Saturday, May 31, 2014

Four Strategies to End the School YearPhilosopher Explores Ethics of Brain TechnologiesHey Teach-- Take Time for Yourself!Be More Productive—By Doing Less

http://anniemurphypaul.com/2014/05/why-leisure-is-the-new-productivity/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=why-leisure-is-the-new-productivity

http://rewildyourlife.com/challenge/

MzTeachuh: Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 5/31/14

MzTeachuh: Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 5/31/14: Three ways digital badges are used in education http://www.eschoolnews.com/2014/05/30/digital-badges-education-356/ Chrome Apps for As...

Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 5/31/14

Three ways digital badges are used in education

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2014/05/30/digital-badges-education-356/

Chrome Apps for Assistive Technology

https://sites.google.com/site/eduonair/virtualization-for-chromebooks/hangout-schedule/chrome-apps-for-assistive-technology

5 Robust Apps For The Chromebook Classroom

http://www.edudemic.com/5-robust-apps-chromebook-classroom/

Study shows that high-tech schools run into budget troubles and cut tech spending

http://educationbythenumbers.org/content/study-shows-high-tech-schools-run-budget-troubles-cut-tech-spending_1297/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HechingerReport+%28Hechinger+Report%29

Finnish Schools Not Relying on Ed Tech

http://dianeravitch.net/2014/05/31/finnish-schools-not-relying-on-ed-tech/

Bird Song Hero

Teaching and Learning Through Educational Software Programs

http://edtechreview.in/e-learning/1232-teaching-and-learning-through-educational-software-programs

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Tweets of the Day 5/31/14

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Tweets of the Day 5/31/14: SUCCESS STORIES You’re not alone on your LD journey. Countless people have faced learning disabilities…and succeeded! ...

Special Needs Tweets of the Day 5/31/14

SUCCESS STORIES

You’re not alone on your LD journey. Countless people have faced learning disabilities…and succeeded!
http://www.ncld.org/learning-disabilities-resources/special-needs-stories

The essence of sensory processing disorder

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/on-parenting/the-essence-of-sensory-processing-disorder/2014/05/20/1813d0a6-daac-11e3-8009-71de85b9c527_story.html

Policy set to reduce gender inequality in biomedical studies

http://sfari.org/news-and-opinion/blog/2014/policy-set-to-reduce-gender-inequality-in-biomedical-studies

Five Strategies to Avoid Meltdowns and Tantrums

http://special-ism.com/five-strategies-to-avoid-meltdowns-and-tantrums

Welcome to Children With Special Needs

http://www.childrenwithspecialneeds.com/

Twice-Exceptional Me

http://ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/adhd-related-issues/giftedness/twice-exceptional-me

Talk It Up: Eight Ways to Have Self-Esteem Boosting Conversations About LD

http://www.ncld.org/parents-child-disabilities/social-emotional-skills/self-esteem-talk-about-ld-your-child

MzTeachuh: Keep Calm and Love the End of School Tweets of the...

MzTeachuh: Keep Calm and Love the End of School Tweets of the...: Get a Start On Ending Your Year Right http://www.edutopia.org/blog/get-start-end-your-school-year-right-elena-aguilar Can Games...

Keep Calm and Love the End of School Tweets of the Day 5/31/14

Get a Start On Ending Your Year Right

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/get-start-end-your-school-year-right-elena-aguilar

Can Games Make High-Stakes Tests Obsolete?

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/05/can-games-make-high-stakes-tests-obsolete/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FnHAK+%28MindShift%29

My Brother’s Keeper: Voices of Young Men in Denver

http://www.ed.gov/blog/2014/05/my-brothers-keeper-voices-of-young-men-in-denver/

When Students Fail: What Does it Really Mean? What's a Teacher to Do?

http://www.bamradionetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2003:when-students-fail-what-does-it-really-mean-whats-a-teacher-to-do&catid=105:teachers-aide&Itemid=299

6 Q’s About the News | America’s ‘It’ School? Look West, Harvard

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/05/30/6-qs-about-the-news-americas-it-school-look-west-harvard/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

L.A. Unified suspension rates fall but some question figures' accuracy

http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-lausd-suspend-20140601-story.html#page=1

Measles Cases in U.S. at a Twenty Year Record High

http://shotofprevention.com/2014/05/29/measles-cases-in-u-s-at-a-twenty-year-record-high/

MzTeachuh: Principal's Suggestion Box Letter #1

MzTeachuh: Principal's Suggestion Box Letter #1: These suggestions are absolutely fictional (to protect the innocent and not-so-innocent.) But, with the hint of truth, maybe we can make som...

