Middle School Matters

Michigan Joint Education Conference Traverse City Special Education Visual Guide HyperStudio 5 For Michigan Educators: http://mel.org/SPT--BrowseResourcesNewMeL.php Shout Outs: Jeff LaRoux & Teresa Sutherland: Thanks for the Interview! Kevin Galbraith: Thanks for the mention in your session on Podcasting at MI Champs! From the Twitterverse: * russeltarr PhotoPeach: Create movies from photos (simpler than Animoto - for younger students?): http://tinyurl.com/mn3zqm * pcmikeXigaware » Intersection of Search and Social Media http://u.mavrev.com/eqkr * rmbyrneChecking out http://Playlist.com mentioned by Steve Hargadon http://ff.im/-4viul * russeltarr100 Best iPhone Apps for Serious Self-Learners: http://tinyurl.com/r8jj7k * suewatersNew blog post: Here’s My Top Five Mistakes Made By New Bloggers — What Are Yours? http://bit.ly/3WaUaT * russeltarrCombine Powerpoint, webpages, photos and voice with this presentation tool - http://tinyurl.com/r9yk83 * russeltarrScribble Maps - Draw on google maps with scribblings and more! http://tinyurl.com/d2opwv * rbastienRT @tweetmeme Free Set of Glossy Icons - Volume 1 | Minervity http://bit.ly/13FawD * pcmikeToo much time online strains marriages | PC Mike - Tech News and Reviews http://ow.ly/fXQE * kchichesterJust joined the NECC Ning http://necc2008.ning.com/ & NECC Unplugged Ning http://neccunplugged.ning.com/ so I can attend virtually. #necc09 * russeltarrSecond Life Worlds created for classroom use: http://tinyurl.com/l82jvl * russeltarrGet new book suggestions based on what you've just read - great for student research (RT @nharm): http://tinyurl.com/ksrk7x News: Texas shuns common standards for schools By LINDSAY KASTNER SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS Texas has always been known for its independent streak. Now the state is one of four that is sitting out an effort to create voluntary national standards for what students are expected to learn in school. Forty-six states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are on board with the project, which is spearheaded by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is a backer. Sunday he sweetened his support with $350 million in federal stimulus money to be used for the creation of national tests. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6491086.html House barely agrees, 58-57, to send the bill to Perdue BY LYNN BONNER, JENNIFER KLAHRE AND LUCI CHAVEZ - STAFF WRITERS Students and administrators might as well be living on different planets when it comes to school bullying. Students say it is common for bullies to taunt and hit them or their classmates, and for teachers to do little to stop it. Superintendents and principals say that bullying is a small problem and that policies to discourage it work well. The bill requires that teachers, students and volunteers report any incidents of bullying, but it leaves the details of reporting procedures and punishments up to the school districts. http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1581091.html

