Educational Links 1/1/17

If You Pay Attention to Students, They Will Pay Attention to You

http://www.bamradionetwork.com/teachers-aid/4186-getting-your-students-to-give-it-one-hundred-percent-always

Technology in the Classroom: 5 Apps for Principals

http://www.teachhub.com/technology-classroom-5-apps-principals

Terrific Tools To Integrate Arts Education

http://www.techlearning.com/app-of-the-day/0011/artsedge/70372

Librarians share their predictions for education trends in 2017

http://oomscholasticblog.com/post/librarians-share-their-predictions-education-trends-2017

The Debate Over Sensory Processing

http://www.specialneedsdigest.com/2016/12/the-debate-over-sensory-processing.html

How Can I Get My Child’s Teachers to Recognize Processing Speed as a Real Issue?

https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/information-processing-issues/how-can-i-get-my-childs-teachers-to-recognize-processing-speed-as-a-real-issue?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=understoodorg

How To Inspire Your Students In These Turbulent Times

http://edtechreview.in/news/2502-news-app-for-students?utm_content=buffereabc1&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

With news of corruption, dacoit, betrayal, murder, divorce and all that's nasty flooding our newspapers every day with childish sensationalism, our youngsters often get a feeling of the world being totally distraught, hypocrite and inhabitable.

The Sky Is Cheap Entertainment: Events in the Sky in 2017

Total eclipse of sun: August 21, 2017

http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/total-eclipse-of-sun-august-21-2017

Top 7 Must-See Sky Events for 2017 

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/12/skywatching-sky-guide-2017-top-events-space-astronomy/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_content=link_fb20161230news-2017skyguide&utm_campaign=Content&sf48693308=1

This year will be especially stunning for viewers in North America, as the sun will undergo the most amazing celestial disappearing act seen there since 1979. In August, a total solar eclipse will cross the United States from coast to coast, changing daytime skies into dark twilight for a few minutes along a narrow path from Oregon to South Carolina.

Taking Care of Teacher

Here is some information and health strategies to stay well and effective.

There has been a reappearance of whooping cough and measles, so be sure these immunizations, as well as the current flu shot, are updated for the new school year.  I'm serious--better be safe than really sick for a long time! 

Staying Healthy and Managing Stress While Teaching

http://www.advice-for-teachers.com/healthy.html 

Taking care of teacher is not as much fun as taking care of your kids-- but we aren't superheroes, so get your shots.

Adult Immunizations: What You Need

http://www.webmd.com/vaccines/adult-immunizations-what-you-need 

Information for Schools & Childcare Providers

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/school/ 

Why air purifiers are important in schools  

http://www.slideshare.net/simonbajaykrishnan/why-air-purifiers-are-important-to-schools

Teaching takes an inordinate amount of mental focus and emotional output. But what happens when teachers are stressed or deal with emotional or mental issues?

Being There for Students When You're Emotionally Unavailable

http://www.bamradionetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2113:being-there-for-students-when-youre-emotionally-unavailable&catid=105:teachers-aide&Itemid=299

When the Teacher Is Depressed

http://anniemurphypaul.com/blog/ 

Are you in shape? What's that you say, its none of my business? Well, its your business--and your future. So get up out of that computer chair and get moving! You'll be very glad you did.

Benefits of Being Fit & Eating Well - The President's Challenge

https://www.google.com/search?q=teachers+being+physically+fit&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb#channel=sb&q=benefits+of+being+physically+fit&revid=1883628429&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official 

Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/fitness/in-depth/exercise/art-20048389 

That's what I'm talking about!

 

Next Semester...we'll celebrate diversity

Music! Dancing! And don't forget the great Mexican food!

If you teach in a school that is ethnically isolated, by geography or by choice, I suggest finding commonality in sports, for example. Especially in baseball, you can find just about all ethnicities coming together to celebrate a fun time through sports. If you have a favorite team in the MLB, NFL, or NBA--you are celebrating diversity. The same is true of most entertainment and lists of famous inventors, performers of heroics, and remarkable accomplishments.  You can also spotlight through calendar events (St. Patrick's Day, or MLK Day, for example.) Discretion is important if your community is sensitive to discussions of diversity. But it is clear that not only tolerance is mandatory but appreciation of diversity, also. We are America, afterall.

