Saturday, July 6, 2013

MzTeachuh: Sunset Just For You...

MzTeachuh: Sunset Just For You...:  ...and every day! Ultimate Sunset Collection - Chill Out Music    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmtS8dEh4Dg

Sunset Just For You...

 ...and every day!

Ultimate Sunset Collection - Chill Out Music 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmtS8dEh4Dg

MzTeachuh: Do Behavior Support Plans Work?

MzTeachuh: Do Behavior Support Plans Work?: I don't know how many BSPs I have written, probably an average of five a year for fifteen years. The This is a pretty way to picture ...

Do Behavior Support Plans Work?

I don't know how many BSPs I have written, probably an average of five a year for fifteen years. The
This is a pretty way to picture it.
effectiveness of the BSP lays mostly on the adults involved and actually less on the students. Here are very general guidelines beginning with the most complicated student needs.

1. My experience in Special Education included directing a Non-Public School (that's a separate facility for kids with extreme behavior problems due to behavior dysfunctions or emotional disturbance who have been expelled from their home public school.) At the small school I directed, we had students who had been expelled from the larger non-public schools. It follows that the Behavior Support Plans added to the IEPs (Individualized Educational Programs)  for these students were written with input from medical doctors, educational psychologists, counselors, and frequently psychiatrists as well as District personnel and myself as the case carrier.

These were precision directives, much like a medical prescription or a protocol for physical therapy. There was nothing haphazard about this. With a carefully administrated system of positive reinforcement, interesting curriculum, and above all, parent buy-in, we saw progress. This was the elite level of teaching. Only the few, the proud and the thoroughly trained can maintain.

2. Behavior Support Plans are also written for students in other areas of Special Education. Many students on a public school are classified as Moderately Handicapped, and mostly learn in one classroom separate from general education. The handicaps are not the same, and could include OHI (Other Health Impaired), autistic, SLD (Specific Learning Disability) or a variety of disabilities identified as Moderate by special testing done by the District psychologist. In our state, for many years this was called Special Day Class requiring more specialized instruction for the students to succeed. There are separate Special Day Classes for Emotional Disturbed students because the regimen required is differently structured than other classes. The BSPs for these students are similar to the ones in a non-public school, addressing specific behaviors that can be modified by positive intervention.

Finger pointing is not considered a positive support.
In a typical SDC (Special Day Class)  the students could mainstream for a class or two, lunch and breaks. If a student in such a class exhibits disruptive behavior out of the norm, then a BSP will be added to the existing IEP. The Special Education teacher schedules an addendum IEP meeting to discuss the Behavior Support Plan, and following discussion and collaboration from parents, the teaching team, administration and District Psychologist, the BSP is added to the IEP. Generally, the BSP includes the homeroom teacher (case carrier)  noting improvement, and a tangible reward will be offered. The consequences for inappropriate behavior are noted in the BSP, can be mild and administered in the classroom unless it has a larger scope and needs a school consequence from an administrator. If all the adults are consistent, this works well.

3.  A student identified as  Mildly Handicapped may also need a BSP. Students in this category may have only one class taught by a Special Education teacher, mainstreaming the remainder of the day. If a student exhibits behavior that merits certain discipline interventions from administration, then the Special Education teacher schedules an addendum IEP meeting, prepares a BSP to support the student to begin showing positive improvement. The whole IEP team includes the student, the parents, all teachers, administration and District Psychologist. This is the team that will help the student replace the inappropriate behavior with appropriate behavior. Again, the BSP is only as effective as the adults administering it. And this is a challenge.

IEP meetings are really, really important.
4. Most Districts have a district level expert (maybe called Behavior Analyst or Positive Behavior Intervention Specialist) who helps administer a program such as this when the students are having a tougher time. Or when the Special Education teacher bothers to ask for help. I have found these professionals to be supremely helpful and awesome experts. They may do a student study called a Functional Behavior Analysis that takes the guesswork out of why the student is behaving this way and what can be done to help. Kids are complicated and may need medical, psychiatric evaluation or more simple interventions like counseling. This input is crucial.

If you are reading this, you are an educator, a parent, or a concerned friend. Maybe you're the student. If you have a concern, check with a professional more trained than yourself to answer questions about your child or student's behavior.

