MzTeachuh: Have You Talked To Your Kid Today?

MzTeachuh: Have You Talked To Your Kid Today?: 1. Find out how they're feeling? Bored, tummy ache, excited, melancholy. Do you know how they're feeling? Do they know you care...

Have You Talked To Your Kid Today?

1. Find out how they're feeling? Bored, tummy ache, excited, melancholy. Do you know how they're feeling? Do they know you care about how they're feeling? Do they know how you're feeling?

2. What are y'all doing today? Do you know what they want to do today? Hang out with friends? Write music? Go swimming? Do they know what you're doing today? Even if its at work?

3. Do you have plans together today? Making tacos for dinner? Going food shopping? Watching a favorite television program or sport--Go Dodgers? Hang out on the patio at sunset? Call Grandma even though its only Thursday and no special reason just to say 'Hi?'

4. Anything exciting coming up? New movie coming out? Big game next week? Music coming up from Taylor Swift?

5. What are you reading? (Online counts.) Do they know what you're reading? Can you tell them what you're reading? Going to the library or bookstore soon? What's on the Kindle?

6. Do you need anything? Flip-flops, shorts, swimsuit, Otter-Pops, job-for-pay around the house, Mac and Cheese, art supplies, time alone, time to talk?

7. Do you know I will always love you more than the world? 24-7, 7 days a week, forever? You're my kid and I think you're the greatest. Because you are.

8. Small talk counts. It's going to be hot again tomorrow. Did you take out the trash? How 'bout them Angels.

9. Arguments count, if you are still speaking at the end and no doors are slammed. Your brilliant child is not going to agree with you on everything. Agree to disagree on lots of things; politics, music, hair styles. You can learn from the kid. But, of course, you are still running the house, etc.

Take a minute and talk.

MzTeachuh: Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/15/13

MzTeachuh: Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/15/13:   1. As some schools plunge into technology, poor schools are left behind http://hechingerreport.org/content/as-some-schools-plunge-int...

Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/15/13

 

1. As some schools plunge into technology, poor schools are left behind

http://hechingerreport.org/content/as-some-schools-plunge-into-technology-poor-schools-are-left-behind_7463/ 

Online Learning Boasts Bright Future Thanks to Virtual Reality Platforms - See more at: http://www.educationnews.org/online-schools/online-learning-boasts-bright-future-thanks-to-virtual-reality-platforms/#sthash.5uji4T9l.dpuf

Online Learning Boasts Bright Future Thanks to Virtual Reality Platforms - See more at: http://www.educationnews.org/online-schools/online-learning-boasts-bright-future-thanks-to-virtual-reality-platforms/#sthash.5uji4T9l.dpuf

Online Learning Boasts Bright Future Thanks to Virtual Reality Platforms - See more at: http://www.educationnews.org/online-schools/online-learning-boasts-bright-future-thanks-to-virtual-reality-platforms/#sthash.5uji4T9l.dpu1. Find Your Perfect Tablet With This Flowchart 
1. As some schools plunge into technology, poor schools are left behindhttp://hechingerreport.org/content/as-some-schools-plunge-into-technology-poor-schools-are-left-behind_7463/ 

2. Online Model United Nations: Raising our voices [guest post]

http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2013/12/online-model-united-nations-raising-our-voices.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dangerouslyirrelevant+%28Dangerously+Irrelevant%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo 

3. Ten Most Popular Educational YouTube Videos in 2013

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/12/ten-most-popular-educational-youtube-videos-in-2013/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FnHAK+%28MindShift%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo 

4. Best Use for iPad? Simulating Hard-to-Find Experiences

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/12/best-use-for-ipad-simulating-hard-to-find-experiences/ 

5. In Digital Age, Schools That Succeed are Schools That Connect

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2011/07/in-digital-age-schools-that-succeed-are-schools-that-connect/ 

6. Why do teachers have an excuse when it comes to technology in the classrooms? [guest post]

http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2013/12/why-do-teachers-have-an-excuse-when-it-comes-to-technology-in-the-classrooms-guest-post.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dangerouslyirrelevant+%28Dangerously+Irrelevant%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo  

7. Decisions, Decisions, Decisions...

http://www.tmadeeasy.com/home/2013/12/9/decisions-decisions-decisions.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tmadeeasy%2FYfHE+%28Technology+Made+Easy+in+Education%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo 

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Tweets of the Day 12/14/13

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Tweets of the Day 12/14/13: 1. Proposed Budget Deal Seen As 'Positive Step' for Special Education Aid http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/speced/2013/12/propose...