Principal's Suggestion Box Letter #1

These letters are absolutely fictional (to protect the innocent and not-so-innocent.) But, with the hint of truth, maybe we can make some adjustments. Principals have the best chance to do that.

Dear Principal,

You probably don't know me. I sub for the Special Ed. classes. Everything's okay, but I would like to ask for a little more information in the lesson plans. The instructional assistants (who are very nice and helpful) usually tell me who the difficult kids will be (for example, who is likely to throw a tantrum or a chair), but isn't there supposed to be a behavior plan or something? I would like to try to keep things consistent for the students. I was told I wasn't on the list to read the IEP.

I'm okay. For a retired teacher I'm pretty spry, and caught the stapler midair. I hope the referral was written adequately.

Thanks,
Rather Shaken Substitute

The best resource concerning the legalities of Special Education is the site Wrightslaw http://www.wrightslaw.com

Here is a quote from the page on Discipline & Discipline Problems:

Discipline is a hot topic. When the federal special education law was passed in 1975, Congress found that most handicapped children were not receiving an appropriate education - and that millions of children were excluded from school altogether.
Students miss classes every day because of suspensions and expulsions, sometimes for only a minor infraction. Office for Civil Rights data shows that minority students and students with disabilities are disproportionately impacted.
Today, schools continue to suspend and expel students with disabilities for behavior caused by their disabilities. If you are advocating for a child with behavior problems, the articles and resources collected on this page will help.

Other resources:

Positive Behavioral Supports and the Law

http://www.pbis.org/school/pbis-and-the-law

Substitute Teachers Gain National Voice

http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/chat/chat047.shtml

Routines help children with special needs

https://www.akronchildrens.org/cms/resource_library/files/e436859efc79226f/fin_facts_april_may_2012_routines.pdf

My suggestion: Have a specific section in the lesson plans that indicate special interventions with students that have behavior needs but not necessarily include the exact section from the IEP. If a student has history of tantrums or violent outbursts he/she needs a Behavior Support Plan, and a substitute definitely needs input from the classroom teacher in writing, not instructions from an instructional assistant.

Friday, May 30, 2014

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Tweets of the Day 5/30/14

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Tweets of the Day 5/30/14: Better supervision: answer to active baby? Treating babies with stimulants is reckless https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=14...

Special Needs Tweets of the Day 5/30/14

Better supervision: answer to active baby?

Treating babies with stimulants is reckless

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1441644043303616609#postsstats

Heritability Maps May Hold Clues to Delayed Onset of Mental Disorders

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-news/2014/genes-impact-suspect-cortex-areas-more-as-youth-mature.shtml?utm_source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govdelivery

Autism and Special Talents: How Can We Help our Son Find His Passion?

http://www.autismspeaks.org/blog/2014/05/30/autism-and-special-talents-how-can-we-help-our-son-find-his-passion?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AutismSpeaksBlog+%28Autism+Speaks+|+Official+Blog%29

Five Strategies to Avoid Meltdowns and Tantrums

http://special-ism.com/five-strategies-to-avoid-meltdowns-and-tantrums/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Special-ism+%28Special-ism%29

Parenting & Family

http://www.ldonline.org/questions/parenting

Work it out

A summer job can be the key to future success for teens with learning disabilities.

http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/health/2434-summer-job-special-needs.gs

RESOURCES

Find the tools you need to develop a better understanding of learning disabilities and to navigate your LD journey with confidence.

http://www.ncld.org/learning-disability-resources

MzTeachuh: Summer Bump Not Slump: Fun with STEM

MzTeachuh: Summer Bump Not Slump: Fun with STEM: The sky is cheap entertainment. 6 Ways to Explore the Nighttime Sky With Your Kids http://www.mykidsadventures.com/discover-astrono...

