Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---Mid - September 2004 Edition--- (current subscribers: 13,117)++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
News 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: Use songs to teach important math formulas. For example I teach the quadratic formula to the tune of "Pop Goes the Weasel". - JessicaHarnly, Pequea Valley High School, PA.

Teaching Tip #2: As students enter the room I have them put the # of any homeworkproblem they had difficulty with. Other students watch the board and when they see a number on the board that they did understand, they go to the board and work the problem for their peers. If students still have problems, that individual can explain it to them. Diane Peifer, 6th grade math, Kinzers, PA.

Teaching Tip #3: Use shower boards cut into student slate size for individual dry erase boards for students. Teresa Bye, (no state).

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 now have one of the first pieces of research to show an actual physical brain change using biofeedback for ADHD. Researchersin Germany put children (ages 7 - 13) diagnosed with Attention Deficit - Hyperactivity Disorder through a "slow cortical potentials" (SCPs) training program for 3 weeks. They found a fairly significant reduction in impulsivity and improved behavior ratings from parents as well as changes in actual brain potentials. Heinrich, H. et al (2004). Biological Psychiatry, Vol. 55(7), 772-775.

HOT TOPIC #2. More research on the relationship between serotonin levels and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD). PDD includes persons with autism, Asperger's syndrome and PDD - not otherwise specified. Researchers in the Netherlands have compared platelet serotonin levels in children with PDD, mental retardation, and normal control children. They found plateletserotonin levels were much higher in children with PDD. The children with non-PDD mental retardation did not show this condition, which is referred to as "hyperserotonemia" (isn't that a great term). It's exciting to watch science get closer and closer to a way of earlier diagnosis of PDD. Mulder, E. et al (2004). Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Vol 43(4), 491-499.

HOT TOPIC #3: Loneliness can make you sick. So say researchers in London. A study released this summer shows that lonely people have difficulty with blood pressure, increased natural killer cells produced under stress and higher cortisol levels in the brain in the first half hour after waking. All of these are associated with things that can influence your health. Make it a point to help children and adults who may feel socially isolated and alone. Steptoe, A. et al. (2004). Psychoneuroendocriology. Vol 29(5), 593-611.
Read more Hot Topics at the websites!

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SECTION THREE: Website Updates
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**** Books:
~~Layered Curriculum, the 2nd edition is now available. This new edition includes detailed modification suggestions for a variety of issues including traditional vs. block schedule, Math, Kindergarten, homeschooling, adult education, honors and AP classes and more. It also includes elaboration on the "diamond" shaped modification for those of you needing "B" layer emphasis. The book is available alone or in a set with the workbook and the theory from "A Student's Brain". You can read the table of contents and order a copy at: http://help4teachers.com/books.htm

****New on the website:
**There are 4 new Layered Curriculum units from Lisa von Braun in Boston, all high school - 2 on poetry, 1 on Antigone, and 1 each on writing and literature.
** Donna Thomas in North Carolina sent a 2nd grade math unit (symmetric and congruent figures) and a 5th grade math (data analysis).
** Jody Paramore in Winterville, North Carolina has sent us another couple of units for Earth Science which we'll try to get up in the next day or two.

**** Newsletter now posted on-line too.
I now post every issue of the newsletter the day it goes out, on-line at: http://www.nunley.blogspot.com/ So, If you ever have problems receiving the newsletter via email, you can always read it online.

As an email reminder - remember that you will never receive any email from anyone at Brains.org with an attached file. I know there are a lot of scammers and spammers out there who are disguising themselves with other addresses, including mine. Unfortunately there is nothing I can do about that - but please don't open any attachments!

******Coming in October: The Layered Curriculum video training package.
By popular demand we are now going to be offering a Layered Curriculum video training package for schools. You may preview the packages and pre-order at: http://help4teachers.com/video.htm

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SECTION FOUR: Kathie's Email
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Kathie-I just started Layered Curriculum in my History classes after being exposed to it this summer. My question is in regards to the oral defense. I'm finding that I'm becoming inundated with kids standing in line to have me listen to their oral defenses. Sometimes this can last the whole entire period (46 minutes), which prevents me from circulating around the room. This then allows for moderate behavior problems, especially talking, to occur. Any suggestions, or tips?Any help would be appreciated! Thanks, JoAnn C., Illinois

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JoAnn, I'm so glad you asked this question as it is certainly one of the more common situations I run across. One of the things I tell other teachers is "The kids sit still - YOU move". In other words, have the students stay in their desks working. You can start in one spot in the room and move around. That solves a lot of the problems, most of which you've discovered. First, as students finish one thing they can leave that assignment on the edge of their desk and move on to something else rather than waste time waiting to see you. Secondly, it assures that you make it around to every student and no one gets lost in the shuffle. Lastly it does prevent those "moderate behavior problems" as you put it. Try to get around quickly to everyone - check to see what they are doing and that they are in fact doing something. If they have something to be graded, stop and do that, then keep moving. It works much better than having them come to you. Let me know how it goes. - Kathie
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Kathie - I've just discovered too that I wasn't lazy or disinterested inschool - I have Irlen Syndrome - what a revelation!Just one comment, though, on your webpage. You state: "Black words on whitepaper are the most difficult to decipher", and yet your webpage is blackwords on a white background.... I'd think about changing that if I wereyou!! Susanna

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HI Susanna, Thanks for writing. I realize at first it seemed a bit silly for the article to be black on white. However, there are many reasons it remains so:
1. Most of the people reading it do not have Irlen syndrome and for those readers, colored backgrounds are very difficult.
2. Even if the majority of readers struggled with it I'd have no idea as to which of the many colors to choose from would work best with them. As you know some colors would make it even more difficult.
3. Mediated visual input does not affect SSS the same as print.
4. Most people with Irlen Syndrome find it easiest to copy and past text into a notepad document on their own pc and print or change backgrounds to suit them and a white background original document is the easiest way to enable them to do that.

Thank you again for your thoughts and I appreciate so much you advocating for others who struggle with this difficulty. Best, Kathie
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SECTION FIVE: Workshops/calendar schedule/misc
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September always seems my month for catching my breath after a busy August. It's a nice time to slow down, enjoy the changing weather and the beginnings of autumn's colors.

I've had a lot of inquiries about the video training packages. They should be available in early October, perhaps a little sooner. Feel free to pre-order off the web and we'll ship as soon as they are available.

We've got our fall Layered Curriculum trainer's week-end here in New Hampshire next week-end which will bring a small group of experienced Layered Curriculum teachers together for some creative sharing and learning. Layered Curriculum trainers are always available to work with your school on training and follow-up support.

After our trainer's week-end, I'll be heading up north later this month to Manitoba Canada followed by a trip out to Idaho to work with the teachers in Rockland.

We have new workshops & conferences in the planning for spring and summer 2004. As details are available, they are posted on my calendar at: http://help4teachers.com/calendar.htm

Summer and Fall 2005 dates are now available. Let me know if you need me to hold something for your school or district.
Keep in touch. As usual, my best to you and yours.
Kathie
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Dr. Kathie F. Nunley
http://help4teachers.com/http://brains.org
Layered Curriculum (tm) - because every student deserves a special education (tm)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
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- posted by Kathie @ 7:29 AM