Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---mid-March 2012 Edition--- (current subscribers: 14,718)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
News and updates to Kathie Nunley's Layered Curriculum® Sites for Educators:
http://Help4Teachers.com
http://brains.org
unsubscribe and email change links at the bottom
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--------SECTION ONE: TEACHING TIPS ------
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TEACHER TIP #1: I use dry erase markers directly on my tables and
desks. If you use low odor, you must use a spray to completely erase.
If you get the regular, it wipes right off. We use socks as erasers. My kids
love it. At the end of the day I wipe tables off and they are ready for the
next time. This is amazing for math and spelling. Catherine Miller
Elementary Special Education, Santa Fe School District
TEACHER TIP # 2: Empty CD cases with a white piece of a paper or
cardstock in it can be used for mini wipe off boards. - Ann Walker (email)
Send your favorite teaching tip to me at Kathie@brains.org
Watch for more tips via Twitter: http://twitter.com/kathienunley
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------SECTION TWO: HOT TOPICS in Neuro & Educational Psychology------
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From my new page: Research Making News Right Now: available at:
http://help4teachers.com/current_research_news.htm
HOT TOPIC # 1: Are you an "owl" or a "lark"? It may make a difference in
your mood and health. While most adolescents are "owls" the fewer "larks" or
morning-type adolescents have more positive overall affect and better
subjective health. The greater the "morningness" of an individual, the greater
the positive affect. This may be the reason older people in general report
being happier. Biss, R. & Hasher, L. (2012, Feb 6). "Happy as a lark:
Morning-type younger and older adults are higher in positive affect."
Emotion, preview nps.
HOT TOPIC #2: The emotional climate of the classroom makes a
big difference in academic performance among middle school students.
Regardless of teaching style or instruction, a positive emotion classroom
creates more student engagement and results in better academic
performance. Reyes, M. et al (2012, Mar 5). "Classroom Emotional
Climate, Student Engagement, and Academic Achievement".Journal
of Educational Psychology, nps.
More Hot Topics at the webstie: http://brains.org
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---SECTION THREE: WEB UPDATES ---
BRAINS.ORG & HELP4TEACHERS.COM
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New Layered Curriculum® Units:
1. Jayne Perkins in Maine sent a new unit on "The Human Body".
2. Marci Farmer in South Dakota sent a new unit on "Introducing Layered Curriculum".
New Article Posted: "Five Reasons Why the Economic Downturn Could
be Good for You and Your School"
http://help4teachers.com/economy.htm
News from the Bookshop:
The Bookshop now offers FREE shipping on all orders over $40, which
includes our new bundles: The Reading Teacher's Bundle & and The
Classroom Management Bundle
http://brains.org/store/index.htm
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------SECTION FOUR: KATHIE'S EMAIL
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Kathie,
Thank you for the information presented at the West Holmes Inservice day .
I have 2 questions for you.
1) How do you feel about the use of smartboard technology replacing
manipulating cards? Using cards the student would physically pick up a
card with a letter and place it in the initial position of the word. Using the
smartboard, the student would drag a letter and move it to a location.
2) You mentioned some students were not wired to learn as early as
we are expecting them to. What do we do with these students who are
not ready? Is it okay to present the material and not expect mastery
until a certain age? - Eleanor R.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hi Eleanor,
1. There is no ONE right way to teach anything - and that includes the
use of technology. Do you have to choose one over the other? Can you
use both? Alternate? My guess is some children would benefit from
one over the other and some from using both. The more ways you
can present a concept, the better.
2. Children vary in readiness to learn certain tasks, but not to learn
anything. So, if a child is not ready to learn to read for example, they
are certainly ready to learn other things. Continue to present the
reading tasks, but don't push it - make sure you provide alternative
learning activities (math, motor skills, etc) so they can make good
use of the instructional time.
Hope that helps, Kathie
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------SECTION FIVE: WORKSHOPS / SCHEDULE / MISC CHAT------
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Happy Ides of March everyone. Hope a little spring time is creeping into
your neck of the woods. We're in true New England spring mode here - days
in the 60's followed by days in the 40's, repeat....
Thank you again to the Kern Reading Association in Bakersfield, California
who made another nice donation for the Springs Alive village school in Uganda.
Not only does your support help feed the children there, but it inspired a local
girl scout troop here to run a spring fundraiser to help get their water bore
put in for the school and the village. Information on the project is at:
http://help4teachers.com/uganda.htm
I have a new article written and posted on the website on the brighter side
of the economic downturn - you may actually see improvements in school.
http://help4teachers.com/economy.htm
Lots of new Layered Curriculum® workshops in the making and the calendar
page has been updated. We now have upcoming open presentations in Maine,
NYC, Manitoba and South Africa. New workshops also in the planning for
California and Ohio. I list contact information as soon as things get confirmed.
http://help4teachers.com/calendar.htm
If you are looking to host a Layered Curriculum® workshop at your location, just let me know.
