Educational Links 5/28/17

Spotlight on literacy: What educators need to know

http://www.educationdive.com/news/spotlight-on-literacy-what-educators-need-to-know/442295/

Can After-School Programs Benefit Students' Social and Emotional Health?

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/urban_education_reform/2017/05/can_after_school_programs_benefit_students_social_and_emotional_health_in_louisville.html?cmp=SOC-EDIT-FB

New Resources On Ramadan

https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2017/05/27/new-resources-on-ramadan/

Teaching Strategies: Use Cooperative Learning to Stimulate Class Discussions

http://www.teachhub.com/teaching-strategies-use-cooperative-learning-stimulate-class-discussions 

Types of Learning Disabilities

 http://www.understandingspecialeducation.com/learning-disorders.html

Cultural Activities Matter

http://www.specialneedsdigest.com/2017/05/cultural-activity-matters.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FLUdSt+%28Special+Needs+Digest%29

16 APPS THAT SUPPORT THE CREATIVE PROCESS

http://www.theedadvocate.org/16-apps-support-creative-process/

Creativity is more than the ability to paint a pretty picture; it is a way in which original ideas are born and how they take form. It is about pushing boundaries, solving problems and bringing together skills in unique ways.  In a recent poll, 60% of CEO’s agreed that creativity was the most important skill to have in the workplace. With that in mind, it is important that we start turning to technology to facilitates the creative process. Through technology, we are not only offered new mediums but ways in which to organize our thoughts. Below are 16 apps that will support the creative process for both artists and big thinkers.

Hot Fun In The Summertime

Hot Fun In The Summertime 

End of the spring and here she comes back 

Hi, hi, hi, hi there  

Them summer days, those summer days
That's when I had most of my fun back  

Hi, hi, hi, hi there  

Them summer days, those summer days
I 'Cloud nine' when I want to 

Out of school, yeah 

County fair in the country sun  

And everything, it's true, ooh, yeah, yeah
Hot fun in the summertime Hot fun in the summertime  

Hot fun in the summertime  Hot fun in the summertime
First of the fall and then she goes back 

Bye, bye, bye, bye there  

Them summer days, those summer days
'Boop-boop-ba-boop-boop' when I want to Out of school 

 County fair in the country sun 

And everything, it's cool, ooh, yeah
Hot fun in the summertime Hot fun in the summertime 

Hot fun in the summertime

Sly & the Family Stone - Hot Fun in the Summertime 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ahhmiuyko0 

This would be the San Diego County Fair at Del Mar. I still maintain that if you're visiting one city in America, make it San Diego.

 

Summer Activity: Can You Swim?

Olympic Gold Medal Winner Cullen Jones and the Make a Splash Initiative http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/USA/34367.asp?q=Water-Safety-Make-a-Splash-Tour-Featuring-Cullen-Jones-Hits-New-York

Swimming is so much fun--as close to flying as you can imagine. But lots of kids don't have instruction in swimming and water safety. And, btw, grown-ups, do you swim? Or do you just sit by the pool/lake/river/ocean and watch the kids have fun? Let's get with it! Just for safety's sake if nothing else. And girls and ladies, wet hair shouldn't deter you. There are caps, if desired. Sunburn shouldn't deter you--wear a tee shirt and waterproof sunblock, and watch the time. Find a cool summer hat. Too fat, too skinny? Who cares. And if you swim enough, it will give you a marvelous, smooth, muscular bod, and improve your physical and mental health amazingly. Mostly,  IT IS JUST SO MUCH FUN! And we're not even discussing games, sports, and activities involving water. Here is some inspiration to learn:

Simone Manuel,, USA 2016

"The gold medal wasn't just for me. It was for people that came before me and inspired me to stay in the sport. For people who believe that they can't do it. I hope I'm an inspiration to others to get out there and try swimming. You might be pretty good at it."

See girls, swim caps can look cute.

