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News and updates to http://brains.org and Kathie Nunley's
Layered Curriculum(R) Site for Educators: http://help4teachers.com

~~The NO-MEMBERSHIP-REQUIRED website which blends current
psychology research with education.

You can subscribe to this newsletter at: http://help4teachers.com/newsletter.htm
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SECTION ONE: Teaching Tips -
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Teacher Tip # 1: I assign groups of students to "storyboard" a section
of text. One student is responsible for accuracy, one for selecting
which details are most important, one for spirit - the tone and emotional
accuracy. The groups do an oral defense of their work. Artistic skill
isn't as important as their ability to get other students to picture what they
have planned. David Marshall, Latin School of Chicago.

Teacher Tip # 2: Wear an inexpensive tool belt when teaching. It holds
dry-erase markers, passes, pens, stamps, etc - all for easy access.
No name, Lawrence Kansas workshop participant.

Teacher Tip # 3: Make a paper fridge and post student work. (I also
post awards that I would give after tests).
Amy Knutzen, Southwest JH, Lawrence KS.


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: Have a child heading off to college this year? Researchers
say that drop out rates at colleges could be significantly reduced if
colleges provided a more secure, almost family-like environment for
students in their freshman year. Students in single room dorms are
more likely to drop out than those with roommates. Students attending
classes in tiered classroom where they can see each other have
a more positive learning experience. Packard, E. (2007). Monitor on
Psychology, Vol 38,(7), 54.

HOT TOPIC # 2: Upper elementary students frequently struggle with
composition skills, particularly those students with learning disabilities.
Research shows us that writing competence can be improved by including
explicit instruction in self-regulation strategies in addition to composition
strategies. Students who were taught a self-regulatory routine involving
the self-reflective practices of (1) self-assessment, (2) goal setting, and
(3) strategy monitoring in addition to basic writing strategies improved writing
performance. Glaser, C. & Brunstein, J. (2007). Journal of Educational
Psychology, Vol 99(2), 297-310.

More Hot Topics at the websites!

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SECTION THREE: Website updates
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******** NEW Edition of the Layered Curriculum® WORKBOOK.*********

The 2nd edition Layered Curriculum® Workbook was released this week.
Twice the material of the 1st edition, I've added significant details for step-
by-step building of traditional Layered Curriculum® units as well as added
examples and directions for project-based units, texts that spiral, heavy
B-layer units, early elementary and units for course that need a lot of
direct instruction. I've also expanded the section on grading scales.
You can order the workbook alone or with the text at:
http://help4teachers.com/books.htm

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CALLING for NEW SAMPLE Layered Curriculum® UNITS!!
With the new school year underway, please remember to
send along some of your new units. Just email them as
attachments.
Thanks!! - Kathie

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SECTION FOUR: Kathie's Email
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Hello Kathie,
I’ve enjoyed browsing through the curriculum units in English, but I’m
questioning why some teachers who submit their ideas don’t include
copies of the worksheets and other related materials that they mention
in the assignment options? If the point is to share a resource, then it
would be that much more helpful to have the completed version.
Could a request for ‘complete units’ be made?
Many thanks, M. Watson

========================================
Hi M,
Thanks for your note. The sample units and ideas are terrific.
However, we certainly don't want to turn those samples into
"lessons in a box" per se! The fun of teaching is using your own
creative genius to customize lessons for your specific population.
So while the sample units give you ideas, you'll of course want to
use materials that fit your text, your specific curriculum, etc.
In addition, there would be some copyright issues to contend with if
teachers were to post their publisher-supplied worksheets.

Have fun with the ideas though and I hope you share some of yours!
--Kathie

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SECTION FIVE: Workshops/calendar schedule/misc
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The school bells are starting to ring across the land! I can hear them.
Many are heading back to the classroom this week and others will be
following soon. Welcome back to all those who've taken some time
to rejuvenate and refresh. Time to get back to work! I hope the
ideas are just flowing to make this a great new year.

I'm heading back to work too - back on the road to help many of you
start off the new school year. Next week I'm off to Barrow, Alaska where
I'm pretty sure I'll be enjoying some cooler weather! I look forward to
working with the teachers and parents in the North Slope Borough
School District. Also this month, I look forward to visits with teachers
at Bergen County Technical School in New Jersey, Saddleback Valley
Christian in San Juan Capistrano and Miles City, Montana.

Mixed into all the school visits, I'll be making my way to San Francisco
for 3 days at the annual American Psychological Association's national
convention to catch up on all the research hot-off-the-press. As usual,
I'll be sharing that information with all of you over the next few newsletters.
Always an exciting convention.

We've got new workshops underway for Montreal, Fairbanks, and central Illinois.
Most of the workshops on my calendar are open to outside participants. You
can find the calendar and registration contact information at:
http://help4teachers.com/calendar.htm

If you are looking to schedule a workshop for your school or district, I now have
my spring 2008 calendar open.

As always, my best to you and yours,

Kathie
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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

Layered Curriculum® is a trademark developed by and registered
to Dr. Kathie F Nunley. Usage information available at:
http://help4teachers.com/usage.htm
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Dr Kathie F Nunley
Layered Curriculum(R) . . . because every child deserves a special education (tm)