Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about translation, the break, AI, and more. Dave has part 1 of the Microbiomes. 

Jokes:

You never hear of accountants getting attacked. 

• There must be safety in numbers.

---

What do you call a man lying in front of a door? 

• Mat.

---

My tailor really likes fixing my clothes. 

• Or sew it seams.

---

What washes up on tiny beaches? 

• Microwaves.

---

I can’t believe I was arrested for impersonating a politician…

• I was just sitting there doing nothing.

---

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

• I call it my Trail Mix.

---

They should make another Taken movie about Liam Neeson being under-appreciated for trying to keep his family safe.

Taken 4: Granted

---

Alarming news!

A clock factory was on fire.

Second-hand smoke everywhere!

People were gathered around to watch. I think they were all cuckoo.

I’m a little ticked off about what some people will do just for a hot time.

If you don’t understand this joke…

I’ll give you a minute.

---

Never debate me on which vowel is most important…

• I will always win.

---

Is a stolen Hershey bar considered

• hot chocolate?

---

Dad, how do you cast spells?

Dad: You just follow the instructions.

Which instructions?

Dad: Yep, they’re the ones.

---

Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  Microbiomes

I was recently reading the November-December 2025 issue of “Science Scope”, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.

In this issue, I read the section, “Citizen Science” written by Jill Nugent. She wrote an article entitled, “Meet the Microbiome.”

The human microbiome refers to the microorganisms that live on and in the human body. Colony B is a citizen science project that invites learners to engage in science and contribute to what is known about the human microbiome. Colony B was designed by researchers at McGill University, and it involves sorting and analyzing microbiome data that were gathered as part of the American Gut Project.  To learn more about this citizen science project, visit their website at:

https://scistarter.org/education/colony-b-homeschool

https://k12science.net/microbiomes/

Reports from the Front Lines

• Translation by Apple
  • Spanish – worked well
  • Arabic – classic vs regional
  • HeyGen
• Break Time Activities
  • Reading
  • Photography
  • Writing
• Google Certification
• AI in Social Studies

The Social Web

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

A few of my favourite words from the season. Some are beautiful, others might be necessary. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. https://twowords2.page.link/play

Strategies:  

4 Simple Strategies for Student Self-Assessment

• Muddy Point Board
• Reflective Journals
• Video Confessionals
• Which Road Are You On?

https://www.middleweb.com/52511/4-simple-strategies-for-student-self-assessment/

4 Ways to Reach the Disengaged Learner

• Unleash Agency Through Choice
• Cultivate Radical Relevance
• Focus on Competence, Not Just Grades
• Build a Culture of Relatedness

https://esheninger.blogspot.com/2025/12/4-ways-to-reach-disengaged-learner.html

Resources:  

A250 iCivics Teacher Challenge

Join iCivics for A250 Teacher Trivia—25 weeks of fast, fun civics that celebrate 250 years of the Declaration of Independence!  

Teacher Trivia Challenge

AI and the Future of Pedagogy 

Click to access ai-and-the-future-of-pedagogy.pdf

At Sixes and Sevens

The whole ‘six seven’ thing couldn’t just be for fun, could it? Jonah Goldberg / December 26, 2025

https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/gfile/six-seven-meme-coincidences/

The Teacher’s Game Plan:  Winning With Students from Day 1 by Kim Campbell

New book!  The Teacher’s Game Plan: Winning With Students From Day One is a playbook for new teachers who want to step into the classroom with confidence, clarity, and purpose.

Drawing on lessons from the basketball court, veteran educator and coach Kim Campbell shows you how the same strategies that build winning teams can help you build strong, lasting relationships with students, set high expectations, and create a classroom culture where everyone can succeed.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G25BPF6P

Web Spotlight: 

Maybe More Experienced Teachers Can Afford To Be Less “Data-Driven”?

https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2025/12/14/maybe-more-experienced-teachers-can-afford-to-be-less-data-driven/

The Important Work

Since ChatGPT was released in 2022, writing instructors from across the world have found each other on social media, at conferences, and through newsletters to share information, teaching ideas, and more. While there are some great repositories of assignments and approaches to teaching writing in the era of generative AI, there’s no substitute for talking to colleagues about what works, what doesn’t work, what problems we’re encountering, and what we’re discovering.