From the Twitterverse: * russeltarr PhotoPeach: Create movies from photos (simpler than Animoto - for younger students?): http://tinyurl.com/mn3zqm * sharon_elinI'm not ADD, but I'm attitudinally paralyzed, focus-challenged & facing a severe motivation drought, just when there is imp. wrk 2 get done. * russeltarriPods in Education: http://tinyurl.com/p9bcgf * lthumannSMARTBoard presenter needed 6/22 or 6/23 in PA 4 this conference http://bit.ly/6gYGT The coordinator contacted me, but I can't help, can u? * rrmurryRT @ShiftParadigm: RT @LeeRebels Hey teacher, can you give me a Tweet? http://tinyurl.com/lwcbb3 Planning on this next school year. * NMSA is now on Twitter "For everyone who uses Twitter, you can now follow NMSA News and Headlines @Twitter." http://twitter.com/NMSAnews * lthumannhttp://bit.ly/F5U1u Nine Reasons Teachers Should Use Twitter * DanielPinkEureka!: "Our brain may be most actively engaged when our mind is wandering." http://bit.ly/gnrm3 (via Wall St Journal) * willrich45Interesting how the first thing I check in the morning is my Twitter feed. * russeltarrLoving these digitised flip-books - if only I'd had access to all this info as easily at uni! - http://tinyurl.com/kkjvma * debrennersmithPersonal Narrative Unit by Jessica Meachum http://networkedblogs.com/p... Units of Study personal narrative idea * pcmikeClay Shirky Explains How Twitter & Facebook Have Changed Geopolitics http://u.mavrev.com/ckc0 * pcmikeSocial Media Give Educators Options http://u.mavrev.com/cjx0 * plivingsWooHoo - holding copy of 2nd ed "1-to-1Learning: Laptop Pgms That Work" http://www.iste.org/lapto2 * AngelaMaiersRT@SuzanneWhisler How to use Twitter in your classroom. http://bit.ly/7wqJP Video * AlohaArleenOnce U "get" FriendFeed it's like a breath of fresh air cleaning out the moth balls of your social media closet! @blm03 (How to be prolific in social media . . . ) * russeltarrMagic Tricks using Maths - Great for lesson starters! #mathteacher: http://tinyurl.com/p89qy3 * lthumannMy first life is stressing me out - I'm gonna head into SL to see if that one is any better - it's gotta be * stribsDo not use Twitter to proclaim yourself a "guru." Or I shall strike down mightily upon thee. Sparkly Moments: Marzano & Smartboards: http://www.edutopia.org/interactive-whiteboards-technology-success News: Palm Beach County elementary school changes face opposition Students in grades 3 through 5 will switch classes By Marc Freeman |South Florida Sun Sentinel6:54 PM EDT, June 8, 2009 Parents at A-rated Boca Raton area elementary schools are raising the threat level over a mandatory plan to drop the traditional one-teacher model in grades 3 through 5. The plan is called departmentalization, in which students have different teachers for reading/language arts, math, science and social studies, similar to middle school. Principals are free to use this model for first and second grades and even kindergarten. Students who are eligible for gifted classes will continue to receive the same amount of specialized instruction, Hernandez said. At the Del Prado meeting, parents asked for research or some proof that student performance improves under departmentalization. Some parents also opposed the change on the grounds that their schools are already performing at high levels and should stay the course. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-palm-elementary-classes-p060809,0,4191006.story Survey: Many teens use phones in class to text or cheat One-fourth of teens' cellphone text messages are sent during class, a new survey finds, despite widespread classroom bans on cellphones at school. The survey of 1,013 teens — 84% of whom have cellphones — also shows that a significant number have stored information on a cellphone to look at during a test or have texted friends about answers. http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-06-17-cellphones-in-class_N.htm