Water Safety Make a Splash Tour Featuring Cullen Jones Hits New York

http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/USA/34367.asp?q=Water-Safety-Make-a-Splash-Tour-Featuring-Cullen-Jones-Hits-New-York 

The Importance Of Swimming Lessons For Safety, Health and Enjoyment

http://www.enjoy-swimming.com/importance-of-swimming.html 

17 yr old Lia Neal wins Olympic swim medal

Why Is It Important to Know How to Swim?

http://www.livestrong.com/article/457393-why-is-it-important-to-know-how-to-swim/ 

5 reasons swimming lessons are important for older kids and tweens

http://www.chicagonow.com/tween-us/2013/10/tween-pool-swimming-lessons/ 

Confidence in the water--oh yeah.

Disabled Swimmers Gus and Nia Swimming at Northern Arena 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcCs9nWl7ZY 

What's Good About Being a Swimmer

http://swimming.about.com/od/swimworkouts/a/swim_benefit.htm 

 

What's good about being a swimmer? Well, guys, you can look like Michael Phelps. http://www.michaelphelpsfoundation.org/

 

Educational Links 5/27/17

For These Families, Vouchers Bring A Needed Change

http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/05/22/527632904/homeschooling-makes-learning-personal-for-some-special-education-students?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20170526

Mixed Emotions on Trump's Education Budget

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/rick_hess_straight_up/2017/05/mixed_emotions_on_trumps_education_budget.html?cmp=soc-edit-fb

Color as You Go Summer Reading Challenge Bookmark

https://www.weareteachers.com/summer-reading-challenge-bookmark/

Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event

https://childmind.org/guide/helping-children-cope-traumatic-event/

Whole-class punishment? That's a war crime, Miss

https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/whole-class-punishment-thats-a-war-crime-miss

Practical Ed Tech Handbook 2017 - From the Archive

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/

Life Isn’t Fair, But Education Should Be

http://teachthought.com/pedagogy/education-system-teaching-action-learning-process/?utm_content=bufferce2f9&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Let’s take a moment to separate some ideas that get confused.   As a backdrop, let’s consider that there is inherent inaccessibility of education.There is a sentient that those working from disadvantaged positions should adjust—repackage themselves to find “success” working with a “thing” not designed for them.    It’s a fair argument that has as its evidence the continued expenditure of billions of dollars to push that “thing’s” lifeless body along in spite of itself. 

But it’s unfair to call education lethargic or fat or unresponsive without calling ourselves out in the process. Education can never be untangled from society. That’s where academia and corporate/industrialist thought gets you.

Educational Links 5/26/17

A Powerful Way to End the School Year

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/powerful-way-to-end-school-year-donna-wilson-marcus-conyers?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20EdutopiaNewContent%20%28Edutopia%29

Summer must! 5 ways to support struggling readers

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/05/05/summer-support-struggling-readers/

Six Great Tool For Creating Classroom Newspapers

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2017/05/6-great-tools-for-creating-classroom.html

Here Come the Tears: Why I Cry at the End of Every School Year

https://www.weareteachers.com/saying-goodbye-to-students/

Do Teachers Belong in the Schoolhouse or on the School Board?

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/edugeek_guide/2017/05/do_teachers_belong_in_the_scho.html?utm_content=buffer59ca3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

27 Signs You Have Dyspraxia, aka Developmental Coordination Disorder

https://www.bustle.com/p/27-signs-you-have-dyspraxia-aka-developmental-coordination-disorder-58912

PBL and STEAM Education: A Natural Fit

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/pbl-and-steam-natural-fit-andrew-miller?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20EdutopiaNewContent%20%28Edutopia%29

Both project-based learning and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) education are growing rapidly in our schools. Some schools are doing STEAM, some are doing PBL, and some are leveraging the strengths of both. Both PBL and STEAM help schools target rigorous learning and problem solving. As many teachers know, STEAM education isn't just the course content—it’s the process of being scientists, mathematicians, engineers, artists, and technological entrepreneurs. Here are some ways that PBL and STEAM can complement each other in your classroom and school.

Barbeque or Cookout?

