see it unless you are a member.
BetaMax issue