Middle School Matters

Middle School Matters

By Troy Patterson, Shawn McGirrEducationSelf-ImprovementHow To
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Middle School Matters episodes

  • MSM-112-Wimp_Yourself
    Podcast #112: Wimp Yourself into Middle school
    Jokes:
    Rabbits
    The LAPD, The FBI, and the CIA are all trying to prove that they are the best at apprehending criminals. The President decides to give them a test. He releases a rabbit into a forest and each of them has to catch it. First the CIA goes in. They place animal informants throughout the forest. They question all plant and mineral witnesses. After three months of extensive investigations they conclude that rabbits do not exist. Next the FBI goes in. After two weeks with no leads they burn the forest, killing everything in it, including the rabbit, and they make no apologies. The rabbit had it coming. Finally the LAPD goes in. They come out two hours later with a badly beaten bear. The bear is yelling: "Okay! Okay! I'm a rabbit! I'm a rabbit!"
    Advisory:
    http://www.wimpyourself.com/
    On Our Mind:
    You can now sign up to receive updates via email.
    The Michigan Joint Education Conference is coming up June 23, 2010. Presentation proposals are due April 2, 2010. $79.00 for non-members and $49.00 for members of the member organizations sponsoring the event. This is a great way to pick up some PD this summer and you won't have to sell your soul to your administrator . . .
    From the Twitterverse:
    * web20classroom Flixtime-Similar To Animoto: http://is.gd/aJ4CV (via @Lifehacker & @gastondigital)
    * Frideswidel Lots of neat stuff from @Twilliamson15 at #ncmsa10
    * russeltarr 10 most creative resumes: To stress to students the importance of "going the extra mile": http://tinyurl.com/yetnrj2
    * Lilylauren Have you ever imagined a world with no hypothetical situations?
    * drmmtatom Teachers say in survey that good leadership is more important than pay http://tinyurl.com/yguoy3o
    * Twilliamson15 Just Posted: Making Videoconferencing Easy and Cheap to Use http://bit.ly/a5eS2L #ncmsa10
    * zmanrdz Rethink what your school looks like?... http://tinyurl.com/ylqactg via www.diigo.com/~zmanrdz
    * JohnHarrison1 How cool is that? RT @techtipsPRMS: Totally weirded out to realize I'm @ a session of someone I follow on Twitter! #ncmsa10
    * sharon_elin "No Teacher Left Behind" blog by newly-laid off teacher, creating a voice 4 many educators, aka sacrificial budget lambs. http://is.gd/aBvJG
    * colonelb Compilation of Michigan's MACUL Conference Tweets for 3/10-3/12/10 | http://tinyurl.com/MACUL10Tweets #edchat #edtech #macul10
    From our Listeners:
    Kitty Holman:
    Google Earth for Educators: 50 Exciting Ideas for the Classroom
    Ideas for all ages.
    http://www.associatesdegree.com/2010/03/14/google-earth-for-educators-50-exciting-ideas-for-the-classroom/
    MCSS: Super Social Studies Saturday! (3-13-2010)
    Link to the conference notes including the ones mentioned in the podcast: http://web.me.com/mcgirr/MCSS_Super_Saturday_3_13_2010/
    Lots of great stuff presented integrating middle school geography and World History.
    MAMSE:
    http://middleschoolmatters.com/Conference_Notes/MAMSE_2010.pdf
    Webspotlight:
    Events & Happenings:
    Calendar of Events:
    49 min
  • MSM-111-Dr Silvers MAMSE Moment
    On Our Mind:
    You can now sign up to receive updates via email.
    From the Twitterverse:
    * stevefarber Friend: "Someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you've forgotten the words." -Jim Warner
    * mjsamberg Resources from "Linux in the Classroom": http://www.tinyurl.com/nctieslinux #ncties
    * zeitz Who's pushing Emerging Technologies in higher education? students . . . http://is.gd/9Niwi
    * DanielPink Fascinating NPR interview with NCLB supporter-turned-critic Diane Ravitch....http://bit.ly/c8Lfvi
    * russeltarr Using Edmodo in the classroom: http://tinyurl.com/l2nvsb
    * Lilylauren Oh the irony- my predictive text doesn't know how to spell Nostradamus
    * DeronDurflinger RT @NMHS_Principal: Worst thing to do when moving towards change/successful implementation is to "mandate" #GTAdmin Agreed!