Summer Bump Not Slump: Fun with STEM

The sky is cheap entertainment.

6 Ways to Explore the Nighttime Sky With Your Kids

http://www.mykidsadventures.com/discover-astronomy-for-kids/

10 Backyard Science Activities

http://fun.familyeducation.com/outdoor-games/childrens-science-activities/34986.html

Math Playground

http://www.mathplayground.com/

5 Fun Science Experiments for Kids (w/ Grover!) #5facts

http://www8.buyerpricer.com/Video.aspx?videoid=BeLT-O8Mz2M&slk=fun+stem+activities+for+kids&cid=50271632708&akwd=fun+stem+activities+for+kids&mt=b&nid=1&term=fun+stem+activities+for+kids&vx=0

Do Warmer Seas Make Stronger Hurricanes?

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/OceanSci_p005.shtml#procedure

Engage Kids in Hands-on Engineering

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/

Wind Energy Activities

http://stem-works.com/subjects/2-wind-energy/activities

Science For Kids

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/

STEM Websites for Kids
http://www.anderson5.net/Page/18087

STEM Websites for Kids
http://www.minitex.umn.edu/Events/Conferences/Highlights/2013/Stem/BookshelfHandout2.pdf

Puzzlemaker

http://www.discoveryeducation.com/free-puzzlemaker/?CFID=49745321&CFTOKEN=61269147

A Big Pile of Fantastic Ideas to Get Kids Outside Making and Doing This Summer

http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/05/22/a-big-pile-of-fantastic-ideas-to-get-kids-outside-making-and-doing-this-summer/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

Twigs--exciting resource for innumerable projects.

For the Last Week of School Tweets of the Day 5/28/14

Not to be snarky, but environment is spelled wrong. I know, the pot calling the kettle black, me and all my typos.

A 4-Step Guide To Effective Lesson Planning

http://www.edudemic.com/effective-lesson-planning/

Instead of Framing ‘Failure’ As a Positive, Why Not Just Use Positive Words?

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/05/instead-of-framing-failure-as-a-positive-why-not-just-use-positive-words/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FnHAK+%28MindShift%29

Ending on an Upswing

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/ending-on-an-upswing-nick-provenzano

Diagnostic Teaching: Pinpointing Why Your Students Struggle

http://www.teachthought.com/learning/diagnostic-teaching-why-students-struggle/

First Lady Fights To Keep Healthful School Lunch Law Intact

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/05/27/316457427/first-lady-fights-to-keep-healthy-school-lunch-law-intact?ft=1&f=139941248

What Does Competency- Based Education Have To Do With Disruption?

http://educationnext.org/competency-based-education-disruption/

5 Ways to Say Goodbye to Your Graduating Students

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/five-ways-to-say-goodbye-graduating-students-rebecca-alber

MzTeachuh: Free Cool Ed Sites for Kids Ed Tech and STEM Tweet...

MzTeachuh: Free Cool Ed Sites for Kids Ed Tech and STEM Tweet...: Oh, where shall we begin? 10 Best Educational Websites for Kids (that are free!) http://www.parenting.com/blogs/mom-congress/melissa...

Free Cool Ed Sites for Kids Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 5/30/14

Oh, where shall we begin?

10 Best Educational Websites for Kids (that are free!)

http://www.parenting.com/blogs/mom-congress/melissa-taylor/10-best-educational-websites-kids-are-free

http://www.coolmath.com/

http://kidsblogs.nationalgeographic.com/littlekids/

http://www.whyville.net/smmk/nice

http://www.spatulatta.com/

http://www.pottermore.com/

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/

http://kids.yahoo.com/

http://pbskids.org/

http://wonderopolis.org/

http://www.nga.gov/kids/kids.htm


http://www.funbrain.com/

I just can't choose.

MzTeachuh: MzTeachuh's Top Posts of the Week 5/30/14

MzTeachuh: MzTeachuh's Top Posts of the Week 5/30/14: Cast of 'Barnaby Rudge' a Charles Dickens story; Daniel Laurie is the lead on this BBC radio show and has Downs Syndrome. Spec...

