Jokes You Can Use:

Eileen Award:

Allen D. for the web site recommendation.

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or [email protected])

Part 2 on the relationship between the core standards for ELA and literacy in Science. I look at the three reading standards that relate to science in grades 6 - 8 in the area of craft and structure.

From the TwittervISTE:

Don’t forget to join the conversation on MiddleTalk and Twitter at #midleved this Friday at 8:00 pm EST.

News:

The 7 Golden Rules of Using Technology in Schools

http://mindshift.kqed.org/2011/07/the-seven-golden-rules-of-using-technology-in-schools/

Resources:

Be a Great Learner: Take Notes

by Jeff Cobb

Establishing a consistent habit of writing things down can be very powerful. A significant body of research supports the idea that simply writing something down contributes greatly to the process of moving it into long-term memory.

http://www.missiontolearn.com/2011/06/note-taking/

Leveling the Playing Field: How to Make Standardized Test Preparation Accessible to All Students

By Andrea Alexander

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/how-to-make-standardized-test-prep-available-to-all-students

Desmos

http://desmos.com/calculator/

http://desmos.com/

One Teacher's Three-Tiered Intervention Strategy

Jean Laurance and Michael Laurance

I had no sooner returned from Rick Wormeli's seminar on differentiated assessment and grading than my administrator walked into my office. Her face showed apprehension and a bit of weariness.

My class sizes would be pushed to a staggering 37 students! "We don't have enough students to run separate classes, so they will be mixed, but about 10 percent are repeating the class."

Having the tools required for differentiated instruction is one thing, but here I was faced with the task of truly implementing it. More than that, I would need to adjust differentiation to my teaching style, a diverse group of students, and a bulging class size. I quickly realized that manageability would be just as important as the instruction itself.

http://www.ascd.org/ascd-express/vol6/620-laurance.aspx

Web Spotlight:

What Does Successful Project Based Learning Looks Like?

by Bob Lenz

Project-Based Learning (PBL) is a teaching approach, a mindset, and a framework for teaching skills and content. (Both our working definition and criteria are derived from our own work, as well as the work of, Adria Steinberg’s 6 A’s of PBL, The Buck Institute for Education, and Expeditionary Learning.)

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/project-based-learning-definition-bob-lenz

Stencil: http://stencil.sourceforge.net/

Make games. No need to understand programming. Can make iPhone Apps from this program. Allegedly Angry Birds was made using this program.

Summer Reading List:

Troy:

The Watchman’s Rattle ( just finished) by Rebecca D. Costa

What the Dog Saw by Malcom Gladwell

Shawn:

Toys to Tools,

Safe Practice for Life Online &

Web 2.0 How to for teachers

The Devil Dogs of Belleau Wood ✔

Our Listeners:

@mthman: The Classroom of Choice, First Days of School (4th Ed), Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites, & Great Ways to Diff Math Instr (I & II), Leading & Managing a Diff Class, Learning to Love Math, PBL Starter Kit (via Buck Institute), UbD Guide 2 HQ Units

#midleved:

@Waukeestudent: I plan on reading @johntspencer 's new book and maybe his two older books two.

http://www.missiontolearn.com/2011/06/recommended-reading/

Events & Happenings:

Calendar of Events: