MSM 637: Earth, Wind and Fire Day Sweeps Through Troy

Summary:

Shawn and Troy share Earth, Wind, and Fire Day, experiences in safety and more. Dave brings SEL to Science.

Jokes:  

I used to work for an origami company but they folded.


Dickens: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

Schrödinger: Nice.


I asked the surgeon if I could administer my own anesthetic, they said: go ahead, knock yourself out.


Clem entered the barn to see two horses fighting over a bale of hay. It was the last straw.


A good dictionary gives meaning to life.


I think circles are pointless.


Got fired from the custom kitchen shop for making too many jokes about taking countermeasures.


How do you keep a moron in suspense?


They call them Jersey cows, but if you look closely you can see that they don’t even have numbers on their backs.


I have a friend who writes songs about sewing machines. 

  • He’s a Singer songwriter. Or sew it seams. 

Sign: Beware of the Dog. Th Cat is not trustworthy either.

Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  Social-Emotional Learning

I was recently reading the September-October 2024 issue of Science Scope, a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association.

In this issue, I read the “Editorial” section, written by Patty McGinnis.  She wrote an article entitled: “Social-Emotional Learning in the Science Classroom.” 

Perhaps nowhere else in education is social-emotional (SEL) more crucial than in the middle school science classroom, a place where students are expected to collaborate, communicate, and participate respectfully in the practice of argumentation.  For more information about SEL consider exploring the site for the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL), a nonprofit organization that utilizes research to guide SEL initiatives.  For more information, visit:

https://casel.org

http://k12science.net/social-emotional-learning/

Reports from the Front Lines

  • Course on Teaching Exceptional Children
  • Movie AD
  • Exciting Times – “Testing” the Boot System
  • Curriculum Work
    • iReady
    • NWEA
  • Apple Vision Pro Update
  • Earth, Wind, and Fire Day  

The Social Web

Alice@beige.partyAlice McFlurry @Alice@beige.party

What do they teach in Social Studies nowadays? Like, do they even cover MySpace and Friendster or do kids only learn about those in History class?

Wylfċen  @wylfcen

Another wonderfully specific Old English word: merecandel ‘sea-candle’, the Sun as it rises from or sets in the sea.

Jack Berckemeyer  @JBerckemeyer

Great teams come up with awesome grade level team names along with amazing visuals. This 6th grade team is all in on the mighty ducks. #pumpedup

BERCKEMEYER Breaks are back – Read the Room and show me shocked. Feel free to share with others and if you like these check out our webinar series. http://Jackberckemeyer.com

https://twitter.com/i/status/1835304245572129107

Moodle | Online learning, delivered your way.  @moodle

Free webinar: Moodle AI plugins! Join us on Thursday, 26th September, at 08:00 UTC. Register now: https://moodle.me/aipluginswebinar  #MoodleAcademy  @moodleacademy

Resources:  

REVIEW: Why Don’t Students Like School (Daniel Willingham)

The only path to expertise, as far as anyone knows, is practice. 
- Daniel Willingham, Why Don't Students Like School

https://readwriterespond.com/2024/09/review-why-dont-students-like-school-daniel-willingham/

Not-so-great expectations: Students are reading fewer books in English class

Chris Stanislawski didn’t read much in his middle school English classes, but it never felt necessary. Students were given detailed chapter summaries for every novel they discussed, and teachers played audio of the books during class.

“When you’re given a summary of the book telling you what you’re about to read in baby form, it kind of just ruins the whole story for you,” said Chris, 14. “Like, what’s the point of actually reading?”

Some teachers focus instead on selected passages — a concession to perceptions of shorter attention spans, pressure to prepare for standardized tests and a sense that short-form content will prepare students for the modern, digital world.

Deep reading is essential to strengthen circuits in the brain tied to critical thinking skills, background knowledge — and, most of all, empathy, said Maryanne Wolf, a cognitive neuroscientist at UCLA specializing in dyslexia research.

“We must give our young an opportunity to understand who others are, not through little snapshots, but through immersion into the lives and thoughts and feelings of others,” Wolf said.

https://www.bangordailynews.com/2024/09/17/nation/not-so-great-expectations-students-are-reading-fewer-books-in-english-class/

AXIS The Culture Translator

Keeping Accounts

What it is: Meta is rolling out “teen accounts” for minors on the app.

What parents should know: Meta is claiming that this change will provide “protections for teens, peace of mind for parents.” All teens under 16 with Instagram accounts will be automatically opted in to this type of account, and those who sign up for a new account before they turn 18 will be opted in, as well.

Out to Lunch

What it is: MrBeast, Logan Paul, and KSI are teaming up to launch a Lunchables competitor called “Lunchly.”

Why pre-teens might gobble it up: Lunchly is aimed at the same demographic that has made both MrBeast’s Feastables chocolate bars and Paul/KSI’s Prime Energy drinks a smashing success—young people between the ages of 9 and 13. 

Time to Waste

What it is: Social psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt partnered with the Harris Poll firm to try to capture what Gen Z really thinks about social media.

What it shows: The nationwide poll of over a thousand 18-27 year olds asked “Do you wish TikTok was never invented” (47% said yes) and also posed questions about what steps they’re willing to take to limit their social media use. Maybe most eye-opening were the questions about time spent on these apps—over 60% said they spend over 4 hours a day on social media, and almost a quarter said they spend over 7 hours a day.   

Web Spotlight: 

From Book to Podcast in Minutes: My First Experience with Google Notebook

Today, I played with Google’s Notebook, followed Alec Couros’s suggestion, and uploaded a copy of my book. I also added my blog. Within minutes it created this 9-minute audio podcast of my book.

https://ideasandthoughts.org/2024/09/18/googles-lm-notebook-made-this-podcast/

Random Thoughts . . .  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

MSM 636: No Pets, No Plants, No People

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about Moodle, culture of the kids, quiet hallways, and more. Dave styles some learning about Science. 

Jokes:  

R.I.P. boiled water. 

  • You will be mist.

My New Years resolution is to stop leaving things so late.


I was just looking at my ceiling. Not sure if it’s the best ceiling in the world, but it’s definitely up there.


I had a pair of racing snails. I removed their shells to make them more aerodynamic, but they became sluggish.


How many seconds are in a year?


For Valentine’s day, I decided to get my wife some beads for an abacus.  It’s the little things that count.


My child is studying to be a surgeon, I just hope they make the cut.


If you ever get a call from an unknown number, pick it up and say “Hi, you’re on the air.”


Did you hear about the guy who invented Lifesavers? They say he made a mint.


Frank and Ernest, representing two older gentlemen, are sitting under a tree. Frank has a thought bubble that says, "I've decided I'm just like any other person except that I have a smaller percentage of active ingredients".

Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  Learning Styles

I was recently reading the July-August 2024 issue of Science and Children, a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association.

In this issue, I read the “Science 101” section, written by Matt Bobrowsky.  He wrote a Q and A article entitled: “Q: If Students Have Different Learning Styles, What Kinds of Science Activities Are Best for Reaching All Students?”  

For a more well-rounded educational experience, teachers can use “multimodal” teaching.  Examples include visual, kinesthetic, and auditory.  But that does not mean that students have specific “learning styles.”  If students believe they have a particular “learning style” it can lead to a self-limiting mindset.

http://k12science.net/learning-styles/

Reports from the Front Lines

  • Students in the Hallways
  • Annual Training
  • ACTEM
    • Thanking Your Past Self – Documentation Tips
  • Moodle Movement
  • New Curriculum Director

The Social Web

otacke @otacke@chaos.social

Uuuh, the #H5P core is now shipped with CKEditor version 5, so get the latest update of your H5P integration (and hope it supports the latest version of H5P core already)

Marcus Green @marcusgreen@fosstodon.org

This screenshot was taken from a recent version of #Moodle 4.5dev+ (alpha code) which includes the new #AI Subsystem. #Ollama allows you to host #LLM’s on your own hardware. By that I mean you can unplug the internet and interact with various Models.
I am rather excited by it.