Podcast #79: The Rube Goldberg Show! Advisory! Advisory! Advisory! Tinker Toys...create exact same structure while seated back to back Machines...place name of machines on index cards, distribute to groups, have them act them out From the Twitterverse: * russeltarr PhotoPeach: Create movies from photos (simpler than Animoto - for younger students?): http://tinyurl.com/mn3zqm * vtdeacon Two of my students made this animoto of stuff we did this school year. Check it!: http://animoto.com/play/fKS... * russeltarr New iPhone App Lets You Write in Thin Air: http://tinyurl.com/lvkxcu * Educator Doing it wrong. "Teachers banned from Twitter after principal constantly criticises students" (Telegraph) http://ow.ly/dN9f * michelledoddRT @kjarrett: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive « http://bit.ly/10ESlj Shout Outs: Ric Wiltse, Executive Director-Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning- for accepting Troy's proposal for Shawn to present. 3:30 - 4:30pm Professional Learning Networks Shawn McGirr, Troy Patterson Content: M/SC/SS Level: GENERAL Room: W104 "Networking is a basic tenet of education. Come and learn how you can create your own Personal Learning Network. Learn which tools you can use to develop a network that meets YOUR needs. Learn the continuum of professional learning network development. Learn how to use podcasts, wikis, social networking (facebook, et. al.), social bookmarking (delicious, et. al), webinars, blogs, microblogs (Twitter), and more. This stuff isn't just for your students anymore." News: Schwarzenegger: Printed texts are old school Analysis: As a budget-cutting strategy, California's digital textbook initiative could have national implications In the state that gave the world Facebook, Google, and the iPod, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says forcing California's students to rely on printed textbooks is so yesterday. The governor recently launched an initiative to see if the state's 6 million public school students could use more online learning materials, including open courseware--perhaps saving millions of dollars a year in textbook purchases. The governor is starting with math and sciences and has asked providers to submit their online postings to state officials by next week. The materials that survive state review will be made available to school districts by Aug. 10. "We expect the first science and math books to be digital by this fall," Schwarzenegger said. "If we expand this to more textbooks, schools could save hundreds of millions of dollars a year, and that's hundreds of millions of dollars that could be used to hire more teachers and to reduce class sizes." http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/index.cfm?i=59180 Events & Happenings: 2. NMSA's Annual Conference: NMSA ‘08 Technology Focus Video. NMSA ‘09 Invitation Video: Indianapolis, IN Conference November 5-7, 2009. Individual Registration is now open. 3. ATTENTION Michigan Association of Middle School Educators & Friends: MAMSE is putting together a bus for the trip to the National Middle School Association’s Annual Conference in Indianapolis, IN this fall. 4. NMSA 09 Conference Connection: Stay connected before, during, and after the conference! Start your packing lists for the conference using packwhiz.com! 5. Keynote speakers for NMSA '09 have been announced: Daniel Pink (political connections) opens and Rick Wormeli closes. 6. NMSA has a new publication on the role of middle grades in drop-out prevention. You can download it as a pdf file. 7. Schools to Watch Conference June 25-27, Washington D.C. Conference registration info. 8. Educational Technology Leadership Conference, June 24th at Holt High School, Holt, MI. Register for the event. 10. The Michigan Association of Middle School Educators Annual Conference is coming up March 4-5, 2010 in Dexter, MI. MAMSE will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary!

Advisory! Advisory! Advisory! Spread the Word to Stop the Word: Special Olympics is campaigning to get the r-word out of student's vocabulary. They can take the pledge to not use the word on their website. From the Twitterverse: * russeltarr Convert text to a mindmap: http://tinyurl.com/n8nsax * barbs1 Just found. My story maker. Looks like fun http://tinyurl.com/plhpbp * russeltarr EdHeads: Great animations/activities for biology lessons (RT @pwhyte): http://tinyurl.com/qdep4a * russeltarr Fantastic Contraption Game - any use in physics lessons?: http://tinyurl.com/rabl8f (Warning: Can be memory intensive. And addictive . . . :-) ) * kchichester Charter schools hires 8 teachers at $125,000 a year http://bit.ly/97jnl My question is how can they afford to expand? Also, little/no tech? * Griffbuddy RT @shareski: If you ever need an article to send to someone to explain/justify twitter, this might be the one. http://tinyurl.com/pr9qg5 * SimpleK12 Web 2.0 for low-income @ minority students: http://tinyurl.com/aljhy8 * funnelbrain Student generated video flashcards for Environmental Science on FunnelBrain - http://bit.ly/KBxG1 - A cool way to collaborate. * cindybrock I HATE when I cry over Accelerated Reader. Really hoping Tech Support can help me copy classes from last year & not have to do it all by hand * AngelaMaiers 11 yr old difference maker - http://twentyfivedays.wordp... Girls can do just as well at math as boys -- even at the genius level -- if they are given the same opportunities and encouragement, researchers reported on Monday. Their study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, contradicts studies showing girls can do as well as boys on average in math -- but cannot excel in the way males can. "We conclude that gender inequality, not lack of innate ability or 'intrinsic aptitude' But at the top levels, disparities persist and some experts have said this is do to the "greater male variability" theory -- the idea that males in general are more likely to score both extremely high and extremely poorly on tests than girls are. http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2009/06/01/girls_worse_at_math_no_way_new_analysis_shows/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Education+news Putting Middle Grades Students on the Graduation Path A Policy and Practice Brief Robert Balfanz Everyone Graduates Center and Talent Development Middle Grades Program