MzTeachuh: MzTeachuh: Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/1...

MzTeachuh: MzTeachuh: Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/1...: MzTeachuh: Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/14/13 : Engineering with Lego Mindstorm. 1. Everything is Coming Up Robots    http://w...

Special Needs Tweets of the Day 12/14/13

1. Proposed Budget Deal Seen As 'Positive Step' for Special Education Aid

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/speced/2013/12/proposed_budget_deal_seen_as_p.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OnSpecialEducation+%28Education+Week+Blog%3A+On+Special+Education%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo

2. Disability Advocates ‘Encouraged’ By Budget Deal

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2013/12/13/disability-budget-deal/18966/

3. Survey of Special Education Professionals Draws Attention to Budget-Cut Effects

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/speced/2013/12/survey_of_special_education_pr_1.html

4. Infographic: Trends in Special Education

http://www.specialneedsdigest.com/2013/12/infographic-trends-in-specialeducation.htmlutm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FLUdSt+%28Special+Needs+Digest%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo

5. Wrapping paper for sensory diet
http://special-ism.com/5-ways-to-use-wrapping-paper-for-sensory-diets/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Special-ism+%28Special-ism%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo

6. An Appeal from the Federation for Children with Special Needs

http://www.specialneedsdigest.com/2013/12/an-appeal-from-federation-for-children.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FLUdSt+%28Special+Needs+Digest%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo

7.Tell Congress: Stop Cutting Special Education

https://secure2.convio.net/ncld/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=197

Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/14/13

Engineering with Lego Mindstorm.

1. Everything is Coming Up Robots 

 http://www.mypaperlessclassroom.org/2013/12/everything-is-coming-up-robots.html

2. The Must-Have Guide To Digital Symbols (Great For Non Tech-Savvy Folks)

http://www.edudemic.com/guide-digital-symbols/ 

3. The Week in Review - The Most Popular Posts 

 http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2013/12/the-week-in-review-most-popular-posts_14.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+freetech4teachers%2FcGEY+%28Free+Technology+for+Teachers%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo#.UqxevuI5vIU

4. Wikilinks... Visual Maps of Wikipedia

http://www.tmadeeasy.com/home/2013/12/11/wikilinks-visual-maps-of-wikipedia.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tmadeeasy%2FYfHE+%28Technology+Made+Easy+in+Education%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo 

5. Gaming iPad apps to boost critical thinking

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/12/20-ipad-gaming-apps-to-boost-kids.html 

6. Youtube channels for teaching

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/search?q=youtube+for+teachers 

7. Math Teachers at Play Blog Carnival #69 via Kids Math Teacher 

http://letsplaymath.net/2013/12/12/math-teachers-at-play-blog-carnival-69-via-kids-math-teacher/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LetsPlayMath+%28Let%27s+play+math!%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo 

 

 

 

MzTeachuh: MzTeachuh's Top Posts of the Week 12/14/13

MzTeachuh: MzTeachuh's Top Posts of the Week 12/14/13: ...unless you're a poor kid. 1. BYOD--Is It Fair and Equitable for the Poor Kids?    http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/12/byod-i...

MzTeachuh's Top Posts of the Week 12/14/13

...unless you're a poor kid.

1. BYOD--Is It Fair and Equitable for the Poor Kids? 

 http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/12/byod-is-it-fair-and-equitable-for-poor.html

2. Good, Better, Best Teaching Tweets of the Day 12/13/13 

 http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-better-best-teaching-tweets-of-day.html

3. Paul McCartney Rewrites the Christmas Song 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/12/paul-mccartney-rewrites-christmas-song.html 

4.  Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/13/12 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/12/ed-tech-and-stem-tweets-of-day-121312.html 

 5. The Snow Is Dancing

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-snow-is-dancing.html 

 

6. The Hobbit, Part 2 Well It's About Time! 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-hobbit-part-2-well-its-about-time.html

7. Special Needs Tweets of the Day 12/7/13 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/12/special-needs-tweets-of-day-12713.html 

 

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MzTeachuh: Teaching Is Being Thrilled Over A Pencil Sharpener...