The goal of “The Important Work” is to bring some of those conversations to a wider audience. Each newsletter will be a dispatch from someone’s classroom—a reflection on an assignment that incorporates AI or one that actively doesn’t, a reckoning with what we’re gaining and losing, a call for advice or feedback from others who are experimenting in the classroom.

https://theimportantwork.substack.com

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about AI in social studies, conference material, and more. Dave (well, not Dave, but Fred) sings science. 

Jokes:

My tailor really likes fixing my clothes. 

• Or sew it seams.

---

Where does an angry sailor go? 

• Anchor management.

---

Do I enjoy making courthouse puns?

• Guilty.

---

The new password for my computer now is ‘fireplace.’

• It’s so I can log in.

---

My son’s math teacher called him average. 

• I just think he’s mean.

---

I quit my job as a mailman when they handed me the first letter to deliver.

• I looked at it and realized: ‘This isn’t for me.’

---

Why is ‘dark’ spelled with a K and not a C?

• Because you can’t ‘C’ in the dark.

---

---

---

---

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Traditional Christmas Songs and Science

As the holiday season approaches, I am reminded of some of the songs that I recorded with the group, Science Explosion.  All of the songs that we sang were written by group member Fred Ribits.  Many of the songs were written to familiar tunes and some of them were written to the tunes of traditional Christmas songs.  

In this podcast I will share three of the songs.  If you enjoy them and want to share them with others, just visit:

http://k12science.net/scienceexplosion/songs

There you will be able to listen to and download the vocal and instrumental tracks for the songs.  You will also be able to download a Science Explosion songbook that includes the lyrics, critical thinking questions, and mind-mapping opportunities for each song.  

The three songs are most appropriate for elementary and middle school students. 

1.  The first song will be a life science song entitled “Energy Flow” (1:13) written to the tune of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” 

2.  It will be followed by another life science song, “Natures Way” (1:00), written to the tune of “Jingle Bells.” 

3.  The final song is a science practices and concept song entitled “Creative Expression” (1:14) written to the tune of “What Child Is This?”  

Happy Holidays!

https://k12science.net/traditional-christmas-songs-and-science/

Reports from the Front Lines

• Troy’s Meetings, or lack thereof
• NCSS  

The Social Web

H5P  @H5PTechnology

Here’s your reminder   People forget up to 70% of what they learn in 24 hours… unless they interact with it. H5P makes content active, memorable, and learner-driven.  Get started here: https://ow.ly/g69H50XmmPS  

Moodle | Online learning, delivered your way.  @moodle

We’ve built AI in Moodle LMS around a clear set of principles — grounded in choice, privacy, and people-first learning. Learn more:  https://moodle.com/news/field-notes-where-ai-meets-learning-in-moodle-lms/  

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Which words have bought you happiness this year? I’d love to hear them. And if you fancy a distraction over the holidays, do give my game Two Words a go. https://twowords2.page.link/play

‪Glenn K‬ ‪@nerdyheisenberg.bsky.social‬

Yesterday was my last day as a teacher/lab technician. I spent the day preparing labs & hiding tiny babies & ducks. My legacy in the dept will be felt for years. They will be finding toys forever. Thanks go to  @vimtotime.bsky.social  & her Etsy shop for the tiny babies & ducks.

‪MiddleWeb‬ ‪@middleweb.bsky.social‬

Must read. Spot on. And middle grades teacher leader Bill Ivey nails it again! #edusky

‪Education Week‬   ‪@edweek.org‬

Larry Ferlazzo’s 10 Education Predictions for 2026 (Opinion): Gazing into his crystal ball, Larry Ferlazzo divines what’s ahead for education next year.

