Bubble Gum Sweat

New Habits

2010-06-08T10:17:00.001-07:00

So I'm starting work at a new school this next year. I figure that a change in environment is the perfect time to make a change in habits. I'm going to try to make the habit of updating this blog regularly. I will try for once a month and then see if I can kick it up a notch.

Teaching Support through Instructional Coaching by Grace Guthrie

2010-03-17T15:01:00.000-07:00

Great Link that came up in a recent department meeting. Thanks for the resources Grace!

http://www.sanjuan.edu/webpages/gguthrie/

FANBOYS: remembering conjunctions

2010-03-16T09:28:00.000-07:00

Cathy Franz taught me this neat little acronym today to help my students remember the list of conjunctions.

Making homework into classwork with mastery learning � Moving at the Speed of Creativity

2009-01-27T20:43:00.000-08:00

Making homework into classwork with mastery learning!

DIY Recording Studio

2008-10-05T19:10:00.000-07:00

Capturing clean sound in the Ardent TV studio has been a goal of mine for some time. The task is difficult because we have one of the busiest intersections in Sacramento right outside the window. Below is a video that has got me thinking about a fix I might try in the weeks ahead.

Darth Vader explains the Pythagorean Theorem

2008-09-18T17:27:00.001-07:00

This is very clever and so simple to pull off. Perhaps I can get some Ewokes together to reinforce the parts of speech.

The 25 best exam blunders...

2008-09-18T17:27:00.000-07:00

1) Classical Studies
Question: Name one of the early Romans' greatest achievements.
Answer: Learning to speak Latin

2) Biology
Question: What is a fibula?
Answer: A little lie

3) General Studies
Question: Jeff has been asked to collect data about the amount of television his friends watch. Think of an appropriate question he could ask them.
Answer: How much TV do you watch?

4) Classical Studies
Question: What were the circumstances of Julius Caesar's death?
Answer: Suspicious ones

5) Biology
Question: Give an example of a smoking-related disease
Answer: Early death

6) Geography
Question: What are the Pyramids?
Answer: The Pyramids are a large mountain range which splits France and Spain

7) Biology
Question: What is a plasmid?
Answer: A high definition television

8) English
Question: In Pride and Prejudice, at what moment does Elizabeth Bennet realise her true feelings for Mr Darcy?
Answer: When she sees him coming out of the lake.

9) Geography
Question: What do we call a person forced to leave their home perhaps by a natural disaster or war, without having another home to go to.
Answer: Homeless

10) Religious Studies
Question: Christians only have one spouse, what is this called?
Answer: Monotony

11) Biology
Question: In the Hawaiian Islands, there are around 500 different species of fruit fly. Give a reason for this
Answer: There are approximately 500 varieties of fruit

12) Physics
Question: Name an environmental side effect of burning fossil fuels
Answer: Fire

13) Geography
Question: Define the term "intensive farming".
Answer: It is when a farmer never has a day off.

14) Maths
Question: Change 7/8 to a decimal
Answer: 7.8

15) Geography
Question: What does the term "lava" mean?
Answer: A pre-pubescent caterpillar

16) General Studies
Question: Redundancy is often an unpleasant and unexpected event in someone's life. Give two examples of unexpected life events.
Answer: 1) death 2) Reincarnation

17) History
Question: What was introduced in the Children's Charter of 1908?
Answer: Children

18) Business Studies
Question: Explain the word "wholesaler".
Answer: Someone who sells you whole items - eg, a whole cake

19) Geography
Question: The race of people known as Malays come from which country?
Answer: Malaria

20) Geography
Question:What artificial waterway runs between the Mediterranean and Red Seas?
Answer: The Sewage Canal

21) Geography
Question: Name one famous Greek landmark
Answer: The most famous Greek landmark is the Apocalypse

22) Maths
Question: Expand 2 (x + y)
Answer: 2 ( x + y )
2 ( x + y )
2 ( x + y )

23) Business Studies
Question: Assess Fashion House pls's choice to locate its factory near Birmingham. Is Birmingham the right location for this type of business?
Answer: No. People from Birmingham aren't very fashionable.

