Vicki Davis

The school year in 6 words?

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 17:20:09 -0400

Though not everyone is done yet (and some people are just getting started, depending on their geographical location), how about a round of six-word memoirs to reflect on the school year?

Mine would be — satisfying; time for a new adventure

How would you sum up your year in six words?

Prom. Overload. Exhaustion. Teaching joy. Over.

: Yo, Grammar: What's up with "favorite"?

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:30:02 -0400

: Yo, Grammar: What's up with "favorite"?:

theyuniversity:

To many people, “favorite” is a superlative (like “best”), so to call someone your “most favorite” teacher, or to claim that you have “many favorite” songs would be either redundant or incorrect. To them, doing so would be akin to calling someone “the most best.”

“One of my favorite…

Love these grammar tips.

redheadnerdgirl: particleb0red: (Credit: hxdbzxy via Shuttersto...

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 11:40:23 -0400

redheadnerdgirl:

particleb0red:

(Credit: hxdbzxy via Shutterstock/Salon)

I’m right there with you

Pointed story that just got worse. I read today that the US government failed to renew regulation and interest rates on college loans are about to double.

neurosciencestuff: Rapid, Irregular Heartbeat May Be Linked to...

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 08:50:12 -0400

neurosciencestuff:

Rapid, Irregular Heartbeat May Be Linked to Problems with Memory and Thinking

People who develop a type of irregular heartbeat common in old age called atrial fibrillation may also be more likely to develop problems with memory and thinking, according to new research published in the June 5, 2013, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

“Problems with memory and thinking are common for people as they get older. Our study shows that on average, problems with memory and thinking may start earlier or get worse more quickly in people who have atrial fibrillation,” said study author Evan L. Thacker, PhD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “This means that heart health is an important factor related to brain health.”

The study involved people age 65 and older from four communities in the United States who were enrolled in the Cardiovascular Health Study. Participants did not have a history of atrial fibrillation or stroke at the start of the study. They were followed for an average of seven years, and received a 100-point memory and thinking test every year. People who had a stroke were not included in this analysis after the stroke. Of the 5,150 participants, 552, or about 11 percent, developed atrial fibrillation during the study.

The study found that people with atrial fibrillation were more likely to experience lower memory and thinking scores at earlier ages than people with no history of atrial fibrillation. For example, from age 80 to age 85 the average score on the 100-point test went down by about 6 points for people without atrial fibrillation, but it went down by about 10 points for people with atrial fibrillation.

For participants ages 75 and older, the average rate of decline was about three to four points faster per five years of aging with atrial fibrillation compared to those without the condition.

“This suggests that on average, people with atrial fibrillation may be more likely to develop cognitive impairment or dementia at earlier ages than people with no history of atrial fibrillation,” Thacker said.

Thacker noted that scores below 78 points on the 100-point test are suggestive of dementia. People without atrial fibrillation in the study were predicted on average to score below 78 points at age 87, while people with atrial fibrillation were predicted to score below 78 points at age 85, two years earlier.

“If there is indeed a link between atrial fibrillation and memory and thinking decline, the next steps are to learn why that decline happens and how we can prevent that decline,” said Thacker.

Interesting

"Watch your thoughts for they become words. Watch your words for they become actions. Watch your..."

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 11:17:02 -0400

““Watch your thoughts for they become words.
Watch your words for they become actions.
Watch your actions for they become habits.
Watch your habits for they become your character.
And watch your character for it becomes your destiny.
What we think, we become.
My father always said that… and I think I am fine.””

- ― Margaret Thatcher

Who Multi-Tasks and Why? Multi-Tasking Ability, Perceived Multi-Tasking Ability, Impulsivity, and Sensation Seeking

Fri, 31 May 2013 17:13:42 -0400

Who Multi-Tasks and Why? Multi-Tasking Ability, Perceived Multi-Tasking Ability, Impulsivity, and Sensation Seeking:

David M. Sanbonmatsu„ plosone.org

Abstract
The present study examined the relationship between personality and individual differences in multi-tasking ability. Participants enrolled at the University of Utah complet …

People who think they are great multitaskers actually are the worst, according to this new research.