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library  @Ford_Library

“Civics for All of US” student Constitution programs kick off this week! Join us for a live webinar and discover how the Constitution connects to our communities: https://civics.archives.gov/webinars #ConstitutionDay #CivicsforAllofUS

iCivics  @icivics

#ConstitutionDay is coming up on Sept. 17! Teach students about the text, history, and relevance of the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and additional amendments with our video series, The Constitution EXPLAINED, created with  @CivicEducation. https://bit.ly/4d1muJG

We have the perfect game for #ConstitutionDay! Our Constitutional Compromise game challenges your students to find a way forward for a young nation as disagreements mount. Experience the main historical debates of the Constitutional Convention with https://bit.ly/4gcMaWb

Street Law  @StreetLawInc

Because #ConstitutionDay (Sept. 17th) falls in the thick of the 2024 election season, check out our curated page of Street Law curricular resources on voting, elections, and the presidency. https://store.streetlaw.org/election-votin

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Word of the day is ‘bayard’ (16th century): one who has the supreme self-confidence of ignorance.

Strategies:  

Free Reading  

A Way to Increase Free Reading Outside of Class

…pare down the teacher-centered lessons, and free up enough time for “Free Reading Friday,”…

Most students were able to commit to reading 100-150 pages per week. This worked out to be about the same amount of time as they were spending before, but the weekly goal gave them more agency in deciding when to read, and many students reported that this helped them develop a better reading routine.

Students don’t spend “Free Reading Friday” reading. Instead, our Friday class is focused on talking and writing about free reading.

https://www.middleweb.com/51237/a-way-to-increase-free-reading-outside-of-class/

Resources:  

26 Tips for Beginning Teachers, from A to Z

https://www.middleweb.com/51194/26-tips-for-beginning-teachers-from-a-to-z/

AXIS The Culture Translator

1. Impossible Creatures

What it is: The US edition of a fantasy book for middle-graders is expected to be one of the bestselling titles of the year.

What parents should know: Impossible Creatures, by British author (and Oxford fellow) Katherine Rundell, became an instant bestseller when it was published in the UK last year. The premise of the book is simple (and a bit Narnia-esque): a young man discovers a portal to a hidden world where creatures like griffins, sphinxes, and dragons exist. What follows is equal parts action and adventure in the vivid tradition of Robert Louis Stevenson. The book has some darker themes and violence, but reviews say it ultimately serves as a morality tale about duty, sacrifice, and doing what is right.

2. Young Americans, Online

What it is: A newly-published survey showed that Gen Z and millennials say they feel more like “themselves” online than offline.

What it tells us about the rising generation: It is, perhaps, not all that surprising that a majority (45%) of Gen Z say they feel more like themselves online. This is a generation that has grown up expressing themselves in digital spaces. What is a bit of a surprise is that those that feel more themselves online beat out those that feel more at home offline by only 3%. Compare this to the millennial split in the statistics, where 47% said they feel more at home online than offline and 40% felt more fully themselves in person. Gen Z may see online life as indistinguishable from “real life,” but they may also be more likely to bring the same sort of caution to life online that previous generations brought to life offline.

“Monday” Video

A parody on the “Friday” video . . . . But for Monday.  

https://youtu.be/qBEUIxCcqlY

Web Spotlight: 

Infinite Mac

Infinite Mac is a collection of classic Macintosh and NeXT system releases and software, all easily accessible from the comfort of a (modern) web browser.

Pick any version of System Software/Mac OS or NeXTStep/OPENSTEP from the 1980s or 1990s and run it (and major software of that era) within a virtual machine. You can also run a custom version with your choice of machine and virtual disks. Files can be imported and exported using drag and drop, and System 7 and onward have more advanced integrations as well – refer to the welcome screen in each machine for more details.

https://infinitemac.org

Sort out your life! 100 tiny tricks to help with everything from digital overwhelm to lumpy sugar and unpaid bills

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/2024/sep/03/sort-out-your-life-100-tiny-tricks-to-help-with-everything-from-digital-overwhelm-to-lumpy-sugar-and-unpaid-bills

Food Mood

https://artsandculture.google.com/experiment/food-mood/HwHnGalZ3up0EA

Random Thoughts . . .  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

MSM 635: What Do You Call A Group of Eighth Grade Girls?

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about the importance of the first days of school, building relationships, and more. Dave has students focused on Astrophotography. 

Jokes:  

I always wanted to look into why I procrastinate, but I keep putting it off.


Me: I feel awful!

Doctor: Tell me what happened.

Me: I was eating an apple and…

Doctor: Wait. How many apples do you eat?

Me: One a day.

Doctor: You’re on your own.


I heard there was a new store called Moderation. 

  • They have everything there

Shout out to my grandma, that’s the only way she can hear.


My new thesaurus is terrible. In fact, it’s so bad, I’d say it’s terrible.


Cooking Tip: If you’re tired of always having to boil water every time you make pasta, boil a few litres at the beginning of the week and freeze it for later. You’re welcome!


Bought a new jacket suit the other day and it burst into flames. Well, it was a blazer


I’m reading a book on the history of glue – can’t put it down.


What did the hat say to the scarf?

You can hang around. I’ll just go on ahead.


I went to the zoo yesterday and saw a baguette in a cage. 

  • It was bread in captivity.

My dog used to chase people on a bike a lot. It got so bad I had to take his bike away.



Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  Astrophotography

I was recently reading the July-August 2024 issue of Science Scope, a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association, for middle school teachers.

In this issue, I read the “Scope on the Skies” section.  In the section was an article entitled, “Capturing Photons,” written by Bob Riddle. 

One way to make astronomy more accessible and engaging to students is to introduce them to astrophotography.  The most direct way is probably with the student’s own smartphone.

http://k12science.net/astrophotography/

Reports from the Front Lines

  • Students
  • Opening Days
  • Rules Quiz

The Social Web

Katie Powell  @Beyond_the_Desk

Boredom Busters officially released 5 years ago today! So grateful to ⁦

@burgessdave      @TaraMartinEDU   ⁦⁦@DHarrisEdS, and all those who work behind the scenes in the  @dbc_inc⁩ community for bringing my books to life. It has been such an honor.

otacke @otacke@chaos.social

Aaand yet another #H5P content type brought to you by #NDLA: Escape Room. https://www.olivertacke.de/labs/2024/07/23

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Word of the day is ‘struthious’ (18th century): prone to ignoring unwelcome facts and letting a situation worsen without any intervention. From the Latin for ‘ostrich-like’.

Word of the day, as schools reopen, is ‘merry-go-sorry’ (16th century): a mixture of joy and sorrow.  

Bill of Rights Institute  @BRInstitute

Join us Monday night as we co-host #sschat with  @ConstitutionCtr

. See you Monday, Sept. 9th at 8:00 PM ET! We will be sharing our #ConstitutionDay resources!

Moodle | Online learning, delivered your way.  @moodle

We are pleased to announce that Nolej is now a Moodle Certified Integration! Nolej uses cognitive psychology and generative AI to transform teaching content into engaging, interactive H5P activities. https://moodle.com/news/empowering-educators-with-moodle-certified-integration-nolej/ @nolej_ai

Strategies:  

Typing

Practice touch typing by retyping famous novels. Not only will you improve your typing skills, but you’ll also enjoy some of the greatest stories ever told!

A good place to start is our step-by-step guide that kickstarts your adventure into the world of touch typing.

https://entertrained.app

Resources:  

H5P Content Types – Escape Room and Vocabulary Drill

Escape room lets you set up an escape room inside H5P and use pass codes to advance the story.  Vocab Drill is just that.  Drill.  

