Author: Troy Patterson

MSM, NMSA08, PodcastBy Troy Patterson, ,

Podcast #51: News, Kagan Structures, and NMSA ’08 Part Deux …

Items & Events

  1. Get introduced to ISTE!
  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. The Michigan Association of Middle School Educators (MAMSE ) Annual Conference will be meeting March 12-13 in Saginaw.  Make plans to attend.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. ANNOUNCEMENT:  The New England League of Middle Schools is looking for someone to fill the position of Executive Director!  Contact Paul Freeman if you’re interested in the position.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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 . . .
  10. 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.
  11. 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 PBS Teachers.  It begins at 6:00 pm Pacific and is scheduled to end at 7:00 pm pst.  Tomorrow will be a SL ISTE tour.  Meet at HQ to begin the tour.  Check the bulletin board for times and details.  Thursday is a social event.  The topic is a prelude to Thanksgiving.
  12. NMSA is looking for an editor!  Tom Erb was honored at this year’s Annual conference with the John Lounsbury award for his many years of service to middle schools as editor of the Middle Journal.
  13. ISTE is holding their annual Computing Conference (NECC) in Washington D.C. this year.  Click here for housing and dates.
  14. Case to watch:  FCC v. Fox TV.  Profanity is defined by local standards.  Fox and the FCC went before the Supreme Court on Nov. 4 and argued that definition and the application of the profanity rules are confusing.  Look for a definition of profanity, what constitutes offense, and how it applies to free speech to come out of this decision.  The next time you write up a kid for profanity I wonder if they’ll use this in their defense while you write up the referral.
  15. Second Life in Education – http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Second_Life_Videos or   http://sleducation.ning.com/
  16. MathTrain.tv – Math videos
News:

Obama’s High Tech win holds lessons for Education
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/index.cfm?i=56032
“A lot of schools are struggling just to keep their web sites updated,” she said. “They might not know where to start with something like [social networking].”
Schools can take similar steps by soliciting feedback from parents and students through their web sites, taking the pulse of the community to find out what stakeholders think is important and make them feel like a part of the school community.

Wisconsin could lose $200 million through shaky investments

http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/index.cfm?i=55995

Two years ago, school board members across Wisconsin tried to help save teachers’ retirement plans by borrowing money from a European bank in an investment that reportedly promised big profits.Now, these five Wisconsin school districts–Kenosha, Kimberly, Waukesha, West Allis-West Milwaukee, and Whitefish Bay–are suing the investment firm of Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. Inc., as well as the Royal Bank of Canada, in Milwaukee County Circuit Court over their $200 million loss. The districts say the investment firm did not fully disclose the risks involved.

Teachers & Facebook: Privacy vs Standards

http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/around-the-web/index.cfm?i=56043

An attorney for a suspended Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools teacher says she never intended for the public to view negative comments she made about students on Facebook.

She now faces possible firing for listing “teaching chitlins in the ghetto of Charlotte” among her activities.

A 26-year-old third-grade CMS teacher who did not want her name used, fearing reprisals, said the district hasn’t clearly specified what employees can and cannot post on such sites. Most teachers think if they keep their profiles private, she said, they’ll be safe.

Some say teachers can use social networking sites to help students, who communicate regularly online. Others say the risks are too great. They say some cases of teachers having inappropriate relationships with students started with electronic messaging.

Full Story:http://www.charlotteobserver.com/education/story/349354.html
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/around-the-web/index.cfm?i=56041
School Chief Takes on Tenure
The Washington, D.C., schools chancellor has proposed spectacular raises for teachers willing to give up tenure in a move that has stirred up controversy, reports the New York Times. Michelle Rhee, the hard-charging chancellor of the D.C. public schools, thinks teacher tenure might be great for teachers–but it hurts kids, she says, by making incompetent instructors harder to fire. So Rhee has proposed raises of as much as $40,000, financed by private foundations, for teachers willing to give up tenure.
Full Story: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/education/13tenure.html?_r=2&ref=education&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

NMSA 2008 Conference

Excellence & Equity: Proven Instructional Strategies Close the Achievement Gap
Kagan
Based off of cooperative learning. Pointed out the research that backs up the effectiveness of cooperative learning. One of the issues that Dr. Spencer Kagan addressed was the issue of excellence vs equity. In a traditional method of instruction, the high achievers learn at a higher rate than lower achieving students. Essentially, this leads to both sets students learning, but the most successful students learn more. Practically, this is indicative of the belief that traditional instructional methods are more geared toward those students who are considered “smart”. With cooperative learning, the high achievers and the low achievers both grow, but the low achievers make up some of the gap. Of course, this part of the demonstration was clarified with charts, arrow and diagrams.
Show pictures of a traditional class with hand(s) up vs a classroom where all of the kids  are working.

Cooperative Learning vs Traditional – 182 studies – Effect Size .78 – Percentile Gain 28
this talks to excellence but not equity.
Looking at equity, traditional methods (direct instruction) work for both but the high achievers are learning at a higher rate than lower achieving students.
With cooperative learning, the high achievers and the low achievers both grow, but the low achievers make up some of the gap.

Doesn’t deal with what we teach but how.

Groupwork vs Cooperative Learning
“Put them together and pray”- no structures is not coop learning.
Think Pair Share – groupwork
Timed Pair Share

Active participation takes the same amount of time but allows for more equity.

Each moment we have a choice (Traditional, Goupwork, Kagan) they have over 200 structures.

Quiet Signal:
1.Raise Hand (no bent elbows)
2.Full focus on Teacher (no talking, no working)
3.Signal Others
Managing attention is the key here. This focuses the kids onto what you want them to do.

