Saturday, January 23, 2016

[Infographic] 10 Tips To Build Your Professional Learning Community

http://edtechreview.in/trends-insights/insights/1363-infographic-10-tips-to-build-your-professional-learning-community?utm_content=buffere2b21&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

20 Classroom Setups That Promote Thinking

http://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/20-ways-to-setup-a-classroom-to-help-your-students-think/?utm_campaign=trueAnthem&utm_content=56a417c304d3010baea9dd6d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

When Things Don't Add Up: Dyscalculia

http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/10703.html

Why Makerspaces are Changing the World

https://medium.com/spark-the-world-s-best-work/why-makerspaces-are-changing-the-world-b4d57964f12f#.iqtdwqt1r

Best Apps for Teachers

http://spark-ofinspiration.blogspot.com/2015/07/best-apps-for-teachers.html

The First Step In EdTech Integration? Connecting With Students

http://www.teachthought.com/the-future-of-learning/technology/the-first-step-in-edtech-integration-connecting-with-students/?utm_campaign=trueAnthem&utm_content=56a3ed9404d30159b11df0b1&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

Tech Tools That Have Transformed Learning With Dyslexia

http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/11/03/tech-tools-that-transformed-learning-with-dyslexia/

Three Effective Techniques for Brainstorming Ideas

http://www.edudemic.com/three-techniques-brainstorming/

Brainstorming is a skill that is useful for all aspects of life, whether in the personal, professional, or school life. The great thing is that it is not a matter of ingrained creativity, but rather of using specific techniques that can be repeated to reproduce ideas that are creative and thoughtful.

Awww Garsh--Love Songs for Valentine's Day #5

For a swinging time.

Dean Martin - On The Street Where You Live (Nelson Riddle arrangement)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs65pSEA-VE

Clair de Lune in the Snow

Full Moon for Snowy January
http://earthsky.org/?p=4360

The Full Wolf Moon

http://www.almanac.com/content/full-moon-january

Clair de Lune - Claude Debussy | Extended Version | 2 HOURS Classical Music Piano Studying

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbmEvPpgbEs&list=RDfbmEvPpgbEs#t=14

Aww Garsh--Love Songs for Valentine's Day #4

Stevie Wonder - My Cherie Amour

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OlG2ek-wzs

La la la la la la, La la la la la la
My cherie amour, lovely as a summer day
My cherie amour, distant as the milky way
My cherie amour, pretty little one that I adore
You're the only girl my heart beats for
How I wish that you were mine
In a cafe or sometimes on a crowded street
I've been near you, but you never noticed me
My cherie amour, won't you tell me how could you ignore
That behind that little smile I wore
How I wish that you were mine
La la la la la la, La la la la la la
La la la la la la, La la la la la la
Maybe someday, you'll see my face among the crowd
Maybe someday, I'll share your little distant cloud
Oh, cherie amour, pretty little one that I adore
You're the only girl my heart beats for
How I wish that you were mine
La la la la la la, La la la la la la
La la la la la la, La la la la la la

Friday, January 22, 2016

Dyslexia Laws in the USA: An Update

http://www.specialneedsdigest.com/2016/01/dyslexia-laws-in-usa-update.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FLUdSt+%28Special+Needs+Digest%29

10 Teacher-Tested Valentine’s Day Classroom Activities

http://www.teachhub.com/10-teacher-tested-valentines-day-classroom-activities

Gifted Black Students Have Less Chance of Being Recommended for Gifted Programs

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/inside-school-research/2016/01/gifted_black_students_have_les.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+InsideSchoolResearch+%28Education+Week%3A+Inside+School+Research%29

Solutions for Struggling Writers

http://special-ism.com/solutions-for-struggling-writers/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Special-ism+%28Special-ism%29

Why teachers’ support is vital to blended learning success

http://www.theedadvocate.org/why-teachers-support-is-vital-to-blended-learning-success/

The 7 Devices of Transformation in Education

http://www.coolcatteacher.com/11301-2/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CoolCatTeacherBlog+%28Cool+Cat+Teacher+Blog%29

Reflecting on Yourself as a Leader

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/reflecting-yourself-leader-elena-aguilar?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20EdutopiaNewContent%20%28Edutopia%29

Leadership is complex and contextual. Our circumstances heavily influence who we are and can be as leaders. In order to understand the complexity, we will all benefit from spending some reflective time considering our backgrounds, beliefs, and actions.
This reflection can help us embrace ourselves as leaders, refine our skill set, and create the change we hope to see in our schools.