Escape Room:  https://www.olivertacke.de/labs/2024/07/23/ndla-brings-you-yet-another-h5p-content-type-escape-room/  

Vocabulary Drill:  https://www.olivertacke.de/labs/2024/07/18/ndla-brings-you-vocabulary-drill/  

AXIS The Culture Translator

In Grand Fashion

What it is: This Sunday, some families will celebrate Grandparents Day by making phone calls, reminiscing, and otherwise being grateful for the impact that grandparents have had on their lives.

Why it’s catching on: “Grandparents Day” is not simply the latest hyped-up “holiday” to get thrown on the calendar in an attempt to sell cards and flowers. Grandparents Day was actually first recognized as a national holiday in the US back in 1978. It was the culmination of years of effort from activist Marian McQuade, who herself was the grandmother of 43 children. Economic, cultural, and sociological factors are contributing to a rise in multigenerational households—and people are living longer, too—which means that the role that grandparents play in families is being revisited.  

QR Code Generator

https://fietkau.software/qr

Your Name in LandSat

https://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/apps/YourNameInLandsat-main/index.html

Block Posters

https://www.blockposters.com

6 Ways to Tell if Students are Using AI

https://www.techlearning.com/how-to/6-ways-teachers-can-tell-students-are-using-ai

2024 Back-to-school science toolkit for teachers and administrators

Download your back-to-school science toolkit, featuring activities, research, webinars, and guides to help you reach new levels of engagement and strengthen relationships with your peers and students.

Find dynamic tools for administrators, teachers, and caregivers—all designed to activate student curiosity and build your community of scientists and supporters.

You’ll find:

  • Administrator exercises to set goals and help every student thrive.
  • Grade-banded, first-day classroom activities for students.
  • How-to guides and webinars with strategies to apply to your practice today.

https://go.info.amplify.com/fy23_science_backtoschool_national_toolkit_pdf-toolkit_getintouch_optin

Web Spotlight: 

It began with sibling rivalry. Now he has 181 Guinness World Records.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2024/08/27/david-rush-guinness-world-records

Random Thoughts . . .  

Talk Like A Pirate Day 

International Talk Like a Pirate Day is a parodic holiday created in 1995 by John Baur and Mark Summers of Albany, Oregon,[1] who proclaimed September 19 each year as the day when everyone in the world should talk like a pirate (that is, in English with a stereotypical West Country accent).[2] It has since been adopted by the Pastafarianism movement.[3]

September 19th. 

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

MSM 634: The Stable of Instructional Support

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about AI, technology, algorithms, and more. Dave addresses trustworthy science. 

Jokes:  


How many optometrists does it take to change a light bulb? 1 or 2? 1… or 2?


I went to the store to pick up eight cans of sprite… when I got home I realized I’d only picked seven up


There’s not really any training for garbagemen. 

  • They just pick things up as they go.

Why did the barber win the race? 

  • He took a short cut.

A worm is a pretty lousy prize for getting up early if you ask me.


What happens when you anger a brain surgeon?

– They will give you a piece of your mind.




Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  Trustworthy Scientific Information

I was recently reading the July-August 2024 issue of Science Scope, a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association, for middle school teachers.

In this issue, I read the “Commentary” section.  In the section was an article entitled, “Finding Instructional Resources for Teaching About Scientific Misinformation,” written by Andy Zucker.  

The nonprofit Media Literacy Now has developed a first-of-its-kind online database where teachers can find and access instructional materials to help student resists false and misleading information.  To access the database, please visit:

https://medialiteracynow.org/science-resources

http://k12science.net/trustworthy-scientific-information/

Reports from the Front Lines

  • Welcome Back To School
    • Teachers Returned
    • Kids next week
  • Teachers Return Next Week
    • Students after Labor Day
  • Phones in classrooms
  • Portfolios
  • Shawn’s Stable of Instructional Support
    • PCT, Pharmacology, Additional Social Studies Courses & adding teachers to that course.  

The Social Web

Susie Dent @susie_dent

Time for another clarion call for ‘hurkle-durkling’ (18th-century Scots): lounging in bed long after it’s time to get up.  Word of the day is ‘overmused’: to be weary from excess thinking.

Matt Magnuson  @MattMagnuson@flipboard.com

5 free AI tools for school that students, teachers, and parents can use, too
https://www.zdnet.com/article/5-free-ai-tools-for-school-that-students-teachers-and-parents-can-use-too/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into For Youth: What Will They Need? @for-youth-what-will-they-need-MattMagnuson

Strategies:  

Gamification: Pros and Some Cons, According to Research

Gamification has become a popular educational approach, having demonstrated solid potential as a learning tool. However, it’s not always clear exactly which gamified elements are helping, and in some instances, it can foster counterproductive competition and enhance extrinsic motivation rather than the more effective intrinsic motivation.

Overall, gamification should earn an achievement badge. found the intervention had small but significant positive effects on cognitive, motivational, and behavioral outcomes.

https://www.techlearning.com/how-to/gamification-pros-and-some-cons-according-to-research

Resources:  

AXIS The Culture Translator

“Very Mindful, Very Demure”

What it is: If you’ve heard an uptick in your teen’s use of the word “demure,” you’re not alone. A new TikTok trend has exploded in popularity, and it’s got teens commenting on all things demure, all things mindful.

Where it comes from: Women are using the term to describe anything that demonstrates the qualities of patience, passivity, and mindfulness. The trend is not necessarily about leaning into these things as virtues, but about presenting yourself as reserved when it’s to your advantage.  

ChatGP Cheat

What it is: Although chatbots like ChatGPT are mostly trained on news and encyclopedias, data suggests that they’re used most often for help on homework and for writing erotic fiction.  

When Schools Want to Ban Cellphones—But Parents Stand in the Way

https://www.edweek.org/technology/when-schools-want-to-ban-cellphones-but-parents-stand-in-the-way/2024/05

Web Spotlight: 

Bored? Scientists say mindless scrolling through online videos makes it worse

Scrolling through videos on TikTok or YouTube to avert boredom may have a decidedly unintended consequence: It can make people feel more bored, according to the paradoxical findings of a recent study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.

In experiments with more than 1,200 participants, many of them university students, Tam systematically showed that people switched to new videos when they were bored, believing the ability to switch would alleviate boredom but becoming more bored when they did.

Erin C. Westgate, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Florida who studies boredom and was not involved in the new research, said one of her thresholds when reading a new study is whether she would change her behavior based on the findings. In this case, she said, the answer is “a very chagrined yes.”

It turned out that when it came to articles, the effect was different than for videos: Boredom was similar between people who read one longer article compared with those able to skip between shorter ones.

The new results add to a growing body of scientific evidence that boredom is on the rise, despite — or perhaps because of — a world teeming with content that people can access at all times of day. People who are bored often turn to their phones, but then report being more bored, some studies have found. Scrolling on the social media platform X was linked to increases in boredom.

“When you’re immersed, you don’t feel bored. When your attention is spread, you’re almost by definition not satisfied,” Inzlicht said

Boredom is an uncomfortable emotion that serves a purpose, signaling that there is something more pleasurable to do, which can motivate people to explore their environment and stop investing time in an activity that has little to offer. But people seem increasingly intolerant of it, and Inzlicht has a counterintuitive tip for avoiding boredom: Lean into it. Sit with the discomfort of boredom for a bit before flitting to something else.

“If we’re so addicted to escaping boredom, so intolerant of boredom, it would be like a foraging animal going tree to tree, but never searching long enough to see if it bears fruit,” Inzlicht said. “Eventually, that animal will die.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2024/08/23/boredom-video-tiktok-youtube

How Khan Academy (And Others) Fudged Their Research

Always check the data. Always. 

