MSM-154 Throwing Cadbury Creme Eggs at Cyberbullying.

Jokes You Can Use:

Languages
A mother mouse and her three children crept out of their hole into the kitchen and began feasting on some delicious bits of food. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, Mother Mouse saw a cat slinking toward them. The cat was between the mice and their hole. The mother muse puffed up her lungs and went, “Woof! Woof!” The cat turned tail and ran. With that, the mother quickly led her children back to safety in their hole. When they were settle and breathing normally, Mother Mouse said to her children. “Now, what’s the lesson from that experience?” “We don’t know,” the baby mice squeaked. “It is this,” said Mother Mouse. “It’s always good to know a second language.”

On Our Mind:

Snow Days – Part 2
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_721287.html

From our Listeners:

The Eileen Award:  It’s a great hands-on project being sponsored by the International Year of Chemistry for all elementary school and high school students, and according to the IYC there is little to no cost to perform the experiments.  They are trying to make it a World Record for largest chemistry experiment ever! I found more information about the experiment itself at http://www.iupac.org/publications/ci/2010/3205/3_wright.html .  From my understanding teachers just go to the website and sign up if they want to participate, and they can get lesson plans/walkthroughs right there.
-Alan

Advisory:

Jeopardy Archive
Just place your mouse over the dollar value for the question to reveal the “answer”.

Middle School Science Minute

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

Check out Dave’s Science Explosion Channel on YouTube.

From the Twitterverse:

*cybraryman1 My Glogs (Glogster) page (a fun approach to learning):
*AngelaMaiers Just got my invite 2 greplin.com (Thnx @gsiemens ) What do you think of it greplin users?
*ApplePlaza Google may buy podcaster Next New Networks http://sns.ly/o4b9y9
*CraftTestDummy This could be dangerous!RT @jenjentrixie: Did you know you can make a homemade version of the Cadbury Creme Eggs. Yum! http://fb.me/szfl279V
*hasai Spending Money on your Honey {Picture}
*HeyLeeAnn MI State Board of Ed votes 2 raise MEAP cut scores. Projected that %age schools not making AYP could jump from 14% to 66%. Yikes!
*pammoran James Paul Gee vid- on grading w/ games …. challenges status quo thinking (Shift from knowledge/fact based to creativity and innovation based schools.)
*leoniehaimson Ruling:D.C. teachers fired by Rhee must be offered jobs, back wages | | DC | Washington Examiner:
*Learngamer Tug-A-War sentence maker-write topic on paper strip, lay on floor, use rope/towel, players pull, touch paper must write http://ow.ly/3S8Fd
*shannonmmiller Create self grading tests Forms in Google Docs http://ow.ly/3S8DG #vanmeter
*Ron_Peck For those of you eagerly anticipating the #sschat archive from tonight’s chat…wait no more!

News:

Schools Tackle Legal Twists and Turns of Cyberbullying

High-profile incidents put legal, policy issues in the spotlight but lack of clarity remains
By Michelle R. Davis
School leaders across the country are dealing with more-routine cases daily and often feel they have little legal advice or precedent to guide them in their decision making.
Case law regarding student speech, particularly off-campus speech, is outdated, many legal experts say. School leaders say it’s unclear just what actions they can take in some cyberbullying cases. And recent rulings in cases that have dealt with some forms of cyberbullying haven’t clarified the matter.
Schools should have no qualms about taking action when cyberbullying affects the school setting, causing a safety issue either to other students or to faculty members, says Francisco M. Negrón Jr., the general counsel for the National School Boards Association, based in Alexandria, Va.
But the legalities surrounding how schools can respond in less clear-cut cases of cyberbullying are bewildering, to say the least, says Thomas E. Wheeler, the chairman of the Council of School Attorneys, a group affiliated with the NSBA, and a partner in the Indianapolis law firm of Frost Brown Todd LLC. “It’s beyond murky. It’s contradictory,” he says.
http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2011/02/09/02cyberbullying.h04.html?intc=DD2.11EM

Resources:

DrawIsland
Easy to use on-line drawing program. Nothing to download. You can download images once done.
http://drawisland.com/

Science Animation Gallery
takes what can be difficult to understand concepts, and animates them in a way that breaks down the concept into manageable parts.
http://ilearntechnology.com/?p=3637
http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/animation.html

Filibustery
Welcome to Filibustery, a website devoted to making the filibuster — and the proposals in the U.S. Senate to reform it — more understandable.
http://filibustery.com/

Reading Concepts
3 resources on teaching reading available to download.:

  • How to Generate Interest So Reading Comprehension Improves
  • Four-Ply Vocabulary Plan
  • LINKING THE LANGUAGE-A Cross-Disciplinary Vocabulary Approach

http://www.cdl.org/resource-library/library_browse.php?type=author&id=75

Planet Foss
Share pictures of science.
http://www.fossweb.com/planetfoss/index.html

TopicMarks
Summary any text
http://topicmarks.com/

SPENT
If you were unemployed, what would you do?
http://playspent.org/

Web Spotlight:

Interdisciplinary Lessons in a Time of Testing

By Anthony Colucci

As the items on the agenda roll by, we wait to find out what buzzword, billionaire reformer, or babbling politician has created a new mountain of work for us.
Let’s also not forget that some people will only judge our students, our schools, and our teaching abilities based on the results of whatever standardized test is given at a particular grade level. What’s tested becomes the priority in this over-scheduled environment, and other important knowledge and skills—like the history of our country or its location on the Earth—are very likely to get left behind.
By stressing connections across the curriculum, learning becomes more meaningful and engaging to our students. Additionally, interdisciplinary teaching can revitalize us by increasing instructional time, promoting more collaboration within our professional communities, and giving us the satisfaction of knowing that we are acting in the best interests of our students, while simultaneously addressing standards that otherwise might be brushed over or ignored altogether in the mad rush to get ready for the Test.
http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2011/02/09/tln_interdis.html?tkn=MMCCEsbljhQJM1zKm5tfb2BhoBNuDlL9x4+s&cmp=clp-sb-ascd

SciTable
We hope that you have enjoyed the high quality resources we’ve published for you in Scitable  – eBooks in cell biology, genetics, readings in ecology, and special modules on scientific communication and career planning.   Now we’d like to ask you to do something to help us achieve our mission of expanding Scitable across all of the sciences.
The more classrooms that use Scitable, the more traffic we have, and the faster we can afford to expand our library.  So please let your fellow faculty know about Scitable.
You can tell your colleagues in your own department, post to listserves, speak about it at conferences…there are dozens of ways to spread the word.
Whichever way you choose, please take a few minutes today to tell your colleagues.

Events & Happenings:

Calendar of Events:

NMSA News:

Other News:

  • ISTE Eduverse Talks are the recorded sessions held on ISTE Island every week. Join ISTE in their Second Life conference location for their weekly talks on education.
    • The ISTE Special Interest Group:  Virtual Environments is holding meetings on Mondays from 4:00 – 6:00 pm (SLT) on ISTE Island.
  • The Ohio Middle Level Association will hold their annual conference February 17 – 18, 2011.
  • Second Life:
    • Regular Tuesday meetings are scheduled. See the board on the ISTE Island for up to the minute details.  Check frequently this week as the ISTE Annual Convention is this week.
    • Video: Educational Uses of Second Life

MSM 153 Snow Day!

Jokes:

Students

The science graduate asks, “Why does it work?” The engineering graduate asks, “How does it work?” The accounting graduate asks, “How much does it cost?” The liberal arts graduate asks, “Would you like fries with that?”
Jail Time
A woman was arrested for shop lifting. When she went before the judge he asked her, “What did you steal?” She replied: “A can of peaches.” The judge asked her why she had stolen them and she replied that she was hungry. The judge then asked her how many peaches were in the can. She replied 5. The judge then said, “I will give you 5 days in jail.” Before the judge could actually pronounce the punishment, the woman’s husband spoke up and asked the judge if he could say something. The judge said, “What is it?” The husband said, “She also stole a can of peas.”

Letters
A man who was just married was flying to the Florida Keys for a business trip. His new bride was to accompany him the next day. When he got there he E-mailed his wife to let her know he made it there safely. When he sent the E-mail, he mistyped the address. In Boston, a grieving widow, whose husband has recently passed away, receives the E-mail. She reads it, screams, and faints. Hearing her grandmothers cry, the widow’s 18-year-old granddaughter runs into the living room to see the computer on with a message. It reads: Dear love, Just got here. Preparing for your arrival tomorrow. Can’t wait to see you. Love, Me P.S. Sure is hot down here.

On Our Mind:

Snow Days!!!

From our Listeners:

iTunes listener Eileen:  Thanks for the iTunes comments and rating!  We’re glad we’re part of your ride to school every day.

Advisory:

Half an idea:  Belly Button Bacteria.

From the Twitterverse:

*netbook_news Kineo Android Education Tablet from Brainchild This March: When I was 11 I actually went to school on a snow day…
*russeltarr Tweetreach: How far did your tweet travel?: http://tinyurl.com/q7zhvp
*jcalvert4 Finished the 1st post in a series about our Google powered curriculum portal on my new blog http://me.lt/7lPZ #GCT
*BethRitterGuth RT @m_yam: Free Technology for Teachers: Quicklyst – A Quick Way to Create Outlines (@rmbyrne) http://ow.ly/3MlbG #engchat
*BethRitterGuth RT @johnfaig: Excellent mind map of web2.0 tools – http://www.mindomo.com/view?m=8423d4adcc56d262e6a058163334a92a #engchat
*drmmtatom Student Suspended for Calling Teacher Fat on Facebook: http://on.mash.to/gjOnkH #fhuedu610
*davekinkead Libyan frogman sent to Italy couldn’t swim classic #wikileaks
*stardiverr oh. my. RT @gjmueller: Belly button bacteria, in full bloom http://ow.ly/3NoKd #scichat
*drmmtatom Art Teachers, You Have to See This! #fhuedu508 http://tinyurl.com/4uowvjs
*bjnichols Social Media Guidelines for Schools Wiki http://diigo.com/0f108 #edchat

Resources:

QuickLyst:

How do I take notes?
  1. To start taking notes in Quicklyst, click on the appropriate button in the upper right corner of your web browser’s window.
  2. Click on the first textbox to enter a title for your notes.
  3. Click on the area underneath the title box and start taking your notes.
  4. Press the “enter” key on your keyboard to add a new line to your notes.
  5. Use the up/down arrow keys on your keyboard to move between your different bulet points, and use tab (indent) and shift+tab (un-indent) to create an outline.
  6. If you want instant-access to the DuckDuckGo search engine, enter a question mark followed by what you’re looking for. Press enter, and we’llautomatically fetch the best result for you.
  7. If you want instant-access to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, enter a colon followed by the word you want to define. Press enter, and we’ll automatically fetch the best definition for you.
  8. If you want to edit, delete, or view your notes, click on the All Notes button in the menu. From there, you should see a list of notes. If you hover over a particular note, you will see small icons.
    • The trash can icon deletes the note
    • The pencil icon takes you to the note-taking page to edit the notes
    • The plus-sign icon adds the selected notes to your Study Queue
    • The ‘x’ icon removes the selected notes from your Study Queue
    • Easily print custom study guides
    • Automatically send your notes to an Amazon Kindle™ device
    • Download your notes for Microsoft Word™ and other word processing programs
What is my Study Queue?
    Your Study Queue is a place to save all your notes that are relevant to upcoming exams. There are some unique features that take advantage of the Study Queue that allow you to:
Can I enter a fake email address to register?
    Sure. Actually, you don’t need to enter an email address at all. You can just enter a desired username instead if you want, but you will never be able to recover your account if you forget your password and didn’t enter a valid email address.