MzTeachuh: Teaching Is Being Thrilled Over A Pencil Sharpener...: The following articles are n't news. We teachers are real suckers.  1. Public School Teachers Spend Billions of Their Own Fu...

Teaching Is Being Thrilled Over A Pencil Sharpener

The following articles aren't news. We teachers are real suckers. 

1. Public School Teachers Spend Billions of Their Own Funds on Student Needs 

http://truth-out.org/news/item/12504-public-school-teachers-spend-billions-of-their-own-money-on-student-needs 

2. Teachers Spend Own Money for Supplies

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=95922&page=1#.UK0ToIaHjiU 

3. With tight school budgets, teachers pay out-of-pocket for supplies

http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/with-tight-school-budgets-teachers-pay-out-of-pocket-for-supplies-1.1198412 

4. Teachers Spend Own Money On Necessity Items For Their Students: Report (SLIDESHOW) 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/23/survey-many-teachers-repo_n_1822777.html 

5. Do you feel obligated to buy school supplies with your own money?

http://www.edutopia.org/poll-teachers-buy-school-supplies 

6. Teachers Discount

http://store.schoolspecialty.com/OA_HTML/ibeCZzpHome.jsp?minisite=10104&gclid=CNSitp_Q4LMCFWrZQgodGCMAxw

7. Teacher Discount Supply

http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/Community/Welcome.aspx?welcomeid=568&category=4650&es=5841500000G&CMP=KNC-Google&ne_ppc_id=1412&ne_sadid=16509729563&ne_ad_id=2522630&gclid=CO2rtsjQ4LMCFcN_QgodWW0A4Q

8. Michael's--Teacher take 15% off every day

http://michaels.m.delivery.net/w/webView?cid=13052451222&mid=1129223274&pid=10194&vid=13804&ee=ZGl2YXNiaWdzaXN0ZXJAZ21haWwuY29t&si&mv=H&bv=H&oc=H&k=13JfHg&sc

9. NEA Tax Credit for teachers spending money on their class

http://www.nea-nm.org/Research/research2teachertax.htm

 

 

MzTeachuh: I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens...

MzTeachuh: I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens...: Another metaphor--it's always darkest just before the dawn (uptick). Hang tough, friends.

I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me

Another metaphor--it's always darkest just before the dawn (uptick).

Hang tough, friends.

MzTeachuh: Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/13/12

MzTeachuh: Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/13/12: 1.  Top Ed Tech leaders of 2013 The 2103 Most influential in edtech list http://www.techlearning.com/features/0039/all-play-and-no-work...

MzTeachuh: Paul McCartney Rewrites the Christmas Song

MzTeachuh: Paul McCartney Rewrites the Christmas Song: Never tried these, but I bet they taste good. As a vegetarian, Paul feels he should 'set the turkey free in the forest' and cha...

MzTeachuh: The Hobbit, Part 2 Well It's About Time!

MzTeachuh: The Hobbit, Part 2 Well It's About Time!:   I feel like we've been waiting forever. Forecast for Dec. 12, 2013: Smaugy  http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/12/forecast-fo...

MzTeachuh: Teaching Is Analyzing the Data

MzTeachuh: Teaching Is Analyzing the Data:   1. Three Ways Student Data Can Inform Your Teaching http://www.edutopia.org/blog/using-student-data-inform-teaching-rebecca-albe...

MzTeachuh: Good, Better, Best Teaching Tweets of the Day 12/1...

MzTeachuh: Good, Better, Best Teaching Tweets of the Day 12/1...: 1. Eight Aspects of Good Teaching http://plpnetwork.com/2013/12/04/aspects-good-teaching/   2. How Will Students Perform? Depends on ...

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Tweets of the Day 12/13/13

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Tweets of the Day 12/13/13: 1. Out-of-the-Box Advocacy http://www.ncld.org/disability-advocacy/be-an-ld-advocate/lyn-pollard-out-of-box   2. Will ADH...