Computer tutoring is the hot thing, and the big players have all sorts of sexy research numbers to back them up. Are the numbers bunk? They sure are. 

Did you notice a key phrase?

“For students who used the program as recommended.”

So how many students is that. Well, Holt checked the footnotes on the Khan Academy study and found the answer–

4.7%

https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2024/08/how-khan-academy-and-others-fudged.html

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

MSM 633:  The Hauls of Learning

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about returning to school (and parents who come back), why teachers succeed, and more. Dave waters down transparency.

Jokes:  

I had my timepiece lying on the seat next to me on the bus when this big dude got on and was about to sit. I had to say…

…whoa! Not on my watch.


I tried taking some high resolution photos of local farmland, but they all turned out a bit grainy.


My boss is going to fire the employee with the worst posture.

I have a hunch, it might be me.


I was going to get a brain transplant, but I changed my mind


Whiteboards … are remarkable.


Because the platypus can both lay eggs and produce milk, it’s one of the few animals that can make its own custard. 


Expect the worst, it’s the least you can do.


Geology rocks, but Geography is where it’s at!


Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.


Every machine in the coin factory broke down all of a sudden without explanation. It just doesn’t make any cents.


One Day, We too will be an ancient civilization is the title. Two explores are reading a list. One says: "I can't decipher these ancient hieroglypics." The other responds, " I think it's cursive".

UPS Driver standing in front of a UPS truck. The words above say, "As a kid, did you ever knock on people's door and run away before they could answer? Well, guess what...we're hiring"

Titled: I'm This Old, with a picture of jiffy pop popcorn, a speaker from a drive-in, a record player, and old disks from a view master.

Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  Secchi Disk Dip-In Project

I was recently reading the July-August 2024 issue of Science Scope, a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association, for middle school teachers.

In this issue, I read the “Citizen Science” section, written by Jill Nugent.  She wrote an article entitled “Summer Science With the Secchi Dip-In Project.”

The Robert Carlson Secchi Dip-In Project is a demonstration of the potential of volunteer monitors to gather environmentally important information on our lakes, rivers, and estuaries.  For more information, visit:

https://www.nalms.org/secchidipin

http://k12science.net/secchi-disk/ 

Reports from the Front Lines

  • Taking a Break
    • Podcast Listening – 
  • Vacation
  • Back To Work
    • Curriculum Work
    • Vertical 
    • Kick-off meetings

The Social Web

Iamyesyouareno  @iamyesyouareno

The only store not looted in this South Africa mall is a book store. The jokes write themselves.

Kagan Publishing & Professional Development  @KaganOnline

Calling all Kagan educators  Are you passionate about making a difference in the educator community and spreading the word about Kagan? If so, we want you to apply to become a #KaganAmbassador!  Find all the details here: https://kaganonline.com/ambassador/ #kaganambassadors #kagan

CAMLE  @camlecolorado

Kick off the 24-25 school year right! Register today for this year’s CAMLE Conference. Join us on 9/28 for outstanding sessions like this one- Lauren Morford from Brentwood MS helps us “teach less,” & let our students take ownership. Register now! https://camle.wildapricot.org/event-5695160

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

There is always the ‘snecklifter’: someone who lifted the ‘sneck’ or latch of the tavern door and peered in to see if they knew anyone who might stand them a drink.

Resources:  

Periodic Presidents

https://periodicpresidents.com/

GenType

Make an alphabet out of anything

Middle School Matters with letters made from old radios, microphones, and headphones.

https://labs.google/gentype

This Not That Bell Ringers

BIG news! Edition 4 of my “This, Not That” bellringer puzzles is now released, just in time for back to school. One change for these bellringers is the format from Google’s Jamboard, which is ending soon, to Google Slides or Canva Presentations. I’ve changed all previous bellringer puzzles to those formats as well.

https://blog.tcea.org/this-not-that-bellringers/

AXIS The Culture Translator

Hauls of Learning

What it is: It’s back-to-school season across the US—which means “back to school hauls” are trending on TikTok.

What parents should know: Total back-to-school spending is projected to drop slightly, with parents of K-12 graders spending an average of $586 per student. Since the cost of school supplies has increased by 24.5% over the past four years, that means parents are prioritizing deals and trying to stretch their dollars farther. This economic reality has done little to slow down the onslaught of “hauls” on TikTok where students share items they’re excited to use in the new school year. In the past, these hauls tended to focus on school supplies like backpacks and notebooks (and sometimes still do), but posts are just as likely to include expensive fragrances and high end makeup. Low-slung, baggy sweatpants, cropped cotton tees, animal prints, Converse sneakers, and horseshoe jeans are just some of the trends that teens will be eyeing this season.

Tough Topics

What it is: A new Gallup poll reveals that teens’ mental health, social media experiences, and plans for the future are the things parents worry about very often. Four in 10 parents surveyed say it’s difficult to discuss these particular subjects.

What teens have to say about it: It’s ironic—and maybe a little telling—that the things parents worry about the most appear to be the subjects that they find most difficult to discuss with their teenagers. When a parent is worried about a topic, it would seem their default response is to avoid bringing it up—but teens are actually craving these very conversations. According to the survey, 93 percent found it helpful or very helpful to talk about their mental health, and 83 percent say it’s helpful to talk about social media use. Gen Zers also say they don’t actually want someone to advise them when things make them upset, but rather just want parents to listen.

Just a reminder, you can get the AXIS The Culture Translator Dictionary here:  https://axis.org/resource/a-parent-guide-to-teen-slang/  

Web Spotlight: 

What Motivates Teachers to Enter the Profession

New research suggests that the reason someone chooses to become a teacher could determine how successful they will be in the role.

What if why you choose to become a teacher determines how successful you will be in the role?

Recent evidence has also pointed to declining interest in becoming a teacher, aligned with the decreased professionalization, prestige and pay of the sector. Yet noble individuals press forward and choose to educate our children anyway. 

Historically, people went into teaching for relatively straightforward reasons: They desired a stable career, enjoyed having summers off, or had family members who were teachers. However, across the essay responses, we found that those motivations were not the most prevalent, nor were they related to teacher outcomes — but others were.

The two most frequent drivers were altruism (the desire to do selfless good) and intrinsic motivation (an enjoyment of teaching, helping or interacting with students or children). Other interesting but less frequently cited motivations include the impact of prior teachers, love of a content area, and a family connection to teaching.

…individuals seeking their elementary certification were more likely to enjoy working with children, whereas middle and high school preservice teachers were interested in teaching a particular content area.

…men were less likely than women to report that they had “always wanted to teach.”

While altruism was the most frequent answer given, it wasn’t the one most strongly correlated with effectiveness.

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2024-08-05-what-motivates-teachers-to-enter-the-profession

3 Secrets to Help You Win Gold at Work, According to Greatest-of-All-Time Olympic Athletes

1. Seek group support for your individual creativity

2. Build on the innovation that others have already discovered

3. Dream, and then work like crazy

https://www.entrepreneur.com/leadership/3-ways-to-innovate-like-an-olympian-at-the-office/281372

Random Thoughts . . .  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

MSM 632: AI for the IEP

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about AI, summer, and more. Dave has a phenomenal section on phenomena. 

Jokes:  

I got an A on my origami assignment when I turned my paper into my teacher


The value in origami is in creasing.


Odorless perfumes are non-scents.


Imagine the self control required to work at a bubble wrap factory …


I had a dream where I weighed less than a thousandth of a gram.

  • I was like 0mg.

If you’re struggling to think of what to get someone for Christmas. Get them a fridge and watch their face light up when they open it.


It’s kind of weird that “dial it in” and “phone it in” mean nearly opposite things.


I had an operation on my funny bone today.

  • The doctor said I will be in stitches for two weeks.

To be Frank, I’d have to change my name.