Kagan Structures:
Rally Robin:
Steps:
1.Teacher poses a problem to which there are multiple possible responses or solutions, and provides think time.
2.Student take turns stating responses or solutions

Frequent Processing:

Three Step Interview:
Steps:
1.Teacher provides the ____________topic, states the ____________ of the interview, and provides think time.
2.In pairs, Student ______ interviews Student _______.
3.Pairs _________ roles: Student B interviews Student A.
4._____________: Pairs ____________ up to form groups of _____. Each student , in turn, shares with the team what he/she learned in the ______.

Sage -N- Scribe
Setup: In pairs, Student A is the Sage; Student B is the Scribe. Students fold a sheet of paper in half and each writes his/her name on one half.

Steps:
1.The ______ gives the Scribe step by step instructions how to perform a task or solve a problem.
2.The Scribe __________ the Sage’s solution step-by-step in writing, coaching if necessary.
3.The Scribe ____ the Sage.
4.Students _____roles for the next problem or task.

Pairs Compare
Pairs generate a list of possible ideas or answers. Pairs pair and compare their answers with another pair. Finally, pairs work as a team to create additional ideas or answers.

Steps:

Kagan: Teaching the Middle School Brain
• Teaching the Middle School Brain (Stop by the booth for a handout on the session.)
• 1. Principles of Brain Friendly teaching.
• 2. Align instruction with how brain best learns through structures.
• 3. Silly sports & Goofy games that align with brain friendly instruction.
• 4. Deepen our understanding of our 3 pound miracle.
• The quiet signal:
• 1. Raise your hand.
• 2. Full focus attention on Dr. Kagan
• What the brain attends to the more the brain retains.
• 3. Signal others.
• Good brain instruction involves structured interaction and a high level of engagement.
• Structure: Take off, Touch Down
• If it’s true, stand up. If the second statement is true move again.
• Why is it brain friendly?
• It increases blood and glucose and oxygen in the brain to stand up and sit down a couple of time.
• The brain consumes 20% of all the glucose in the body. It is only 2% of the body’s weight.
• Put your two fists together. That’s the size of your brain. Disappointed?
• Brain dendrites fire 200 times per second.
• 100 billion neurons.
• Standing up and sitting down puts more glucose and oxygen in the brain.
• Better nourishment: Frequent muscle movements are important.
• Book: Spark by John J Ratey, MD.
• Evidence for more phys. ed. in the schools to grow better brains.
• Aerobic movement is required.
• Brain attends to Novelty.
• Stand up, Hand up, Pair up
• RallyRobin
• Why is RallyRobin more brain friendly?
• Frequently stop and have students process information.
• Why frequently process?
• 1. More energy for new learning.
• Inhibiting impulses takes a ton of energy.
• 2. Clarify and refine thinking.
• Became aware of what you know and what you don’t know.
• 3. Store in long-term memory.
• 4. Clear working memory.
• It’s what we can hold in our heads at one time.
• Not usually more than ten things.
• Number 11 replaces one of the original 10.
• 5. Engage multiple intelligences and multiple memory systems.
• Episodic memory is the most engaging of the memory systems.
• The brian processes in episodes, something that takes place at a location, has a beginning and an end and a location.
• More brains active
• More brain parts active
• Social Interaction
• Episodic memory
• Team Interview
• Teambuilding
• Favorite snacks
• anything fun will serve as a teambuilder
• Ways to spend $1000.
• Fun things to do after schooll
• Movies you have liked.
• Describe a scene from a movie you enjoy.
• See the Personal Questions page he has prepared. (Sells?)
• Favorites
• Academic content
• Science: View on cloning; inert elements
• Math: Geometry Proof; prime numbers
• Language arts: Verbs; metaphors
• Social Studies: Causes of event; consequences of an event.
• How will I use?
• Interview each other (gambit chips?) and create a 5 paragraph essay based on the information they’ve gleaned from their partners and incorporate transtitions between paragraphs. 3 main paragraphs are based on each of the 3 people interviewed.
• What happened in the brain?
• The amygdalae
• There are 2.
• Left processes tone of voice
• Right processes faces.
• Both sides are threat sensors
• When do they fire most?
• Stranger
• Other race
• Fearful face
• Angry face > Happy face
• out-group > in-group
• Linked to all major parts of the brain.
• Prerontal Cortex
• Decision making
• Emotional Control
• Attention, thinking, working memory
• The Amygdala can shut this down.
• The Amygdalae explain
• Impared learning (high stress destroys brain nerves).
• Silly Sports
• Hagoo: Inuit game.
• If they can make the other person smile, they cross over the line and join their team. Teams are in two lines.
• No touching, can say anything they like.
• Great picture of a “teenage brain”
• What is white matter?
• Myelination of neurons helps them fire 200 times faster.
• The teenage brain is not completely myelinated.
• Independent Memory systems
• There is not one thing called memory!
• Memory Test
• 1 Night
• 2 tired
• 3 wake
• 4 dream
• 5 sleep (not on list!)
• 6 bed
• 7 rest
• 8
• 9
• 10 (slumber)
• Memory pinciple: Memory is not a place it is a process!
• SPEWS & Structures (matrix made by Kagan)
• CEU Code: DS8

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NMSA08, PodcastBy Troy Patterson

Dr. Debbie Silver Interview

We were very blessed that Dr. Debbie Silver took some time out of her busy conference schedule to sit down and chat with us for a while. Dr. Silver was awsome. She had lots of greats ideas and tips in the interview. We recorded with an audience for the first time ever. It was a great experience. We did have a few technical issues and the sound quality isn’t what we would like, but the content is truly worth the experience. I hope that you enjoy.

