Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---January 2006 Edition--- (current subscribers: 16,326)
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News and updates to http://brains.org and Kathie Nunley's
Layered Curriculum (tm) Site for Educators: http://help4teachers.com

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Newsletter subscription available at: http://help4teachers.com/newsletter.htm
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SECTION ONE: Teaching Tips -
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Teacher Tip # 1. Attach Velcro strips to the top edge of student desks.
Students can insert pencils, markers etc., to keep them from rolling off.
No name – workshop participant.

Teacher Tip #2: To study for a geography quiz, I write the country (or river,
states, etc) on a blank map using pencil. With a partner we read each
label, then erase the last letter in each word and read them again. Then we
erase another letter from the end and read through them again. We keep
going until the whole word is gone. By now, we know the map.
Keller Nunley, grade 7 student, Amherst M.S., NH.

Teacher Tip #3: Keep in mind that January is one of our darkest months in
North America and the lack of sunlight can affect both students and teachers.
Open window shades as much as possible and supplement florescent lights
with incandescent lights to help with seasonal depression, anxiety and aggression.

Send your favorite teaching tip to me at Kathie@brains.org
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SECTION TWO: Hot Topics
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HOT TOPIC #1: A recent article by leading Harvard Medical School
experts summarizes the most up-to-date research and understanding
of ADHD(attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder):
The disorder affects about 10% of all children worldwide. About one-half
of the children with ADHD will continue to have some type of impairment
from it through adulthood. Genetic studies have shown it to be highly
heritable and while heredity seems to be the leading cause, some
pre-natal and even early childhood events can also be linked to ADHD.
From a molecular standpoint, research points to catecholaminergic
circuits and impaired transmission of the neurotransmitter dopamine.
Research in treatments has shown both non-stimulant and long-acting
traditional treatments such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) to be safe and
effective, especially when coupled with behavioral interventions and
treatment. Biederman, J. & Faraone, S. (2005). Lancet. Vol 366(9481) 237-248.

HOT TOPIC #2: Head trauma or brain damage to the frontal lobes does
not necessarily guarantee memory problems. While researchers and
neurologists have long associated the frontal lobes with short term memory
function, it appears that there are many subdivisions to the frontal lobe
region, and each area may or may not be involved with a different memory
function. So while we can continue to expect short term memory impairment
with frontal lobe injury, it is possible for that not to occur. Stuss, D. &
Alexander, M. (2005). Current Direction in Psychological Science, Vol 14(2), 84-88. .

More Hot Topics at the websites!

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SECTION THREE:
Website updates and Layered Curriculum training materials
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***NEW at the website****:

NEW Layered Curriculum units: LeAnn Winkler in Pinckney, Michigan sent in
several high school Health units. Thanks LeAnn!

NEW Article: I've completed a new article which summarizes the most current
research, causes and intervention strategies for struggling readers from
kindergarten through high school. What causes struggling reading problems
and what can you do about them? Read the article at:
http://help4teachers.com/JohnnieCanRead.htm

NEW at the Brains.org SHOP:
*My new book "Differentiating the High School Classroom" is available.
*We've put our PDD books on clearance.
*We now have new "book bundles" which offer additional discounts on
your favorite topics such as differentiated instruction and the brain.
http://brains.org/store

Layered Curriculum text, workbook and training materials can be found at:
http://help4teachers.com/books.htm

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SECTION FOUR: Kathie's Email
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Dear Dr. Nunley:
Hi, Happy Holidays! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season.
I would just like to inform you that my Layered Curriculum unit that I am
implementing in my classroom is great. I got the kids really hooked into the book.
I also believe in Layered Curriculum so much, that I did a presentation to the
staff of my school, Ronald H. Brown Charter School. I got a very positive response
from the teachers, and I know some of them are already planning on doing
Layered Curriculum with their classes.
Again, Happy Holidays!
Debbie Barretto , PA

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Debbie,
Thanks so much for the update and thanks again for sharing your units with
us earlier this month. How exciting to know you are passing along the information to
your colleagues as well. Season's Greetings to you too and Happy New Year.
- Kathie

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[NOTE: The Secondary Science Education department at the University
of Nebraska has started collecting and analyzing data on Layered
Curriculum versus more traditional high school teaching methods through their
graduate education program. I’m excited to see their results. I heard from
Dr Bonnstetter at UNL recently]:

Kathie - I am right now in a high school biology class with my student as
the teacher and one of my graduate students video taping. This is her first
unit using a full blown [Layered Curriculum] unit and it is going SSSOOOO well.

I really am looking forward to all the data we are collecting. I also have just
completed a beta version of an interaction analysis tool that allows us to
code in real time the teacher’s interactions with students. Boy are the patterns
of interaction different in here compared to a "traditional class." Kathie, I have
not had this much fun in years. My students (past and present) are creating a
critical mass that is growing daily.
Dr. Ron Bonnstetter, Secondary Science Education, University of Nebraska

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SECTION FIVE: Workshops/calendar schedule/misc
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Welcome 2006.

I hope everyone had a warm and wonderful winter holiday break and as
we slowly trickle back into our classrooms we now begin the downhill side of
the school year.

As I write this newsletter it is actually the last days of 2005. It shall be saved on my
computer until 2006. As you read this, I am somewhere en route to Nairobi, Kenya.
And IF you read this, then my wonderful husband remembered my instructions and
actually sent the newsletter out for me. I am on a 10 day safari trip in Kenya which is actually
a very delayed high school graduation gift for my oldest son (who is now in his 3rd year of
college, so you can see how delayed it is!). I shall be out of touch through mid-January, but
rest assured, I shall read and respond to all email when I return. The Brains.org shop however,
remains open so if you need to order books or fax a PO, feel free.

When I return, I shall finish off the last of the schedule for 2006 workshops and will open the
spring 2007 calendar. Please keep in touch. I always enjoy hearing from parents, Layered
Curriculum teachers and administrators. Don't forget to share a unit or two with us and we
sure could use some teacher tips for the next issue!

As always, my best to you and yours, and a most hearty wish for a happy, peaceful
and fulfilling new year.

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 @ 2:45 PM