Special Needs Tweets of the Day 12/13/13

1. Out-of-the-Box Advocacy

http://www.ncld.org/disability-advocacy/be-an-ld-advocate/lyn-pollard-out-of-box 

2. Will ADHD Medication Change Your Child’s Personality?

http://www.ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/adhd-related-issues/adhd/medication-effects-on-child 

3. Video: You Are Not Alone

http://www.ncld.org/learning-disability-resources/videos/video-you-are-not-alone 

4. LD in the News

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

5. 7 Common Flashpoints for Spouses of ADDers

http://www.additudemag.com/adhd-web/article/1736.html 

6.  Tips to Help ADHD Parents Get Organized

http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/738.html 

 7. Can Technology Play a Role in Mental Health Awareness?

http://www.scoop.it/t/the-4th-era/p/4012580441/2013/12/12/can-technology-play-a-role-in-mental-health-awareness-edsurge-news?hash=c866bc0e-6b5d-4142-aab5-3ba27135ff13 

Good, Better, Best Teaching Tweets of the Day 12/13/13

1. Eight Aspects of Good Teaching

http://plpnetwork.com/2013/12/04/aspects-good-teaching/ 

2. How Will Students Perform? Depends on Teachers’ Expectations

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2012/09/how-will-students-perform-depends-on-teachers-expectations/ 

3. Lessons From Nelson Mandela's Life and Legacy

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/lessons-nelson-mandela-life-legacy-elena-aguilar?utm_content=buffer53463&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=Buffer 

4. Julie Andrews & Emma Walton Hamilton

http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/andrews/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Hootsuite&utm_campaign=RRSocialMedia 

5. Ten Most Popular Educational YouTube Videos in 2013

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/12/ten-most-popular-educational-youtube-videos-in-2013/ 

 6.  Seating Arrangements with Work Stations

All Grades, All Subjects, Organization 

https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/seating-arrangements?utm_source=ReadingRockets.org&utm_medium=Twitter 

7. Making Friends with Failure

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/learning-from-failure-ainissa-ramirez?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=blog-ainissa-ramirez-friends-failure-shared 

Teaching Is Analyzing the Data

 

1. Three Ways Student Data Can Inform Your Teaching

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/using-student-data-inform-teaching-rebecca-alber 

2. How A First Year Teacher Uses Data to Drive Instruction

http://www.mbae.org/how-i-use-data-to-drive-instruction/ 

3. One Teacher Talks About Using Data to Drive Instruction in the Classroom 

http://usingdata.wordpress.com/2011/11/10/819/ 

4. By the Numbers - How Data Use Is Transforming the Classroomhttp://educationnorthwest.org/resource/1642

5.  Improving Teaching and Learning with Data-Based Decisions:
Asking the Right Questions and Acting on the Answers

http://santacruzmonterey.edleadersforequityandexcellence.com/docs/f09/improving_teaching_and_learning_with_databased_decisions.pdf 

6. Using Data to Plan Differentiated Instruction

 http://reports.success-ode-state-oh-us.info/newDevelopment/section4/1B.html

7.  5 Innovative Ways to Differentiate Instruction as Witnessed During My Visit to the School of One 

http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2009/07/5-innovative-ways-to-differentiate.html 

The Hobbit, Part 2 Well It's About Time!

 

I feel like we've been waiting forever.

Forecast for Dec. 12, 2013: Smaugy 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/12/forecast-for-dec-12-2013-smaugy.html 

New Trailer: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/10/new-trailer-hobbit-desolation-of-smaug.html 

 Forecast: Smaugy 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/09/forecast-smaugy.html?spref=bl 

 

Paul McCartney Rewrites the Christmas Song

Never tried these, but I bet they taste good.

As a vegetarian, Paul feels he should 'set the turkey free in the forest' and changes the words to this Mel Torme song. Diana Krall is on the keyboard and provides a little harmony.

