Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---August 2004 Edition--- (current subscribers: 12,669)++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
New and updates to http://brains.org and Kathie Nunley's
Layered Curriculum (tm) Site for Educators: http://help4teachers.com
Newsletter subscription available at: http://help4teachers.com/newsletter.htm
UNSUBSCRIBE information/link at the bottom of this newsletter
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SECTION ONE: Teaching Tips
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Teaching Tip #1: To encourage hand washing and as a bit of novelty, our teacheruses a bottle of liquid soft soap for a bathroom pass. - from a High School student at the Help4Teachers discussion board.
Teaching Tip #2: At the beginning of the school year I invite students to use visual imagery of recent summer experiences and even imagery of what the school year may be like. The students use this imagery to produce some type of art (painting, drawing, sculpture) or free-verse poetry. It then becomes part of a bulletin board and revisited at the end of the year. Devonna Hensley, Madison County Middle Schools, Richmond, KY.
Teaching Tip #3: When storing 12" rulers, slide them inside an empty paper towel roll. Exact fit and easy to store. LaVonne Ross, Whitley City Middle School, KY.
Send your favorite teaching tip to: kathie@brains.org
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SECTION TWO: Hot Topics
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HOT TOPIC #1. We've long known that people who are not touched and held much as very young infants can have a host of problems as teens and adults, but the biology behind it has been vague. Now researchers in Brazil are finding physical brain changes in handled vs non-handled infants. Their study involved other mammals, but found that infants handled during the first week had a very significant reduction or pruning of cells in a region known as the Locus Coeruleus (LC). This LC area is the region responsible for attention, some memory and sleep/wake cycles. Problems in this region have been linked to both attention deficit and hyperactivity. In their study, the changes in the LC remained very different in the "held and touched" infantseven for months afterward indicating a long term effect of early touching of infants versus neglect. Lucion, A. (2003). Behavioral Neuroscience, Vol 177(5), 894-903.

HOT TOPIC #2. In the Harvard Mental Health Letter released this week, there is good news for friends and families of problem drinkers. While the FDA recommends 2 alcoholic drinks per day, nearly a third of Americans consume more than that. But many of these drinkers can be encouraged to cut back through informal channels and discussions. In fact 75% of problem drinkers or abuses recover without intense therapy and intervention. Family, school counselors and friends can help with simple suggestions such as setting limits. You can read the suggestions at: www.health.harvard.edu.

HOT TOPIC #3: "Good sleep is the best predictor of life span and quality of life" says James Maas at Cornell University. Pretty strong words from this month's issue of APA's Monitor. The article is about one of the nation's leading sleep researcher's giving a presentation in Washington DC for congress. The presentationwas given not by Maas, but by Dr. David Dinges who has been studying the field for years. He is trying to advise legislators on the seriousness of the relationship between sleep and public health. The research has been plentiful for the last several years. Sleep deprived people can't think, remember, learn or react. Winerman, L. (2004). Monitor on Psychology, Vol 35(7), 61. Now ask yourself how many of your students are in this position? We've got to push the sleep issue forward with our school boards and parents.
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SECTION THREE: Website Updates
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**** New on the website: I've moved the discussion forum to a new site. Those of you who visit the forum know that it has been increasingly "plagued" with pop-up ads from the sponsor and I agree, they're too irritating. So, we have a new forum site which should be pop-up free. I transferred any posts from July to the new forum and left a link to the old one in case you want to go back and read something. Visit the new forum at: http://bbs.cartserver.com/bbs/s/1538/index.cgi
or link to it from any page at the website. Looking for samples of Layered Curriculum? You'll find hundreds from teachers around the globe, at: http://help4teachers.com/samples.htm
(no subscription necessary!)