I would also check out (and this advice is for teachers, too) to see how organized the school site is--are the rules consistent? Is the work appropriate for your child's developmental stage? (For example, is there recess? Does your child or class have creative opportunities? Are bullies under control? Is there enough supervision?) Teachers and administrators need to constantly self-evaluate the soundness of a school's program--the entire school. When kids' needs are met, there is less disruptive behavior.

But sometimes there are other forces in a child's experience. That's when a parent or teacher checks out what a psychologist or doctor has to say.

Here are some resources on the topic of  Behavior Support Plans.

1. Behavior Support Plans
What is a Behavior Support Plan (BSP)? 
http://www.pent.ca.gov/beh/bsp/bsp.htm 

2. Behavior Assessment, Plans, and Positive Supports

 http://nichcy.org/schoolage/behavior/behavassess

3. What to Do When Challenging Behavior Persists

http://www.pbs.org/parents/inclusivecommunities/challenging_behavior5.html 

4. Write Your Own Behavior Plan

 http://specialchildren.about.com/od/specialeducation/qt/behaviorplan.htm

This last link is for teachers. Don't forget to check with families, other teachers, administration, and/or a Special Education teacher if a student it giving you a tough time. Maybe you don't know the whole story!    

Here's another platitude that may also help: This, too, shall pass.

 5. Keep Your Cool: Tips for Handling Difficult Students

http://busyteacher.org/6064-keep-your-cool-tips-handling-difficult-students.html 

 

 




MzTeachuh: MzTeachuh's Top Posts Week of 7/5/13

MzTeachuh: MzTeachuh's Top Posts Week of 7/5/13: Inquiry Based Learning AKA Project Based Learning http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/07/inquiry-based-learning-aka-project.html     ...

MzTeachuh's Top Posts Week of 7/5/13

Inquiry Based Learning AKA Project Based Learning

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/07/inquiry-based-learning-aka-project.html 

 

Special Needs Update 7/4/13 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/07/special-needs-update-7413.html 

 Doing Something About Change Tweets of the Day 7/1/13 

 http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/07/doing-something-about-change-tweets-of.html

 

 Summer Activity: Red, White and Blue Flowers for the Fourth 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/07/summer-activity-red-white-and-blue.html 

 

Summer Activity: Let's Have a Cookout! 

 http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/06/summer-activity-lets-have-cookout.html

 

Common Core for Special Ed.--Special Needs Updates 7/1/13 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/07/common-core-for-special-ed-special.html 

 

 

Summer Activity: Everyday Science at Home 

 http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/07/summer-activity-everyday-science-at-home.html

 

 

Hot Town Summer In The City http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/07/hot-town-summer-in-city.html?spref=bl

 

 

 

 Summer Activities: Art 

 http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/07/summer-activities-art.html

  Thanks to our international readers, it is a privilege to serve you. USA, Russia, Japan, Canada, France, UK, Ukraine,Germany, Australia, India.

 










































 

MzTeachuh: Apps and Math Tweets of the Day 7/6/13

MzTeachuh: Apps and Math Tweets of the Day 7/6/13:   1. Recreational and Educational Value of Math Puzzles http://www.edutopia.org/blog/recreational-educational-value-math-puzzles-deep...

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Updates 7/6/13

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Updates 7/6/13:   1. Kids with autism benefit from outdoor classroom http://www.thestar.com/life/parent/2013/0/05/kids_with_autism_benefit_from_outdoor...

Special Needs Updates 7/6/13

 
1. Kids with autism benefit from outdoor classroom

http://www.thestar.com/life/parent/2013/0/05/kids_with_autism_benefit_from_outdoor_classroom.html 

2. ADHD, Food Dyes and Additives 

http://www.specialneedsdigest.com/2013/07/adhd-food-dyes-and-additives.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FLUdSt+%28Special+Needs+Digest%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher 

3. Summer School for Parents

 http://raisingspecialkids.org/event/460033-2013-07-20-summer-school-for-parents/

4. Special Education: Evaluation

http://www.readingrockets.org/article/6185/ 

5.  From the Resource Room to the Honors Program: My LD Journey

Looking mighty good right now.

http://www.ncld.org/ld-insights/blogs/resource-room-honors-program-journey 

Make Healthy Popsicle Treats for the Summer

 http://special-ism.com/oral-motor-exercises-made-delicious/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Special-ism+%28Special-ism%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

 

 

Apps and Math Tweets of the Day 7/6/13

 