Larry Ferlazzo’s 10 Education Predictions for 2026 (Opinion)

Gazing into his crystal ball, Larry Ferlazzo divines what’s ahead for education next year.

‪Eric Curts‬ ‪@ericcurts.bsky.social‬

💎 70 Gems! www.edugems.ai There’s now a total of 70 Gemini Gems on my EduGems site covering: 💡 Curriculum & Lesson Design 📖 Literacy & Language 🧒 Student Activities 💯 Assessment 🔑 Support 💼 Professional Tasks Use, copy & share for free!

‪Eric Curts‬ ‪@ericcurts.bsky.social‬

💎 New EduGem: www.edugems.ai/gem/historic… ⌛ Historical What If? – Create an engaging “Alternative History” scenario with new narrative, primary sources, critical thinking activities and more #EduSky #EduSkyAI #EdTech #GoogleEDU

Mx. Eddie R@silvermoon82@wandering.shop

George Clooney is an actor.

Put him in the role of a surgeon in front of a camera, and he will do and say things the average non-surgeon viewer will agree are surgeonish. After an hour of that, we are, as average non-surgeon viewers, satisfied and entertained.

Put him in an operating theatre, and the patient will die because he’s not a surgeon and knows nothing about really doing surgery.

This is a post about LLMs.

https://scholar.social/deck/@silvermoon82@wandering.shop/115719385219593342

Strategies:  

Concert Etiquette and Communicating to Families  

How to teach students concert behavior.  

https://mrsstouffersmusicroom.com/concert-etiquette-and-communicating-it-to-families/

Resources:  

NCSS Conference Session:  AI in Social Studies

1. AI for Education
   1. Legislating AI – What rights should we make sure are in the bill?
      1. The ability to be forgotten.  
      2. Argument A:  (See website resources)
      3. Argument B:  Same as above
   2. Simulation:  Taxes, am I right?
      1. Prompt generated by AI for quick simulation and conversation.
   3. AI Makes Choices – Who decides if these are the right choices?
2. Essential Historical Thinking Skills
   1. Corroboration
      1. The Humanization of Andrew Jackson
      2. Sherman’s March to the Sea
         1. Interesting to see what a student would write and what AI would write.  
         2. Write an historical marker that humanizes Andrew Jackson.  
      3. Us Critical analysis of AI – Prompting Skills
      4. Using effectively:  Center Human Originality, Use the “best fit” tool, Prompting skills to effectively communicate with AI Evaluating and refining AI Outputs
   2. Effective Prompt Writing
      1. Say What You See https://artsandculture.google.com/ex
      2. AI for Education – Resources
      3. Image Generation
      4. Tool:  Deep AI  
3. Design Learning Activities
   1. Cognitive Offloading:  the Real Threat in the Classroom
      1. Use AI as a scaffold for cognitive thinking.
      2. What is the productive struggle that supports content specific learning?  
      3. What is counterproductive struggle that negates or detracts from learning?  
      4. Designing and facilitating AI-Integrated learning activities
         1. Ask AI to generate different perspectives for students to examine.
         2. Note:  There is a problem with this in that these presenters are treating this as history.  It isn’t even a secondary source.  Perhaps this is the advent of the Tertiary Source.  

I Don’t Know What to Think About America’s Declining Test Scores and Neither Should You

…anchored by a fascinating report from UC San Diego about their surging remedial math program. She thinks this surge reflects a decline in basic math skills. But there’s no decline on California’s state tests, which instead show increases up until the pandemic (and slow recovery since).

Play around with NAEP scores and you’ll notice that the declines are concentrated in the weakest students. This seems to be the case also for TIMSS, an international assessment. On both the 4th and 8th grade exams, America’s lowest performing students peaked in 2011, while the strongest students continued improving through 2019.

So are American students “getting dumber,” as Matt Yglesias says?

American scores on PIAAC, a test of workplace skills for adults of ages 16 to 65, have also been on the decline, arguably also peaking around 2014.