Video

Fri, 31 May 2013 16:52:21 -0400

Adding a table to a post without coding

Fri, 31 May 2013 11:40:06 -0400

Adding a table to a post without coding:

Very useful tip for creating tables without coding. You create the table in Excel and then use Tablelizer to create the table. One tip, however. If you’re using Blogger, you’ll want to copy and paste the table itself not the HTML code. I used this to create the podcast table on my page on Blogger for Every Classroom matters, my new podcast.

Five Ways to Comply with the New FTC Guidelines for Bloggers by...

Fri, 31 May 2013 10:12:29 -0400

Five Ways to Comply with the New FTC Guidelines for Bloggers
by Madeline Lemon on May 31, 2013, michaelhyatt.com

Last fall, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued new guidelines that require bloggers to “disclose material connections” for product or service endorsements. In fact, accordin …

It is important to comply with FTC guidelines if you’re a blogger. Michael Hyatt’s blog post on this topic is my go to place for these disclaimers. If you’re a blogger, bookmark or copy into Evernote - you’ll need it.

englishteacheronline: 6 Great Bullying Posters. Great poster.

Wed, 29 May 2013 20:10:25 -0400

englishteacheronline:

6 Great Bullying Posters.

Great poster.

Music Teacher in Training: So... what would you do?

Wed, 29 May 2013 17:20:07 -0400

Music Teacher in Training: So... what would you do?:

music-teacher-in-training:

My office sits directly across the hall from another classroom. Today while I was sitting at my computer typing an email, a cello student of mine left the classroom (without telling the teacher and without the teacher noticing) and came to my office to ask for my help because there was a new…

This is a tough one. I try to privately communicate with those mentoring the other teacher. That said, bullying is never OK. NEver never never. If we sit back and make excuses it will continue to be awful.

“Not on my watch” is what we have to do.There is a reason the student came to you - because the student trusted you to DO SOMETHING. Get involved.

While you might get accused of butting in, you have to just go with tact. You can talk to the teacher later about it but the fact is that the teacher has not a leg to stand on b/c the teacher wasn’t taking care of business so you had to.

There have been times I was in a teacher’s room fixing a computer or something and perhaps the teacher had their back turned - I try to handle things with a LOOK and not say words but if it can’t be done - do your best and talk to the teacher later.

This is sad and I’m glad you got involved. You escalated it and that was the right thing to do.

dawdle longer: What do you do when you are out of ideas?

Wed, 29 May 2013 14:30:11 -0400

dawdle longer: What do you do when you are out of ideas?:

dawdlingaudrey:

I hit a wall. A BIG, ugly, “I have no idea how to make this anthology interesting or relevant” wall.

I was talking to my fellow Middle Grades ELAR TA this afternoon, and she is having a similar problem with the class she is teaching this semester. The trouble is, we are all each other really has….

I hit Twitter and look for ideas. I search for the words “lesson plans” in quotes along with the topic I’m searching for. I spend time looking at what other teachers do. But, like you, I never never settle.

I’ve been teaching 11 years and often feel unequipped. I lose sleep before the year starts wondering if I’m ready. But once I get in there, it is all OK. I am going to teach if it kills me (and them perhaps). But it is what I do. I don’t stop until they “get it.”

Sounds like you’re doing that to. Welcome to teaching - you’re going to be fine.

learning & laughing: Morning Conversations

Wed, 29 May 2013 11:40:20 -0400

learning & laughing: Morning Conversations:

kicksandgiggles:

I say, “Don’t worry, I can cover your field trip this time.”

He crumbles, covering his face. Weeping.

I ask, “What’s wrong?”

He wails.

I ask again.

He pulls his hands away, strings of sadness still connecting hand to face.

“You… yelled.. at… me…” he whimpers.

His red eyes meet mine. No 7…

Such moving words. This is so typical for interactions with kids. It doesn’t matter what kids you work with - fragile is the word describing so many of them.

County Schools Improve Graduation Rates

Wed, 29 May 2013 08:50:23 -0400

County Schools Improve Graduation Rates:

energizestudents:

A highschool in Indiana owes it increased graduation rate to a bonus period in which students get extra time to work with teachers.

“Our bonus period meets at 3 p.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and it is unique,” Principal Doug Miller said. “Students have the opportunity to do additional work with teachers. Sometimes the teachers ask students to stay and other times the students will stay on their own accord.

