Middle School Matters

MSM 262: MODEMS Are a Pain, but necessary… The Musical.

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

Jokes You Can Use:

Eileen Award:

Advisory:

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or [email protected])

From the Twitterverse:

Strategies:

Resources:

AMLE 2013 Annual Conference

Rick Wormeli & Formative Assessment

Videos: The Piano Guys and the Nowegian Technology Problem. The Inner Net

Formative vs. Summative Assessment and questions conventional practice.

Random Thoughts . . .

Conference notes. Native Apps vs Generic Conference apps.

MSM 261: Tynkar, “Waver”, Heartbreaker, Spy (Where’s Waldo?)

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

Jokes You Can Use:

Eileen Award:

Twitter: Marc Prensky

Advisory:

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or [email protected])

Wave Warnings

I was recently reading the October, 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, "Wave Warnings," written by Ken Roy, director of environmental health and safety for Glastonbury Public Schools in Glastonbury, CT. Within the article, he shares ideas on safety when doing hands-on activities in the study of energy and waves. He recommends providing safety awareness when students use:

Slinkys

Lenses

Mirrors

Light Sources (laser, lightbulb, etc)

Tuning Forks

Drinking Glasses

Wave Tank

Sink

Student Designed Sound Generators/Musical Instruments

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2013/10/24_Middle_School_Science_Minute-Wave_Warnings.html

From the Twitterverse:

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

Strategies:

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/classroom_qa_with_larry_ferlazzo/2013/11/response_there_is_no_such_thing_as_an_unmotivated_student.html

Resources:

Tynkar

What it is: Tynker is about the coolest way for kids to learn how to computer program- absolutely NO prior programming experience is needed! Tynker leads kids through design thinking through interactive courses where kids can learn how to program at their own pace.

http://ilearntechnology.com/?p=5183

Web Spotlight:

How Benoit Mandelbrot Discovered Fractals: A Short Film by Errol Morris

Even if you know little of mathematics, you probably have some awareness of fractals. You’ve almost certainly heard them invoked, correctly or otherwise, to describe things that look or act the same at the large scale as they do at the small.

http://www.openculture.com/2013/11/how-benoit-mandelbrot-discovered-fractals-a-short-film-by-errol-morris.html

http://twentytwowords.com/2013/11/22/mathematically-inaccurate-6-year-old-gets-self-confidence/

AMLE 2013 Annual Conference

Our Thanks . . .

Dave Bydlowski

Ron King

Dr. Monte Tatom

Our listeners

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

Jokes You Can Use:

Eileen Award:

Advisory:

Ashton Kutcher Acceptance Speech - Teen Choice Awards 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuBSRC1zpHw

What If Superheroes Had Part-Time Jobs

Have students pick a SuperHero (or create one). Then have them decide upon a part time job (or alternate) job. Students could draw or write the story about the SuperHero.

http://laughingsquid.com/what-if-superheroes-had-part-time-jobs/

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or [email protected])

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE MINUTE-SCIENCE SONGS

I was recently reading the September, 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, "Songs in Service of Science," written by Kathryn Hoffman. Within the article, she explains how science songs can be beneficial to students. At the end of the podcast, I sing two of the songs from the article. They are:

The Linnaean Levels of Classification

Cellular Respiration.

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2013/10/18_Middle_School_Science_Minute-Science_Songs.html

From the Twitterverse:

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

Strategies:

Learn the Address

http://www.learntheaddress.org/

Grade Table

http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2013/11/everything-thats-wrong-with-traditional-grading-in-one-table.html?utm_source=feedburner&IP=10.38.97.3&CAT=WEBLOG&USER=IPGROUP&CE=0

Bruno: Achievement Gaps Have Closed More Than You Think

One of the subtlest pitfalls, however, concerns the apparent persistence of achievement gaps between different groups of students.

http://scholasticadministrator.typepad.com/thisweekineducation/2013/11/bruno-achievement-gaps-are-closing-faster-than-you-think.html

Resources:

History in Color

Take black and white photographs from the past and add a splash of color. The impact is different.

https://www.facebook.com/HistoryInColor

Similar:

Some Lincoln and WWII pictures. Click through the slider at the top of the page.

http://lightbox.time.com/2012/10/25/a-vibrant-past-colorizing-the-archives-of-history/#3

Optical Illusions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UelJZG_bF98#t=19

eQuiz Show

http://equizshow.com/

How to participate in a Twitter Chat

http://www.coolcatteacher.com/videos/participate-twitter-chat-txeduchat/

Web Spotlight:

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/DigitalEducation/2013/11/as_the_final_public_comment.html

8 Universal Secrets of Motivated Learners

http://www.personalizelearning.com/2013/11/8-universal-secrets-of-motivated.html#!