Elena Aguilar

Trending This Month on MzTeachuh 1/16

Educators are very interested in including the arts in STEM instruction.

STEM to STEAM Resources
http://melanielinktaylor.mzteachuh.org/2016/01/stem-to-steam-resources.html

Ultimately, STEAM is people-centric, not subject-centric; it puts student personality and individuality at the forefront. With STEAM, the pressure is off to become a scientist or engineer—you can be a designer, digital artist, coder, art director, and scientist and engineer all at the same time.
Anna Feldman is a Future Tense research associate.

The thoughts and words of Dr. Martin Luther King still resonate in 2016.

Teachable Moment: Letter from Birmingham Jail

Teachable Moment: Letters from Birmingham Jail
http://melanielinktaylor.mzteachuh.org/2016/01/letter-from-birmingham-jail.html

I have tried to stand between these two forces, saying that we need emulate neither the "do nothingism" of the complacent nor the hatred and despair of the black nationalist. For there is the more excellent way of love and nonviolent protest.

Don't forget the arts and maybe a bit of humor!

Aww Garsh--Love Songs for Valentine's Day #2
http://melanielinktaylor.mzteachuh.org/2016/01/aww-garsh-love-songs-for-valentines-day_20.html

Aww Garsh--Love Songs for Valentine's Day #2

Laughter has the power to fuel engagement and help students learn.
By Robert McNeely, special for NEA.org

Using Humor in the Classroom

http://www.nea.org/tools/52165.htm

The lead article for Educational Links 1/21/2016 https://www.teachingchannel.org/blog/2014/12/11/arts-integration-special-education-getty/ backs up the Arts Integration push.

Teaching through the arts can be a great entry point into content. Through engaging, arts-rich instruction, students are hooked into learning. But even more than just an entry point, arts-integration can provide a scaffold for helping students tackle increasingly complex cognitive tasks.

Lily Jones

Educational Links 1/18/16 http://melanielinktaylor.mzteachuh.org/2016/01/educational-links-11816_17.html includes video resources, classroom gaming, learning theory, and resources for Black History month.

Black History Month provides a great opportunity for students to explore and learn more about a variety of issues. But it's important that teachers "reinforce that 'black history' is American history.

Matt Davis

Ed Tech and STEM Update 1/22/16

Here are some fresh edtech and STEM links from outstanding educational websites--you may want to get an RSS feed on your own page of educational resources (for example, a page like Yahoo provides.)

EdSurge

edsurge.com

EdSurge Inc. is an educational technology company that publishes newsletters and operates databases used by venture capitalists, teachers, school administrators and others.

What Are the Top 10 Higher Ed Tech Issues of 2016?

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2016-01-20-what-are-the-top-10-higher-ed-tech-issues-of-2016?utm_content=buffer65845&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buff

When Turning Your Class Into a Game Is the Only Option

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2016-01-17-when-turning-your-class-into-a-game-is-the-only-option?utm_content=buffer7cb5d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Edutopia | K-12 Education Tips & Strategies That Work

www.edutopia.org/

Edutopia

Working to improve public schools with resources, tools, and solutions for teachers, administrators, and parents.

12 Awesome Edtech Apps

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/12-awesome-edtech-apps-vicki-davis

TeachThought

http://www.teachthought.com/about/

We are dedicated to supporting educators in innovation in teaching and learning for a 21st century audience. This starts with ideas and resources for K-20 teachers through our site, and extends to our design of school models, learning models, curriculum, technology, apps, and other learning tools through collaborations with other organizations.

How To Save Time Teaching With Technology

http://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/46-tips-save-time-teaching-technology/

EdScoop

edscoop.com/

EdScoop is aimed at helping K-12 and higher education leaders and technology directors keep ahead of the rapid technology changes impacting school.

10 tips for winning school technology grants

http://edscoop.com/top-10-tips-for-school-districts-to-apply-for-tech-grants

Free Technology for Teachers

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/

The best free sites and apps for teachers and students.Google Books for Teachers and Students

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2016/01/google-books-for-teachers-and-students.html#.VqA1llkY04A

Reading Rockets

www.readingrockets.org/

Offers strategies, lessons,activities and ideas designed to help young children learn to read.

