Middle School Matters

MSM 272: POST! You gotta fix that. Oh, and get me engaged (not that way).

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

Jokes You Can Use:

During training exercises, the Lieutenant driving down a

muddy back road encountered another car stuck in the mud

with a red-faced colonel at the wheel.

"Your jeep stuck, sir?" asked the Lieutenant as he pulled

alongside.

"Nope," replied the Colonel, coming over and handing him

the keys, "Yours is."

Little Johnny was not paying attention in class so the math teacher called on him and said, “Johnny! What are 5, 2, 28 and 40?” Little Johnny quickly replied, “NBC, CBS, HBO, and Cartoon Network!”

Okay, so a Texan rancher comes upon a farmer from Maine. The Texan looks at the Mainer and asks, "Say, how much land you think you got here?" Mainer: 'Bout 10 acres I'd say." Texan (boasting): Well, on my lot, it takes me all day to drive completely around my property!" Mainer: "Yep, I got one of them trucks too."

A man put in 10 puns for a pun contest, hoping that at least one of them would win. But sadly, no pun in ten did.

Wife: “How’d your doctor appointment go?

Husband: “Well, there’s good news and bad news. My blood pressure’s high and

I’m overweight. But, at the doctor’s suggestion, I’m going to take up golf!”

Wife: “And the good news?”

Eileen Award:

iTunes:

Twitter:

Google+:

Facebook:

Email:

Advisory:

Birthday Celebrations Around the World

Warning, could give students some ideas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWLGvaeDAlU

Positive Messages

https://twitter.com/FHUPrincipal/status/453508594554531840/photo/1

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or [email protected])

Place-Based Inquiry

I was recently reading the January, 2014 issue of Science Scope, a magazine written for Middle School Science Teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association. In this issue, I was reading the article, "Using Place-Based Inquiry to Inspire and Motivate Future Scientists," written by Callin Switzer.

In this article, Callin explains the meaning of scientific inquiry and compares and contrasts place-based education and field-based education.

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2014/2/7_Middle_School_Science_Minute-Place-Based_Inquiry.html

From the Twitterverse:

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

Strategies:

BookTrack Classroom

Create texts for your students. The texts can include sounds. This could be a reading of the book or background music.

http://cdn.booktrack.com/education-studio/index.html#!/

Teaching Academic Content and Literacy to English Learners in Elementary and Middle School

http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/PracticeGuide.aspx?sid=19

Resources:

Why Doesn't America Read Anymore?

NPR had a terrific April fool’s joke.

http://www.npr.org/2014/04/01/297690717/why-doesnt-america-read-anymore

Web Spotlight:

More Than Half of Students 'Engaged' in School, Says Poll

Students who strongly agree that they have at least one teacher who makes them "feel excited about the future" and that their school is "committed to building the strengths of each student" are 30 times more likely than students who strongly disagree with those statements to show other signs of engagement in the classroom—a key predictor of academic success, according to a report released Wednesday by Gallup Education.

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2014/04/09/28gallup.h33.html?cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS1

Random Thoughts . . .

Personal Web Site

MSM 271: Nerds, Saving Money, Put it on Paper

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

Jokes You Can Use:

Eileen Award:

iTunes:

Twitter: Sandra Martin, Carina Soto, Kaley Katherine, Duncan Gunstone

Google+:

Facebook:

Email:

Advisory:

Wil Wheaton’s Response to being called a nerd

Wil Wheaton explains to a girl how to handle being called a nerd.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04WJEEb33CY#t=48

Body Language

Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy shows how “power posing” — standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident — can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain, and might even have an impact on our chances for success.

http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are#t-11094

Dining

http://twentytwowords.com/barbarian-eating-different-countries-around-world-7-pics/

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or [email protected])

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE MINUTE-STORY ASSESSMENTS

I was recently reading the January, 2014 issue of Science Scope, a magazine written for Middle School Science Teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association. In this issue, I was reading the article, "Every Assessment Tells a Story," written by Fred Ende.