NMSA08, PodcastBy Troy Patterson

Podcast 50 NMSA08 Annual Conference Wrap Up Part 1

Items & Events

  1. Get introduced to ISTE!
  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. The Michigan Association of Middle School Educators (MAMSE ) Annual Conference will be meeting March 12-13 in Saginaw.  Make plans to attend.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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 . . .
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. NMSA is looking for an editor!  Tom Erb was honored at this year’s Annual conference with the John Lounsbury award for his many years of service to middle schools as editor of the Middle Journal.
  12. ISTE is holding their annual Computing Conference (NECC) in Washington D.C. this year.  Click here for housing and dates.

NMSA Wrap up

Overall General Observations:

  • Handouts were non-existent
  • Technology is part of life.
  • This conference remains powerful. Conversations with several attendees iterated how much they got out of the conference as well.
  • There is rarely enough time to really search throughout the exhibit hall.
  • There seemed to be lots of room in many sessions (even though Shawn couldn’t get into two of them because of fire codes & the halls were jam packed).

Book:  Disrupting Class by Clayton Christensen

Shout Outs:
1.  Theresa Sutherland of MAMSE for recognizing us at NMSA!

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NMSA08By Troy Patterson

NMSA08 Follow up

As we are trying to dig ourselves out of the mountain of stuff that piled up while we were at NMSA08, I thought that I’d let you know that we were lucky enough to interview the wonderful Dr. Debbie Silver. We’ll post the interview once we get everything together. Until then, keep working with the kids.

UncategorizedBy Troy Patterson

Day One – Post Conference

We were mighty busy all during the conference. It was just great. Dr. Debbie Silver was kind enough to spend some time with us doing an interview. We’ve got some post production work to do on it, but we’ll get it to you soon.

Look for plenty of information to follow in the coming weeks. Until then, it’s back to getting caught up on the real job and family.

advisory, NMSA08, PodcastBy Troy Patterson,

Podcast #49 NMSA08: The Conference!

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,

Tech Sandboxes

Come play in the Tech Sandboxes located throughout the Convention Center. Each Tech Sandbox will be a place to get your hands on and learn about a particular digital or Web tool for teaching and learning.

Tech Sandboxes are hosted by practitioners and experts who can talk about and show you how they have used the tool for teaching and learning. These practitioners and experts are also eager to give you a chance to get your hands on the technology to learn and ask questions.

Look for these Tech Sandboxes:

Topics

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

  • Achievement
  • Adolescent Development
  • Advisory/Advocacy
  • Assessment
  • At-Risk Students
  • Brain-Based Learning and Teaching
  • Classroom Management
  • Differentiated Instruction
  • Diversity
  • Experiential Learning
  • Health Education and Programming
  • Integrated/Interdisciplinary Curriculum
  • Language Arts
  • Leadership
  • Learning Communities
  • Library/Media
  • Literacy
  • Math
  • Parent/Family Involvement
  • Prevention Programming
  • Professional/Staff Development
  • Reform/Restructuring
  • Research
  • School Climate and Safety
  • School Improvement
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Standards
  • Student Motivation
  • Student Support
  • Teacher Preparation/Quality
  • Teaching Strategies
  • Teaming
  • Technology
  • Transitions to and from Middle School
  • and more!

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

advisory, NMSA08, PodcastBy Troy Patterson,

Podcast #48 Field Tripping, NMSA08, & Student Research

Snopes:
http://www.snopes.com/college/halls/sinking.asp
A Sinking Video

Items & Events
1.  NMSA Annual Conference, October 30 – November 1 (Video sample)  Watch the video invitation on the main page of NMSA’s website. (12 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.  Looking for news from Ontario Middle Level Educators Association.  If you have any, drop us a line. 
7.  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. 
8.  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. 
9.  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. 
10.  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. 
11.  Research Summary Posted:  Vocabulary Teaching and Learning Across Disciplines is now available at NMSA.   
12.  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 . . .
13.  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.
14.  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 speaker is TBA.  It begins at 6:00 pm Pacific and is scheduled to end at 7:00 pm pst.
15.  Denver Weather Watch is now on patrol!  Get your National Weather Service information before you go.


(Photo courtesy of the Weather Channel)

NMSA08 Travel Prep:

Reading Material:  Good to Great and the Social Sectors by Jim Collins.
iPod Material:  Ruby Payne has some free downloads you can listen to in advance.
Snacks:  Nut mix.
Jim Collins Information:  Good to Great for Social Sectors has a section in the Jim Collins podcasting section.  Give it a look and put it on your favorite iPod for the trip to Denver!
Take a coat.

Advisory Resources:

  1. There’s a great archived discussion on Advisory over at MiddleWeb.  For those of you looking for some insights in running an Advisory/Enrichment program it is worth the read.
  2. The Secret Knowledge of Grownups is a children’s book explaining the “real” reasons adults have for telling kids to do things they may not like.  There are “official” reasons that every adult has to give each child and each adult must know each official reason so that no matter whom the child asks, they get the same reason.  Sound like a conspiracy?  Sound like what the kids do at school?  “I’ll ask this teacher what the reason for the rule is and then I’ll check it with this teacher in my next hour and then .  . . ,” as they look for the inconsistencies in each answer or the consistencies to prove conspiracy.  Something worth trying is the Secret Knowledge of Grownups and cutting the different “Grownup Rules” in to sections.  Each group works through the story (I love the killer vegetables one!) and then using their Code of Conduct pulls a rule to apply the pattern to:  State the rule, state the “official” reason, then the “real” reason.  Students can be creative with the “real” reasons and put pictures to their explanations.  Probably a better activity for early in the year, but ideas don’t always come when you need them.

NMSA08 Annual Conference Information:
Tech Sandboxes (from NMSA):

“Come play in the Tech Sandboxes located throughout the Convention Center. Each Tech Sandbox will be a place to get your hands on and learn about a particular digital or Web tool for teaching and learning.

Tech Sandboxes are hosted by practitioners and experts who can talk about and show you how they have used the tool for teaching and learning.  These practitioners and experts are also eager to give you a chance to get your hands on the technology to learn and ask questions.