Advisory! Advisory! Advisory! A New Zealand man fled with his girlfriend after receiving millions of dollars in a banking error. http://jeffreyhill.typepad.com/english/2009/05/its-not-often-that-new-zealand-gets-a-mention-on-the-english-blog-but-heres-a-story-from-the-times-which-would-make-a-good-s.html From the Twitterverse: * AngelaMaiers RT@cristama...this year has transformed me (and my teaching) in so many ways. (I feel the same- so much I owe to PLN!) * shareski Kramer on Openness and Transparency. @courosa you should use this in a presentation http://bit.ly/lV1Bo * AngelaMaiers RT @Zweibz7 @problogger: if there's one lesson I've learned this week it is - 'build your network before you need it'. * paulallison Looking for stories about resilient students in your classroom: First a request, then an invitation. (If you’ve .. http://tinyurl.com/nmvh8f * AngelaMaiers RT @education_com @BNBuzz - giving free book 2 kids who complete summer reading program http://bit.ly/bU2pj Shout Outs: Thanks to our Robert Jackson in Kiev for the link to the Aspire One as Kindle. News: Report: Costly plan failed to improve schools A $100 million investment in Miami-Dade County's lowest performing public schools failed to boost student achievement, according to the school district's final report on the program. The School Improvement Zone was a three-year push at 39 elementary, middle and senior high schools throughout the county. Students participated in a specialized reading program and had a longer school day than students at other schools. They also had a longer school year. ''The zone program exhibited at best an inconsistent impact that was limited to the elementary grades,'' program evaluators wrote. The report also noted that the extended school year -- starting a week early and tacking extra days onto the end -- was ineffective. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/1049341.html New CEO: Gates Foundation learns from experiments The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation spent billions of dollars exploring the idea that smaller high schools might result in higher graduation rates and better test scores. Instead, it found that the key to better education is not necessarily smaller schools but more effective teachers. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gBfu1Zu7aIsLeH_NGiMaHbc4AEnQD98F58R80 Senate bill supports 21st-century skills Shelley Pasnik, director of the Education Development Center's Center for Children and Technology, said she is pleased to see the bill addresses more than simply putting more technology into schools. "Students need to go beyond just learning today's academic context to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, communications skills, creativity and innovation skills, collaboration skills, contextual learning skills, and information and media literacy skills," the bill reads. http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/index.cfm?i=58949 Not all higher education costs a pretty penny. You can peek into some college classrooms around the world, experience lectures in text, audio, or video at any time, and, in some cases, take the final, all without leaving home -- and all for free. Teaching Ideas: Using Google Docs Spreadsheet for Education: 1. Flash Cards 2. Word Study 3. Word Search Twenty Interesting Ways* to use Google Docs in the Classroom(*and Tips)