In this article, Fred shares his design of Story Assessments as a form of evaluation design. His purpose for designing Story Assessments was to reduce student anxiety.

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2014/3/17_Middle_School_Science_Minute-Place-Famous_Scientists.html

From the Twitterverse:

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

Strategies:

14-Year-Old Proves U.S. Can Save $370 Million by Changing Fonts

Changing the standard typeface used by federal and state governments could save the United States roughly $370 million a year in ink costs, according to a peer-reviewed study by Suvir Mirchandani. The best part of the story? Mirchandani is just 14 years old.

It all started when Mirchandani, a student at Dorseyville Middle School near Pittsburgh, Pa., noticed that he was getting a lot more printed handouts in class than he used to in elementary school. He wondered how wasteful it was, and then discovered just how expensive ink is. At up to $75 an ounce, he points out, it's twice as expensive as Chanel No. 5 perfume.

http://mashable.com/2014/03/28/save-money-change-fonts/

http://www.emerginginvestigators.org/

Resources:

Paper

Create all types of graph paper to print or use as a background for Interactive Whiteboards, presentations, etc.

http://incompetech.com/graphpaper/

OR

http://gridzzly.com/

Lingua.ly

Learn

Practice

Read

One free way to learn a new language. There is now a mobile app. Did I mention that it is free?

http://lingua.ly/

Comics in Education

http://www.comicsineducation.com/

Scrawlar

Web based whiteboard. No registration required. No app or plugin required. Teacher creates class accounts.

http://www.scrawlar.com/

My Slide Rule

Upgrade your skills. Grow in your career.

Find MOOC’s that will help you grow.

http://www.mysliderule.com/

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

Jokes You Can Use:

Eileen Award:

Google+: Kris Ham,

Advisory:

Yoga

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/low-income-students-combat-stress-mindfulness/

58 Everyday Things You Never Knew Had Names

http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/58-everyday-things-you-never-knew-had-names

77 Facts That Sound Like Huge Lies But Are Actually Completely True

http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/77-facts-that-sound-like-huge-lies-but-are-completely-true

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or [email protected])

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE MINUTE-ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS

I was recently reading the January, 2014 issue of Science Scope, a magazine written for Middle School Science Teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association. In this issue, I was reading the article, "Supporting Linguistically Diverse Students" written by Joseph Johnson, Randy Yerrick, and Erin Kearney.

In this article, they look six strategies to help provide success for English Language Learners.

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2014/1/24_Middle_School_Science_Minute-English_Language_Learners.html

From the Twitterverse:

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

Strategies:

How to Trick a Child Into Playing the Violin (or Other Boring Things)

http://geekdad.com/2014/03/trick-a-child-into-violin/

Resources:

Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy Wheel

http://eductechalogy.org/swfapp/blooms/wheel/engage.swf

Classic Books

http://read.gov/books/

Evolution of a Story from Idea to Publication: A Behind-the-Scenes Look

Explains the writing process from a writer.

http://www.jamierubin.net/2014/02/26/evolution-of-a-story-from-idea-to-publication-a-behind-the-scenes-look/

Web Spotlight:

http://www.scpr.org/blogs/education/2014/03/03/15966/eli-broad-appoints-head-of-philanthropic-education/

Virtual autopsy: explore a natural mummy from early Egypt

http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/past_exhibitions/2012/virtual_autopsy.aspx

Free CopyRight Courses

Peer 2 Peer University is again offering some free courses on Copyright and Creative Commons for educators. Copyright for Educators and Creative Commons for Educators begin in March and run through early May. Copyright for Educators has an enrollment limit and requires an application. Creative Commons for Educators does not have an enrollment limit nor does it require an application.

