Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---mid-June '09 Edition--- (current subscribers: 21,482)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
News and updates to Kathie Nunley's Layered Curriculum®
http://Help4Teachers.com
http://brains.org
You can subscribe to this newsletter at: http://help4teachers.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--------SECTION ONE: TEACHING TIPS ------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Teacher Tip # 1: Upon returning from lunch, give the students 2 minutes
to talk to each other before going into routine. This helps to get out that
"goofy" energy before settling down and focusing on the lesson. Use this
time to take roll, set out bell work, etc. Kayla Pearce, Watson Learning Ctr, TX.
Teacher Tip #2: Do (physical) exercises while learning and practicing new
spelling words. Ha Dinh, Parkview Elementary, Ft. Worth, TX.
Send your favorite teaching tip to me at Kathie@brains.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION TWO: HOT TOPICS------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOT TOPIC # 1: Be happy and not just because it's summer, but make it a
habit. Researchers have been studying happiness. Happiness is a combination
of life satisfaction, coping effectiveness and positive emotions. Happy people
have more desirable life outcomes in general. And it's not enough to just have
a general positive view of your life, you need in-the-moment positive emotions.
These build resilience and help you develop resources for an overall satisfying life.
Cohn, M et al. (2009). Emotion. Vol 9(3), 361-368.
=============
HOT TOPIC #2: When teaching early elementary classes containing students
who are English-language learners (ELLs), the teacher may want to enhance
vocabulary instruction with multimedia. So say researchers looking at this
instructional method. In settings with both ELLs and non-ELLs, the researchers
found that using multimedia significantly improved ELLs' knowledge of instructional
words to the point where the gap between ELLS and non-ELLs was nearly closed.
The effects for the non-ELLs, while not detrimental, were not significant.
Silverman, R. & Hines, S. (2009). Journal of Educational Psychology.
Vol 101(2), 305-314.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION THREE: WEBSITE UPDATES------
at HELP4TEACHERS.COM and BRAINS.ORG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
===Layered Curriculum® Units:
**Angela Kanerva, a Layered Curriculum® trainer in Michigan sent in 5 new
math units.
**Tom Plocker in Michigan, also sent an Algebra I unit. Tom tells me he made
units for the entire year of Algebra I this past school year, so I hope he'll share more
with us soon!
===Humanitarian Effort - Springs Alive School in Uganda
If you've ever read Dr Seuss's"Horton Hears a Who" you may appreciate our
new humanitarian project in Uganda. Springs Alive is a school near the city of
Kampala, Uganda that works with children who cannot attend the village school.
These children are generally prohibited from the "regular" school for a variety of
reasons - physical or developmental disabilities, the fact they have no parents
to pay tuition, or simply because they lack any clothing to wear. The teachers
at Springs Alive contacted me with a plea for help.
Brains.org is now trying to solicit schools here in the US to send teaching
material, instructional aids, fabric and other material to the school. Our first
shipment was sent last week thanks to Linda Maxwell at the Smithsonian
Anacostia Community Museum in Washington DC. If you are interested
in helping in our "Whoville Project" with your class next year please email
me for additional information or read about it at:
http://help4teachers.com/
in October to help their teachers with instructional ideas.
==============================
Notes from the Bookshops (Brains.org & Help4Teachers.com)
==============================
==>NEW Layered Curriculum® study kit for individual teachers.
I've made a narrated DVD of slides designed to accompany the
texts and workbook. The first one (using HS Science examples) is
now available. You can order it now at http://help4teachers.com/
==> Ever Popular - Layered Curriculum® Video Training Kits
==> All sorts of recommended books on a variety of subjects specific to education.
We appreciate your business. http://www.brains.org/store
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION FOUR: KATHIE'S EMAIL------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi Kathie,
I came across some of your work. I understand and agree with your
anti-extrinsic system thinking. I have recently been reading Alfie Kohn’s
work. Is there any research data that actually supports intrinsic motivation?
Robert P, AP Psychology, Wisconsin
==============================
Hi Robert,
Yes, in fact there is quite a bit of research. Teresa Amabile has interesting
research (regarding creativity and intrinsic motivation) and the king of that
research topic is Edward Deci. Search through the APA journals - Journal
of Educational Psychology in particular, and you will find quite a bit.
Best, Kathie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Happy Summer. I know most teachers are now "out" for the summer and
the rest of us are finishing up. I hope you are finding some time to recharge
and enjoy some warm weather. Here in the northeast, we're still waiting
on the summer weather - kinda hard to "recharge" your spirit in the cold
misty rain.
I had an absolutely fabulous week last week, however. Thank you, thank you,
thank you, to the teachers / administrators at Cashman Middle in Las Vegas,
Independent Schools of the Southwest in Santa Fe, and Saginaw - Eagle
Mountain district in Fort Worth. I look forward to seeing some of the
Layered Curriculum® units you and your teachers put together.
I've got a few projects I'll be working on over the next month including a Layered
Curriculum® lesson planner for math, reviewing a couple of new books, and
working on our Uganda project. I'm off for a little rest now through the month of
July, but I'm never out of touch -
you can follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/
If you are planning ahead for fall and looking for a workshop to attend, you will
find my calendar at: http://help4teachers.com/
If you are looking for a Layered Curriculum® workshop to be conducted at your
school next year, my Spring / Summer 2010 calendar are now open. You can get
information at: http://help4teachers.com/
Kathie
==============================
Workshop information is available at the website
http://help4teachers.com/
call: 603-249-9521
Email: kathie@brains.org
Brains.org and Help4Teachers is located at:
54 Ponemah Road
Amherst, NH 03031
Layered Curriculum® is a trademark developed by and registered
to Dr. Kathie F Nunley. Usage information available at:
http://help4teachers.com/
You are receiving this newsletter because you requested to be on my
mailing list by entering your email address at one of the two websites.
I NEVER share or sell my newsletter list, nor is it used for any other
purpose other than this bi-monthly newsletter. Should you need to be
removed from the list, or need to CHANGE your email address, you
can do so by simply clicking this link:
http://s1.seffylists.com:81/
Dr Kathie F Nunley
Layered Curriculum
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---June '09 Edition--- (current subscribers: 21,473)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
News and updates to Kathie Nunley's Layered Curriculum®
http://Help4Teachers.com
http://brains.org
You can subscribe to this newsletter at: http://help4teachers.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--------SECTION ONE: TEACHING TIPS ------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Teacher Tip # 1: As a "C Layer" assignment option - offer a "secretary"
position. This means that the student can type, proofread, copyedit, etc
another student's assignment. Not only does this help those students with
learning challenges, it benefits the "secretary" as they learn from proofing
the other assignment. I limit each student to no more than 2 secretary jobs
per unit.
