Jokes:

Wrong Ends

A contractor hired two brothers to install home siding. He demonstrated the process and sent them off to their first job. Things were going smoothly when the older brother saw that his younger brother was throwing nails away. He asked, "Why are you throwing those nails away?" The younger brother replied, "The heads are on the wrong end." The older brother laughed, "Those are for the other side of the house."

Languages

A Swiss man, looking for directions, pulls up at a bus stop where two Americans are waiting. "Entschuldigung, koennen Sie Deutsch sprechen" he asks. The two Americans just stare at him. "Excusez-moi, parlez vous Fracais?" he tries. The two continue to stare. "Parlare Italiano?" No response. "Hablan ustedes Espanol?" Still nothing. The Swiss guy drives off, extremely disgusted. The first American turns to the second and says, "Y'know, maybe we should learn a foreign language." "Why?" says the other. "That guy knew four languages, and it didnt do him any good." (If you liked that one . . . try this!)

What did one math book say to the other? I have so many problems . . .

On Our Mind:

o Google Forms and Walkthroughs

o http://practicaltheory.org/serendipity/index.php?/archives/1261-Daily-Walkthroughs-with-GoogleApps-and-the-iPad.html

NMSA is a month away . . .

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski

From the Twitterverse:

Advisory:

Small Spaces

What if everything that you needed had to fit through a small space?

This would be a discussion centered around the trapped minors. The focus of the conversation could be around what it would be liked to be trapped for months.

* What is the difference between a need and a want?

* What can you “make do” with?

The link has a visual of the size of the whole which everything must pass to get to the minors.

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/09/13/back-story-think-of-the-miners.html

Quadruple Amputee Swims Across English Channel

Philippe Croizon, who lost his limbs in an electrical accident, swam across the English Channel. Nice story about what determination can do. The video is 1 minute and 40 seconds long. It includes quotes from Philippe. (Could also discuss the difference between a quad amputee and a quadriplegic).

http://www.newsy.com/videos/quadruple-amputee-swims-across-english-channel/

Tech Tools:

Educate

http://www.ikonstrukt.com/educate.php

ManyEyes

Data visualization. Great for those who see in pictures.

http://manyeyes.alphaworks.ibm.com/manyeyes/

Webspotlight:

YouTube Channel: RobbWorld’s Channel

DocsTeach

Great site from the National Archives Experience. Includes both Activities and Primary Resources.

http://docsteach.org/

26 Keys to Student Engagement

by Angela Maiers.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/37782099/26-Keys-to-Student-Engagement

WorldMapper

Worldmapper is a collection of world maps, where territories are re-sized on each map according to the subject of interest.

There are now nearly 700 maps. Maps 1-366 are also available as PDF posters. Use the menu above to find a map of interest. To learn a little more about this and other map projections read this: Worldmapper and map projections.

We recently added a new series of maps of the world's population using a new mapping technique: Worldmapper Population Atlas

http://www.worldmapper.org/

Schoolwork

by Nicholas Lemann

http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2010/09/27/100927taco_talk_lemann

Creating self Graded Google Forms

by Mark Wagner

“For this video I cut right to the chase and did my best to explain the IF formula for beginners… while keeping under a 5 minute time limit. I hope it’s helpful for you and your colleagues and I hope you’ll let me know what you think.”

http://edtechlife.com/?p=2600

Listener Question for Troy via Twitter: From @Mthman: @MSMatters Help me to understand a procedural Q...do the teachers in your building need guidance w/advisory lesson plans? Mine do!!! (Listen to the show for the answer!)

News: