Saturday, March 5, 2016

It’s a well-established problem that too few blacks and Hispanics, and too few women of all colors, pursue degrees and careers in the sciences. And much research has gone into why minority students aren’t taking as many science classes in high school, and later in college, as their white counterparts do. Wonks call it the “leaky STEM pipeline,” referring to all the students who leave science, technology, engineering and math as they progress through their educational careers.
But a new study indicates that the STEM pipeline might have a giant hole in it far earlier than many of us ever thought: before kindergarten.

Two Irish Mums Won the Nobel Peace Prize

The Peace People Rally, Ireland, Betty Williams and Maireed Corrigan

'The Troubles' in Ireland are well know, conflict between two demographics (Catholic and Protestant) that share the same religous root: Christianity. Its been going on since Cromwell. But a lesser known fact is that two Irish mums won the 1976 Nobel Peace Prize for beginning a Peace Movement in Northern Ireland to combat the carnage.

To quote the Nobel Committee in 1976: We admire Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan for tackling so fearlessly the perilous task of leading the way into no-man's land, in the cause of peace and reconciliation.

Mairead (Corrigan) Maguire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mairead_Maguire

'Gandhi taught that nonviolence does not mean passivity. No. It is the most daring, creative, and courageous way of living, and it is the only hope for our world. Nonviolence is an active way of life which always rejects violence and killing, and instead applies the force of love and truth as a means to transform conflict and the root causes of conflict. Nonviolence demands creativity. It pursues dialogue, seeks reconciliation, listens to the truth in our opponents, rejects militarism, and allows God's spirit to transform us socially and politically. '

Maireed Corrigan Maquire

Betty Williams

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Williams_%28Nobel_laureate%29

"That first week will always be remembered of course for something else besides the birth of the Peace People. For those most closely involved, the most powerful memory of that week was the death of a young republican and the deaths of three children struck by the dead man's car. A deep sense of frustration at the mindless stupidity of the continuing violence was already evident before the tragic events of that sunny afternoon of August 10, 1976. But the deaths of those four young people in one terrible moment of violence caused that frustration to explode, and create the possibility of a real peace movement...As far as we are concerned, every single death in the last eight years, and every death in every war that was ever fought represents life needlessly wasted, a mother's labour spurned."

Betty Williams

Friday, March 4, 2016

Educational Links 3/5/16

15 Questions To Help Students Respond To New Ideas

http://www.teachthought.com/critical-thinking/questioning/15-questions-help-students-respond-to-new-ideas/?utm_campaign=trueAnthem&utm_content=56da254204d30107247172d6&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

Matching Edtech Products With Neurological Learning Goals

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/edtech-products-neurological-learning-goals-judy-willis?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

5 More Facts About the White House and Michelle Obama's Free ‘Open eBooks’ App

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2016-03-04-3-more-facts-about-the-white-house-and-michelle-obama-s-free-open-ebooks-app?utm_content=buffer5e69e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Personalized Learning Isn't About Isolation

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2016/02/24/personalized-learning-isnt-about-isolation.html?cmp=SOC-EDIT-FB

[Infographic] How Personality Differences Affect Learning

http://edtechreview.in/news/1133-one-style-does-not-fit-all-how-personality-differences-affect-learning?utm_content=buffere7fc3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Enriching Early Childhood Experiences by Integrating the Arts

http://www.realcleareducation.com/articles/2016/02/24/enriching_early_childhood_experiences_by_integrating_the_arts__1266.html

Arts-integrated teaching taps into children’s innate desire for active learning through the senses. By singing, dancing, imagining, and connecting their bodies and minds, children learn more deeply and meaningfully, including and especially in math and science. The arts, in other words, are proven tools to fuel children’s critical thinking skills as they become invested in, and excited about, learning.

Arvind Manocha

Irish STEM and Other Surprises for St. Patrick's Day

'When most people think of Ireland’s cultural heritage

they think of things like ‘The Island of Saints and Scholars’,

The Book of Kells, our great writers,

Irish music, and so on. Ireland has little by way of a scientific

heritage – right? Wrong.' So begins a great article by William

Reville, University College, Cork.

IRELAND’S SCIENTIFIC HERITAGE

http://understandingscience.ucc.ie/pages/irishscientists.htm

Robert Boyle

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Boyle

Lots happening in Ireland to inspire the use of good Irish minds in

STEM, not just poetry,

ballades and folklore.

Science & Technology

http://www.rds.ie/science

Irish teens win Google science fair with bacteria-enhanced

plant growth

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=144164404330

3616609#postsstats

Irish 16-year-olds Ciara Judge, Sophie Healy-Thow

and Emer Hickey

Dublin Science Festival - 'The Festival of Curiosity'

http://www.rds.ie/cat_project_detail.jsp?itemID=1100297

What attracts big tech companies to Ireland? Hint:

It’s not just low taxes

http://thenextweb.com/insider/2011/11/26/what-attracts-big-tech-companies-

to-ireland-hint-its-

not-just-low-taxes/

I am not at all surprised by discovering brilliant Irish women and men both in

STEM areas.