Teacher Tip #2: I start each day by visualizing the classroom culture that I
want to achieve. Valerie Holland, East York Collegiate, Toronto, ON
Send your favorite teaching tip to me at Kathie@brains.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION TWO: HOT TOPICS------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOT TOPIC # 1: While woman have been blaming all sorts of cognitive
impairments on hormones and cycles, here's some research that may
have us re-thinking that old excuse. Research has long shown that stress
and the resulting cortisol increase, causes problems in memory retrieval.
However, new research shows that .the gonadal steroids produced during
a woman's luteal phase (the day after ovulation through the end of the cycle)
negates the stress-effect on memory. So apparently only men and women
during the pre-ovulation stage of their cycle have stress-related memory deficits.
Schoofs, D. & Wolf, O. (2009). Behavioral Neuroscience. Vol 123(3), 547-554.
=============
HOT TOPIC #2: Social stress during adolescence has long been associated
with psychopathology in adults. Researchers are using rats to try to link specific
types of stress (in this case "social defeat" stress) during mid-adolescence to adult
behavior problems in males. Rats who experienced social defeat in adolescence
were more anxious as adults, more excitable in novelty situation and had significant
altered monoamine levels in the limbic areas of their brains - dopamine,
norepinephrine and serotonin levels were all changed compared to the rats in the
control group. Watt, M. et al (2009). Behavioral Neuroscience. Vol 123(3), 564-576.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION THREE: WEBSITE UPDATES------
at HELP4TEACHERS.COM and BRAINS.ORG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
===Layered Curriculum® Units:
Attention Math Teachers - I have had many requests for more math sample
units. I need some "traditional" lesson plans for math - all areas and grades
to use to convert. If you will send me a traditional math lesson plan - including
the length of class time you normally devote to the unit, length of class period
and grade level, I would like to convert them to Layered Curriculum® math
units for everyone to see. If you have some time over the summer, please
email the units to me. Thanks!! - Kathie
==============================
Notes from the Bookshops (Brains.org & Help4Teachers.com)
==============================
Summer Reading / Learning Projects:
==>NEW Layered Curriculum® study kit for individual teachers.
I've made a narrated DVD of slides designed to accompany the
texts and workbook. The first one (using HS Science examples) is
now available. You can order it now at http://help4teachers.com/
If your class is interested in helping us get teaching materials to a village
school in Uganda - just let me know. Further information is available at:
http://help4teachers.com/
A Brains.org EXCLUSIVE kit including a narrated powerpoint on
Layered Curriculum® to accompany Chapter 4 of the Facilitator's Guide.
http://www.brains.org/store
WHAT'S AT THE Brains.org BOOKSHOP???
==> Ever Popular - Layered Curriculum® Video Training Kits
==> All sorts of recommended books on a variety of subjects specific to education.
We appreciate your business. http://www.brains.org/store
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION FOUR: KATHIE'S EMAIL------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kathie,
With Layered Curriculum do you still lecture and do other teacher-led activities?
I teach Language Arts at the high school level at an alternative high school and
I am always looking for ways to reach the students.
Thank You,
Mark M. Canton, OH
==============================
Mark,
Yes, most Layered Curriculum® teachers (myself included) have a portion of
the day for "whole class Instruction" (ie: lecture). You may want to watch the
tutorial on the homepage regarding "how to get started". It clarifies that issue.
Best, Kathie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Summer is just about upon us. I know many of you are now "out" for the
summer, and some of us have a couple more weeks left. My best wishes
first-off to everyone for a restful and joyful summer.
Before I take off for a bit of summer fun, I'm heading out on the road next
week for Layered Curriculum® training with the teachers at Cashman Middle
School (Las Vegas) , the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest
(Santa Fe), and Eagle Mountain-Saginaw School District (Fort Worth).
You can check my calendar page at any time to see when I'll be in your area
and find out if workshops are open to outside participants. We have several
available now at:
and conferences and to see what new units have been posted.
And finally as a reminder, I have my Spring / Summer 2010 calendar open if you need
to schedule a workshop for this next school year. Information is available online at: http://help4teachers.com/
Kathie
==============================
Workshop information is available at the website
http://help4teachers.com/
call: 603-249-9521
Email: kathie@brains.org
Brains.org and Help4Teachers is located at:
54 Ponemah Road
Amherst, NH 03031
Layered Curriculum® is a trademark developed by and registered
to Dr. Kathie F Nunley. Usage information available at:
http://help4teachers.com/
You are receiving this newsletter because you requested to be on my
mailing list by entering your email address at one of the two websites.
I NEVER share or sell my newsletter list, nor is it used for any other
purpose other than this bi-monthly newsletter. Should you need to be
removed from the list, or need to CHANGE your email address, you
can do so by simply clicking this link:
http://s1.seffylists.com:81/
Dr Kathie F Nunley
Layered Curriculum
Friday, May 15, 2009
Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---Mid-May '09 Edition--- (current subscribers: 21,418)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
News and updates to Kathie Nunley's Layered Curriculum® Sites for Educators:
http://Help4Teachers.com
http://brains.org
You can subscribe to this newsletter at: http://help4teachers.com/newsletter.htm
Unsubscribe & EMAIL CHANGE information link at the bottom of this newsletter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--------SECTION ONE: TEACHING TIPS ------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Teacher Tip # 1: Keep a large bin up front and toss in pens and pencils
you find in the hall or in the room. It takes ten seconds for students to borrow
one from the bin, and ten minutes for "find" one in their locker.
M Aubin, WD Cute Jr Hi, St. Albert, Alberta.
Teacher Tip #2: Paper Clip Reward - Each hour that we have no rule
infractions, we add a paper clip to the "chain". When the chain reaches
the blackboard ledge, we have a celebration / reward of some sort.
Victoria Park, Toronto, Ontario.
Send your favorite teaching tip to me at Kathie@brains.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION TWO: HOT TOPICS------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOT TOPIC # 1: Academic performance often begins to decline during
middle school - a most critical time of adolescent development. Parental
involvement has long been studied as a major factor in middle school
student achievement. New research now looks to see specifically, what
factors of parent involvement make the biggest difference on achievement.
