Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---October '08 Edition--- (current subscribers: 21,024)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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: "Pink Slips". If a student is unprepared for class,
he/she signs the "pink slip" sheet. They have until the following day
to complete that assignment. All students with fewer than 2 pink slips
get to participate in FUN FRIDAY end-of-the-day activity time.
Grade 5/6 teachers, Hinsdale Central School, NY.

Teacher Tip #2: At the end of class I try to get around to give credit
to students who worked well with a "high five". Joanne Miniato,
Cedarbrae, C.I. Scarboro, ON.

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: Standardized achievement tests correlate little to
success in adult life. By continuing our educational system's emphasis
on standardized and high stakes test, we in are selecting kids for things
that later in life won't do any good. We need to be selecting for and
encouraging leadership skills. "The world needs great leaders but has
few who are even good." In today's world you have to be creative or you
won't survive. Leadership means making a positive and meaningful
difference in the world - Robert Sternberg, (Dean at Tufts Univ - best known
for his "triarchic theory of intelligence"). Wisdom, Intelligence and Creativity.
Presented at APA National Conference, Boston, MA Aug. 16, 2008.

HOT TOPIC #2: A diagnosis of autism still comes too late for most children.
Despite most parent's concern for their child starting at around 18 months
and good established diagnosis techniques available for children at 24 months,
most kids are not diagnosed with autism until between the ages of 3 and 4.
This is primarily because parents tend to use pediatricians as their first point
of inquiry and they, as a group, are ill prepared for early detection.
Elmensdorp, S. "Identification of Autism-Specific Impairments Through
Behavioral Observation." 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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!!!!! Lots and Lots of New things at both websites !!!

===New Layered Curriculum UNITS:

**A 3rd grade Math unit on Place Value sent in by trainer, Angela Kanerva.
**A middle school Earth Science unit and a high school Earth Science unit
on Water Quality, both sent in by Marlene Schoeneck

===There is a video / audio tutorial on the homepage of Help4Teachers
that addresses one of the most frequently asked questions:
"Where do I start with Layered Curriculum®?" Available for PC formats,
you can download and watch it at: http://help4teachers.com

===NEW BOOK STUDY KITS.
If you're doing a book study group with the text "Differentiating
the High School Classroom," you may be interested to know that we have
bundled that into a book study kit which includes an exclusive author-narrated
PowerPoint as well as a Facilitator's Guide for the book. You'll find it at:
http://help4teachers.com/video.htm

===NEW BOOK.
Given this week's news emphasis on stocks, pension funds and money woes,
the timing could not be better for our new book:
"THE SUCCESSFUL EDUCATOR'S GUIDE TO EARNING EXTRA INCOME".
-- A break from my usual topic of differentiation - this book addresses another
side of the educator's world. So many teachers over the years have asked
me how they too can build a business using their own unique areas of
expertise and education, so I recently teamed up with marketing expert,
Kevin McCormick and we co-wrote a book just for that topic. You can
get more information and / or order a copy of the book at:
http://www.brains.org/teacherincome/

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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Hi Dr. Nunley,
I have a quick question regarding how to grade Special Education students.
If a sped student can only do "C" layer work at the Knowledge/Comprehension
level of Bloom's, is that the highest grade they can earn? I guess I am just
wondering how to accommodate those students (more so their parents) if
they can only earn a grade of C for the unit. Thanks so much, Deborah

===================================
Deborah,
I've never met a special education student who could not do B and A layer
work. It has been my experience that ALL students can (C) gather
information (B) apply and / or manipulate that information and (A) do some
critical analysis. So while the level of sophistication may vary and some of
your students may need help gathering information for the various layers,
one of the essentials of Layered Curriculum is the expectation that ALL
students attempt ALL layers. The layers of Layered Curriculum refer to a
thought process. If you vary the assessment and products, the students
can handle the thinking part.
I expand on this topic in great detail in my "Differentiating the High School
Classroom" as well, but I hope that short synopses helps.
-Kathie

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------SECTION FIVE: WORKSHOPS / SCHEDULE / MISC------
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Welcome to October. The pumpkins are out, the trees are in flames, the
geese are honking their way south. Put on your sweater, have a cup of
tea and count your blessings.

I'm looking forward to my fall travels around North America. Next stop will
be Ann Arbor, Michigan, followed by Toronto later this month.

We have a few new workshops in the making for late summer 2008. As details
are worked out I will post registration information at the calendar page.
http://help4teachers.com/calendar.htm

For those of you looking to schedule a "Differentiating with Layered Curriculum"
workshop for your school, my summer and fall 2009 calendars are open. Send
me an email.

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 @ 4:44 PM