As always, my best to you and yours,
Kathie
Dr Kathie F Nunley
Layered Curriculum® . . . because every child deserves a special education (tm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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, simply reply to this and let me know.
=======================================================
Layered Curriculum® is a trademark developed by and registered
to Dr. Kathie F Nunley. Usage information available at:
http://help4teachers.com/usage.htm
Monday, March 05, 2012
Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---March 2012 Edition--- (current subscribers: 14,945)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
News and updates to Kathie Nunley's Layered Curriculum® Sites for Educators:
http://Help4Teachers.com
http://brains.org
unsubscribe and email change links at the bottom
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--------SECTION ONE: TEACHING TIPS ------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TEACHER TIP # 1: I have reduced eighth graders from asking to go to
the bathroom. How? By placing a mirror near the door entering my room.
I have come to the conclusion many teenagers ask to go to the
bathroom to make sure they look right when the bell rings and they
enter the hallways. Sal Buchetto (via email)
TEACHER TIP #2: A quick, easy way to make individual whiteboards is
to put a piece of stiff white paper (cardstock) inside a plastic page protector.
A dry erase or whiteboard marker will write on this and wipes off with a
paper towel. Elizabeth J. Wake Forest, NC.
Send your favorite teaching tip to me at Kathie@brains.org
Watch for more tips via Twitter: http://twitter.com/kathienunley
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------SECTION TWO: HOT TOPICS in Neuro & Educational Psychology------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From my new page: Research Making News Right Now: available at:
http://help4teachers.com/current_research_news.htm
HOT TOPIC # 1: When working with students at-risk for reading problems
and /or students with ADHD, reading comprehension can be improved by using
stories with novel and exciting vocabulary and themes. Stories which contain
active and vivid words and those with surprising endings are particularly effective
with at-risk readers. The novel stories increased student attention and increased
reading activation. Beike, S. et al. (2012, Feb 13). "The Snake Raised Its Head":
Content Novelty Alters the Reading Performance of Students At Risk for Reading
Disabilities and ADHD. Journal of Educational Psychology, Feb 13 , 2012, preview nps.
HOT TOPIC #2: Literacy and Language competence are very strongly correlated
with emotional competence in elementary-aged children. Researchers found that
children who had a strong receptive vocabulary, strong verbal fluency, and
better understanding of narrative structure tend to be better at recognizing emotion
on facial expressions, and have a keen awareness of emotion and are able to express
their own emotions better. Beck, L. et al. (2011, Dec 12) "Relationship between
language competence and emotional competence in middle childhood."
Emotion, preview, nps.
More Hot Topics at the webstie: http://brains.org
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---SECTION THREE: WEB UPDATES ---
BRAINS.ORG & HELP4TEACHERS.COM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New Layered Curriculum® Unit:
Jo Ann James from Bryan, TX just sent a new unit on "The Phantom Tollbooth".
It should be posted in the next day or two. Thank you Jo Ann!
From the Bookshop:
The Bookshop now offers FREE shipping on all orders over $40, which
includes our new bundles: The Reading Teacher's Bundle & and The
Classroom Management Bundle
http://brains.org/store/index.htm
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------SECTION FOUR: KATHIE'S EMAIL
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Kathie, We are thinking about changing the time of the day students
take their state standardized test, to better fit their cycle.
1) Students take the test when they get to school, which would be
at 7:30, after breakfast.
2) Students take the test after lunch, which would be at 11:30.
In both cases students have to be at school at the normal time.
Any thoughts? - Jon, Ohio.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hi Jon,
Most adolescents are quite sleep-deprived people. Therefore, I
personally would rather have them take a test in the morning
when they are a bit "fresher". Sleep deprived people tend to
really crash right after the mid-day meal, so that would
probably not be their best performance time. - Kathie
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------SECTION FIVE: WORKSHOPS / SCHEDULE / MISC CHAT------
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Happy March. In true "March comes in like a lion..." fashion, we were hit
with a big snow last weekend, but hopefully it will be going "out like a lamb"
fairly soon. We were also on our winter break last week here in New Hampshire,
so I took a couple of my children on a little vacation to Arizona. We had a
great week learning about various Native American tribes. We visited both
the San Carlos and White River bands of Apache, as well as the Navajo and
Hopi nations.
I want to pass along a big THANK YOU also to the Kern Reading Association
in Bakersfield, California who made another nice donation for the Springs Alive
village school in Uganda. This will go far in helping provide lunches for the children.