So it’s not just kids that have lost progress, but adults. How could schools possibly be responsible for that?

But as Aldeman points out, phones are everywhere and declines in TIMSS scores aren’t universal:

> Smartphones and social media are global phenomena, and yet scores in Australia, England, Italy, Japan and Sweden have all risen over the last decade. A couple of other countries have seen some small declines (like Finland and Denmark), but no one has else seen declines like we’ve had here in the States.

Here’s the situation: Americans are getting dumber…well, mostly not. But our lowest performing students seem to be losing ground. And, simultaneously, our adults. Some international tests show a similar decline happening in other countries. On other exams, America is on its own. What gives?

https://pershmail.substack.com/p/i-dont-know-what-to-think-about-americas

Web Spotlight: 

AXIS The Culture Translator

Pretty Little Baby

What it is: TikTok’s most-used sound in 2025 was a 63-year-old love song from the late Connie Francis called “Pretty Little Baby.”

Why it’s surprising: According to a press release from TikTok, the song was used over 28.4 million times as the soundtrack for “wholesome videos featuring family, pets, relationships and flowers,” which altogether netted over 68.6 billion video views. 

What Parents Can Do When Their Child Is in an Active-Shooter Lockdown

The text, from a fellow ER doctor and former Brown University faculty member, arrived at 4:27 p.m. on Saturday: “Active shooter near Brown engineering building? Is Hannah ok?” Within seconds, I looked on my phone for my daughter’s location—she was on campus in Friedman Hall. I texted her. It was real. 

https://contrarian.substack.com/p/what-parents-can-do-when-their-child

Cozy ‘Grandma’ Hobbies Are Trending—and They Have Surprising Benefits for Your Mental Health and Well-Being

And it turns out, knitting, baking, and other cozy pursuits can have plenty of benefits for you (beyond a cute scarf or a delicious batch of cookies). Get the scoop on granny hobbies, their benefits—and how to find the best one for you.

Generally, “grandmacore” hobbies are the kinds of quiet, slow hobbies you can take your time doing. They also tend to be on the crafty and creative side—such as sewing and crocheting.

• Sewing
• Quilting
• Crocheting and Knitting
• Embroidery and Needlework
• Baking
• Canning
• Gardening
• Reading
• Birdwatching
• Board Games
• Jigsaw Puzzles

https://www.realsimple.com/grandma-hobbies-trend-8786625

Random Thoughts . . .  

AI Icons

Ai Icons to inform students

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about AI, kids developing skills, annoying others, and more. Dave brings the Life to Science.

Jokes:

Attempted to exercise this morning…
.
.

didn’t work out…

---

Whoever invented the knock-knock joke…

• Should get a Nobell prize.

---

customer: I’d like to buy a bagel with cream cheese
me: sorry, we only take cash
manager: can I talk to you

---

I tried splicing the DNA of a cheetah with that of a crab, but things went sideways fast.

---

The Bible says having 11 ants in charge is too many and 9 is not enough.

• We all know there are ten command Ants.

---

Ordered some Christmas presents online the other day and used my donor card instead of my debit card.

• Cost me an arm and a leg.

---

Guessing brain surgeons appreciate working on like-minded individuals.

---

Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  Life Science

I was recently reading the November-December 2025 issue of “Science Scope”, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.

In this issue, I read the section, “From the Editor’s Desk” written by Patti McGinnis. She wrote an article entitled, “Life Science Matters.”