Look for these Tech Sandboxes:

*******************************************
From Middle EConnections:
Plan a Trip Outside the Classroom
Philip Brown

After returning from a productive field trip to the North Georgia Mountains, I began to reflect back on the benefits of the trip and the reasons why the trip was successful. There are numerous reasons why field trips are helpful to young adolescents and their learning experiences, but the relationship-building between teachers and students is the most positive function. The opportunity to be outside the classroom presents itself as a chance to connect with students in a unique way. Many times after field trips, teachers and students will have a new appreciation for each other.

Also, the more that our team discussed the trip, the more we realized that the success of our trip rested in the prior planning we had done as a team. The following tips were ways in which we worked to make the trip as smooth as possible.

Match the trip with the curriculum. Before you and your students can go on any field trip, prior approval must be granted by the administration or the local board of education. The best selling point is explaining how the trip will enhance the curriculum and enrich student learning and understanding. Be prepared to explain to your administration why this trip will provide students with an opportunity to learn in a way that the classroom may not allow.

It’s better to over-plan, but stay flexible. Sit down as a team and discuss all aspects of the trip from bus departure to sleeping arrangements. Every detail of the trip needs to be addressed, but also realize that some things that happen on trips cannot be planned or addressed before the trip. In these cases, be flexible and work as a team to solve these issues.

Put students in positions to be successful. If there happens to be a teacher who works well with a certain student, then try to place the student with the teacher for a majority of the trip. This will help out with student discipline and participation. Also, make students aware and knowledgeable of the expectations and the procedures before the actual trip. This helps minimize confusion with students as well as parents.

Promote and sell the trip. Many students who are disinterested in the everyday classroom will find excitement and interest in learning outside of the school building and everyday routines and procedures. It helps to sit down with these students and explain that you are excited they are attending the trip and participating in the learning activities. Also, stress to these students that they will be able to contribute to the trip and the learning experience.

Select chaperones carefully. Some adults can cause more heartache than help. Also, remember that some students act differently, positive and negative, in the presence of a parent or guardian. It may be helpful to use parents only in situations where you do not have enough certified teachers. Check with your administration about their preferences.

Debrief as a group. Find out what worked, what went well, and what failed. Whose actions surprised you and why? Did we as a team put these students and chaperones in a position to be successful? What could we do better next time? Did our students learn? How do we know?

Best wishes on your future trips, and don’t forget to plan early.

Philip Brown is a middle school assistant principal in Oconee County, Georgia. He is also a doctoral student in middle school education at the University of Georgia.

*********************************
Rethinking Research in the Google Era:
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/index.cfm?i=55598
As the internet replaces library databases as students’ primary research option, a new discussion is emerging in academic circles: Is the vast amount of information at students’ fingertips changing the way they gather and process information for the better–or for worse?

Like Carr, the study says people who use the internet for research have very specific and identifiable habits. For example, they tend to seek information horizontally–meaning they skim, or bounce from page to page, without reading in depth and rarely return to a previous source. About 60 percent of electronic journal users view no more than three pages, the study found, and 65 percent never return.

For instance, 89 percent of college students use search engines to begin an information search, the study found–while only 2 percent start from a library web site.
Wade said she asked her daughter, Kelly, how she researches online.

Kelly explained that she starts with Wikipedia–a resource students typically aren’t allowed to cite, because it might not be a reliable source–and looks at the resources listed to identify other sources that might be reliable and valid. She then goes to those sites and compares them. After skimming and comparing, she uses her knowledge of how to identify a valid source to choose those sources that she would be able to use for her project. Then, she reads those articles in depth.

Kelly compares her process to the “old” way of researching her mom had to use: “When you went to the library, mom, you had to look through encyclopedias, books, and magazines to find what they might have at your schools. Today, I can look at those things, but by using the internet, I can find a lot more information. One source leads me to another, and that article leads me to three others. If the articles or sources are not linked, I just Google them. I can learn because I have access to tons more information than you had available in your library–back in your day.”

Jim Bosco, professor emeritus at Western Michigan University, says there has “always been the concern that with new technology comes hell. It began with Socrates being concerned that writing had a horrible effect on learning, because up until that point all learning was done through oral tradition. It’s continued with printing and then television. It’s a reoccurring trend throughout history.”

“If people think it’s only the students now, [who] have access to the internet, who skim over information and write papers that are just a collage of quotes and material pulled from other articles, they’re wrong,” he said. “As a teacher who’s old enough to have reviewed papers both before and after the internet, let me tell you: Students in the past used to write papers in the same way. There will always be students who write papers where it’s obvious they have no deep understanding of the material. It’s not a new phenomenon–it’s just better automated now.”

According to the British Library’s report, a common misconception of the “Google generation” is that they are naturally information literate.

Says the study: “The information literacy of young people has not improved with the widening access to technology. … Young people sometimes have a poor understanding of their information needs and thus find it difficult to develop effective search strategies. Faced with a long list of search hits, young people find it hard to assess the relevance of the materials presented and often print off pages with no more than a perfunctory glance.”

To help students learn how to search the internet successfully, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) has developed “Standards for the 21st Century Learner.” (See “School libraries try to do more with less.”) The State Educational Technology Directors Association also has a media literacy toolkit that aligns with state standards.

But to help students learn not only how to navigate the internet successfully, but also to know how to read in depth, educators says it’s up to them to design helpful homework assignments and projects.

Bosco added that educators also need to know how not to skim when reading–otherwise they won’t be able to discern good papers from bad ones. “They need to focus on quality, not on quantity, of assignments, and they need to take their time during assessments,” he concluded.

