Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---Mid-November 2004 Edition--- (current subscribers: 13,663)
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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: Instead of using a time-out chair in your early childhood
classrooms, try using a "control chair". It can be placed in a quiet spot, close
to the meeting area. It serves as a safe place for students to gain self-control
in a positive and productive way and gives this form of discipline a purpose.
Discussions can take place prior to its use on the meaning of self-control and
ways we can gain it. - Jennifer Kellogg, Whately MA

Teaching Tip #2: I make homonym spelling lessons for my students: they
make flash cards with the words and their definitions on the card, so they can
see them together and tell which definition go with which word. -
Dorothy Chandler, no city.

Teaching Tip #3: Use flannel backed table cloths for bulletin board covers. (you
can get them at clearance sales). Depending on what design is on the tablecloth,
you can use it to generate questions (eg: what is the fraction of fruits vs vegetables?
How many parallel lines do you see?) The only caution - be sure to use the straight
staple remover instead of "jaws" so you don't tear it.
Marilyn Roberst, 4th grade, Amarillo, TX.

Send your favorite teaching tip to:
kathie@brains.org

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SECTION TWO: Hot Topics
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HOT TOPIC #1. Unlike reading, little research has been done on the genetic
component to math disabilities and poor math performance. A new study
from the U.K. is changing that. Researchers tracked several thousand twin
pairs in the UK from birth to 7 years of age. Mixing the environments and
teachers, but not instruction (UK has a national curriculum), they compared
math performance between twin pairs, both identical and fraternal. The results -
genetics make a significant contribution to math struggles and math disabilities.
The researchers caution however that although there is this apparent genetic
influence on math performance, it does not imply at all that there is nothing that
can be done about math performance. In fact there is much research to support
that good teaching and the home environment play a big role in math performance
in children. Oliver, B. et al. (2004). Journal of Educational Psychology, Vol 96(3),
504 - 517.

HOT TOPIC #2: Researchers in Russia have been studying bullying behavior in
junior high school students. Specifically they wondered if bullies and victims of
bullying could be predicted by looking for underlying psychological pathology. They
looked at hundreds of adolescents aged 12 -15 and looked for correlations between
bully-victim problems and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Conduct
Disorder (CD). They found that teens who were bullies tended to have CD symptoms
and low self-esteem. Teens who were victims tended to have ODD and low self-esteem,
and teens who were both bullies and victims, tended to have CD symptomology.
Constantinos, M. & Panayiotou, G. (2004). Aggressive Behavior, Vol 30(6), 520-534.


Read more Hot Topics at the websites!

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SECTION THREE: What's new at the Websites
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**** WOW - I've been swamped (very happily) with new Layered Curriculum units
this week. Give me a few days to get them all up. I'll try to mark the new ones as
many of you are requesting.
Stephanie Henderson sent a new unit on the "plasma membrane" for high school
science. Trainer Marilyn Washington sent ELEVEN new units on a variety of topics
including 4th grade government, Major Religions, Early People, and Volleyball.
Trainer Donna Thomas from North Carolina sent four units - elementary and adult ed.
Thank you all!!!!!

**** The BRAINS.ORG Shop is great fun. We are taking many of your suggestions
and are trying to stock the most popular and recommended books on learning and
the brain. We've gotten two brand new ones in this week on reading instruction.
We are also trying to carry your most requested learning aides. See what we
have this week at: http://brains.org/store/index.htm

****Layered Curriculum Video Training Kits are now available.
Because so many of you have had a hard time scheduling
Layered Curriculum workshops at your school, we now offer an alternative -
video training kits. Information is available at:
http://help4teachers.com/video.htm

**** Books: The 2nd edition of Layered Curriculum as well as its
workbook companion and "A Student's Brain" are all available at a
discounted price at the websites. http://help4teachers.com/books.htm

**** Newsletter: Because so many asked, I now post this newsletter
on-line for those of you whose email filters outsmart all of us:
http://www.nunley.blogspot.com/

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SECTION FOUR: Kathie's Email
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Dear Kathie,
I learned after parent conferences that I have an 8th grade student who is visually
impaired. It seems that he only has peripheral vision, the cause of which is in
his brain, not his eyes. The child compensates well! He even did a few crossword
puzzles for me! My colleague and I both have noticed though difficulty with book
work... note taking, reading, etc. We are seeking books on tape to make things
easier for him. Our library doesn't have much - there must be a lending system
for the blind?!? Do you have any suggestions for instructional techniques to
assist this visually impaired learner. How might we facilitate reading and writing
skill development? Thanks for your time., Lori M, N.Y.

==========================
Hi Lori,
Yes, I would really look for books-on-tape - preferably ones that have a hard copy
too so he can follow along. If your local library doesn't have much, there is always
"interlibrary loan" which just about every library has access to - just visit with your local librarian.
There also is the Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic Organization:
http://www.rtbd.org/
That might be a good option too at this point if they expect his condition to worsen.
And I would certainly include a touch typing course if he hasn't mastered that already!
Best of luck to you, Kathie

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Kathie - Here's a quick question:
When the kids are orally defending an assignment, do they get to look at
their papers? -Julie

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Julie,
That's entirely up to you. I'd say on some assignments it would certainly
be appropriate. Of course, make sure you clarify that in the rubric. - Kathie

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SECTION FIVE: Workshops/calendar schedule/misc
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Happy Mid November! The elections are over, the leaves are off the trees,
the clocks have been changed.....it must be about time for the start of
the holiday season!

I had a wonderful time earlier this month at the South Dakota ASCD conference.
They had a remarkable turnout for a state ASCD conference. I met many wonderful
people from around that region. One thing the conference organizers did which
I've never seen before - each participant got a ticket attached to their name tag
good for one free book of their choice from the conference bookstore. What a
great idea! It certainly got everyone into the bookstore - and was a great mixer
and conversation starter for the conference.
I also was a part of the MAPSA conference in Lansing, Michigan earlier this month -
another wonderful conference. Both of these topped off my earlier November trips
to southern Connecticut.
Later this month I'll be heading to Crystal Lake Illinois, near Chicago to work with
a group of middle schools there.

My 2005 calendar is just about full. I have an opening in May and a couple in August.
New workshops in the works include Victoria, BC on May 20 - if someone in that
area wants to piggyback onto that, let me know. There's a new workshop
in the works for early June in Abilene, Texas and several schools in the Winnipeg, MB
area are organizing some workshops for late September. I do still have a couple
workshops slots open for August 2005 - so if anyone is needing something for the
school year opening, let me know right away so I can hold it for you.

Thank you for all your email, ideas, and support. We have a wonderful community
of colleagues and I so enjoy helping us all stay in touch. My best to you and yours,

Kathie
=================================================
Dr. Kathie F. Nunley
http://help4teachers.com
http://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
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 @ 6:16 AM