Paul McCartney's Take on the Holiday Classic, 'The Christmas Song'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckaE-_ztR80 

Paul McCartney - Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fonHcR24RHw 

 

Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/13/12

1.  Top Ed Tech leaders of 2013

The 2103 Most influential in edtech list

http://www.techlearning.com/features/0039/all-play-and-no-work/53827

2. Made With Play: Game-Based Learning Resources

http://www.edutopia.org/made-with-play-game-based-learning-resources?spMailingID=7556300&spUserID=MjcyODEwMzEzMzIS1&spJobID=104529798&spReportId=MTA0NTI5Nzk4S0 

3. 3D printing in the class

http://thejournal.com/articles/2013/12/11/3d-printing-in-the-classroom-5-tips-for-bringing-new-dimensions-to-your-students-experiences.aspx

4. Blended Learning in Early Elementary at Utica Community Schools 

http://www.digitalpromise.org/utica-community-schools-michigan/ 

 5. Game-Based Learning: Resource Roundup

http://www.edutopia.org/game-based-learning-resources?spMailingID=7556300&spUserID=MjcyODEwMzEzMzIS1&spJobID=104529798&spReportId=MTA0NTI5Nzk4S0 

6. An International “Creative Computing” Movement

https://www.edsurge.com/n/2013-12-10-an-international-creative-computing-movement 

7.  Three Things Game Designers Need to Know About Assessment (#GBL)

http://classroom-aid.com/2013/11/08/three-things-game-designers-need-to-know-about-assessment-gbl/ 

3D Printing in the Classroom: 5 Tips for Bringing New Dimensions to Your Students' Experiences
Read more at http://thejournal.com/articles/2013/12/11/3d-printing-in-the-classroom-5-tips-for-bringing-new-dimensions-to-your-students-experiences.aspx#MQAuqPPoF4VLeKSx.99

3D Printing in the Classroom: 5 Tips for Bringing New Dimensions to Your Students' Experiences
Read more at http://thejournal.com/articles/2013/12/11/3d-printing-in-the-classroom-5-tips-for-bringing-new-dimensions-to-your-students-experiences.aspx#MQAuqPPoF4VLeKSx.99

MzTeachuh: BYOD--Is It Fair and Equitable for the Poor Kids?

MzTeachuh: BYOD--Is It Fair and Equitable for the Poor Kids?: ...unless you're a poor kid. In the year 2000, there was a lawsuit called the Williams Case in the State of California (The William...

BYOD--Is It Fair and Equitable for the Poor Kids?

...unless you're a poor kid.

In the year 2000, there was a lawsuit called the Williams Case in the State of California (The Williams Case -- An Explanation http://www.cde.ca.gov/eo/ce/wc/wmslawsuit.asp) that specified students in less affluent districts were not having access to appropriate curriculum, such as textbooks. The state was required to maintain current curriculum, and by my observations in various California schools, there was diligence to do so. Not outdated or worn textbooks. Nice new ones; many students having a text at home and a class text.

Could that concept apply when there is a BYOD or a flipped/blended classroom method of teaching? Would the financial burden of in-home technology and internet access not hinder the educational progress of the student if she/he did not have that tech or access?

I'm just thinking out loud here. The friends of mine teaching in various levels of public school all have a similar demographic: low income, and high percentages of  ESL. Will the ed tech trends create a greater gap in opportunities for a large chunk of American students? Does Free and Appropriate Public Education mean a guarantee they can participate in flipped and blended learning classes? Could they be using a BYOSID-- Bring Your Own School-Issued Device?

Principals in our areas are definitely using funds to place iPads and notebook-type tech in the hands of students. But when the students go home, it is like time-traveling back fifty years. The assignments involving technology and the internet are impossible. The kids go home to a third world nation. For decades, around one-fourth of American children live in poverty (Evidence Mounting that Poverty Causes Lasting Physical and Mental Health Problems for Children http://www.specialneedsdigest.com/2013/12/evidence-mounting-thatpovertycauses.htmlutm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FLUdSt+%28Special+Needs+Digest%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo) to the detriment of our society. Will the conditions at also school recede decades behind other districts resulting in these student's further disadvantages?

Our communities definitely can solve this dilemma through far-sighted planning and recognition that all kids are our most valuable resource. How about laying out FIOs-type cables, free WiFi in the wider community, tracking school-issued tech so there isn't another LAUSD type situation where thousands of iPads disappear overnight. (My experience with school librarians--whom we lovingly called The Library Police--is they are so organized that if a first grader loses a book, they can't graduate 11 years later til they pay for it.)