    http://www.quicklyst.com/

    Brain Teasers, Riddles, Trivia, Brain Exercises, Games, Forums and more…

    With over 20,000 brain teasers, riddles, logic problems, quizzes and mind puzzles submitted and ranked by users like you, Braingle has the largest collection anywhere on the internet. Our large array of unique online multiplayer games will keep you entertained for hours, and if you want to improve your brain, check out the Mentalrobics section. If you crave a brain teaser, mind puzzle, riddle or game, we are the place to get it. Increase your creativity, boost learning and become a better person at Braingle. Get ready to have your brain tangled!

    http://www.braingle.com/

    Web Spotlight:

    Project Based Learning:

    Welcome to PBL-Online, a one stop solution for Project Based Learning! You’ll find all the resources you need to design and manage high quality projects for middle and high school students.
    http://pbl-online.org/

    The Buck Institute for Education

    The Buck Institute for Education (BIE) is dedicated to improving 21st Century teaching and learning throughout the world by creating and disseminating products, practices and knowledge for effective Project Based Learning.
    Founded in 1987, BIE is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that receives partial funding from the Leonard and Beryl Buck Trust, the same trust that supports the Marin Community Foundation, the Marin Institute and the Buck Institute for Age Research. This funding allows us to make our products and services affordable, and to focus BIE resources on clients and partners with a demonstrated commitment to expanding the use of project based pedagogy in schools and communities.
    http://www.bie.org/index.php/site/PBL/overview_pbl/

    20 Technology Skills that Every Educator Should Have

    By Laura Turner
    http://www.guide2digitallearning.com/tools_technologies/20_technology_skills_every_educator_should_have

    Events & Happenings:

    Other News:

  • ISTE Eduverse Talks are the recorded sessions held on ISTE Island every week. Join ISTE in their Second Life conference location for their weekly talks on education.
    • The ISTE Special Interest Group:  Virtual Environments is holding meetings on Mondays from 4:00 – 6:00 pm (SLT) on ISTE Island.
  • The Ohio Middle Level Association will hold their annual conference February 17 – 18, 2011.
  • Second Life:
    • Regular Tuesday meetings are scheduled. See the board on the ISTE Island for up to the minute details.  Check frequently this week as the ISTE Annual Convention is this week.
    • Video: Educational Uses of Second Life

    MSM 152 Knock, Knock, Troy’s Here!

    Jokes:

    Knock, Knock!
    Who’s there?
    Honey bee.
    Honey bee who?
    Honey bee a dear and get me a soda.

    Knock, Knock!
    Who’s there?
    Hatch.
    Hatch who?
    Bless you and please cover your mouth next time.

    On Our Mind:

    PLAN and Explore! Tests:  Elimination of Social Studies Tests to pay for Explore! and PLAN tests.

    From our Listeners:

    Here’s the workflow:

    • I use Audio HiJack Pro to record our conversation (normally over Skype, but sometimes iChat)
    • I then move the audio files into GarageBand for Post Production (yeah, I actually do some post production).
    • I export the mp3 file from GarageBand.
    • I upload the show to our web site via Fetch (ftp program).
    • I copy the show notes from Google Docs into a blog post (wordpress blog).
    • I add the link to the end of the blog post using a Podcast plugin
    • I then add the link into Podcast Maker (this writes the xml file that I use).
    • I then use TextWrangler to open the xml file from the server at middleschoolmatters to update that file with the new information from Podcast Maker. (Had I not done some customizing early on, I could skip this step and just use Podcast Maker to upload the xml file).

    Thus, the short of it is this: I use GarageBand, then create an xml file for the web site.

    Advisory:

    Music Lovers:
    http://www.studiomultitracks.com/

    Middle School Science Minute

    by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)
    Lab Safety Training Videos
    http://labsafety.flinnsci.com

    NIH Findings Magazine
    http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/findings

    From the Twitterverse:

    *CBrannon Reminder: Only dead fish go with the flow.
    *garystager Gary Stager, Ph.D.Saying we need to “prepare” 100,000 teachers. What does that mean? Does that mean that the govt is going to pay for it?

    @chaltertop Education needs to be linked to health & poverty. I also think all decisions should be made at the classroom level

    *DoTheMathBooks Education begins the gentleman, but reading, good company and reflection must finish him. John Locke #quote
    *TeacherSabrina LOL! RT @gatorbonbc: When did my status as teacher switch from unsung hero 2 Lex Luther, enemy of the free world? #GeezTheyCouldHaveWarnedUs
    *drmmtatom What’s in a Surname? – A Map of Names #fhuedu508 http://tinyurl.com/4g3qubm
    *mikeklonsky Alabama Republicans pass bill that bans teachers from state Legislature.
    *hrheingold 9 proposed courses for Rheingold U
    *russeltarr What Are the Seven Reading Comprehension Strategies?: http://tinyurl.com/ykevbdz
    *rrmurry Tennessee teacher evaluation system still lacks specifics 6 months before launch [result of soul-selling for RTTT funds] tennessean.com/article/201101…
    *LDpodcast #educon. Educon is like an education revival. Amen.

    News:

    Study on Testing

    http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2011/01/27/boy-there-are-so-many-problems-with-this-times-article-or-the-study-its-about-or-both/

    Common Core Resource

    http://commoncore.pearsoned.com/

    Commentary Collection: The Future of Teaching

    This collection of Commentaries explores the future course of the teaching profession.

    http://www.edweek.org/ew/collections/commentaries-the-future-of-teaching/index.html

    Parent Taken to Court for Falsifying Residency
    http://www.ohio.com/news/break_news/114658564.html
    http://www.ohio.com/news/113828954.html

    Resources:

    Library Apps for iPhone/iPad

    http://mashable.com/2011/01/27/art-gallery-apps-iphone/#view_as_one_page-gallery_box707

    Google Apps for Education

    The education technology space has seen an explosion of new offerings in the past few years. What has been missing is a centralized platform for schools and universities to easily evaluate and utilize web apps. Today we are excited to launch an education category in the Google Apps Marketplace designed specifically to help schools and universities easily discover and deploy new web applications that integrate with their existing Google Apps accounts.

    The new education category includes over 20 applications from 19 vendors ranging from learning management systems (LMS) to student tools and teaching aids – all of which integrate with Google Apps for Education. Each app can be accessed through single sign-on and the Google universal navigation bar and many offer deeper integrations that synchronize with Google Calendar and Documents.

    This new education category will make it easier for schools to have more web apps at their fingertips, including popular existing apps such as Aviary, Grockit, and LearnBoost as well as the new apps launching today.
    http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2011/01/google-apps-just-got-smarter.html

    Names

    http://www.whatalovelyname.com/

    Easel iPad App

    http://www.easellearning.com/

    Web Spotlight:

    Challenge.gov

    Challenge.gov is a place where the public and government can solve problems together.
    http://challenge.gov/

    TED Talks

    http://kalinago.blogspot.com/2011/01/speaking-tips-for-teaching-english-with.html

    Murphy’s Teaching Law

    http://www.murphys-laws.com/murphy/murphy-teaching.html

    A Class Divided

    http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/divided/

    Events & Happenings:

    Calendar of Events:

    NMSA News:

    Other News:

    • ISTE Eduverse Talks are the recorded sessions held on ISTE Island every week. Join ISTE in their Second Life conference location for their weekly talks on education.
      • The ISTE Special Interest Group:  Virtual Environments is holding meetings on Mondays from 4:00 – 6:00 pm (SLT) on ISTE Island.
    • The Ohio Middle Level Association will hold their annual conference February 17 – 18, 2011.
    • Second Life:
      • Regular Tuesday meetings are scheduled. See the board on the ISTE Island for up to the minute details.  Check frequently this week as the ISTE Annual Convention is this week.
      • Video: Educational Uses of Second Life

    MSM 151 Praecaveo Probo Magister!

    Jokes:

    Pets
    While eating in an expensive restaurant, a patron overhead the gentleman at the next table ask the waitress to pack the leftovers for their dog. It was then that his young son exclaimed loudly, “Whoopee! We’re going to get a dog.”

    Signatures
    A preacher was standing at the pulpit giving his Sunday sermon when a note was passed to him. The only word written on the sheet was IDIOT. Looking up at the congregation, the preacher smiled and said: I have heard of men who write letters and forget to sign their names but this is the first time I will see a man sign his name and forget to write the letters.

    On Our Mind:

    Feedback from our Listeners.

    From our Listeners:

    Shawn & Troy

    This is a LONG OVERDUE note of appreciation for the fabulous job you do with your MSM podcast.  I’ve been subscribed to it via iTunes since you started and wouldn’t miss it.  Congratulations to you both on 150 shows, wow that’s a real achievement!  I’ve listened to you getting better and better over the years until now you are very professional.  The jokes are a fun touch.  My limit is knock knock jokes.

    Why do I like your podcast so much?
    1. It’s a conversation between yourselves and us the listeners
    2. It guides me to news items and sites I wouldn’t otherwise get to but not only that, you explain their value and where they can be useful.
    3. You have an opinion and are prepared to express it.
    4. You discuss the professional literature, highlight reports and books you’ve read.  This I really like.  I’m presently ordering Rework by Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hansson
    5. The feedback from Twitter is good. (I’ve found you and now follow you myself)
    6. Love the app recommendations.
    7. You finish up every podcast with all your contact details.  So why did I take so long to get around to this email …………. that’s why I’m ordering Rework!

    All the best from the land of fire and floods — Australia.  Hopefully the plague that has hit Texas in funding cuts this week will not come to you.

    Thank you again
    Camilla

    Advisory:

    Graphics programs aren’t simply for just editing your photos—they can have whatever fun application you can think of. For a fun, geeky project, here’s a simple papercraft toy you can make with a printer and simple household tools.
    http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/40021/htg-projects-how-to-create-your-own-custom-papercraft-toy/

    Middle School Science Minute

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

    Clouds!!!

    From the Twitterverse:

    *EdWeekTeacher Living in Dialogue: Teachers Beware: They are Coming for Our Pensions
    *krbiles RT @shannonmmiller: How are you using @Edmodo? Educators from around the world share their ideas http://ow.ly/3ErjZ @lionirons42
    *DanielBeylerian Teachers’ Status? RT @CSCorganization: Apparently current gen. of kids better w/ their technology than actual life skools http://ow.ly/3HArB
    *cfanch @heymsvalasquez think I’m going to write a blog post about our new collaboration evals @funkdaddytweet came up with. He gets the cred tho
    *Larryferlazzo RT @brainpicker: 10 games that make you think about life http://j.mp/gkk9ju
    *Learngamer Test prep-Essay, write concise introduction & conclusion, bulk of your time should be answering the question. Make it fun http://ow.ly/3HAbH
    *shighley From my alma mater Test-Taking Cements Knowledge Better Than Studying- http://nyti.ms/fMytHC Hmmm
    *markbarnes19 Free Technology for Teachers: 42 Tasks – A Free Task Management Tool http://ow.ly/3Hx79
    *Orange23 “The problem with quotes on the Internet is that you can’t always be sure of their authenticity.” ~ Abraham Lincoln
    *edmodo Edmodo Blog: More Inspiration: 7 brand new ideas from teachers
    * drmmtatom “Alone Together”: An MIT Professor’s Book Urges Us to Unplug http://tinyurl.com/4ar4gt6 via @fastcompany #fhuedu610 @MSMatters INTERESTING
    * The Choice 2.0 Technology Integration Checklist http://t.co/krpJKd8 via @educationweek #fhucid @msmatters
    * Snag Films Introduces an #iPad App #fhucid @msmatters http://tinyurl.com/4nqmrh9

    News:

    Success of College-Readiness Intervention Hard to Gauge

    Stubbornly high college remediation rates have revealed a painful equation: High school completion does not equal college readiness. That disconnection has prompted national leaders to focus like never before on figuring out how to ensure that high school graduates are truly ready to succeed in college. In that quest, a California program is often cited as a role model.