MzTeachuh's Top Posts of the Week 5/30/14

Cast of 'Barnaby Rudge' a Charles Dickens story; Daniel Laurie is the lead on this BBC radio show and has Downs Syndrome.

Special Needs Tweets of the Day 5/25/14

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/05/special-needs-tweets-of-day-52514.html

Summer Bump Not Slump: Summer Reading
http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/05/summer-bump-not-slump-summer-reading.html

White Fang, by Jack London: Great Summer Read

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/05/white-fang-illustration-by-kako-white.html

Nights in White Satin

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/05/nights-in-white-satin.html

Special Needs Tweets of the Day 5/27/14

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/05/special-needs-tweets-of-day-52714.html

Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 5/27/14

Maya Angelou 1957

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/05/ed-tech-and-stem-tweets-of-day-52714.html

Maya Angelou: Life Doesn't Frighten Me

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/05/maya-angelou-life-doesnt-frighten-me.html?spref=bl

Summer Bump Not Slump: I'm Curious About...

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/05/summer-bump-not-summer-slump-im-curious.html

Next Week's Lesson Plans 5/24/14

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/05/next-weeks-lesson-plans-52414.html

Nights in White Satin

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/05/nights-in-white-satin.html

Camille Pissarro: Boulevard Montmartre at night, 1897

Many thanks to our international audience. It is a privilege to serve you. USA, Germany, France, Ukraine, UK, Canada, Turkey, China, Russia.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

MzTeachuh: Summer Bump Not Slump: I'm Curious About...

MzTeachuh: Summer Bump Not Slump: I'm Curious About...: How to Get Kids Hooked on Nonfiction Books This Summer http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/07/how-to-get-kids-hooked-on-nonfiction...

Summer Bump Not Slump: I'm Curious About...

How to Get Kids Hooked on Nonfiction Books This Summer

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/07/how-to-get-kids-hooked-on-nonfiction-books-this-summer/

Children's Books You May Want to Re-read...You Might Learn a Few Things

http://satisfyingmycuriousity.blogspot.com/2014/03/childrens-book-you-may-want-to-re.html

Summer of Curiosity Mission to Mars Challenge

http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/centers/johnson/student-activities/summer-of-curiosity.html

How Stuff Works

http://www.howstuffworks.com/

Biography - For Kids Life Stories

http://www.ducksters.com/biography/

Astronomy for Kids

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/

Future Vet

http://futurevet.net/

MzTeachuh: Somebody Come and Play!

MzTeachuh: Somebody Come and Play!: Nanny nanny boo boo you can't catch me! Weeee I'm freeee! C'mon, silly, let's play! You can't be ...

Somebody Come and Play!

Nanny nanny boo boo you can't catch me!

Weeee I'm freeee!

C'mon, silly, let's play! You can't be so grown-up and important all the time....

Okay, I'm guilty, too, of being way too busy and important with grown-up style activities when I really should just chill-out with the kids, whether in my home or in the classroom. Our inner young/fun person needs to come and play with our actual young/fun persons.

Jona K. Anderson-McNamee and Sandra J. Bailey wrote a great article on this subject, "The Importance of Play in Early Childhood Development."

http://msuextension.org/publications/HomeHealthandFamily/MT201003HR.pdf

Here's a good quote: "Your child needs time with you to relax and play. Playing with children builds lasting bonds. Playing allows parents to appreciate the uniqueness of each child. Playing with children can also be a stress reducer for over-worked parents. Laughing and relaxing are important to your own well-being."

http://www.schoolsparks.com/blog/four-rules-for-playing-games-with-your-children

My turn. 1, 2, 3, 4.....

These “Rules” for Playing Games with Your Children are very practical. Of course, all of our children are above average intelligence, but all kids go through a developmental process that places them at a certain emotional and skill level.

Anthony T. DeBenedet, M.D. and Lawrence J. Cohen, Ph.D, both extreme experts in their fields, wrote a book called, The Art of Roughhousing. I had no idea it took such advanced degrees to goof off with your kids; I wonder if it takes a Masters to tickle.