****************************

Schools soon required to teach web safety:

http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/index.cfm?i=55557
Schools receiving e-Rate discounts on their telecommunications services and internet access soon will have to educate their students about online safety, sexual predators, and cyber bullying, thanks to federal legislation passed in both the Senate and the House.

The bill reflects the concerns of parents, teachers, and others that children might meet sexual predators while on social networking sites or talking online in chat rooms.  Increased media attention on online harassment and cyber bullying, including several cases where students have suffered severe emotional problems or have committed suicide after online taunts, also have influenced the bill.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

UncategorizedBy Troy Patterson

Podcast #47- Gaming & Grading – Keeping the Clean Tag.

News from WOOT !:

WEST CHESTER, Ohio, Oct. 7 (UPI)—A suspicious package delivered to U.S. Rep. John Boehner’s West Chester, Ohio, office turned out to be raw bacon, the Butler County Bomb Squad said.
The delivery man has been charged with bacon and entering.

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP)—Federal agents swept through a chicken processing plant Tuesday, detaining more than 300 suspected illegal immigrants, sending panicked workers running and screaming through the hallways.
An unknown number of illegal immigrants escaped by crossing the road.

VILLAGE OF BARKER, N.Y. (UPI)—A Village of Barker, N.Y., man said he survived being struck by lightning, with only minimal injuries, while pumping gas into his car.
Experts say that after the last year of gas prices the man was prepared for any shock that might occur at the pumps.

SUZHOU, China (AP) – She’s around 80 years old. He’s 100. Breathless scientists watched as the world’s most endangered turtles successfully mated.
The two turtles have filed suit to prevent a Nevada man from releasing a DVD showing footage from the encounter.

WASHINGTON (UPI)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it has granted an exemption for the first heart pump that provides temporary support for the heart’s right side.
The pump has been nicknamed “Sarah Palin”.

Events:
1.  Month of the Young Adolescent is here!  What are you doing in your classroom or school to celebrate this event? 
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.  NMSA Annual Conference, October 30 – November 1 (Video sample)  Watch the video invitation on the main page of NMSA’s website. (18 days …)
4.  Canadian National Middle Years Conference, November 5, 6, & 7 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
5.  We talk about tech some here at Middle School Matters and so we post this in that context:  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.  Looking for news from Ontario Middle Level Educators Association.  If you have any, drop us a line. 
7.  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. 
8.  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. 
9.  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. 
10.  October 21, 7:00 pm Edweek.org will be hosting from Columbia Teacher’s College a “debate” between the education advisors of Barak Obama and John McCain.  This is a registered event and their software doesn’t play nice with most browsers.  They would like you to visit them with Internet Explorer to be part of the evening. 
11.  Research Summary Posted:  Vocabulary Teaching and Learning Across Disciplines is now available at NMSA.   
12.  Join the gang going to NMSA’s Annual Conference by signing up at the Ning site and connecting with other Conference goers:  NMSA08
13.  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.
14.  If you get a chance to visit Second Life, zip over to the ISTE island for their speaker series on Thursdays.  This Tuesday will be a discussion on using Second Life in Education.  It begins at 6:00 pm Pacific and is scheduled to end at 7:00 pm pst.
15.  Denver Weather Watch is now on patrol!  They’re getting snow in the region this weekend!  Get your National Weather Service information before you go.


(Photo courtesy the Weather Channel)



Microsoft, Universities team up on gaming research
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/index.cfm?i=55504
“Technology has the potential to help reinvent the education process and excite and inspire young learners to embrace science, math, and technology,” Mundie said. “The Games for Learning Institute at NYU is a great example of how technology can change how students learn, making it far more natural and intuitive.”
Microsoft Research is providing $1.5 million to the institute. NYU and its consortium of partners are matching Microsoft’s investment, for a combined $3 million. Funding covers the first three years of research, which will focus on evaluating computer games as potential learning tools for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects during the middle-school years (grades 6–8). The institute will work with a range of student populations yet will focus on underrepresented middle-school students–especially girls and minorities.
Girl Scouts Tech Connection.

The ABI Grading System
http://www.nmsa.org/Publications/MiddleGround/Articles/October2008/Article3/tabid/1757/Default.aspx

Don’t Smile Until Christmas?
http://www.nmsa.org/Publications/MiddleGround/Articles/October2008/Article8/tabid/1762/Default.aspx
by Paul Barnswell

Pedagogy in Action:
http://www.innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=643&action=article
by Eileen Dame

Legal News:
http://www.nmsa.org/Advocacy/MessagesfromNMSA/SuccessintheMiddleAct/tabid/1482/Default.aspx

Schools grapple with teacher’s Facebook use:
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/index.cfm?i=55535
As social networking web sites such as Facebook and MySpace become increasingly popular channels for student communication, schools are struggling to define the rules for whether, and how, it’s appropriate for teachers to interact with their students through these media.
Marshall McLuhan and the Global Village.  (Marshallisms)

Shout outs:
1.  Thanks Mary Henton for the link on the Conference Connections page of the National Middle School Association’s Conference website.
2.  Thanks Jack Berkermeyer for the Kindles!
3.  Thanks also to Todd Williamson of Broad Creek Middle School in the Great State of North Carolina !

NMSA08, PodcastBy Troy Patterson

Podcast #46 Izzit Enough? Bailouts, Evaluations, and Co-Teaching.