    “We’ve gone from a system [of state tests] that looks backward, asking how well we did, to one that looks ahead, asking if we have really gotten students ready for college,” said Douglas McRae, who helped design the state’s tests in the 1990s. “That’s a big mindset shift.”

    One part of that work is in carrying out new common academic standards that were written to reflect college-level skills and have been adopted fully or provisionally by all but seven states. Another part lies with two big groups of states that are collaborating to design new tests for those standards. Leaders of those efforts cite the EAP as a model as they endeavor to fold elements of it into work they hope will ultimately make college remediation unnecessary: aligning K-12 study and tests to college expectations, creating a feedback loop to inform learning, and providing supports to students and teachers.

    Predictions for 2011

    1. Textbooks are dead! For real this time!
    2. Assessment will be comprehensive and constant!
    3. 1:1 becomes BYOT!
    4. Facebook will be encouraged!
    5. Students will surf away (kind of)!
    6. The end of testing is nigh!
    7. Students forced to use phones in class!
    8. Content will be free for all, all the time!
    9. Students will learn outside of school!
    10. All data become compatible—globally!

    http://techlearning.com/article/35406

    Resources:

    Reform Symposium

    This worldwide education conference will take place on January 8 (and 9th depending on your location), 2011.  The conference is free to attend from the comfort of your home or anywhere you have Internet access!  The Reform Symposium offers the opportunity to connect and learn with educators and professionals in the field of education worldwide. Over 2,400 educators from 59 countries attended our last conference in July! This year the conference will focus on interactive presentations that help teachers with creating engaging classrooms and lessons, building relationships with students, improving literacy, working with interactive whiteboards, and much more!  We look forward to 2 keynote speakers, 18 presentations, an open discussion on classroom management, a panel discussion on parental engagement, a mentor program, and an open lab for hands-on support in helping you continue your professional development in online educator communities.  You have never attended a conference quite like this one!  Join us by registering below for the conference and start connecting and participating now! View the linked video for help. If you need more help with the room links, registering and more please visit us all day in the Open Lab where someone will be available throughout the entire conference to help you!
    http://reformsymposium.com/
    http://reformsymposium.com/july-2010-podcasts/

    Web Spotlight:

    Doodle for Google:

    Welcome to Doodle 4 Google, a competition where we invite K-12 students to use their artistic talents to think big and redesign Google’s homepage logo for millions to see. At Google, we believe that dreaming about future possibilities leads to tomorrow’s leaders and inventors, so this year we’re inviting U.S. kids to exercise their creative imaginations around the theme, “What I’d like to do someday…”
    Whether students want to find a cure for cancer or take a trip to the moon, it all starts with art supplies and some 8.5″ x 11″ paper. And, one lucky student artist will take home a $15,000 college scholarship and $25,000 technology grant for their school, among many other prizes.
    Registration closes at 11:59:59 p.m. Pacific Time (PT) on March 2, 2011, and entries must be postmarked by March 16, 2011 11:59:59 p.m. Pacific Time (PT). The winning doodle will be featured on our Google.com homepage on May 20, 2011.
    http://www.google.com/doodle4google/

    Qwiki
    Qwiki’s goal is to forever improve the way people experience information.
    Whether you’re planning a vacation on the web, evaluating restaurants on your phone, or helping with homework in front of the family AppleTV, Qwiki is working to deliver information in a format that’s quintessentially human – via storytelling instead of search.
    We are the first to turn information into an experience. We believe that just because data is stored by machines doesn’t mean it should be presented as a machine-readable list. Let’s try harder.
    Think of asking your favorite teacher about Leonardo Da Vinci, or your most well-traveled friend about Buenos Aires: this is the experience Qwiki will eventually deliver, on demand, wherever you are in the world… on whatever device you’re using.
    We’ve all seen science fiction films (or read novels) where computers are able to collect data on behalf of humans, and present the most important details. This is our goal at Qwiki – to advance information technology to the point it acts human.
    Currently, Qwiki’s technology has been applied to describe millions of popular topics – but soon we’ll do much more. Our team needs your help in reaching our goal: join our private alpha now to help test Qwiki and shape the future.
    www.qwiki.com

    Events & Happenings:

    Calendar of Events:

    NMSA News:

    Other News:

    • ISTE Eduverse Talks are the recorded sessions held on ISTE Island every week. Join ISTE in their Second Life conference location for their weekly talks on education.
      • The ISTE Special Interest Group:  Virtual Environments is holding meetings on Mondays from 4:00 – 6:00 pm (SLT) on ISTE Island.
    • The Ohio Middle Level Association will hold their annual conference February 17 – 18, 2011.
    • Second Life:
      • Regular Tuesday meetings are scheduled. See the board on the ISTE Island for up to the minute details.  Check frequently this week as the ISTE Annual Convention is this week.
      • Video: Educational Uses of Second Life

    MSM 149 NMSA 2010: Weather, Differentiation

    Jokes:

    Apples
    A man traveling through the country stopped at a small roadside fruit stand and bought some apples. When he mentioned they were awfully small, the farmer replied, “Yup.” The man took a bite of one of the apples and exclaimed, “Not very flavorful, either.” “That’s right,” said the farmer. “Lucky they’re small, ain’t it?”

    Accountants
    Did you hear about the accountant with insomnia? He decided to try counting sheep, but he made a mistake and was up all night trying to find it!

    Middle School Science Minute

    by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)
    Weather vs Climate – A Throw Down

    Advisory:

    Future Me:  A letter to the future . . . from yourself.
    This Week in Rap

    From the Twitterverse:

    *missnoor28 RT @ShellTerrell: Google Doc of Presentations in Case the Website is Down #rscon11 Plz RT!
    *steelepierce @johnccarver OH has two districts piloting e-days in lieu of snow days. We’re exploring that. @colonelb @pammoran
    **DianeRavitch What you need to know about Finland: http://www.publicpolicyblogger.com/2010/12/before-its-too-late-fifteen-reasons-why.html
    Key Quote:  “I think the things that CAN be imported are ideas that allow a refocusing away from testing and performance by giving teachers more autonomy, a focus on quality rather then quantity of teaching, higher level academic teacher training qualifications, improving the status of teaching as a profession.”  
    *russeltarr Anecdotage: Great database of anecdotes for spicing up lessons!: http://tinyurl.com/yztfrxp
    *hshawjr U.S. drive for high test scores has stifled students’ creativity | The Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME: via @addthis
    Referenced link:  http://www.oecd.org/document/61/0,3746,en_32252351_32235731_46567613_1_1_1_1,00.html
    Key Quote:  “In fact, it keeps students from learning all the other things they need to know — literature, history, languages, mathematics, science — actual knowledge and skills that go into a well-educated mind, the raw material for creative and civic behavior.“
    *missnoor28 Future Me – Send a Letter to Your Future Self freetech4teachers.com/2011/01/future… #edchat
    *russeltarr Google Features That Make Teachers’ Lives Easier: http://tinyurl.com/m5bwgf
    *DoTheMathBooks I’ve never know any trouble than an hour’s reading didn’t assuage. Arthur Schopenhauer #quote
    *drmmtatom Girls arrested for Facebook teacher attack invite #fhuedu610 http://flne.ws/26341773 on Fluent News
    *drmmtatom 100 Online Resources That Are Transforming Education: http://on.mash.to/i1NhRT
    *mcleod Video: 3 phases of educational technology #edtech
    1.  Dynamic presentation created by the teacher.  (Keynote, Powerpoint, etc.)
    2.  Texts replaced by content based knowledge.  (Pencil/Paper outcomes)
    3.  Students as producers of content.
    *mcleod Print your own flute (yes, that’s correct) Did I mention I want a 3D printer?!
    *lkolb Join us in May for first annual U of M Virtual Ed Tech Conference (Free! Wear your PJ’s and Network)….more info @umvirtualcon

    NSMA 2010 Session 6:

    Session 3

    10 ways to differentiate:

    Gretchen Goodman

    Differentiation is part of RTI – Tier I
    Pet Peeves by Joel Pett
    Take a label. bubbasrealma@me.com

    Practical tips
    Appllication
    Differentiated instruction is a concept that makes it possible to maximize learning for ALL students. It is a collection of instructionally intelligent strategies based on student centerned best practice that make it possible for teachers to create different pathways that respond to the needs of diverse learners

    1. Tic Tac Toe

    This is related to the student contract plans.
    Don’t use any of these everyday.
    this can lead to a large amount of work. be careful. You can have them do all 3, turn them in and pick the 1 that they want graded.
    Label the boxes. Give them 2 die and let them roll. If they roll a 3 and a 4, they get to pick, they can either do #3 and #4 or #7.

    2. Tiering

    Always start with the standard and move up or down.
    One of the most common DI strategies.
    Teach one concept with layers of difficulty/complexity designed by need and readiness.
    EG. (Civil War)Tier 1:
    Define slavery

    Tier II
    Take facts and then analyze, apply knowledge.

    Tier 3
    Present a 3-4 page essay

    3. Cubing – 6 sides to a lesson

    Describe it
    Compare it
    Associate it
    analyze it
    Apply it
    Argue for/against it

    teachingmadeeasier.com
    F6SDETME
    60 days of access
    Stuff it with paper and tape it.
    The post office has cubes. Cover with contact paper. Priority cubes.
    Michael’s has whiteboard cubes.
    Use different cubes for different groups:
    Above
    On
    Below

    or by interest.

    Can also use a spinner to pick numbers by box.

    Use different cubes.

    4. Task Cards

    Review the information in the chart showing the habitat.
    Can assign them a task as they enter or let them pick

    5. Think Dots

    Different assignments in boxes.
    give the kids a popsicle stick with a different number of dots.

    6. Grouping

    Clock Partners
    Colored clothes pins
    Table tents with names
    Pull a popsicle stick
    Teacher assigned
    CD covers- Go to a music store. Write down the first four songs of a variety of songs and cut down the strips. Students pick a song. They are then grouped by artists.
    Puzzle pieces- Take a picture of something the kids like. Cut it into puzzles pieces. The kids pick a piece and put the puzzle together for a group. Keep hotel keys.
    Hershey kiss groups.
    Paint chips – get 4

    This can really help cutting down on bullying. When kids know each other and work together, they are less likely to bully.
    Have kids write 4 science vocabulary words on a page that is quartered. Have students pick a partner for each word.

    7. Assessments

    Gallery Walk – Large chart paper. Open ended questions on the chart paper. Kids have to answer a certain number of them. Nobody can use a ditto.
    Write and Pass- Each kid has a question. They respond to the question within 1 minute, then pass to the next student.
    1 minute write – Summarize for 1 minute at the end of class. Write everything that you learned today in 1 minute. One teacher called this “brain vomit”.
    K-W-L+  – The plus is what do you still want to know.
    Who-Has I Have ~ Get a set of index cards. Laminate with blanks. Each card has two pieces of information- the who has question and an answer of what they have. This means that they have to know answers.  (Browser based generator:  http://www.brendenisteaching.com/gen/myloops/)

    8.  Exit Tickets

    I don’t understand
    I would like to learn about
    The most important thing I learned today is
    3-2-1 Exit card.

    9. Know The children

    Learning Style Inventory
    Observations
    Self evaluations
    Scavenger Hunt – find someone who can….
    That’s Me- ask questions. Have students raise their hand and shout “that’s me” if the question is yes.
    80% of drop outs are tactile/kinesetic.

    10. Pass Options

    Turn to partner and discuss
    Off the pass, but come back and have them restate. (Go to 2 more kids and then come back to them.)

