MSM 384: Middle School Under The FoldScope

MSM 384: Middle School Under The FoldScope

Jokes You Can Use:  

 

A guy was an ice cream store and needed to fart. He decided the music was so loud that he just went for it and timed his farts to the beat of the music. After he relieved himself he looked up to see everyone staring at him. Than he realized that he was listening to his iPod.

 

What happens to a frog’s car when it breaks down?

It gets toad away.

 

Q: What did the duck say when he bought lipstick?

A: “Put it on my bill.”

 

Instead of “the John,” I call my toilet “the Jim.” That way it sounds better when I say I go to the Jim first thing every morning.

 

Q: What starts with E, ends with E, and has only 1 letter in it?

  • envelope

Advisory:

 

Speaker

Could show the video. There is also a link to download a book (email address needed, but no confirmation).

https://topyouthspeakers.com/djf

 

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Lifelong Kindergarten: Part 6

This is the sixth in a seven part podcast series on the book, “Lifelong Kindergarten,” written by Mitchel Resnick.

This sixth podcast focuses in on chapter five in the book, “Play.”  In chapter five, Mitchel emphasizes:

  • Playfulness
  • Playpens and Playgrounds
  • Tinkering
  • Many Paths, Many Styles
  • Try Try Again
  • Tensions and Tradeoffs: Assessment

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2018/3/1_Middle_School_Science_Minute__Lifelong_Kindergarten_Part_6.html

 

From the Twitterverse:

Todd Bloch‏ @blocht574

We all have them (bad days), here are the instructions to get to the other side! From @shanekoyczan https://youtu.be/V7OGY1Jxp3o  #mschat #michED

 

Shelly Sanchez‏ @ShellTerrell

Mission: Create an ebook for a classmate https://buff.ly/2HLOCmt  by @AnthippiHarou #EduGoalsMooc #edtechmissions #edchat

Jerry Blumengarten‏ @cybraryman1

A1 Technology gives us the ability to collaborate easily with others to create meaningful PD. Need to use it more for PD. My Professional Development page https://cybraryman.com/profdevelop.html … My Professional Learning page https://cybraryman.com/proflearning.html … #satchat #edchat

Julie Woodard‏ @woodard_julie

Why is student voice important? Why listen?? We know listening to Ss increases S achievement, engagement, ownership & learning..we know listening celebrates S value! Why do YOU think Student Voice is important.. ???…. …. what can you add to the discussion??

Meredith Johnson‏ @mjjohnson1216

A3. This graphic continues the same theme that clearly shows what we tried in the past that never worked and how we are trying to improve without PD now (still room for growth) #satchat

Eileen Stocco‏ @EileenStocco

Love this shirt…and, of course, this kid! 🙂 @TMSGamma

Anthony Whitaker‏ @Antnee07

Another barrier down! #BDBblog @TJParrish28 @KyleHamstra @tamipoland @bosstetter_edu @lmkinard @darrickmcneill3 @jswartzwoman @nathan_stevens @AdminSmith @AnueVision @Angela_Watson @Brhyne39H https://barriers.blog/2018/02/28/breaking-down-barriers-2/amp/?__twitter_impression=true …

Julie P. Jones, PhD‏ @JuliePJones

We keep telling teachers they have to teach differently, but we train the same. Change and innovation can’t be fully realized until we change the way we model- the way we PD #satchat

 

𝒟𝒶𝓃 𝑀𝒸𝒞𝒶𝒷𝑒 💥‏ @danieldmccabe

Using Technology Vs. Technology Integration #satchat

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!”  

 

Strategies:

 

Mentally Strong Kids Have Parents Who Refuse to Do These 13 Things

https://www.parent.com/mentally-strong-kids-have-parents-who-refuse-to-do-these-13-things/

 

Resources:

 

FoldScopes

Foldscope is an ultra-affordable, paper-based microscope that you assemble yourself. It is designed to be inexpensive, durable, and give optical quality similar to conventional research microscopes. With magnification of 140X and resolution of 2 microns,  Foldscope brings microscopy to new places.  

Our Mission is to produce low-cost scientific tools to globally expand access to science. We aim to break down the price barrier between people and the curiosity & excitement of scientific exploration.

https://www.foldscope.com/

 

National Teacher Institute – Civil War Trust

https://www.civilwar.org/events/national-teacher-institute  

Our annual National Teacher Institute brings together educators from all over the world. This four-day event includes workshops, lectures, and tours from some of the leading experts in the history and education fields. Educators will be immersed in a friendly, fun, and engaging learning environment, where they will be able to network with other educators while learning new and innovative teaching methods.

This event is free but does require a $100, refundable, deposit be placed to reserve your spot. At the conclusion of the event, educators can apply for continuing education credits, provided by Virginia Tech University.

Please join us July 12-15, 2018, in Valley Forge!

Michigan Association of Middle School Educators Annual Conference in Jackson, Michigan – March 12, 2018  

Join us for the Michigan Association of Middle School Educators 2018 Conference.  An opportunity for collaboration, professional development and innovation.

http://mamseevents.org/

 

5 Google Drawing Features

  1. Use lines to arrange items on the page perfectly.
  2. Insert a video in a Google Drawing
  3. Insert pre-designed diagrams.
  4. Add a gradient background.
  5. Use word art to make titles stand out.

BONUS: Resize the canvas by grabbing the corner.

BONUS: My favorite keyboard shortcut to use with Google Drawings!

http://ditchthattextbook.com/2018/02/26/5-google-drawings-features-you-probably-dont-know-about/

Note:  If you’re listening to the show, don’t ditch your checkbook.  

 

Web Spotlight:

Research: Children see words and faces differently from adults

Intuitively, if you want to get a good look at something – a word, a face, or pretty much anything else – you ought to look straight at it, and indeed that’s basically what adults do.

But the situation is different in children. For one thing, children’s circuits for words process a different region of the visual field, one that is shifted down and to the right, compared to adults. That means that in order to process words most efficiently, kids would need to look a bit up and to the left.

https://ukedchat.com/2018/02/23/children-words-faces-different/

 

Random Thoughts . . .  

 

Personal Web Site

 

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

 

MSM 383: Totally Accurate Podcast! Unpronounceable. Imagination. Differentiation.

MSM 383: Totally Accurate Podcast! Unpronounceable. Imagination. Differentiation.

 

Jokes You Can Use:  

 

Forward I’m heavy, backward I’m not. What am ?

  • ton

 

A man has a bee in his hand. What’s in his eye?

  • Beauty

 

What tastes better than it smells?

  • Tongue

 

Imagine you’re in a dark room with no windows and a locked door. How do you get out?

  • Imagine you have a key

 

I’m light as a feather, but the longer you hold me, the harder I am to keep. What am I?

  • Breath

 

Two fathers and their two sons go hunting in the woods. They each shoot a rabbit and bring it home. They don’t lose any rabbits but only have three when they arrive. How is that possible?

  • Three generations.

 

Advisory:

Words:

  • Kummerspeck (German) – weight gained from emotional overeating
  • Tartle (Scots) – The feeling of hesitation right before you have to introduce someone whose name you don’t remember
  • Mamihlapinatapai (Yaghan language of Tierra del Fuego) – the look shared between two people when both want the other to do something they both want, but neither want to do first
  • Backpfeifengesicht (German) – a super punchable face
  • Pelinti (Guli, Ghana) – to move hot food around in your mouth
  • Yuputka (Ulwa) – the phantom feeling of something crawling on your skin, like when you’re walking alone in the woods
  • Zhaghzhagh (Persian) – the chattering of teeth from the cold or from anger
  • Lagom (Swedish) – just right (not too much, not too little)
  • Seigneur-terraces (French) – café patrons who sit at the shop for a long time but don’t spend much money
  • Luftmensch (Yiddish) – an impractical dreamer
  • Sobremesa (Spanish) – happy, relaxed conversation that you partake in after a good dinner and drinks with friends
  • Shemomedjamo (Georgian) – translates to “I accidentally ate the whole thing,” when you’re really full but you can’t stop eating
  • Gigil (Filipino) – wanting to pinch something super cute
  • Pana Po’o (Hawaiian) – to scratch your head to help you remember something
  • Greng-jai (Thai) – The feeling of not wanting to ask for a favor because it will be a pain for the other person
  • Iktsuarpok (Inuit) – the feeling of anticipation when you’re waiting for someone to show up at your house
  • Koi No Yokan (Japanese) – Upon meeting a person, the immediate feeling that you two are going to fall in love
  • Zeg (Georgian) – the day after tomorrow

 

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Part 5 — Peers

This is the fifth in a seven part podcast series on the book, “Lifelong Kindergarten,” written by Mitchel Resnick.

 

This fifth podcast focuses in on chapter four in the book, “Peers.”  In chapter three, Mitchel emphasizes:

Beyond Rodin

Learning Communities

Openness

Culture of Caring

Teaching

Tensions and Trade-Offs: Expertise

 

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2018/2/13_Middle_School_Science_Minute__Lifelong_Kindergarten_Part_5.html

 

From the Twitterverse:

Kelly Malloy‏ @kellys3ps

Some students really benefit from a list of sentence starters to get them going. You can grab this freebie here https://buff.ly/2odmaSq   Note:  Clicking on link will as you to join a link.  