8 Reliable Sources Share Apps That Create Access to Curriculum Content Across Grade Levels

http://www.readingrockets.org/blogs/aiming-access/8-reliable-sources-share-apps-create-access-curriculum-content-across-grade?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ReadingRockets_StrugglingReaders+%28Reading+Rockets%3A+Struggling+Reader+Resources%29

Understood

https://www,understood.org

A Resource For Parents of Children with Learning and Attention Issues.

Checklist: What to Consider When Looking at Assistive Technology

https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/assistive-technology/finding-an-assistive-technology/checklist-what-to-consider-when-looking-at-assistive-technology

8 Examples of Assistive Technology and Adaptive Tools

https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/assistive-technology/assistive-technologies-basics/8-examples-of-assistive-technology-and-adaptive-tools

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Aww Garsh--Love Songs For Valentine's Day #3

Paul McCartney and Jane Asher (his muse for this song.)

The Beatles - Here, There and Everywhere (Mono) Revolver

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMAf4Uq9mrs

To lead a better life
I need my love to be here

Here, making each day of the year
Changing my life with a wave of her hand
Nobody can deny that there's something there

There, running my hands through her hair
Both of us thinking how good it can be
Someone is speaking, but she doesn't know he's there

I want her everywhere
And if she's beside me I know I need never care
But to love her is to need her

Everywhere, knowing that love is to share
Each one believing that love never dies
Watching their eyes and hoping I'm always there

I want her everywhere
And if she's beside me I know I need never care
But to love her is to need her

Everywhere, knowing that love is to share
Each one believing that love never dies
Watching their eyes and hoping I'm always there

I will be there, and everywhere
Here, there and everywhere

Educational Links 1/22/16

[Infographic] Universal Skills Young Students Should Possess - by Jackie Gerstein

http://edtechreview.in/trends-insights/insights/1782-infographic-universal-skills-young-students-should-possess-by-jackie-gerstein?utm_content=bufferbb943&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Equity vs. Equality: 6 Steps Toward Equity

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/equity-vs-equality-shane-safir

I Have a Dream for Special Education

http://www.specialeducationadvisor.com/i-have-a-dream-for-special-education/

Pupils with mental health problems face 'stigma and discrimination'

https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/pupils-mental-health-problems-face-stigma-and-discrimination

The Three Key Mistakes Teacher-Leaders Make

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teacher_leader_voices/2016/01/the_three_key_mistakes_teacher.html?cmp=SOC-EDIT-FB

8 Reliable Sources Share Apps That Create Access to Curriculum Content Across Grade Levels

http://www.readingrockets.org/blogs/aiming-access/8-reliable-sources-share-apps-create-access-curriculum-content-across-grade?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ReadingRockets_StrugglingReaders+%28Reading+Rockets%3A+Struggling+Reader+Resources%29

Major Changes Coming to the SAT

http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2016-01-21/last-run-for-current-sat-this-week-new-one-debuts-in-march?src=usn_fb

The current version of the SAT college entrance exam has its final run this weekend, when hundreds of thousands of students nationwide will sit, squirm or stress through the nearly four-hour reading, writing and math test. A new revamped version debuts in March.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Aww Garsh--Love Songs for Valentine's Day #2

ALFALFA - Let Me Call You Sweetheart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8fykuW4IHk

Educational Links 1/21/16

What Powers the Modern Classroom? [#Infographic]

http://www.edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2016/01/modern-classroom-infographic?utm_content=buffer9bd0c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&

Arts Integration, Special Education & ELLs: A Recipe for Success

https://www.teachingchannel.org/blog/2014/12/11/arts-integration-special-education-getty/

Google Books for Teachers and Students - A Guide

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2016/01/google-books-for-teachers-and-students.html#.VqA1llkY04A

What Are the Top 10 Higher Ed Tech Issues of 2016?

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2016-01-20-what-are-the-top-10-higher-ed-tech-issues-of-2016?utm_content=buffer65845&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

How Does It Feel To Have Reading Issues?

https://www.understood.org/en/tools/through-your-childs-eyes/player?simq=c07181bd-05a5-466c-aaa0-f54146a9d844&gradeId=9f2dc7e9-f5f4-466c-9474-dd12215662fc&personalized=true

A Project-Based Learning Spectrum: 25 Questions To Guide Your PBL Planning

http://www.teachthought.com/learning/project-based-learning/a-project-based-learning-spectrum-25-questions-to-guide-your-pbl-planning/?utm_campaign=trueAnthem&utm_content=56a0234304d3011df021c13f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