    * drmmtatom Jeopardy Labs: Make Your Own Online Jeopardy Game http://tinyurl.com/yaeha54
    * rmbyrne It's Not All Flowers and Sausages: Why The Superintendent Firing All the Teachers in One School Should Be Ashamed... http://ff.im/-gEkyv
    Twitter MAMSE Special:
    * Griffbuddy #MAMSE http://www.strengtheningfamiliesprogram.org/ Parents train parents. #mamse10
    * Frideswidel #mamse making rainsticks and using the design as a prompt for writing.
    * Griffbuddy #MAMSE One out of every three middle school students are obsese or in danger of being obese! #MAMSE10
    * Smhearty School worked with a court system. Saved the court $64,000 a year. #mamse
    * Griffbuddy #MAMSE majority of parents are not PITAS (pain in the a**es). We want them involved. #MAMSE10
    * Frideswidel #mamse Candy Writing Assignment: Using the senses to create an advertisement for the candy (then they can eat it).
    * Frideswidel RT @Griffbuddy: #MAMSE Dr. Santo Pino, NMSA, and Dean Hook, presentation: Securing Parent Involvement In Your School.
    * Frideswidel #mamse Art teacher talking about incorporating Art with writing (6+1 Traits). www.marymillerart.com
    * Frideswidel #mamse demo of Stratalogica.
    * dexgeek Technology is only one of the tools that teachers use to engage students. I'm glad I can arm them with the tools and skills. #MAMSE
    * Smhearty We train kids not to think but how to get an A. #mamse
    * Smhearty Got a great compliment today - "Aren't you guys presenting today? We have other teachers here today." #mamse
    * Griffbuddy #MAMSE Be there. Choose your attitude. Make their day. Play. Fish philosophy in schools (choose your attitude when you come to work).
    * Griffbuddy #MAMSE Advisory is necessary because strong relationships help teachers become adept @ diagnosing student needs. #MAMSE10
    * tanyaov #mamse Wow. MAMSE conference is excellent. I LOVE learning new things.
    Finger Wag:
    The State of Michigan put out a memo with a bitly link.
    Advisory:
    Blame Darwin:
    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704454304575081613327728110.html#articleTabs%3Dinteractive
    MAMSE:
    Dr. Debbie Silver: www.debbiesilver.com
    Keynotes: http://www.debbiesilver.com/keynotes/
    New Favorite Conference Software: Skim
    Webspotlight:
    Google Docs for Administrators:
    Sarah Rolle, Director of Technology for Elisabeth Morrow School, shared tips on GoogleDocs Tips for Administrators.
    http://www.mguhlin.org/2010/03/googledocs-tips-for-administrators.html
    Stratalogica: http://www.stratalogica.com/NystromDigital/home/login.html;jsessionid=501B5A5D36B68C44263525336DA8C718.StrataLogica1
    Mary Miller: Artist, Teacher, Integrator of Curriculum
    http://www.marymillerart.com/
    54 min
  • MSM-110-The Master Teacher Knows Next Week
    Title: Your Master Teacher knows that next week will be even better ...
    Jokes:
    A Fisherman's Tale
    Two guys are fishing in a boat under a bridge. One looks up and sees a funeral procession starting across the bridge. He stands up, takes off his cap, and bows his head. The procession crosses the bridge and the man puts on his cap, picks up his rod and reel, and continues fishing. The other guy says, "That was touching. I didn't know you had it in you." The first guy responds, "Well, I guess it was the thing to do - after all, I was married to her for 40 years."
    Animal Talk
    A mother is reading a book to her 3 year old daughter. Mother: "What does the cow say?" Child: "Moo!" Mother: "Great! What does the cat say?" Child: "Meow." Mother: "Oh, you're so smart! What does the frog say?" The wide-eyed little 3 year-old looks up at her mother and in her deepest voice replies, "Bud."
    On Our Mind:
    Code Organ:
    http://www.codeorgan.com/
    From our Listeners:
    Thanks for all of your efforts to try to keep me up to speed. At my age (23) ... I need all the help I can get!
    My middle school uses Dropbox to track student discipline and parent contacts by team using Excel. We have found this to be an excellent way to keep track.
    Thanks!
    Linda
    Hi guys,
    Here are a couple more middle school science items you might like to use. On a side note, I did a recent podcast on a one day science institute I went to and did a summation of each of the sessions I went to, similar to what you do with the NMSA sessions you attend. I like the idea of summarizing things we attend--good idea, thanks! It is the "Power of Technology" and can be heard at:
    http://k12science.net
    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    From the Twitterverse:
    * wfryer old school, new school is one of the best video clips I've seen yet from PBS digital_nation http://bit.ly/bsVI2z
    (Old School, New School:Chatham High School students, like many nationwide, are increasingly surrounded by screens. Their teachers debate how to handle their split focus.)