𝒟𝒶𝓃 𝑀𝒸𝒞𝒶𝒷𝑒 💥‏ @danieldmccabe

Differentiation Is. Differentiation Is Not. #satchat

 

Connie Hamilton Ed.S‏ @conniehamilton

There seems to be a lot of talk about choice/voice around differentiation – while it’s helpful for Ts to consider S interests. Differentiated instruction is largely planned an intentional to allow all students to reach the same learning goal – maybe in different ways. #satchat

Connie Hamilton Ed.S‏ @conniehamilton

Let’s not confuse differentiation with “dummy-down” for struggling learners. Allow them access to rigorous and complex concepts by differentiating the content, process, or product. #satchat

Lee Araoz‏ @LeeAraoz

Differentiate by offering student choice with Passion-Based Learning!! Genius Hour and the Four Pathways to Genius #satchat Read about how we do it here: http://wp.me/p5D09s-nC

Richard Erdmann‏ @rerdmann

A2: Genius Hour is an excellent example of providing Ss voice, choice and is an excellent example of differentiating learning to meet all Ss interests & passions! #SatChat

Miriam GuerreroCheuk‏ @MiriamCheuk

A1: Differentiation of Instruction entails using methods that meet the needs of every unique learner in the classroom to maximize their growth & success. 1 size doesn’t fit all. The teacher adapts content, process & product. #satchat

Eric Curts‏ @ericcurts

5 Fantastic Word Cloud Tools for Chromebooks http://www.controlaltachieve.com/2016/04/chromebook-word-cloud-tools.html … #edtech

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!”  

 

Strategies:

 

An unexpectedly positive result from arts-focused field trips

The surprising result is that students who received multiple field trips experienced significantly greater gains on their standardized test scores after the first year than did the control students.

The treatment and control groups do not differ in their baseline test results and otherwise appear similar, so these changes seem to be the result of the treatment.

We still do not believe that arts instruction and experiences have a direct effect on math or ELA ability. We think this because the bulk of prior research tells us so, and because it is simply implausible that two extra field trips to an arts organization conveyed a significant amount of math and ELA knowledge.

Our best guess is that test scores may have risen because the extra arts activities increased student interest and engagement in school.

Maybe arts-focused field trips do not teach math or reading, but they do make students more interested in their school that does teach math and reading.

The odd thing about trying to write a paper with these results to present at conferences and submit to a journal is that there is strong pressure for us to pretend like we expected our findings all along. Discussants and reviewers generally don’t want to hear that you found something you didn’t expect and don’t really know why.

 

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-center-chalkboard/2018/02/16/an-unexpectedly-positive-result-from-arts-focused-field-trips-in-school/

 

Free Math App

Students digitally record step-by-step math work.

Teachers simultaneously review all assignments with complete solutions grouped by similar final answer.

Free for teachers and students.

No account setup required. Student work and grading feedback both save as files that integrate seamlessly with standard LMS tools.

http://freemathapp.org/

 

Resources:

Simple Articulation Strategy: 5 Ins and 5 Outs

As I researched articulation strategies, I found “5 Ins and 5 Outs” mentioned in a Teaching Channel video. The basic idea is that teachers identify 5 “outs” or skills students will master by the time they leave their class. These “outs” become the “ins” for the next grade level. So, if I say that students will leave my 9th grade English class able to “correctly cite strong textual evidence that supports analysis” then the 10th-grade teachers can feel confident that the incoming sophomores will be able to demonstrate that skill.

It was interesting to work with a room full of 6-8 grade English language arts teachers as they worked on their ins and outs. A few things became clear:

#1 Teachers used different language to describe similar strategies.

#2 Teachers interpret the standards differently.

#3 Transparency between grade levels helps teachers identify skill gaps.

 

We worked collaboratively on a shared Google Document so teachers could see the outs for the previous grade, ask questions, and make suggestions. The conversations about what teachers were seeing in terms of skills at the start of the school year helped to refine the outs for the previous year.

http://catlintucker.com/2018/02/simple-articulation-strategy-5-ins-and-5-outs/

 

ScienceLinks

Lots of Science Lessons.

http://sciencenetlinks.com/lessons/

 

QRCode Creator – Bulk

Create QR codes in bulk. (like a whole classroom full of links).

https://qrexplore.com/generate/

 

StoryMap JS

Maps that tell stories.

https://storymap.knightlab.com/

 

Anchor

Podcast Creation Made Easy

https://anchor.fm/

Web Spotlight:

 

Is Gates America’s Dumbest Smart Guy?

If you glanced at EdWeek’s Teacher Beat blog last week, you could be forgiven for thinking that Bill Gates had joined the growing list of tech “regrets” writers. It’s a cool new writing genre in which some longtime techy reformster announces that he’s had an epiphany and realized all by himself that there’s something fundamentally ineffective, misguided and just plain wrong with the baloney he’s been frying up lo these many years.

If we look at last fall’s speech (both the pre-speech PR and the actual edited-down version he delivered), we can see that Gates knows he’s supposed to be learning things, that a shift in direction and emphasis needs to look like a pivot based on a learning curve, and not just flailing off blindly in another direction because the previous flails didn’t turn out like you hoped (against all evidence and advice) they would.

What looks on the surface like an admission of failure turns out to be an assignment of blame. Small schools, teacher evaluation, merit pay, and the ever-unloved Common Core have all been a bust, and yet somehow, their failure is never the result of a flawed design, a bad concept, or being flat-out wrong about the whole picture. What Gates invariably announces he’s “learned” is that he was basically correct, but he underestimated just how unready people were to welcome his rightness, and he needs to tweak a few features.

Now, if I order miracle hair grower on line and I use it, and my hair doesn’t grow back, I might be inclined to question whether or not the hair grower was as miraculous as it claimed. If I had a great system for improving teachers, and I used it, and it didn’t look like it worked, I might question whether my brilliant ideas were really brilliant or not. In short, I might wonder if I weren’t, you know, wrong. But not Gates. He gives us the three measures for success– good pilot, self-sustaining system, and spreading to other locations. Then he provides the excuses for why his teacher system failed all three.

http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2018/02/is-gates-americas-dumbest-smart-guy.html

 

Totally Accurate History

Kids say the darndest things! From explaining the extinction of the dinosaurs to detailing the bizarre history of the waffle, these precocious teachers are way more entertaining than a textbook… and maybe even a tiny bit right.

https://www.lightworkers.com/original-series/totally-accurate-history/

 

Random Thoughts . . .  

 

Personal Web Site

 

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

 

MSM 382: “I Wonder” Questions – i.e.  “I Wonder What The Show Is About?”

MSM 382: “I Wonder” Questions – i.e.  “I Wonder What The Show Is About?”

 

Jokes You Can Use:  

 

A woman came to her doctor in a panic.

“Doctor, all day long my daughter eats yeast and car wax, and won’t get out of bed! What will happen to her?”

  • “Don’t worry,” said the Doctor, “eventually she will rise and shine.”

 

I swallowed some food coloring the other day.

  • I’m dying inside.

 

I changed my iPod’s name to Titantic.

  • Because it’s SYNCING.

 

Why are fish so easy to weigh?

  • They have own scales.

 

How can you check to see if Lady Gaga is dead?

  • Poker face.

 

Have you heard about the new movie “Constipation”?

  • It hasn’t come out yet.

 

What’s the difference between boy snowmen and girl snowwoman?

  • Snowballs

 

What’s the most famous fish in the sea?

  • Starfish
  • (If you know a better fish pun, please let minnow).

 

Why did the Roman chicken cross the road?

  • Because she was afraid someone would caesar!

 

What do you call the story of The Three Little Pigs?

  • A pigtail!

 

Advisory:

 

U.P. concrete worker shares lesson of 4th-place Olympic finish with son

He finished in fourth place. No-man’s land. No medals. “No glory,” as Baumgartner said with an accepting smile.

“Fourth place!” Baumgartner said to his son. “The wooden spoon. Just think how famous you would be at school, if I was on the podium.”

Baumgartner has taught his son to savor every second, to squeeze everything out of every opportunity. Baumgartner plans to stay the duration of the Games to show his son “the full on Olympic experience.”

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/2018/02/15/nick-baumgartner-pyeongchang-winter-olympics-snowboard-cross/340029002/

 

Blaming

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODz3fIKQZLU

 

 

Accepting consequences

A very short video from Bagger Vance. He moves some vegetation which inadvertently moves the ball. Everyone wants him to not follow the rules.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=glRTERPpfxU

 

Amazon Day One Videos

A variety (currently 29) of videos that focus on Entrepreneurs. Some good leadership choices. All of the videos are under 3 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaQihAe6OdwLCqg2drq3k_LXyPh-WCcAR

 

Text neck and other Modern Maladies

 

http://twentytwowords.com/text-neck-and-9-other-modern-maladies-we-have-now-because-of-technology/

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Lifelong Kindergarten – Part 4 — Passion

This is the fourth in a seven part podcast series on the book, “Lifelong Kindergarten,” written by Mitchel Resnick.