We may as well get going on it. Life, liberty and the pursuit of ed tech!

MzTeachuh: Does My Child Need Special Ed. Services?

MzTeachuh: Does My Child Need Special Ed. Services?: No need to panic! Kids develop on their own schedules. But it is a good idea to notice how your child (or a child in your class) is resp...

MzTeachuh: Laughing All The Way

MzTeachuh: Laughing All The Way: Laughing all the way on a snow boogie board. Dashing through the snow In a one-horse open sleigh O'er the fields we go Lau...

MzTeachuh: Farm Team of Principals Tweets of the Day 12/12/13...

MzTeachuh: Farm Team of Principals Tweets of the Day 12/12/13...: ...could be a principal's farm team... 1. Report: How to Grow a Farm Team for Principals http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/1...

MzTeachuh: Teaching Is Giving Kids Choices

MzTeachuh: Teaching Is Giving Kids Choices: 1.The value of choice in student engagement http://www.thepolliwogjournal.com/?p=470   2. The Classroom of Choice: Managing the...

MzTeachuh: Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/12/13

MzTeachuh: Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/12/13: 1. The Post-PC Era Begins In Earnest Next Year http://readwrite.com/2013/12/10/smartphone-pcs-install-base-2014#awesm=~opLEAZzTLZvoL5  ...

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Tweets of the Day 12/12/13

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Tweets of the Day 12/12/13: Kid in Story app 1.  Five Apps that Encourage Independence in Students with Communications Challenges  http://www.specialneedsdigest....

Special Needs Tweets of the Day 12/12/13

Kid in Story app

1.  Five Apps that Encourage Independence in Students with Communications Challenges 

http://www.specialneedsdigest.com/2013/12/five-apps-that-encourage-independence.html 

2. Apps for Students With LD: Social Supports and Behavior

http://www.ncld.org/parents-child-disabilities/social-emotional-skills/apps-students-ld-social-support-behavior  

3. 10 Ways to Use Technology to Build Vocabulary

 http://code.org/educate/hoc

4. Are You Living with Adult ADHD? Take This Self-Test 

http://www.additudemag.com/quiz/5/question-1.html 

5. What’s The Deal With Perseveration? 

http://www.snagglebox.com/2013/12/what-is-perseveration.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Snagglebox+%28snagglebox%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo 

6. A More Rigorous Analysis: Does A Baby's Eye Gaze Really Predict Future Autism? 

http://www.specialneedsdigest.com/2013/12/a-more-rigorous-analysis-does-babys-eye.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FLUdSt+%28Special+Needs+Digest%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo 

7. Susan Boyle Reveals Asperger’s Diagnosis

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2013/12/09/susan-boyle-aspergers/18953/ 

 

Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/12/13

1. The Post-PC Era Begins In Earnest Next Year

http://readwrite.com/2013/12/10/smartphone-pcs-install-base-2014#awesm=~opLEAZzTLZvoL5 

2. 10 Ways to Use Technology to Build Vocabulary

http://www.readingrockets.org/article/52248/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Hootsuite&utm_campaign=RRSocialMedia

3. How Technology Is Warping Your Memory

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/11/technology-changes-memory_n_4414778.html?ref=topbar 

4. Finding the Beauty in Math

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/10/finding-the-beauty-in-math/ 

5. The 10-step checklist for digitizing your school

http://learnegg.com/check-list-digitising-school/

6. 10 Web Resources For Learning How To Code

http://www.edudemic.com/learning-how-to-code/ 

7.  Why BYOD Makes Sense: Thinking Beyond a Standardized 1:1

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/byod-makes-sense-beyond-1-to-1-andrew-marcinek 

 

 

 

Does My Child Need Special Ed. Services?

No need to panic! Kids develop on their own schedules. But it is a good idea to notice how your child (or a child in your class) is responding to instruction since there could be a learning disability hampering their success.

Here are some general questions to ask:

• Does the child remember verbal instructions well?
• Does the child retain information in written or graphic form?
• Is the child's attention span similar to that of her/his peers?
• Does the child's handwriting and art fall within the general expectations of the grade level?