    * hshawjr RT @irasocol: You have PowerTalk for spoken PowerPoints, right? http://fullmeasure.co.uk/powertalk/
    * irasocol All your school computers have Firefox with Click-Speak, right? http://clickspeak.clcworld.net/
    * irasocol You do have a bunch of Flash Drives in your school loaded with Free AccessApps, right? http://is.gd/9jKdz
    * Curriki Dear Middle School Science Teachers, Stop, Drop and Click! Fab resources to follow: http://ow.ly/1bduO
    * NMSAnews RT @Scholastic and @gatesfoundation announce the largest-ever survey of America's public school teachers: http://bit.ly/9VOBh3
    * WebGalPat What does a 3 yr old digital native want from her library?: http://bit.ly/clycvt
    * principalspage Questions About Google? I've Got Answers. http://post.ly/Po35
    * drmmtatom Big, Huge, Free US Presidents Timeline Poster http://tinyurl.com/ykv5z2w #fhuedu508
    * eduinnovation "Creativity is not an escape from disciplined thinking. It is an escape with disciplined thinking." Jerry Hirschberg #creativity
    * jonbecker All public employees should pay attention to this case. The 1st Amendment is tricky: http://is.gd/9i12p
    Advisory:
    You Can't Send a Duck to Eagle School
    http://www.walkthetalk.com/pages/inspirational-movies.htm
    Webspotlight:
    What Your Master Teacher Knows
    Marge Scherer
    "Teaching is the most difficult profession of them all," educator Lee Shulman recently told a group of teachers and psychologists. The only time a physician comes close to doing what a teacher does is when the doctor faces an emergency room of multiple patients with multiple conditions, all of whom need immediate attention.
    http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/feb10/vol67/num05/What_Your_Master_Teacher_Knows.aspx
    Events & Happenings:
    Calendar of Events:
    NMSA News:
    49 min
  • MSM-109-Q & the Mysterious
    Title: Q & the Mysterious!
    Jokes:
    Wedding Woes
    At a friend's wedding, everything went smoothly until it was time for the flower girl and her young escort to come down the aisle. The boy stopped at every pew, growling at the guests. When asked afterward why he behaved so badly, he explained, "I was just trying to be a good ring bear."
    Sacrifice
    Eleven people were hanging on a rope under a helicopter, ten men and one woman. The rope was not strong enough to carry them all, so they decided that one has to drop off, otherwise they are all going to fall. They were not able to choose that person, but then the woman made a very touching speech. She said that she would voluntarily let go of the rope, because as a woman she was used to giving up everything for her husband and kids, and for men in general, without ever getting anything in return. As soon as she finished her speech, all the men started clapping their hands.
    On Our Mind:
    Retirement plans change for State of Michigan employees and teachers. (Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals)
    New retirement rules for Michigan
    * Retirement years cap at 30 years of earned time. Purchased years do not count.
    o If you continue beyond 30 years, your employer will contribute 4% to a defined contribution account and the employee will contribute 3% and may contribute up to an additional 3% for a total of 10% cap.
    * If this goes through there will be an incentive for districts to retain teachers with 30 or more years. Retirement contributions will go from 19% to about 10%.
    Thanks to Dave Bydlowski for the feedback:
    Check out his podcast here: http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Podcast.html
    Here is some information from my February 11 -- 24 Michigan Science Matters eBlast:
    MathCounts
    From the Twitterverse:
    Advisory:
    Be Lucky (Richard Wiseman):
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/3304496/Be-lucky-its-an-easy-skill-to-learn.html
    Webspotlight:
    'Algebra-for-All' Push Found to Yield Poor Results
    By Debra Viadero
    http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2010/02/10/21algebra_ep.h29.html?r=327944615
    Blue Ribbon Middle School
    Math comes to YouTube at Palmyra Area Middle School
    http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2010/02/math_comes_to_youtube_at_palmy.html
    Q-Matrix
    Get your kids to generate questions with a Q-Matrix.
    http://www.decs.sa.gov.au/assessment/files/pages/strategies/Question_Matrix.pdf
    Marble
    http://edu.kde.org/marble/
    FCC Expands Broadband Access at Schools
    http://mobile.reuters.com/mobile/m/FullArticle/CTECH/ntechnologyNews_uUSTRE61H6ZR20100219
    Essentially, the bandwidth not being used by schools during school hours will be open to the community.
