Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---September '08 Edition--- (current subscribers: 20,909)
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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
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: While I now teach pre-service teachers, here's a trick
I used when teaching middle schoolers: “Kathryn’s Card Trick.” I use a
double set of index cards. One can now buy half cards (2 ½ x 3), and I
prefer those. I buy several different colors. I have the students write
their names on two cards, one of one color and one of a different color.
I shuffle both sets, both colors of cards together. I then use the deck
and call on students by turning up names. Students know their name is in
that deck twice at random, so they cannot just tune out after having their
name called. If a student doesn’t have an answer within reasonable
wait time, there is no penalty and I slip that card back into the middle
of the deck. That way the student knows s/he will be called upon again
soon. Because I have two complete sets of names on different colored
cards, I can separate one set from the other and use them to “deal” out
names for small groups. I can pass out cards and have students find a
partner for a pair activity. I can also use the names to help determine
new seating arrangements as each name card can stand for a desk.
The half cards can be put in a pocket easily so that one can move
around the room and help students without putting the deck down
somewhere. This still works now that I’m teaching at the college level.
Kathryn A. Roe, Assist. Professor, William Penn University, IA

Teacher Tip #2: To help keep student attention while using my overhead
projector for note-taking, I keep a set of colored transparencies nearby and
periodically slide a new color underneath the clear one I'm writing on.
No name, workshop participant, San Angelo, TX.

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: No one argues the immense popularity of video games
among middle-schoolers. However, as some 89% of all video games
include violence of some sort, concern is growing among parents and
educators as exposure increases. Much of this concern has been fueled
by recent research indicating that playing violent games increases aggressive
behaviors, emotions and thoughts, increases physiological arousal and
decreases prosocial behavior. There are some variables that can provide
a bit of a buffer. For example, parental limits help reduce the effect.
And multiple player, on-line games where the child belongs to a "clan"
can have a pro-social effect. Gentile, D. and Anderson, C. "Violent
Videogame Effects: An Overview." Presented at APA National
Conference, Boston, MA Aug. 16, 2008.

HOT TOPIC #2: One little-known expectation of our Global Warming is an
increase in violent crime. Every 2 degree (F) increase in global temperature
equals an increase of 30,000 more homicides, per year in the US alone!
Anderson, C. "Global Warming and Violence." Presented at APA National
Conference, Boston, MA Aug. 16, 2008.

More Hot Topics at the websites!

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------SECTION THREE: WEBSITE UPDATES------
at HELP4TEACHERS.COM and BRAINS.ORG
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New Layered Curriculum® UNITS:

Just as I was writing this newsletter, Marlene Schoeneck in Parker's Prairie,
MN sent us four high school science units. Those should be going up on
the website this week at: http://help4teachers.com/samples.htm


New Over the Summer:
*****TUTORIALS, BOOK STUDY KITS, FACILITATOR'S GUIDE: *****

=== Watch the tutorial on "Where to start with Layered Curriculum®
http://help4teachers.com

===A Facilitator's Guide for "Differentiating the High School Classroom".
The guide is available with a new book study kits which includes
a special narrated PowerPoint exclusively from Help4Teachers and
Brains.org. http://help4teachers.com/video.htm

The Brains.org bookshop is always open and carries a wide range of
recommended reading as well as teaching aids. All orders are processed
and handled by a real human and we accept institutional purchase orders.
We appreciate your business. http://brains.org/store/index.htm

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------SECTION FOUR: KATHIE'S EMAIL------
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Kathie
WOW!!!! I just attended your workshop here in San Angelo on Aug.20.
I can honestly say I have not been this energized and anxious to
put something presented to me in a workshop to use in my
classroom in a very long time. Seeing the examples of different
layers put together in a lesson, I realized I was doing this already in
my class but each layer was presented and graded separately. This
made it hard to get actual learning to take place. I now have that "Oh, I
get it" feeling and am really looking forward to getting started with
your method. Thanks for all your information.
-Brennan Rollwitzm San Angelo ISD Central High School.
Auto Collision Repair Technology Program

===================================
Brennan - Thank you so much for that much-appreciated note. I'm
very excited too, to see this coming from a "tech" discipline. I hope
you will share some of your future units with us! This is an area where
we could sure use more samples on the website. Good luck with it.
- Kathie

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------SECTION FIVE: WORKSHOPS / SCHEDULE / MISC------
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Happy September everyone. Most all of us are back in school by now and
excitement still fills the air with the dawn of a new school year.

I am so relieved to learn that our colleagues in the Gulf Coast region of the
US seem to have faired better over this past Labor Day weekend hurricane
than 3 years ago with Katrina. I'm sure though that when they all return to
their schools there will be quite a bit of damage that we may be called upon
to help with once again. And we're happy to do that. Just ask.

Autumn weather has come early to New England this year - cooler evenings
started creeping in mid-August and this week our mornings are down-right
chilly. Hard to remember the last time we needed jackets for our first week
of school! It's fine though as we always welcome autumn.

Thank you teachers in Utah, Idaho, Texas, and Minnesota for the great
workshops we had over the past 2 weeks. I look forward to hearing what
you all are doing with Layered Curriculum now that the year has started.

Next week I'll be back in Texas with a workshop in Austin. If you are looking
to join us at a workshop this year, please look for locations and registration
information on the calendar page at: http://help4teachers.com/calendar.htm

My summer and fall 2009 calendar is now open. Just email me if your district
is looking to plan a Layered Curriculum workshop.

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)
- posted by Kathie @ 4:45 PM