    Don’t Forget – Recognition:
    Silent Cheer
    Give them a hand – trace and pass
    Way to go home call.
    Post cards
    e-mails…digital photos attached.

    #11 Centers:

    Tie to the curriculum
    Match with the standards
    Teach them how to use.
    Can be games, boards, magnetic letters, computers, etc.
    1. Train the troops.

    FaceBook assignment- post a Facebook page of a famous person.

    Menu:
    • Appetizer: Everyone does together.
    Entree – Do on your own.
    Side Dishes – Select at least 2.
    Dessert- optional. Extra credit.
    XK6

    News:

    Internet Gains on Television as Public’s Main News Source

    More Young People Cite Internet than TV

    The internet is slowly closing in on television as Americans’ main source of national and international news. Currently, 41% say they get most of their news about national and international news from the internet, which is little changed over the past two years but up 17 points since 2007.
    …more people continue to cite the internet than newspapers as their main source of news, reflecting both the growth of the internet, and the gradual decline in newspaper readership (from 34% in 2007 to 31% now).
    In 2010, for the first time, the internet has surpassed television as the main source of national and international news for people younger than 30.

    The Test Chinese Schools Still Fail

    High scores for Shanghai’s 15-year-olds are actually a sign of weakness.
    By JIANG XUEQIN

    It’s ironic that just as the world is appreciating the strengths of China’s education system, Chinese are waking up to its weaknesses.
    China’s most promising students still must go abroad to develop their managerial drive and creativity, and there they have to unlearn the test-centric approach to knowledge that was drilled into them.
    Even Shanghai educators admit they’re merely producing competent mediocrity.
    Shanghai’s stellar results on PISA are a symptom of the problem. Tests are less relevant to concrete life and work skills than the ability to write a coherent essay, which requires being able to identify a problem, break it down to its constituent parts, analyze it from multiple angles and assemble a solution in a succinct manner to communicate across cultures and time.
    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703766704576008692493038646.html

    Webspotlight:

    4 Promising Curation Tools That Help Make Sense of the Web

    by Steve Rosenbaum

    1. Storify

    2. Scoop.it

    3. Curated.by

    4. Pearltrees

    http://mashable.com/2011/01/06/curation-tools/

    Big Huge Labs

    http://bighugelabs.com/education.php

    Do Amazing Things with your Photos

    What is BeFunky?

    BeFunky simplifies photo editing and effects for everyday people.

    Marvelous Photo Effects

    Choose from our constantly growing library of photo effects to turn your ordinary photos into extraordinary art with virtually no effort.

    Smart Photo Editing

    Photo editing made smart. Fix your common photo problems like bad lighting, digital noise, fuzzy colors and details with one click.

    Design Goodies

    Give your digital creations a whole lot of character with BeFunky Goodies. Add speech bubbles, frames and more…
    http://befunky.com/

    Events & Happenings:

    Calendar of Events:

    NMSA News:

    Other News:

    • ISTE Eduverse Talks are the recorded sessions held on ISTE Island every week. Join ISTE in their Second Life conference location for their weekly talks on education.
      • The ISTE Special Interest Group:  Virtual Environments is holding meetings on Mondays from 4:00 – 6:00 pm (SLT) on ISTE Island.
    • The Ohio Middle Level Association will hold their annual conference February 17 – 18, 2011.
    • Second Life:
      • Regular Tuesday meetings are scheduled. See the board on the ISTE Island for up to the minute details.  Check frequently this week as the ISTE Annual Convention is this week.
      • Video: Educational Uses of Second Life

    MSM 148 NMSA 2010: Happy New Year!

    Jokes:

    On a visit to Chicago
    On a visit to Chicago, a woman was eager to visit a posh department store a few blocks from her hotel. Her husband agreeably hailed a cab. “The lady wants to go to Neiman Marcus,” he told the driver. The cabby looked over his shoulder at them. “And the gentleman?” he asked. “Does he want to go to the bank?”

    Marriage
    “Honey,” said this husband to his wife, “I invited a friend home for supper.” “What? Are you crazy? The house is a mess, I didn’t go shopping, all the dishes are dirty, and I don’t feel like cooking a fancy meal!” “I know all that.” “Then, why did you invite a friend for supper?” “Because the poor guy is thinking about getting married.”

    Blood Pressure
    When a doctor remarked on a new patient?s extraordinarily ruddy complexion, he said, “High blood pressure, Doc. It runs in my family.” “Your mother’s side or your father’s?” the doctor asked. “Neither,” the patient replied. “It’s from my wife’s family.” “Oh, come now,” said the doctor “How could your wife’s family give you high blood pressure?” He sighed. “You oughta meet ’em sometime, Doc!”

    Marriage
    The wife saw her husband frustrated reading the Marriage Certificate from top to bottom, flip it over, and then read it again… She asked: “Honey, what are you looking for?” He answered: “Nothing dear, I’m just looking for the expiration date.”

    On Our Mind:

    Happy New Year!
    Resolutions?

    Middle School Science Minute

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

    Did you Know…..
    Ummmmm… Chemistry

    Advisory:

    2011 Predictions:  http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1101/110101-happy_new_year.html

    From the Twitterverse:

    *gatorbonBC by DianeRavitch  Corporate Schools vs Public Schools? No Separate is STILL not equal. Wear Red 4 Public Ed Tues Jan 4. #WearRedForEd #edchat @DianeRavitch
    *nancyrubin by francesblo  Why Should Educators Blog? Reflective Writing Can Positively Affect Teaching http://ow.ly/3wNf3
    *DianeRavitch What you need to know about Finland: http://www.publicpolicyblogger.com/2010/12/before-its-too-late-fifteen-reasons-why.html
    *AnthonyCody Battling the “Bad Teacher” Bogeyman: A Teacher takes on Hanushek’s misguided model of improvement: #edreform
    *mcleod New post: A hilarious (and scary) tale about standardized testing scoring #edtech
    *web20classroom Want More Engaged Students? Give Them A Say:
    *web20classroom RT @ransomtech: A good discussion starter: “21 Things That Will Become Obsolete in Education by 2020”
    *NCMSA RT @mathematicsprof: 2011 is also the sum of 11 CONSECUTIVE prime numbers: 2011=157+163+167+173+179+181+191+193+197+199+211
    *SeanBanville “2011 to Be Best Year Ever” – My latest BreakingNewsEnglish lesson plan – #ESL
    *mcleod CASTLE blog post: Virtual Schooling In The News
    *sarahhanawald RT @fredbartels: Blaming bad teachers for learning failure in high-poverty areas like blaming bad doctors for high disease rates in slums.
    *DianeRavitch LA school that is “least effective” but not really: http://tinyurl.com/2busj8d
    *terryfreedman 10 tips for planning the use of technology in lessons: Using educational technology effectively usu.. Pls RT, thx!

    NSMA 2010 Session 5:

    A five year multi-case study of middle level teachers

    Dr. Holly Thornton
    thorntonhj@app state.edu
    (email her for the presentation)

    Teacher Observation:  Caitlyn
    A lot of these are self reporting.
    It’s a legal can of worms.

    Teacher Observation:  Caitlyn

    Longitudinal case analysis.

    Do these beliefs last over time.

    Teacher Observation: Caitlyn

    Put on your teacher evaluator hat.

    What did they do well and what needs improvement?

    Teacher Observation:  Amy

    More organized.

    Dispositions Observation form.

    There is an observation form for this stuff.

    Left hand column is responsiveness

    Right hand column is technical

    Center is Medium level.

    The disconnected side sounds like a slam, but it isn’t intended to be so.

    Dispositions in Action

    Focus is impact on student learning/depth of understanding.

    Responsive sees the kids getting learning deeply and technical is seeing the kids getting it correctly (technical details)

    Context wasn’t a main factor in this study.

    Aligned with Young Adolescent needs.

    Responsive are better at teaching this.

    Responsive dispositions align more with deeper teaching.  Both are necessary, but Responsive seems to have an advantage.

    Manifested in teacher/student interaction.

    Discourse analysis

    Used to understand how the teachers got the kids to this place

    Grounded theory from model middle school analysis

    Evaluating Dispositions

    Summary Findings Over Time

    Young teachers’ dispositions remained fairly consistent over time.

    They maintained their dispositions over time.

    The testing pieces helped them live out their dispositions, maybe.

    Many teachers leave the field because they don’t feel successful in what they choose to do.

    What does this imply for us?

    Factors that did not

    Type of school setting

    Content area taught

    Testing emphasis

    Factors that matter most

    School climate

    Collaborative time with teacher

    School leadership

    Principal trust was a huge influence.

    Push on testing

    Trust that they would do their jobs was important

    Testing emphasis

    How that emphasis was stressed moved people to the technical side.

    Original dispositional orientation.

    Can you teach dispositions?

    All were dealing with a strong emphasis on standardized high stakes testing via No Child Left Behind.

    (Note find teacher quality index)

    All were held accountable to these tests and were successful in getting students to do well on them.

    However, the young teachers’ dispositions affected how they reacted to the testing focus and how they ultimately defined teaching and learning in their classrooms.

    Note:  The more middle school a middle school is the better the test scores.  (Find this study)
    Consider as Middle Level Teacher Educators

    Responsive teachers may at this time in education feel like they are teaching against the grain.  The question may be what types of dispositions we want our graduates to possess, given the current educational context and challenges.  What serves them best and ultimately what best serves their students and our future society?

    The people who will be in the next century are the responsive types, not the technical types.

    Look for publications in Teacher Ed Quarterly.

    How to manifest it in the classroom.

    CEU info:  AA7
    2461 Session #
    Send her stuff too.

    21st Century Skills for students

    Session 2
    2229
    Chad Foster

    Teenagers preparing for the real world.
    Mostly read by 8th graders. Written at a 7th grade level.
    Based off of a 10 day short course.
    Reading literacy is the basis.
    Business background.

    Students spend 15,000 hours in the classroom before graduation. Too many kids don’t know what to do after school. Schools do a good job of educating kids but not preparing them.
    Success:

    • Good Friends
    • Reputation
    • Like what they are doing
    • Give back to the community

    Need:
    Knowledge- must be relevant

    What part of the cell provides energy? mitocondri

    • Communication Skills
    • People Skills
    • Technology Skills
    • Time Management Skills

    Skills must be learned. They can’t be Googled.
    We need to teach the ability to talk to “strangers”.

    80% of jobs that are being hired are never posted or advertised. People with networking skills are getting the jobs. In the past, you needed to work hard to stay in contact with others. Today it is easy.

    Meet a stranger activity. Too many kids don’t know how to talk to business people. They think that they need lots of complex questions. They need to learn how to ask simple questions, listen and then follow up.

    Teach kids to talk about:

    • Family
    • What they do
    • Hobbies

    Have kids practice talking to “strangers”. Start with students acting like someone else. Then have adults do the same thing. Then bring in business people.
    Have the students contact people who use outside the norm jobs. Students complete interviews and then do a one minute presentation.
    Bring in a diverse panel for kids to ask questions.

    Have kids write a handwritten thank you cards.

    News:

    Can Learning to Play the Violin Make you Smarter?