Of the many factors examined, "Academic socialization" (emotional support
and parents view of academic study) had the greatest effect on achievement.
Nearly all types of parental involvement had a positive effect. The lone factor
that did NOT positively effect achievement? - parental help with homework.
Hill, N. & Tyson, D. (2009). Developmental Psychology. Vol 45(3), 740-763.
=============
HOT TOPIC #2: Simply adding 20 additional minutes of reading to the school
day will not significantly increase reading scores in elementary aged children.
So says new research out this month. The researchers also found that the
traditional lesson of reading, followed by teacher directed instruction
involving workbook practice or additional teacher-chosen reading, individualized
for reading levels, also is rather ineffective in increasing reading scores.
After analysing the most popular types of reading instruction, the researchers
found that the top 3 in terms of effectiveness were: (1) allowing student choice
of books for guided independent reading (2) reading of more than 7 pages of
continuous text from classroom books (fiction or non) and (3) 15 -20 min of silent
reading with teacher monitoring, requiring 2 or more books on the same subject,
reading applied to a global theme and follow-up open ended discussion.
Block, C. et al. (2009). Journal of Educational Psychology, Vol. 101 (2), 262-281
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION THREE: WEBSITE UPDATES------
at HELP4TEACHERS.COM and BRAINS.ORG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
===Layered Curriculum® Units:
***Karen McPherson in New Mexico sent us TWO Chemistry Units
for high school
***Gina Kimbell in Panama City, Florida sent FOUR Middle School
Language Arts units. The webmaster is posting them now.
===========================================
Notes from the Bookshops (Brains.org & Help4Teachers.com)
===========================================
Several new things to let you know about:
==>NEW Layered Curriculum® study kit for individual teachers.
I've made a narrated DVD of slides designed to accompany the
texts and workbook. The first one (using HS Science examples) is
now available. You can order it now at http://help4teachers.com/books.htm
==>NEW Humanitarian project with Springs Alive school in Uganda.
If your class is interested in helping us get teaching materials to a village
school in Uganda - just let me know. Further information is available at:
http://help4teachers.com/uganda.htm
==>NEW A Book Study Kit for "Differentiating the High School Classroom"
A Brains.org EXCLUSIVE kit including a narrated powerpoint on
Layered Curriculum® to accompany Chapter 4 of the Facilitator's Guide.
http://www.brains.org/store
WHAT'S AT THE Brains.org BOOKSHOP???
==> Layered Curriculum® Text and Workbook Sets. (special pricing)
==> Ever Popular - Layered Curriculum® Video Training Kits
==> All sorts of recommended books on a variety of subjects specific to education.
We appreciate your business. http://www.brains.org/store
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION FOUR: KATHIE'S EMAIL------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr. Nunley,
I am a 7-12 Social Studies Teacher in a small school in Nebraska. I have
been researching Layered Curriculum and I am trying to figure how to
incorporate it into my classroom. I have a couple of questions for you.
1. Do you continue to direct instruct (lecture) throughout the unit, or does the
teacher's role change to a true facilitator and tutor?
2. What kind of rubrics do you use to grade the assignments on the B and A levels?
3. How do you list the grade for the assignments in your grade-book ? Do you
have individual grades/assignments, or do you give each person one grade for
each unit they complete?
I am looking forward to trying something new in my classroom, that might
get my students to really get excited about class. Thanks for any and all
information you can give me on these questions. - Richard G.
===================================
Hi Richard - Thanks for your note. Gosh, it sounds like you really need the
LC text! I say that because I wrote at least one chapter on each of your
questions. So you may want to get a copy and read some of the details.
But to answer you briefly:
1. Most teachers still do whole-class instruction part of the day.
2, There are many ways to do rubrics - you have to set your own grading criteria
based on your personal expectations and your population. Samples of my
rubrics are in the text to give you ideas and many are on the website as well.
3. There are many ways to do grading - do what works for you or what is required
by your school. You can enter daily grades if necessary, or (as I do) enter one
grade per unit. You can list individual grades by objective.
Best of luck and have fun! - Kathie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION FIVE: WORKSHOPS / SCHEDULE / MISC------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Are you counting the days? Or Fridays? (My dear friend Deetta Bird in
SLC wrote me this week that she's just counting the Mondays - seems
shorter that way) . . . . Teachers get more excited about summer vacation
than the students do. As the weather warms, so does the excitement.
I thoroughly enjoyed my "last minute" trip down to NYC last week to speak
at the ELL science teacher's conference. What a great, enthusiastic
group of dedicated folks, working under some of our most challenging
conditions.
I'll be back out on the road in early June for conferences in Las Vegas,
Santa Fe, and Ft. Worth and that will finish off this school year. I sure enjoy
meeting so many of you on the road. You can check my calendar page at
any time to see when I'll be in your area http://help4teachers.com/calendar.htm
Or you are welcome to join me at: http://twitter.com/kathienunley
if you want the most up-to-the-minute news on calendar changes, new workshops
and conferences and to see what new units have been posted.
With the exception of one early date in August, my fall 2009 calendar is full.
I have my Spring / Summer 2010 calendar open if you need to schedule a workshop.
Information is available online at: http://help4teachers.com/workshops.htm
As always, my best to you and yours,
Kathie
=================================================
Workshop information is available at the website
http://help4teachers.com/workshops.htm
or
call: 603-249-9521
Email: kathie@brains.org
Brains.org and Help4Teachers is located at:
54 Ponemah Road
Amherst, NH 03031
Layered Curriculum® is a trademark developed by and registered
to Dr. Kathie F Nunley. Usage information available at:
http://help4teachers.com/usage.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are receiving this newsletter because you requested to be on my
mailing list by entering your email address at one of the two websites.
I NEVER share or sell my newsletter list, nor is it used for any other
purpose other than this bi-monthly newsletter. Should you need to be
removed from the list, or need to CHANGE your email address, you
can do so by simply clicking this link:
http://s1.seffylists.com:81/guest/RemoteListSummary/nunley
Dr Kathie F Nunley
Layered Curriculum (R) . . . because every child deserves a special education (tm)
---Mid-May '09 Edition--- (current subscribers: 21,418)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
News and updates to Kathie Nunley's Layered Curriculum®
http://Help4Teachers.com
http://brains.org
You can subscribe to this newsletter at: http://help4teachers.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--------SECTION ONE: TEACHING TIPS ------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Teacher Tip # 1: Keep a large bin up front and toss in pens and pencils
you find in the hall or in the room. It takes ten seconds for students to borrow
one from the bin, and ten minutes for "find" one in their locker.
