Summary: MSM 280: I’d argue that, Ugly Fruit, SPLAT! Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education. Jokes You Can Use: A chicken walks into a ice cream store. The clerk says, "We don't serve poultry!" The chicken says, "That's OK, I just want a cone." Eileen Award: Twitter: Jason Hovey Advisory: Many Kids Who Are Obese Or Overweight Don't Know It http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/07/23/334091461/many-kids-who-are-obese-and-overweight-dont-know-it The End of ‘Genius’ WHERE does creativity come from? For centuries, we’ve had a clear answer: the lone genius. The idea of the solitary creator is such a common feature of our cultural landscape (as with Newton and the falling apple) that we easily forget it’s an idea in the first place. But the lone genius is a myth that has outlived its usefulness. Fortunately, a more truthful model is emerging: the creative network, as with the crowd-sourced Wikipedia or the writer’s room at “The Daily Show” or — the real heart of creativity — the intimate exchange of the creative pair, such as John Lennon and Paul McCartney and myriad other examples with which we’ve yet to fully reckon. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/20/opinion/sunday/the-end-of-genius.html Mishapen Fruit 300 million tons thrown away each year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2nSECWq_PE Happy in Your State http://twentytwowords.com/do-you-make-enough-money-to-be-happy-in-your-state/ Middle School Science Minute by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com) MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE MINUTE-KNOWLEDGE THROUGH ARGUMENTATION I was recently reading the Summer, 2014 issue of "Science Scope," a magazine written for middle school science teachers, published by the National Science Teachers Association. In this issue, I read an article entitled "Scientific Explanations and Arguments: Building New Science Content Knowledge Through Argumentation" written by Lauren Brodsky and Andrew Falk. In the article, they describe a process by which to develop science lessons that support students in engaging in and learning through argumentation. They also provide a few suggestions for smaller things you can do to incorporate elements of argumentation, if you don't have time for the entire process. http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2014/7/16_Middle_School_Science_Minute-Knowledge_Through_Argumentation.html From the Twitterverse: #mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. And as Troy says, “The Twitter never stops!” Strategies: 5 Essential Ingredients For Learning (SPLAT) http://connectedprincipals.com/archives/10630 Metacognition Metacognition is, put simply, thinking about one’s thinking. More precisely, it refers to the processes used to plan, monitor, and assess one’s understanding and performance. Metacognition includes a critical awareness of a) one’s thinking and learning and b) oneself as a thinker and learner. http://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/metacognition/ Resources: Principals in U.S. Are More Likely to Consider Their Students Poor http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/23/upshot/principals-in-us-are-more-likely-to-consider-their-students-poor.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=1 Class Timers Use multiple timers. Set timers to music. Pause all timers at once. http://www.classtools.net/timer/ Open Curriculum Teacher-curated and Common Core standards-aligned sets of high-quality lessons, activities and assessments. http://www.opencurriculum.org/ Web Spotlight: Gravity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlTVIMOix3I#t=73 Random Thoughts . . . Personal Web Site