Here are links from Edutopia, TeachThought and Edudemic to get you started on your appreciation of diversity.

Diversity 

http://www.edutopia.org/blogs/tag/diversity 

http://www.edutopia.org/search-results?search=diversity 

Vibrant art! Parades! Learn to use chipsticks!

Culturally Responsive Teaching Starts With Students

http://www.teachthought.com/teaching/culturally-respo--nsive-teaching-starts-with-students/ 

15 Resources: Prepare for Cultural Diversity in Class

http://www.edudemic.com/cultural-diversity-in-the-classroom/ 

Ballpark saurkraut hotdog!

Here are links for the major self-reported ethnicities in the USA according to census reports. I'm just following the order of the self-reporting. Sounds like fun--music, dance, food, art. Serious thoughts and inspiration. Check out American Rhetoric: The Power of Oratory in the United States http://www.americanrhetoric.com/  for speeches.

German-American Corner: History and Heritage

http://www.germanheritage.com/ 

Speeches of JFK .

Irish Contributions to the American Culture

http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/immigration/irish8.html 

Cesar Chaves Si Se Puede

National Hispanic Heritage Month and Cinco de Mayo Lesson Plans

http://lessonplanspage.com/hispanicheritagemonth-htm/ 

The Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock.

 

English Americans

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_American 

 

Little Italy, New York City

 

Italian Americans 

http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Ha-La/Italian-Americans.html 

The Italian Americans PBS

http://video.pbs.org/program/italian-americans/ 

Steven Spielberg--and don't forget Jurassic World!

 

The Jewish Americans PBS

http://www.pbs.org/jewishamericans/ 

 

 

Native American Resources

500 is one of my favorite resources, I have taught the info on the Aztecs to my Mexican-American students. They are also fascinated with the Mayans.

Sequoyah--created Cherokee written language

500 NATIONS a video series

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZztTMhRzqlQ&list=PLCD21D8E645A7BCE0 

We Shall Remain--PBS

http://ec2-184-73-194-121.compute-1.amazonaws.com/wgbh/amex/weshallremain/

Celebrate African-American History

 http://teacher.scholastic.com/africanamericanheritage/

 Please don't neglect the arts when enjoying these lessons. And the food, if possible. Mmm, soul food.

MLK--we never needed your influence more than now!

Teacher Resolution #2

I solemnly resolve...

#2. I will keep up with all the paperwork, all the time.

Quite a goal. But how realistic is it?

How about this:

I will keep up with mandatory paperwork in a timely manner, and not create unnecessary paperwork for myself. 

There are plenty of deadlines for all teachers that are universal: grades, behavior reports, cum files' stuff. But sometimes in our enthusiasm we create lots of paperwork related activities that don't really need our personal touch but as teachers we may not want to let go of the control. Our time is our most precious resource and if we can expedite the necessary paperwork through better organization, we should also let go of time-consuming, and possibly unnecessary, teacher grading/commenting interactions on everything.

Overwhelmed with Grading Papers? Try These Time-Saving Tricks

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/overwhelmed-grading-papers-try-these-time-saving-tricks 

Grading Made Simple

http://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/free-resources/planning-and-assessment/grading-made-simple 

Classroom Management: Top 12 Ways to Tackle Teacher Paperwork 

http://www.teachhub.com/top-12-ways-tackle-teacher-paperwork 

  

Next Semester...STEM to STEAM

Could The Arts Put The Steam Into STEM?

http://www.teachthought.com/learning/could-the-arts-put-the-steam-into-stem/ 

STEM to STEAM: Why the 'A' Makes A Difference

http://www.edudemic.com/stem-vs-steam-why-the-a-makes-all-the-difference/

STEM to STEAM: Resource Roundup

http://www.edutopia.org/stem-to-steam-resources 

Could Storytelling Be the Secret Sauce to STEM Education?

http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/06/05/could-storytelling-be-the-secret-sauce-to-stem-education/ 

STEM to STEAM

http://stemtosteam.org/resources/ 

Keeping it simple.