 

This fourth podcast focuses in on chapter three in the book, “Passion.”  In chapter three, Mitchel emphasizes:

  • Building on Interests
  • Wide Walls
  • Hard Fun
  • Gamification
  • Personalization
  • Tensions and Trade-Offs: Structure

 

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2018/2/4_Middle_School_Science_Minute__Lifelong_Kindergarten_Part_4.html

 

From the Twitterverse:

Coach Ben 😎👍‏ @cogswell_ben Feb 14

With the Chinese New Year almost here, it’s time for you or your students to test your mastery with this differentiated #hyperdoc WARNING ADVENTURERS ONLY-> http://tinyurl.com/cnyhyperdoc  #alisalstrong #tosachat #cuerockstar #ditchbook

Bored Teachers‏ @Bored_Teachers Feb 15

Let the games begin!

edublogs‏ @edublogs

“PBL is not a license to ditch the standards or take a break from real learning. It’s not the same thing as a pizza party or Field Day.” How Do You Teach to the Standards When Doing Project-Based Learning?” http://www.spencerauthor.com/?p=56917  via @spencerideas #PBL

Karly Moura‏ @KarlyMoura Feb 15

It’s HERE!! The Educator’s Guide to Flipgrid FREE eBook 2nd Edition Packed full of resources to help you blast off with awesome ideas and take flight with NEW features @SEANJFAHEY #SolidGold #FlipgridFever http://static.flipgrid.com/docs/Flipgrid_eBook_2nd_edition.pdf …

Jennifer Williams‏ @JenWilliamsEdu 15 Dec 2016

‘I Wonder’ Questions: Harnessing the Power of Inquiry http://edut.to/2ghzwGT  Revisiting this great post! @edutopia #wonder #inspireinquiry

Library of Congress‏Verified account @librarycongress

We have posted some great stories on @Medium about how people use the Library’s collections and how you can too. Take a look, https://medium.com/@librarycongress ….

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!”  

 

Strategies:

 

5 WAYS TO STOP BULLYING IN EVERY SCHOOL

  • Tip 1: Know your school’s anti-bullying culture and showcase it proudly.
  • Tip 2: Give everyone the resources to live and to thrive in the culture that you’ve actually just created.
  • Tip 3: Empower your students to take a stand.
  • Tip 4: Reinforce effort. Work at leadership success.
  • Tip 5: Be there for your students and families. Serve their needs each and every day.

http://www.coolcatteacher.com/e255/

 

Resources:

Reach for Greatness: Personalizable Education for All Children by Yong Zhao

How do you close the achievement gap? Start by changing the question.  

 

When we use the achievement gap to define success, we shortchange our students. It’s time to recognize that the potential for greatness lies in a unique form within each child―and that the goal of education should be to encourage and develop it. This inspiring manifesto brings in research from different disciplines and demonstrates how to uncover individual greatness by giving students control of their learning. You’ll also find:  

  • Strategies for implementing personalizable education
  • Examples showing practices that have gone wrong―and right
  • Guidance for teaching disadvantaged students

 

Personalized Learning Vs Personalization of Learning

…the idea of “personalization of learning,” meaning more in how does the teacher understand the student, build on their interests, and create learning opportunities for the student3.  I can get behind this idea.

The personalization of learning creates the opportunity for more depth and authenticity, whereas “personalized learning” seems to be more about knowing the “stuff”.

https://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/8056

 

Web Spotlight:

 

John Spencer

“As you know, I am a huge fan of the design thinking process. And, for that reason, my friend Jochem Goedhals (who I met in the Netherlands) and I want to get a sense for how educators use design thinking and design processes as they develop, implement, and improve their practice.

This is part of the initial research we are doing on a book that Jochem and I will be writing in the future. This survey will be part of what drives our research and writing.

It’s a quick survey and it would mean the world to me if you took the time to fill it out.”

 

Random Thoughts . . .  

 

Personal Web Site

 

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

 

MSM 381: Avoiding the Binary, But Not the Struggles.

 

Jokes You Can Use:  

 

Why were the Cincinnati Bengals were the last NFL team to get a website?

  • They had trouble stringing three W’s together.

Why did the dude only lift weights on Saturday and Sunday?

  • The other days are week days.

What happened to the lumberjack who slept like a log on the job?

  • He got axed.

Why did the student write all of his answers as such:

llllll lllll lllll lllll llll

  • The student wrote the answers in bar code so no one could cheat.

My wife broke my lamp. Now, I’ll never be able to see her in the same light again.

 

Advisory:

‘I have daily struggles’: Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles reflective after victory

Rather than glory in this victory, indeed, he was keen to talk about harder times. “I think the big thing [to tell people] is ‘don’t be afraid to fail’. I think in our society today, you know, Instagram, Twitter, it’s a highlight reel. It’s all the good things. Then when you look at it, then you think like, ‘wow’, when you had a rough day or your life’s not as good as that, you’re failing.

“And failure’s a part of life, that’s a part of building character, and growing. Without failure, who would you be? I wouldn’t be up here if I hadn’t fallen a thousand times, made mistakes. We all are human, we have weaknesses, and throughout this being able to share that and be transparent.

“I know that when I listen to people speak, and they share their weaknesses, I’m listening because I can resonate. So, I’m not perfect, I’m not Superman. I might be in the NFL, and we might have just won the Super Bowl, but I still have daily struggles … And that’s really just been the message, simple. If something’s going on in your life and you’re struggling, embrace it, because you’re growing.”

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/feb/05/nick-foles-super-bowl-mvp-philadelphia-eagles-nfl

 

Phone-addicted teens are unhappy

Teens whose eyes are habitually glued to their smartphones are markedly unhappier, said study lead author and San Diego State University and professor of psychology Jean M. Twenge.

“Although this study can’t show causation, several other studies have shown that more social media use leads to unhappiness, but unhappiness does not lead to more social media use,” said Twenge, author of “iGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy–And Completely Unprepared for Adulthood.”

Looking at historical trends from the same age groups since the 1990s, the researchers found that the proliferation of screen devices over time coincided with a general drop-off in reported happiness in U.S. teens. Specifically, young people’s life satisfaction, self-esteem and happiness plummeted after 2012. That’s the year that the percentage of Americans who owned a smartphone rose above 50 percent, Twenge noted.

https://ukedchat.com/2018/01/23/phone-addicted-teens-unhappy/

 

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Lifelong Kindergarten Part 3

This is the third in a seven part podcast series on the book, “Lifelong Kindergarten,” written by Mitchel Resnick.

 

This third podcast focuses in on chapter two in the book, “Projects.”  In chapter two, Mitchel emphasizes:

  • Makers of Things
  • Learning Through Making
  • Toys to Think With
  • Creativity on the Screen
  • Fluency
  • Knowledge

 

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2018/1/28_Middle_School_Science_Minute__Lifelong_Kindergarten_Part_3.html

 

From the Twitterverse:

Participate‏ @participate Feb 9

🎨🖌️📚

Friday shoutout to all of the AMAZING teachers painting a path of success for their students!👩‍🎨👨‍🏫👨‍🎨👩‍🏫

Tag a teacher or educator friend you appreciate! #trendthepositive

RedCedarWritingProj‏ @RedCedarWP 20h20 hours ago

Pre-Service Teachers and education students: Are you interested in working as a mentor to youth writers during one the #RCWP18 summer programs, #SpartanWritingCamp (K-8) or #GreenrockWritersRetreat (9-12)? Check out the flyer for more info!

WIRED‏Verified account @WIRED

The coolest part about the Olympic opening ceremony: 1,218 drones flying in concert. Here’s how they pulled it off

 

Jason Mood‏ @MrJMMood

Choice boards are a great way to give students choice! @ShakeUpLearning #TCEA #TCEA2018

Cyndi Williams, Ed.D‏ @CyndiWms5

Good morning from VA! Excited to learn from our #bookcamppd PLN @teresagross625 @burgessdave

AMLE‏ @AMLE Feb 7

This middle school teacher allows all students to turn in late work—no matter how valid or invalid, good or bad, truthful or deceptive the reasons. Read about her philosophy and how students are held accountable.

 

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!”  

 

Strategies:

 

Writing

https://globaldigitalcitizen.org/failsafe-writing-strategy

 

Youtube Essays

YouTube video essays are long-form (relative to many other internet videos) critical videos that make arguments about media and culture. They’re usually meticulously narrated and edited, juxtaposing video footage, images, audio, and text to make an argument much like a writer would do in a traditional essay.

How Can They Be Used in Classrooms?

First, a caveat: Most of the channels below offer content that’ll work best in an upper-middle or high school classroom. Some videos can also be explicit, so you’ll want to do some browsing.

  1. Conversation starter or lesson hook: Many of these videos serve as great two- to 10-minute introductions to topics relevant to classrooms across the curriculum.
  2. Active viewing opportunity: Since video essays present often complex arguments, invite students to watch and rewatch videos and outline their theses, key points, and conclusions.
  3. Research project: Have students find more examples that support, or argue against, a video’s argument. Students could also write a response to a video essay.
  4. Copyright lesson: Video essays are a great example of fair use. Show students that by adding their own commentary, they can use copyrighted material responsibly.
  5. Assessment: Have students create their own video essays to demonstrate learning or media-creation skills like editing.

 

https://www.commonsense.org/education/blog/why-and-how-to-use-youtube-video-essays-in-your-classroom

Resources:

 

Cue Prompter

CuePrompter is a free teleprompter/autocue service. Your browser works like a teleprompter -no extra software needed.

http://www.cueprompter.com/

 

MentiMeter

 

Mentimeter is an easy-to-use presentation software used by more than 8 million people. With Mentimeter you can create fun and interactive presentations. We help you make your events, presentations, lectures, and workshops innovative and memorable.

https://www.mentimeter.com/

 

The Strange Brands in Your Instagram Feed

The material has the softness of a Las Vegas carpet and the rich sheen of a velour jumpsuit. The fabric is so synthetic, it could probably be refined into bunker fuel for a ship.