Middle school is the age when students develop awareness of their place in the world; as such, it is the perfect age to challenge them to consider how human actions impact our planet. 

https://k12science.net/life-science/

Reports from the Front Lines

• Michigan Youth in Government Early Conference Report
• Parent-Teacher Conferences
• Shawn talks about baseball
• AI discussions
• Music as a connector in class.
  • Suno.com AI Music Generation  
  • MYIG Motivator 1:  https://suno.com/s/EOAERnjY4YqbA8Mb  
  • MYIG Motivator 2:  https://suno.com/s/YBh1c8wqKxSo1pJL  
  • MYIG Motivator 3:  https://suno.com/s/X3z5DBhiMr5f628n  
  • MYIG Motivator 4:  https://suno.com/s/WiVf7Jgg2Vl1cPoK  
  • MYIG Theme:  https://suno.com/s/EJ7BDkL4SiiEOonc  
  • Odd Request:  https://www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=saved&v=1995394317891914  

Eileen Award

• Tom Acker – Thanks for recommending content from the show to colleagues!  Tom points out we mispronounced Henrico, Virginia. The correct pronunciation is Hen-rye-ko. We sincerely apologize to all the fine folk in that lovely region of the U.S. Still rooting for Prince William County Schools in football though! 

The Social Web

Tolentino Teaching – Facebook

Schools Are Accommodating Student Anxiety — and Making It Worse, Teachers College of Columbia University

https://www.tc.columbia.edu/articles/2025/october/schools-are-accommodating-student-anxiety–and-making-it-worse

Trevor Muir – The Epic Classroom

Subject area posters for your classroom:  

https://www.facebook.com/epicclassroom/posts/pfbid0utHnQ2kp7pkGCutsRaYUPks4YMMhLkCw9PRdvRj6G42k2jxxmuCFXsmnyJMN7tQtl

Matt Miller   @jmattmiller

 Ready to save time? Use AI to generate comprehensive lesson plans tailored to your teaching needs. Lesson planning with AI: Save time and get ideas https://f.mtr.cool/toplmscikv

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.

Resources:  

The Amazing Shake – Pragmatics from the Ron Clark Academy 

https://www.theamazingshake.com/home

10 AI image generators for classroom uses

https://ditchthattextbook.com/ai-image-generators

Navigating the AI Landscape: Guidance and Insights for Educators

Downloadable resources. These are very much an introduction. 

https://www.imaginelearning.com/resources/ai-resources/

Web Spotlight: 

Who Wants to Be a Teacher in America?

Effective policy interventions require understanding the dynamics of the teacher pipeline. The teacher pipeline consists of inputs and outputs of where individuals naturally enter the profession.

… Lortie’s seminal sociological work described teaching as a historically gendered profession, shaped by norms that framed it as women’s work that offered limited incentives for men or high-achievers to enter or stay (Lortie, 1975). 

https://edworkingpapers.com/ai25-1275

Click to access ai25-1275.pdf

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Summary:

Shawn and Troy talk about AI, Youth in Government, and more. Dave gets the gravity of the situation. 

Jokes:

My son told me he was awarded the Leslie Neilson badge at school. I asked “What’s that?” He said, “It’s a big building with lots of kids, but that’s not important right now.”

---

There are pop tarts but not mom tarts

(because of the pastryarchy)

---

It’s November, so I won’t be vembering for 30 days. Thank you for your support.

---

I was at the cemetery today, laying some flowers down. As soon as I began to walk away, a lady came up to me and said, “Hey, how are you today?” I replied, “Oh wow! You can see me?” She was freaked out and ran off.

---

What do you get when Spider-Man and Wonder Woman get together and start a business?

• Amazon Web Services.

---

Since pure thallium can be poisonous to the touch…does that make it death metal?

---

I just found out that Albert Einstein was a real person! … Mind Blown!!!

All this time I just thought he was a theoretical physicist

---

Do you know where Engagement, Ohio is?

it is between Dayton, Ohio and Marion, Ohio!

---

I’m taking steps to overcome my hiking addiction but I’m not out of the woods yet.

---

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Gravity

I was recently reading the September-October 2025 issue of “Science and Children’” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. 

In this issue, I read the section, “Science 101” written by Matt Bobrowsky. He wrote an article entitled, “Q: Is There Gravity in Space? Is There Gravity on the Moon?” 