Advisory! Advisory! Advisory! 1. Duct tape a kid to the wall . . . 2. What's in a cigarette? http://middleschooladvisory101.blogspot.com/ 3. The Quiz: http://www.quizmoz.com/quizzes/Quotation-Quizzes/h/Humorous-Quotations-Quiz.asp From the Twitterverse: * dianadell Check out this concept of a MID with a three tier screen: http://tinyurl.com/o3lldu Replacement for minis? (MID= Mobile Internet Device) * olltwit Making more of my ed software programs freeware. I am crazy http://go-education.com * russeltarr 100 brainstorming ideas to help you think outside the box- http://bit.ly/V7fqd (RT @skipz) * russeltarr UMapper / Home Excellent tool for creating map quizzes #geographyteacher http://tinyurl.com/otzkz3 (RT @iusher) * digmo Moodle 1.9.5 is out with new grade book features http://bit.ly/17W6DA * russeltarr Second Life ideas for the classroom: 3D Immersive War Room http://twurl.nl/0gb3k1 * historynews [History: 1900-2000]: Woman Gets Degree 60 Yrs After WWII Halted Studies http://tinyurl.com/pc8rpf * shareski Today's big fail http://www.todaysbigfail.co... (Just for laughs) * shareski The Best Teacher I Ever Had http://bit.ly/skKkp #medialiteracy (Just for serious) A CRITICAL MISSION: Making Adolescent Reading an Immediate Priority in SREB States Across the country, states have an obligation to take immediate action to improve students’ reading and writing skills. Accordingly, the Committee recommends that each state set policies that will lead to improved practices at the state, district and school levels. These policies should call for each state to: * define the specific reading skills students need in order to master each key subject. * identify the best teaching strategies to help middle grades and high school students develop their reading comprehension skills in each subject. * ensure that these strategies are applied statewide in all public schools by including them in professional development for current teachers and in preparation and licensure for new teachers. * provide the extra help that struggling readers need, so that all students read at grade level in the middle grades and high school. Reading Programs Found Ineffective A federal study intended to provide insight on the effectiveness of programs for reading comprehension has found that three such programs had no positive impact, while a fourth had a negative effect on student achievement. In other words, the conclusion is that none of the four programs studied—Project CRISS, ReadAbout, Read for Real, and Reading for Knowledge—is effective. They concluded that Project CRISS, developed by Creating Independence Through Student-Owned Strategies; Read About, produced by Scholastic Inc.; and Read for Real, created by Chapman University and Zaner-Bloser, had no effect on reading comprehension. In addition, they found that Reading for Knowledge, created by the Success for All Foundation, had a negative impact on the composite test scores and the science-comprehension test scores for students using that curriculum. http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/pdfs/education/selectsupplreading.pdf

iTunes: We're at 10 comments, we are throwing down the gauntlet to make it to 15 comments. From the Twitterverse: Advisory Idea: 1. StickK.com: Here's a tech based way to help your students modify their behavior. StickK.com is a website that helps you establish a goal you want to achieve, develop a plan to get there, and provide some motivation along the way. Students can put in a goal, establish a person as a Referee that monitors their progress toward that goal and inputs that information into the StickK.com website. The student can designate other StickK members as their friends to help them along the way with encouragement and co-participation. There is a second part to the site as well, but only for credit card holders. You can make it a financial motivation by inputting your credit card, designating an amount, and if you don't reach your incremental goal, $10 is charged to your credit card that week. At the end of the challenge the money is sent to a charity you have designated in your name from the StickK site. The contract/financial motivation is optional. 2. Build self-confidence and help students get to know each other: Paper Bag Self. The students decorate the outside of a paper bag with pictures and words that represent their “outer selves,” such as favorite color, sport, food, etc. Then, they put a word or picture inside their bag that reflects a personal concern, such as health, divorce, peer problems, grades, etc. As a way of introducing themselves to the class, students share the outside of their bag. If they feel comfortable, they are welcome to share the inside of their bag privately with their peers or advisor. 3. Another advisory group activity that creates the feeling of “family” and focuses on the individual as part of a whole is a puzzle activity. Each member of the class, including the advisor, is given a large cardboard puzzle piece to decorate. The puzzle piece features their name and artwork that reflects their uniqueness. When the pieces are complete, they are joined together to form a puzzle that represents a united advisory group. Letters: From: Jenny McAvoy-Anteau: (Lots & Lots of information, here's just a snippet): Western Michigan University (WMU)_ researchers have discovered no significant advantage to teaching students through experimenting instead of teaching them through direct instruction. www.physorg.com/news153990337.html (the summary includes this -- "The data, while marginally favoring inquiry, really show that as long as the instruction is good either way, the two approaches (inquiry vs direct instruction) lead to no significant difference- at least as far as science content understanding is concerned" William Cobern of WMU's Mallinson Institute for Science Education). News: My Coercive Classroom By Cossondra George