 

What Ganon does is pick suppliers he’ll never know to ship products he’ll never touch. All his effort goes into creating ads to capture prospective customers, and then optimizing a digital environment that encourages them to buy whatever piece of crap he’s put in front of them.

 

Given the array of behavioral tricks arrayed against your average Internet user, some of them take the free lion bracelet deal. But for those that don’t, merely by visiting his site, they’ve been tagged in Facebook’s system because Ganon has installed a standard Facebook tracking pixel. That means Ganon can now re-target those people who visited but left without purchasing anything through Facebook. And he spends a lot of time designing and testing ads that will bring them back for the purchase.

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/01/the-strange-brands-in-your-instagram-feed/550136/

 

Web Spotlight:

 

Security Planner

Answer a few simple questions to get personalized online safety recommendations. It’s confidential – no personal information is stored and we won’t access any of your online accounts.

 

https://securityplanner.org/#/

 

Avoid Binary Thinking. Go To The Grey.

Much of what we do in education falls into grey areas. Yet, many of the conversations we have regarding education seem to use black and white statements and fall into the category of binary, or dichotomous, thinking. Binary thinking leads to look at ideas in education as right or wrong and good or bad. It can create an ‘us vs them’ mentality – “You are either with us or you are not!”  It can also prevent engagement in the conversations we need to have.

http://chriswejr.com/2018/01/28/avoid-binary-thinking-go-to-the-grey/

 

Personalized Learning Vs Personalization of Learning

 

Laura presented the idea of “personalization of learning,” meaning more in how does the teacher understand the student, build on their interests, and create learning opportunities for the student.  I can get behind this idea.

The personalization of learning creates the opportunity for more depth and authenticity, whereas “personalized learning” seems to be more about knowing the “stuff”.1

https://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/8056

 

Random Thoughts . . .  

 

Personal Web Site

 

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

 

MSM 380:   Chock full of Advisory Goodness!

MSM 380:   Chock full of Advisory Goodness!

Jokes You Can Use:  

 

Remember: Iceland is one sea away from Ireland.

 

I never make the same mistake twice. I make it 5-6 times, just to be sure.

 

What kind of music do planets like?

 

Where can you buy chicken broth in bulk?

How do you tell if a vampire is sick?

  • Depends on his coffin.

 

What did the turtle tell the police officer after being mugged by snails?

  • I’m not sure what happened, it all happened so fast.

 

A man is walking in a graveyard when he hears the Third Symphony played backward. When it’s over, the Second Symphony starts playing, also backward, and then the First. “What’s going on?” he asks a cemetery worker.

 

Advisory:

 

Google Doodle Challenge

This year’s contest is open for online and mailed entries until March 2, 2018 at 8:00pm PST.

https://doodles.google.com/d4g/how-it-works.html

https://doodles.google.com/d4g/faq.html

The Hazards of Decision Overload

 

https://health.usnews.com/wellness/mind/articles/2017-03-15/the-hazards-of-decision-overload

 

Happiness Packets

 

https://www.happinesspackets.io/archive/

 

Rockhurst senior who built prosthetic arm for metro boy now going to teach other

kids how to do it too

 

http://fox4kc.com/2018/01/10/rockhurst-senior-who-built-prosthetic-arm-for-metro-boy-now-going-to-teach-other-kids-how-to-do-it-too/

 

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Lifelong Kindergarten – Part 2

 

This is the second in a seven part podcast series on the book, “Lifelong Kindergarten,” written by Mitchel Resnick.

 

This second podcast focuses in on chapter one in the book, “Creative Learning.”  In chapter one, Mitchel asks the central question of the book – “How can we help young people develop as creative thinkers so that they’re prepared for life in this ever-changing world?”

 

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2018/1/14_Middle_School_Science_Minute__Lifelong_Kindergarten_Part_2.html

 

From the Twitterverse:

Thomas Guskey‏ @tguskey Jan 22

After responding today to nearly 20 requests for names of schools that “are already doing it,” this may bear repeating. Our approach too often is: “Before doing what strong evidence shows is better for kids, I’d like to talk to others who have already done it just to be sure.”

Rich Czyz‏ @RACzyz Jan 26

#FlashbackFriday Building Foundations #4OCF @bbray27 @chrisp16 @atkauffman @agratitudegirl @mgcjusa @LeeAraoz @RobSahliAP @nbartley6 @girlworld4 @DavidGeurin @MathDenisNJ @iruntech @aaron_hogan @MuziLearningLab @cradisch_wc @burgessdave @KleinErin @mlarson_nj @tinamonte

Bob Harrison‏ @dbntechcoach Jan 25

The Evolution of Classroom Technology

Heather Wolpert-G.‏ @tweenteacher 21h21 hours ago

PBL Secret Sauce #1:The Entry Level Event – 1st in a series of videos sharing day-to-day PBL http://tweenteacher.com/2017/09/19/pbl-secret-sauce-the-entry-level-event/ … #pbl @BIEpbl

Eric Curts‏ @ericcurts Jan 23

If you missed my “Hipster Google” session at #FETC this morning you can get all the resources (minus my live witty banter) at: http://www.controlaltachieve.com/2017/03/hipster-google.html … #edtech

Mike Rohde‏ @rohdesign 15 Jun 2017

HOW Design Live 2017 Sketchnote Master Class audio & slides! Audio (MP3) – …http://media2.fwpublications.com.s3.amazonaws.com/HOW/HDL2016/2017/Audio/Mike%20Rohde.mp3 … Slides (PDF) – …http://media2.fwpublications.com.s3.amazonaws.com/HOW/HDL2016/2017/PDFs/Tuesday_RohdeMike_HOW-Sketchnote-Masterclass.pdf …

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!”  

 

Strategies:

 

Read Alouds

Moss believes the strategic use of read alouds can help students achieve many of the goals of the standards, but she cautions: “Don’t wreck the read aloud with too many instructional interruptions.” Keep it simple and fun.

She’s found that starting class with a read aloud, followed by 10 minutes to write in journals, provides a predictable structure that helps kids settle into the day’s lesson. Having a set process also prevents the read aloud from getting scrapped because of time constraints.

…wanted to give their students, a large portion of whom are ELLs, more tools to discuss the high-level ideas within the texts they were reading. The questions and cues teachers had been using during the read aloud, however, focused students on literal comprehension, which, in turn, reinforced low expectations for student thinking. It also drained the life out of the read aloud. “What’s the conversation in a good book club? Rarely is it recounting what happened in the book,” says Friedman.

http://www.ascd.org/publications/newsletters/education-update/jan18/vol60/num01/Why-Every-Class-Needs-Read-Alouds.aspx

 

Silent Day

Paul shared a paragraph from his book on the concept of something he called “Silent Day,” a day where the teacher is silent, but the students are not.

https://www.teamolson.us/home/why-silent-day

 

Resources:

 

Countable

 

https://www.countable.us/

 

Google Safety Center

For Families:

Learn about Google safety tools designed to help you manage the security and privacy of your personal data.

For Everyone:

Help your family build good online safety habits with tools from Google and advice from our family safety partners.

https://www.google.com/safetycenter/

 

Econ Low Down

 

https://www.econlowdown.org/

 

Poor No More

“Peter Cove has the standard background for a social justice warrior—grew up in Massachusetts, B.A. in sociology from Northeastern University, graduate work at the University of Wisconsin, New York City government jobs, Community Action Agency in Boston, Manpower Assistance Project consultant, New World Foundation program officer. After holding key posts in New York City municipal government, he worked for the Community Action Agency in Boston, where he developed grassroots health, housing, and education programs.

He did his share of the spending of $20 trillion on poverty programs since 1964, but at some point he recognized a pattern: “I saw with my own eyes the value of work—any kind of paid work—in reducing welfare dependency and attacking poverty. I learned that if we helped welfare clients get jobs, even entry-level jobs, they would then attend to their other needs. … Work demonstrates that behavior has consequences. And it allows people to feel the pride and self-respect that come with supporting their spouses and children.”

Poor No More has many specific examples of how real change occurs. Here’s one: “When some mothers on welfare came to us, they often explained that they could not work because they had no day care. We would still send them on a job interview, and when the company wanted to hire them, miraculously, they found a grandmother or daycare center. Childcare wasn’t ultimately the problem— it was their insecurity about being worth anything in the private marketplace. Once they were offered a job, all the barriers to work fell away. By contrast, if the government continued giving them money and other benefits, they were likely to remain dependent.”

-Marvin Olasky

 

Web Spotlight:

 

2017 Education Research Highlights

  • PRACTICE TESTING, PLANNING TOP LIST OF EFFECTIVE STUDYING STRATEGIES
  • NEW TEACHERS—AND THEIR STUDENTS—BENEFIT FROM MENTORS
  • CLICKERS BOOST FACT RETENTION, BUT CAN IMPEDE DEEPER LEARNING
  • DON’T DROP FINGER COUNTING FOR YOUNG CHILDREN TOO SOON
  • THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING
  • REFLECTIVE WRITING EXERCISES CAN IMPROVE STUDENT OUTCOMES
  • TEXT MESSAGING CAN BOOST GRADES AND ATTENDANCE
  • THE DEBATE ON ACADEMICS VS. PLAY IN PRESCHOOL CONTINUES

 

https://www.edutopia.org/article/2017-education-research-highlights

 

Random Thoughts . . .  