Gravity is a fundamental force that attracts two masses toward each other. The Moon, having mass, exerts a gravitational force. This force is sufficient to keep objects anchored to its surface and to influence tides in the Earth’s oceans.

https://k12science.net/gravity

Reports from the Front Lines

• Veterans Day
  • In Flanders Fields:  https://youtu.be/NQmMqZlLFVc  
  • In Flanders Fields – Poetry Foundation:  https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47380/in-flanders-fields  
• AI
  • Limits
  • Generality
• Youth in Government Bills (See Practice Legislation Below)
  • AI
  • Teenage Tax
  • Environment

The Social Web

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Word of the Day is ‘catchfart’ (17th century): an obsequious individual who sucks up to the boss and always follows the political wind.

Todd Bloch  @blocht574

When motivated students can accomplish anything. Sadly many don’t have any motivation in school. Might be tired, hungry, uninterested, distracted or more focused on phone. No matter how engaging the lesson, unmotivated students remind a frustration to this teacher

Strategies:  

Assigning Homework That Actually Works

The most effective homework reinforces what students have already learned in class. 

And remember—more isn’t necessarily better. Five carefully chosen problems that stretch students’ thinking are more valuable than fifty repetitive ones. 

https://www.middleweb.com/52799/assigning-homework-that-actually-works/

Resources:  

EduGems

https://www.edugems.ai

AXIS:  The Cuture Translator

Not the One

What it is: A “proof of concept” from AI and robotics company 1X featuring a helpful robot named NEO took over the internet last week. The robot can, in theory, do chores like cleaning dishes, watering plants, vacuuming, and more.  

Why it’s all just a theory right now: Autonomous robot companions have long been the dream of futurists, and for just $20,000, this dream could be yours. Sort of. In tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee’s dive into the announcement, he rightly points out that almost all of what Neo is doing is not autonomous. The actions are instead controlled remotely, by a human, the whole time. 

Practice Legislation – Youth in Government / Civic Engagement

Some practice bills to work on committee procedures and parli pro language

https://docs.google.com/document/d/11BvnimyNjkQdpUB6X7YHjF1Xaypp5kw0whgVy2GFeFY/copy?usp=sharing

AMLE Artificial Intelligence – Guiding Principles Statement

Young adolescents are navigating the rapid emergence of generative artificial intelligence, (GenAI) prompting educators, policymakers, and families to ask urgent questions about its place in schools. While national organizations such as ISTE, Digital Promise, and CoSN have developed important frameworks for AI Literacy, technology integration strategies, and professional learning, the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) recognizes that young adolescents require a distinct lens. This paper is not intended as a technical manual or a guide to the mechanics of AI tools. Rather, it advances AMLE’s longstanding role: to ground educational decisions in the developmental realities of young adolescents, ensuring that innovation serves their growth rather than undermining it.  

https://www.amle.org/artificial-intelligence-in-middle-level-education-guiding-principles-for-developmentally-responsive-policies/

Web Spotlight: 

The Coming AI Teaching Assistant Boom (And Cheating)

https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-coming-ai-teaching-assistant-boom.html

The MDSTA website is now back online:

mdsta.org

https://mdsta.wildapricot.org/events

Will be posting conference pics on it soon.

Principal of the Year

This is terrific news. The Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals has recognized two Middle School administrators from Dearborn. For the first time in history, the Middle School Principal of the Year (Mark Rummel) and the Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year (Maha Fayad) are from the same school. Both are currently serving at O.L. Smith Middle School.

I had the pleasure of knowing and working with Mark Rummel. He was always a terrific person and leader. He was always positive and willing to learn. I’m not surprised that he has developed into an award winning leader.

https://massp.com/2025/10/o-l-smith-leaders-capture-mi-2026-middle-school-principal-assistant-principal-of-the-year-honors

Random Thoughts . . .  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Summary:

Shawn and Troy discuss AI options, presentations and more. Dave doesn’t cross the stream, but enlightens us on the ecology. 

Jokes:

Not many people know this but I actually studied Dad Jokes in college.

I majored in sighchology

---

Why are jack o’lanterns more clever than other pumpkins?

