+++++++++++++++++++++++
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
Unsubscribe & EMAIL CHANGE information link at the bottom of this newsletter

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--------SECTION ONE: TEACHING TIPS ------
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Teacher Tip # 1: Teach a lesson while sitting in the desk of a student.
You'll get a fresh perspective. --Angela Myles, Toronto District School Board.

Teacher Tip # 2: Write the names of 3 different students on a cue card
and place it on your desk each day. Make a point to compliment or pay
special attention to those students that day. --Christina Rajabalan,
East York Collegiate, Toronto.

Teacher Tip # 3: Post in the classroom, the overall and specific
expectations of a lesson, unit or course. --Solomon Elder, Toronto
District School Board.

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: The University of NH"s Crimes Against Children Center
has released quite interesting and perhaps surprising research results on
stereotypic on-line predators. Despite how they may be depicted in media,
most on-line predators are adults, soliciting teens, and are quite up-front with
their intentions. They spend a great deal of time developing a relationship
with the young person who then truly begins to feel that it is a valid romantic
relationship. Having information or pages posted at social networking sites
does NOT appear to increase the risk of being a victim. The researchers
suggest that rather than our current focus of warning young kids not to post
personal information on-line, our focus should be with teens and warning them of
the dangers of developing romantic relationships via internet chat rooms and
instant messaging. Wolak, J. et al. (2008) American Psychologist,
Vol. 63, No.2 .

HOT TOPIC #2: If your school is trying to fight childhood obesity by replacing
sugary sodas with artificially sweetened drinks - you may want to rethink the
situation. New research shows that artificial sweetners may actually slow down
metabolism and encourage overeating. While the studies thus far use only
lab animals, apparently having a sweet-taste in the mouth is linked in the brain to
the thought that calories and energy are on their way. When those calories do not
appear, the metabolism is confused and activity level decreases and the desire to
eat increases. Swithers, S. & Davidson, T. (2008) Behavioral Neuroscience,
Vol. 122, No. 1.

More Hot Topics at the websites!

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------SECTION THREE: WEBSITE UPDATES------
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**From HELP4TEACHERS.COM*** New Layered Curriculum® Sample Units:

Jody Yates at Emerald High School in Greenwood, SC sent in 2 HS units:
a psychology unit on Adulthood and Old Age and a World History unit on Rome.

Deborah Hercsek from Nordonia in Northfield, OH sent 2 units on the Middle East.

Dan Hodge, at Brewer Middle School, in Greenwood, SC sent a Human Body unit.

Thanks so much to everyone.
See all the units at: http://Help4Teachers.com/samples.htm
If you have an Layered Curriculum® units you have designed, please share
them with us! Just email them to kathie@brains.org.
=================================

Layered Curriculum® Trainers - ONLINE TRAINING SESSION
=====APPLICATION DEADLINE is THIS WEEK =====

The application deadline for our April 18 - 19 Training of Trainers on-line
seminar is this Friday. If you are an experienced Layered Curriculum®
teacher who has thought about giving workshops and presentations
to fellow teachers within your district or around the country, you may want to
join us for the trainers training. The course is open to anyone who has
attended one of my Layered Curriculum® workshops and has experience
designing and implementing units in your own classroom. More information
and an application are available at:
http://help4teachers.com/onlinetrainingapplication.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
********From BRAINS.ORG: ***********
Our Brains.org Shop has a great selection of my most recommended
books and teaching aids. New selections this month include
"Teaching the Male Brain: How boys think, feel, and learn in
school" and Marilee Springer's new book: "The Developing Brain:
birth to age eight".

Our shop always carries Layered Curriculum® texts and workbooks at our
exclusive direct discounted price. You'll be happy to know that each
order is charged and processed individually by a real human - and yes,
we do take Purchase Orders. We always appreciate your business.
http://brains.org/store/index.htm

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------SECTION FOUR: KATHIE'S EMAIL------
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Kathie, I've attached my new unit on the human body systems.

In the last unit on Cells and Heredity, 96% of my students finished the
C Layer and met the state standards. Nearly 1/2 finished the B Layer,
and 1/3 finished the A Layer. These are the highest percentages of the year!

One of the things I did to encourage the students to keep moving up is to
put three pieces of chart paper on the wall, labeled C, B, and A layer. When
a student completed the requirements for a layer, I had them write their
name on the paper, using any color marker I had. I could detect excitement
about getting to put their name down, and I hope to see the percentage
completing each layer increase during this unit.

Right now, I'm thinking of some big surprise for the kids at the end of the
state testing. They have exceeded my expectations. Behavior problems
are almost (not quite!) non-existent, and word is spreading along the hall.
Most days, students who are going to the office, bathroom, etc. during
class stop by my door and just look at the work being done. The principal
came in the other day and could not find me when he first came in. I was
at a desk showing some kids how to use a microscope. Everyone was
working. He just shook his head and left. Later, he said that my kids
were more engaged in their work than any others on the hall, and
wondered how I did it. I told him it wasn't me, it was us...we all worked
hard to get to where we are.

I had to do a Prof. Dev. class on some of our new software, and my sub
told me that he felt like he wasn't needed! When he got to the room that
morning, kids were already working and he just came in, took roll, and
watched. I am so proud of what they are doing!
Thanks again for the encouragement. Layered Curriculum has helped
restore sanity to my teaching, and TEACHING IS FUN AGAIN!

Dan B. Hodge, B.A., B.S., M.Ed.
Brewer Middle School, Greenwood, South Carolina

====================================
Yeah Dan!! Thanks again for sharing your work and enthusiasm.
--Kathie

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------SECTION FIVE: WORKSHOPS / SCHEDULE / MISC------
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"March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb" - boy, does it! The
first day of March brought another foot of snow to our already snowy,
snowy New Hampshire. I don't think I've ever seen such a snowy winter.
When I walk out to my chicken coop, the top of the poles on my clothesline
are now at waist-height, and that's in a packed pathway! That should give
you some idea of the amount of snow we're sitting on here in the
New England.

I am anxious to get out of this snow-pack next week for my visits to
Fergus-Falls, Minnesota and Saginaw, Michigan (neither of which sound
too warm, though, do they?). No matter the weather, we shall have a
great time with the teachers and Layered Curriculum®.

I want to thank the great teachers and support staff at Toronto District
School Board for their fine hospitality last week and for the teaching tips
in this newsletter.

New workshops are in the making fall of 2008 and early spring 2009.
As the details are worked out, workshop and registration information
is posted online at: http://help4teachers.com/calendar.htm

As always, my best to you and yours,
Kathie
=================================================
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)