Personal Web Site

 

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

 

MSM 379: Did I say that Right?

 

Jokes You Can Use:  

 

I got hit in the head with a can of Diet Coke today. Don’t worry, I’m not hurt.

  • It was a soft drink.

 

Why do melons have weddings?

  • They cantaloupe

 

Do I enjoy making courthouse puns?

  • Guilty.

 

Hostess: ‘Do you have reservations?’

Me: ‘No. I’m confident I want to eat here.’

 

Why did the man name his dogs Rolex and Timex?

  • Because they were watch dogs

 

I want to go on record that I support farming. As a matter of fact, you could call me:

Hear about the statistician 
who drowned crossing a river?

  • It 
was three feet deep on average.

Did you hear about the mathematician who’s afraid of negative numbers?

  • He will stop at nothing to avoid them.

I put my root beer in a square glass. Now it’s just beer.

 

Why should the number 288 never be mentioned?

  • It’s two gross.

What do you call a number that can’t keep still?

  • A roamin’ numeral.

 

How do mathematicians scold their children?

  • “If I’ve told you n times, I’ve told you n+1 times…”

 

The problem with math puns is that calculus jokes are all derivative, trigonometry jokes are too graphic, algebra jokes are usually formulaic, and arithmetic jokes are pretty basic. But I guess the occasional statistics joke is an outlier.

 

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Lifelong Kindergarten Part 1

This is the first in a seven part podcast series on the book, “Lifelong Kindergarten,” written by Mitchel Resnick.  This first podcast focuses in on the purpose of the book and the author himself.  Mitchel believes that by providing young people with opportunities to work on projects, based on their passions, in collaboration with peers, in a playful spirit, we can help them prepare for a world that requires creative thinking more than ever before.

Dave

 

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2018/1/11_Middle_School_Science_Minute__Lifelong_Kindergarten_Part_1.html

 

From the Twitterverse:

George Couros‏Verified account @gcouros

4 Non-Negotiables for Schools

NCTE‏ @ncte Jan 6

The 30 Day Happy Teacher Challenge via @prestoplans https://buff.ly/2E2IHa1  Could be a great way to kick off this year!

Kelly Malloy‏ @kellys3ps Jan 7

Seems like a great #newyearsresolution to me!

dailySTEM‏ @dailystem

Why didn’t the Sun go to college? Because it already had 1000’s of degrees! #FridayFun #ScienceJokes

Eric Curts‏ @ericcurts

20 Chrome Extensions, Web Apps, and Add-ons for Math http://www.controlaltachieve.com/2016/10/math-extensions-apps-addons.html … #edtech

Michelle Brahaney‏ @m_brahaney

New Treasure Trove Of Education Research http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2018/01/10/new-treasure-trove-of-education-research/ … via @Larryferlazzo

 

Microsoft in Education Canada‏Verified account @MicrosoftEduCA Jan 11

The @SkypeClassroom calendar is packed with experiences to make 2018 the year of #globallearning: http://msft.social/VAxo2t

Eric Curts‏ @ericcurts

21 New Free Interactive Pear Deck Templates for Google Slides http://www.controlaltachieve.com/2018/01/peardeck-templates.html … (Plus enter to win 1 year of Premium access) #edtech #edtechchat #GSuiteEDU #GoogleEDU #TOSAchat #ETCoaches #DitchBook @PearDeck

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!”  

 

Strategies:

 

Principal Bucket List

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WJ6On5rb-Nis2170iHhKVun6vI28NQt8/view

 

Metacognition: How Thinking About Thinking Can Help Kids

https://childmind.org/article/how-metacognition-can-help-kids/amp/

 

Sketchnoting 101, for those with little artistic talent

After having done various forms of sketchnoting for almost a year now, I have some lessons and ideas I want to share with you. But beforehand, we have to take care of the elephant in the room. (And if you don’t want to deal with that elephant, you can find my list of lessons and ideas below it.)

Here’s the beauty about sketchnotes: You don’t need to be an artist to create effective sketchnotes. Using visuals to record ideas are better at producing memories that you can recall than just words.

http://ditchthattextbook.com/2015/02/17/sketchnoting-101-for-those-with-little-artistic-talent/

 

Deeper Learning Performance Assessment Resource

Assessing student learning is crucial for Gold Standard PBL.

http://www.bie.org/blog/deeper_learning_performance_assessment_resource

 

Resources:

 

American Literature

Free eBooks. Novels, short stories, poetry, author search.

https://americanliterature.com/home

Open Culture: 900 Free Audio books

http://www.openculture.com/freeaudiobooks

Optimism Stronger than Fear

My students carry with them their resilience, passions, and optimism. They see themselves as Americans and are determined to contribute to their community.

 

How can we, as teachers, respond in a way that supports and protects our students?

Here are some initial ideas:

  • Reiterate your commitment
  • Read up on your students’ countries; know their histories
  • Know your rights — and your students’ rights
  • Connect with your community
  • Encourage student activism

 

https://www.gse.harvard.edu/uk/blog/optimism-stronger-fear

 

Getting respect for teachers in schools – well, it’s complicated

It is a bit of a chicken and egg scenario, or is it that simple? Should teachers automatically be respected once they walk in a classroom, or is the respect that students develop for teachers something that is developed over time?

What may be regarded as disrespectful behavior by students is very much subjective and attitudes have also changed over time. That said, we do have to respond to disrespectful behavior in schools and do our utmost to cultivate positive learning environments.

As is often said, be the change you want to see in your students.

http://connectedprincipals.com/archives/16658

 

Making Student Feedback Work

The benefits of student feedback are deep and wide — but not always recognized.

Students have a comprehensive view of how their teachers educate and motivate. Student evaluations can be collected cheaply, quickly, and regularly, giving teachers the opportunities to make real-time adjustments to their teaching. Teachers may actually learn about their students from feedback questionnaires, too — how they learn, whom they know well in the class, and with whom they work best.

https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/17/11/making-student-feedback-work

 

Random Thoughts . . .  

 

Personal Web Site

 

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

 

MSM 378: The Show About . . . But I Digress . . .

Jokes You Can Use:  

 

Why are ghosts such bad liars?

  • You can see right through them

Why can’t you ever give Elsa a balloon?

  • She’ll just “let it go”.

Which hand is better to write with?

  • Neither. Use a pen or pencil.

Why are math books always sad?

  • They are all filled with problems.

Which flower talks the most?

  • Tulips

What did one wall say to the other wall?

  • Meet you at the corner

Why is England the wettest country?

  • The queen has reigned for decades.

What has four wheels and flies?

  • Garbage truck

What goes up and down but doesn’t move?

  • Stairs

 

Advisory:

 

Riddles:

 

I am the beginning of everything, the end of everywhere. I am the beginning of eternity, the end of time and space.

What am I?

 

When is a door not a door?

 

https://riddles.fyi/

 

Logic Puzzles

That’s where these challenging logic puzzles come into play. Take as much time as you need on each of them to give your brain a workout!

 

http://boredomtherapy.com/logic-puzzles/

No time for leftovers: The astonishing scale of food waste in the UK and around the world

It is important to distinguish between food loss and waste:

  • Food loss: Occurs between production and retail
  • Food waste: Occurs between consumption and retail

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/01/02/no-time-leftovers-astonishing-scale-food-waste-uk-around-world/

 

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Did You Feel It?

I was recently reading the December, 2017 issue of “Science Scope,” a magazine written for middle school science teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association.  

 

In this issue, I read the the Citizen Science article, “Did You Feel It: Shake Up Your Earth Science Classroom with Earthquake Citizen Science,” written by Jill Nugent. The article describes the free online project to track earthquake charts globally.  For more information, please visit:

http://earthquake.usgs.gov

 

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2017/12/21_Middle_School_Science_Minute__Did_You_Feel_It.html

 

From the Twitterverse:

Dr. Dru Tomlin‏ @DruTomlin4Edu

Dr. Dru Tomlin Retweeted AMLE

The ingredients we need in the recipe 2 create an outstanding middle school are evident. Must have the most committed, passionate, knowledgeable cooks in the kitchen and support them as they work, experiment, and innovate 4 change! @AMLE #mschat @WCSms4U

 

AMLE‏ @AMLE

Food for Thought: The 16 Characteristics of an Effective and Amazing Middle School http://bit.ly/2aTgFzL  by @DruTomlin_AMLE

 

MiddleWeb‏ @middleweb Dec 17

NEW: 6 Ways to Take the Joy Out of Reading @CherylTeaches (And by implication, put it back in!) #elachat #engchat @ncte #literacy #educoach #reading @KellyGToGo @donalynbooks https://www.middleweb.com/36523/6-ways-to-take-the-joy-out-of-reading/ …

 

Kelly Malloy‏ @kellys3ps Dec 16

Yes!! Make sure you are taking time for yourself this holiday season! You deserve it!

Kialo‏ @KialoHQ Nov 22

Sick of the internet shouting factory? Looking for a more civil place to discuss the big issues? After five years of development, we welcome you to Kialo, a system designed for thoughtful debate.

 

Ian Jukes‏ @ijukes Dec 19

4 Characteristics Of Learning Leaders https://buff.ly/2B1MeUW

Kelly Malloy‏ @kellys3ps Dec 21

Oh no! Your student has found their name on Santa’s naughty list! They must write a persuasive letter convincing Santa that it is a mistake. https://buff.ly/2BXrCB7

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!”  