I had years of Catholic school and they were the best math teachers I ever had, Sister Gertrude,

Sisters of Mercy, in particular.

William Rowan Hamilton

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Rowan_Hamilton

Lucy Everest Boole (1862-1905)

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/life-society/science-

technology/irish-scientists/lucy-everest-boole-%281862-/

Irish politics is no surprise. I don't condone violence, Jesus said He

'came to save mens' lives not

destroy them.' Luke 9:46.

That being said, here is a St. Patrick's Day surprise I had this week

while researching.

I remember the news report of Bobby Sands back in the 80s. But I hadn't watched the biographical

movie 'Hunger' 2008 directed by Steve McQueen

(12 Years A Slave, Oscar winner) which I did. It is not for the feint hearted. Actor Michael

Fassbender lost 40 pounds to portray the hunger strike in

Maze Prison. It is critically acclaimed. Earns the R rating.

Hunger (2008 film)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunger_%282008_film%29

What I didn't know was that Bobby Sands was also a poet and author, and elected to Parliament

while on the hunger strike. Nelson Mandela references

him as an inspiration.

Bobby Sands

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Sands

Bobby Sands--Writings from Prison

http://www.sinnfeinbookshop.com/bobby-sands-writings-from-prison/

Poems of Bobbly Sands

http://www.poemhunter.com/bobby-sands/

Prison Diary

http://www.bobbysandstrust.com/writings/prison-diary

Peace Activists Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan in 1976

In 1976, two Irish mums won the Nobel Peace Prize

for organizing a peace movement in the middle of

'TheTroubles' in Northern Ireland.

Nobel Laureate Betty Williams reflects on a

lifetime of work for

peace and children’s rights

http://www.womanchangemaker.net/article/nobel-laureate

-betty-williams-reminisces-on-a-

lifetime-of-work-for-peace-and-childrens-rights/

Another St. Paddy's Day surprise for some of you--Rock N Roll's darlings, U2 and their mighty

hit about 'The Troubles.'

U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv5U0A10hrI

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Educational Links 3/4/16

Letting Students Lead the Learning

http://catlintucker.com/2016/03/students-lead-learning/

Cultivating Food and Life Lessons

https://www.fix.com/blog/kids-gardening-for-health-and-fun/

The Writing Recipe: Essay Structure for ELLs

https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/ell-essay-structure-lesson

5 Things We Can do to Prepare Students to Work Independently

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2015/12/5-things-we-can-do-to-prepare-students.html#.VtkD5NAz4s4

How Meds Affect Personality

http://www.additudemag.com/q&a/ask_the_add_medical_expert/1577.html

Note-Taking Is Becoming a Lost Art, So I Decided to Do Something About It

http://www.weareteachers.com/blogs/post/2016/03/03/note-taking-is-becoming-a-lost-art-so-i-decided-to-do-something-about-it

How Could the Presidential Transition Affect ESSA Implementation?

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2016/03/how_could_the_presidential_tra.html?cmp=SOC-EDIT-FB

The law doesn't go fully into effect until the 2017-18 school year, which means that Congress may have wanted the next president to have some say in implementation, according to Diane Stark Rentner, the deputy director of the Center on Education Policy.

Alyson Klein

Women's History-Is There Much?

Malala

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/03/womens-history-month-malala.html?spref=bl

Boudicca

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/03/womens-history-month-boudicca.html

Farrah Fawcett

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/03/womens-history-month-farrah-fawcett.html

Abigail Adams

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/03/womens-history-month-abigail-adams.html

Rosie the Riveter

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/03/womens-history-month-rosie-riveter.html

The Bronte Sisters

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/03/womens-history-month-bronte-sisters.html

Marian Anderson

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/03/womens-history-month-marian-anderson.html

India's Mother भारत मा

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/03/womens-history-month-indias-mother.html

'I Paint Flowers So They Won't Die.' So said Frida

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/03/womens-history-month-i-paint-flowers-so.html

Music for Women's History: You Don't Own Me

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/03/music-for-womens-history-you-dont-own-me.html

Women's History Month: Women Scientists--Here are Some Great Posters

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/03/womens-history-month-women-scientists.html

Condoleeza Rice

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/03/womens-history-month-condoleeza-ric

http://www.amightygirl.com/

This is an excellent website for all things mighty girl.

Teaching Is Understanding Child Development

1. Child Development Tracker

Use the Child Development Tracker to get insights on the stages of growth.
http://www.pbs.org/parents/child-development

2. Child Development

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/index.html

3. T. Berry Brazelton, M.D.

http://www.brazelton-institute.com/berrybio.html

4. Middle Childhood Development

http://www.childdevelopmentmedia.com/middle-childhood-development.html

5. Developmental Issues With Pre-Adolescents

6. Adolescent Stages of Development

http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/child-development/teens_stages.shtml

7. Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development

http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au/education/DLiT/2000/Piaget/stages.htm

I like Piaget and his beret.

MzTeachuh's Classroom: Indoor Classroom Activities for Winter

MzTeachuh's Classroom: Indoor Classroom Activities for Winter: Lesson Plans for January http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plans/free-lesson-plans January Units, Lesson Plans & Activit...