I also want to thank the teachers in Millersburg, Ohio for their warm welcome last
week while I visited their school. New workshops are in the planning for
Massachusetts, Alberta, Ohio, California, and New York City, so keep an eye on the
calendar page. I list contact information as soon as things get confirmed.
http://help4teachers.com/calendar.htm
I still have one opening in May on my spring 2012 calendar for workshops and my
fall 2012 calendar is now open. So, if you are looking to host a Layered
Curriculum® workshop, just let me know.
As always, my best to you and yours,
Kathie
Dr Kathie F Nunley
Layered Curriculum® . . . because every child deserves a special education (tm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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, simply reply to this and let me know.
=======================================================
Layered Curriculum® is a trademark developed by and registered
to Dr. Kathie F Nunley. Usage information available at:
http://help4teachers.com/usage.htm
Friday, February 17, 2012
Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---mid-February 2012 Edition--- (current subscribers: 14,898)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
News and updates to Kathie Nunley's Layered Curriculum® Sites for Educators:
http://Help4Teachers.com
http://brains.org
unsubscribe and email change links at the bottom
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--------SECTION ONE: TEACHING TIPS ------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TEACHER TIP # 1: Save empty boxes that hold kitchen plastic wrap. The
serrated edge works great if you need a fast way to tear paper.
You can have one for boys and one for girls. Include items like folded
paper towels, liquid soap, small paper cups, hygiene products.
The kit functions as the hall pass and encourages hygiene. Have the
student replenish the kits when returned, from the supply cabinet.
Send your favorite teaching tip to me at Kathie@brains.org
Watch for more tips via Twitter: http://twitter.com/
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------SECTION TWO: HOT TOPICS in Neuro & Educational Psychology------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From my new page: Research Making News Right Now: available at:
http://help4teachers.com/
HOT TOPIC # 1: High-stress events cause negative affect in just
about everyone - sleep deprived or not. But even the smallest-stress
daily events can cause high negative affect in people who have
sleep-deprivation. Small stress events can impact cognitive function,
decision making and learning. Minkel, J. et al (2012 Feb) "Sleep
deprivation and stressors: Evidence for elevated negative affect in
response to mild stressors when sleep deprived." Emotion, nps.
HOT TOPIC #2: Do you know where your children are? Apparently that
is very important for parents of teens Research continues to support the
idea that parent's knowledge of their teen's whereabout and their activities
is the strongest prevention for adolescent substance use and delinquency.
A new study out this month shows that this relationship is even stronger
in adolescents with ADHD. So, despite the difficulty in parenting teens with
ADHD, knowing where they are and what they are doing is your best protection
against risky behavior. Walther, C. et al (2012, Feb 13). "Substance Use and
Delinquency Among Adolescents With Childhood ADHD: The Protective Role
of Parenting. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, preview, no page specified.
More Hot Topics at the webstie: http://brains.org
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---SECTION THREE: WEB UPDATES ---
BRAINS.ORG & HELP4TEACHERS.COM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Watch my Twitter feeds for weekly hot research updates from the
fields of educational psychology and neuropsychology. You can
also read them and get citations at the website:
http://help4teachers.com/
From the Bookshop:
Discounted Special Bundles this month: The Reading Teacher's Bundle
and The Classroom Management Bundle
http://brains.org/store/index.
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------SECTION FOUR: KATHIE'S EMAIL
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Kathie,
Will you be coming to the Idaho area soon or is there an online course
for Layered Curriculum that I can take? S.C., Pocatello
S.C., Right now, I don't have anything scheduled for Idaho, but things
get added all the time and we are now beginning to put up the fall 2012
schedule. Watch the calendar page for updates. In the meantime, we
do offer a Layered Curriculum® individual study kit which include an A/V
lesson, video and the text and workbook. It is available through the
bookshop at both websites. - Kathie
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------SECTION FIVE: WORKSHOPS / SCHEDULE / MISC CHAT------
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Happy Valentine's Day to everyone. I hope you are having a wonderful
week and enjoying the longer days. Apparently we are skipping winter this
year in the northeast, and truthfully, I welcome the break.
I did see a small bit of snow this week while visiting Toronto. We had a
fantastic day at the Ontario Art Gallery with a group of secondary teachers
from the Toronto District School Board. Next week I'll be heading to
Millersburg Ohio for a morning session on the brain with the West Holmes
Local Schools teachers.
New workshops are in the planning for Massachusetts and Florida, so
keep an eye on the calendar for something near you:
http://help4teachers.com/
I still have a few openings on my spring 2012 calendar for workshops and my
fall 2012 calendar is now open. So, if you are looking to host a Layered
Curriculum® workshop, just let me know.
As always, my best to you and yours,
Kathie
Dr Kathie F Nunley
Layered Curriculum® . . . because every child deserves a special education (tm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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, simply reply to this and let me know.
=======================================================
Layered Curriculum® is a trademark developed by and registered
to Dr. Kathie F Nunley. Usage information available at:
http://help4teachers.com/
