Five for Friday-Links and Ideas

Cooperative learning, brain research and teens
http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2011/09/15/teens-their-brain-working-in-groups/

Are you a 21st century educator?
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/09/09/five-characteristics-of-an-effective-21st-century-educator/print/

For our Dog Club friends, and other lovers of dogs/
http://learning.snagfilms.com/film/the-nature-of-things-man-and-dog-an-evolving-partnership

A great National Geographic Story about teenage brains
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/10/teenage-brains/dobbs-text

I'm struggling with the need for more or different standards, but we should approach our work with common core with all of the ammunition.
http://www.technologybitsbytesnibbles.info/archives/5658

The Guitar Player

I received an e-mail today from another blogging gig that I work on weekly. It was a simple watch this video; you may be interested in the movie that we are creating. I bit, watched the preview, and I think that this seems like an easy way to support the work of artists. Our world is a better place because kids and adults are creating art in its many forms. We work hard at my school to promote the arts in all of their forms. I encourage you to watch this trailer, support the film, and support the arts in your local schools.


The Guitar Player Movie from The Guitar Player on Vimeo.

Five for Friday- Links and Ideas

Great series of posts about technology as a tool in education

http://reformreform.net/post/8975768876/education-at-aspen-1-5-overview

Education videos from the Aspen Ideas Festival

http://www.aifestival.org/session/bricks-clicks-will-technology-truly-transform-k12-education

Are we asking the right questions? Are they asking the right questions?

http://www.hepg.org/hel/article/507#home

If you get tired of the Kagan timer tools, here are some other options. 

http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2011/08/29/the-best-online-countdown-timers/

As we look for ways to communicate with our students about what success on a daily basis looks like, it seems like this tool could help form high-level, clear objectives.

http://www.byrdseed.com/differentiator/

Are you Flipping it?

I have been intrigued by the concept of the flipped classroom since the concept started floating around a few years ago. I have haven't seen a teacher live that has attempt to go this route, but there is certainly a need to maximize the time that we have with kids, and allow our 1:1 environment the space it needs to be effective. Kids learning asynchronously at home can go a long way to creating the extra time that we need  to close gaps and reach more standards. Here is a great infographic on the flipped classroom by the folks at Knewton.com

Five for Friday-Links and Ideas

I have been a little slow getting all of the systems of the year up to speed, but I'm hoping to get five links on the blog each weekend.

A BLOG WORTH READING.. I really have enjoyed Josh's work. It was great to first learn from him, then talk to him, then meet him last summer, but now I'm finally sharing him. The professional relationship paradigm is so different these days. I'm not sure that I'm lock step in his camp on homework, but he has some great thoughts, and this is a great blog to follow.

 100 Teacher Video Sites: Love that they are by subject Need Education Apps....here's a great list.

Here are a couple of great sponge sites for vocabulary. HERE and HERE

This is a must read to keep our arms around the varied opinions on technology in the classroom. Can we answer WHY technology integration is a big part of education?

9/11- Finding Heart in Tragedy

I've spent a lot of time avoiding the pain and tragedy of a number of events in my life including all of the 10 year anniversary productions on 9/11. I'm not sure why. The event changed a nation, and created a new playing field for my girls 3 and 6. I watched the unveiling of the flag on the field for the Rams game, and I was moved. I wanted football, and I got patriotism. I heard a great sermon this morning about how suffering ISN'T tied to sin, and that religion don't sit at the heart of evil (not what Hitchens would have us believe, wonder what he knows know). 9/11 for me is about the individual stories, and the folks at StoryCorps capture the pain of the event in this video. I'm still struggling with this event, and the emotion of the day, but the struggle makes me a better person, and hopefully, a person filled with more hope, more love, and a new commitment to teaching my middle schoolers about the value of taking time to understand why people believe what they do, and walking in other people's shoes.

On the Road to Burlington

I am quite excited about the opportunity to visit a new state, Vermont. I don't have many left, so it is always special to hit a new one. We will be taking a group from school to learn about sustainability and green schools from a number of great thinkers in this area in Burlington. It is an opportunity to share, collaborate, and see how others are trying to bring the concept of The Commons and healthy communities to their space on this planet. There is also another huge benefit, Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream. Burlington is the home of a new flavor also.

There are just some moments in life that you assumed would be left to the original laugh, but it is nice to have a chance to watch it all over again. Enjoy.

The Art of Listening

I have been working on becoming a better listening for a number of years. I think that, at times, my mind moves too fast, and I fail to relax into the beauty and insight of the words of others. This video was helpful in my continued journey to find the will and skills to listen well.

We are the Frontline on Obesity

My kids @mrhmiddleschool did a great job talking about our dedication to community health and wellness as well as our work to build stewards of the environment.