M Aubin, WD Cute Jr Hi, St. Albert, Alberta.
Teacher Tip #2: Paper Clip Reward - Each hour that we have no rule
infractions, we add a paper clip to the "chain". When the chain reaches
the blackboard ledge, we have a celebration / reward of some sort.
Victoria Park, Toronto, Ontario.
Send your favorite teaching tip to me at Kathie@brains.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION TWO: HOT TOPICS------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOT TOPIC # 1: Academic performance often begins to decline during
middle school - a most critical time of adolescent development. Parental
involvement has long been studied as a major factor in middle school
student achievement. New research now looks to see specifically, what
factors of parent involvement make the biggest difference on achievement.
Of the many factors examined, "Academic socialization" (emotional support
and parents view of academic study) had the greatest effect on achievement.
Nearly all types of parental involvement had a positive effect. The lone factor
that did NOT positively effect achievement? - parental help with homework.
Hill, N. & Tyson, D. (2009). Developmental Psychology. Vol 45(3), 740-763.
=============
HOT TOPIC #2: Simply adding 20 additional minutes of reading to the school
day will not significantly increase reading scores in elementary aged children.
So says new research out this month. The researchers also found that the
traditional lesson of reading, followed by teacher directed instruction
involving workbook practice or additional teacher-chosen reading, individualized
for reading levels, also is rather ineffective in increasing reading scores.
After analysing the most popular types of reading instruction, the researchers
found that the top 3 in terms of effectiveness were: (1) allowing student choice
of books for guided independent reading (2) reading of more than 7 pages of
continuous text from classroom books (fiction or non) and (3) 15 -20 min of silent
reading with teacher monitoring, requiring 2 or more books on the same subject,
reading applied to a global theme and follow-up open ended discussion.
Block, C. et al. (2009). Journal of Educational Psychology, Vol. 101 (2), 262-281
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION THREE: WEBSITE UPDATES------
at HELP4TEACHERS.COM and BRAINS.ORG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
===Layered Curriculum® Units:
***Karen McPherson in New Mexico sent us TWO Chemistry Units
for high school
***Gina Kimbell in Panama City, Florida sent FOUR Middle School
Language Arts units. The webmaster is posting them now.
==============================
Notes from the Bookshops (Brains.org & Help4Teachers.com)
==============================
Several new things to let you know about:
==>NEW Layered Curriculum® study kit for individual teachers.
I've made a narrated DVD of slides designed to accompany the
texts and workbook. The first one (using HS Science examples) is
now available. You can order it now at http://help4teachers.com/
If your class is interested in helping us get teaching materials to a village
school in Uganda - just let me know. Further information is available at:
http://help4teachers.com/
A Brains.org EXCLUSIVE kit including a narrated powerpoint on
Layered Curriculum® to accompany Chapter 4 of the Facilitator's Guide.
http://www.brains.org/store
WHAT'S AT THE Brains.org BOOKSHOP???
==> Ever Popular - Layered Curriculum® Video Training Kits
==> All sorts of recommended books on a variety of subjects specific to education.
We appreciate your business. http://www.brains.org/store
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION FOUR: KATHIE'S EMAIL------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr. Nunley,
I am a 7-12 Social Studies Teacher in a small school in Nebraska. I have
been researching Layered Curriculum and I am trying to figure how to
incorporate it into my classroom. I have a couple of questions for you.
1. Do you continue to direct instruct (lecture) throughout the unit, or does the
teacher's role change to a true facilitator and tutor?
2. What kind of rubrics do you use to grade the assignments on the B and A levels?
3. How do you list the grade for the assignments in your grade-book ? Do you
have individual grades/assignments, or do you give each person one grade for
each unit they complete?
I am looking forward to trying something new in my classroom, that might
get my students to really get excited about class. Thanks for any and all
information you can give me on these questions. - Richard G.
==============================
Hi Richard - Thanks for your note. Gosh, it sounds like you really need the
LC text! I say that because I wrote at least one chapter on each of your
questions. So you may want to get a copy and read some of the details.
But to answer you briefly:
1. Most teachers still do whole-class instruction part of the day.
2, There are many ways to do rubrics - you have to set your own grading criteria
based on your personal expectations and your population. Samples of my
rubrics are in the text to give you ideas and many are on the website as well.
3. There are many ways to do grading - do what works for you or what is required
by your school. You can enter daily grades if necessary, or (as I do) enter one
grade per unit. You can list individual grades by objective.
Best of luck and have fun! - Kathie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Are you counting the days? Or Fridays? (My dear friend Deetta Bird in
SLC wrote me this week that she's just counting the Mondays - seems
shorter that way) . . . . Teachers get more excited about summer vacation
than the students do. As the weather warms, so does the excitement.
I thoroughly enjoyed my "last minute" trip down to NYC last week to speak
at the ELL science teacher's conference. What a great, enthusiastic
group of dedicated folks, working under some of our most challenging
conditions.
I'll be back out on the road in early June for conferences in Las Vegas,
Santa Fe, and Ft. Worth and that will finish off this school year. I sure enjoy
meeting so many of you on the road. You can check my calendar page at
any time to see when I'll be in your area
and conferences and to see what new units have been posted.
With the exception of one early date in August, my fall 2009 calendar is full.
I have my Spring / Summer 2010 calendar open if you need to schedule a workshop.
Information is available online at: http://help4teachers.com/
Kathie
==============================
Workshop information is available at the website
http://help4teachers.com/
call: 603-249-9521
Email: kathie@brains.org
Brains.org and Help4Teachers is located at:
54 Ponemah Road
Amherst, NH 03031
Layered Curriculum® is a trademark developed by and registered
to Dr. Kathie F Nunley. Usage information available at:
http://help4teachers.com/
You are receiving this newsletter because you requested to be on my
mailing list by entering your email address at one of the two websites.
I NEVER share or sell my newsletter list, nor is it used for any other
purpose other than this bi-monthly newsletter. Should you need to be
removed from the list, or need to CHANGE your email address, you
can do so by simply clicking this link:
http://s1.seffylists.com:81/
Dr Kathie F Nunley
Layered Curriculum
Monday, May 04, 2009
Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---May '09 Edition--- (current subscribers: 21,407)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
News and updates to http://brains.org and Kathie Nunley's
Layered Curriculum® Site for Educators: http://help4teachers.com
~~The NO-MEMBERSHIP-REQUIRED website which blends current
psychology research with education.