The big thing is we have our full fleet of buses leave with kids when school dismisses and then we have eight buses return to take home the bonus period kids. That takes a commitment from administrators, teachers and students and we have seen our failure rates decrease every year since we started our bonus period. A decrease in failure rates leads to an increase in credits earned which leads to more students eligible for a diploma.”

Interesting idea. We don’t bus at our school but my room is full almost every day except Friday when I actually leave on time. We have 7 periods in the day but when people come in and ask what is happening, I always say, “Don’t you know, this is 8th period.” ;-)

I think good schools make time for one on one time. It is hard but it is the right thing to do.

jtotheizzoe: My favorite math joke, illustrated by Sandra...

Tue, 28 May 2013 20:10:47 -0400

jtotheizzoe:

My favorite math joke, illustrated by Sandra Boynton.

My dad has this on a coffee cup, which pretty much explains why I am how I am (by which I mean “awesome”).

Love this.

What do you do during post-planning?

Tue, 28 May 2013 18:34:42 -0400

1) Finish graduation movie and make DVD’s for students
2) TRY to clean my room
3) Make sure I’ve synced evernote, specifically the conversation / “focus groups” I had with students where they gave me feedback on the year so when I sit down to plan, I’ll be ready.
4) Have all my requests in place for tech that needs to be installed over the summer.
5) Work way too long.
6) Feel like I haven’t done enough.
7) Fuss at myself for feeling like I haven’t done enough.
8) Wonder if all this exhaustion is worth it
9) Think of the memories and realize it is.

Whatever happened to crack babies?

Thu, 23 May 2013 11:40:16 -0400

Whatever happened to crack babies?:

The wonderful Retro Report (which revisits popular news stories of the years gone by and follows up on their claims) has posted a great, 10-minute documentary on “crack babies,” concluding that the promised crack baby epidemic of kids with gross deformities who couldn’t attend regular school never materialized. The documentary says that the entire phenomenon […]

I have read ADHD is a major symptom. Thus far from what I have seen, that would be true. Need to read up on this again.

"Bexar County’s so-called BiblioTech is a low-cost project with big ambitions. Its first branch will..."

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:50:46 -0400

“Bexar County’s so-called BiblioTech is a low-cost project with big ambitions. Its first branch will be in a relatively poor district on the city of San Antonio’s South Side. It will have 100 e-readers on loan, and dozens of screens where the public will be able to browse, study, and learn digital skills. However it’s likely most users will access BiblioTech’s initial holding of 10,000 digital titles from the comfort of their homes, way out in the Texas hinterland. It will be a truly bookless library - although that is not a phrase much to the liking of BiblioTech’s project co-ordinator, Laura Cole. She prefers the description “digital library” - after all, there will be books there, but in digital form.”

- BBC News - Paperless public libraries switch to digital (via infoneer-pulse)

Paperless libraries. Are we ready for the transition?

Redeeming the Family: Blessing Children of Incarcerated Parents...

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:58:00 -0400

Redeeming the Family: Blessing Children of Incarcerated Parents (by Wesley Fryer)

Wesley Fryer is not only a great educator but a great man. Here he shares how he and other men went into the Cushing Oklahooma correction facility and helped dads record messages to their children for Father’s day. What a great thing to do. Part of my own faith is the forgiveness that we can receive and as people we must forgive and encourage those who have made mistakes. If you don’t make a mistake ignore this post, if you do, then consider bringing something like this to your area. Great work, Wes. I hope our PLN’s share this message far and wide.

From Wes’ blog:

“This is a 14 minute video reflection by Wesley Fryer, who volunteered with Redeeming the Family on May 15, 2013, at the Cimarron Correctional Facility (prison) in Cushing, Oklahoma. Oklahoma currently has 17 prisons, and Cimarron is one of three which is privately operated. Corrections Corporation of America has owned and operated this prison commercially since 1997. Last week Redeeming the Family volunteers assisted 50 incarcerated dads to record video messages of love for their children, which will be mailed to their children before Father’s Day on Sunday, June 16th.”

31 Tools to Flip Your Classroom

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:56:12 -0400

31 Tools to Flip Your Classroom:

world-shaker:

I’m having a little trouble embedding the list into this post. You can try to click the image icon here, or just click the link above :o)

Awesome list!