24) History
Question: Where was the American Declaration of Independence signed?
Answer: At the bottom.

25) History
Question: What did Mahatma Gandhi and Genghis Khan have in common?
Answer: Unusual names.

from School Gate

No Strings Attached

2008-09-18T17:22:00.000-07:00

No Strings Attached

This website features exemplary models of technology integration across Florida. They are presented in a brief, open-ended style to make them easy to adapt to many situations.

Tech-Ease: Quick Answers to Real Classroom Technology Questions

2008-09-18T17:16:00.000-07:00

Tech-Ease: Quick Answers to Real Classroom Technology Questions

This site is a collection of tutorials for both Mac and PC users.

Kermit on Thinking

2008-09-16T20:55:00.000-07:00

This youtube video was featured on the Presentation Zen blog. It is a clip from the 1950’s in which Kermit the Frog does some Visual Thinking.

Faronics' Insight Lab Demo

2008-09-15T18:52:00.000-07:00

I spent some time looking for software to help manage my schools computer lab. I think this product looks like a great solution.

http://www.faronics.com/tutor/InsightLabDemo/InsightLabDemo.html

Do you believe?

2008-09-10T22:59:00.000-07:00

My first week back to school was greeted by three major topics: a promethean board demonstration, a copy machine demonstration, and a sharing of testimonials about the importance of enforcing the “No Chewing Gum” rule. I recently learned that thousands of educators in Texas were greeted by the words of Dalton Sherman. This 5th grade student not only pumped up his own school district for the job ahead, but also raised my morale. Thanks Dalton.

Wiimote Presenter

2008-06-18T22:54:00.000-07:00

"Wiimote Presenter was initially created to use the Wiimote with PowerPoint presentations. The program is free to download and use, there are no warranties or guarantees. Wiimote Presenter can be used for pointer control of the computer with the infrared (IR) camera on the Wiimote and a single near-infrared source."

Jason Smith's webpage - Wiimote Presenter

DRAFT: Top Questions for Technology Committee to Explore 2008-2009

2008-06-18T18:57:00.000-07:00

What does it mean to prepare students for the 21st century?

How do we recognize, evaluate, and facilitate effective technology usage by students and teachers?

What does appropriate technology support structures look like and how are they implemented?

What technologies models demonstrate improved communication between students, parents, and teachers?

What technologies models demonstrate improved student learning outcomes?

What technologies models demonstrate improved efficiency and effectiveness in organizations?

A Storehouse of Education Technology

2008-06-18T18:43:00.001-07:00

Last year I took over my middle schools media technology class. The class had no formal lab / studio at the time. I spent the summer converting what amounted to two storage closets into a studio. During that time I battled a jungle of old equipment cords, forgotten computer components, and a slew of discarded tech junk. All purchased at one time to help teach kids. As I worked through and cleared the mess, reminders of Rudolf’s Island of Misfit Toys came to my mind. Was this storehouse of education technology the result of a lack of training? Use? Compatibility? Did these purchases spend any significant time in students’ hands or even their classrooms? The question that still lingers: Where will our future purchases get stored if no one uses the new equipment?

2008-05-31T21:36:00.000-07:00

You can find ideas in the strangest places. For example, tonight I was browsing a $4 bargain book at Barnes and Noble called 1628 Country Shortcuts from 1628 Country People. In this book of all places I found a great idea to help organize all the extra cords my media class is tangled in! The books suggestion:

"Keep electric cords organized by storing them in empty cardboard toilet tissue tools. You can write on the roll what appliance the cord is used for."

Now I have have a free and easy solution to organizing a big challenge. The only real problem now is keeping a strait face in front of my 13 year old students when I ask them to bring in their family's used toilet paper rolls.

Low-Cost Multi-point Interactive Whiteboards Using the Wiimote

2008-05-31T13:17:00.000-07:00

A handout about constructing one of these interactive whiteboards was provided at a ELL workshop I was at this morning. Check out this video on how it works.

All you wanted to know about digital photography

2008-05-30T21:48:00.000-07:00

My friend Michael sent me this link tonight to review and add to my media class lessons. This site breaks down how to use a digital camera in a very simple way.