• Can the child spell within grade level expectations?

This is a very general list. If parents and teachers do think there may be a learning disability, the most common are auditory and/or visual. In my experience, the students usually qualify for services in Reading/ELA with a mild visual processing disorder.

In this state, the Special Education teacher would use specialized testing materials to pinpoint the current academic levels for the student. We tested with WIAT II or Woodcock Johnson and sometimes the TOWL, but there are many tests that will be sufficient. The law states that a qualified staff member must do the testing. To discern a processing disorder or other handicap, a district educational psychologist will administer other tests. Then the IEP team will initially meet and a decision will be made if the child qualifies for services.

Here are some links to further inform a parent or teacher of what performance or behavior might indicate a learning disability.

Learning Disabilities Association of America
http://www.ldanatl.org/index.cfm

Visual Processing Disorder (Dyslexia)

• Reads slowly and painfully
• Experiences decoding errors, especially with the order of letters
• Shows wide disparity between listening comprehension and reading comprehension of some text
• Has trouble with spelling
• May have difficulty with handwriting
• Exhibits difficulty recalling known words
• Has difficulty with written language
• May experience difficulty with math computations
• Decoding real words is better than nonsense words
• Substitutes one small sight word for another: a, I, he, the, there, was 

National Center for Learning Disabilities
http://www.ncld.org/ld-basics/related-issues/information-processing/auditory-processing-disorders-in-detail

 Auditory Processing Disorders

• Learning to read
• Distinguishing difference between similar sounds. Example: Seventy and seventeen
• Understanding spoken language, following directions and remembering details
• Seems to hear but not listen
• Remembering people's names
• Memorizing telephone numbers
• Following multi-step directions
• Recalling stories or songs 
• Confusing multi-digit numbers, such as 74 and 47
• Confusing lists and other types of sequences 
• Remembering the correct order of a series of instructions

These are the two prominent processing disorders, with Reading/ELA being the most common area to qualify for Special Ed. services, at least in my experience.  Attention Deficit and its variations  is another topic altogether, but can aggravate other learning problems.

Check with the child's team--parents, teachers, Special Education staff--see what's up and how this young one can get the assistance to succeed.

Teaching Is Giving Kids Choices

1.The value of choice in student engagement

http://www.thepolliwogjournal.com/?p=470 

2. The Classroom of Choice: Managing the Learning Environment 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVsTXUS52IA 

3. Offering Students Choices from Day One

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/teaching-methods/classroom-management/6710.html 

4. The Classroom of Choice: Giving Students What They Need and Getting What You Want

http://www.questia.com/library/119453308/the-classroom-of-choice-giving-students-what-they 

5. Choice Is a Matter of Degree

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept10/vol68/num01/Choice-Is-a-Matter-of-Degree.aspx 

6.  Personalised Learning - Engaging Students by Providing Choice in the Classroom

http://kidspeak.wikispaces.com/Personalised+Learning+-+Engaging+Students+by+Providing+Choice+in+the+Classroom 

7. How to Put Choice Theory in the Classroom

http://www.ehow.com/how_7913359_put-choice-theory-classroom.html 

8.  Liven Up Your Lessons by Giving Students Choices

http://www.edutopia.org/lesson-engagement-student-choice

Farm Team of Principals Tweets of the Day 12/12/13

...could be a principal's farm team...

1. Report: How to Grow a Farm Team for Principals

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/12/11/14leaders.h33.html?tkn=LWCCNfrhyqrl%2FF9BpXISozfvK33%2BoC%2BDpf5Y&cmp=clp-sb-ascd 

2. Five-Minute Film Festival: Teaching Kids about Global Poverty

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/film-festival-poverty-education-lessons?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=5-min-film-video-global-poverty 

3. Top 10 Must-Have Holiday Books for Your Classroom 

http://www.teachhub.com/top-10-must-have-holiday-books-your-classroom 

4. Featured Teaching Channel Videos

http://edweek.org/tm/section/teaching-channel/index.html 

 5.The Kids Don't Play Anymore

http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/the_kids_dont_play_anymore/

6. Study finds the 5 most effective teacher preparation tips

http://learnegg.com/study-most-effective-teacher-preparation-tips/ 

7.  Building a Great Teaching Team: Wisdom from Teachers

http://www.weareteachers.com/hot-topics/special-reports/building-a-great-teaching-team-wisdom-from-teachers?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=Social%20Media&utm_campaign=SR-TeacherTeam-1213-TW 

The Kids Don’t Play Anymore

 

Laughing All The Way

Laughing all the way on a snow boogie board.