Events and Happenings, plus: From the Twitterverse: * michelledodd Have you seen Twitter Handbook for Teachers by @lasic? http://bit.ly/Z8a70 (via @elemtech)@suewaters * suewaters @AngelaMaiers here is archive from yesterday online session http://is.gd/vZm9 * AngelaMaiers RT @coolcatteacher @suewaters: students talking how blogging impacted them http://is.gd/w6oW * chadratliff Just read the article, 'Putting Leadership Back Into Strategy' by Cynthia Montgomery. Excellent. * clifmims Animated Map of Reports of Swine Flu Cases in the U.S. http://ping.fm/0P4vC * willrich45 RT @steveediger Students as "Free Agent Learners" http://bit.ly/S5fjQ Interesting research. Are we prepping our students for this? * willrich45 Do a Twitter search for "earthquake" right now. News as it happens. * smhamilton Glogster now offers a site for teachers--http://www.glogster.com/edu/ Easy-to-set-up, private classroom accounts. * LadyParadis Shadows surround me / I wear them like a warm cloak / another day sleeps #Haiku Listener's Letters: Gents, Again, I can’t tell you how much I enjoy your show. Once a week, I get up early with the birds, make a cup of coffee and listen to your podcast in silent reverence. Actually, scratch that. I get up with my two little ones, plug in my headphones as I run around trying to get ready for the day…but your show does have a Zen quality that calms me down and gives me confidence to face the day with my MS students. I do have a question…next year, I am implementing a 1:1 notebook program with our middle school students. What resources would you recommend as I start staff training in using moodle and notebooks in the classroom? I know this is a huge question…but to whom else can I turn in my time of need? Thanks guys and keep up the good work. We also discuss New Tech High Schools.

All of this and more! From the Twitterverse: * michelledodd Have you seen Twitter Handbook for Teachers by @lasic? http://bit.ly/Z8a70 (via @elemtech)@suewaters * russeltarr A must watch on How Moodle can change a school http://bit.ly/RE0fk (RT @Ariellah) * AngelaMaiers RT @ChrisCree A wise person learns from all others. This is why I LOVE Twitter- 24/7 "wiseness" training! :-)) * russeltarr Glogster tutorial on Youtube (RT @Batesy70) http://twurl.nl/ywiouj * schoolwise Now in Boston & writing an examiner.com piece on local Science in the Summer program for elementary kids. * davemcquaid going on right now - community yard sale in Ashby Park neighborhood. Great deals! map - http://tinyurl.com/c5b8js * michelledodd RT @jennyann24 Tom Barretts Teachers on Twitter "Twenty-Two Interesting Ways to use Twitter in the Classroom" - http://bit.ly/7pX0 * annemareemoore Ted Talks wiki - searchable google spreadsheet of Ted Talks http://www.ted.com/index.ph... * jessrisser We had Anzac cookies at our JASCD conference! Happy Anzac Day!!! * annemareemoore secrets of success in 3 minutes http://www.ted.com/index.ph... * sarahhanawald If Edison had tried to develop light bulb in school, he wld have been labeled a failure after first 50 filament failures http://bit.ly/4i4Ke * ChiefCatalyst RT @amp451: Persistence is the twin sister of excellence. One is a matter of quality; the other, a matter of time. - M. Morgan #quote * scottmerrick Life is good. I am sooooo thankful for my PLN folks, and I want to say so. So there. * cfanch good night PLN. Learned a lot tonight and had fun. See you tomorrow. Observation #1: At an awards assembly in a 5-8 middle school, the principal asked the 300+ student body to hold up and wave any awards they had received during the presentation. As I glanced around the bleachers, it seemed that everyone had something to show for their accomplishments. But I wonder if this is too much. If everyone is rewarded, how effective an incentive can recognition be? At college graduation ceremonies, academic excellence awards such as Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Summa Cum Laude are marked individually with sashes or cords of various colors. And you don't tend to see the entire graduating body displaying this accomplishment. And yet, they have all met the undeniably outstanding goal of a college education. They are beaming with self-esteem regardless of whether they were displaying the adornments of high academic success. If we are truly preparing students with authentic content and experiences, shouldn't we be clear on the reality that everyone does not earn honors, an award, or a certificate for doing what is already expected of them as students? Every single child is a winner just by virtue of them learning both academic content and life skills as they attend school each and every day throughout the school year. Shouldn't we be stressing self-management and recognition of worth instead of tying it so heavily to extrinsic displays of pomp and circumstance? Observation #2: Following streams of students receiving one certificate after another, I would have expected to see recognition for a teacher's success as well. From the students' view, one would believe that teachers are neither striving for nor attaining success on a regular basis in their own lives. Yet, how many teachers during a marking period or school year attend seminars and workshops or pursue ongoing academic fulfillment in graduate courses? If we are acting as role models to our students, don't we need to do a better job reflecting our commitment to ongoing education and love of learning? What role does our school administration have in this process?