Creative Commons for Educators:

The course will run for a period of 7 weeks, as split up to the left and below. Each week has a different task to complete, which is due the following Sunday. Tasks may take anywhere from half an hour to two hours or more, depending on how much effort you and your small group wants to put in that week. Like most things in life-- the more time you put into it, the more you will get out of it.

Course break-down

3 March - Week 1: Introduce yourself and your classroom need

10 March - Week 2: Creative Commons in Context

17 March - Week 3: Find the materials with the rights you need

24 March - Week 4: Remix and attribute

31 March - Week 5: Share your work

7 April - Week 6: Collaborate and create

14 April - Week 7: Share your resource about CC

https://p2pu.org/en/courses/1283/creative-commons-for-k-12-educators/

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2014/02/free-copyright-and-creative-commons.html#.Uxsu1NyxNTN

Good Parenting Skills

http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/11/good-parenting-skills/

Random Thoughts . . .

Personal Web Site

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

Jokes You Can Use:

Eileen Award:

Twitter: William Gould, Val Jones, Mark Maudlin, Jessica Herring, Bren Martin

Advisory:

Skeptic 101

THE SKEPTICAL STUDIES CURRICULUM RESOURCE CENTER is a comprehensive, free repository of resources for teaching students how to think skeptically. This Center contains an ever-growing selection of books, reading lists, course syllabi, in-class exercises, PowerPoint presentations, student projects, papers, and videos that you may download and use in your own classes. Lessons in these resources include:

what science is, how it differs from pseudoscience, and why it matters

the scientific method and how to use it to investigate and conduct skeptical analyses of extraordinary claims

how to construct effective arguments and rhetorical strategies

how to effectively use presentations and papers to present an argument

reason, logic, and skeptical analysis

the psychology of belief

how ideas are presented within academia

how peer review works

and much more…

http://www.skeptic.com/skepticism-101/

Hand gestures

http://www.pimsleurapproach.com/blog/language-learning/the-hand-jive-hand-gestures-infographic

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or [email protected])

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE MINUTE-THE LEONARDO STRATEGY

I was recently reading the January, 2014 issue of Science Scope, a magazine written for Middle School Science Teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association. In this issue, I was reading the article, "The Leonardo Strategy" written by Renee Clary and James Wandersee.

In this article, they look at scientific discourse and argumentation in an online environment.

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2014/1/19_Middle_School_Science_Minute-The_Leonardo_Strategy.html

From the Twitterverse:

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

Strategies:

Professional Development

Be glad this isn’t you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAy3vJn4pbs#t=34

Cultivate a Learning Mindset: Passion

What can be seen in an organization with a learning mindset characterized by passion?

http://blog.clerestorylearning.com/cultivate-a-learning-mindset-passion

Characteristics of Good Leadership

http://infographicjournal.com/characteristics-of-good-leadership/

Resources:

Chogger

Create comics online.

http://chogger.com/

Web Spotlight:

25 Literary Opening Lines Diagrammed on One Giant Poster

http://mentalfloss.com/article/55248/25-literary-opening-lines-diagrammed-one-giant-poster

25 maps and charts that explain America today

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/02/24/25-maps-and-charts-that-explain-america-today/

Real Discipline in School

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/02/17/opinion/real-discipline-in-school.html

Nine-hour school day is the norm – and a national model – at Oakland middle school

http://edsource.org/today/2014/oakland-middle-schools-9-hour-school-day-is-model-program/57269

Random Thoughts . . .

Blended Learning. Class I’m taking as a student.

Special shout out to Ron King for his contributions.

MSM 268: Twitter never stops….One linkey dink.