    Brenda Brenner, a music education professor at the IU Jacobs School of Music, developed the program after academic research showed students who played string instruments performed better academically than those who did not.
    http://www.indystar.com/article/20101224/NEWS04/12240324/1013/NEWS04/Attica-students-part-effort-see-music-improves-minds

    Webspotlight:

    Google Body
    Played with Google Earth?  You know, that website the kids go to to look at their own homes via satellite?  Here’s one for the human body:  http://bodybrowser.googlelabs.com/

    Math & Money

    Mint.com, the popular personal finance management service, in collaboration with Scholastic has launched a free personal finance curriculum for middle school use. Math and Money is a collection of four short lessons (2 primary lessons and two “bonus” lessons) about personal finance. Lesson one is designed to teach students about wages, taxes, and costs of living. Lesson two is designed to teach students the benefits of saving their money in a bank. The bonus lessons expand the first two lessons. Scholastic hosts printable materials that you can download and use to support the lessons.
    http://www.scholastic.com/mint/

    Life on Minimum Wage

    http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2009/11/life-on-minimum-wage-lesson-in-personal.html

    Events & Happenings:

    Calendar of Events:

    NMSA News:

    Other News:

    • ISTE Eduverse Talks are the recorded sessions held on ISTE Island every week. Join ISTE in their Second Life conference location for their weekly talks on education.
      • The ISTE Special Interest Group:  Virtual Environments is holding meetings on Mondays from 4:00 – 6:00 pm (SLT) on ISTE Island.
    • The Ohio Middle Level Association will hold their annual conference February 17 – 18, 2011.
    • Second Life:
      • Regular Tuesday meetings are scheduled. See the board on the ISTE Island for up to the minute details.  Check frequently this week as the ISTE Annual Convention is this week.
      • Video: Educational Uses of Second Life

    MSM 147 NMSA 2010: PISA sir, may we have some more? :-P

    Jokes:

    ABCs
    Little Freddy’s second-grade teacher was quizzing them on the alphabet. “Freddy,” she says, “what comes after ‘O’?” Freddy says, “Yeah!”

    Mothers
    Miss Jones had been giving her second-grade students a lesson on science. She had explained about magnets and showed how they would pick up nails and other bits of iron. Now it was question time, and she asked, “My name begins with the letter ‘M’ and I pick up things. What am I?” A little boy on the front row proudly said, “You’re a mother!”

    On Our Mind:

    WOOT!  It’s Christmas Break!  (then 2 weeks ‘till exams after that . . . )
    Australian schools got out this past week for their summer break …
    Edublog Awards:  Congrats to all the winners!

    2nd Runner up:  EdTechCrew
    1st Runner up:   LearnEnglish
    The 2010 Winner:  PortableRadio.ca

    Middle School Science Minute

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

    Did you Know…..
    Botany facts!

    Advisory:

    What kids can do
    http://whatkidscando.org/

    Teaching Strategy:
    “Managing Students in the Computer Lab”
    Source: Teresa Sutherland, Retired Middle School Teacher

    Keep a red plastic cup at each computer. When students need help, have
    them place the highly visible cups on top of their monitors.  Students
    won’t be calling for help or spending time with their hands raised in
    the air!

    Here’s an alternate idea:  check your local Dollar Store for mini orange road cones.  The shape works well on thin monitors and they last a long time!

    Our addition:
    Use 3 cups to monitor group work. Use green cups for groups to self report that they are working fine, yellow for they are starting to struggle, and red for need teacher help.

    From the Twitterverse:

    *kelalford Delicious is Officially Dead via DEN Blog Network – Please see Wes Fryers’ post ** Delicious Social … http://tinyurl.com/2755dqd
    *zeitz Delicious.com not shutting down. Just looking for a new home. See what PC Mag says
    *Larryferlazzo New post: “Part Two Of The Best Videos For Educators — 2010”
    *mguhlin MGuhlin.org Blogs – Project-Based Learning Video from Common Craft: Video from The Buck Institute for Education ..
    *russeltarr 15 Classroom display posters – famous history graduates http://tinyurl.com/q23ecb
    *math2go Algebra teacher engages students:
    *AngelaMaiers True leaders say: Because it’s possible rather than because I said so..when asked- Why do we have to…. #leadershipchat
    *newfirewithin The Unintended Consequences of Incentive Programs in Schools – The Tempered Radical http://ow.ly/3oILL <–YEP!
    *mbteach Five Reasons to Stop Saying “Good Job!” http://post.ly/1KxX1
    *web20classroom The TED Commandments-Rules Every Speaker Should Know:
    *newsfromtengrrl How to design thought-provoking interactions | 24 Tips http://hoki.es/gHsnun
    *LadyParadis In a snowy park / swings sway / in the wind / abandoned / until spring #gogyohka
    *LateralWisdom RT @ErikRees: // The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership® – http://j.mp/dEHslf
    *russeltarr Using Target Diagrams to scaffold historical understanding #historyteacher: http://tinyurl.com/337e88g
    *ccassinelli w00t w00t! Several staff members contacted me today after I shared this list of technology integration ideas #babysteps

    NSMA 2010 Session 5:

    Getting the Most out of Your Networked World
    Todd Williamson

    thetechnorateteacher.wordpress.com

    Tapscott Video

    Information Thieves
    Miracles.flv
    Swedish group has combined several different artists into a new video.
    Norwegian Recycling

    Caveats of Networked Learning
    Native/Immigrant Paradigm
    ‘Junk” Detection
    What the web is good for
    Networked Learning

    Wes Fryer’s response to Digital Natives:
    Digital Refugees – Ignorant or in Denial
    Digital voyeurs – Knowing
    Digital Immigrants – Participating
    Digital Natives – Living
    All of the above are digital (tool) specific

    Growing up with a computer on your hip….doesn’t make you hip to the use of computers.

    There is a difference between what they do and what we want them to do.

    Junk Detection:
    “If it’s on the Internet, it must be true”.
    California Velcro Crop by Ken Umbach (1993)
    dHMO.org
    Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus
    Additional Bogus Websites:  http://publish.uwo.ca/~floyd/general/boguswebsites.htm

    Information=Danger?

    We need to ask better questions. Questions that can’t be “googled”.

    The illiterate of the future won’t be those that can’t read or write, it will be those that can’t learn, unlearn and relearn. Allan Tofler.

    Filter failure vs Information overload. Clay Shirkey.

    3 Things that we can do with Technology:
    Create
    makebeliefscomix.com
    avairy.com

    Communicate
    Skype
    Skype an author Network
    Contact Experts in the Field you study
    Other Classrooms: SkypeInSchools Wiki
    Edmodo- private Facebook-style network for education.

    Collaborate
    •MSP2 – Middle School Portal 2 – Math & Science Pathways
    Learn from a network a PLN

    What I know/ infinity

    Networking Tools….New and Old
    Conferences
    Workshops
    Teacher’s Lounge
    Journals
    Listserves
    Twitter
    Blogs
    Social Bookmarks
    Podcasts
    Facebook

    “You don’t learn to swim by sitting beside the pool. You can’t learn about networks without diving in either.”

    Smartr portal
    Developed for students – science and math oriented.

    Reading Lists:
    Rethinking Education in the age of technology. Allan Collins & Richard Halverson.

    Shawn’s SoundNote Notes from this session:
    SoundNote Recording created November 5, 2010 7:28 AM:

    Todd Williamson
    Twitter:  @twilliamson15
    http://www.multi url.com/1/3Kz
    Backchannel:  www.todaysmeet.com/twilliamson (12/18/2010:  This is now expired.)

    How does technology fit in to what I do?
    Check out his blog for information on the presentation.
    Video on “this generation”.
    -Don Tapscott
    Norweigan band that rips off a number of other bands.

    Caveats of Networked Learning
    Native/Immigrant Paradigm
    “Junk” Detection
    What the web is Good For
    Networked Learning

    Native/Immigrant Paradigm
    Marc Prensky reference.
    Dangerous dichotomy of Native vs. Immigrant
    Wes Bryer:  Digital Landscape
    1.  Digital Refugees
    2.  Digital Voyeurs
    3.  Digital Immigrants: Participating
    4.  Digital Natives:  Living in the zone.
    Growing up with a computer on your hip, doesn’t make you hip to the use of computers.
    We need to teach them how to use the tool.
    Crap Detection
    California Velcro Crop
    Dihydrogen Monoxide dhmo.org
    Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus
    We need to help our students and teachers develop a filter to determine good and bad information on the web.
    Information = danger?
    The Power of the web for today’s students
    It’s not information overload, it’s filter failure.  – Clay Shirky
    3 Things that the Web is good for.
    Create
    Screentoaster
    Glogster
    Animoto
    MakeBeliefsComix.com
    edublogs
    Aviary
    Communication tools
    Skype
    Skype an Author Network
    Contact Experts in the Field you Study
    Other classrooms:  SkypeInSchools Wiki
    Edmodo – private Facebook – style network for education.
    Tools
    MSP2
    PBWorks
    Google docs
    Wallwisher
    ePals
    It’s not about knowing all the tools.  The important thing is that you have a toolbox full of opportunities ready to meet a specific task.
    Learn from a Network
    He knows nothing, proven mathematically.
    The network is smarter than the node.
    What I know – Infinity divided by what I know becomes zero.
    Learning Network names
    PLN – Personal Learning Network
    PLN –
    NIHCTTAR – Network I Have Come To Trust And Respect
    Networking Tools … New and Old
    Conferences
    Workshops
    Twitter
    Blogs
    Social Bookmarks
    Podcasting
    FaceBook
    You don’t learn how to swim sitting beside the pool.  You can’t learn about networks without diving in either.
    Smartr* portal  smartr.edc.org
    Designed for students to get in and build some of their learning.
    Dead Tree resources
    Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, by Will Richardson
    Rethinking Education In the Age of Technology, Allan Collins and Richard Halverson.

    Contact Info:  twilliamson15@gmail.com
    Twitter:  @twilliamson15
    http://thetechnorateteacher.wordpress.com

    CEU:  PK8

    News:

    Put PISA in Perspective

    By Walt Gardner on December 8, 2010 7:05 AM
    PISA measures learning that has taken place since birth, but not necessarily what students have learned during their previous year in school.
    About 5,100 students only from Shanghai were chosen. But Shanghai is hardly representative of China because it is an industrialized center with scores of modern universities.
    According to a study in the International Journal of Education Policy & Leadership in April 2008, the relationship between student achievement rankings on international assessments of reading, mathematics and science and a nation’s future economic growth is untenable and not causal.
    None of the above seems to sink in. In fact, any explanations are immediately labeled as excuses. This attitude effectively cuts off a rational discussion because it puts the other side on the defensive.
    http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/walt_gardners_reality_check/2010/12/the_astonishing_illiteracy_about_pisa.html

    NMSA on the Tube
    http://www.nmsa.org/Advocacy/OtherResources/tabid/327/Default.aspx
    NMSA members were featured guests covering a variety of critical achool and home issues for 10- to 15-year-olds on The Parent-Teacher Corner, on the Lifetime Television morning show, The Balancing Act.

    Dr. Betty Greene-Bryant named NMSA Senior Director of Professional Services

    “Betty comes to NMSA from the Maryland State Department of Education where she coordinated the Maryland State Improvement Grant (MSIG), a U.S. Department of Education OSEP Professional Development Grant. Previously she has served in the roles of director and assistant director for other U.S. Department of Education grants. Betty served as the first principal in residence at the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and director for professional standards at the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), and has served as a middle and high school principal for more than 10 years. Her other work in the field has been that of a college instructor in the area of school administration and teacher training at American University and Coppin State University.” – From the NMSA website.

    Taking Teacher Evaluation to Extremes

    By Kenneth Mitchell
    http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2010/12/17/15mitchell.h30.html?tkn=TLOFwiP0tsOnR6JT3k/eb9Op9p6gM3PcMctB&cmp=clp-edweek

    Webspotlight:

    New words of the Decade:
    Video is 2 minutes and 10 seconds.
    http://jeffreyhill.typepad.com/english/2010/12/time-video-new-words-born-this-decade.html

    Events & Happenings:

    Calendar of Events:

    NMSA News:

    Other News:

    • ISTE Eduverse Talks are the recorded sessions held on ISTE Island every week. Join ISTE in their Second Life conference location for their weekly talks on education.
      • The ISTE Special Interest Group:  Virtual Environments is holding meetings on Mondays from 4:00 – 6:00 pm (SLT) on ISTE Island.
    • The Ohio Middle Level Association will hold their annual conference February 17 – 18, 2011.
    • Second Life:
      • Regular Tuesday meetings are scheduled. See the board on the ISTE Island for up to the minute details.  Check frequently this week as the ISTE Annual Convention is this week.
      • Video: Educational Uses of Second Life

    MSM 142 NMSA 2010 Follow up 1, RTI, Summarizing and More….