Picture of Robin Williams with the text "People don't fake depression, they fake being okay. Remember that. Be kind."

Text: "Free air guitars, please take one." written on a wooden fence in front of empty bike racks.

Rare photo of a roundabout reproducing through mitosis.

Picture of roadway where the road is shaped like a figure eight minus the connection in the middle.

Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  Phenomena in the Classroom

I was recently reading the July-August 2024 issue of Science Scope, a journal published by the National Science Teaching Association.

In this issue, I read an article entitled “Phenomena in the Classroom,” written by Patty McGinnis.  

An engaging phenomena is determined more by how the students generate compelling lines of inquiry that create real opportunities for learning.  Paul Anderson’s “Wonder of Science” website has an extensive list of phenomena organized by grade level and standard.  It is available at:

https://thewonderofscience.com/phenomenal

http://k12science.net/phenomena-in-the-classroom/

Reports from the Front Lines

  • Planning Parent Contacts
    • Keeping Track of Ideas
    • Resources
  • Time for?
    • Pi Time
    • Curriculum Time
    • Oracle of Ancient Civ
    • Independent Study
  • Student Access to Book Material Online

The Social Web

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

I’m coming (back) to Scotland for some of the final dates of my tour. I will definitely be mentioning some of my favourites from the Scots dictionary, including ‘tartling’: hesitating when introducing someone because you’ve completely forgotten their name.  Word of the day is ‘willanthropy’: the act of leaving a gift, however small, to a charity in your will.  

BigBlueButton  @bigbluebutton

Yes, we are integrating H5P into BigBlueButton. Why? Because the goal of the virtual classroom is not to meet, it is to learn. H5P extends our built-in tools for active learning and live analytics to ensure every student learns.  @H5PTechnology  #edtech

Kris Kashtanova  @icreatelife

This is another use of AI for good. Steve Gleason is a football legend and an ALS activist. He is using AI (Adobe Firefly) with eye tracking to create images from his pre-diagnosis artwork. ALS causes loss of muscle control, so AI is a way for Steve to make art.

Trending:  Katato – a loud annoying person with a high pitched voice that can’t take a hint.  

Resources:  

AXIS The Culture Translator

Really Anxious

What it is: Lenore Skenazy, founder of the LetGrow project, makes an argument that smartphones are “trust-blockers” for parents.

Why it’s worth thinking about: There’s a lot of discussion around how smartphones can shape child development in unhealthy ways. (So much discussion, in fact, that Axis just created a whole free toolkit breaking down everything you need to know before you give your son or daughter a phone—check it out!) But there hasn’t been as much talk about how much parents have grown accustomed, and maybe a little bit addicted, to being able to call their kids at any time, track their movements, and send them a heart-eyes emoji whenever they feel like it. Parents are relying on phones more and more as a parenting tool, but Skenazy wonders if this constant communication only serves to facilitate these parents’ own neuroses.

New Teachers

https://www.middleweb.com/51048/25-of-our-best-posts-for-new-ms-teachers/

Web Spotlight: 

Sydney Letter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgtHJKn0Mck&list=TLGGqWOPRo8tEqMyNzA3MjAyNA

Random Thoughts . . .  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

MSM 631: At Work, But Not Working

Summary:

Shawn and Troy share some jokes, middle school endorsements, and more. Dave gets us thinking about Science education, the why, and the cost.  

Jokes:  

Elton John’s E-reader was swept up in a tornado…like a kindle in the wind


Three people turned up to play the part of The Cloud.

  • It was overcast.

It was an easy move from installing air conditioning units to being a Chief Information Officer.

  • Both jobs are all about losing efficiency when people start opening windows.

Just bought a boomerang from a ghost.

  • That’ll come back to haunt me.

I’m an American Sign Language interpreter, so for me, every single job is a near Deaf experience.


What’s the difference between gray and grey?

  • One is a color and the other is a colour.


People saying ‘boo! to their friends has risen by 85% in the last year…. 

  • That’s a frightening statistic.

I made a playlist for hiking. It has music from Peanuts, The Cranberries, and Eminem. 

  • I call it my Trail Mix.

Scientists finally did a study on forks. 

  • It’s about tine!



Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  Why Teach Science?

I was recently reading the book, “Transformative Science Teaching: A Catalyst for Justice and Sustainability,” written by Daniel Morales-Doyle.

In this book, Daniel looks at two questions:

  • “Why teach science?”
  • “How does my teaching reflect the world in which my students live and project the world they would like to see?”

http://k12science.net/why-teach-science/ 

Why Shawn does Science:  https://www.backyard-ballistics.com/  

Reports from the Front Lines

The Social Web

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Word of the day is ‘forslug’ (14th century): to neglect something important, or squander a good deal of time, through sheer sluggishness.  

A few smiles, dictionary-style, for those in need: the collective noun for penguins on land is a ‘waddle’, eggs were once known as ‘cacklefarts’, someone in a bad mood would be described as ‘ill-willy’ (or worse, ‘evil-willy’), and to be totally bewildered was to be ‘bumfuzzled’.

Rick Wormeli @rickwormeli2

Yes! Middle School has significant impact on future success — The Middle Matters https://ascd.org/el/articles/the-middle-matters  via  @ASCD

ZUM-Apps  @ZUMApps

Super creative! Who wants to be a millionaire as #H5P #GAMEMAP of @floriandagner

as a template for more #Gamification ! This is the #H5PWorkflow collection Gamification with H5P https://apps.zum.de/gamification Thanks for sharing! https://apps.zum.de/apps/33868 #OER #OERde #moodle #freieBildung

𝗧𝗖𝗘𝗔  Next Up: AI for EDU Conference  @TCEA

Evaluate your resources with this easy-to-remember acronym: CRAAP! Currency Relevance Accuracy Authority Purpose https://sbee.link/w8kjn6rxam via Sequoia High School Media Center #mschat #hschat #teachertwitter

Strategies:  

How Actors Remember Their Lines

In describing how they remember their lines, actors are telling us an important truth about memory.

Actors face the demanding task of learning their lines with great precision, but they rarely do so by rote repetition. They did not, they said, sit down with a script and recite their lines until they knew them by heart.

Repeating items over and over, called maintenance rehearsal, is not the most effective strategy for remembering. Instead, actors engage in elaborative rehearsal, focusing their attention on the meaning of the material and associating it with information they already know.

…actors search for meaning in the script, rather than memorizing lines.

Script lines are carefully analyzed to understand the character’s motivation. This deep understanding of a script is achieved by actors asking goal-directed questions, such as “Am I angry with her when I say this?”

At the age of 58, John Basinger began studying this poem as a form of mental activity to accompany his physical activity at the gym, each time adding more lines to what he had already learned. Eight years later, he had committed the entire poem to memory, reciting it over three days. When I tested him at age 74, giving him randomly drawn couplets from the poem and asking him to recite the next ten lines, his recall was nearly flawless. Yet, he did not accomplish this feat through mindless repetition. In the course of studying the poem, he came to a deep understanding of Milton.

https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/how-actors-remember-their-lines

9 Habit-Stacking Tips for Low-Key Summer Prep

  • Habit Stack #1: Visualize the upcoming year.
  • Habit Stack #2: Identify specific, doable sanity savers.
  • Habit Stack #3: Prioritize one goal.
  • Habit Stack #4: Reach out to a teaching buddy.
  • Habit Stack #5: Note the good things.
  • Habit Stack #6: Do some homework (but not too much).
  • Habit Stack #7: Learn names.
  • Habit Stack #8: Create friction for distraction.
  • Habit Stack #9: Practice self-compassion.

https://www.middleweb.com/50960/9-habit-stacking-tips-for-low-key-summer-prep/

Resources:  

Want to spur your child’s intellectual development? Use audiobooks instead of videos, says researcher

Listening to audiobooks requires children to focus and pay attention to the spoken word, promoting the development of listening skills.