You can subscribe to this newsletter at: http://help4teachers.com/newsletter.htm
Unsubscribe & EMAIL CHANGE information link at the bottom of this newsletter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--------SECTION ONE: TEACHING TIPS ------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Teacher Tip # 1: Place a sticky-note throughout your planner as an
occasional reminder to include various learning styles, so you can
include an activity in the lesson to reach a learning style you may not
put in a while. No name, (workshop participant) Allegan HS, MI.
Teacher Tip #2: Use cash register receipt paper for a time line.
Amanda Stark, Driscoll MS, San Antonio TX.
Send your favorite teaching tip to me at Kathie@brains.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION TWO: HOT TOPICS------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOT TOPIC # 1: What is the relationship between adolescent depression and
substance use? New research sought that answer, specifically looking for gender
differences. Surveying and tracking nearly 1,000 students from 8th through
11th grade, they found that in girls, depression in early adolescence correlates
positively with alcohol, marijuana, and cigarette use. For boys, early adolescent
depression positively correlates only with marijuana use. The researchers also
found higher alcohol use in both genders during times the depressive symptoms
were expressed.
Fleming, C. et al (2008). Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. Vol 22(2), 186-197.
=============
HOT TOPIC #2: It has been well documented that children with strong numeracy
skills in kindergarten have an easier time learning math in 1st and 2nd grade.
New research from Canada finds that early math exposure at home is linked to
this higher numerical competence in kindergarten. The more often parents use
informal math activities such as board games, card games, shopping, etc., the
higher their child's numeracy skills upon entering school. Just as parents affect
early reading skills, they affect math skills as well. LaFevre, J. et al. (2009)
Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science. Vol 41(2), 55-66.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION THREE: WEBSITE UPDATES------
at HELP4TEACHERS.COM and BRAINS.ORG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
===Layered Curriculum® Units:
Tanya Stearny at Thornton Fractional HS in IL sent a new Microorganisms
unit for Biology.
===========================================
Notes from the Bookshops (Brains.org & Help4Teachers.com)
===========================================
Several new things to let you know about:
==>NEW Layered Curriculum® study kit for individual teachers.
I've made a narrated DVD of slides designed to accompany the
texts and workbook. The first one (using HS Science examples) is
now available. You can order it now at http://help4teachers.com/books.htm
==>NEW Humanitarian project with Springs Alive school in Uganda.
If your class is interested in helping us get teaching materials to a village
school in Uganda - just let me know. Further information is available at:
http://help4teachers.com/uganda.htm
==>NEW A Book Study Kit for "Differentiating the High School Classroom"
A Brains.org EXCLUSIVE kit including a narrated powerpoint on
Layered Curriculum® to accompany Chapter 4 of the Facilitator's Guide.
http://www.brains.org/store
WHAT'S AT THE Brains.org BOOKSHOP???
==> Layered Curriculum® Text and Workbook Sets. (special pricing)
==> Ever Popular - Layered Curriculum® Video Training Kits
==> My newest book, in light of the recession: "The Successful Educator's
Guide to Earning Extra Income". (Yes, a bit of a break from my usual topic
of differentiation - but there is another side to the educator's world.)
==> All sorts of recommended books on a variety of subjects specific to education.
We appreciate your business. http://www.brains.org/store
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION FOUR: KATHIE'S EMAIL------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Kathie -
With Layered Curriculum® do you still lecture and do other teacher-led
activities? I teach Language Arts at the high school level at an alternative
high school and I am always looking for ways to reach the students.
-Mark M., Ohio.
===================================
Mark,
Yes, I believe most Layered Curriculum® teachers (myself included) have
a portion of the class period for "whole class Instruction" (ie: lecture). You may
want to watch the tutorial on the homepage titled "How Do I Begin". It clarifies that
issue and shows you how to start with a "daily method". ( http://help4teachers.com )
Best, - Kathie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION FIVE: WORKSHOPS / SCHEDULE / MISC------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Happy May!! It's been a nice early spring here in New England - but it's
been such a busy time I've nearly forgotten to stop and enjoy it. So, today
I have the windows wide open to listen to the Oriole at my feeder and
enjoy the crabapple tree right outside in full brilliant pink blossoms. Only
one lonely bumblebee at work on them. I so miss the honeybees.
I had a wonderful time at St. Bonaventure University last Friday. We had
professors, pre-service teachers, inservice teachers, and support folks from
all over western NY and Pennsylvania. Great Day. Tomorrow I'm going to
make a quick, last-minute trip to NYC to help out the New York City Public
Schools ELL department. They had a keynote speaker cancel at the last
minute, so I agreed to run down there for tomorrow's opening session at
their conference. Sorry for the short notice, but I did post it on the calendar.
Speaking of short-notice, I have a Twitter account now if any of you would like
to follow it. I will update you on new conferences, newsletter postings, unit
postings, publications, etc., etc. You are welcome to join me at:
http://twitter.com/kathienunley
We have several open Layered Curriculum® workshops coming up this fall.
You can see where and when on my calendar page:
http://help4teachers.com/calendar.htm
With the exception of one early date in August, my fall 2009 calendar is full.
I have my Spring / Summer 2010 calendar open if you need to schedule a workshop.
Information is available online at: http://help4teachers.com/workshops.htm
As always, my best to you and yours,
Kathie
=================================================
Workshop information is available at the website
http://help4teachers.com/workshops.htm
or
call: 603-249-9521
Email: kathie@brains.org
Brains.org and Help4Teachers is located at:
54 Ponemah Road
Amherst, NH 03031
Layered Curriculum® is a trademark developed by and registered
to Dr. Kathie F Nunley. Usage information available at:
http://help4teachers.com/usage.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are receiving this newsletter because you requested to be on my
mailing list by entering your email address at one of the two websites.
I NEVER share or sell my newsletter list, nor is it used for any other
purpose other than this bi-monthly newsletter. Should you need to be
removed from the list, or need to CHANGE your email address, you
can do so by simply clicking this link:
http://s1.seffylists.com:81/guest/RemoteListSummary/nunley
Dr Kathie F Nunley
Layered Curriculum(R) . . . because every child deserves a special education (tm)
Monday, April 13, 2009
Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---mid-April '09 Edition--- (current subscribers: 21,402)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
News and updates to http://brains.org and Kathie Nunley's
Layered Curriculum®
~~The NO-MEMBERSHIP-REQUIRED website which blends current
psychology research with education.