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

Jokes You Can Use:

Eileen Award:

Twitter: Mark Maudlin, Kip

Email: Aaron Atwood

Advisory:

Cost of things:

Students are probably pretty aware of Facebook. Recently, Facebook purchased “WhatsApp” for $19 billion. What could they have purchased with that instead?

http://twentytwowords.com/things-that-are-cheaper-than-facebooks-new-acquisition-whatsapp-like-iceland-for-instance/

Visiting America

What would you tell visitors from other countries about America?

http://mentalfloss.com/article/55140/10-japanese-travel-tips-visiting-america

Would it be OK to have a dance restricted by grades?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/top-grades-open-the-door-to-school-dance-in-montgomery/2014/02/03/3bb75640-89df-11e3-916e-e01534b1e132_story.html?wprss=rss_Copy%20of%20local-alexandria-social

How Real are Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qrGOi41iwE

Elie Wiesel’s Acceptance Speech

We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere.

one person of integrity, can make a difference, a difference of life and death.

What all these victims need above all is to know that they are not alone; that we are not forgetting them, that when their voices are stifled we shall lend them ours, that while their freedom depends on ours, the quality of our freedom depends on theirs.

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1986/wiesel-acceptance.html

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or [email protected])

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE MINUTE-LABELING CONTAINERS

I was recently reading the December, 2013 issue of Science Scope, a magazine written for Middle School Science Teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association. In this issue, I was reading the safety question of the month, written by Ken Roy, director of environmental health and safety for Glastonbury Public Schools in Glastonbury, CT.

The question is:

If I transfer a chemical from its original container to a secondary container, what information do I need on the label of the new container?

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2014/1/10_Middle_School_Science_Minute-Labeling_Containers.html

From the Twitterverse:

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

Strategies:

http://ed.ted.com/lessons/inventing-the-american-presidency-kenneth-c-davis

Resources:

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2014/02/how-to-add-450-fonts-to-your-google.html#.UwjH2fRdW8t

Google Newspaper Archives

Newspapers from around the world. These vary greatly in time periods as well. Lots of applications.

Have students research a specific time period and compare how different newspapers reported the events.

Have students view a single newspaper over time to see the changes in attitudes, reporting, etc.

Have students compare the advertisements in a variety of newspapers.

Have students use the newspapers accounts to develop a setting for a story.

http://news.google.com/newspapers

Video Conference Programs

This database, sponsored by Polycom, Inc., contains programs from content providers such as zoos and museums that offer ISDN or IP based videoconferencing. The Berrien County ISD has researched this information to the best of our knowledge. If you have any corrections or updates, please email them to [email protected].

http://projects.twice.cc/vcpd/searchprogram.php

Web Spotlight:

Dating Rules

http://twentytwowords.com/30-rules-for-boyfriends-from-2-little-girls-with-very-high-standards/

Connected Educator 2014 Conference

Random Thoughts . . .

Blended Learning. Class I’m taking as a student.

MSM 267: Make Shawn feel good, Dave Does the Climate Change ...

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

Jokes You Can Use:

Eileen Award:

iTunes: Sghtblindr

Twitter: Marie Booz

Google+: Michael Dettloff

Facebook:

Advisory:

Different Students

http://www.coolcatteacher.com/videos/autistic-boy-speaks/

Rewritten Book titles

http://www.themillions.com/2014/01/read-me-please-book-titles-rewritten-to-get-more-clicks.html

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or [email protected])

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE MINUTE-SPECIAL EDUCATION

I was recently reading the December, 2013 issue of Science Scope, a magazine written for Middle School Science Teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association. In this issue, I came upon an article entitled, "Special Education in the Science Classroom: A Co-Teaching Scenario" written by Lisa Dieker, Lisa Finnegan, Kelly Grillo, and Dennis Garland.

In the article they cite five areas that science teachers should consider regarding building a positive, inclusive classroom setting.

1. Both teachers must be involved

2. Reading and vocabulary instruction is critical

3. Teaching students how to write in the science curriculum

4. Using effective grouping and teaching social skills directly

5. Assess learning constantly

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2014/1/3_Middle_School_Science_Minute-Special_Education.html

From the Twitterverse:

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.