Manage your Twitter feed with Twitterific or Tweetdeck!  

 

Strategies:

 

28 Student-Centered Instructional Strategies

Student-centered teaching is teaching that is ‘aware’ of students and their needs above and beyond anything else. It places students at the center of the learning process.

 

https://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/28-student-centered-instructional-strategies/

 

ONE WORD COLLABORATIVE SLIDES ACTIVITY FOR STUDENTS

I have chosen one word the last several years to guide my year and give me focus. This year, I’ve selected the word DISCIPLINED.

 

https://meredithakers.com/2018/01/02/one-word-collaborative-slides-activity-for-students/

 

Exercising at own pace boosts a child’s ability to learn

A child’s attention and memory improves after exercise according to new research conducted by primary school pupils and supported by the Universities of Stirling and Edinburgh.

https://ukedchat.com/2017/12/19/exercising-ability-learn/

 

Resources:

 

Kids Don’t Fail, Schools Fail Kids: Sir Ken Robinson on the ‘Learning Revolution’

A huge misconception amongst adults, according to Robinson, is that kids don’t like to learn. On the contrary, “my conviction is that kids love to learn. That’s not the problem,” he shared. Rather, “it’s the construct of school” that beats a love to learn out of students, he says.

  1. It’s a time of revolution in many industries across the world.
    “I mean that literally. There are changes on the planet now that are without precedent,” he said. “We have an exponential rate of technological change, over the past 30 years in particular. We’re heading into a period of even more radical technological innovation, and with it will go entire industries.”
  2. If populations are to meet this revolution, we have to think differently, particularly about the individual self.
    “We have to reframe the abilities of our children. We have deep natural talents, but we have to discover them and cultivate them. If you have a narrow view of ability, you generate an enormous about of inability.”
  3. Thus, we have to rethink how we do school.
    “There are systems we’ve created for efficiency, not to get people to learn things,” Robinson started, later adding, “We organize our kids’ learning by their date of birth. We don’t do that anywhere else, except school.”

 

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2017-02-23-kids-don-t-fail-schools-fail-kids-sir-ken-robinson-on-the-learning-revolution

 

Maybe There IS Some Value in Graphic Novels?

One of the most spirited conversations in Radical history started with a simple argument:  Graphic novels — which were the hot new genre back in 2011 — don’t require students to think as rigorously as more traditional forms of text.

 

http://blog.williamferriter.com/2017/12/16/maybe-there-is-some-value-in-graphic-novels/

 

Manga:  

https://www.goodreads.com/genres/manga  

K-Pop:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzJvBgsFjvQ  

Web Spotlight:

 

When Will We Get Serious about Teacher Stress?

Of late, I’ve become acutely aware of one sad commonality among these very good people. Teachers are stressed. One could argue teachers have always been stressed but I’m sensing something new and disturbing.

 

http://ideasandthoughts.org/2017/12/06/when-will-we-get-serious-about-teacher-stress/

 

NASA will take images of its quiet supersonic jet’s shockwaves

In 2016, NASA began developing a quiet supersonic jet design with Lockheed Martin under the Quiet Supersonic Transport (QueSST) program.

https://www.engadget.com/2017/12/19/nasa-shockwave-images-quiet-supersonic-jet/

 

To The Students I Failed

 

https://byrslf.co/to-the-students-i-failed-e745b6b81401

 

Random Thoughts . . .  

 

Personal Web Site

 

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

 

MSM 377: Oh, wait, show? Please be patient, your body language says you need some templates, activities and more!

MSM 377: Oh, wait, show? Please be patient, your body language says you need some templates, activities and more!

Jokes You Can Use:  

When my girlfriend said she was leaving because of my obsession with The Monkees, I thought she was joking. And then I saw her face.

 

People don’t respect sidewalks near enough. But I do. They’ve kept me off the streets for years.

 

I went to a wedding the other night. It was very emotional.

  • Even the cake was in tiers.

 

Did you hear about the guy who invented the Knock Knock joke?

  • He won the “no bell” prize.

 

Why is every nose always under 12 inches long?

  • Because then it would be a foot.

 

I really shouldn’t have had seafood last night.

  • I’m feeling a little eel.

 

How come crabs never give to charity?

  • They’re shellfish.

 

What do you call it when a prisoner takes their own mug shot?

  • A cellfie.  

 

What lies at the bottom of the ocean and twitches?

  • A nervous wreck.

 

Did you hear about the guy who is afraid of elevators?

  • He’s taking steps to avoid them.

 

I hate jokes about German sausages.

  • They’re the wurst.

 

Advisory:

 

Geno Auriemma on body language and the type of players he recruits

He has led UConn to eleven NCAA Division I national championships, the most in college basketball history, and has won seven national Naismith College Coach of the Year awards.[1] Auriemma has been the head coach of the United States women’s national basketball team since 2009, during which time his teams won the 2010and 2014 World Championships, and gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp4mIONS51E

 

When This 7th Grader Lost All His Friends

 

http://www.amle.org/BrowsebyTopic/WhatsNew/WNDet/TabId/270/ArtMID/888/ArticleID/881/When-This-7th-Grader-Lost-All-His-Friends.aspx

 

Why You’re Not Successful? | These 12 Things Separate Amazing From Average

#1. Quality Not Quantity

#2. Difference Between Efficiency And Effectiveness

#3. How To Be Consistent

#4. What Does It Mean To Go Above And Beyond?

#5. Do Less, But Better

#6. Listen To What Isn’t Said

#7. Take Initiative To Solve Problems

#8. Real-World Experience

#9. Be Prepared For Anything

#10. Honesty At Work

#11. Stop Blaming Others And Take Responsibility

#12. Don’t Just Think Positive – Act Positive

https://www.realmenrealstyle.com/why-not-successful/

 

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Modeling

 

I was recently reading the December, 2017 issue of “Science Scope,” a magazine written for middle school science teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association.  

 

In this issue, I read the the Editor’s Desk article, “No Glue Required,”” written by Patty McGinnis the Editor of Science Scope.  In her article, she discusses modeling.  Modeling is used to describe, test, and predict phenomena.  She talks about the plant and animal cell models, that she used to have her students make, and how that does not meet the meaning of modeling, as we use it today.

 

The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program is an international science and education program that provides students and the public worldwide with the opportunity to participate in data collection and the scientific process, and contribute meaningfully to our understanding of the Earth system and global environment.  Announced by the U.S. Government on Earth Day in 1994, GLOBE launched its worldwide implementation in 1995.

Vision: A worldwide community of students, teachers, scientists, and citizens working together to better understand, sustain, and improve Earth’s environment at local, regional, and global scales.

Mission: To promote the teaching and learning of science, enhance environmental literacy and stewardship, and promote scientific discovery.

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2017/12/14_Middle_School_Science_Minute__Modeling.html

 

From the Twitterverse:  

Ian Jukes‏ @ijukes

There are two things that are underrated in life: patience and wisdom…

Rabbi Michael Cohen‏Verified account @TheTechRabbi

Emotional Intelligence will become one of the greatest skillsets we need to thrive in the #futureofwork – EQ is greater than IQ. @garyvee talks about this nonstop! We need to develop self awareness, empathy & social skills that DRIVE our motivation. #edtech #edchat #education

Rick Wormeli‏ @rickwormeli2

#eWalkThrough It’s worth repeating that with gifted/advanced students, we don’t give them more to do, but instead, we change the nature or complexity of their learning/assessment experience.

 

George Couros‏Verified account @gcouros

What “data-driven” often becomes…

Dr. Dru Tomlin‏ @DruTomlin4Edu

Dr. Dru Tomlin Retweeted Ryan Lisek

A1. Just some of the gr8 educators who will push me 2 be better in 2018: @blocht574 @schug_dennis @MrPoynter @TeachMrLewis @MrAcocks @Mr_Halterman @dunford_paul @haydabeck @Beyond_the_Desk @SarahNovak16 @konik_kris #mschat

 

George Couros‏Verified account @gcouros

The art of teaching…

Eric Curts‏ @ericcurts

30 Free Google Drawings Graphic Organizers (and how to make your own) http://www.controlaltachieve.com/2017/05/graphic-org-drawings.html … #edtech

CBC Toronto‏Verified account @CBCToronto

Toronto police roll out ‘Operation Jingle’ — a low-tech way to prevent holiday theft http://ift.tt/2CCPZ4o

Dave Burgess‏ @burgessdave

Here’s the must-read post for today. Powerful message from #ClassroomChef & #TableTalkMath author, @Jstevens009 Please share this w/somebody who needs it…meaning all of us! http://www.fishing4tech.com/fishin-solo-blog/new-teachers-please-dont-be-fooled … #tlap #LeadLAP #KidsDeserveIt #TeacherMyth

Eric Curts‏ @ericcurts

#12DaysTwitter Day 10: Looking forward to catching up on some sleep!

Monte Tatom, Ed.D.‏ @drmmtatom

I want to wish my beautiful wife Beth Tatom, a very happy 39th Wedding Anniversary!!

 

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!”  