Audiobooks are a valuable tool for expanding a child’s vocabulary and enhancing language skills

https://phys.org/news/2024-07-spur-child-intellectual-audiobooks-videos.html

Electoral-Vote.com

National Elections are in November.  Keep up with the current polls across the country with www.electoral-vote.com ‘s Electoral College map.  He updates it very frequently and it is a good visual to help students understand how the Electoral College works.  

Magna Carta:  Cornerstone of the Constitution

https://a.co/d/jaQuHYh

Web Spotlight:

REVOLUTIONIZE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP WITH THE HERSEY-BLANCHARD MODEL

The Hersey-Blanchard Model (pictured above) identifies four distinct leadership styles that instructional coaches and principals can employ when working with teachers. Each style combines different levels of directive and supportive behaviors to meet the needs of teachers at various stages of development.

https://blog.tcea.org/revolutionize-school-leadership-hersey-blanchard-model/

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

MSM 630: No Boobs, Butts, or Bellies!

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about conferences, H5P, summer, and more. Dave sets the goal on Science education. 

Jokes:  

To develop massive thighs all you need to do is diddly squat. 


A survey you fill out after staying in a motel is an…

  • Innput.

A truck loaded with Vicks Vaporub overturned on the highway. Amazingly, there was no congestion for eight hours.


Tomorrow is the day that I really start procrastinating.


Did you hear about the submarine industry? 

  • It really took a dive…

Statistically 6 out of 7 dwarfs aren’t happy…


Librarians operate by the book.


Don’t buy flowers at a monastery. Because only you can prevent florist friars.


Does ke$ha go by k€sha in Europe?


Individual riding a unicycle past a sign reading: "No Bicycle Riding, Rollerblading, Rollerskating,Skateboarding, Scooter Riding".

Sign with a Red circle and diagonal line through the image of a person standing  on or in front of a a rectangle with odd pieces cut out. There are some irregular shaped pieces on the bottom. (*We have no idea what this sign is trying to convey)

A five panel comic featuring an elderly lady and a young girl. 
Panel One: 
Girl: Where Am I? What happend to me? 
Lady: Not Where, My Dear, When...14
Panel 2: 
Lady: You couldn't wait to be a teenager...How does it feel? 
Girl: Um...Awkward
Panel 3:
Lady: Like being too old for trick-or-treating, but no old enough for real life?
Girl: Yeah
Panel 4: 
Girl: I feel sad and happy...Shy and Gold, all at the same time...And..And...Boy....
Lady: That's the Horomones Boilin'
Panel 5: 
Girl: Ok...I don't think I Like It Very Much...
Lady: Then We better Keep Moving
Aside at the bottom says, "To Be Movingly Continued!"

Top image of Luke Skywalker with the text "Why did the movies come out 4,5,6, 1.2.3?
Bottom image of Yoda with the text, "In charge of scheduling, I was."

Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast: Goal of Science Education

I was recently reading the book, “Transformative Science Teaching: A Catalyst for Justice and Sustainability,” written by Daniel Morales-Doyle.

In this book, Daniel challenges the goal of science education.  

http://k12science.net/goal-of-science-education/

Reports from the Front Lines

  • PSU (PowerSchool University)
    • Formatted Presentations
    • Multiple Screens
    • SWAG – Give Aways
  • H5P
  • Shawn’s Upgraded Laptop
    • Multiple screen use
  • Back to School Parent Communication
  • MAMSE

The Social Web

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Niche tweet, but if we’re talking about impossible situations, the expression ‘between the devil and the deep blue sea’ began as a bold translation of a Latin proverb ‘a fronte praecipitium, a tergo lupi’: literally ‘a precipice in front, wolves behind’.

Word of the day is ‘ultra-crepidate’ (19th century): to comment at length on a subject you know virtually nothing about.

D2L  @D2L

Reflecting on #D2LFusion 2024! A global gathering shaping the future of education with participants from 16+ countries. From D2L Lumi to H5P Group, we’re advancing learning innovation. Explore:  https://t.co/ZAfWelwscT  

EducationInvestor Global  @EduInvestor

Norway: D2L acquires ed tech firm H5P Group https://educationinvestor.co.uk/canada-d2l-acquires-edutech-firm-h5p-group/

otacke @otacke@chaos.social

You asked for it: My view on “#D2L all in on #H5P https://www.olivertacke.de/labs/2024/07/12 

Resources:  

Econlowdown

Economic lessons and activities for the middle school classroom from the St. Louis Federal Reserve.  Free sign up, link your classroom to the activities.  To access Econ Lowdown:  Visit the following URL:  https://www.econlowdown.org.

National History Day

Each year, students around the world discover history through National History Day® (NHD) by creating historical research projects. Through the process, students develop skills in communication, project management, and historical thinking.  

https://nhd.org/en

Michigan Youth In Government

Time to plan for your Youth in Government projects!  

https://www.myig.org/Middle-School

Michigan Social Studies Olympiad

Time to plan for your Olympiad!  

https://www.mcssmi.org/Olympiad-24

AXIS The Culture Translator

Nobody Wants to BeReal

What it is: An article in The Free Press documents the rise and fall of the social media app BeReal, examining why it never took off the way it could have.

Web Spotlight: 

Informative Images

Informative images convey a simple concept or information that can be expressed in a short phrase or sentence. The text alternative should convey the meaning or content that is displayed visually, which typically isn’t a literal description of the image.

In some situations a detailed literal description may be needed, but only when the content of the image is all or part of the conveyed information. Whether to treat an image as informative or decorative is a judgment that authors make, based on the reason for including the image on the page.

Part of ADA compliance responsibility

https://www.w3.org/WAI/tutorials/images/informative

Brickfield Labs Tips Cube:  https://www.brickfield.ie/tips/   

Random Thoughts . . .  

Lithuania “Century of Song” Celebration

“Lithuania’s very first Song Festival was organised exactly 100 years ago in Kaunas. Then it lasted for two days – and the centennial event this June will continue a whole week. The programme includes 14 events, all of them part of the long and ever-growing tradition.”

https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2305028/37-000-performers-to-celebrate-centenery-of-lithuanian-song-celebration

https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2251372/tradition-that-survived-wars-and-occupations-lithuania-prepares-for-centennial-song-festival

Music:  https://youtu.be/v4mrhODa77M?t=7270  and https://youtu.be/p5f20vbQK-8  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

MSM 629: Shawn’s SQL Smile

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about summer plans, COVID impacts, and more. Dave takes on AI in Science. 

Jokes:  

Sore throats are a pain in the neck!


How many seconds are in a year?

  • 12.

January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd, April 2nd…. etc


C-flat: Perfect boating weather.


I’ve made the decision to take a role at this startup that makes knives.

  • What they’re working on is cutting edge!

The best friends to take to dinner are your taste buds.


How do locomotives know where they’re going? 

  • Lots of training

Mrs Doc was worried about meeting new people on our upcoming cruise. @speecherkelly said: Don’t worry. We’ll all be in the same boat.


“Be nice to everyone. You never know who might have a pool.”

-Gandhi


Every morning when I go out, I get hit by bicycle. Every morning!  

  • It’s a vicious cycle.

How does a thermos know if the drink should be hot or cold?


When she heard me sing, my music teacher told me I should be tenor. 

  • Tenor twelve feet away from every musical instrument.

Remember, the best angle to approach a problem from is the “try” angle.



Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  AI:  Friend or Foe?

I was recently reading the March/April 2024 issue of “The Science Teacher,” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.

In this issue, I read “Editor’s Corner” written by Ann Haley Mackenzie. She wrote an article entitled, “Artificial Intelligence: Friend or Foe?”