Strategies:

Meryl Streep provides examples of Voice

From the Ellen Show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8TSBw5JiWE#t=159

Resources:

Getty Publications Virtual Library

Free digital backlist titles from the Getty Publications Archives

http://www.getty.edu/publications/virtuallibrary/index.html

MetPublications

http://www.metmuseum.org/research/metpublications

Full text online: (395 current choices):

http://www.metmuseum.org/research/metpublications/titles-with-full-text-online?searchtype=F

Create Infographics

Nice rundown on different tools to create infographics.

http://www.razorsocial.com/make-your-own-infographic/

Down for everyone or just me?

Neat site that will let you know if a web site is down, or just down for you. This can help troubleshoot if a firewall is blocking a site or school filters, etc.

http://www.downforeveryoneorjustme.com/#

Online Timer/Clock

Free, easy to use.

http://www.teachit.co.uk/custom_content/Timer/clock3.html

Web Spotlight:

3 Things We Should Stop Doing in Professional Development

by George Couros • January 30, 2014

1. Creating a detailed agenda

2. Scheduling back-to-back-to-back-to-back learning

3. Thinking that “collaboration” with others is the only way we learn

http://connectedprincipals.com/archives/10156

Remind 101 Adds Support for Sending Text Messages to Subgroups

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2014/01/remind-101-adds-support-for-sending.html#.Uu55BnddW8s

Map: 'How Much Snow It Typically Takes to Cancel School in the U.S.'

Trubetskoy includes the following clarifications:

http://m.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/01/map-how-much-snow-it-typically-takes-to-cancel-school-in-the-us/283470/

Connected Educator 2014 Conference

The Educator’s Un/Conference . . . and 4 Scechs to boot!

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

Jokes You Can Use:

Eileen Award:

Twitter: Erin McAndrews

Advisory:

Best City to Visit

London is on track to being the most popular tourist destination in the world, beating Paris and New York, with latest numbers showing visitors to the UK capital up 20 per cent. The rivalry between 'The Big Smoke' (London) and 'The City of Love' (Paris) comes amid another media-based spat between Britain and France over the economy.

http://www.englishblog.com/2014/01/reuters-video-london-eyed-as-best-tourist-city-.html#.UtqRsGQo4_U

Trending Words

Kind of like Word of the day,

http://www.merriam-webster.com/trend-watch/2014/01/17/

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or [email protected])

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE MINUTE-SAFETY IN VIDEOS

I was recently reading the November, 2013 issue of Science Scope, a magazine written for Middle School Science Teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association. In this issue, I came upon an article entitled, "Safety in Videos," written by Ken Roy, Director of Environmental Health and Safety for Glastonbury Public Schools.

Ken shares his advice on how teachers should always review media with an eye toward appropriate safety practices.

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2013/12/20_Middle_School_Science_Minute-Safety_In_Videos.html

From the Twitterverse:

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.

Strategies:

http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~duckwort/images/12-item%20Grit%20Scale.05312011.pdf

Resources:

This scientist has three patents pending. He also happens to be 12.

http://blog.ted.com/2014/01/13/this-scientist-has-three-patents-pending-he-also-happens-to-be-12/

Web Spotlight:

40 more maps that explain the world

Maps can be a remarkably powerful tool for understanding the world and how it works, but they show only what you ask them to. You might consider this, then, a collection of maps meant to inspire your inner map nerd. I've searched far and wide for maps that can reveal and surprise and inform in ways that the daily headlines might not, with a careful eye for sourcing and detail. I've included a link for more information on just about every one. Enjoy.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/01/13/40-more-maps-that-explain-the-world/

Rag Linen

Rag Linen, named for the heavy-duty paper on which pre-19th century news was printed, is an online museum of rare and historic newspapers, which serve as the first drafts of history and the critical primary source material for historians, authors and educators. Curator and publisher Todd Andrlik has built one of the most significant and comprehensive private collections of Revolutionary War era newspapers. Glimpses of the newspapers can be found on RagLinen.com, but the full archive of American Revolution newspaper coverage will be made public for the first time in the forthcoming book, Reporting the Revolutionary War: Before It Was History, It Was News (Sourcebooks, November 2012).