1.  Month of the Young Adolescent is here!  What are you doing in your classroom or school to celebrate this event? 
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.  NMSA Annual Conference, October 30 – November 1 (Video sample)  Watch the video invitation on the main page of NMSA’s website. 
4.  Canadian National Middle Years Conference, November 5, 6, & 7 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
5.  Rick Stiggins has a Balanced Assessment Manifesto posted at NMSA‘s website worth checking out.  
6.  Looking for news from Ontario Middle Level Educators Association.  If you have any, drop us a line. 
7.  Wisconsin Association of Middle Level Educators annual conference is coming up October 9-10, 2008. 
8.  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. 
9.  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. 
10.  NMSA’s latest podcast focuses on using wikis in the classroom to promote learning.  
11.  Research Summary Posted:  Vocabulary Teaching and Learning Across Disciplines is now available at NMSA.   
12.  NMSA has a Facebook !  They would like to invite you to join them on Facebook and the opportunities it affords. How many of you can reach Facebook through your district’s firewall?  Pop over to the Ning site as well.
13.  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.
14.  If you get a chance to visit Second Life, zip over to the ISTE island for their speaker series on Thursdays.  Last week’s Tuesday guest talked about the US Department of Education’s interest in virtual learning environments.  We’ll look around and see if they posted the session.

The National Middle School Association’s Annual Conference (NMSA08) is coming up soon (yes, 27 days or so, I know, but I’m excited already).
Preparations:

  1. Housing:  Use the NMSA housing form.  It goes through the local city’s convention bureau so if you are the type to check if your reservation is in the books, you won’t be able to contact the hotel and find out if you have a room.  You’ll have to wait until the convention bureau has taken their compiled lists and sent them to the individual participating hotels.  Do use the form on the website.  You’ll save a tidy sum.
  2. Registration:  If you were able to talk a group into going, use the individual/team registration form.  The reduction in price for getting a team to go is worth selling one’s firstborn to the gypsies . . . well ok, maybe not worth that, but do try to take a team of teachers to get the discount.  Mongo-sized groups have a different form.  Mention you saw the registration information here at Middle School Matters.  It won’t get you anything, but the puzzled looks on the poor NMSA staff will probably be worth it.  😉
  3. Transportation:  NMSA has worked out some transportation discounts with United Airlines (promotion code:  584CM), but do check other airlines for their airfares.  Don’t necessarily take the first choice.  One teacher’s experience has shown checking multiple days could yield a better price.  Hertz has a rental car agreement worked out (promotion code:  CV#022Q3931), but do consider public transportation as a viable alternative.  One of the neat things about the conference is walking a bit and seeing part of the city.  In Philadelphia, I would have missed the really cool stuff at Reading Station and some other places had I not taken a stroll from the hotel to the conference center.
  4. Transport from/to Airport:  FlyDenver.com has a host of transportation options to/from the airport for you to choose from.  My group that went last year used the SuperShuttle service.  If you use them, plan on multiple groups traveling to multiple destinations.  It wasn’t a bad experience.  The only downside is that the scheduled return is set by the dispatcher at the airport, not according to your flight schedule.  We had to be at the airport several hours before we had to be there the regular several hours before departure.  Do chat up the driver.  Ours was allowed to use the vans on the off hours to make some cash on their own and they have a good handle on locations in the area to pick up a flavor of the local culture.  Check out the Colorado Convention Center’s directions to the center from all points on the compass rose and the airport.
  5. Colorado Convention Center:  Use the virtual tour of the Convention Center to find your way around before the conference in October.
  6. Luggage (promo code: 9601):  Find a way to make your luggage distinguishable.  Scarves are not recommended since they catch in the conveyor belt.  Unique tags and stickers, are useful.  If you’re really into luggage tags…   World Richman is an Official NMSA Exhibitor of luggage, but not necessarily for the long distance traveler.
  7. Comfort:  Socks, Shoes, Shoes for Administrators, Chair (wait for it …), Parrot, iPod, coffee, computer, fudge, Middle School Matters, tech podcast, alternate middle school podcast, cherries (what happens to the pits?), in-flight book,

Advisory Idea:  Izzit.org!
Izzit.org is a non-profit educational video resource for teachers.  One of their first hosts was John Stossel of ABC News who produced DVDs of his special reports and distributed them through Izzit.org.  They have a number of educational videos that you can get for free (one a year).  Register on their site and you can get a free video from them once a year on or near your birthday.  You can also purchase videos, but being genetically predisposed to FREE, it is the greater incentive.  Visit their website and check out the DVD on Unintended Consequences:  The Great Depression which is an in depth look at the causes of the Great Depression and the factors that led up to the economic disaster of 1929.  What to do if your birthday is in June and you need something for Advisory today?  Check out the current events lesson plans/ideas for your Advisory class.  You can look at archived material and make it compare/contrast.  For example, use this 1999 lesson on Administration’s pressure on Freddie and Fannie to take on greater low income housing and riskier home loans which at the time the question was, “What would happen?,” and turn it into, “Compare the concerns in 1999 with the realities of 2008.”  Drew Carey is also producing a series of videos on the Bill of Rights and their use today worth checking out as well.

Teacher Resource:  www.vocabulary.com
Vocabulary.com is another puzzle generator with a twist.  They have a number of prepared vocabulary puzzles that you can use right off the web and over 125 vocabulary puzzles prebuilt for the novel you might be reading right now in your ELA class.

News:
Effect of bailout on Education:
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/09/29/06budget-2.h28.html?tmp=981732249
The result of the presidential election will likely help determine how much money education programs receive in the 2009 federal fiscal year, which begins this week. But a multi-billion-dollar federal plan to assist the financial markets may leave the next president with very little room for major increases for K-12 schools, perhaps for the foreseeable future.

Standards for Teacher Evaluation Mulled:
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/10/01/06evaluate.h28.html
With the pressure on to increase student learning, two states are in the process of overhauling what analysts say is among the most neglected pieces of the teacher-quality continuum: evaluation.