 

Strategies:

 

Debate Boxing

…debate boxing.  Not my idea, nor the idea of my colleague, but definitely an idea that needs to be shared (If you know where it came from please let me know so I can link it!).

https://pernillesripp.com/2017/12/14/debate-boxing-a-way-to-get-kids-thinking-fast/

 

Resources:

Russel Tarr‏ @russeltarr 2m2 minutes ago

Imagination Prompt Generator: Nice starter activity for classroom discussions: http://www.creativity-portal.com/prompts/imagination.prompt.reload.html …

 

6 Winter Googley Activities

Good stuff. Links to the templates are available. Simple, easy to use.

http://www.controlaltachieve.com/2017/12/winter-activities.html

 

Course Hero

You should know about this one. Kids may know this and use the samples. Also, potentially good resource for you.

https://www.coursehero.com/

 

Web Spotlight:

Little Alchemy 2

Discover connections between objects as you build over 600 items by combining objects.  It’s not so much about understanding science as it is asking students the question, “Why do you think they associated these two objects together?  What do you think was their reasoning and would you have done it differently?”  

https://littlealchemy2.com/  

 

How Effective is Your School District

 

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/05/upshot/a-better-way-to-compare-public-schools.html

 

Blended Instruction vs Blended Learning

 

Schools continue to make investments in technology to engage students better, improve outcomes, and prepare all learners for the new world of work.

http://esheninger.blogspot.com/2017/12/blended-instruction-vs-blended-learning.html

 

Need Proof that Your Homework isn’t Fair?

I had an interesting conversation this week with a buddy of mine.  Both of us joked about being “single parents” for a few days — meaning we were completely in charge of our kids and our households while our partners were doing other things.

 

We both ended the week overwhelmed and completely exhausted.

 

http://blog.williamferriter.com/2017/12/09/need-proof-that-your-homework-isnt-fair/

 

Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds

 

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/02/27/why-facts-dont-change-our-minds

Random Thoughts . . .  

 

Personal Web Site

 

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

 

MSM 376: Poe in the Snow? We have video…

MSM 376: Poe in the Snow? We have video…

Jokes You Can Use:  

 

 

  • Did you hear about the restaurant on the moon?
    • Great food, no atmosphere.
  • What do you call a fake noodle?
    • An Impasta.
  • How many apples grow on a tree?
    • All of them.
  • Why did the coffee file a police report?
    • It got mugged.
  • How does a penguin build it’s house?
    • Igloos it together.
  • What do you call an elephant that doesn’t matter?
    • An irrelephant
  • Want to hear a joke about construction?
    • I’m still working on it.
  • The shovel was a ground-breaking invention.
  • The rotation of earth really makes my day.
  • Today at the bank, an old lady asked me to help check her balance. So I pushed her over.
  • My dog used to chase people on a bike a lot. It got so bad, finally I had to take his bike away.
  • I’m so good at sleeping. I can do it with my eyes closed.
  • The other day, my wife asked me to pass her lipstick but I accidentally passed her a glue stick. She still isn’t talking to me.

 

 

 

John Boyer‏Verified account @boyerweather

You’ve heard of Elf on the Shelf, but Richmond has Poe in the Snow

Advisory:

 

Turnip Prize

Pulled pork.

Have your kids create their own entries. Have a competition.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-somerset-42244179

 

Auschwitz inmate’s notes from hell finally revealed

 

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-42144186

 

QuickDraw

Fun with drawing. But the reason behind this is all about Neural networks.

 

https://quickdraw.withgoogle.com/

https://quickdraw.withgoogle.com/data

 

Middle School Science Minute  

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

STEM Club

 

I was recently reading the November, 2017 issue of “Science Scope,” a magazine written for middle school science teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association.  

 

In this issue, I read the the article, “How to Start a STEM Club.” It was written by Margaret R. Blanchard, Kylie S. Hoyle and Kristie S. Gutierrez.  In the article, the authors presented an eight-step plan for starting an after school STEM Club.

 

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2017/12/7_Middle_School_Science_Minute__STEM_Club.html

 

From the Twitterverse:  

Eric Curts‏ @ericcurts

Emoji Writing Prompt Generator with Google Sheets http://www.controlaltachieve.com/2016/11/emoji-writing-prompts.html … #edtech

 

Bethany Petty‏ @Bethany_Petty

HyperDocs are AWESOME! – #edchat #hyperdocs #teachingwithtech @edtechteam https://buff.ly/2nH6Uzu

Dr. Tony Sinanis‏ @TonySinanis

Active engagement often includes collaboration & joy because of the passion around the work. This is how I’ve seen it “rub off” from engaged educator to educator- they are excited to share their work! #EduGladiators

Why don’t we have courage to give colleagues feedback? What are we afraid of? Courageous Conversations for Cowards  

 

John Meehan‏ @MeehanDJO

John Meehan Retweeted Rick Wormeli

Memo to Santa and future me…

John Meehan added,

Rick Wormeli @rickwormeli2

Shhhhh. Don’t let it get out too far and wide — Rick Wormeli was very busy last year and this year….and that’s scary. The result is coming in February 2018….

 

Rachelle Dene Poth‏ @Rdene915

https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED/status/939487391391342592MindShiftKQED …: As we near the holidays, don’t forget to treat yourself over the break #sketchnote via sylviaduckworth #edchat #tlchat #edadmin#cpchat #edchat #edtech #education

“It does not make sense to hire smart people, and then have them follow stupid rules.” https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/does-make-hire-smart-people-have-them-follow-stupid-oleg-vishnepolsky … on @LinkedIn

George Couros‏Verified account @gcouros

Ten Creative Alternatives to Showing Movies Before the Break http://www.spencerauthor.com/?p=54321  via @spencerideas

 

Gary Stager, Ph.D.‏ @garystager

How about teaching?

 

Apple Education‏Verified account @AppleEDU

Celebrate Computer Science Education Week from Dec 4-10 with our new Hour of Code challenge & facilitator guide. https://images.apple.com/education/docs/hour-of-code-guide-2017.pdf … #EveryoneCanCode

 

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!”  

 

Strategies:

 

Finished?

How about a display board with activities for those who are done?

 

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0Bymh8CE2f40qbDgtMDl4OVFod0E?usp=sharing

https://ukedchat.com/2017/01/05/finished-try-one-of-these-by-misstait_85-ukedresources/

 

Study finds reading information aloud to yourself improves memory

 

You are more likely to remember something if you read it out loud, a study from the University of Waterloo has found.

A recent Waterloo study found that speaking text aloud helps to get words into long-term memory. Dubbed the “production effect,” the study determined that it is the dual action of speaking and hearing oneself that has the most beneficial impact on memory.

The study tested four methods for learning written information, including reading silently, hearing someone else read, listening to a recording of oneself reading, and reading aloud in real time.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/uow-sfr113017.php

 

11 Comic Creation Web Tools and Apps

 

http://teacherrebootcamp.com/2017/12/05/comiccreatorsappstools/

 

Resources:

 

Brain Scans Reveal Why Rewards and Punishments Don’t Seem to Work on Teenagers

One aspect of risk behavior in adolescents appears to be an apparent inability to match their behavior to the likely rewards (or punishments) that might follow.

 

Parents and teachers are painfully aware that it’s nearly impossible to get a teenager to focus on what you think is important. Even offering them a bribe or issuing a stern warning will typically fail. There may be many reasons for that, including the teenager’s developing sense of independence and social pressure from friends.

 

Now a new study, published in Nature Communications, shows that this behaviour may actually be down to how the adolescent brain is wired.

Adolescence is defined as the period of life that starts with the biological changes of puberty and ends when the individual attains a stable, independent role in society. (This definition may leave some readers wistfully pondering the second half of that equation). We now know that it is also a time of tremendous brain reorganisation, which we are only just beginning to understand.

Effectively, this study demonstrates the emerging efficiency of a “cool” cognitive control system moderating a “hot” motivational assessment system, resulting in the appropriate balance between the rewards offered and the actions required to maximise performance.

 

Just increasing any reward/bribe you might be tempted to offer to get a teenager to do something may not have the desired effect.

 

Instead, try to give young adolescents as much information as possible about an upcoming decision—this could help redress the imbalance between cognition and motivation.

 

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/brain-scans-reveal-why-rewards-and-punishments-dont-seem-to-work-on-teenagers/

 

Tutorials

A wide range of tutorials. Could be useful for those self directed students who like to learn new things.

 

https://www.tutorialspoint.com/

 

Camtasia Alternatives

 

https://elearningindustry.com/top-10-free-camtasia-studio-alternatives

https://techcoaches.dearbornschools.org/2017/11/30/hanging-technology-on-the-wall/

Dispelling educational myths

 

https://npjscilearncommunity.nature.com/users/19748-professor-john-hattie/posts/20734-dispelling-educational-myths

 

Google Arts & Culture

 

https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/

 

Applied  Digital Skills

 

https://applieddigitalskills.withgoogle.com/en/apps

 

Google Made with Code

Introduction to coding. Easy to use.

https://www.madewithcode.com/

 

Web Spotlight:

 

The Nested Splat! Series

Welcome to Splat!  You are only moments away from a VERY POWERFUL, highly interactive number sense strategy that can be used at any grade level!