Shawn and Troy talk about information gleaned from the Twitterverse, whether extending the school days and times are putting kids in "jail" and free stuff. iTunes Reviews: We're at 8, we are throwing down the gauntlet to make it to 10. From the Twitterverse: * michelledodd Have you seen Twitter Handbook for Teachers by @lasic? http://bit.ly/Z8a70 (via @elemtech)@suewaters * michelledodd Nat Geo Infinite Photograph will be cool http://tinyurl.com/clpyvr (via @mmkrill) * rrmurry RT @jerridkruse: Curriculum demands hinder effective teaching - kinda like missing the forest for the trees: http://bit.ly/4pSVZ * KevG The Force appears to be strong in Strathclyde http://is.gd/sQLW * SirKenRobinson At Milwaukee airport. Official wall sign after security searches reads Recombobulation Area. Great that someone sees the joke in all this. * netsupport Retweeting @ErikaSays: Create your own Picasso: http://www.mrpicassohead.co... - cool! * netsupport RT @cchater: RT @mrdatahs: If a teacher had designed Twitter: .. http://tinyurl.com/c73n7y - this looks great! Anyone used it so far? (This is Edmodo which we've talked about before on the podcast.) * cindybrock http://www.readwritethink.org some great reading activities for students. * Humor: AndreaWeiss I love this post on @dudeman718 blog http://is.gd/rVSJ - heard men's choir do it a month ago, laughing nearly caused aneurysm. (Very creative. Way too much time on this guy's hands. Jackson-Dawson needs to hire this guy.) * librarycongress Shakespeare's Birthday Reading: William Shakespeare’s 445th birthday will be celebrated at the Library of Congress ... http://tinyurl.com/dhqrr7 * librarycongress Lincoln Exhibit Closing Date and Hours Extended: Because of overwhelming demand, the Library of Congress is extending ... http://tinyurl.com/cq94u4 * AngelaMaiers How Twitter makes you a better writer. http://TwitPWR.com/9Pl/ * russeltarr #englishteacher Simile of the Day Generator! http://tinyurl.com/dbq6r2 (RT @dianadell @ChristaAllan) * Music, Art, and Science intersecting: AngelaMaiers RT@tedtalks- Demo AlloSphere, a stunning new way to see and hear complex scientific data http://is.gd/syYk * AngelaMaiers Free ebook from ASCD: Educating the Whole Child (limited time download) http://blog.genyes.com (check to see if membership required). * russeltarr Amaztype: Enter a topic, get a fantastic graphic made up of Amazon book links - http://twurl.nl/e5vxen * netsupport Retweeting @gurnage: Good morning! I just sent my mom and dad "what's your NPR name?" - funny: http://is.gd/sCyl (thanks @jacksonCJ1) * edupreneur Alexandria, VA Schools Superintendent Offers Plan to Revamp Middle Schools: http://bit.ly/ygIlC --@PostSchools * LeoLaporte Unfollowing anyone who mentions Kutcher, Oprah, or uses the word Internets. Satisfying. #unfollowfriday * cookp RT @russeltarr Moodle Tutorials - Educating Educators http://tinyurl.com/dlcz33 * bethanyvsmith So I'm thinking we need some edtech Nerd Merit badges http://nerdmeritbadges.com/ * Looking for software to make better use of Twitter? Try Nambu (Mac OS X only) or Tweetdeck (cross platform - built on Adobe Air). Web Sitings: * Google Earth Overlays- http://www.gearthhacks.com/userfiles.php?user=1698 * Creative Commons - http://creativecommons.org/ Licensing information Letters: "Troy and Shawn, Great show this week. I liked the idea about decorating classroom doorways. I think we'll try it this September as an ice breaking activity. Two questions: 1) I am trying to come up with an all school middle school read for the summer. My school is mainly boys. Any suggestions? 2) I would like to assign a book to the teachers for the summer as well. Any suggestions for us teachers? Keep up the great work! Maybe I'll have all the teachers listen to all 70 some-odd MSM podcasts over the summer. It's worth it." http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/