Co-Teaching:
http://www.teachermagazine.org/tsb/articles/2008/09/10/01math.h02.html

Curriculum Compacting:
http://www.teachermagazine.org/tsb/articles/2008/09/10/01gifted.h02.html

Shout Outs:

1.  To Joyce McGreevy, thanks for the post and hope we see you in Denver!
2.  To the listeners State of Illinois, we appreciate your support!
3.  To our sponsors, we can’t wait to meet ya!

advisory, NMSA08, PodcastBy Troy Patterson, , ,

Middle School Matters #45 – Next, More Substitute Adventures!

From an actual test (at least according to the Internet):

The 3 day breast cancer walk:
http://www.the3day.org/site/PageServer

News & Events: 

1.  October’s Month of the Young Adolescent is here! 
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.  NMSA Annual Conference, October 30 – November 1 (Video sample)  Watch the video invitation on the main page of NMSA’s website. 
4.  Canadian National Middle Years Conference, November 5, 6, & 7 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
5.  Rick Stiggins has a Balanced Assessment Manifesto posted at NMSA‘s website worth checking out.  
6.  Looking for news from Ontario Middle Level Educators Association.  If you have any, drop us a line. 
7.  Wisconsin Association of Middle Level Educators annual conference is coming up October 9-10, 2008. 
8.  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. 
9.  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. 
10.  NMSA’s latest podcast focuses on using wikis in the classroom to promote learning.  
11.  Research Summary Posted:  Vocabulary Teaching and Learning Across Disciplines is now available at NMSA.   
12.  NMSA has a Facebook !  They would like to invite you to join them on Facebook and the opportunities it affords. How many of you can reach Facebook through your district’s firewall?

The National Middle School Association’s Annual Conference (NMSA08) is coming up soon (yes, 27 days or so, I know, but I’m excited already).
Preparations:

  1. Housing:  Use the NMSA housing form.  It goes through the local city’s convention bureau so if you are the type to check if your reservation is in the books, you won’t be able to contact the hotel and find out if you have a room.  You’ll have to wait until the convention bureau has taken their compiled lists and sent them to the individual participating hotels.  Do use the form on the website.  You’ll save a tidy sum.
  2. Registration:  If you were able to talk a group into going, use the individual/team registration form.  The reduction in price for getting a team to go is worth selling one’s firstborn to the gypsies . . . well ok, maybe not worth that, but do try to take a team of teachers to get the discount.  Mongo-sized groups have a different form.  Mention you saw the registration information here at Middle School Matters.  It won’t get you anything, but the puzzled looks on the poor NMSA staff will probably be worth it.  😉
  3. Transportation:  NMSA has worked out some transportation discounts with United Airlines (promotion code:  584CM), but do check other airlines for their airfares.  Don’t necessarily take the first choice.  One teacher’s experience has shown checking multiple days could yield a better price.  Hertz has a rental car agreement worked out (promotion code:  CV#022Q3931), but do consider public transportation as a viable alternative.  One of the neat things about the conference is walking a bit and seeing part of the city.  In Philadelphia, I would have missed the really cool stuff at Reading Station and some other places had I not taken a stroll from the hotel to the conference center.
  4. Transport from/to Airport:  FlyDenver.com has a host of transportation options to/from the airport for you to choose from.  My group that went last year used the SuperShuttle service.  If you use them, plan on multiple groups traveling to multiple destinations.  It wasn’t a bad experience.  The only downside is that the scheduled return is set by the dispatcher at the airport, not according to your flight schedule.  We had to be at the airport several hours before we had to be there the regular several hours before departure.  Do chat up the driver.  Ours was allowed to use the vans on the off hours to make some cash on their own and they have a good handle on locations in the area to pick up a flavor of the local culture.  Check out the Colorado Convention Center’s directions to the center from all points on the compass rose and the airport.
  5. Colorado Convention Center:  Use the virtual tour of the Convention Center to find your way around before the conference in October.
  6. Luggage (promo code: 9601):  Find a way to make your luggage distinguishable.  Scarves are not recommended since they catch in the conveyor belt.  Unique tags and stickers, are useful.  If you’re really into luggage tags…   World Richman is an Official NMSA Exhibitor of luggage, but not necessarily for the long distance traveler.
  7. Comfort:  Socks, Shoes, Shoes for Administrators, Chair (wait for it …), Parrot, iPod, coffee, computer, fudge, Middle School Matters, tech podcast, alternate middle school podcast, cherries (what happens to the pits?), in-flight book,

Substitutes:

Hey guys

Who is the least appreciated person in the building and yet critical to the success of a middle school? The substitute teacher of course. Without them, forget IEP meetings, professional development, sick days, personal time or even special events. They are the ninja workforce who appear and seemingly disappear without leaving an obvious trail.

Good substitutes are worth their weight in gold, but many teachers either have never subbed or forgot how tough a job it is. Having been a sub teacher for three years in a middle school environment, I know all too well its pitfalls and rewards. When I became a full-time teacher, I knew how my temporary replacement wanted to be respected professionally through good preparation for their day with my kids.

Therefore, perhaps you can give some tips to teachers and remind them of how they can either make or break the day of a sub teacher in their classroom through planning or lack thereof.
I have had teachers who truly understood how to create a seamless transition from being absent one day and returning to class the next to find significant student progress. Good sub teachers are not babysitters, and they have an obligation to the school district and the teacher to keep kids safe and on-task.

Let me make a few suggestions of my own and perhaps you can elaborate:

-Lesson plans that provide more work than can be accomplished in the alloted time
-Necessary photo copies of worksheets, study guides, or reference material; subs do not have passcodes for copiers, nor do they know where to find them
-Directions for finding any materials or supplies needed; subs do not know your room or your desk
-Guide for standard operating procedures in your classroom; kids take too much liberty when asked to share the rules
-Teacher schedule that clearly indicates room numbers and times as well as lunch time, duty times and locations
-Class rosters and Seating charts that are up-to-date and reflect the latest changes made as students are moved for various reasons
-Emergency procedures for Fire Drills, lockdowns, etc. that are clear and easy to understand at a moments notice
-List of contact teachers (with room numbers) who can provide assistance and guidance
-Telephone extension list and clear indication of main office number
-Behavior referral slips and procedure for using them

Most schools require a sub folder to be kept in place for each classroom. But these get buried and forgotten until the teacher needs to be out. Therefore, nothing gets updated and the sub is working with inaccuracies that can, at best, totally change the delicate balance of a classroom and at worst, create a dangerous situation in an emergency.  When a teacher provides everything they would have wanted themselves in the same situation, things go smoothly and everyone wins.