    Jokes:

    Women’s Rights
    A girl involved with the women’s libertarian group boarded a crowded bus and one man rose to his feet. “No, No, you must not give up your seat. I insist,” she said. The man replied; “You may insist as much as you like, Lady. This is my street where I get off.”

    Initials
    Mr. R.B. Jones applied for a position with the government and was accepted. On his first day, the personnel dept processed his records. When asked what the R.B. stood for, he informed the clerk that they stood for nothing. His parents had named him with the initials only. The clerk informed him that his records could not show initials only so they typed his name as R. (only) B. (only) Jones. He got his first paycheck made out to Ronly Bonly Jones!

    Barbershops
    The reading material at the barbershop consisted entirely of murder stories, mysteries, thrillers, and ghost tales. When Peter asked the barber if he wanted to terrify his customers, he replied, “No. Peter. These books make the customers’ hair stand up and then it becomes easier to trim and cut.”

    On Our Mind:

    NMSA 2010 Conference

    Middle School Science Minute

    by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)
    Chemistry Facts. Cool and useful. Did you know……?

    From the Twitterverse:

    *gcouros Let Them Speak – Why Student Led Conferences are the Right Choice
    *coolcatteacher Vicki Davis
    “Education ranks 55th out of 55 industries surveyed in the US” in the use of technology. Bob Wise
    *web20classroom Steven W. Anderson
    Using Wikis To Strengthen Vocabulary:
    *francesblo Fran Lo
    How To Get Early Access To ‘Skype Education’ Right Now edudemic.com/2010/11/how-to… via @edudemic #midleved #elearning
    *
    elemenous Learning: Is there an app for that? http://ow.ly/37Uit
    *
    shannonmmiller The Pursuit of Technology Integration Happiness…Great Math Resources http://ow.ly/329S9 #vanmeter
    *
    shannonmmiller Glogster and Gloster.edu as an alternative to PowerPoint http://ow.ly/329re
    *
    Larryferlazzo Elect.io is an easy way to find candidate positions in any US election http://www.elect.io/

    This Part for Infamous40000 . . . :
    Waiting to hear back from Infamous40000 . . .

    NSMA 2010 Session 1:

    How to Implement a highly effective RTI Model

    Kristin Heckt
    Sara Malinoski
    Jennifer Webb

    Timothy Edwards in Connecticut
    1100 kids. 30 kids on Tier 3.

    SRBI- Scientifically Researched Based Interventions

    Must be Multi-Tiered.

    • Tier 1 is 80% of students – this applies to all students.
    • Tier 2 is 20% of 6th grade. Becomes less in 7th & 8th grade.
    • 74% of kids coming at “Goal”
    • 95% at goal at the end of 7th grade.

    Highly successful model. By 8th grade, no students are below basic.

    Focus on academic interventions.

    • Vision
    • Clarity
    • Coherence
    • Courage

    See “What Needs to be in Place?” –

    • Curriculum
    • Standarts-based
    • Understanding by Design

    Data

    • Universal Screens
    • CFA’s
    • Diagnostic
    • Progress Monitoring
    • Use for Tier identification

    PD
    Embedded- into the course of the day. Team meeting everyday.  Moved from compliance issues to PLC practice.

    • Literacy
    • Technology
    • Research based Instructional design
    • Instructional coaches do PD weekly

    Communication
    DDDM at grade level
    Students & Families – students monitor their own progress.

    Support
    Schedule – Flexible block schedule – kinda. Music is crucial to the district. Tier 2 or 3 comes out of encore periods. Needed flexibility from teachers as the kids would come and go throughout the year. Some kids would come out of Social Studies or Unified Arts (life skills, tech ed).
    Administration
    Personnel – 4 teams at each grade level. Down to 3 grade by grade level. 108 teachers for 1100 students.  Reorganized teachers to include some interventionists as well as the core areas. 6 Intervention Teachers.
    Reallocated Resources

    Programming
    3 Tier Approach
    Research based programs
    Interdisciplinary teams
    PLC’s

    Special Education referrals have dropped considerably. Data shows that progress is being made. This leads to fewer students being identified. They went from a discrepancy model to the RTI model.

    Including special education teachers now. They were just using interventionists. Special education and regular education teachers are both included into the intervention classes.

    45 kids in Tier 2 & 16 in Tier 3 per grade level – approximate.

    Email Kristin for her schedule. Teachers cover lunch. kheckt@swindler.k12.ct.us

    Topics for embedded PD
    Understanding by Design
    Literacy
    Technology
    PLC
    Data Driven Decision Making & Data Teams
    High Yield Instructional Strategies
    Common formative & Summative Assessments
    Differentiation
    Standards Based Grading

    Book study. Change in culture.
    Instructional Rounds is next. They want teachers to do the instructional rounds.

    PLC/Data Team Structure
    Interdisciplinary Teams – includes encores. 6 teachers per team level. Unified Art is “core class”. Encore is PE, music and health.

    Tier 1:

    • Universal assessments
    • Comprehensive & differentiated instruction informed by scientific research.
    • Ongoing, embedded PD
    • Instructional & Human resources.
    • PLC’s / Data Teams
    • Material and instruction at instructional levels.

    The Assessment Process:

    • Screening – identifies students for targeted intervention – 3x a year.
    • Diagnostic – Pinpoint instructional needs
    • Progress monitoring – Shows whether the instruction is effective and impacting student skill development.

    Tier 1 Assesment Questions:
    Why is the student not performing at the expected level?
    What skills does the student need to learn to be a skilled reader?

    See Tier 1 Literacy Intervention Plan

    Tier 2

    • Small group instruction – never more than 8 kids at a time.
    • Additional support (4x out of the 6 day rotation – 45 minutes)
    • Homogenous grouping. (Use Read Naturally).
    • Interventions are short term.

    Literacy Example:
    Work Your Way Back: (See handout).

    AIMS web norms.

    Keeping students aware is a big part of the process.

    Tier 3: Customized and Intense.

    Programs:

    • Word warm ups
    • rewards
    • Let’s Read

    Individual or small group (4 or less).
    Homogenous groups.
    Interventions require a high degree of expertise on the part of the teacher.

    Fidelity of the Program:

    • Master teachers
    • Scientifically researched-based programs
    • Adherence to protocols:
    • Time
    • Setting
    • Grouping
    • Progress Monitoring
    • Communication

    LW5

    NMSA 2010:  Summarization in Any Subject
    Part One:
    Rick Wormeli, 2010  (Handout provided)
    email him if we want the Powerpoint presentation of this if we want it.
    Break at 10:00 am and the water is behind him.
    Housekeeping done
    Summarization
    College websites have pages and pages of advice that should have been taught in elementary and middle school.
    He started teaching in 1981.
    Real learning has little to do with instruction.
    Learning happens two ways:
    They have to use it outside your classroom.

    They need to summarize their learning in the middle and at the end of their learning.

    Summarizing and debriefing.
    What you teach is irrelevant.  It’s what the kids carry forward that matters.
    Lectures chunked with summarization increases learning.
    It’s revitalizing to do summarizing.
    Summarize the brown slide article selection:
    Text from the presentation (Courtesy Rick Wormeli):
    Take a look at the NMSA’s This We Believe materials, Turning Points 2000, or the on-line research at www.nmsa.org: middle level students are in prime exploration mode.  They require ample opportunities to wrestle with ideas, not have those ideas spoon fed to them.  They should feel safe and invited to experiment and fail in the middle of class or at home as they learn new material.  Unfortunately, the way we’ve set things up in many middle schools, students consider academic struggle as being weak when it could be used as a launching pad for more effective learning instead.
    Let’s make it okay to fail in the pursuit of learning.  One of the most vivid ways we can do this is to model it.  We set up real situations in which we do not know answers or how to solve problems – ‘really not know something, not just faking it — then find the answer or solve the problem constructively in front of students so they see what it looks like to not know something, to handle it wisely, and to remain a respected individual in the community.  Many middle school students do not push themselves to explore different talents or new thinking because they are focused on protecting their reputations as the persons who always get the right answers.  What potential is lost because a student needs to protect his personal status quo?
    My summarization:
    Prime exploration mode for middle school students.
    They need opportunities to wrestle with ideas of their choosing.
    They need to feel safe to experiment as they learn.  (Free to fail.)
    Schools are not set up that way unfortunately.
    Policy:  make it ok.
    Model it for them.

    Construct sandboxes to experiment it.  It helps protect them in the social of transescent learning.

    “Share deodorant zones” and tell your neighbor why it is a good summarization.
    Person listening:  agree or disagree, but tell why you agree or disagree.
    Most of probably did well.  Most kids haven’t done it and so they struggle with it.
    What makes a summarization good?
    Is it comfortable to share under the scrutiny of others?
    Problem/solution structure
    Using one’s own words.
    Give them a chance to language play to build vocab to summarize.
    Jeremy ate pizza.
    Embellish as needed.  Give me 10 ways to say a sentence.

    Writing process terms:  they have to describe what they are doing/have done with the clay.