Da Vinci--the master of STEAM.

As the proponents of STEM know, science, tech, engineering and math is everywhere. But how to acknowledge that the Arts can readily be integrated into all lessons?

Drawing journals, of course, is a great start.

How to Draw--from beginners to advanced. 

http://drawsketch.about.com/

Teacher Resolution #1

I solemnly resolve...

#1. I will be a better teacher.

Great sentiment, a little too general.
How about: 

I will pay more attention to each student. 

The students feel more empowered to participate in classroom activities, attempt new challenges, and express ideas when on a positive footing with Teacher. The other data that schools collect make more sense when viewed through recent interaction with the student, and parent interaction becomes more positive and coherent when your input concerning the student is current.

Observing Students

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/observing-students 

From this article:

• Glean information from each student's daily experiences and interactions.
• Use data from tests to supplement your observation.
• Watch the process children go through to master skills, concepts, or content.
• Ask students to think aloud for you so you can probe their understanding of content and strategies.
• Build student portfolios to record performance benchmarks during the year.
• Use every possible source of information to create a rich tapestry of assessment enabling you to determine appropriate instruction for each student.

Response: Supporting Student Engagement by 'Building Community'

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/classroom_qa_with_larry_ferlazzo/2014/12/response_supporting_student_engagement_by_building_community.html?cmp=soc-edit-tw 

From this article:

Teachers play a critical role in increasing engagement by changing the type of tasks and by improving the social dynamics in the classroom. 

Supporting Student Resilience in the Classroom

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/supporting-student-resilience-in-classroom-steve-gardiner 

From this article: 

In a classroom, there are many variables that a teacher cannot control, such as parental involvement, poverty, nutrition and chemical influences. However, within the classroom, a teacher can become a charismatic adult and model a resilient mindset, identify and communicate islands of competence to students, and give them a sense of autonomy and choice in the work they do. These are simple, inexpensive steps that may make future assignments go more smoothly and keep more students involved throughout the process. 

 

 

 

Educational Links 12/31/16

Classroom Resolutions: Three Steps to a Great New Year!

http://www.kidsdiscover.com/teacherresources/classroom-resolutions-3-steps-to-a-great-new-year/?utm_source=FB&utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=Post

How To Build A Classroom Culture
http://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/culture-of-learning?utm_source=social&utm_campaign=video&utm_medium=facebook

10 Great Apps to Promote Kindness in the Classroom

http://www.gettingsmart.com/2016/12/best-apps-promote-kindness-classroom/?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=facebook_page&utm_medium=Getting%20Smart&utm_content=10%20Great%20Apps%20to%20Promote%20Kindness%20in%20the%20Classroom

Multiple Intelligence Learning Styles: Auditory Learner

https://www.identifor.com/blog/?p=144&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=201612-boost&utm_medium=cpv

Seat-Based Sensory Strategies to Keep Students Seated and Focused
http://special-ism.com/seat-based-sensory-strategies-to-keep-students-seated-and-focused/

Tch Year in Review: 16 Most Read Blog Posts of 2016

https://www.teachingchannel.org/blog/2016/12/27/tch-year-in-review-16-blog-2016/?utm_source=social&utm_campaign=blog&utm_medium=facebook

Why I Am Still A Self-Contained Teacher

http://www.thinkinclusive.us/why-i-am-still-a-self-contained-teacher/?utm_source=ReviveOldPost&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ReviveOldPost

There is over 30 years of research that says inclusive education is better for everyone. My point is that admitting that inclusion is not available to everyone is not the same thing as saying that is not possible or the right thing to do. I suppose this is why I continue to be the best self-contained classroom teacher I can be. I hope that you can live out inclusive practices in your context.

Teaching Is Giving Lifelong Reading

 These links are not for Reading Specialists, or those educators involved exclusively with reading instruction. These links are intended for parents, and since all teachers are reading teachers, too, for those in classroom situations where some practical techniques in the midst of the core curriculum may help. I'm a big fan of taking secondary vocabulary and syllabicating, decoding the syllable, then reading the whole word in context for meaning. 

