Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---February 2005 Edition--- (current subscribers: 14,302)
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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: After your class completes a biography
assignment, give the entire teaching staff at your school a list of who
was studied. Have the staff sign up and send your "experts" out to share
what they learned. Their knowledge will enrich other students throughout
the school and the presenters will have opportunities to have their hard
work validated (and get great public speaking practice,too).
Jeff Wallowitz, Kensington, CT
Teaching Tip #2: Use the Tribond (game) cards to help students think in
relationship to classifying items into categories (cross-reference). It makes
a great starter activity. Kim Suedeck, Harlem H.S., Machesno Park, IL
Teaching Tip # 3: I put each student's name on a tongue depressor, mix them
up and pull one out to call on students. It always keeps everyone on their toes
and it gives everyone an equal chance to be called on. Mike Owens, Louisiana
School for the Deaf, Baton Rouge, LA
Send your favorite teaching tip to:
kathie@brains.org
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SECTION TWO: Hot Topics
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This issue will focus on some of the new research coming out on substance use/abuse:
HOT TOPIC #1. Researchers at Wake Forest University in North Carolina have
recently published an article discussing glue sniffing behavior in teens and the risk of
nerve damage. Glue sniffing remains popular with teens as a recreational drug,
probably because it is cheap and easy to obtain. However one of the under recognized
risks of this is the potential to develop serious degeneration of neurons in the peripheral
nervous system. The chemical N-hexane, a component in these glues, can cause leg
weakness and pain and with continued exposure, can cause permanent disability.
Becker, C. et al (2004). Journal of Adolescent Health. Vol. 34(1), 94-96.
HOT TOPIC #2: As has been covered here before, the popular recreational drug
3,4-MDMA known as Ecstasy disturbs both the serotonin and dopamine levels
in the brain and has been linked to long term reduction in serotonin brain levels which can
lead to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (among other things). Researchers have also
suspected that the chronic low levels of serotonin may decrease gray matter volume in the
brain as well. Because most Ecstasy users are polydrug users research has been
difficult, but researchers at Harvard Medical School have now used MRI scans to compare
polydrug Ecstasy users to polydrug non Ecstasy users. They found that indeed,
reduction in neocortical gray matter correlates with Ecstasy use.
Cowan, R. et al. (2003). Drug & Alcohol Dependence. Vol 72(3), 225-235.
HOT TOPIC #3: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is now seen in 1% of live births.
FAS is associated with growth impairment, facial distortions and serious problems with
central nervous system function. Children with FAS have a high rate of other problems
as well. In fact 40% of FAS children also have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Mental retardation occurs in 20% of FAS children and 30% of them have speech and language
disorders. Learning disabilities occur in one in four and epilepsy is found in one in 10.
The disorder is very costly to treat as most of these children have life long problems.
Early treatment programs are needed and prevention programs need to be strengthened.
Burd., L. (2003). Neurotoxicology & Teratology, Vol. 25 (6), 681-688.
Read more Hot Topics at the websites!
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SECTION THREE: What's new at the Websites
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**** New Layered Curriculum Units
Scott Wilson in Cleve Ohio sent a new unit on Newton's Laws / Friction.
DeLee Beadle in Holland Ohio sent 3 Music History units for High School.
Chan Floyd in Abu Dhabi UAE sent a unit on Chasing Redbird.
Trainer Peggy Childs has been working hard with the teachers in southern Utah
and has sent 8 New Middle School units and 15 Elementary Units!
The Middle School Units come from Hurricane M.S.:
York Hepworth sent one on WWII and Ancient Egypt
Sherrie Gubler send one on Blackwater Swamp.
Lolene Gifford sent one on Poetry
Jane Zimmerman sent one on Math - Money (special ed)
Debra Hurst sent one on Summer of the Monkeys
Troy Jolley sent one on Sound Energy
And there is a team unit on middle school reading.
I'll save the list of the 15 elementary units/teachers for the next issue. Thanks Hurricane!!
Read all the samples of Layered Curriculum at: http://help4teachers.com/samples.htm
**** New at the BRAINS.org Shop
The shop has several new recommended books this month.
"101 Stunts for Principals to Improve Student Achievement" by Frank
Sennett - a great book full of great ideas for any school principal.
"Common Sense classroom Management for Middle and High School
Teachers" by Jill Lindberg was also released this month.
And I got an email from one of my favorite authors, Robert Slywester
telling me about 2 new books he has recently read and thinks are excellent
must-reads on the brain - "On Intelligence" by Jeff Hawkins and "Blink"
by Malcolm Gladwell, so we've got both of those in stock now too.
http://brains.org/store/general/pg1.htm
Layered Curriculum books, workbooks and training kits are always available
at a discounted price a the shop. You can find those at:
http://brains.org/store/lc/pg1.htm
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SECTION FOUR: Kathie's Email
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Dear Kathie,
I have been playing around with Layered Curriculum for a few years now. I
still have lots to learn and work out, but I have attached a copy of my 3rd
attempt with hopes you can look it over to see if I am on the right track.
ANY feedback you have would be greatly appreciated!
My students love this way of learning! It is not uncommon for me to be
asked, "Can we do social studies all day?" or "Do I have to go to break or
can I work on my Layered Curriculum". My students are so motivated!
I am also interested in how one goes about becoming a LC trainer. I live
overseas and would like to look into the possibility for myself and/or our
curriculum coordinator.
Thanks in advance for your time and for the great things that you cannot
see happening in my classroom! - Chan M. Floyd, Grade Five ,The American
Community School of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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Dear Chan,
Thanks so much for writing and sharing your unit. I've put it up on the website.
It looks like a great unit. I think I'd just offer you two suggestions - first, you may
want to cut the length down. I'm not sure how long you spend on this unit, but it
looks like it may be quite awhile. For 5th graders you may want to break it into
2 units, so that each units lasts no more than a week or two.
My other suggestion is directed at your A layer. Remember A layer questions are
debatable questions and concerns - real world issues where you can find actual
research to support more than one view. The point of the A layer is to have your
students mix research with ethics, values, personal beliefs. You may want to
just fine tune some of those A layer assignments.
But thank you again for sharing - it really is a great unit and I'm glad you and your students
are enjoying it.
I've had a lot of interest in having international trainers and one of these days I will
get an on-line program put together. I will keep you posted on that. Please stay
in touch, Kathie
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SECTION FIVE: Workshops/calendar schedule/misc
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How did it get to be February already? I like February as the days start
lengthening just enough to hint that Spring may in fact arrive one day soon.
Here in New England we've had a whale of a winter so far. But today the sun
is shining so all is good.
I want to thank the wonderful teachers in Renfrew and Whitby Ontario for their fine hospitality
last week. Layered Curriculum is really taking off with Ontario teachers. We look forward to
seeing more of your units on the website.
I also had a great time yesterday with the BOCES teachers in Fredonia, NY.
I've got one more trip up to Canada this week - this time to Winnipeg Manitoba.
(Yes, I'm asking myself why all these northern places in the winter!?)
New workshops are in the planning for Pennsylvania and Michigan later this year.
You can check my calendar to see when I'll be in your region by visiting:
http://help4teachers.com/calendar.htm
If you have any questions, concerns, tips, lesson plans or suggestions please
email me: kathie@brains.org
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)
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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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