UDACITY'S SEBASTIAN THRUN, GODFATHER OF FREE ONLINE EDUCATION, CHANGES COURSE

http://www.fastcompany.com/3021473/udacity-sebastian-thrun-uphill-climb

AMLE 2013 Annual Conference

Executive Director’s Meeting:

Membership focused on Teachers and resources for educators, backburner Administrators and Universities.

Free membership option has been a HUGE hit: 10,000 new members in the first month.

Half-Baked Ideas . . .

On the go recording.

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

Jokes You Can Use:

Eileen Award:

Twitter: Tricia Fuglestad, Tara Kuty

Advisory:

Myers-Briggs

Introduction to the Cognitive Style Inventory

This modest self-scoring inventory is Not a substitute for taking an MBTI ®. It is simply an introduction to personality type or psychological type. We hope it whets your appetite for learning more about the Myers and Briggs model of personality development and its message of increased human understanding.

The Style Inventory will allow you to approximate what are your MBTI Type preferences. After determining your 4 Type letters, you can jump to a number of links we have provided to help you get acquainted with the characteristics and indicators of the 16 types and verify if your type, as determined by this "unscientific" survey, seems to "fit" or not.

http://www.personalitypathways.com/type_inventory.html

Does Being Rich make you Different?

Science can explain a lot of things that I've always wondered about (go, science!). In this case, it explains what I've known for a long time but been unable to quite understand: Why do some folks who have a lot more money than others seem to be less nice and more evil to everyone around them? At 0:50, someone actually takes candy from babies. No, really. At 3:00, we start to see the science unfold before our eyes. Entire management courses could — and should — be taught with the bit starting at 4:40. http://www.whydontyoutrythis.com/2013/07/take-two-normal-people-add-money-to-just-one-of-them-and-watch-what-happens-next.html

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or [email protected])

Petri Plate Disposal

I was recently reading "The NSTA Ready Reference Guide to Safer Science," written by Ken Roy of the Glastonbury Public Schools. In this book, Key answers questions that have been submitted by middle school science teachers. In this podcast, Ken answers the following question:

"What is a safe way to dispose of Petri Plates used to grow mold and bacteria?"

If you would like to order Ken's book, please visit the NSTA bookstore at:

http://nsta.org/store

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2013/10/11_Middle_School_Science_Minute-Petri_Plate_Disposal.html

From the Twitterverse:

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

Strategies:

Resources:

http://ayearofproductivity.com/10-things-learned-productivity-watching-70-hours-ted-talks-last-week/

SwipeSpeare

Shakespeare has all the ingredients of a big budget movie—if you can understand him.

SwipeSpeare puts the words of the Bard into plain and simple English with a Swipe of a finger!

Unlike other apps that put the original and modern side-by-side in a way that is distracting and hard to read, SwipeSpeare only shows you the modern text when you want to see it. Simply swipe your finger over the text, and the text will change; swipe it again and it will change back.

Romeo & Juliet is free.

http://www.swipespeare.com/features.html

Web Spotlight:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/10/18/what-poor-children-need-in-school/

Half-Baked Ideas . . .

If you’re at AMLE, say, “Hi!”

A couple of observations about AMLE this year. 1. It’s going to be colder than usual. 2. No conference App this year. Yea, verily. There is much sadness . . . 3. If you see a person wearing a Middle School Matters podcast shirt, be sure to say hello. Hope to see you there! (If I have MSM pencils, you can have one for free!)

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

Jokes You Can Use:

Eileen Award:

Advisory:

Why Read?

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or [email protected])

Argumentation From Evidence

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2013/9/6_Middle_School_Science_Minute-Argumentation_From_Evidence.html

From the Twitterverse:

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

Resources:

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2013/10/7-free-ipad-apps-for-science-lessons.html#.UmKY82RASQk

http://ilearntechnology.com/?p=5158

http://addisonstales.com/

Web Spotlight:

http://code.org/

The Test of the Common Core

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/e-d-hirsch-jr/common-core-tests_b_3824859.html

DreamSchool

http://www.edwize.org/is-dream-school-a-reality-tv-nightmare

Bruno: Bullying Is Bad, But Do We Know How To Stop It?

http://scholasticadministrator.typepad.com/thisweekineducation/2013/10/bruno-bullying-is-bad-but-do-we-know-how-to-stop-it.html

MSM 257: From NanoTech to Space - Be Safe

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

Jokes You Can Use:

Eileen Award:

Twitter: David Katz, NAESP, Student Linkup, BJ Piel, Mark Denham (Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Education at the University of Detroit Mercy)

Advisory:

15 Ways of the Successful Self-Directed Learner

by Jeff Cobb

1. Takes initiative

2. Is comfortable with independence

3. Is persistent

4. Accepts responsibility

5. Views problems as challenges, not obstacles

6. Is capable of self-discipline

7. Has a high degree of curiosity

8. Has a strong desire to learn or change

9. Is self-confident

10. Is able to use basic study skills

11. Organizes his or her time

12. Sets an appropriate pace for learning

13. Develops a plan for completing work

14. Has a tendency to be goal-oriented

15. Enjoys learning

http://www.missiontolearn.com/2013/10/self-directed-learning-success/

Malala Yousafzai

The winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize will be announced on Friday, and Malala Yousafzai, the youngest nominee ever, is considered by many to be the frontrunner.

http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2013/10/09/the-best-resources-on-malala-yousafzai/

http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/tue-october-8-2013-malala-yousafzai

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or [email protected])

Nanotechnology Basics

I was recently reading the Summer, 2013 issue of "Science Scope," a magazine for middle school science teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association. Within this issue is the monthly column, "Green Science," written by Jessica Palliser. This month, Jessica writes about the nanoscale and provides a basic understanding of nanotechnology basics.

From the Twitterverse:

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

Resources:

The Civil War Trust

The Civil War Trust is America's largest non-profit organization (501-C3) devoted to the preservation of our nation's endangered Civil War battlefields. The Trust also promotes educational programs and heritage tourism initiatives to inform the public of the war's history and the fundamental conflicts that sparked it.

http://www.civilwar.org/

9 Out Of 10 Americans Are Completely Wrong About This Mind-Blowing Fact

This pretty much speaks for itself. At 1:05, I get a rude awakening. At 1:41, he starts talking about you. At 2:24, he says a "bad" word. At 3:50, he kind of breaks my brain. At 4:50, he lets you know how broke you really are. At 5:20, he rubs it in. And at 5:50, he points out that reality isn't close to what we think it is.

http://www.upworthy.com/9-out-of-10-americans-are-completely-wrong-about-this-mind-blowing-fact-2?g=6

Web Spotlight:

Beware of the Internet Safety Industrial Complex

Larry Magid

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-magid/beware-of-the-internet-safety_b_4066956.html

The Six Best YouTube URL Tricks

Repeat All or Part of a Video

Download Any Video

Bypass Regional Restrictions

Jump to a Specific Time

Disable Related Videos

Skip to the Good Parts With the Wadsworth Constant

http://lifehacker.com/the-six-best-youtube-url-tricks-1422544868

The myth of NASA's expensive space pens

Fantastic story, right? Except that's not what happened. NASA originally used pencils in space but pencils tend to give off things that float in zero-g (broken leads, graphite dust, shavings) and are flammable.

After testing, NASA ordered 400 Fisher pens for use on space missions at a cost of under $1000. Russia switched to using the pens a year later.

http://kottke.org/13/10/the-myth-of-nasas-expensive-space-pens

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

Jokes You Can Use:

Advisory:

How to Create Chocolate Out of Nothing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y13tSEyOqGs

Find more

http://www.marianotomatis.it/EN/index.php

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or [email protected])

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE MINUTE-ARGUMENTATION AND DISCOURSE

I was recently reading the Summer, 2013 issue of "Science Scope," a magazine for middle school science teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association. Within this issue is the monthly column, "Editors Roundtable," written by Inez Liftig. This month, Inez writes about nurturing argumentation and discourse and how it is necessary as we shift toward the Next Generation Science Standards. She then shares some observations from years of trial and error with implementing student-student interactions and argumentation in her own teaching.

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2013/8/23_Middle_School_Science_Minute-Argumentation_and_Discourse.html

From the Twitterverse:

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

Strategies:

Twitter Posts as Telegrams

http://charlesgute.com/index2.html

Once I believed

http://connectedprincipals.com/archives/9038

Resources:

How to Make Your Own Luck

by Maria Popova

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/10/01/how-to-make-your-own-luck/

Vizify

Turn your Twitter feed into a video. Learn about your followers and other statistics.

https://www.vizify.com/

https://www.vizify.com/shawn-troy/twitter-video

Free Materials

These top-quality financial literacy materials, including classroom modules, games, DVDs and brochures, are free and available for access now by all educators, parents and consumers. Click "Download" to download an item, or "Add to Cart" to receive it by mail.

http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/resources/free_materials/

MathsFrame

Mix of free and paid Math resources. May be a bit elementary.

http://mathsframe.co.uk/

SciShow

YouTube channel that has tons of good Science stuff. Range in time from a couple of minutes up to about 15.

http://www.youtube.com/user/scishow

Graham’s Hierarchy of Disagreement

You’ll want to change the bottom line.

http://thisisnthappiness.com/post/62781098396/grahams-hierarchy-of-disagreement

Stanislav Petrov: The man who may have saved the world

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24280831

Download The Chronicles of Narnia as Free Audiobooks

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2013/10/download-chronicles-of-narnia-as-free.html#.Uk9sCWRASQk

Web Spotlight:

All Technology Is Assistive Technology

Kids Speak Out on Student Engagement

1. Working with their peers

2. Working with technology

3. Connecting the real world to the work we do/project-based learning

4. Clearly love what you do

5. Get me out of my seat!

6. Bring in visuals

7. Student choice

8. Understand your clients -- the kids

9. Mix it up!

10. Be human

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/student-engagement-stories-heather-wolpert-gawron

Half-Baked Ideas . . .