So, you call it barbeque or cookout? Maybe grilling.

We've always called it barbeque. Maybe its a western thing. Mesquite wood, secret recipe barbeque sauce.

I'm surprised there's not a cooking show called Barbeque Wars.

Here in the desert, don't have to worry so much about bugs--Avon's Skin So Soft is a great insect repellant, BTW. 
And if you are a vegetarian, don't ever feel left out. Apparently anything can be barbequed.

The All-American Tofu dog.

Had to put up something offbeat. Barbequed salad?

http://home.lifegoesstrong.com/slideshow/offbeat-food-cook-grill-slideshow-image/offbeat-food-cook-grill-salad

Here's some music to barbeque by:

God Bless the USA, and anything by the Boss.

I'm proud to be an American - American Soldier Tribute 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZZf619DIpo 

 Bruce Springsteen - Born In The U.S.A. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZD4ezDbbu4 

Educational Links 5/25/17

4 wireless network goals for schools

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/05/03/4-wireless-network-goals-schools/

[Self-Test] Could Your Child Have an Executive Function Deficit?

https://www.additudemag.com/screener-executive-function-deficit-symptoms-test-children/

I hear too many stories of teachers being left in tears

https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-views/i-hear-too-many-stories-teachers-being-left-tears-academy-chain

The Myth of the Brain/Body Dichotomy

http://corwin-connect.com/2017/05/myth-brainbody-dichotomy/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=socialnetwork

Using Guided Relaxation in the Classroom

https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/guided-relaxation

Here's What Betsy DeVos Said Wednesday On Capitol Hill

http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/05/24/529707712/here-s-what-betsy-devos-said-today-on-capitol-hill?

Qualified teachers are choosing not to teach in our schools — I am one of them

http://hechingerreport.org/qualified-teachers-choosing-not-teach-schools-one/

We must care for the teachers in our lives, helping them attend to the stress that comes with the job of caring for young people living in, often, adverse conditions.  Finally, it is time to say thank you to teachers and celebrate their contributions to our communities the way we acknowledge, celebrate and compensate first responders, professional athletes, actors and pop stars.

Wherefore, Oh Summer's Day?

Kindergartener's portrait of Emily Dickinson after reading this poem.

The bee is not afraid of me.

I know the butterfly -

The pretty people in the Woods

Receive me cordially -

The Brooks laugh louder

When I come -

The Breezes madder play;

Wherefore mine eye thy silver mists,

Wherefore, Oh Summer’s Day?

Marine Blue Butterfly in my Butterfly Garden

Bee watering station.

Teacher Burnout--U Gotz It?

1. Teacher Burnout: Four Warning Signs

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/teacher-burnout-four-warning-signs-nicholas-provenzano?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=blog-burnoutsigns 

2. How to Rewire Your Burned-Out Brain: Tips from a Neurologist

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/teacher-burnout-neurology-judy-willis-md

3. Mentorship for New Educators Helps Combat Teacher Burnout, Improve Retention

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/education-july-dec13-teachers_07-04/ 

4. Blogs on Teacher Burnout

http://www.edutopia.org/blogs/tag/teacher-burnout 

5. Staying Healthy and Managing Stress While Teaching

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

6.  5 Stress Reduction Strategies for Teachers

http://www.edubabbling.com/5-stress-reduction-strategies-for-teachers/ 

7.  Staying Healthy in the Classroom - Or Not 

http://www.weac.org/professional_resources/new_teacher_resources/articles/amelia_armstrong/staying_healthy.aspx 

  

Educational Links 5/24/17

Keep It Simple: Do These 4 Things Every Time You Teach
http://teachthought.com/pedagogy/4-ways-keep-students-giving-even-start/?utm_content=buffer4beb6&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

How to discuss the Manchester attack with your pupils

https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/how-discuss-manchester-attack-your-pupils

5 Confusing Signs of Nonverbal Learning Disabilities

https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/nonverbal-learning-disabilities/5-confusing-signs-of-nonverbal-learning-disabilities?view=slideview&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=understoodorg