    Events & Happenings:
    Calendar of Events:
    58 min
  • MSM-107-I'm a WallWisher
    Shawn and Troy talk the twitterverse, Prezi, advisory ideas, webspotlights and more.
    Advisory:
    Project Implicit
    Discover the bias within.
    Stupid Inventions:
    http://students.ou.edu/R/Basil.G.Rayan-1/
    Webspotlight:
    Word Clouds, Student Writing and Ownership
    http://www.mguhlin.org/2010/02/word-clouds-student-writing-and.html
    Doodle for Google
    http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/doodle-4-google-tell-us-what-you-would.html
    Example: http://www.google.com/doodle4google/2009/images/us_doodle4google2009.gif
    Competition
    http://www.google.com/doodle4google/index.html
    World Maths Day
    This year features an exciting new format with multi-levels for all age groups. Teachers, parents and media are invited to participate for the first time. Can we beat last year’s world record of 2 million students from 204 countries correctly answering 452,681,681 questions?
    http://www.worldmathsday.com/2010/Default.aspx?
    Interview Of The Month: Marvin Marshall On Positive Classroom Management
    from Larry Felazzo:
    Marvin Marshall, author of the influential education book “Discipline Without Stress, Punishment or Rewards” and the newer book “Parenting Without Stress.”
    http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2010/02/02/interview-of-the-month-marvin-marshall-on-positive-classroom-management/
    See also: Responsible Thinking Process by Ed Ford.
    16 Ways to Use WallWisher
    http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dhn2vcv5_436f8kscmdc
    56 min
  • MSM-106- iPad-Do You?
    Title: iPad, Do You?
    Jokes:
    Most problems can be
    Ignored. The more difficult
    Ones can be slept through.
    I don't mind being
    Teased, any more than you mind
    A skin graft or two.
    My brain: walnut-sized.
    Yours: largest among primates.
    Yet, who leaves for work?
    Your mouth is moving;
    Up and down, emitting noise.
    I've lost interest.
    There's no dignity
    In being sick - which is why
    I don't tell you where.
    On Our Mind:
    Dropbox:
    1. Free
    2. Backup no matter where you are
    3. Constant access (Computer always has a copy, Access from anywhere with web connection)
    4. Sync
    5. No Flashdrives
    6. Sharing
    7. Cross Platform
    Apple's iPad
    Net Safety
    http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/net-cetera.aspx
    From the Twitterverse:
    * shareski most schools have a few interested and able to post content. Classroom teachers struggle to find time to post
    * ChristianLong @shareski Tell 'great stories' - period. Anything else is trendy (at best). Tell stories. Tell stories. And then tell stories.
    * cookp prezi is offering some pretty sweet (and free) educator accounts. http://prezi.com/profile/signup/edu/
    * shareski Multiple video for Skype users. http://bit.ly/58nzQr
    * drmmtatom RT @FocusLeadership: "The boss depends on authority - the Leader depends on good will." Anonymous #fhuedu610
    * drmmtatom RT @lclandfield: Six things we always say as teachers - new blog post up at http://bit.ly/a5qeXo
    * bhsprincipal RT @tomwhitby: It has never been a question of Teaching in the 21st Cent. It is more about Accepting the 21st Cent. Attitudes. #educon
    * Aaron_Eyler "Flipping" Curriculum and how it can revitalize our schools: http://bit.ly/8X5zDC #education #teacher #edchat
    * skipz Why don’t more teachers integrate technology more effectively?- http://snipurl.com/u64ku
    * bhsprincipal RT @ShellTerrell: Transform the instructors first? http://bit.ly/5zGoM3 via @mcleod
    * jimconn Wow. RT @msprincipal62: "Our schools are not failing. They are obsolete--even the ones that score best on standardized tests." Tony Wagner
    * gardenglen Interesting Blog read "Motivating the Unmotivated" http://bit.ly/99GCJS via @educationweek
    Advisory:
    Tongue Twister:
    Mr. See owned a saw.
    And Mr. Soar owned a seesaw.
    Now See's saw sawed Soar's seesaw
    Before Soar saw See,
    Which made Soar sore.
    Had Soar seen See's saw
    Before See sawed Soar's seesaw,
    See's saw would not have sawed
    Soar's seesaw.
    So See's saw sawed Soar's seesaw.
    But it was sad to see Soar so sore
    Just because See's saw sawed
    Soar's seesaw!