Teaching Reading Comprehension and Comprehension Strategies

http://www.readingrockets.org/blogs/shanahan-literacy/teaching-reading-comprehension-and-comprehension-strategies

Creating #InclusiveSpaces in Education

http://emilygover.com/2016/01/18/creating-inclusivespaces-in-education/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=USCRossier-InclusiveSpaces

Feeding the Teacher's Brain: Nutrition Tips for Busy Educators

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/nutrition-tips-for-busy-educators-donna-wilson-marcus-conyers?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20EdutopiaNewContent%20%28Edutopia%29

A teacher doesn't have to be a perfectionist to get sucked into a 70 hour work week. A teacher is a teacher 24-7 just by definition of working with students--maybe we should be paid a consulting fee for using our expertise on problem solving; thinking about the kids away from school. We do that even in our sleep. Ever dream about class? Be realistic, demand a life for yourself and your family. - See more at: http://melanielinktaylor.mzteachuh.org/2015/09/is-teaching-good-for-you-yes-and-no.html#sthash.l2vKqaFh.dpuf

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Aww Garsh--Love Songs for Valentine's Day #1

Study for a Variant, Adobe, Wassily Kandinsky 1936

Peter, Paul and Mary - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6x3mRbZo3k

The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and stars were the gifts you gave
To the dark and the empty skies my love
To the dark and the empty skies.

The first time ever I kissed your mouth
I felt the earth move in my hand
Like the trembling heart of a captive bird
That was there at my command my love
That was there at my command.

The first time ever I held you near
And felt your heartbeat close to mine
I thought our joy would fill the world
And would last till the end of time my love
And would last till the end of time.

MzTeachuh: Teaching Is Trying Everything To Get Through

MzTeachuh: Teaching Is Trying Everything To Get Through: 1. Teaching and Learning Methods and Strategies http://www.ic.arizona.edu/ic/edtech/strategy.html#Col 2. Student-Centered ...

MzTeachuh: Reflets dans l'eau--Reflections in the Water

MzTeachuh: Reflets dans l'eau--Reflections in the Water: Water Lilies, Monet There's more than one kind of reflection: thoughtful reflections are dynamic, too. Debussy, Reflets d...

Educational Links 1/20/16

What Would Accountability Without Standardized Tests Look Like?

http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/09/18/what-would-accountability-without-standardized-tests-look-like/

History, Empathy, Systems Thinking, and Gaming

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/history-empathy-systems-thinking-gaming-matthew-farber

Overcoming Burnout: Why Overwhelmed Is the New Normal and What to Do About It - PART I

http://www.bamradionetwork.com/teachers-aid/2053-overcoming-burnout-why-overwhelmed-is-the-new-normal-and-what-to-do-about-it

8 ways teachers can talk less and get kids talking more

http://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/2014/09/8-ways-teachers-can-talk-less-get-kids-talking.html

Response: Manage Classrooms Through 'Positive Relationships'

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/classroom_qa_with_larry_ferlazzo/2016/01/response_manage_classrooms_through_positive_relationships.html

Classroom observations may hurt teachers more than they help, study says

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2016/01/19/classroom-observations-may-hurt-teachers-more-than-they-help-study-says/

“When information about teacher performance does not reflect a teacher’s practice, but rather the students to whom the teacher is assigned, such systems are at risk of misidentifying and mislabeling teacher performance,” Steinberg and Garrett wrote.

By Laura Devaney

The Sky Is Cheap Entertainment: View All Five Visible Planets At Once This Month!

A great drama unfolds in the predawn sky throughout January, 2016. By the month’s end, all five visible planets will appear simultaneously before dawn.

Five Planets Will Be Visible for the First Time in Over a Decade

http://www.weather.com/science/space/news/all-five-bright-planets-visible-from-earth?cm_ven=FB_SCI_JK_11916_6

January 2016 guide to the five visible planets

http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn-mercury

Very cool classical music to go along with the view.