1. Recreational and Educational Value of Math Puzzles

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/recreational-educational-value-math-puzzles-deepak-kulkarni?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher 

2. Six Steps to Developing Your Own 21st Century Educational Technology

http://www.teachthought.com/technology/six-steps-to-developing-your-own-21st-century-educational-technology/ 

3. Why It’s Time to Stop Talking And Start Acting to Make Change

 http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/07/why-its-time-to-stop-talking-and-start-acting-to-make-change/

4. Build Relationships: Teach More Than 'Just Math'


All Grades, All Subjects, Relationships 

5. 100+ Google Tricks for Teachers 

http://www.teachhub.com/100-google-tricks-teachers 

6. 41 Apps One 4th Grade Teacher Depends On

Editorial: to Learn, Kids Must Start With A Meal

EDITORIAL: To Learn, Kids Must Start Day With A Meal - See more at: http://admin.teachhub.com/editorial-learn-kids-must-start-day-meal#sthash.7ETE1H1a.dpuf

http://www.teachthought.com/technology/41-apps-one-4th-grade-teacher-depends-on/ 

EDITORIAL: To Learn, Kids Must Start Day With A Meal - See more at: http://admin.teachhub.com/editorial-learn-kids-must-start-day-meal#sthash.7ETE1H1a.dpuf

 http://admin.teachhub.com/editorial-learn-kids-must-start-day-meal

7. Infographic: Meditation in Schools Across America

 http://www.edutopia.org/stw-student-stress-meditation-schools-infographic?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=stw-quiettime

 

EDITORIAL: To Learn, Kids Must Start Day With A Meal - See more at: http://admin.teachhub.com/editorial-learn-kids-must-start-day-meal#sthash.7ETE1H1a.dpuf

Friday, July 5, 2013

MzTeachuh: Hot Town Summer In The City

MzTeachuh: Hot Town Summer In The City:   When muttonchops ruled. Lovin' Spoonful - Summer In The City (1966)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbQK-w2ARsw

Hot Town Summer In The City

 

When muttonchops ruled.

Lovin' Spoonful - Summer In The City (1966) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m648v4s5sFc

MzTeachuh: Summer Activity: Everyday Science at Home

MzTeachuh: Summer Activity: Everyday Science at Home: Flowers, like these verbena in my yard, will cross-pollinate creating blended colors. How cool is that? Kids can also identify insects ...

MzTeachuh: Summer Activity: Everyday Science at Home

MzTeachuh: Summer Activity: Everyday Science at Home: Flowers, like these verbena in my yard, will cross-pollinate creating blended colors. How cool is that? Kids can also identify insects ...

Summer Activity: Everyday Science at Home

Flowers, like these verbena in my yard, will cross-pollinate creating blended colors. How cool is that?

Kids can also identify insects and their habitats, which is important for safety reasons. The critters become like family, and kids learn to respect their lives in the garden, rather then hunt and squish them.
Mojave lizard, eater of Black Widow Spiders. Bon appetit, dude.

Knowing native plants and birds, how to use water wisely. Kids are easily recruited from an early age to be assistant gardeners and landscapers. 

Checking out the weather by looking at the sky, feeling the humidity, temperature, and the wind patterns are also safety points. Plus, chatting about the weather is just a necessary social skill globally.

And realistically, the sky is cheap entertainment.

  1. Go on a Backyard Botany Hunt



2. What’s Up in the Sky this Month 
 http://liebacklookup.com/whats-up-in-the-sky-this-month/ 

3. Weather Wiz Kids

http://www.weatherwizkids.com/ 

4. Summer Science Projects

 http://www.hometrainingtools.com/summer-science-projects/a/1406/

5. Summer Birding Tips

http://birding.about.com/od/birdingbasics/a/summerbirdingtips.htm

 

MzTeachuh: Summer Activities: Art

MzTeachuh: Summer Activities: Art: 1. Sidewalk Chalk Art Show Keeps Kids Happy This Summer http://voices.yahoo.com/sidewalk-chalk-art-show-keeps-kids-happy-summer-366...