Irish Prayers and Blessings

I understand this sentiment, but I wouldn't ever pray it.

This is my favorite!

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Educational Links 3/3/16

Seating Arrangements with Work Stations

https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/seating-arrangements

Why The Teacher’s Pet Resembles The Teacher

http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/02/24/why-the-teachers-pet-often-resembles-the-teacher/

[Tips for Teachers] Best Practices for Digital Citizenship

http://edtechreview.in/trends-insights/trends/1142-best-practices-for-digital-citizenship?utm_content=buffer7ab4c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Making Independent Reading Work

http://www.readingrockets.org/article/making-independent-reading-work?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ReadingRockets_TeachingReading+%28Reading+Rockets%3A+Teaching+Reading+Resources%29

Experts Say Measuring Non-Cognitive Skills Won’t Work, But Districts Still Try

http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2016/03/02/experts-say-measuring-non-cognitive-skills-wont-work-but-districts-still-try/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FnHAK+%28MindShift%29

What Happens When Students Are Exceptional At Nothing?

http://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/happens-students-graduate-exceptional-nothing/

By definition, most people are average at most things. We’d like to all think our children are exceptional, but if everyone is exceptional, no one is exceptional. In most ways on most days, you and I are just like everybody else. We are both are probably average teachers, average drivers, average cooks, and average parents.

Cheesy Jokes and Serious Thoughts for St. Patrick's Day

We're all Irish on St. Patrick's Day--and since the Irish diaspora was over 600 years long, and the Irish lived long and prospered wherever there was a Catholic church worldwide--it's probably true we're all Irish. Geneticists say that Genghis Khan was the foremost contributor to Y chromosomes worldwide, followed by O' Neill of the Nine Hostages (Irish).
My grandmother was completely Irish, her mother immigrating from the Old Sod, so I have been successfully indoctrinated about the Isle of Saints and Scholars. Trust me, no demeaning stereotypical jokes about the Irish in my growing up. Sister Francis Eileen, O.P., was the principal of St. Louis Bertrand's School in Oakland, California, and her lilting Irish brogue came over the P.A. system every morning. She was cool, all the nuns I had were cool; I never had a negative experience in parochial school. Many were from Ireland, many were Irish Americans like my sainted grandmother. And I was in that school both when John F. Kennedy ran for president, was elected, and was assassinated. Powerful stuff.

I am so thankful I didn't have to unlearn prejudice and bias--my Oakland elementary school was perfect. The only almost-bias I had to unlearn was that not everyone was from my church.

http://www.tolerance.org/hiddenbias

I was stunned when I heard my first negative joke about the Irish. Didn't they realize we saved western civilization?
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/cahill/irish.html

The Isle of Saints and Scholars-to be sure

And I didn't even say, "Pog Mo Thoin." Which shows a lot of maturity and restraint.

Ethnic jokes and teasing are a form of bullying--so kids and adults really need to knock it off. Are we that desperate to feel superior? The quiet kid in the back of the room won't be able to stand up for herself in the midst of biased-based laughter. Bullying includes those jokes about physical appearance, churches, where you're from, and let's throw in sports teams since kids are so sensitive about them. Kids should have the right to be in school without bullying or humiliation of any type. Grown-ups, too.

So, anyway, here are the jokes. (That's pretty Irish of me: stick up for the underdog and then tell jokes.)

Green, and Garfield provides the orange

How did the leprechaun get to the moon?

In a shamrocket.

Why is Ireland like a bottle of wine?

Because it has a Cork in it.

What would you get if you crossed a leprechaun with a Texan?

A pot of chili at the end of the rainbow.

No relation to Bono. Or the Edge.

What kind of music does a leprechaun band play?
Shamrock and roll.

What do you call a leprechaun's vacation home in Fort Lauderdale?

A lepre-condo.

Love Irish music. O'Sullivan's March, The Chieftans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vffqnYUyFVQ
My gggrandmother (later immigrated to Kansas) was a Sullivan leaving from Cork in 1844, and who survived a coffin ship to Grosse Isle Quebec.

Top o the mornin' to ya, from Betty O'Boop

Teachable Moment: How the Irish Saved Western Civilization

Finnian of Clonard imparting his blessing to the "Twelve Apostles of Ireland"

1. Who Saved Civilization? The Irish, That's Who!
http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/03/09/bsp/irish.html

2. Hearts And Minds Aflame For Christ: Irish Monks—A Model For Making All Things New in the 21st Century
http://www.cslewis.org/journal/hearts-and-minds-aflame-for-christ-irish-monks%E2%80%94a-model-for-making-all-things-new-in-the-21st-century/

THE REAPPEARANCE OF THE TEXTS OF THE
CLASSICS http://www.tertullian.org/articles/clark_reappearance.htm

3. It Takes a Monk to Save a Civilization
http://chalcedon.edu/research/articles/it-takes-a-monk-to-save-a-civilization/

4. Europe and the Irish Monks
http://www.saint-brendan.org/news.asp?p=europe-and-the-irish-monks-by-enzo-farinella

5. St. Columbanus, Missionary to Europe