Before 1870, newspapers were printed on a sturdy paper made by pulping linen rags, often from clothes or ship sails. Thanks to the durability of rag linen paper and Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press, history’s most important events from the 16th through the 19th centuries are often well preserved in printed form.

http://raglinen.com/

Rick Rolled my physics teacher...

https://twitter.com/sairamg3/status/422906182152757248

History Picz

https://twitter.com/HistoryPicz

AMLE 2013 Annual Conference

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

Jokes You Can Use:

Eileen Award:

Twitter: Chris Gore, Rolli, Ali Spagnola

Advisory:

The Train that never stops

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIeRrU4_M3Q#t=18

19 Saying Fixed

http://thedoghousediaries.com/5574

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or [email protected])

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE MINUTE-CLASSROOM ZOO

I was recently reading the November, 2013 issue of Science Scope, a magazine written for Middle School Science Teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association. In this issue, I came upon an article entitled, "Classroom Zoo: Practicing Ethical Research on Animals," written by June Poling from Portland, OR.

She developed a classroom invertebrate zoo project where students take on the role of zookeepers.

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2013/12/13_Middle_School_Science_Minute-Classroom_Zoo.html

From the Twitterverse:

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.

Strategies:

5 Special Strategies for Teaching Tweens

Strategy 1: Teach to Developmental Needs

Strategy 2: Treat Academic Struggle as Strength

Strategy 3: Provide Multiple Pathways to Standards

Strategy 4: Give Formative Feedback

Strategy 5: Dare to Be Unconventional

http://www.middleweb.com/6641/5-strategies-for-tween-teachers/

Resources:

What Happens on the Internet in a Minute?

http://dailyinfographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Internet-minute.jpg

The Principal: The Most Misunderstood Person in All of Education

http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2013/11/the-principal-the-most-misunderstood-person-in-all-of-education/281223/

Common Core and the Food Pyramid

By Rick Hess on December 16, 2013 7:33 AM

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/rick_hess_straight_up/2013/12/common_core_and_the_food_pyramid.html

Fighting in Teenagers Lowers Their IQ

http://calorielab.com/news/2013/08/12/fighting-in-teenagers-lowers-their-iq/

Web Spotlight:

How flipping saved a teacher’s career

MSM 264: Suffixes matter & Sunshine on the Soap Bubbles . . . Then there was a ding.

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

Jokes You Can Use:

Eileen Award:

iTunes:

Twitter: Jodi Stewart, Coach Burk, Michael Carton

Google+:

Facebook:

Advisory:

T-Rex

I've included a link for you to print out your own. The trick looks best through a camera. If you close one eye and move back and forth it works pretty good too.

GreenT-Rex image

http://i.imgur.com/vBDV8o5.jpg

Red T-rex

http://i.imgur.com/80DDCYy.jpg

Blue T-rex

http://i.imgur.com/Z8lZnoK.jpg

Winter Soap Bubbles

http://www.boredpanda.com/frozen-bubbles-winter-photography-angela-kelly/

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or [email protected])

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE MINUTE-POWERPOINT FLASHCARDS

I was recently reading the November, 2013 issue of Science Scope, a magazine for middle school science teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association. I then read the article "Increasing Science Vocabulary Using PowerPoint Flash Cards.”

In order to help improve science vocabulary in the school, they did the following:

1. Explored Science-Vocabulary Acquisition

2. Implemented Vocabulary Instructional Practices

3. Implemented PowerPoint Flash Cards

4. Integrated Science Vocabulary as a School-Wide, Universal Support System.

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2013/12/4_Middle_School_Science_Minute-PowerPoint_Flashcards.html

From the Twitterverse:

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.