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here, in a big way.  Do you see it as a friend or foe in your science classroom?  The possibilities for AI are endless.  Do you feel comfortable with AI developing further?  Are you skeptical of AI?  Do you see the many possibilities of AI for your science teaching?  Should we fear AI?  These are all questions being considered by users and developers.

http://k12science.net/ai-friend-or-foe/

Reports from the Front Lines

The Social Web

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Word of the day is ‘ultra-crepidate’ (19th century): to comment at length on a subject you know virtually nothing about.

Mr H5P  @mrh5p

Learn how to create interactive content for your students with #H5P. Join webinars by the H5P team on new AI tools, live engagement tools branching scenarios and about the product roadmap.  https://h5p.org/h5p-webinars-2024  

Ron King @mthman

Algebra Ss are working on parallel & perpendicular lines by designing a city on paper, then converting their maps to @Desmos. Maps include shading & using the polygon command. Bonus is offered for Ss willing to add motion. #mschat #mathchat #mtbos #edchat

𝗧𝗖𝗘𝗔  Next Up: AI for EDU Conference @TCEA

 7 Effective Ways to Teach Vocabulary in the Middle School Classroom https://sbee.link/ckarvw4efj via Teach Like Midgley #mschat #ela #engchat #writing

Resources:  

TeacherServer

TeacherServer is a cutting-edge educational platform designed to support teachers in their daily tasks. Our mission is to provide high-quality, easy-to-use tools that enhance teaching and learning experiences.

TeacherServer.com operates using a local AI server rather than relying on remote services. This means our platform processes your requests much faster than other AI servers like ChatGPT and Gemini. For example, whether you’re generating lesson plans or creating quizzes, the response time is significantly reduced, ensuring you can complete your tasks without unnecessary delays.

Your privacy is our top priority. Unlike other services that might store your data, TeacherServer.com ensures that your data and sessions are not saved. Everything is processed locally, meaning your information remains private and secure. You can confidently use our tools without worrying about your data being stored or shared. For instance, when you use our Assignment Feedback tool, your assignment details are not retained, ensuring complete confidentiality.

At TeacherServer.com, we believe in providing high-quality tools without any cost. Our platform is entirely free to use, with no subscription fees, no ads, and no distractions. This allows you to focus on what matters most – enhancing your teaching and educational outcomes. You can access all our tools, from the K-12 Curriculum Quiz Maker to the Vocabulary Builder, without any financial commitment.

https://www.teacherserver.com

WordMark

Helps you choose fonts for your creative projects

https://wordmark.it

Colossal Cranium

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPwiAPYRT1JCna3GYf-vkCg

Moodle Glossary Block:  ForBetterLife.org

Looking for something to hang out on the side of your Moodle classroom page that rotates information each time a student loads it?  How about with messages about character?  ForBetterLife.org has a daily email with such messages.  Imagine taking 440 of those and putting them in a Random Glossary Block.  Well someone did!  Character Glossary – Random Glossary Entry Block  

AXIS The Culture Translator

Slang of the Week: “Dusty”

“Dusty” can mean multiple things, but luckily, they all share the word’s original meaning: to be covered in dust. For many young people, the term has evolved to refer to someone who is maybe a little older or slightly out-of-touch. They’re “dusty” like a cup in the back of a cupboard that’s been forgotten. It also refers to someone who is past their prime or out of practice.

There’s No Place like Noplace

What it is: A new social media platform called “noplace” is currently the most popular app on the Apple app store. 

Why it’s attractive to Gen Z and Gen Alpha: The trend of nostalgia for the 2000s continues to grow, and MySpace and other early forms of social media might be the next vein to tap. Enter “noplace,” which seems to be trying to refocus on social connections instead of today’s social media, which leans heavily on being entertaining. Noplace gives users a customizable profile, a wall for friends to post on, and a feature where users highlight their “top ten friends.”  

Web Spotlight: 

CHAPEA

Mission Overview

Mission 1 will be the first of three one-year simulated Mars missions. The overarching goal of the mission is to assess human health and performance in relation to Mars relevant resource limitations in isolation and confinement. To collect sufficient data, the crew members will live and work in a simulated Mars habitat at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, complete with communication delays and environmental stressors. The crew will also participate in various activities, including crop growth, simulated spacewalks, habitat maintenance, and science experiments.

Mission 1 began June 25, 2023 and will end on July 6, 2024.

https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/chapea/chapea-mission-1

Random Thoughts . . .  

We can agree that speeding in a school zone is dangerous. Now, cities are installing cameras that read license plates and automatically send a ticket. Most cars now have GPS built in. Should we just use GPS to issue tickets? 

Which of the following was a world boxing champion?

  1. Lyndon Johnson
  2. Ronald Reagan
  3. Jimmy Carter
  4. Franklin Delano
  5. Abraham Lincoln
  6. Pat Paulsen
  7. None of the above

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

MSM 628: The Standards Are The Same

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about summer work, History Resources, and more. Dave shares the powerful advantages of Zoos and Aquariums. 

Jokes:  

Now that all the Horses are housed can I say they are 

  • Stabilized?

A towel gets wetter as it dries.


A constipated pathological liar told me he wasn’t feeling well. I could tell he was full of crap!


What creature is smarter than a talking parrot? 

  • A spelling bee.

Someone asked me, what’s the ninth letter of the alphabet? 

  • It was a complete guess, but I was right.

Can anyone tell me if you need a current license to drive an electric car?


Came home to find two guys stealing my gate. 

  • Didn’t want to say anything in case they took a fence.

I’ve been trying to come up with a dad joke about momentum . . . 

  • but I just can’t seem to get it going.

I used to be addicted to deli meats but I quit cold turkey


My local newspaper is running a competition where you can win a holiday for you and a friend in Dubai.- I was going to enter but I don’t have any friends in Dubai!


I must have a prodigious quantity of mind; it takes me as much as a week sometimes to make it up.

— Mark Twain, “The Innocents Abroad”


I’d like to do some drawings of bread, but I can’t find a roll model.


People often ask me why I wanted to be a Film Editor. 

  • Well – to cut a long story short…

I used to work for an origami company but they folded.


For Sale: Thick layer of dust.

  • As seen on TV.

Eileen Award

  • Laundon Tucker

Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  Field Trips to Zoos and Aquariums

I was recently reading the January/February 2024 issue of “Connected Science Learning” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.

In this issue, I read an article written by Benjamin Krause Recchia and T.J. McKenna. The article was entitled, “Field Trips to Zoos and Aquariums: Solving Pedagogical Challenges Using the Next Generation Science Standards.”

Though zoos and aquariums have become increasingly focused on conservation education, their unique and diverse learning opportunities have been underused.  Active learning pedagogy aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards can facilitate expansion of education at zoos and aquariums beyond their conservation education niche.

http://k12science.net/field-trips-to-zoos-and-aquariums/

Reports from the Front Lines

  • History Day for my nephew
  • Moodle Stuff
  • Letters for Parents
  • Summer is getting busier
    • AI Training
    • Annual Training
    • Phishing Training
    • Hiring
  • Summer Fun
    • Pedal Boat

The Social Web

Modern Men’s Guide  @ModernMenGuide

Six Male Personalities of Modern Men Explained: (What Each Type Brings to the Table) Open Thread –

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Word of the day is ‘bang-a-bonk’ (19th century): to sit lazily on a river bank and forget the world for a while.  

Mr H5P  @mrh5p

How to create a ‘Sort the Paragraphs’ activity in #H5P To see the finished example and more tutorials, check out http://mrh5p.com and subscribe to the H5P Builders newsletter. https://mrh5p.com/h5p-examples/how-to-make-a-sort-the-paragraphs-activity-with-h5p/

#instructionaldesign

elisabetta lando  @LandoEli

Flipped learning for maths using H5P – interesting to see how long it takes to prepare. The pay off is a substantial increase in grades and good student evaluation as well as everything ready to go for next year #LearningatCity24

jeffowski@mastodon.worldChurch of Jeff@jeffowski@mastodon.world

We take responsibility for our actions at the time we perform our actions, not at the time we get caught.