**** Books: ~~This is your last chance to purchase a copy of the first edition of the "Layered Curriculum" text. Many of you took advantage of the clearance sale and we'll continue that for another week (mention you are a newsletter subscriber in the special instructions box and we'll take $5 off). The 2nd edition will be out mid-August. Details will come in the next edition of this newsletter. You can also purchase the companion workbook and the "red" book, "A Student's Brain: The parent/teachers manual" all at direct discounted prices from the website. http://help4teachers.com/books.htm

**** Newsletter now posted on-line too.Due to the increased use of email filters, many of you have asked for an alternate way to view this newsletter. I now post every issue of the newsletter the day it goes out, on-line at:http://www.nunley.blogspot.com/Bookmark the page so that if you ever have problems receiving the newsletter via email, you can read it online.

**** Any Layered Curriculum teacher wanting to be trained in giving workshops and presentations needs to apply NOW for the next trainer's week-end which will be held in late September in New Hampshire. Deadline for applications is this month. Get information and an application at: http://help4teachers.com/certifiedtrainer.htm

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SECTION FOUR: Kathie's Emai
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Hi Kathie, I have decided to create Layered Curriculum for my "Careers" Course I teach. This is a grade 10 course, required by Ministry, general overview of options after Grade 12, getting a job, planning for your future.As I looked at your sample units I did not see anything that looks to relate to this. Need some help, any ideas where to look? I am ready for a change.I am a huge fan of theme based learning, this Layered Curriculum seems to remind me of this concept. Thank you for your help. Ann M. . Ontario Canada.

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Hi Ann, My suggestion would be to look through other units at the website in related technical fields and modify from there. Or just start brain storming with some colleagues as to what is the C - basic information they need, B - ways to apply or manipulate that information, and A - a critical thinking current issue pertaining to their study. I always find brainstorming with colleagues to be my most fruitful experiences. Best, Kathie
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Kathie, My daughter was diagnosed (finally!) with SSS last spring. She is 10 yearsold and has experienced the challenges of reading and spelling and has great coping skills. She is an A student, great personality and knows she is a special little girl. Through testing, we have found that the light blue paper is best for her eyes and completing her school work with minimal frustration. However, we are having a hard time locating blue spiral bound paper. We are using legal pads at this time, but wish we could find the spirals to keep her work throughout the year all together to refer back to. Wondering if you can point me in the right direction. Is there a special place to order these "specialty" items from? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much, Debbie S
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Hi Debbie, It's always great to hear from other Moms who are dedicated to helping their child succeed in school. Unfortunately I don't know where you can get spirals of notepaper in other colors, but I'm posting this here hoping one of our readers can point us in the right direction. I'll let you know what I find out. Kathie
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SECTION FIVE: Workshops/calendar schedule/misc
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It's BACK TO SCHOOL time! I was in Kentucky last week with a group of teachers who I know are starting back this week and I've heard from many others who report back in the next week or 2 or 3. And there are some of you out there with still another month to go who aren't ready to hear those "BTS" words.

Regardless of how many years you've taught, the new year is always exciting. And for new teachers, there is nothing like the start of your first year. My sister is beginning her first year teaching this month in Irving, Texas (second career) and I've been nearly as excited as she is planning for her first room full of 5th graders. Best of luck Deb - you couldn't have chosen a better career!

It was great seeing so many of you at the Differentiated Instruction Conference in Las Vegas a couple weeks ago. What a terrific conference - hundreds and hundreds of educators all on a mission to help differentiate classrooms around the country. The energy was overwhelming.

This month is busy for my, as usual. I'll be in Warren, PA; Ogden, UT; Asheville, NC; Toledo, OH; Lancaster, PA; and Capistrano Beach, CA before the month's over. Sounds like a great trek across the US and I can't wait. I write today from my summer camp in western New York where we've enjoyed a relatively cool summer with the fire going nearly every night. If the rain will stop I'm going to enjoy my last few days of summer vacation in my hammock with a good book.

Keep in touch. As usual, my best to you and yours.
Kathie

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Dr. Kathie F. Nunley
http://help4teachers.comhttp://brains.org
Layered Curriculum (tm) - because every student deserves a special education (tm)
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Workshop information is available at the website
http://help4teachers.com/workshops.htm
orcall: 603-249-9521
email: kathie@brains.org
Brains.org and Help4Teachers is located at:
54 Ponemah Road
Amherst, NH 03031
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- posted by Kathie @ 6:57 AM