You can subscribe to this newsletter at: http://help4teachers.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--------SECTION ONE: TEACHING TIPS ------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Teacher Tip # 1: We have implemented a "house" system in our
high school (think Harry Potter). It's been great. Kids always want
and ask for points for good performance.
James Hamric, Brooks Academy, San Antonio, TX
Teacher Tip #2: Use play-dough for students to describe vocabulary
words. - Emily Petkus, Fennville H.S., MI.
Send your favorite teaching tip to me at Kathie@brains.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION TWO: HOT TOPICS------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOT TOPIC # 1: A new study investigated middle school (grades 6 - 8)
student's perception of the social support they receive in all aspects of
their lives (teachers, friends, parents). Using various measures,
researchers found significant gender differences. Girls perceive quite a
bit more support from friends and classmates than boys do. In fact, while
girls report that friends provide the most social support, boys report that
they get less support from their friends than any other source. Since there
is a strong relationship between student's perception of social support and
student adjustment, schools may want to consider this new research in
planning support systems. Rueger, S. et al. (2008). School Psychology
Quarterly, Vol 23(4), 496-514.
=============
HOT TOPIC #2: Girls born to teenage mothers are at greater risk for
becoming teenage mothers themselves. A new study tracked 1500
young adolescent girls (some born to teenage mothers and some to older
mothers) for 6 years. The results - girls born to teenage mothers were 66%
more likely to also become a teenage mother, even after factoring out
other influences such as school performance, family status, and race.
The risk factors associated with teenage mothers include deviant peer
norms, low parental monitoring, Hispanic race and poverty.
Meade, C. et al (2008). Health Psychology. Vol 27(4), 419-429.
More Hot Topics at the websites!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION THREE: WEBSITE UPDATES------
at HELP4TEACHERS.COM and BRAINS.ORG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
===Layered Curriculum® Units:
There are several new secondary level Social Studies units and
elementary Math units at the website.
http://help4teachers.com/
Notes from the Bookshops (Brains.org & Help4Teachers.com)
==============================
==>NEW April 09:
A Layered Curriculum® study kit for individuals. So many
have asked for a single-person Layered Curriculum® training kit,
so here it is!! I've made a narrated DVD of slides designed to
accompany the texts and workbook. The first one (using HS
Science examples) is now available. You can order it now at
http://help4teachers.com/
Help4Teachers.com and Brains.org are happy to announce a
new humanitarian commitment to the Springs Alive school near
Kampala, Uganda. The school serves the most underprivileged of
the region, providing clothing, food and lessons by teachers who
frequently do not have food themselves. There is no water or
electricity at the school. All lessons are done orally or written on
the primitive blackboard and recited. We are looking to aid them
with teacher and student resource material. Read about the
school at: http://help4teachers.com/
and let us know if your class or school would like to help us!
WHAT'S AT THE Brains.org BOOKSHOP???
http://www.brains.org/store
A Brains.org EXCLUSIVE kit including a narrated powerpoint on
Layered Curriculum® to accompany Chapter 4 of the Facilitator's Guide.
==> Layered Curriculum® Text and Workbook Sets. (special pricing)
==> Layered Curriculum® Video Training Kits
==> My newest book, in light of the recession: "The Successful Educator's
Guide to Earning Extra Income". (Yes, a bit of a break from my usual topic
of differentiation - but there is another side to the educator's world.)
==> All sorts of recommended books on a variety of subjects specific to education.
We appreciate your business. http://www.brains.org/store
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION FOUR: KATHIE'S EMAIL------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi Kathie, What a delightful presentation. I do not believe that educators
are doing well IDing the ADD student. Would you have a good resource
for ADD? What criteria should we use as teachers? Checklists? Is
medicine the only treatment? Omega 3's? Neurological tests?
Thanks for any help. MJ. Ohio
==============================
Dear Ohio,
Identifying students with ADD can be challenging and diagnosis is always
done by doctors rather than by teachers. Certainly though, teachers may
want to suggest that parents talk to their doctor about any school concerns.
Traditionally, doctors have used behavioral checklists and then gone with
sort of the "treat it and see if it goes away" method of diagnosis. Despite
how that may seem to most of us, the research actually supports it as being
a fairly reliable and inexpensive way to diagnose the disorder.
There are behavioral interventions that can be used with ADD, so
pharmaceuticals are not your only option. What is clear though is that
you do need to make some kind of intervention. Most of the time extensive
neurological tests are not needed. While I personally love diets rich in
Omega-3 for joint care (must be my age!) , I have never seen anything
showing it has any benefit for ADD. I do agree that teachers and support
personnel need to have a better understanding of the condition and definitely
need strategies to help these students be more successful in our schools.
Best, Kathie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
having a great time working with teachers on both sides of the border on
differentiation strategies. I'll be back in my office next week though before
heading to St. Bonaventure University in upstate New York for May day.
I believe there are still openings in that workshop. (details on the website
calendar page). http://help4teachers.com/
the individual Layered Curriculum® training kit and you'll find that at both
bookshops. Also, we've taken on a new humanitarian effort with a village
school in Uganda. We hope to provide teaching material for the school,
and increase public awareness here in North America in hopes some
others may find their cause worthy too.
In workshop news, there are new workshops in the making for Ohio,
Wisconsin and Alberta. My Spring 2010 calendar is now open if you
need to schedule a workshop for this upcoming school year. Information
is available on line at: http://help4teachers.com/
Kathie
==============================
Workshop information is available at the website
http://help4teachers.com/
call: 603-249-9521
Email: kathie@brains.org
Brains.org and Help4Teachers is located at:
54 Ponemah Road
Amherst, NH 03031
Layered Curriculum® is a trademark developed by and registered
to Dr. Kathie F Nunley. Usage information available at:
http://help4teachers.com/
You are receiving this newsletter because you requested to be on my
mailing list by entering your email address at one of the two websites.
I NEVER share or sell my newsletter list, nor is it used for any other
purpose other than this bi-monthly newsletter. Should you need to be
removed from the list, or need to CHANGE your email address, you
can do so by simply clicking this link:
http://s1.seffylists.com:81/
Dr Kathie F Nunley
Layered Curriculum
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---April '09 Edition--- (current subscribers: 21,420)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
News and updates to http://brains.org and Kathie Nunley's
Layered Curriculum®
~~The NO-MEMBERSHIP-REQUIRED website which blends current
psychology research with education.