 Dashing through the snow
  In a one-horse open sleigh
  O'er the fields we go
  Laughing all the way
  Bells on bobtail ring
  Making spirits bright
  What fun it is to ride and sing
  A sleighing song tonight!

  (chorus)
  Jingle bells, jingle bells,
  Jingle all the way.
  Oh! what fun it is to ride
  In a one-horse open sleigh.
  Jingle bells, jingle bells,
  Jingle all the way;
  Oh! what fun it is to ride
  In a one-horse open sleigh.

Diana Krall-Jingle Bells 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFHE0NxBJu4 

 

DIANA KRALL LYRICS

"Jingle Bells"

Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh,
Over the fields we go,
Laughing all the way;
Bells on bob-tail ring,
making spirits bright,
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight, O

Jingle bells, jingle bells,
jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh [repeat]

Now the ground is white
Go it while you're young,
Take the girls tonight
And sing this sleighing song;
Just get a bob-tailed bay
two-forty as his speed
Hitch him to an open sleigh
And crack! You'll take the lead

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,
Jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh. [repeat]

Hey, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,
Jingle jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,
Jingle jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.
Jingle bells, jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.
Jingle bells, jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.

I'm just crazy about horses

MzTeachuh: Teaching Is Being A Hero

MzTeachuh: Teaching Is Being A Hero: Victoria Soto, first grade tacher, Sandy Hook Elementary School. Saved her class before being murdered. "This is Victoria ...

Teaching Is Being A Hero

Victoria Soto, first grade tacher, Sandy Hook Elementary School. Saved her class before being murdered.

"This is Victoria Soto, and although I didn't know her, she is my hero. I don't know too much about her, but I know a lot of people who do know her and she's amazing. Victoria was a Stratford high graduate and only 27. She was killed today after she hid her first graders in closets and cabinets and told the shooter they were in the gym. He killed her and not one of her children were harmed. I have never been more proud to be from Stratford or to be a teacher. God bless Victoria, her family and friends, and all of those who were involved today in anyway. Victoria is a true hero." Christine Nealy

1. In Connecticut: Prayers, Grief, Questions ... And Stories Of Heroism

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/12/15/167320059/in-connecticut-prayers-grief-questions-and-stories-of-heroism?utm_source=news&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=20121215 

2.  My entire career in education I've worked in high schools in 'high needs' areas WITH metal detectors at the front doors. Since day one I've always kept my door locked to my classroom, while the school day is going on. Partly out of my forgetfulness to unlock it all the way but also due to the fear that someone could come in and hurt my children. We have children in the building that due to their diagnosis are severely emotionally disturbed and at times we've had incidents occur in the neighborhood that put our school 'at risk'. I think that after the incident in CT, all schools should seriously consider metal detectors in schools as a precautionary measure. No, they (the metal detectors) don't look pretty but they will help protect or most precious commodity- our children. Continue to pray for the parents, children and community this affected.

https://www.facebook.com/TheEducatorsRoom 

http://www.apa.org/topics/violence/school-shooting.aspx

3. Unspeakable Tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/responding-tragedy-sandy-hook-elementary-david-markus?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_content=blog&utm_campaign=sandyhook 

3. Talking with Children About Difficult Subjects: Illness, Death, Violence and Disaster

http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/talking_children_about_difficult_subjects_illness_death_violence_disaster 

4. Tips for Talking to Children About the Shooting

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/15/health/tips-for-talking-to-children-about-the-elementary-school-mass-shooting.html?smid=tw-nytimes&_r=1& 

5. 10 Ways to Talk to Kids About World Events in the News

http://www.education.com/magazine/article/10-ways-talk-current-events/?cid=80. 

6. How To Talk with Kids about a School Shooting

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