Ditch the grammar and teach children storytelling instead

https://amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/may/19/ditch-the-grammar-and-teach-children-storytelling-instead

A Solution for Student Disengagement

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/solution-student-disengagement-daniel-oscar

How I’ve Worked With Kids Who Have Self-Control Issues

https://www.understood.org/en/community-events/blogs/expert-corner/2015/05/26/how-ive-worked-with-kids-who-have-self-control-issues?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=understoodorg

8 Tips for Schools Interested in Restorative Justice

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/restorative-justice-tips-for-schools-fania-davis?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

Restorative justice is an effective alternative to punitive responses to wrongdoing. Inspired by indigenous traditions, it brings together persons harmed with persons responsible for harm in a safe and respectful space, promoting dialogue, accountability, and a stronger sense of community. Restorative justice is a philosophical framework that can be applied in a variety of contexts -- the justice system, schools, families, communities, and others.

Educational Links 5/23/17

How Peer Pressure Undermines Success

https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-peer-pressure-undermines-success-youki-terada?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20EdutopiaNewContent%20%28Edutopia%29

Here’s how you tie spending to student outcomes—with big success

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/05/05/tie-spending-student-outcomes/

Head Start Turns 52 Today. Congress Should Protect Its Funding

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2017/05/18/head-start-turns-52-today-congress-should.html?cmp=SOC-EDIT-FB

Creating a Beneficial Gender Diversity in STEM Education

https://globaldigitalcitizen.org/creating-gender-diversity-stem?utm_content=buffer48da6&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

A Cynic’s Guide to EdTech

http://www.thebestschools.org/magazine/cynics-guide-educational-technology/?utm_content=buffer0fdf0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

President Trump's Budget Proposal Calls For Deep Cuts To Education

http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/05/22/529534031/president-trumps-budget-proposal-calls-for-deep-cuts-to-education?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=education

How Stress Changes A Student’s Brain: The Neurology Of ‘Pressure’

http://teachthought.com/learning/stress-changes-students-brain-neurology-pressure/?utm_content=buffere6498&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Stress cuts off students’ access to these networks of higher-order thinking, logic, creative problem solving, and analytical judgment. When there is loss of higher brain control, the lower, reactive brain’s involuntary outputs are in charge. The resulting behaviors are limited to the equivalent of fight/flight/freeze reactions. The student also cannot use the resources of executive functions to understand, evaluate, or apply new learning.

Summer Activity: How Do Your Garden Friends Grow?

A frequent family visitor to my garden on a summer morning.

A tiny garden, a whole farm--size doesn't matter. Creating a lovely habitat for garden critters (including yourself) is a dynamic way to love a summer.

Butterflies, bees, lizards. hummingbirds all become part of the family when you live part of your summer outside in a garden. Kids thrive just like the rollie pollies Pill Bug (Rollie Pollie) http://www.bugfacts.net/pill-bug.php#.U7MWF7GmV5M in a well mulched garden plot. Morning sunrise is a lovely time to see how the garden and its inhabitants are doing. Bird Song Hero http://biology.allaboutbirds.org/bird-song-hero/ Later, during a lunch picnic, your kids' butterfly family will flutter by. Butterflies and Moths of North America http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/

How to Create a Butterfly Garden in a Pot

http://www.hgtv.com/gardening/how-to-create-a-butterfly-garden-in-a-pot/index.html

Kids quickly learn most garden dwellers are not dangerous and are deserving of respect. Kids have a serious vested interest in the environment and can make positive contribution through loving your local bees. Help save our bee population with this easy DIY project!http://www.care2.com/greenliving/help-the-bees-with-this-diy-bee-water-garden.html

Extra credit! Helping bees and growing mint for Mom's summer tea.