    “Great books are rewritten.”
    It captures the text accurately.
    Could our neighbors get all the information in the topic from our summarization?
    1.  Read it.
    2.  Read it again.
    3.  Look for key terms that are critical for understanding.
    4.  Find key terms:
    Nouns & Verbs
    Words that without them, the sentence or passage wouldn’t make sense.
    Topic sentence
    Things that answer the who, what, when, where, why, and how.
    Chris Tovani, “I read it but I don’t get it.”
    How was it to give advice on how well someone did on their summarization?
    When we defend our thinking, we move into our internal editor.
    They’ll remember it for much longer.
    Kids will have to be taught on how to critique each other’s summarizations.
    Gettysburg Address example
    1.  Go sentence by sentence.
    2.  Do a compressed poem.
    3.  Guided reading.
    4.  Visualization:  Draw a picture.
    5.  Provide context to the document.
    6.  Ask students what their experience is with death and cemeteries.
    7.  Read aloud.
    Yes, but by someone who knows the context and background.  Don’t read it cold.
    8.  Define difficult words.
    Rick’s method:
    Pull out some phrases and then add them back in to reduce overloading.
    Highlight contrast words:  Now/ago for example
    One strategy won’t work:  You need 5 or 6 together to make it work.
    Poetry Example:  “With hocked gems financing him . . . ”  (Dooling and Lachman, 1971)
    •    With hocked gems financing him our hero bravely defied all scornful laughter that tried to prevent his scheme
    •    Your eyes deceive, he had said, an egg, not a table, correctly typifies this unexplored planet
    •    Now three sturdy sisters sought proof, forging along sometimes through calm vastness, yet more often over turbulent peaks and valleys
    •    Days become weeks, as many doubters spread fearful rumors about the edge
    •    At last from nowhere, welcome winged creatures appeared, signifying momentous success
    -Christopher Columbus
    Students must have a frame of reference to understand the metaphor:  “He flozzled his website.”
    Is this a good or a bad thing?  Add more context information to add clarity and creating background where there is none.
    Tell the story of the Code of Hammurabi before discussing the Magna Carta.
    Before studying the detailed rules of baseball, play baseball.
    Before reading about how microscopes work, play with microscopes.
    “In terms of standards, maybe  a standard for exposure to exploring…”  -A summarization of Bill Ivey and Rick Wormeli.
    Before reading the Gettysburg Address, inform students that Lincoln was dedicating a cemetery.
    Before reading a book about a military campaign or a murder mystery with references to chess, play Chess with a student in front of the class, or teach them the basic rules, get enough boards, and ask the class to play.
    Primary-Recency Effect
    See Graph:    (Courtesy Rick Wormeli)
    Frontload and backload the hour.
    Makes a difference
    The bell work is always related to the stuff we’re doing that day.
    Stop 7 minutes early and have them summarize what they learned in the hour.  (Gotta do this one!)
    Make these cycles with a beginning, a middle, and an end.
    Free fact:  If you’re not a good student, put your paper under a poorer student’s paper and you’ll get a better grade.
    Definition:  Summarization is restating the essence of text or an experience in as few words as possible or in a new, yet efficient, manner.
    Sprenger’s Suggestions for Long Term Retention  (How to Teach So Students Remember, ASCD, 2005)  (Preview of the inside of the book:  http://books.google.com/books?id=z5ipcWRLCPYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22How+to+teach+so+students+remember%22&source=bl&ots=fyqpgsXxJ8&sig=VOVU5LOBWF4-gZPA9CNtyzf0o_o&hl=en&ei=swTeTIfEHsbPnAe4_YSvDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q&f=false )
    Reach:  on an emotional level.
    Reflect:
    Recode:  put it in terms of their own life
    Reinforce:  graphic organizer
    Rehearse:
    Review:
    Retrieve:
    Remember who’s doing the learning.
    Break Here for Next Show:
    Whomever responds to the students/classmates is doing the learning.  Make sure the majority of the time it’s the students responding and summarizing, not the teacher.
    Teachers ask 80 questions each hour on average, while students ask only two during that same hour.  (Betty Hollas)  Students learn more when they ask questions.  Find ways to make question-asking so compelling and habitual they can’t escape it.
    Have a conversation (with Wormeli) using only nouns.
    First one to utter a verb loses.
    Prime the brain prior to asking students to do any learning experience.
    Priming means we show students:
    1.  What they will get out of the experience (the objectives).
    2.  What they will encounter as they go through the experience (itinerary, structure)
    Avoid Confabulation
    The Brain seeks wholeness.  It will fill in the holes in partial learning with made-up learning and experiences and it will convince itself that this was the original learning all along.  To prevent this:
    Deal with misconceptions:  Students should summarize material they already understand, not material they are coming to know.
    Recall success with individual, unrelated items:

    Age of Student
    # of Unconnected, Individual Items Successfully Recalled
    (plus or minus 2, Wolfe, 2001)

    5    2

    7    3

    11    5

    15+    7
    Courtesy Rick Wormeli’s PowerPoint.
    Summarization tips:
    Create or activate personal background.
    Prime the brain.
    Plan according to the Primacy-Recency Effect.
    Use varied summary formats – written, artistic, oral, physical, musical.
    Use summary experiences before, during, and after lessons.
    Teach students to recognize familiar text structures .
    Teach students to recognize familiar writing structures.
    Use analogies.
    Chunk text and experiences.

    Courtesy Rick Wormel’s PowerPoint.
    Reading Math

    Math books have more concepts per sentence and paragraph than any other type of text.

    There is little redundancy in math text.
    Words as well as numbers and other symbols are used throughout the text.
    Eyes travel in different patterns than traditional left-to-right.
    They often have distracting sidebars.

    In most text there’s a topic sentence or key idea followed by detailed supports.  In math, we get the details first then the topic sentence – the key idea is given in the form of a question or a task at the end.  Students ahve to read the text agian after seeing this key idea and figure out what material in the text is important and unimportant.

    Word Morphology
    Teach prefixes, roots and suffixes!
    See the list in his handout.
    Kids who know their roots and suffixes, can summarize.
    Latin is Fun!  – Book example.
    Break
    Part Two
    Summarization Strategies:
    Reading Notations
    Annotated text is one of the best things we can teach according to research.
    (Check Mark)           I agree with this.
    X                I disagree with this.
    ??                I don’t understand this.
    !!                Wow!  (‘Elicits a strong emotion)
    CL                General Claim
    EV                Evidence for the Claim
    (These can be numbered to indicate their sequence, too:  EV1, EV2, EV3…)

    News:

    Oregon School Addresses English Language Learners

    http://portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=128942579843364600

    Events & Happenings:

    Calendar of Events:

    NMSA News:

    Other News:

    • ISTE Eduverse Talks are the recorded sessions held on ISTE Island every week. Join ISTE in their Second Life conference location for their weekly talks on education.
      • The ISTE Special Interest Group:  Virtual Environments is holding meetings on Mondays from 4:00 – 6:00 pm (SLT) on ISTE Island.
    • The Ohio Middle Level Association will hold their annual conference February 17 – 18, 2011.
    • Second Life:
      • Regular Tuesday meetings are scheduled. See the board on the ISTE Island for up to the minute details.  Check frequently this week as the ISTE Annual Convention is this week.
      • Video: Educational Uses of Second Life

    MSM 140 NMSA 2010, Math & Reading Resources!

    Jokes:

    Proper Grammar
    The teacher wrote on the blackboard, “I ain’t had no fun all summer.” “Now Paul,” she said. “What shall I do to correct this?” “Get a boyfriend.” Paul replied.

    Dressing Rooms
    A lady walked into a boutique and asked the sales lady, “May I try on that cute dress in the window?” The sales lady replied; “Sure, but wouldn’t you be more comfortable in a dressing room?”

    Birthday Presents
    The parents of a difficult boy were discussing what to give him for a birthday present. The mother said, “Let’s buy him a bicycle.” “Well,” said the father, “maybe but do you think it will improve his behavior?” “Probably not,” said the mother, “but it will spread it over a wider area.”

    On Our Mind:

    NMSA 2010 Conference (If you’re going, contact us. We have a great link for you).
    Keep in mind that new flight rules take effect on Nov. 1st.

    Middle School Science Minute

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

    Dave is looking for an excellent Earth Science Middle School Teacher.

    From our Listeners:

    As far as the testing discussion goes, I am blown away by states that test the previous year’s material at the beginning of the following year. That just doesn’t make sense to me (not that I agree with all of NC’s testing program either). Here in NC, we administer EOG (End-of-Grade) tests about 3 weeks before school is out for the summer. Admin get the scores back about 5 hours after the last test is finished, and teachers usually get scores the following day. Scores are released to students before going home for the summer. The past couple of years, we have had a retest program for students who did not score at proficient levels.

    Granted, there are issues with this system as well. Testing that far in advance of the end of school leads to a “Why are we still here?” attitude from some of the kids after the test. I think that makes much more sense than not being able to start the year covering relevant grade-level material.
    Todd Williamson
    Note:  We’re hoping there will be a ton of folks at his presentation on Friday at 7:30 am in Baltimore this coming week.  If you’re going to NMSA and willing, please consider his presentation in Room: 339 (Baltimore Convention Center)
    Audience: Community Leaders, Media Specialists/Librarians, Pre-service teachers, Teachers, Technical Coordinators
    Presentation Level: Intermediate
    Presentation Description:  Students today live in a highly networked world—from email to text messaging to online gaming and social networking. Teachers, meanwhile, often express concerns about staying one step ahead of technology savvy students. Learn about the rationale for using social media in the classroom along with strategies for navigating the new media landscape with your students. Also featured will be the SMARTR portal, a STEM portal of youth- focused Math and Science virtual learning experiences developed for and by students!

    From the Twitterverse:

    *BernajeanPorter by ipadeducatorsRT @cnansen: @BernajeanPorter One of the most useful sites I have run across in the last month-Dot Voting http://www.dotvoting.org/ #edchat
    *AngelaMaiers The Complete Facebook For Educators! | Tech the Plunge http://ow.ly/2ZYRd
    *CBrannon In a meeting. They gave me a laptop and want me to pay attention….I will…In a minute….
    *kylepace 100 incredibly useful YouTube channels for teachers: #edtech
    *jybuell How Allies Used Math Against German Tanks | Autopia | Wired.com wired.com/autopia/2010/1…
    *Curriki “Quoth the Raven, Nevermore…” and nevermore will you be without great Halloween lesson plans! http://ow.ly/2ZlIX #english #history
    *stevehargadon Recording posted of interview with Diane Ravitch on How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education http://icio.us/z3fkbn
    *DanielPink Memory decline accompanies earlier retirement, study finds . . . http://nyti.ms/9efpih (via NY Times)
    *drmmtatom My Brainshark – Easily Narrate and Share Presentations #fhuedu508 http://tinyurl.com/39n6csk

    This Part for Infamous40000 . . . :

    Hero Machine: Design your own superhero: http://tinyurl.com/olzc3a
    Uber-Mongo-Important assignment for operative Infamous40000:  Design a superhero and share the experience with us.  Call us at (262) 724-6653 and send us a copy of your superhero!

    Tech Tools:

    AlternativeTo:

    Great way to find new software.
    http://alternativeto.net/software

    Wiggio

    Set up your group in under a minute.
    Add people to your group by pulling them in from your email or Facebook contacts. They never need to sign up. As soon as you add, you can start communicating.
    Each feature is designed to be straightforward and self-explanatory. No training. No learning curve.
    Keep up with your group on-the-go. You can text message and email into your group, and receive group communications to your cell phone, email and Facebook.
    All the tools you need packaged together.

    http://wiggio.com/

    Math Open Geometry

    Great geometry resources.
    http://www.mathopenref.com/index.html

    Microsoft Academic Search

    Looks to be technically oriented. Some good possibilities though. Conferences are included.
    http://journalogy.com/

    One Word

    Interesting idea for a writing assignment.
    http://oneword.com/

    News:

    Robots in the classroom?  They’re here!

    http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/innovation/10/22/south.korea.robot.teachers/index.html

    Political Peril for the Common Core?

    How to Assure Continued Progress

    By Michael D. Usdan
    Could the backlash against large governmental programs (like healthcare) effect the implementation of Common Core Standards?
    http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2010/10/27/09usdan_ep.h30.html?tkn=QMZFzckQpU3lROPtxOCXWM%2FnuCM2CsPo6oqD&cmp=clp-edweek

    Webspotlight:

    Google Search Tools

    “Secret” codes to make your google searching even better.
    http://www.googleguide.com/advanced_operators.html

    Big East Career Fair

    Could this be the start of a new way of finding a job?
    http://www.bigeastcareerfair.com/

    Teacher Jotter

    Social Network for Teachers.
    Build professional relationships, share resources, exchange ideas and opportunities.
    http://www.teacherjotter.com/

    Reading Slowly

    Interesting thoughts on reading.
    http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/chapter-and-verse/2010/0621/Should-your-child-be-learning-the-art-of-slow-reading

    Collaboration Video

    Does this look like collaboration at your school?
    http://www.tuttlesvc.org/2010/10/planning-collaboratively.html

    Events & Happenings:

    Calendar of Events:

    NMSA News:

    Other News:

    • ISTE Eduverse Talks are the recorded sessions held on ISTE Island every week. Join ISTE in their Second Life conference location for their weekly talks on education.
      • The ISTE Special Interest Group:  Virtual Environments is holding meetings on Mondays from 4:00 – 6:00 pm (SLT) on ISTE Island.
    • The Ohio Middle Level Association will hold their annual conference February 17 – 18, 2011.
    • Second Life:
      • Regular Tuesday meetings are scheduled. See the board on the ISTE Island for up to the minute details.  Check frequently this week as the ISTE Annual Convention is this week.
      • Video: Educational Uses of Second Life

    MSM 139 Testing, Conferences & Tools

    Jokes:

    Ailments
    A man was feeling terribly out of sorts and decided to go to the doctor so he made an appointment and showed up the next day. After the doctor examined the man, the doctor invited him into his office for the consultation. The doctor came into the room with three different bottles of pills. The doctor told the man to take the red pill in the morning with a big glass of water, the blue pill in the afternoon with a big glass of water and the green pill in the evening with a big glass of water. The man, terribly shocked at the amount of pills he had to take, asked the doctor what in the world was wrong with him. The doctor replied, “You aren’t getting enough water.”