You can subscribe to this newsletter at: http://help4teachers.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--------SECTION ONE: TEACHING TIPS ------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Teacher Tip # 1: To clean tagging with a permanent marker, write
over it using a dry erase board marker, let dry and wipe. The tagging
wipes right off. Clara Rodriguez, Memorial HS, San Antonio TX.
Teacher Tip #2: To help students understand learning from different
perspectives, teach a concept, move desks and reteach. - workshop
participant no name, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Send your favorite teaching tip to me at Kathie@brains.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION TWO: HOT TOPICS------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOT TOPIC # 1: We are all familiar with trying to decide if something is
worth the effort. The decision of should you work that hard or give up
now and take a smaller reward is based on dopamine levels in the brain.
New research now is going further to dissect which specific dopamine
receptors are involved. Neurons can contain up to 5 variations of dopamine
receptors (D1,D2, D3, D4,D5) each triggered by different components in
dopamine and each responsible for different proteins and responses. In
training rats to work harder and harder to reach a large reward treat (vs
a small, easy to get reward), when blocking D1 and D2 receptors, the rats
gave up much quicker. Simulating D1 and D2 resulted in the rats working
harder for longer periods to reach the reward. The other subtype receptors
showed no effect. This new research may lead to a new understanding of
how to help people who give up too easily. Bardgett, M. et al. (2009).
Behavioral Neuroscience. Vol 123(2), 242-251
=============
HOT TOPIC #2: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and
oppositional defiant disorder (ODD/CD) can be diagnosed with some
accuracy at age 3. Researchers looked at 168, 3-year-olds with behavior
problems. They assessed them for ADHD and ODD and then followed
them for the next several years. The diagnosis of ADHD in a 3 year old
was accurate in 75% of the children and the diagnosis of ODD was
accurate in 66% of the children. So while many 3 years old with behavior
problems do grow out of the behaviors, early diagnosis may allow children
to be watched and perhaps provided with early intervention strategies.
Harvey, E. (2009) Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.
Vol 77(2), 349-354.
More Hot Topics at the websites!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION THREE: WEBSITE UPDATES------
at HELP4TEACHERS.COM and BRAINS.ORG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
===Layered Curriculum® Units:
Steve Ritter, Clinton HS, Missouri sent in ELEVEN Social Studies units and
they are all posted on the site now. Thanks again Steve!
==============================
Notes from the Bookshops (Brains.org & Help4Teachers.com)
==============================
==>NEW & Now Available:
A Layered Curriculum® study kit for individuals. So many
have asked for a single-person Layered Curriculum® training kit,
so here it is!! I've made a narrated DVD of slides designed to
accompany the texts and workbook. The first one (using HS
Science examples) is now available. You can order it now at
http://help4teachers.com/
Later this month, I'll release a version using Math examples.
WHAT'S AT THE Brains.org BOOKSHOP??? http://www.brains.org/store
A Brains.org EXCLUSIVE kit including a narrated powerpoint on
Layered Curriculum® to accompany Chapter 4 of the Facilitator's Guide.
==> Layered Curriculum® Text and Workbook Sets. (special pricing)
==> Ever Popular - Layered Curriculum® Video Training Kits
==> My newest book, in light of the recession: "The Successful Educator's
Guide to Earning Extra Income". (Yes, a bit of a break from my usual topic
of differentiation - but there is another side to the educator's world.)
==> All sorts of recommended books on a variety of subjects specific to education.
We appreciate your business. http://www.brains.org/store
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION FOUR: KATHIE'S EMAIL------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Angela Kanerva is a Layered Curriculum® trainer and a 3rd grade teacher
in Michigan. She sent me an update on the latest unit her kids did for math.
I think you'll enjoy it: ======
Recently the 3rd grade students at Pinckney Elementary completed a
Layered Curriculum® Unit on "Perimeter". First, we measured the distance
in feet around the playground to find the perimeter. We researched the
prices of different fencing styles like fancy white picket fence, and chain
link fence. Then students estimated how much fencing we would need
and came up with an estimated cost for a couple different styles of fence.
Last, they were to answer the A layer question “Should we put up a fence
around our entire school grounds?” with their opinion in a clear sentence or
two with a reason behind their choice. Below are some of their answers:
"No. If we do it is a waste of money. This school is old and nobody tries to
escape yet. Why buy it now?" -Adam A.
"Yes, because the chain link fence would cost $441. The picket fence would
cost $34,000. The chainlink fence costs $33,559 less. That’s a lot!" - Daniel S.
"No, because it would be too much money. No kids are running away. I don’t
like the chain link fence, but I do like the privacy fence." -Claire S.
"Yes, I think we should put up a fence so no animals get in like wolves,
foxes and deer!" - Nate
==============================
Thanks for sharing. Angela! - Kathie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rainy day here in New England and we still have a few leftover piles of snow
around, but I can see buds on the trees and the robins are back and busy.
I'm keeping busy too. As mentioned above, I'm making a series of individual
Layered Curriculum® training kits using samples in a variety of subjects.
A lot of you asked for training kits you can use on your own. So I've narrated
a DVD of slides to accompany the books. The first one uses high school
biology examples (gee, guess why?). The next one will use high school math
examples. We'll see where it goes from there. Any of them work for any
discipline, but I know many of you like to see examples specific to your area.
This month I'll be heading up to Montreal to spend a day at The Study, an
independent girls school and then down to Chicago to do a "Differentiating
the High School Classroom" workshop for ISACS. I understand there are still
some slots open for that workshop, so feel free to join us (registration link
is on my calendar): http://help4teachers.com/
University in New York on May 1 as well.
In addition, there are open registration workshops coming up this fall for
Allegan, MI; Cotulla, TX; and Inuvik, NWT (that one for the adventurous
travelers!), and Lethbridge and Edmonton Alberta. You can get information
and contact information at the calendar page of the website.
My fall calendar looks to be just about filled but I do now have my Spring 2010
calendar open if you need to schedule a workshop. Information is available on line at:
http://help4teachers.com/
Kathie
==============================
Workshop information is available at the website
http://help4teachers.com/
call: 603-249-9521
Email: kathie@brains.org
Brains.org and Help4Teachers is located at:
54 Ponemah Road
Amherst, NH 03031
Layered Curriculum® is a trademark developed by and registered
to Dr. Kathie F Nunley. Usage information available at:
http://help4teachers.com/
You are receiving this newsletter because you requested to be on my
mailing list by entering your email address at one of the two websites.