We are so honored to teach young people to read.

That book is a real page turner.

1. Seven Strategies to Teach Students Text Comprehensionhttp://www.readingrockets.org/article/3479/  

2. 14 Best Reading Practices   

http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/jblanton/read/14bestreadingpractices.htm 

3. ABCs of Teaching Reading

http://www.readingrockets.org/teaching/ 

4. Reading Strategies

Reading Efficiently by Reading Intelligently

http://www.mindtools.com/rdstratg.html 

5.  Reading and Word-Attack Strategies

http://www.readinga-z.com/more/reading_strat.html 

6. 7 CRITICAL READING STRATEGIES

http://www.salisbury.edu/counseling/new/7_critical_reading_strategies.html 

7. No Single Strategy Is Best for Teaching Reading

http://www.lsa.umich.edu/psych/news/department/news/?id=194 

8.  First Books: Access to books for children in need.

http://www.firstbook.org/

Bob. a volunteer, read to the kids at a Reading Party sponsored by First Books

 

 

9. Ten Books Every Child Should Own

http://blog.firstbook.org/2012/10/30/ten-books-every-child-should-own/ 

 

10. The Best Ways to Teach Kids to Read

http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/The-Best-Ways-to-Teach-Kids-to-Read 

11. Pizza Hut BOOK IT program (so kids know reading tastes good.)

 http://www.bookitprogram.com/

Is Your Classroom A Petri Dish For Illness?

This schoolyear teachers, students, and families are faced with serious communicable health risks to every generation. The first precaution is timely and appropriate vaccinations. Then, teachers (and families) should provide healthy environments and experiences so students and staff are less likely to fall victim to this year's serious round of infectious diseases. Influenza is serious this year. Whooping Cough has made a comeback, with Measles coming right behind. When watching the news, its like a movie and you expect Dustin Hoffman to appear in full hazmat suit, particularly when patient zero spreads measles from Disneyland. What's a teacher to do?

Five Ways to a Cleaner, Healthier Classroom

http://www.nea.org/home/32002.htm 

Teaching Students Healthy Habits

http://www.nea.org/home/teaching-students-healthy-habits.html 

Strategies to Keep Schools Clean and Students Healthy

http://www.cleanlink.com/news/article/Strategies-to-Keep-Schools-Clean-and-Students-Healthy--14643 

More Fresh Air in Classrooms Means Fewer Absences

 http://newscenter.lbl.gov/2013/06/05/more-fresh-air-in-classrooms-means-fewer-absences/

Study: Classroom ventilation affects student performance 

http://www.utulsa.edu/academics/colleges/college-of-engineering-and-natural-sciences/departments-and-schools/Department-of-Chemical-Engineering/News-Events-and-Publications/News/2010/December/Classroom-Air-Study.aspx 

15 houseplants for improving indoor air quality

http://www.mnn.com/health/healthy-spaces/photos/15-houseplants-for-improving-indoor-air-quality/a-breath-of-fresh-air 

Vaccines are Effective 

http://www.vaccines.gov/basics/effectiveness/

Weekly US Map: Influenza Summary Update

 http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm

12/2016

Next Semester: ...we'll have plants in the classroom

Just a little bit more planning and maintenance and your class has fresh oxygen, color, STEM motivation, and a little bit of elegance. Plants in the class!

15 houseplants for improving indoor air quality 

http://www.mnn.com/health/healthy-spaces/photos/15-houseplants-for-improving-indoor-air-quality/a-breath-of-fresh-air 

The Best Air-Purifying Plants

http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/air-purifying-plants 

 The 15 easiest indoor house plants that won't die on you

http://www.today.com/home/easiest-indoor-plants-wont-die-you-I258925

Easy Classroom Houseplants

http://www.kidsgardening.org/node/11442 

  Best Plants for the Classroom

 http://funflowerfacts.com/2013/09/06/best-plants-for-the-classroom/

Do You Keep Plants In Your Classroom?

http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2010/08/19/do-you-keep-plants-in-your-classroom/ 

The Psychology of Nature 

http://www.wired.com/2010/08/the-psychology-of-nature/

Next Semester: A Soundtrack for Our Classroom

You are working to the easy listening music of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Using Music in the Elementary Classroom (Warning: It May Get Loud)

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/music-recommendations-elementary-gaetan-pappalardo 

I like classical quite a bit for background.