All you wanted to know about digital photography

How to Engage the Dotcom Generation (Reach Out and Teach Someone)

2008-05-28T21:52:00.000-07:00

I have been playing with Google Docs for about a month now. I love it! This link is a great introduction to how Google apps can be used in the classroom.

How to Engage the Dotcom Generation

New wall poster I stole off the internet.

2008-05-28T21:12:00.001-07:00

YouTube - Tips and Tricks for the classroom

2008-05-28T21:02:00.000-07:00

I was searching for new ideas to use in my classroom next year when I came across this fun video for new teachers.

YouTube - Tips and Tricks for the classroom

Those persuasive 6th graders...

2008-05-28T09:42:00.001-07:00

I have spent the last two days scoring district 6th grade papers. The
persuasive writing prompt ask students to propose what they thought
their school should spend extra funds on. The highlight of my day was
when I read this misconstrued student suggestion. "Please buy balls
for our school principal."

The Top 50 Proprietary Programs that Drive You Crazy — and Their Open Source Alternatives | WHDb

2008-05-20T21:56:00.000-07:00

The Top 50 Proprietary Programs that Drive You Crazy — and Their Open Source Alternatives | WHDb

Amazon Web Services @ Amazon.com

2008-05-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

Amazon S3 provides a simple web services interface that can be used to store and retrieve any amount of data, at any time, from anywhere on the web. It gives any users access to the same highly scalable, reliable, fast, inexpensive data storage infrastructure that Amazon uses to run its own global network of web sites.

Amazon Web Services @ Amazon.com

THE ABCs FOR FIRST YEAR TEACHERS

2008-05-17T10:11:00.000-07:00

Education World compiled this list of the 26 top tips for surviving the first year:

Admit your mistakes -- and learn from them.
Be firm but flexible.
Communicate with parents.
Develop a homework policy -- and stick to it.
Empower your students; don't just lecture to them.
Find time to attend after-school events.
Get to know all the teachers in your school and make friends with the cooks, custodians, aides, and secretaries.
Have the courage to try something else if what you're doing isn't working.
Institute a clear discipline policy -- and enforce it consistently.
Just listen -- both to what the kids are saying and to what they're not saying.
Keep a journal.
Learn your school's policies and procedures.
Model desired attitudes and behavior.
Non carborundum ignorami. (Don't let the imbeciles wear you down.)
Overplan.
Prepare interesting lessons.
Quit worrying and just do your best.
Remember that you teach students first, then you teach whatever academic discipline you learned.
Stay alert.
Take pictures.
Understand that the learning process involves everyone -- teachers, students, colleagues, and parents -- and get everyone involved.
Volunteer to share projects and ideas, and don't be afraid to ask others to share their ideas with you.
Work within your limits.
Xpect the unexpected -- and plan for it!
Yell if you need support.
Zero in on your strengths, not your weaknesses. (Remember -- nobody's perfect!)

email hell

2008-05-16T17:43:00.001-07:00

I would be interested in any software and habits other teachers use in
handling email. How do you quickly move through what is worth reading
and worth deleting? When do you find time during the school day to
check and reply to email?

automatic printing of email

2008-05-14T19:46:00.000-07:00

One of the responsibilities of my Media Class is to read the daily announcements during our news show. Sometimes these announcements never make it into the show because a teacher emails me to late, or a I forget to print them, or take them from my English classroom to the studio. So I got to thinking...What if my students could have the news printed right in the studio the moment it gets submitted? In order to do this a printer would have to be dedicated to to the email address news requests are sent to. This could be done using the software listed below. I'll be sure to mention if this works out or not.

Official web site for automatic print email

How do I post via email?

2008-05-12T21:53:00.000-07:00

Click Here to read about how to post via email.

Another use for email!

2008-05-12T21:51:00.001-07:00

This post was made by using my email. For more information take a look at the post above!

Very Cool!

2008-05-12T21:32:00.000-07:00

An interesting page from Carl Glickman's Leadership for Learning: How to Help Teachers Succeed…