This post includes 50 (fifty!) free, downloadable PowerPoint math lessons!

http://www.stevewyborney.com/?p=1112

 

Unsolved

Only a fraction of unsolved problems are suitable for the school classroom, however there still are a huge number to choose from. The purpose of this conference was to gather mathematicians and educators together to select one unsolved problem for each grade K-12. Here is a pdf summarizing the winning unsolved problems. Here are the criteria used to make our decisions:

http://mathpickle.com/unsolved-k-12/

 

Istorijos Detektyvai – History Detectives

So, here’s an idea from left field.  Show a clip from Istorijos Detektyvai as an example of how other cultures view social studies/history.  You can get whole shows from LRT’s webpage, everything from cooking to soap operas.  It’s an interesting cultural swim exploring the food shows and what Lithuanians find fun to eat, to designing a living space shows, and what they find newsworthy in their programming.  If you find the subtitles button, let me know.  Seriously.  Let me know.  

http://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/irasas/1013680454

 

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!

 

MSM 375: “It’s Just The Next Button Up . . .”

MSM 375: “It’s Just The Next Button Up . . .”

Jokes You Can Use:  

How much room is needed for fungi to grow?

  • As mushroom room as possible.

 

Did you hear about the circus fire?

  • It was in tents.

 

What do you call a cow with two legs?

  • How about a cow with no legs?

 

How many tickles does it take to make an octopus laugh?

  • Ten tickles

Did you see they made round bales of hay illegal in Wisconsin?

  • They are concerned about the animals getting square meals.

 

You know what the loudest pet you can get is?

  • A trumpet.

 

I was interrogated over the theft of cheese.

  • You can say I was really “grilled”.

 

What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire?

  • Frost bite

 

Where did the college-aged vampire like to shop?

  • Forever 21

 

You heard of that new band 1023MB?

  • Really good, but not a Gig yet.

 

I’m only familiar with 25 letters in the English language. I don’t know why.

 

Eileen Award:  

  • Ron King

 

Advisory:

 

ARIZONA GRANDMA’S ACCIDENTAL THANKSGIVING INVITEE WELCOMED BACK FOR SECONDS

 

http://www.king5.com/mobile/article/news/nation-now/arizona-grandmas-accidental-thanksgiving-invitee-welcomed-back-for-seconds/465-5953b79b-c1e2-4e65-ac6c-eb1a0f903a9f?scroll=0

 

Middle School Science Minute  

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

Conservation Actions

 

I was recently reading the November, 2017 issue of “Science Scope,” a magazine written for middle school science teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association.  

 

In this issue, I read the the article, “Inquiry Into Action: Ecosystems and Animals.” It was written by Megan Ennes, Dennis Kubasko, and M. Gail Jones.  It is important that students are presented with opportunities to have a positive impact on our planet and its organisms.  As human populations continue to expand, we will continue to see adverse human impacts on ecosystems and their inhabitants.  By connecting curriculum to current issues in conservation, students find greater relevance in the topics and are encouraged and empowered to help preserve our planet.

 

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2017/11/30_Middle_School_Science_Minute__Conservation_Actions.html

https://therouge.org/rouge-education-project/  

 

From the Twitterverse:  

John Spencer‏ @spencerideas

Interesting read: Yes, Learning Targets Can Make Our Lives Easier http://bit.ly/2hIvJVE  via @RossCoops31

Dave Burgess‏ @burgessdave

The Reese’s Effect: Learning & fun not only can go together…they go BETTER together. http://daveburgess.com/the-reeses-effect/ … The ideas in #PlayLAP by @jedikermit are perfect examples. #tlap

U.S. Marines‏Verified account @USMC

Semper Fi, Gomer Pyle. Rest in peace Jim Nabors, one of the few to ever be named an Honorary Marine.

MiddleWeb‏ @middleweb

REVIEW: Powerful Partnerships Grow from Family Engagement. #mschat @naesp @amle #ellchat #educoach @ScholasticTeach #edchat @Larryferlazzo https://www.middleweb.com/36410/true-partnerships-grow-from-family-engagement/ …

Walled Lake Schools‏ @WalledLkSchools

@DHCHS @principaltucker congratulations Jean Buller for being named Michigan middle school science teacher of the year by the MSTA!!

Craig Kemp‏ @mrkempnz

Love this 12 days of twitter challenge from @edTechEvans at our Sister school in Hong Kong! Will you take the challenge? #SAISrocks

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!”  

 

Strategies:

 

7 Ways to Calm Young Brain Trauma  

 

How can we help elementary students who have been scarred by tragedy become more receptive to learning?

 

https://www.edutopia.org/article/7-ways-calm-young-brain-trauma-lori-desautels

 

I’ve Got Research. Yes, I Do. I’ve Got Research. How About You?  

In 1847, Hungarian doctor, Ignaz Semmelweis made a remarkable discovery. When doctors washed their hands in a solution of chlorine and water, childbirth fever rates at Vienna General Hospital dropped from 18% to near zero. Offended that Semmelweis implied doctors were killing their own patients, the medical community rejected hand washing as an infection prevention measure, and drove Semmelweis out of medicine and into an insane asylum.

 

The National Reading Panel Report caused as much damage to reading instruction practices as the standardized testing movement and set independent reading initiatives in schools back decades.

 

https://bookwhisperer.com/2015/02/08/ive-got-research-yes-i-do-ive-got-research-how-about-you/amp/

 

The Power of Being Seen

When the bell rang for early dismissal on a recent afternoon at Cold Springs Middle School in Nevada, students sprinted toward the buses while teachers filed into the library, where posters filled with the names of every child in the 980-student school covered the walls.

Taking seats where they could, the teachers turned their attention to Principal Roberta Duvall, who asked her staff to go through the rosters with colored markers and make check marks under columns labeled “Name/Face,” “Something Personal,” “Personal/Family Story,” and “Academic Standing,” to note whether they knew the child just by name or something more—their grades, their family’s story, their hobbies.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/power-being-seen

 

What Teachers Must Consider When Moving to Flexible Seating

Flexible seating in classrooms has become popular over the past few years as educators try to make school feel like a welcoming place with different kinds of spaces for different types of learning.

When thinking about moving to a flexible classroom design, the most important person to consult with may be the custodian. Getting buy-in from administrators is important, but the janitorial staff will be directly impacted by these physical changes, so making sure they are on board is both respectful and crucial to the project’s success. They also might know about unused furniture in storage that could be repurposed inexpensively.

 

http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2017/11/27/what-teachers-must-consider-when-moving-to-flexible-seating/

 

Resources:

 

Teenage brains can’t tell what’s important and what isn’t

Teenagers may know full well how important final exams are – but that won’t stop some putting in minimal effort. This may be because their brains aren’t developed enough to properly assess how high the stakes are, and adapt their behaviour accordingly.

A region called the corticostriatal network seemed to be particularly important. This is known to connect areas involved in reward to those that control behaviour, and continues to develop until we are at least 25 years old.

 

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2154884-teenage-brains-cant-tell-whats-important-and-what-isnt/

 

Gourmet Learning – They’re Shutting Down The Kitchen . . .  

Dear Friends of Gourmet Learning,

Parting is such sweet sorrow. . . and after 24 years of giving birth to Gourmet Curriculum Press, Inc., DBA Gourmet Learning, nurturing it through its infancy and formative

years, and watching it grow into a truly Gourmet meal, the time has come close the company doors and bid farewell to the thousands of inspiring educators that I have had the honor of working with through Gourmet Learning. Teachers, educators and administrators, you are the backbone and inspiration of every child who has passed through your classrooms and hallways. You have positively impacted more lives than you will ever know. And through Gourmet Learning I have had the privilege of watching you pour out your hearts and souls for the children you teach.

The teaching profession is a calling and a mission and as educators you have given 200% to your students, and significantly impacted the future of our world. As I close the doors on Gourmet Learning I want to thank you all for your dedication to the teaching profession and for trusting Gourmet Appetizers, Main Dishes, Desserts and Doggie Bags to help you with your monumental task of educating children. As Mahatma Ghandi said, “Be the change that you

wish to see in the world.”

Blessings to all of you as you continue onward, and thank you for your 24 years of continued support, trust and friendship.

Jan Garber

President, Gourmet Learning

 

Music Resources

Whether you’re into Afrobeat, experimental music, or spoken language, these three resources let you peruse a seemingly limitless collection of audio treasures from around the world.

https://opensource.com/article/17/11/online-music-research-archives

 

Web Spotlight:

 

 

Who Is Distracted by a Girl Wearing Skintight Leggings?

Last week, two 5th-grade girls addressed the Atlanta school board, asking that the board change the dress code so that girls might be allowed to wear skintight leggings, which are currently prohibited unless girls are wearing a skirt or shorts over the leggings. The board will announce its decision in January.

We actually have quite a bit of research now on what happens when a girl or woman wears skintight leggings or a swimsuit. Often what happens is “self-objectification”: the girl, or woman, assesses herself as an object on display for others. And the more public the setting, the more likely self-objectification is to occur.

Self-objectification is distracting. It’s hard to concentrate on Spanish grammar when you’re wondering whether this outfit makes your thighs look fat. Girls who self-objectify are also more likely to become depressed. They are less likely to be satisfied with their body. They are more likely to engage in self-harm.

 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sax-sex/201711/who-is-distracted-girl-wearing-skintight-leggings

 

Laptops Are Great. But Not During a Lecture or a Meeting.

In a series of experiments at Princeton University and the University of California, Los Angeles, students were randomly assigned either laptops or pen and paper for note-taking at a lecture. Those who had used laptops had substantially worse understanding of the lecture, as measured by a standardized test, than those who did not.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/22/business/laptops-not-during-lecture-or-meeting.html

 

Random Thoughts . . .  

 

Personal Web Site

 

Click the Play button below to listen to the show!