Shawn and Troy talk about Plano, Texas' plan to do away with homework counting. Things wouldn't have to be turned in on time. Non-behavior issues would not be part of grades. We also congratulate David Virtue, editor of Middle School Journal. Ukraine is home of some smart educators as they put in an iTunes rating for us. [Thanks much!] We also discuss some advisory ideas and resources. We point out a few wonderful web sites as well.

Shawn & Troy talk about current events, advisory ideas, water in the classroom and a bill to require kids to get fit. From our Listeners: "This is Jack from BrainyFlix . If I hadn't done so already, I wanted to thank you for letting your visitors know about our video contest. We received about 800 video submissions (way more than we had expected!) and you were a big part of that. Much appreciated. :] We built this new feature called lolcabulary, which lets kids make a flashcard that has a word attached to an image and sentence. We'll be running weekly contests to get kids to make flashcards by giving away iTunes to the winners. We're thinking we'll do themes like "make lolcabulary flashcards about ninjas" and then get teachers we've met to pick their favorites made that week." Web sightings: http://www.factmonster.com/ http://mrssmoke.onsugar.com/ http://www.loc.gov/library/libarch-digital.html Advisory Ideas: Life Skill Lessons...how to tie a tie, how to set the table, how to do anything....celebrate success!! Q:C:Q: - Quote, Comment, Question...analyze a famous quote, old or new News: Structure More Effective In High School Science Classes, Study Reveals http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090326114415.htm Do you allow water bottles in the classroom? http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_086010229.html Student fitness bill raises questions http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/index.cfm?i=58065

Podcast 69 - Current Cursive, Current Events, & Leftovers from Last Week. Events and Happenings: Shout-outs: iTunes shoutouts: AK Jenny, Tsutherland, and Wirededucator! Thanks for posting reviews on iTunes for us. WeFollow: Thanks to all the folks following us on Twitter & WeFollow. We're number one in the middle school category. From our Listeners: Web Sightings: 1. www.zombo.com Absurd, but fun. Just sit, watch, and enjoy. 2. http://www.nextvista.org/ - An online library of free videos for learners everywhere - find resources to help you learn just about anything, meet people who make a difference in their communities, and even discover new parts of the world. And Next Vista for Learning wants to post your educational videos online, too. Everyone has an insight to share and yours may be just what some student or teacher somewhere needs! Advisory Ideas: News:

Current Events Shout-outs: Those who visited iTunes to get our stars back: TWilliamson15 MikeTeacher SherrieR ... and the three others who remain nameless. (Their choice, not ours. No witness protection programs involved because the know us. Really.) Web Sightings: Shawn's New Favorite Website: Let Me Google That For You. Ever have that colleague that pops into your room asking you a question they could have gone to Google for themselves? This website is your new best friend. Faux Smoking: The New Smarties Fad! (Here's an example of a Tiny Url: http://tinyurl.com/de7lhu) Missed the MACUL conference? See the keynotes online. Here's one: Friday Keynote. From MACUL: Steve Dembo has a great presentation on Social Networking Policies . His presentation is posted on the Discovery Educators Network site. http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/storymap/ http://www.jasonohler.com/storytelling/index.cfm Because Shawn can't remember what he tells Troy to try: www.evernote.com.

The Middle School Matters Calendar: Vote on iTunes! Letters from our Listeners: News: High schools may be in for big change Algebra-for-All Policy Found to Raise Rates Of Failure in Chicago Poverty and Potential: Out-of-School Factors and School Success NMSA08: Motivating Underachieving Students Instruction in Support of Success with Every Child Mike Muir