    Webspotlight:
    Multiple Intelligences Survey
    http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks3/ict/multiple_int/index.htm
    Scribble Maps:
    http://scribblemaps.com/#
    Origins
    http://www.originsonline.org/dd_classroom.php?resource_type=148
    Seven Places to find Free e-books:
    http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/01/seven-places-to-find-free-ebooks.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+freetech4teachers%2FcGEY+%28Free+Technology+for+Teachers%29
    Dance Rules:
    http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2010/0126102dance1.html
    Graph paper:
    http://www.printfreegraphpaper.com/
    Events & Happenings:
    Calendar of Events:
    58 min
  • MSM-105-The Revolution in the Classroom
    Title: The Revolution in the Classroom
    Jokes:
    On Our Mind:
    Head on over to iTunes. We're looking for some feedback.
    http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=261383649
    From the Twitterverse:
    * willrich45 Reading: "Quality of Questions on Common Tests at Issue" http://j.mp/77l7Hi We'll get the assessments we can pay for. Sigh.
    * tom_peters "Do one thing every day that scares you"-Eleanor Roosevelt. May be best business [and personal] advice ever.
    * readtoday Excellent discussion on merit pay and Race to Nowhere http://bit.ly/5oIhdQ #edchat
    * mcleod The bumpy road to student-centered instruction http://post.ly/Jt3J #education #learning #teaching
    * novemberMonster If you haven't seen Khan Academy (http://bit.ly/tumDj) for #math make sure to check it out. Awesome. Video: http://bit.ly/4XHb2i #edchat
    * jdthomas7 "2¢ Worth » Applying PLN — A Continuing Question for Me" ( http://bit.ly/5Zo3NH ) #edchat #edtech
    * Russsauntry Why didn't anyone tell me about this genius? http://bit.ly/64SUsn google tips for teachers. Any more for Twitter? #edchat #edreform
    * educatoral RT @msmithpds: make an online game more relevant for your students by using classtools.net #edchat
    * UT_CoE 25 Ways to Motivate Teachers. http://bit.ly/8CPPkE #edchat #teachers #education (via @morsmal)
    * NMSAnews NMSA is seeking 12-15 members with an interest in reviewing session proposals for its upcoming Annual Conference http://bit.ly/8K3Dof
    * NMSAnews It’s not too late to submit to present at NMSA2010. Deadline for concurrent sessions: January 31, 2010 http://bit.ly/8mBslV
    * web20classroom Free Technology for Teachers: Seven Places to Find Free eBooks http://bit.ly/64b6AM
    * netbook_news VIDEO: Sharper Image LCD Projector only $149 http://tmogul.com/tweet/m_XbV
    * chickensaltash All we need is Radio Saltash - Doing a radio show in your lessons: http://bit.ly/4CXIxC #edchat #teaching
    Advisory:
    MultiTask
    Webspotlight:
    Sweet Search
    Dabble Board-
    Cosketch-
    Google Resources for Education
    Revolution in the Classroom
    Putting New Standards Into Practice a Tough Job
    Events & Happenings:
    Calendar of Events:
    NMSA News:
    56 min
  • MSM-104 The Terrible Twos
    The Terrible 2's (There are 52 weeks in a year . . . well, you get it.)
    Jokes:
    Buddaist Monk walks into a restaurant. What can I get you?
    Make me one with everything.
    Thanks Steven
    On Our Mind:
    Thanks to you, we're a Top 20 podcast in K-12 education. Please help us by voting on iTunes.
    From the Twitterverse:
    Advisory:
    Masters of Disaster:
    http://www.redcross.org/preparedness/educatorsmodule/ed-cd-6-8-main-menu-1.html
    Try this with your Advisory:
    Webspotlight:
    A National Yardstick for Gauging Math Progress
    States Show Uneven Performance; Even Top Achievers Fall Short
    By Christopher B. Swanson
    http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2010/01/14/17math.h29.html?tkn=R[MF4Qzo6orsW67cZxBzNGAHZdia9LvSag4Z
    http://www.edweek.org/media/ew/qc/2010/17overview.h29.math.pdf
    Debunking the Case for National Standards
    By Alfie Kohn
    I keep thinking it can’t get much worse, and then it does.
    A decade ago, many of us thought we had hit bottom—until the floor gave way and we found ourselves in a basement we didn’t know existed. Now every state had to test every student every year in grades 3-8, judging them (and their schools) almost exclusively by test scores and hurting the schools that needed the most help. Ludicrously unrealistic proficiency targets suggested that the federal law responsible was intended to sabotage rather than improve public education.