Thanks

Ron
New Jersey

1.  National Substitute Teachers’ Alliance offers benefits to members and an annual conference.
2.  Substitute Teachers are taking personal and professional advancement in their own hands.  Edweek article articulates their position.
3.  Substitute teachers have tried to organize.  This is not legal in all states.
4.  The National Education Association has a Substitute Teacher division with resources and advice on their website.
5.  Looking for some training material for your substitute teachers?  Check this out.
6.  Some districts have language in their contracts that address substitute teacher issues.
7.  NEA position on substitute teachers:

  • The National Education Association believes in the importance of employing professional educators to fulfill the critical role of substitute teachers.
  • The Association also believes that substitute teachers perform a vital function in the maintenance and continuity of daily education. In order to achieve and maintain the highest standards of student learning and professional practice, and to ensure quality instruction in every classroom every day, the Association further believes that substitute teachers must —
    • a. Meet the same standards as other licensed teachers within the state
    • b. Receive professional compensation and benefits
    • c. Receive continuous professional development
    • d. Be provided with materials and information appropriate to the position in which they are substituting
    • e. Be entitled to and supported by state and national affiliates in collective bargaining.
  • The Association condemns the practice of assigning substitute teachers to regular positions for an extended duration of time. Positions created by extended absence should be filled by available licensed teachers who are eligible to be placed on contractual status by the school district.
  • The Association opposes the practice of replacing absent teachers by dispersing students to other classrooms
  • The Association also opposes the use of individuals such as educational support professionals, part-time employees, or employees hired through private agencies to cover classes.
  • The Association further opposes requiring teachers to substitute during their preparation time.
  • The Association believes that school districts must provide full compensation for licensed teachers who substitute for personnel on extended leave. (1975, 2000)

8.  Recommendations from Education Minnesota on preparing for a substitute teacher:

  • Leave detailed information about the daily schedule, the names of your colleagues, specialists who work with your students, and any special procedures or concerns regarding individual students.
  • Provide the name of a colleague the substitute can contact for information or assistance.
  • When writing down assignments, include titles and authors of texts and laboratory manuals, as well as numbers of pages, problems and experiments. Also be sure to leave copies of texts, answer books, and lab manuals for the substitute. Don’t just say, “The kids know where everything is.”
  • Try to include meaningful assignments in your plan book. Busywork often results in wasted time for both students and the substitute. Behavior problems can occur.
  • Keep an up-to-date seating chart that gives the full name of each student. Insist that students always occupy their assigned seats.
  • Prepare your students for a substitute by instilling good work habits and a code of conduct that is conducive to order and accomplishment.
  • Post the names of students who assist you in the classroom, such as monitors and the clean-up crew.
  • Leave working keys for your desk, doors and cabinets.
  • Ask the substitute to leave you a note about how the day went. Also ask him or her for feedback on your preparation and how you might improve.
  • Thank your substitute.  Substitutes work hard and, in many cases, for inadequate compensation. They play a valuable role and deserve lots of appreciation. Strive to ensure a good experience so that your substitute will want to return to your classroom.

9.  Some districts provide some professional development for substitute teachers prior to their first day in the classroom.
10.
Resources:

  1. United States Substitute Teacher’s Association
  2. Transcript of a conversation with substitute teachers.  Some of the themes are worth pulling out and discussing at the local level.
  3. Lesson Plans for substitutes in the English classroom.
  4. Sub humor.
  5. Utah State University has a substitute teacher training institute with resources available for both the sub and the regular teacher.  USU offers substitute teacher training and a certificate at the end with successful completion.  Check out the forums and the substitute teacher resources page.
  6. A framework for classroom discipline:  Ed Ford’s Responsible Thinking Process.  Obviously you will work within your administration’s guidelines, but when you want to work out those situations where you feel you can resolve it in the classroom with the student, the Responsible Thinking Process can be a good way to resolve the situation.  If you get a chance, pick up the training offered by RTP, Inc.  The key questions to the process can be found here, but do read the books to understand the process.
  7. Kathy Schrock has a resource page for substitute teachers.

Ideas for Teachers:

  1. Make contact with a building level guest teacher.
  2. Term them “guest teachers” versus subs.
  3. Talk to “guest teachers” at your school. Get to know them.
  4. Have team support the “guest teacher”.
  5. Get the absence in early.
  6. Know your district rules about getting subs.
  7. Prepare Emergency lesson plans.
    1. Include seating charts.
    2. Include class rosters.
    3. Include classroom rules.
    4. Include school rules.
    5. Include the name of a contact (teacher buddy) for the guest teacher.

Ideas for Guest Teachers:

  1. Get there early.
  2. Read through everything.
  3. Look around the room.
  4. Talk to a neighbor teacher.
  5. Have some “tricks” in your bag.
    (One of my favorites: write the following on the board: (8,5,4,9,1,7,6,3,2,0) Then discuss where this came from – a 16 year in New York City, rides the bus for an hour a day. He starts a class in the back of the bus. In order to get into the “class” students have to present a logic problem. This is one. The question is why do these numbers belong in this order. (Want the answer? Post a comment and we’ll see what we can do).
  6. Network (talk to the principal).
  7. Leave a note of the day.