• The candle makes them brighter.

---

The other day I ran into a friend I hadn’t seen in years.

• It got really awkward when we had to exchange insurance info.

---

I asked the librarian if they had any books on amplifiers.

• She said, “Yes, what volume would you like?”

---

Strange I know but I decided to lock myself in a cage to cure my acne.

• I haven’t broken out yet.

---

What’s the worst season of the year for tightrope walkers?

• Fall.

---

Fun fact of the day: Ironing is decreasing.

---

What is the most difficult train to catch?

• The 12:50, because it’s 10 to one if you catch it.

---

Did you hear about the badly written book about graveyards.

• It had no plot

---

---

---

Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast: Stream Ecology

I was recently reading the September-October 2025 issue of “Science Scope”, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.

In this issue, I read the section, “Citizen Science” written by Jill Nugent.  She wrote an article entitled, “Study Stream Ecology This Season!”

The Leaf Pack Network citizen science project was developed by the Stroud Water Research Center, a global leader in freshwater ecosystem research, education, and restoration.  To learn more about the project and how to get your students involved, visit their website at:

https://leafpacknetwork.org

https://k12science.net/stream-ecology/

Reports from the Front Lines

• Science Conference
  • Focus on Pedagogy
    • Things that Make students think/do
• AI in Middle School
  • Google GEMS
    • Student Privacy Agreement
    • A little more work/freedom
  • Canva Code
  • School AI
    • DOT 
    • Reporting
  • Brisk
  • Magic School
  • Jove 
  • Diffit
  • NoteBook LLM
• Michigan Youth in Government – Early Conference Info is Posted!!!!
  • Etiquette Lesson Required
  • Mandatory Parent Meeting 
  • Maine Youth in Govt. – Any High School age student in grades 9 to 12 may participate.
• Poetry Memorization
  • Gettysburg Address – 272 words

The Social Web

Susie Dent @susie_dent

Very happy to read that ‘hurkle-durkle’, meaning to stay in bed *long* after it’s time to get up, is being revived in current US slang, having lain dormant for 150 years! It’s about time.

The etymology of the word ‘thrill’ may surprise you. Originally applied to making a ‘thirl’ – ‘hole’ – in someone with a sword, it thankfully moved on to piercing someone with excitement. That ‘thirl’ survives in the word ‘nostril’, originally a ‘nose-thirl’, nose-hole.

H5P@H5PTechnology

 The H5P Matrix discussion platform is open to everyone! Matrix is an open-source communication space where educators, developers, and creators can connect, collaborate, and share ideas in real time.  Join the public Matrix channels here:https://h5p.org/node/1536211 

AMLE  @AMLE

Calling all passionate middle grades educators! Applications are now open for AMLE’s 2026 Constituent Committee appointments. AMLE relies on volunteer committee members to guide the work of our association. Make your mark on the future of the profession. Learn more and apply by January 16: https://amle.org/get-involved/

Resources:  

Slang Dictionary

https://www.merriam-webster.com/slang

AXIS The Culture Translator

What it is: As weed becomes part of everyday life for many teens and young adults, doctors are seeing a painful side effect they didn’t expect: Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS).

Why it’s alarming: Many teens see marijuana as safe, especially with how commonplace (and in many states, legal) use of it has become. But higher-strength products and daily use are sending more young people to the ER with painful side effects that doctors are only beginning to understand. In an article by The Free Press, emergency medicine doctor Dr. Chris Colwell said, “There’s no question that as higher potency products have been available, incidents of CHS in emergency departments have gone up.”

Day of AI

Our middle school curriculum expands students’ understanding with deeper AI concepts, including machine learning, neural networks, and real-world applications. Interactive projects encourage experimentation with AI tools and help students grasp both the capabilities and limitations of AI systems. An optional AI ethics debate provides opportunities for deeper reflection.

https://www.dayofaiusa.org/curriculum/grades-6-8

Web Spotlight: 

Why Even Basic A.I. Use Is So Bad for Students

A.I. is hardly the first technology to threaten our cognitive competence. Long before ChatGPT, the smartphone and the calculator, Plato warned against writing itself. Literate human beings, he foresaw, would “not use their memories.” He was not entirely wrong. 

https://archive.is/Zvsxg

Random Thoughts . . .  