Here are some great thoughts from the book:

Roughhousing is physical, which means that it integrates our bodies with our brains, and promotes physical fitness, release of tension, and well-being.

Looks like so much fun, I wish I was at the lake.

“Roughhousing is play, which means that it is done for its own sake, it is joyful, and it flows with spontaneity, with improvisation, and without any worries about how we look or how much time is passing by.

Roughhousing is interactive, which means it builds close connections between our children and ourselves, especially as we get down on the wrestling mat and join children in their world.

Roughhousing is rowdy, which means that it pushes us out of our inhibitions and inflexibilities. Rowdiness is not dangerous, as long as we have the safety that comes from knowledge, close supervision, and carefully paying attention.”

Moms have a say, too, though I'm not sure about the sticky floor part; not that a sticky floor was never a frequent reality in my kids' growing up years. The author has a degree in Recreational Therapy.

http://www.playwithyourfamily.com/2011/09/good-moms-have-sticky-floors/

FB here we come!

I remember taking walks, playing cards, singing, listening to stories, swimming, telling jokes--we are validated as real and important people by these moments in our formative years when the most valuable resource- time- is given to us. Why would someone play with children? We love them. They are cute. Its fun.

The PS22 Chorus sings an update of the Sesame Street classic "Somebody Come and Play" as a bounty of red balls and children launch in every direction celebrating the connection between music and play. Conceived, produced and directed by NELA Film.

"Somebody Come And Play" PS22 Chorus on Sesame Street!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftjs-BoWRYk

Like your portrait?

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Tweets of the Day 5/29/14

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Tweets of the Day 5/29/14: ‘Tiger’ or ‘Hands-Off’ Mom? Both Types Motivate http://www.specialneedsdigest.com/2014/05/tiger-or-hands-off-mom-both-types.html?utm_s...

Special Needs Tweets of the Day 5/29/14

‘Tiger’ or ‘Hands-Off’ Mom? Both Types Motivate

http://www.specialneedsdigest.com/2014/05/tiger-or-hands-off-mom-both-types.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FLUdSt+%28Special+Needs+Digest%29

Has Health Insurance Affected Your Child's Education?

http://ncld.org/ld-insights/blogs/does-health-insurance-affect-your-child-s-education

LD & Math Challenges: Highlights from Our LD Chat

http://ncld.org/ld-insights/blogs/ld-and-math-challenges

States Take Steps to Make Sure Kids Get Vaccinated before School

http://www.specialneedsdigest.com/2014/05/states-take-steps-to-make-sure-kids-get.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FLUdSt+%28Special+Needs+Digest%29

Motivation: Student Interest

http://www.specialeducationguide.com/blog/motivation-is-the-best-accommodation-using-student-interest-to-tap-into-the-common-core/

Behavior Management Tips: Parent and Student Involvement - See more at: http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/behaviortips/behaviortips002.shtml#sthash.L6PnAJL7.dpuf

Behavior Intervention

http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/behaviortips/behaviortips002.shtml

America has a STEM crisis–and this is how to solve it

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2014/05/29/stem-crisis-america-311/

Breaking Financial Barriers to Classrooms

http://edtechreview.in/voices/interviews/1236-breaking-financial-barriers-to-classrooms

The Backchannel: Giving Every Student a Voice in the Blended Mobile Classroom

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/backchannel-student-voice-blended-classroom-beth-holland?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=blog-backchannel-student-voice-blended-classroom-link

Science Friday - Science Lesson Plans and Interesting Science Videos

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/

Google Tip for Reading

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2014/05/a-wonderful-google-tip-to-help-students.html

At the Movies: Films Focused on Education Reform

http://www.edutopia.org/education-reform-documentaries

The Best Laptops For Teachers

http://www.edudemic.com/best-education-technology/the-best-laptops-for-teachers/

MzTeachuh: Play (and Learn) Tweets of the Day 5/29/14

MzTeachuh: Play (and Learn) Tweets of the Day 5/29/14: 101 Ways to Play Outdoors Printable Poster 101 Ways To Play Outside http://childhood101.com/2014/03/101-ways-to-play-outdoors-print...