Strategies:

Resources:

Open Library

https://openlibrary.org/

Web Spotlight:

Turn 0 Phrase

Identify colloquial phrases.

http://turn-o-phrase.appspot.com/

‘Small typo’ casts big doubt on teacher evaluations

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/small-typo-casts-big-doubt-on-teacher-evaluations-education-101517.html#.UrnmXe55TWk.twitter

5 Ideas To Bring Parents Into The Learning Process

by George Couros • December 26, 2013

Here are some ways that we can build strong connections with the parents in our school communities:

Use what the kids use

Have an open mind

Tap into parent leadership

Focus on open communication

Create learning opportunities

http://connectedprincipals.com/archives/9881

Why All Students Should Write: A Neurological Explanation

by Judy Willis M.D., M.Ed., radteach.com

http://www.teachthought.com/literacy-2/why-all-students-should-write-a-neurological-explanation-for-literacy/

MSM 263: How do I love thee? Let me calculate the snow days . . .

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

Jokes You Can Use:

The local sheriff was looking for a deputy, so Gomer, who was not exactly the sharpest nail in the bucket, went in to try out for the job.

"Okay," the sheriff drawled, "Gomer, what is 1 and 1?"

"11" he replied.

The sheriff thought to himself, "That's not what I meant, but he's right. What two days of the week start with the letter 'T'?"

"Today and tomorrow."

The sheriff was again surprised that Gomer supplied a correct answer that he had never thought of himself.

"Now Gomer, listen carefully: Who killed Abraham Lincoln?"

Gomer looked a little surprised himself, then thought really hard for a minute and finally admitted, "I don't know."

"Well, why don't you go home and work on that one for a while?"

So, Gomer wandered over to the barbershop where his pals were waiting to hear the results of the interview. Gomer was exultant. "It went great! First day on the job and I'm already working on a murder case!"

At school one morning the teacher asked little Johnny what he had for breakfast. Little Johnny said, well, on my way to school I come cross this Apple tree, so I climbed up there and started eating apples. I guess I eat about six, said little Johnny. No, said the teacher, it’s ate! Little Johnny said well it could've been eight I don't remember.

Q. What did the traffic light say to the other traffic light?

A. Don’t look now am changing!

Q: What kind of insects to you find on the Moon.

A: Lunar Ticks (Lunatics)

Q. Why did the kid eat his homework?

A. His teacher said it was a piece of cake.

Eileen Award:

iTunes:

Twitter: Shawn Davids, Middle Grades Ed UGA,

Google+: Jaguar Ed,

Facebook:

Advisory:

One Job

Have students write a story about one of the pictures.

http://hadonejob.com/

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or [email protected])

Science Literacy

I was recently reading the November, 2013 issue of Science Scope, a magazine for middle school science teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association. I then read the article "Building Science Literacy by Reading: Science News" written by Kent Schielke, a 7th-8th grade science teacher in Naperville, IL.

Every year, she challenges her 8th graders with the question, "Where will you get your information about new science after you take your last science class." She then shares the assignment that she uses to help her students answer this question.

From the Twitterverse:

#mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.

Strategies:

Club Academia

http://clubacademia.org/

Five Tools That Help Students Plan Stories

As a student the importance of planning a story before writing it was driven into my head. Then when I became a teacher, I drove that same message home to my students. Here are five free tools that students can use to plan and outline their stories.

Storybuilder.

Story Map

ACMI Storyboard Generator

Storyboard That

Cube Creators

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2013/12/five-tools-that-help-students-plan.html#.UrW-a2RDu8s

Resources:

Snow Day Calculator

http://www.snowdaycalculator.com/calculator.php

Free Images from the British Library

http://www.openculture.com/2013/12/british-library-puts-1000000-images-into-public-domain.html

Web Spotlight:

AMLE 2013 Annual Conference

Flipped Classrooms in the Middle Level

Nichole Carter (@MrsCarterHLA)

Random Thoughts . . .

Moodle https://moodle.org/