March 2013
4 posts
A History of Violence, and Its Decline →
jtotheizzoe:
Although it might not seem that way, judging from the images of war and pain that are so relentlessly beamed into our eyes each day, Steven Pinker argues that humans have actually become far less violent in recent times.
In a long but enthralling essay from 2007, he offers several explanations, philosophical and biological, for this pattern of progress. One of my favorite tidbits,...
February 2013
6 posts
“Passion has little to do with euphoria and everything to do with patience. It is...”
– Mark Z Danielewski, “House of Leaves” (via parhelions)-
-Another vocab lesson to tie into their lives…
gnossienne
n. a moment of awareness that someone you’ve known for years still has a private and mysterious inner life, and somewhere in the hallways of their personality is a door locked from the inside, a stairway leading to a wing of the house that you’ve never fully explored—an unfinished attic that will remain maddeningly unknowable to you, because ultimately neither of you has a map, or a master key,...
December 2012
2 posts
August 2012
1 post
“I think it’s very healthy to spend time alone. You need to know how to be alone...”
– Oscar Wilde (via livmarie)
Time alone is good to digest and ruminate, our best innovations typically come when alone (or in lone contemplation). Many are alone though in the middle of a crowd, even if they are the center of attention (especially true of those who lead). In other respects we are...
July 2012
8 posts
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Fred Jones Workshop (7/11-13/2012)
Having just completed the Fred Jones 3 day workshop I have decided to present a summary.
Day 1: “My job is not to kill myself while students watch; My job is to have students kill themselves while I watch”- Discipline is the first key, the first step to effective management…. “Discipline before Instruction”
Day 2: “Calm is Strength”, “Calm is...
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On Groups in Class...
I came across this article on Groupthink some time ago, and now I have time to combine my observations of classrooms with a review of the article.
The article discusses groups and open-plan offices in comparison to independent thinkers and introverts. The article then pursues the origin of creativity and true inspirations: the individual. One person will have an idea, and a group can only...
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A Bar Exam for Teachers? →
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten in an interview with Walter Isaacson, President of the Institute, just launched an interesting, “big idea.” She said that we should establish a “bar exam for teachers.”
A test can’t “prove” a better teacher. Plenty of lawyers pass bar-exams & are worthless in skill or character. Rigor & consistency will prove...
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soak it in →
This is a great program that is free and scores multiple tests (which correlate). The data is summarized into a reasonably fair assessment in an easy to understand format… This allows students the opportunity to discover and reflect on themselves, or at least how others may view them, while learning of communication, and the human condition…
lhuddles (ENFP / Champion):
Find yours...
“It’s often said that libertarianism is the philosophy of “I’ve got mine and f’...”
– Wendy Gittleson (via socialuprooting)
“There’s only one rule that I know of, babies—God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.” —Vonnegut
(via lhuddles)
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Edmodo & the 21st century Classroom →
The link is to an Edmodo Smore. If unfamiliar with Edmodo, it is a site that offers opportunities to communicate with students, and develop/implement lessons and assignments online. This will allow you to teach outside the classroom, for sustained or continued learning, and begin to “flip”, or partially-flip, your classroom. The uses for providing student centered learning are limited...
June 2012
2 posts
3 tags
May 2012
1 post
April 2012
11 posts
“If you aren’t working to find a solution, you’re part of the problem.”
– (via lhuddles)
6 Powerful, Soul-Searching Things To Say To... →
revolutionizeed:
I’m thinking that I need to use these much more often!
“Real science is a revision in progress, always. It proceeds in fits and starts...”
– A fantastic read on how ignorance fuels science and the evolution of knowledge. (via explore-blog)
[The idea of persevering through mistakes and failures is essential to learning, and apply to the entire education system.]
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“Avoid using the word ‘very’ because it’s lazy. A man is not very tired, he is...”
– Dead Poets Society (via blankpagesandinvisibleink)
{Ah, the lessons on word choice that might begin with this introduction…}
Ten Fun Ways to Use YouTube Videos in an Online... →
This is merely the tip of the possibilities and an easy way to bring technology to the class while generating student interest (many are naturally drawn towards technology)
March 2012
9 posts
1 tag
“The function of the university is not simply to teach bread-winning, or to...”
– W. E. B. Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk (via how-novelistic)
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12 Questioning Strategies that Minimize Classroom... →
Good basic advice for classroom teachers that can contribute to classroom management; bridging behavior management, classroom rules, and content. They should not be used to replace behavior management or used in excess. Part of being effective is being able to provide flexibility and diversity.
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5 Ways To Be A Calmer, More Effective Teacher —... →
kbkonnected:
Via @Inclusive_Class
A great start for effective teaching. I also found the articles on Zen-like Classes, Speaking Softly, and Talking Less to present great techniques that contribute to effective classroom management.
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Game-Based Learning →
Game-based learning has gained considerable traction since 2003, when James Gee began to describe the impact of game play on cognitive development. Since then, research — and interest in — the potential of gaming on learning has exploded, as has the diversity of games themselves, with the emergence of serious games as a genre, the proliferation of gaming platforms, and the evolution of games on...
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“In criticizing, the teacher is hoping to teach. That’s all.”
– Benkei
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Fate/Zero (Season 1 Tribute)
As I have finally had time to finish the 1st season of Fate/Zero, this post is in it’s honor. Fate/Zero, the prequel to Fate/Stay-Night, is part of Type-Moon’s Fate-saga of visual novels (click links for AMV-teasers). If these are unfamiliar you should check it out, but beware they may contain bad language, violence, blood, etc… In brief the series is about 7 Magi who summon...
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February 2012
12 posts
“There is no such thing as a child who hates to read; there are only children who...”
– Frank Serafini (via booksandnerds)
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“The difference between science and the arts is not that they are different sides...”
– Mae Jamison, TED2002 (via jtotheizzoe)
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To Improve Students’ Public Speaking Skills, Use... →
My whole life I have always enjoyed listening to people telling stories. About two years ago I was exposed to The Moth. What is The Moth? The Moth is a popular venue in cities like New York and Los Angeles, where people from all walks of life get up on stage and tell a story, without any devices, scripts or other materials. Stories can be of any content. They can be humorous, sad,...
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