Summer Activities: Art



1. Sidewalk Chalk Art Show Keeps Kids Happy This Summer

http://voices.yahoo.com/sidewalk-chalk-art-show-keeps-kids-happy-summer-366647.html

Team effort

  2. Sidewalk Chalk Props: Creative Photos Of Kids As Part Of Chalk Art 

 Creative Sidewalk Chalk Drawings--check out the slideshow

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/08/sidewalk-chalk-props_n_1677608.html

3. Fun Summer Art Project – Water Gun Painting
Not to be confused with paintball.

Flower Stained Glass

http://www.somewhatsimple.com/fun-summer-art-project-water-gun-painting/ 

4. 10 Outdoor Summer Crafts for Kids

 http://www.bhg.com/crafts/kids/outdoor-projects/outdoor-summer-kids-crafts/

5. 50 Summer Crafts for Kids

 http://thelongthread.com/?p=4054

6. Flower Stained Glass

http://www.artfulparent.com/2012/05/thank-you-another-flower-stained-glass.html 

7. Endless Summer Projects: Mosaic Stepping Stones

http://luluthebaker.blogspot.com/2013/05/endless-summer-projects-mosaic-stepping.html

 

MzTeachuh: New Options Tweets of the Day 7/5/13

MzTeachuh: New Options Tweets of the Day 7/5/13: 1. Improve Your Teaching Skills this Summer  http://www.teachhub.com/improve-your-teaching-skills-summer   2.  College and Career R...

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Update 7/5/13

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Update 7/5/13: 1. Back-to-School for Parents of Students with LD   http://www.ncld.org/learning-disability-resources/ebooks-guides-toolkits/parent-t...

Special Needs Update 7/5/13

1. Back-to-School for Parents of Students with LD

 http://www.ncld.org/learning-disability-resources/ebooks-guides-toolkits/parent-toolkit-back-to-school-for-parents-of-students-with-ld

2.  Finding Help

http://www.ldonline.org/help 

3. Goal-Setting and LD: Enhancing Skills for Success in Life

http://www.ncld.org/parents-child-disabilities/social-emotional-skills/goal-setting-ld-enhancing-skills-for-success-life 

4. 5 Easy Science Experiments for Kids: Hands On Science

http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/27991/easy-science-experiments?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+TipsForMomsActivitiesForKidsByQuirkyMommas+%28Tips+for+Moms,

+Activities+for+kids+by+Quirky+Mommas%29 

5. Autism Bill Sails Through Legislature Without Opposition

http://www.thelundreport.org/resource/autism_bill_sails_through_legislature_without_opposition 


6. Gandolfini's Generous Gift 

http://www.autismspeaks.org/news/news-item/gandolfini039s-generous-gift 

7. Op-Ed: Why the Common Core Is Good for Special Education Students
 http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/06/26/op-ed-inclusion-common-core-good-students-special-education


 

 

 

 

 

 

New Options Tweets of the Day 7/5/13

1. Improve Your Teaching Skills this Summer 

http://www.teachhub.com/improve-your-teaching-skills-summer 

2.  College and Career Ready: Soft Skills Are Crucial 

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/college-career-ready-soft-skills-crucial-ben-johnson?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher 

3. Does Ritalin really help? 

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/does-ritalin-really-help/article12608922/ 

4. Brain stimulation at any age may slow memory decline

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/07/03/brain-aging-activities/2461655/

5 Online Discussion Tips For Students

http://www.edudemic.com/2013/06/5-online-discussion-tips-for-students/ 

 6. Why It Might Be Time To Consider Online Teaching

 http://www.edudemic.com/2013/06/why-it-might-be-time-to-consider-online-teaching/

 7. Exploring YouTube's education channels

http://dailynightly.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/01/19237728-exploring-youtubes-education-channels?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Hootsuite&utm_campaign=RRSocialMedia 

 

Thursday, July 4, 2013

MzTeachuh: Getting Smarter All The Time Tweets of the Day 7/4...

MzTeachuh: Getting Smarter All The Time Tweets of the Day 7/4...:   1. 5 steps to STEM effectiveness   http://smartblogs.com/education/2013/07/01/5-steps-to-stem-effectiveness/ 2. A Pertussis...

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Update 7/4/13

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Update 7/4/13: 1. Preschool Autism Program Enlists Classmates to Teach Social Skills  http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/06/24/36autism.h32.html?u...