@simonsinek

tom_geraghty@mastodon.onlinetom_geraghty@tom_geraghty@mastodon.online

The Pac-Man rule is: “When standing as a group of people, always leave room for one person to join your group.”

The Pac-Man rule provides the actual physical space for someone to join a conversation, and it also sends a strong visual signal that *you are welcome here.*

https://

psychsafety.co.uk/the-pac-man-

rule/

the pac man rule

GossiTheDogKevin Beaumont@GossiTheDog@cyberplace.social

Since it’s come up again – if you use new Outlook and Mail in Windows 11, it automatically syncs all your email and contacts into Microsoft’s cloud – even if you use a third party mail provider.

There’s no option to decline.

Pretty obviously, consider the risk.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/sync-your-account-in-outlook-to-the-microsoft-cloud-985f9e19-d308-4e85-9d1d-0c6f32f8e981

Strategies:  

“I Can’t Hear You with All of Your Talking”

I was demoing a student writing conference for a group of teachers. They specifically asked me to work with a student named Estrella. Her teacher found conferring with Estrella extra challenging – no matter what the teacher tried, Estrella remained quiet and seemed disconnected. So I gave it a try, even though I doubted I could make any further inroads with her.

I modeled a strategy for Estrella, I decided to pause and say nothing for what felt like an eternity – about 30 seconds. We could see that Estrella was thinking. Then she began to take what I taught and use it. A light bulb lit up in our heads. We realized that simply saying nothing and giving each individual student  the time they need to process and act could be incredibly powerful.

I’ve learned that silence is not just the absence of noise – it’s a powerful pedagogical strategy that fosters an environment of mutual respect, active engagement, and collective discovery.

“Silence is the space that allows us to listen. Silence helps to create belonging.”

https://www.middleweb.com/50917/i-cant-hear-you-with-all-of-your-talking

Ditch the Drill and Choose to Thrill: Personalization with Student Choice

Agency in the classroom is about giving students more control over their learning through greater autonomy and purpose. Many factors drive it, but the underlying premise is to move learners from a state of engagement to empowerment so that they exert more ownership over their learning. While there are many high-agency strategies to choose from when personalizing, choice stands out.

  1. Choice in content: Students can choose to learn the content with the teacher in small groups or independently through a flipped lesson or self-pacing task (reading, video, notes, slides, etc.). No matter the path chosen, checks for understanding along the way inform the student of their understanding. 
  2. Choice in the process: Students can choose scaffolded and relevant tasks to complete in a must-do/may-do format, choice board, or playlist. While they work, the teacher uses data or evidence to pull individuals for intensive support.
  3. Choice in product: With a well-designed rubric, students choose how to demonstrate learning through creating a product.  For examples, click HERE and HERE

https://esheninger.blogspot.com/2024/06/ditch-drill-and-choose-to-thrill.html

Resources:  

Comic Book +

Welcome to the main page of our massive public domain comic book archive. True gems to download or read online. So many, it is impossible to read them all!

The majority of our books belong to what has been termed the Golden Age of Comics. This began primarily with newspaper reprints and then “went up, up and away” with the introduction of Superman. Styles changed, new genres superseded old and then a new era dawned, the Silver Age of Comics, of which we also have many examples.

For what was once a massive industry, the publishers and their successors often took little care of their work. Many of the comics were either not copyrighted correctly, or the copyright was not renewed. Through this oversight thousands of comic books lapsed into what is called the “Public Domain”, which means that there is now no legal owner. That is why we can bring you all of these FREE and LEGALLY!

So take our word for it, if you browse around you are certain to spend a great many happy hours here!

https://comicbookplus.com/?cid=1507

Journeys In Film

We transform entertainment media into educational media by designing and publishing cost-free, educational resources for teachers to accompany carefully chosen feature films and documentaries while meeting mandated standards in all core subjects. Selected films are used as springboards for lesson plans in subjects ranging from math, science, language arts, and social studies to specific topics that have become critical for students to learn.

Journeys in Film’s programs engage students in meaningful examinations of human rights, poverty and hunger, stereotyping and racism, environmental issues, global health, immigration, and gender roles.  Our teaching methods are successful in broadening perspectives, teaching for global competency, encouraging empathy, and building new paradigms for best practices in education.  

We also develop discussion guides for films that don’t necessarily lend themselves to academic standards, but cover topics and themes that are valuable for classroom discussions and in other settings, such as after school clubs, community screenings and University classes.

https://journeysinfilm.org

DARESAYCheck-in generator

https://checkin.daresay.io

Open RSS

https://openrss.org

Amnesia

Amnesia is an interactive learning experience. You can choose to learn about a specific topic, which will take you to a relevant time and place, or you can directly enter a time and place to explore. Select an option to start your journey.

https://www.playamnesia.com

AXIS:  The Culture Translator

Tall Order

What it is: Socks that come up to your shin are the true marker of a stylish individual, according to Gen Alpha and Gen Z.

Why it marks a generational divide: Many readers might remember that in the early 2000s, socks seemed to get shorter and shorter, until “no-show” socks became the norm. Today, many agree that the most stylish socks hit much higher on the leg. Visible white crew socks extending over a pair of black leggings, sometimes even paired with a gigantic pair of open-toed slides, are worn by teens without an ounce of shame—a look that Millennials would have probably called “cringe.” Crew socks have become a sign that the wearer is aware of current trends. But while Gen Z might say they’ve grown used to never seeing their ankles, many Millennials seem to be attached to the socks of their youth.

LRT – Song Festival

Centenary studio of song fest.  “Dainų diena Kaune „Miškais kalnai žaliuoja“. Ved. Gerūta Griniūtė. Tiesioginė transliacija iš Kauno Dainų slėnio (subtitruota, su vertimu į gestų k.).”  Day of songs in Kaunas “Mountains are green with forests”. Lead Geruta Griniūtė. Live broadcast from the Kaunas Valley of Songs (subtitled, with translation into sign language).  https://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/tiesiogiai/lrt-televizija  

Web Spotlight: 

How France Adopts An Open Source-Based Education Strategy – Free of Big Tech

France’s move towards a comprehensive open source-based education strategy, 2023-2027. The aim is to achieve digital sovereignty and reduce dependence on big tech companies like Microsoft and Google, which are widely used in education systems, including in Denmark.

Kauffmann said that France has never officially embraced big tech in schools, which makes the project easier, and that the public generally is skeptic towards monopolies and the abuse of private data. The country is thus undergoing a cultural shift in the digital education sector, promoting the use of free, open, and interoperable code, data, and content, referred to as “digital commons”. This approach encompasses not only free licenses but also community involvement and governance.

“One of the key actions is to offer authoring tools to our teacher and tools based on open source software. No Google Classrooms. Not Microsoft Teams. We have chosen Moodle Elea as a learning management system,” explained Alexis Kauffmann who also pointed to other tools to learn to code and mathematics like Jupyter. They have there an app platform with open-source tools like Nextcloud, Big Blue Button, and Collaboration. They even have their own ‘github’ (owned by Microsoft) called La Forge, where teachers share code.

“I am not saying it is easy. The biggest obstacle is political courage to resist the lobbyists both at a national and European level,” he said and pointed to other risks like the quality of big tech’s products, being isolated in Europa, and artificial intelligence. 

https://dataethics.eu/how-france-adopts-an-open-source-based-education-strategy-free-of-big-tech

Random Thoughts . . .  

[BFTP] The one question I’m asking at ISTE 2013

https://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2024/06/bftp-the-one-question-im-asking-at-iste-2013.html

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!