Surface Tablet Review

Likes:

1. Screen resolution is easy on the eyes.

2. Programs load fairly quickly.

3. On-screen keyboard is fairly easy to use.

4. Battery time is pretty good.

Dislikes:

1. The non-responsive keyboard is worthless.

2. Boot time is a little slow.

3. Updating programs is SLOW.

4. The Windows 8 tile system is a clunky. I can only see a few apps at a time and it is a little tricky to move app tiles from place to place.

5. Sometimes getting the Wi-Fi to work is a pain. Sometimes it’s easier than the iPad.

6. OneNote stinks.

7. Version 2 is coming out not long after I get version 1 . . . granted it was free . . .

MSM 255: Swivl me timbers, Pirate day is over.

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

Jokes You Can Use:

Eileen Award:

Twitter: Jordan Shapiro, Mark E Denham, Raul Santiago

Facebook: Catherine Jackson

Advisory:

Produce Flops

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jessicamisener/13-of-the-worst-product-flops-of-all-time

The Prudential Spirit

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

http://spirit.prudential.com/view/page/soc

What We Are: Shattering Stereotypes

http://www.middleweb.com/7776/students-reject-stereotypes/

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or [email protected])

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE MINUTE-FIRST-AID

http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2013/8/8_Middle_School_Science_Minute-First-Aid.html

From the Twitterverse:

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

News:

Khan Academy: The hype and the reality

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/khan-academy-the-hype-and-the-reality/2012/07/22/gJQAuw4J3W_blog.html#pagebreak

Resources:

30 Classic Books That May Change Your Life

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/classic-books-that-will-change-your-life.html

25 Things You Had No Idea There Were Words For

http://www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/things-you-had-no-idea-there-were-words-for

Comparative Constitutions Project (CCP)

http://comparativeconstitutionsproject.org/

TedEd

http://instructify.com/2013/09/23/teded/

Swivl

The perfect solution for professional applications. Includes the complete featureset for a great video experience with enhanced audio. See the full list of specs here.

(Model #SW1721)

$199 per unit. Free cont. US ground. International fees may apply.

http://www.swivl.com/

http://www.swivl.com/store/

Web Spotlight:

Connected Educator Month Is Coming – What Will You Do?

http://connectedprincipals.com/archives/8994

575 Free Movies Online: Great Classics, Indies, Noir, Westerns, etc.

http://www.openculture.com/freemoviesonline

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

Jokes You Can Use:

Eileen Award:

Advisory:

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or [email protected])

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE MINUTE-SCIENCE MEETS THE ARTS

From the Twitterverse:

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

Strategies:

Some Common Alternative Conceptions (Misconceptions)

http://www.apa.org/education/k12/alternative-conceptions.aspx

Resources:

Half-Baked Ideas . . .

MSM 253: King Me or Pin me, the Odds aren’t good.

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

Jokes You Can Use:

Eileen Award:

Advisory:

http://visual.ly/what-are-odds

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or [email protected])

Respect the Web

From the Twitterverse:

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

Resources:

After the Deadline

After the Deadline helps you write better by adding spell, style, and grammar checking to web applications. You can learn more on our features page.

http://www.afterthedeadline.com/

http://www.polishmywriting.com/

14 Profound Quotes From The Harry Potter Books

http://www.buzzfeed.com/ariellecalderon/profound-quotes-from-the-harry-potter-books

Web Spotlight:

Why are you working on that?

I’m astounded at how often my children do things for class without understanding the bigger reasons behind WHY they’re doing those things.

http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2013/09/why-are-you-working-on-that.html

The Two Things Teachers Focus on Most....Instead of Learning

Written by Mark Clements

http://edunators.com/index.php/becoming-the-edunator/is-my-classroom-focused-on-learning/the-two-things-teachers-focus-on-most-instead-of-learning

Rick Wormeli: Redos, Retakes, and Do-Overs, Part One

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM-3PFfIfvI

Why I Hated Meredith’s First Grade Teacher: An Open Letter to America’s Teachers

http://kylenebeers.com/blog/2012/08/20/why-i-hated-merediths-first-grade-teacher-an-open-letter-to-americas-teachers/

Be Sure To….

Strategy to help kids reflect.

https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/student-goal-setting