A garden is an adventurous place, an eco-system alive and active. Kids know when to leave it alone and just observe. Anyone who eats black widow spiders is welcome in my garden, and these mojave

lizards really love it. They are characters that can win a staring contest. When claiming their territory, they do push ups. It is also good to know what else might be in your garden that's not so innocuous. Living With Wild Reptiles and Amphibians

http://www.californiaherps.com/info/livingwithherps.html 

A garden attracts an exciting variety of birds--your kid will be just as excited about the bird feeder as old great Aunt Maxine--and they will have a lot to talk about! Hummingbirds are curious, funny friends in the garden, finches keep a regular schedule of feeder visits, and around here we even get the occasional roadrunner (beep beep.) Ravens here are so regular in their habits, you can name them.

Backyard Bird Identifierhttp://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/backyard-bird-identifier/

 

The Unloved.

The Loved.

Kids love bugs. Digging around in the garden doing maintenance can transport a child into the marvelous world in the dirt, on the plants. The interrelated lives of garden insects. Good Garden Bugs, the Ten Most Wanted http://www.clean-organized-family-home.com/garden-bugs-good.html#sthash.DE8v0D2E.dpbs 

 

Loving those worms, lacewings, pillbugs, kids joining all the community of the garden.

This is my favorite post, probably because it reminds me of so many lovely visits to the garden. 

Keeping Butterflies, Bees and Hummingbirds Happy 

http://melanielinktaylor.mzteachuh.org/2014/05/summer-activity-keeping-butterflies.html?spref=bl

One Memorial Today

Orvis Henry Sweet, Union Army, Vermont

Orvis, age 21, will be shot in the lung one week after this picture was taken by Matthew Brady in Washington, DC. His younger siblings on the family farm in upstate New York (he volunteered from St. Alban's, Fifth Vermont) grew up and after the Civil War moved West to Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and California to become lawyers, Congressmen, ambassadors, journalists and teachers. His father, Haviland Livingston Sweet, died earlier in the War, under the leadership of General McClellan.  Their sacrifice was not in vain.

He volunteered while working at a Print Shop in Vermont, where his family had lived on Grand Isle for generations since the Revolutionary War. His ancestors were Pilgrims and Wampanoags.

He was a regular kid who lived and died for great things.

He fought with his unit through all the major battles of the Civil War, being mortally wounded in the Second Battle of the Wilderness. If you ever watched Ken Burns' documentary on the Civil War, you know how that one was particularly hellish.

http://www.pbs.org/civilwar/

One of Orvis' younger sisters was Alice Eliza Sweet Link, my great grandmother; she went West after the Civil War and became a teacher.

Trip to the Wilderness Battlefields 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ege_iMAo5w 

 

With that haunting music that always brings tears to my eyes, Ashokan Farewell.

Educational Links 5/22/17

Why It's So Hard To Know Whether School Choice Is Working

http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/05/21/522051355/why-its-so-hard-to-know-whether-school-choice-is-working?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20170521

Teachers' Low Expectations for Students of Color Found to Affect Students' Success

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teaching_now/2017/05/teacher_expectations_black_students.html?cmp=SOC-EDIT-FB

Using a Flipped Classroom Approach and Just-in-Time Teaching to Engage Students

https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/blended-flipped-learning/using-a-flipped-classroom-approach-and-just-in-time-teaching-to-engage-students/

20 Things You’ll Notice in a Productive Teaching Environment

https://globaldigitalcitizen.org/20-things-productive-teaching-environment?utm_content=bufferb128d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Growing Up With ADHD

http://time.com/growing-up-with-adhd/

The Week in Review - The Most Popular Posts

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/

Checklist: Informal Supports You Can Request for Your Child

https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/evaluations/choosing-not-to-have-child-evaluated/checklist-informal-supports-you-can-request-for-your-child

A simple system for deconstructing your classroom in just one day

https://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/deconstructing-your-classroom/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheCornerstone+%28The+Cornerstone+Blog%29

Problems with end-of-year close-out tasks arise when the teacher has things to do but the kids don’t.Students are perceptive—they know when we’ve given them busy work and are just trying to get them out of our hair, and we end up spending the whole day trying to keep them on-task.