Gustav Holst- The Planets, Full Suite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isic2Z2e2xs

Monday, January 18, 2016

Educational Links 1/19/16

http://dyslexiamylife.org/help.html

12 Tips to Help Kids With Dyslexia Learn Sight Words

https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/dyslexia/12-tips-to-help-kids-with-dyslexia-learn-sight-words?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=understoodorg

10 tips for winning school technology grants

http://edscoop.com/top-10-tips-for-school-districts-to-apply-for-tech-grants

Ep. 17: Most Likely To Succeed – The Purpose and Possibility Of Our Schools

http://www.teachthought.com/podcast/ep-17-most-likely-to-succeed-the-purpose-possibility-of-our-schools/

Mid-Year Reflection: Setting PD Goals

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/mid-year-reflection-setting-pd-goals-monica-burns?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20EdutopiaNewContent%20%28Edutopia%29

Libraries of the Future: Where Trends Are Taking K-12 Public School Libraries

http://www.theedadvocate.org/libraries-of-the-future-where-trends-are-taking-k-12-public-school-libraries/

Why Learning Innovation Can’t Come From Teachers Alone

http://www.teachthought.com/the-future-of-learning/disruption-innovation/why-learning-innovation-cant-come-from-teachers-alone/?utm_content=569d561904d3010fb3940553

Debunking the Myths and Clarifying the Misconceptions about Growth Mindset

http://www.bamradionetwork.com/student-centric-strategies/3628-debunking-the-myths-and-clarifying-the-misconception-about-growth-mindset

Leverage the “Fresh Start Effect” To Generate Motivation

http://anniemurphypaul.com/2016/01/leverage-the-fresh-start-effect-to-generate-motivation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=leverage-the-fresh-start-effect-to-generate-motivation

And here’s something about resolutions that you probably didn’t know: You can use them in conjunction what psychologists call “the fresh start effect” to effectively generate motivation throughout the year.

Annie Murphy Paul

Cheesy Jokes and Serious Thoughts for Valentine's Day

What did the boy bird say to the girl bird?

Garfield is one of my closest friends. The alarm goes off around 4:30 am, I reach for the laptop and see what Garfield is up to. As a substitute teacher, I would bribe the class with his jokes. I'd draw his picture on the board, put the questions to the riddle up and tell the kids I wouldn't give them the punchline unless...the whole class could be complete 15 minutes of work, or be good until recess, or clean up the class. Whatever needed to be done. The rascaliest students really wanted the joke, so everyone would cooperate. I told them I wasn't sure if it was even legal to keep a punchline from them, it seemed like cruel and unusual punishment (but I never had to withhold a punchline ever.) Humor is a great break in the authoritarian regimen; and puns do teach language arts in their multiple meaning words. Oh, the punchline: let me call you Tweetheart. Maybe to be current I should change the riddle to, 'What did the boy bird text to the girl bird?'

Let me call you Tweetheart.

http://med.stanford.edu/ism/2012/january/reiss.html
“Humor is a very important component of emotional health, maintaining relationships, developing cognitive function and perhaps even medical health,” said Allan Reiss, MD, who directs the Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research at Stanford. Most of us know the ancient proverb, 'A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.' Leave it to Stanford to use an MRI to prove it! They hooked up kids and showed them funny and nonfunny material. I wonder how these jokes would do.

If you don't like cheese, don't read these!

Here is some more silly:

Did you hear about the romance in the tropical fish tank?
It was a case of guppy love.
What did one piece of string say to the other piece of string?
Please be my valentwine!
What did the French chef give his wife for Valentine's Day?
A hug and a quiche.
What did the farmer give his wife for Valentine's Day?
Hogs and kisses.
What did Frankenstein ask his girlfriend?
Won't you be my Valenstein?

What is serious about this holiday is that some of our students are in difficult circumstances due to stressors in their families. They can't write a valentine to mom or dad or other relatives. They may be in the middle of a family break up, in foster care, or suffered a great loss. Our job is to be aware of this, first of all, and maybe have an additional activity to take the edge off the intensity of the student's actual life. Maybe valentines to mail to troops overseas, or to a local nursing home or hospital. Maybe a writing project to write an anecdote of a time someone showed kindness and love to the student. This could be emotional, but also cathartic. Life is tough, and the facade of the perfect family life is very difficult at times for many kids. Recalling a time of warmth and stability can be a positive moment on a dark day. I've had unique class situations where we could share such a writing project in discussion, and the other students were very supportive.

Thanks, Garfield and other silly souls for
keeping it real. Real silly.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Stanford - "The other America" 1967

Teachable Moment: Letter from Birmingham Jail


Published to celebrate the unveiling of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial on August 28, 2011 in Washington, DC. The silk screen comes with a 52 page book depicting why MLK wrote the "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" response in 1963.http://www.itsfreeart.com/serigraph-reproductions/letter-from-birmingham-jail