I NEVER share or sell my newsletter list, nor is it used for any other
purpose other than this bi-monthly newsletter. Should you need to be
removed from the list, or need to CHANGE your email address, you
can do so by simply clicking this link:
http://s1.seffylists.com:81/
Dr Kathie F Nunley
Layered Curriculum
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---mid-March '09 Edition--- (current subscribers: 21,376)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
News and updates to http://brains.org and Kathie Nunley's
Layered Curriculum®
~~The NO-MEMBERSHIP-REQUIRED website which blends current
psychology research with education.
You can subscribe to this newsletter at: http://help4teachers.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--------SECTION ONE: TEACHING TIPS ------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Teacher Tip # 1: To call on students use a popsicle stick with students' names,
or place the names in a bag using key rounders.
Roz Tampone, Del Rey Elementary School, Del Rey, CA.
Teacher Tip #2: Dry Erase markers work great on desks. I use them to label
desks when I'm rearranging students' seats.
Lyndsay Stephens, Jubilee Academic HS., San Antonio, TX.
Send your favorite teaching tip to me at Kathie@brains.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION TWO: HOT TOPICS------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOT TOPIC # 1: New research indicates that persons with Attention
Deficit Disorder(ADD) may have a shortened perception of the time span
of temporal events - particularly in working memory. This is suspected
to be the result of an impaired dopamine system involving the prefrontal
cortex. They tested this theory by checking what was the minimum tempo
that rhythmic movement can be sustained in both persons with and without
ADD. It turns out that those with ADD have a rhythm cut-off that was much
sooner than those without. Apparently these problems with dopamine
delivery have recalibrated the internal clock that sets the time scale for our
subjective thought process. Gilden, D. & Marusich, L. (2009).
Neuropsychology. Vol 23(2), 265-269.
=============
HOT TOPIC #2: Despite rumors to the contrary, there does not appear to be any
difference between the way male and female brains process words in reading.
Using over 200 subjects and MRI scans, researchers found no difference in the
involvement or asymmetry of either Broca's and Wernicke's areas.
Chiarello, C. et al. (2009). Neuropsychology. Vol 23(2), Mar 2009, 210-222.
More Hot Topics at the websites!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION THREE: WEBSITE UPDATES------
at HELP4TEACHERS.COM and BRAINS.ORG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
===Layered Curriculum® Units:
Michelle Ballinger, Columbus, OH, sent in an Astronomy unit.
Steve Ritter, Clinton HS, Missouri sent in ELEVEN Social Studies units.
(Give the webmaster a few days to get all these posted)
Steve also sent a wonderful Layered Curriculum® Reference Sheet
which he is kind enough to share - I'll post a link to that in the next issue.
==============================
Notes from the Bookshop
==============================
==>COMING SOON: A Layered Curriculum® study kit for individuals. So many
have asked for a single-person Layered Curriculum® training kit, so we have one in
press right now. It should be out by the end of March. You can pre-order it now at
the bookshop. http://help4teachers.com/
A Brains.org EXCLUSIVE kit including a narrated powerpoint on
Layered Curriculum® to accompany Chapter 4 of the Facilitator's Guide.
==> Layered Curriculum® Text and Workbook Sets. (special pricing)
http://help4teachers.com/
==> My newest book, in light of the recession: "The Successful Educator's
Guide to Earning Extra Income". (Yes, a bit of a break from my usual topic
of differentiation - but there is another side to the educator's world.)
==> All sorts of recommended books on a variety of subjects specific to education.
We appreciate your business. http://www.brains.org/store
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION FOUR: KATHIE'S EMAIL------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Kathie, I realize you are very busy, but I read an article online recently
[ http://health.msn.com/
agree with the psychologist about the homework issue. I think I know
where you stand but you are always more up to date than most of us
teachers. I saw your presentation a few years ago in Peterborough, Ontario
Canada and feel your [Layered Curriculum®'] is so sensible. I was not a science
teacher, but I felt you may be one of the few presenters who had serious
science behind what you have to say. Even though I have recently retired,
I still read your newsletter each month. -Peter Abrams
==============================
Hi Peter,
Thanks for the note and sharing the article. While I think both points the
author makes are fairly accurate, I'm not sure I agree with the way he links
them. In other words, he's correct in that research does not really
support homework in early elementary years and is "iffy" in the upper
years. And he's correct in the time frame for the development of the
prefrontal cortex. I'm just not sure that's the reason for homework's
ineffectiveness.
As you know, I think there are a lot of factors a teacher and school need
to take into consideration before "assigning" homework to any student, and
I'm certainly not a fan of school-wide or district-wide "homework for homework
sake" policies. But this certainly adds to the debate.
Thanks again for sharing. - Kathie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Irish or not, St. Patty's Day gives us one more opportunity to appreciate
and celebrate diversity. (Of course, my deep Irish roots make this week
extra special and the smell of corned beef and cabbage is already wafting
through the air).
In other news - I had a terrific time in both Medina, Ohio and Lake Geneva,
Wisconsin last week. In Medina, not only did we have the great faculty from
buckeye schools, but 100 outside visitors who came to join us for the day.
Thank you Medina for allowing so many guests to attend.
We currently have open registration workshops in the next few weeks for
Chicago, IL; and St. Bonaventure University, NY. There are open registration
workshops coming up this fall for Allegan, MI; Cotulla, TX; and Inuvik, NWT
(that one for the adventurous travelers!). New workshops are being planned
for Las Vegas, and Edmonton. You can get information and contact information
at: http://help4teachers.com/
My fall calendar is filling but I still have a couple slots open in August and November.
If you need to schedule any of "The Why and How of Differentiated Instruction with
Layered Curriculum®" workshops, just email me. Information is available on line at:
http://help4teachers.com/
Kathie
==============================
Workshop information is available at the website
http://help4teachers.com/
call: 603-249-9521
Email: kathie@brains.org
Brains.org and Help4Teachers is located at:
54 Ponemah Road
Amherst, NH 03031
Layered Curriculum® is a trademark developed by and registered
to Dr. Kathie F Nunley. Usage information available at:
http://help4teachers.com/
You are receiving this newsletter because you requested to be on my
mailing list by entering your email address at one of the two websites.
I NEVER share or sell my newsletter list, nor is it used for any other
purpose other than this bi-monthly newsletter. Should you need to be
removed from the list, or need to CHANGE your email address, you
can do so by simply clicking this link:
http://s1.seffylists.com:81/
Dr Kathie F Nunley
Layered Curriculum
