MSM 179 Common Core, Bad Baseball joke, and iPad Resources.
On Our Mind:
Changing positions
Start of the school year
Eileen Award:
Dr. Tatom: Thanks for the mention on Twitter!
Advisory:
Permanent Record
http://www.slate.com/id/2301449/
The Secret to Success
https://plus.google.com/117689362923608221663/posts/8v7RBNncmAJ
How many really?
Middle School Science Minute
by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com)
Part two on lab safety and focuses in on personal safety of students.
From the Twitterverse:
 *drmmtatom #iPad Note Taking Apps Showdown zite.to/nztk9G via @zite #fhucid #hardintech #ccstech @msmattersNBC’s “Education Nation” Summit Begins September 25 #fhuedu610tinyurl.com/3aud82p Highlights from the 2011 Educational Technology Conference [ETC] in Missoula #fhuedu642 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2011/09/23/highlights-from-the-2011-educational-technology-conference-etc-in-missoula/ Building better teacher evaluations #fhuedu610 http://www.joannejacobs.com/2011/09/building-better-teacher-evaluations/ Virtual Schooling in the News #fhuedu642 |
 *mcleod Scott McLeodNew bookmark: Presenting Learning with Stop Motion AnimationNew bookmark: The Myth of Learning Styles bit.ly/qqB1dg |
 *Mimadisonklein Use Emotion and Technology to Spark Writing nblo.gs/nx17m |
 *kevcreutz Video – The Last U.S. Veteran of WWI bit.ly/qQmavJ via @rmbyrne #edtech |
 *laroncarter Having trouble already with classroom management already? My Mission Statement has worked for thousands. |
 *congerjan shares tinyurl.com/4yhfdds (Livebinder of tools you never knew you needed!) plurk.com/p/e3tynm |
 *AncientProverbs Motivational QuotesWhat is told into the ear of a man is often heard a hundred miles away. -Chinese Proverbs |
 *BethRitterGuth RT @mykidcancode: Free Online Lesson Planbook Software for Teachers bit.ly/jbDwyc #engchat |
Don’t forget to join the conversation on MiddleTalk and Twitter at #midleved this Friday at 8:00 pm EST. |
News:
Beautiful Teenage Brains
Moody. Impulsive. Maddening. Why do teenagers act the way they do? Viewed through the eyes of evolution, their most exasperating traits may be the key to success as adults.
Thanks to Richard Byrne for the link.
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/10/teenage-brains/dobbs-text
Resources:
Writing Prompts
These are some of the daily writing prompts that I use in class. The prompts and pictures are scraped together from so many sources – forgotten websites, old journals, overheard conversations, the crusty recesses of my hard drive – that attribution is difficult. I’ve tried where I can, but if you know how any of them should be attributed
http://writingprompts.tumblr.com/
YouTube for Teachers
http://www.youtube.com/teachers
http://www.youtube.com/education
iPad App Resources:
In iTunes, go to the iTunes Store (sidebar on the left).
Then select App Store on the bar along the top of the window.
Then select the drop down Education under Categories on the right
(OR-Just to the right of the word App Store on the top will be a small triangle- click that and select Education)
This will reveal App categories for Teachers including:
- Apps for Teachers
- Special Education
- Education Volume Purchasing
Mobile Learning
After reading this report, you’ll know more about:
- How mobile technology has become a game-changer in education
- Mobile device best practices from teachers and schools
- Mobile device management
- The latest in apps and mobile technology available today
http://www.eschoolnews.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/2/files/2011/09/mobile_star.pdf
Alternate Assessment Apps for Eighth Grade
Eighth graders need to demonstrate their mastery of skills in English, math and science.
http://www.techlearning.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67&EntryId=3110
Web Spotlight:
Implementing Common Core Standards
Over the next year, the accomplished teachers I met at CTQ will face down these tough questions. They will design—and test-drive in their own classrooms, with their own students—lessons and assessments linked to the Common Core State Standards.