    On Our Mind:

    Testing Relief
    Conferences
    Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worthy’s Take on Conferences.

    Middle School Science Minute

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

    Human Body Systems Facts

    From the Twitterverse:

    * Twilliamson15 Todd Williamson:  @Frideswidel haha, thanks…I’ll stick with hoping enough folks show for a decent conversation
    * drmmtatom Monte Tatom Education Secretary Arne Duncan to Co-Host TEACH Town Hall w/ A&E Network @ Temple University | U.S. Dept. of Ed http://tinyurl.com/2esmcml
    * drmmtatom Monte Tatom  Action Research: What Do We Know About Learning in the Cloud? #fhuqep http://tinyurl.com/2dw7ww3
    *appleplaza Apple Plaza Angry Birds Halloween Edition Comes to Apple iOS Devices http://sns.ly/AEq59
    * AngelaMaiers Angela Maiers Chalk Talk 10/22/10
    *ktenkely ktenkely Animation Chefs will teach your students how to create their own stop motion animations #edtech #edchat
    * lthumann Lisa Thumann Web 2.0 apps from the afternoon session with @edutecher and I http://thumannresources.com/2010/10/22/tltechforum/ #tltechforum
    (Call us if you try any of these websites at (262) 724-6653)
    *timoreilly Tim O’Reilly  Rule #1: Have Fun. Summary of my talk on innovation at Greenbiz Innovation Forum:
    *mcleod Scott McLeod  Can a student bully a teacher? Do these videos constitute teacher bullying? @russgoerend

    Advisory:

    Famous Partners

    Place the names of famous couples on index cards, mix them up, have students match up. (http://www.knowledgerush.com/kr/encyclopedia/List_of_famous_pairs/)

    Life Raft

    Students stand on top of shower curtain and flip it over without anyone stepping off.

    Life Skill Lessons

    How to tie a tie, how to set the table, how to do anything….celebrate success!!

    This Part for Infamous40000 . . . :
    Animation Chefs:  Learn how to animate from these three chefs!

    Tech Tools:

    National Library of Virtual Manipulatives
    http://nlvm.usu.edu/

    TestMoz
    http://testmoz.com/

    Google Fusion Tables

    Google Fusion Tables is a modern data management and publishing web application that makes it easy to host, manage, collaborate on, visualize, and publish data tables online.
    http://www.google.com/fusiontables/public/tour/index.html

    News:

    Charter school first in county to switch to four-day week

    A Palm Beach County charter high school plans to switch to a four-day school week beginning in January. Students would be in school for a total of 902.4 hours this year, above the 900-hour minimum state requirement, according to a calculation received by the district, Edwards said.
    It’s pitched as an opportunity for students to have more time for part-time jobs, school activities, and dual-enrollment programs that enable students to earn college credit. Daniel also described it as a way to decrease “discipline issues and student absences.”
    http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/fl-four-day-school-week-20101021,0,6276565.story

    Moving Forward With the Common Core
    By Sarah Fine

    If there remains any doubt about the momentum of the Common Core State Standards Initiative, let it be abandoned once and for all. Thirty-six states and the District of Columbia, which collectively educate three-fourths of all school-age children in this country, have pledged to adopt the core. Intellectual gatekeepers have given the standards a resounding pass. Plans for implementation have begun. For better or worse, the boulder is on its way down the mountain, gathering strength and speed as it goes.
    http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2010/10/20/08fine.h30.html?tkn=LYXFpDDbwWg77mw9AnpIQPhrrQpBWyZw4y%2Fk&cmp=clp-edweek

    Webspotlight:

    Virtual Pumpkin Carving

    A, um, virtual pumpkin to carve.
    http://www.ncs-tech.org/pub/carve_pumpkin.swf

    The Fisch Flip

    Colorado teachers Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams were some of the first educators I learned about who are leveraging the power of podcasting, screencasting, and video sharing to “flip” the traditional model of lecture in class and homework at home which predominates in many schools today.
    http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2010/10/20/the-fisch-flip-in-michigan-dale-eizenga-on-flipping-traditional-lecture-and-homework-routines/

    ISTE 2010:  Google Apps in Education

    For full online presentation, go here:  http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dd4wqj5_406gwcsdnf4
    Connecting Education.com
    New Approaches for the 21st Century
    www.connectingeducation.com
    alt:  www.schoolinfo.ca
    Waiting for initial slide . . . .

    Side note:  look for Googletrekers
    I’ve so got to check out TodaysMeet
    Telling us a little about Skoodat
    •  Similar to Salesforce.com
    •  Large toolset to work with.
    •  Very scalable.
    •  www.skoodat.com

    Roger Nevin
    “School is becoming irrelevant.”  – Student Quote
    Bridging the gap
    •  Connecting education with how young people use digital technology in their personal lives.  This web site has the following mandate when recommending technologies:
    •  it must improve learning
    •  it must engage students
    •  it must be based on best practices and research
    •  it is free and sustainable
    •  we have tested it successfully
    … and one more

    Using Google Apps Education Edition to Improve Learning.
    Presentation content
    •  Challenges of traditional uses of computers in schools
    •  Paradigms of cloud computing and the 2009 Horizion report
    •  And many more  ……
    Teacher Comments
    •  Students worked in groups.
    •  Students were engaged.
    •  Students who liked music were into podcasting.
    •  Every student worked and collaborated on the group wiki.
    •  Students were engaged.
    – Jackie Anderson, Teacher
    Despite our success with using technology there were still challenges
    •  Audacity
    •  “Microsnot” Office
    •  Corel

    What do you do if…
    •  Jason arrives to school with is World Issues ISU essay on a USB key.  He tries to open it at school but it is unable to because of . . .
    •  Maria creates a presentation for her Law class on a Mac computer at home.  Unfortunatelly she can’t open it at school.  (NOTE:  This is not necessarily accurate.  Macs can save it so that it can be opened on a Windows machine.  I included it because it was part of the presentation.)
    •  You have assigned a group presentation in your ENG 4UI class.  In one group . . . .
    •  You are teaching a grade 12 history course and the final June essays are due.  One of your students loses the assignment.
    •  You have asked your Grade 10 Science class to do their class presentations using Power Point. .  . .
    Cloud Computing
    •  You are already using cloud computing
    •  Data is held on internet servers.
    •  Programs which run the email service are on Internet servers.
    Research & Best Practices
    •  The 2009 Horizon Report “introduces six emerging technologies or practices that are likely to enter mainstream use in learning-focused organizations within horizons over the . . .
    Cloud Computing
    •  Which means …
    •  You only need a browser to access both programs and data.
    •  Google has servers on ships.
    •  Accessed by any computer or PDA through an Internet Connection.
    •  Main apps
    •  email, chat, talk
    •  Images – Draw
    •  Calendar
    •  Word processer
    •  Spreadsheet – forms
    •  Can make online tests.
    •  Presentation Software
    •  Wiki/Web Page
    •  Video
    UNDER ONE PLATFORM
    •  site:  http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=?
    •  Google Apps Education Edition is Free! and Ad Free!
    •  Why is it Free?
    •  This is their version of Charity Donations
    •  Secondary School in New York Video
    •  Teachers and Principals talk about Google Docs
    •  What do you get?
    •  7 gigs of space for students to save podcast and video assignments
    •  Gives users a virtual drive that can be used to uplad and download any file up to 200MB to a total of 2GB
    •  Spam/Virus Checkers
    •  It is a paperless solution
    •  Saves printing costs.
    •  Documents are never lost – saves automatically
    •  Do not have to worry about the correc software version
    •  Can both upload and download documents off of your hard drive
    •  Quick setup
    •  Easy to administrate
    •  Ability to share assignments, documents
    •  Student to student
    •  Student to teacher to student
    •  Teacher to teacher to administration
    •  Communicate using documents to parents
    •  Prevents plagiarism
    •  Improves learning
    •  On-line tests and surveys
    •  Private or public
    •  Can record names
    •  Can automatically mark tests
    •  practice for EQAO Literacy Test
    •  Surveys (student, parent, staff)
    •  Example:  Adam Scott:  adamscott.ca
    •  Administrator power
    •  Can disable services
    •  Have precise control of who has access to what.
    •  Students keep their login and all account data for their entire school career and further.
    •  Challenges
    •  Need Internet Access
    •  However you can save documents off line as a word, ppt, rtf, open office document
    •  PDAs can access most features – but not all
    •  Your data is stored in another country (maybe)
    •  Patriot Act allows the US government to access your data
    •  However … there is not document cast where any government tapped into students or faculty google apps documents or emails.
    Google Apps – Postini
    •  July 2009 Google added Postini security suite
    •  Audit emails
    •  Filtering
    •  High level virus and spam checker.
    Selling Apps to Admin.
    •  Realize that many IT departments are not in favor of Google Apps
    •  Use applications such as bitstripsforschools which use the cloud.
    •  Start smaller with Google Apps Standard Edition
    •  Say, “This is a pilot project.”
    •  Use Google Standard Edition.
    •  Set up a formal meeting or presentation.
    •  Google Apps and the cloud is supported by leading research (Horizon Report)
    •  Is Secure
    •  Easier to administer
    •  Saves lots of $$$$$
    •  Easy for teachers to learn and allows them to be more productive
    •  Improves learning while teaching 21st Century Skills
    •  Promotes the school
    •  Is Green.
    •  Everything you make in google docs is searchable text.
    Setting up Google Apps (easy)
    •  Get a domain (godaddy is good) – Cost is $10-15 per year
    •  Go to google
    •  Simple form to fill out (showing admin approval)
    •  Set MX records on the domain you registered and use forward feature from your domain to redirect your domain to the Google Apps Site
    •  Get a text file of students with first name, last name, login and password (could use pseudonyms)
    Administration
    •  Less than one hour per week spent on it per 1000 students
    Implementing Google Appls
    •  Use “buy in” approach (if you are not a schol administrator)
    •  Start with a few classes
    •  Must be successful from the beginning
    •  Teach both the students and the teacher – Helps to have (Yellow highlighting white words)
    •  Create an ? where the students have to create both a shared document and a web page where they images of the video.
    Google Apps Activity One
    Google Apps – Quote
    “Everyone saw the benefits of share . . . .”
    The Did You Know Video 4.0
    Free Netbook program a success at Milton High School
    •  The price of netbooks is coming down.
    •  Lightweight
    •  Google is bringing out their own operating system.
    •  Kids prefer the net books
    •  Portability and connectivity
    connectingeducaiton.com:  Presentation site.
    Presentation:   http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dd4wqj5_406gwcsdnf4

    Events & Happenings:

    Calendar of Events:

    NMSA News:

    Other News:

    • ISTE Eduverse Talks are the recorded sessions held on ISTE Island every week. Join ISTE in their Second Life conference location for their weekly talks on education.
      • The ISTE Special Interest Group:  Virtual Environments is holding meetings on Mondays from 4:00 – 6:00 pm (SLT) on ISTE Island.
    • The Ohio Middle Level Association will hold their annual conference February 17 – 18, 2011.
    • Second Life:
      • Regular Tuesday meetings are scheduled. See the board on the ISTE Island for up to the minute details.  Check frequently this week as the ISTE Annual Convention is this week.
      • Video: Educational Uses of Second Life