Special Needs Update 7/4/13

1. Preschool Autism Program Enlists Classmates to Teach Social Skills 

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/06/24/36autism.h32.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EducationWeekSpecialEducation+%28Education+Week%3A+Special+Education%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo 

2. Summer Learning Activities for Kids: Top Ten Ways To Keep Kids Curious

 http://theoutlawmom.com/2013/06/05/summer-learning-activities-for-kids/

3. Helping son who has autism teaches value of patience — and persistence
 http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-x-0703-zimmerman-autism-20130703,0,5102612.story

4.  Teen with autism makes a difference in his community 
http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?id=916622#.UdOoDm3ZYcU 

5.  First responders get tips for dealing with autism
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20130628%2FNEWS%2F306280359%2F-1%2Frss01 

6.  iPads give autistic children a voice
 http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1696412744/iPads-give-autistic-children-a-voice

7.  “Rapid Prompting Method” helps boy with autism communicate

http://fox6now.com/2013/06/30/rapid-prompting-method-helps-boy-with-autism-communicate/ 

Getting Smarter All The Time Tweets of the Day 7/4/13

 

1. 5 steps to STEM effectiveness

 http://smartblogs.com/education/2013/07/01/5-steps-to-stem-effectiveness/

2. A Pertussis Story 

 http://www.specialneedsdigest.com/2013/07/a-pertussis-story.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FLUdSt+%28Special+Needs+Digest%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo

3. Reflecting and Recharging This Summer

 https://www.teachingchannel.org/blog/2013/07/01/reflecting-and-recharging-this-summer/

4. Dispatchers honored for role in Newtown response

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/07/02/621717usschoolshootingcallcenter_ap.html?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mrss 

5. What's So Special About Special Time?

http://www.ahaparenting.com/_blog/Parenting_Blog/post/How_To_Special_Time/ 

6. Relationships That Make You Smarter

 http://anniemurphypaul.com/2013/07/relationships-that-make-you-smarter/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=relationships-that-make-you-smarter

7. Nature-Based Play Ideas for Active Kids 

http://childhood101.com/2013/07/nature-based-play-ideas-for-active-kids/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Childhood101+%28Childhood+101%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo 

 

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

MzTeachuh: Inquiry Based Learning AKA Project Based Learning

MzTeachuh: Inquiry Based Learning AKA Project Based Learning: Mind/Shift and Edutopia are leading sources of educational thought. Cogitate on these for awhile! 1. The Challenges and Realities of In...

Inquiry Based Learning AKA Project Based Learning

Mind/Shift and Edutopia are leading sources of educational thought. Cogitate on these for awhile!

1. The Challenges and Realities of Inquiry-Based Learning

 http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/07/the-challenges-and-realities-of-inquiry-based-learning/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FnHAK+%28MindShift%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

2. Inquiry Learning Vs. Standardized Content: Can They Coexist?

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/05/inquiry-learning-vs-standardized-content-can-they-coexist/ 

3. Project-Based Learning

http://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning 

4. Project-Based Learning: Success Start to Finish

http://www.edutopia.org/stw-project-based-learning-best-practices 

5. Creating Classrooms We Need: 8 Ways Into Inquiry Learning

 http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/03/creating-classrooms-we-need-8-ways-into-inquiry-learning/

6. Project Based Learning Resources

http://www.edutopia.org/groups/project-based-learning/399566 

7. Why Inquiry Learning is Worth the Trouble

 http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/01/what-does-it-take-to-fully-embrace-inquiry-learning/

8. Project-Based Learning as a Context for Arts Integration

 http://www.edutopia.org/blog/PBL-context-for-arts-integration-andrew-miller

 

 

 

 

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Update 7/3/13

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Update 7/3/13: 1. IQ like Einstein What is it really like to parent a profoundly gifted child? http://www.greatschools.org/parenting-dilemmas/7562-p...

Special Needs Update 7/3/13

1. IQ like Einstein

What is it really like to parent a profoundly gifted child?

http://www.greatschools.org/parenting-dilemmas/7562-profoundly-gifted-child-story.gs?cpn=homeflash_iq 

2. Discover Summer Camp Success for Your Special Needs Child

http://special-ism.com/summer-camp-success/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Special-ism+%28Special-ism%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo 

3. Obesity Impacting More With Disabilities

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2013/06/28/obesity-impacting-disabilities/18257/ 

4. Dyslexia: You have the right to…

http://www.specialeducationadvisor.com/ 

5. A Family of Friends: Choosing a Spiritual Home for Your Family 

http://www.eparent.com/family.php?2 

6.  Parent Training and Information

http://fcsn.org/pti/index.php 

7. Early-Life Traffic-Related Air Pollution Exposure Linked to Hyperactivity

http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/add_and_adhd/ 

 

 

 

 

 

MzTeachuh: Integrity and Innovation Tweets of the Day 7/3/13

MzTeachuh: Integrity and Innovation Tweets of the Day 7/3/13:   1. Bringing Scientists to Schools, and the Thrill of Field Trips to Class http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/07/bringing-scientis...