    * Let’s be clear about this latest initiative, which is being spearheaded by politicians, corporate CEOs, and companies that produce standardized tests. First, what they’re trying to sell us are national standards. They carefully point out that the effort isn’t driven by the federal government. But if all, or nearly all, states end up adopting identical mandates, that distinction doesn’t amount to much.
    * Second, these standards will inevitably be accompanied by a national standardized test.
    * Third, a relatively small group of experts—far from classrooms—will be designing standards, test questions, and curricula for the rest of us.
    Advocates of national standards say they want all (American) students to attain excellence, no matter where they happen to live. The problem is that excellence is being confused with entirely different attributes, such as uniformity, rigor, specificity, and victory.
    ...common-core-standards Web site, don’t bother looking for words like “exploration,” “intrinsic motivation,” “developmentally appropriate,” or “democracy.” Instead, the very first sentence contains the phrase “success in the global economy,” followed immediately by “America’s competitive edge.”
    Yes, we want excellent teaching and learning for all—although our emphasis should be less on achievement (read: test scores) than on students’ achievements. Offered a list of standards, we should scrutinize each one, but also ask who came up with them and for what purpose. Is there room for discussion and disagreement—and not just by experts—regarding what, and how, we’re teaching and how authentic our criteria are for judging success? Or is this a matter of “obey or else,” with tests to enforce compliance?
    http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2010/01/14/17kohn-comm.h29.html?tkn=WXUFzMageZQH55f62llSx04pEy9h1dTAV7g0
    Epson has new "short throw" data projectors.
    http://www.eschoolnews.com/2009/11/04/epson-introduces-two-ultra-short-throw-projectors-designed-with-k-12-education-in-mind/
    NMSA09:
    Teaching in 4-D: Rick Wormeli Closing Keynote
    Expertise
    Creativity
    Collaboration
    Events & Happenings:
    57 min
  • MSM-103 Lesson Planning Made Easy
    Podcast 103: #SkypeFail and Lesson Planning Made Easy
    Jokes:
    Shout out:
    LindaB23
    Answer to our Palindromic question from Doc Tatum: "Concerning last podcast - Feb. palindrome: Australia, they do day then month (01-02-2010) Keep up Gr8 work w/ podcast!! Monte"
    I produce the Michigan Science Matters Network on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. If you like this information, I can try to send it on a regular basis. You can hear the podcast at:
    k12science.net and you can view the hyperlinked eBlast at: msta-mich.org/smn
    Keep up the good work,
    Dave Bydlowski, Wayne RESA
    National Lab Day
    For more information, please visit:
    http://nationallabday.org
    On Our Mind:
    Race to the Top $$
    Through Race to the Top, we are asking States to advance reforms around four specific areas:
    * Adopting standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace and to compete in the global economy;
    * Building data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform teachers and principals about how they can improve instruction;
    * Recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and principals, especially where they are needed most; and
    * Turning around our lowest-achieving schools.
    From the Twitterverse:
    Webspotlight:
    Lesson Writer: www.lessonwriter.com
    Create comprehensive literacy lesson plans and student materials from any content in minutes.
    There are some things that I would like teachers to know, so thanks for giving me the opportunity to bring them to your attention and feel free to include or leave out according to what you think your audience is interested in.
    GirlTalk Radio:
    Girls are talking. You should listen.
    http://www.braincake.org/girltalk/
    TRAILS:
    TRAILS is a knowledge assessment with multiple-choice questions targeting a variety of information literacy skills based on sixth and ninth grade standards. This Web-based system was developed to provide an easily accessible and flexible tool for library media specialists and teachers to identify strengths and weaknesses in the information-seeking skills of their students.
    http://www.trails-9.org/
    Word Warriors:
    Here's the Word Warriors' 2010 list of sadly underused or overlooked but eminently useful words that should be brought back to enrich our language:
    http://wordwarriors.wayne.edu/2010/
    The opposite of this site: Lake Superior State University's Unicorn Hunters
    NMSA09:
    Got Student Leadership?
    Session Description: Can you imagine a positive, contagious, and exciting cultural change in your school? This presentation introduces a vibrant/dynamic school wide student leadership program that develops life skills, enhances student voice, increases student spirit/ participation, and much more. In addition to participants walking away with fun, hands-on activities that teach life skills to their students, they will also leave inspired and motivated to initiate a culture changing leadership program in their school.
    Events & Happenings:
    1 hr 5 min

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