Here are some of my choices.:

Antonio Vivaldi

Four Seasons ~ Vivaldi 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRxofEmo3HA 

Beethoven's 5th Symphony

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4IRMYuE1hI

TEOC - Symphony No. 06 - Beethoven | Full Length 45 Minutes 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O1D1zuvWic 

Symphony No. 9 ~ Beethoven 

Ludwig Van Beethoven

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3217H8JppI 

Mozart - Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550 [complete] 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTc1mDieQI8 

 

Wolfgang Mozart

 

Mozart Flute & Harp Concerto C major K 299 Neville Marriner RTSI 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMIzC9CzVUQ 

Mozart Piano Concerto No.21 in C major, 'Elvira Madigan' K.467

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1bMPi2aw1A 

It is my opinion that listening to Bach's Brandenburg Concertos  is truly 'busy bee' motivation, but the students generally like Beethoven the best.

Johann Sebastian Bach

 

J.S. Bach Brandenburg Concertos, Complete, Ton Koopman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcTc67KlD9o 

We do know that Mozart is the best soundtrack--based on decades of research.  Kids like it, too.

Teaching Is Creating A Living Classroom

Teaching Secrets: Arranging Optimal Classroom Seating

http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2012/07/31/tln_merz_seats.html 

Bulletin Boards

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/bulletin-board/curriculum-planning/6515.html 

 Easy, Effective Way to Display Student Work in the Classroom 

http://voices.yahoo.com/easy-effective-way-display-student-work-the-11632976.html?ca

I'm so curious as to who they are.

Displaying Student Work

An opportunity for student-teacher collaboration 

http://www.responsiveclassroom.org/article/displaying-student-work 

The Teacher Report: 7 Creative Approaches to Classroom Seating

http://www.weareteachers.com/community/weareteachers-blog/blog-wat/2012/07/17/the-teacher-report-7-creative-approaches-to-classroom-seating 

Classroom Jobs for All Your Student Helpers

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/classroom-jobs-all-your-student-helpers 

Teaching As Leadership Classroom Jobs

http://teachingasleadership.org/sites/default/files/How_To/INV/I-5/I-5_Classroom_Jobs.pdf 

 The Clutter-Free Classroom

CLASSROOM ORGANIZATION 

http://clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.com/p/classroom-organization-giveaway.html 

Classroom Organization

http://pinterest.com/mel_dillard/classroom-organization/ 

Creating a Classroom Community

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/collection/creating-classroom-community 

  

Educational Links 12/28/16

8 How-To Tips to Energize Your Classroom with EdTech in 2017

http://classtechtips.com/2016/12/10/8-tips-energize-classroom-edtech-2017/?utm_content=buffere9536

Head of the Class: 2016’s Top Technology

http://www.edudemic.com/2016-top-technology/

Top Issues Capturing the Minds of Educators and Parents This Year

https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2016/12/27/ten-issues-capturing-the-minds-of-educators-and-parents-this-year/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FnHAK+%28MindShift%2

The 10 Most-Read Discovery Education Stories of 2016

http://blog.discoveryeducation.com/blog/2016/12/27/top-10-discovery-education-posts-of-2016/

Trauma Resources - Free and Multilingual

http://www.specialneedsdigest.com/2016/12/trauma-resources-free-and-multilingual.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FLUdSt+%28Special+Needs+Digest%

We Learned A Lot In 2016 About How Preschool Can Help Kids

http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/12/27/504712171/we-learned-a-lot-in-2016-about-how-preschool-can-help-kids?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=education

What is ‘School Choice’?

http://www.edudemic.com/school-choice/

In theory, school choice offers parents of all socioeconomic statuses the same opportunity to provide their children with the best possible education. This is a step toward educational equality, but it may not be as clear-cut as it seems. Proponents of school choice suggest that this program gives parents complete control over their children’s education and the ability to choose where their educational tax dollars are spent.