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Summary:

Shawn and Troy go through the process of using AI to create a chatbot for special education students. Dave gets the picture of storybooks. 

Jokes:

Time flies like an arrow, Fruit flies like a banana

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Them: Name as many animals as you can in one minute

Me: (Pointing at the squirrels out the window) Gerald, Billie, Andrew, Jon—

Them: No that’s not what I meant

Me: Well maybe you should have said what you meant

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Ordered “How to Accept Rejection” online. 

• They never shipped it.

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I just bought a new television remote control with fifty buttons.

I was quite surprised they allowed me to pay with buttons.

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I threw away a permanent marker the other day. Today it showed up on my desk again with the word “permanent” slightly bigger and underlined

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I give respect to everyone that I meet.

It’s up to them to keep it.

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Middle School Science Minute  

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

K12Science Podcast:  Middle School Picture – Books

I was recently reading the September-October 2025 issue of “Science Scope”, a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.

In this issue, I read the section, “Interdisciplinary Ideas” written by Katie Coppens.  She wrote an article entitled, “Enhancing Understanding Through Science-Themed Picture Books.”

Embedding a high-interest, science-themed picture book into a unit enhances students’ ability to learn vocabulary and visualize scientific concepts.  The approachable style and ability to convey information visually makes picture books an engaging learning tool for students of all ages.

https://k12science.net/middle-school-picture-books/

Reports from the Front Lines 

• Zip Zap, Wickity Whack picture book  (https://www.matthewdiffee.com/ )
• Creation of Danu
  • Google Gem Construction
    • Files – Resources uploaded/linked, OER
    • Instruction Set 
    • Refining
    • Student Prompt Support:  https://chatgpt.com/canvas/shared/68e9c21d9d348191b23277f5f04e1d47  
  • ChatGPT Does it Better . . .  

The Social Web

National Park Service  @NatlParkService

When hiking, the early bird gets the face full of spider webs. Bring a tall friend and let them lead.

Susie Dent  @susie_dent

Word of the Day is ‘tandsmør’, from Danish. It describes bread that is buttered so thickly you can see tooth marks in it after every bite. Its literal translation? ‘Tooth butter’.

Resources:  

Angel Studios – Somebody’s Gotta Do It

“Mike Rowe’s Somebody’s Gotta Do It brings viewers face-to-face with men and women who march to the beat of a different drum. In each episode, Rowe visits unique individuals and joins them in their respective undertakings, paying tribute to innovators, do-gooders, entrepreneurs, collectors, fanatics-people who simply have to do it. This show is about passion, purpose, and occasionally, hobbies that get a little out of hand.”

https://www.angel.com/shows/somebodys-gotta-do-it

Google’s Gemini Platforms for Kids and Teens Pose Risks Despite Added Filters, Common Sense Media Reports Find

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/googles-gemini-platforms-for-kids-and-teens-pose-risks-despite-added-filters-common-sense-media-reports

Portrait of a Graduate

Web Spotlight: 

Shade Map

https://shademap.app/@42.33102,-83.04605,16.84972z,1760044344044t,0b,0p,0m!1760009963956!1760050901341,qRGV0cm9pdCwgbWk=!42.3314!-83.04622

How to Get Kids to Give Up Social Media on Their Own

https://www.wsj.com/tech/personal-tech/how-to-get-kids-to-give-up-social-media-on-their-own-dc863027

OR

https://archive.is/MQSh0

Photos celebrate the glory of girls on ‘International Day of the Girl’

https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/10/11/g-s1-92962/photos-celebrate-the-glory-of-girls-on-international-day-of-the-girl

Random Thoughts . . .  

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download