Integrity and Innovation Tweets of the Day 7/3/13

 

1. Bringing Scientists to Schools, and the Thrill of Field Trips to Class

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/07/bringing-scientists-to-schools-and-the-thrill-of-field-trips-to-class/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FnHAK+%28MindShift%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher 

2. Teaching Integrity in an Age of Cynicism

 http://www.edutopia.org/blog/teaching-integrity-age-of-cynicism-mark-phillips

3. The ethics of opting out of vaccination.

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/doing-good-science/2013/06/29/the-ethics-of-opting-out-of-vaccination/

4. Social Play: Successful Tips for Parents

http://special-ism.com/social-play-successful-tips-for-parents/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Special-ism+%28Special-ism%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher 

5. The Case For Learning Through Experience

http://theeducatorsroom.com/2013/07/educational-reform-it-is-time-for-real-change/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theeducatorsroom%2FvPKE+%28EducatorsRoom%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

6. Exploring YouTube's education channels

 http://dailynightly.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/01/19237728-exploring-youtubes-education-channels?lite

7. How Competency-Based Learning Actually Works

http://www.edudemic.com/2013/06/how-competency-based-learning-actually-works/ 

 

 

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

MzTeachuh: Summer Activity: Fruitilicious Freezer Jam

MzTeachuh: Summer Activity: Fruitilicious Freezer Jam: Peaches: in the jam, on Auntie Melanie's oatmeal, and in the smoothy with an orange. Kids love choices. It empowers them as individu...

Summer Activity: Fruitilicious Freezer Jam

Peaches: in the jam, on Auntie Melanie's oatmeal, and in the smoothy with an orange.
Kids love choices. It empowers them as individuals. Why not let them make some choices on fruit as you shop this summer? Lots of opportunities to discuss why certain favorites are in season, different ways to enjoy them now and later. Fruit is fragrant, beautiful, and nutritious. In the summer, it is cheaper, too.

Here is an activity all kids can help with. They can make choices for now and later. Think of those PBJ sandwiches coming up in lunchboxes for March--how nice to plan for them now with some homemade freezer jam.

The kids can choose the fruit and how to combine it into jam.
This had been on my 'To Do List' for a very long time. Making freezer jam!

Now I have twelve little jars of various jams in my freezer lined up
like Napoleon's Army attacking Moscow.
Made from fresh fruit: Strawberry-Peach, Raspberry,
Blueberry-Apple with a Cinnamon Kick, and Mixed Berry (including Blackberries.)

And this morning was the first taste test!

I chose Strawberry-Peach first, which kind of leans toward peach in taste and color.
I think they are so pretty.
Continuing with a peachy theme, cut peaches on the oatmeal, and cut the rest of the peach into the smoothy with a small orange cut up (skin and membrane, too) and apple juice to blend it up.
Step outside into the morning to enjoy it with sunshine and birdsong.

The jam tasted sweet, and peachy with a hint of strawberries. Peaches to strawberries in the mix was about 3:1.

Here is the freezer jam recipe:

Recipe for Homemade Freezer Jam

Ingredients

1 2/3 c. cut fruit (mix and match fruit at your discretion)
2/3 white sugar
1 small package (or 3 1/2 tbs) Instant Pectin (some say specifically for freezer jam)
1/2 c water
2 8 oz sterilized jelly jars




Stir sugar and instant pectin together in medium size bowl. Wash fruit and dice small, you may wish to mash with potato masher. Put fruit with water in sauce pan and simmer for five minutes, pour fruit over sugar and pectin mixture stirring constantly for 5 minutes. Ladle jam into jars, allowing 1/2 inch of space between jam and top of jar. Let stand 30 minutes. Use or freeze for later. To use later, thaw jam in the refrigerator and use within 3/4 weeks. Keep refrigerated. Look forward to using it on toast, bagels, biscuits, fingers, sandwiches...