http://transformed.teachingquality.org/blogs/advancing-teaching-profession/09-2011/implementing-common-core-standards
Cheating
Here’s an overview of some of the most shocking instances of teacher cheating, plus a few episodes that may have been overblown.
http://www.propublica.org/article/americas-most-outrageous-teacher-cheating-scandals
Students need to develop Grit
http://edcommentary.blogspot.com/2011/09/teaching-character-strengths-and-values.html
Common Core Maps
From the website:
“Common Core has released a new, Second Edition of the K-12 Curriculum Maps in English Language Arts. The Maps are designed to help educators meet the expectations of the Common Core State Standards, which call for the standards to be “complemented by a well-developed, content-rich curriculum.”
Our draft ELA Maps have received more than three million views since last August. We’ve listened to your advice and have added many new features, including:
- Nearly 200 new writing, grammar, and research activities
- Guidance for differentiated instruction
- Library of seventy digital resources
- More informational and contemporary texts throughout
Map users can now:
- Rate and comment on each of the seventy-six unit Maps along with thousands of suggested works, activities, and resources
- Submit lesson plans
- Get preferred pricing on Maps services and tools that are under development
Common Core has been inundated with requests for professional development services, more Maps-based curriculum tools, and more Maps, including math Maps. In order to generate the resources needed to respond to these requests, we are offering the opportunity to become contributing members of the Mapping Project for a nominal cost.”
Strategies:
Inside Story Flash Cards
http://www.insidestoryflashcards.com/
Jokes You Can Use:
Years ago, the Seattle Symphony was doing Beethoven’s Ninth under the baton of Milton Katims. At this point, you must understand two things:
1. There’s a long segment in this symphony where the bass violins don’t have a thing to do. Nothing. Not a single note for page after page;
2. There used to be a tavern called Dez’s 400 right across the street from the Seattle Opera House, favored by local musicians.
It was decided that during this performance, after the bass players had played their parts they’d quietly lay down their instruments and leave the stage rather than sit on their stools looking (and feeling) dumb for twenty minutes.
Well, once they got backstage, someone suggested that they trot across the street and have a few brews. After they had downed the first couple rounds, one said, “Shouldn’t we be getting back? It’d be awfully embarrassing if we were late.”
Another, presumably the one who suggested this excursion in the first place, replied, “Oh, I anticipated we could use a little more time, so I tied a string around the last pages of the conductor’s score. When he gets down to there, Milton’s going to have to slow the
tempo way down while he waves the baton with one hand and fumbles with the string with the other.”
So they had another round and finally returned to the Opera House, a little tipsy by now.
However, as they came back on stage, one look at their conductor’s face told them they were in serious trouble. Katims was furious!
And why not? After all (get ready, here it comes…)
It was the bottom of the Ninth, the score was tied, and the basses were loaded.
Events & Happenings:
Calendar of Events:
NMSA News:
- National Conference: Thursday, November 08, 2011 —Saturday, November 10, 2011 Louisville, Kentucky.
- Promotional Materials:
- Crossword Puzzle! (Maryland Conference)
- Other News:
- ISTE Eduverse Talks are the recorded sessions held on ISTE Island every week. Join ISTE in their Second Life conference location for their weekly talks on education.
- The ISTE Special Interest Group: Virtual Environments is holding meetings on Mondays from 4:00 – 6:00 pm (SLT) on ISTE Island.
Ohio Middle Level Association:
- The Ohio Middle Level Association will hold their annual conference.
Michigan Association of Middle School Educators
- The Michigan Association of Middle School Educators Annual Conference is coming up March 2012 in Warren Woods, MI.
- The North Carolina Middle School Association’s Annual Conference March 13-15, 2012
- Classroom 2.0’s Live Calendar.
- Classroom 2.0’s Ning Blog: Archived content is available.
- Second Life:
- Regular Tuesday meetings are scheduled. See the board on the ISTE Island for up to the minute details. Check frequently this week as the ISTE Annual Convention is this week.
- Video: Educational Uses of Second Life
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