This post  is an excerpt from MzTeachuh's Enjoying Cooking and Gardening //http://tayloreducational.blogspot.com/

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Updates 7/2/2013

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Updates 7/2/2013: 1. Two Adorable New Characters “Maks & Mila” are Launched in Brand New Series of Children’s Books Written in a Special Font for Chi...

Special Needs Updates 7/2/2013

1. Two Adorable New Characters “Maks & Mila” are Launched in Brand New Series of Children’s Books Written in a Special Font for Children with Dyslexia

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/6/prweb10817216.htm

2. Special-Needs Students Gain Workplace Experience

 http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/07/02/36disabilities_ep.h32.html?tkn=MPUFUmoIJLDxUs3RMBvLwwqQtVUKEatxmibn&cmp=SOC-EDIT-FB 

3. The Best Educational Tool I Have In My Classroom

 http://www.edudemic.com/2013/05/the-best-educational-tool-i-have-in-my-classroom/

4. 2013 “LD Superheroes and Superpowers” Art Competition: Teen Category

Evaluation Fundamentals

 http://www.smartkidswithld.org/ld-basics/evaluation-diagnosis/evaluation-fundamentals

5.  Dyslexia 'can be route to riches'

 http://www.ncld.org/learning-disability-resources/ld-in-the-news

6. Teen With Autism Allegedly Terrorized With Broomstick By Classroom Aides

 http://newsone.com/2624444/wesley-malone-georgia-autism/

7. Your Response-to-Intervention (RTI) Questions Answered

 http://www.ncld.org/students-disabilities/rti-parent-school-relationship/response-to-intervention-faqs-questions-answered

 

MzTeachuh: Insights for All Tweets of the Day 7/2/13

MzTeachuh: Insights for All Tweets of the Day 7/2/13: 2 B or not 2 B that is the question--and possibly the answer to the equation. 1. Why Teachers Should Be Trained Like Actors   http:/...

Insights for All Tweets of the Day 7/2/13


2 B or not 2 B that is the question--and possibly the answer to the equation.

1. Why Teachers Should Be Trained Like Actors

 http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/07/teaching-as-acting-a-performance-profession/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FnHAK+%28MindShift%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

2. 5 Keys to Social and Emotional Learning Success

http://www.specialneedsdigest.com/2013/07/5-keys-to-social-and-emotional-learning.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FLUdSt+%28Special+Needs+Digest%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher 

3. Programming & Simulation: Real Technical Skills for Today's Student

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/programming-simulation-real-tech-skills-manan-shah 

4. Learning, Reimagined: Inside the New Classrooms Model of Personalized Instruction

http://www.edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2013/07/learning-reimagined-inside-new-classrooms-model-personalized-instruction?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdTechK12+%28EdTech+Magazine%3A+Focus+on+K-12%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher 

5. Interview Disasters and How to Avoid Them

http://www.teachhub.com/interview-disasters-and-how-avoid-them 

6. ADHD Case Study: The Non-Hyperactive Child

 http://www.smartkidswithld.org/ld-basics/signs-symptoms/adhd-case-study-the-non-hyperactive-child

7. Hating Summer as a Special Needs Mom

 http://www.scarymommy.com/hating-summer/

8.  Take Action: Rally4Babies!   

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Rally4Babies logo

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, July 1, 2013

MzTeachuh: Summer Activity: Red, White and Blue Flowers for t...

MzTeachuh: Summer Activity: Red, White and Blue Flowers for t...: Lobelia, red verbena, and alyssum. Summertime and the living' is gardening. Kids enjoy going to the home improvement stores on vari...

Summer Activity: Red, White and Blue Flowers for the Fourth

Lobelia, red verbena, and alyssum.
Summertime and the living' is gardening. Kids enjoy going to the home improvement stores on various DIY excursions--how fun to check out the gardening section and create a festive color bowl for the front or back yard, patio, deck or even the picnic table. Color bowls are simple but pretty. 
Here are some Fourth of July favorites. 

Red pentas lanceolata, red dianthus, white alysum, blue lobelia.




A friend said this arrangement looks like a colorful display of Fourth of July fireworks bursting in air...


Hurrah for the red, white and purple.











 Hanging basket of petunia, red, white and blue. Sometimes you can find them striped. Very perky.





Local garden shops have variety of cute containers. This is for cafe ole fans. Here are lobelia (you can suspect they are my favorite for the patriotic blue), red verbena and white alyssum. And here is a good word for Sweet Alyssum--it smells really good, hence the moniker.