Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
Monday, August 03, 2009
Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---August '09 Edition--- (current subscribers: 21,513)
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News and updates to Kathie Nunley's Layered Curriculum®
http://Help4Teachers.com
http://brains.org
You can subscribe to this newsletter at: http://help4teachers.com/
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--------SECTION ONE: TEACHING TIPS ------
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Teacher Tip # 1: When preparing for an exam, I have all students make
up their own 10-question tests over the material for homework. They
then spend a day quizzing each other using their self-made tests and turn
them in. The "official test" then is one I make up using a variety of the
students' own questions. Tom Garrison, Jesuit College-prep, Dallas, TX.
Teacher Tip #2: In my elementary music classes, I use teddy bears to
encourage students to volunteer to read during sight-reading from the board.
I toss a stuffed bear to the students who volunteer. Lots of students now
volunteer to read as they love catching the teddy bears. Isabelle Metwalli,
The Study School, Westmount, Quebec.
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: One of the reasons that students from impoverished
backgrounds tend to have poor academic achievement throughout their
school years is that they begin school with a smaller knowledge base
than students from more affluent homes. This is particularly true in math.
A new study out shows that playing linear number board games with
pre-schoolers can significantly increase their numerical knowledge
and helps them with future math experiences, particularly with low-income
preschoolers. Linear board games were much more successful with this
than circular style board games. Linear board games create a better
mental representation of numerical magnitudes. Siegler, R. S., &
Ramani, G. B. (2009). Journal of Educational Psychology, 101, (3), 545-560.
HOT TOPIC #2: It probably comes as no surprise to most educators
that students' motivation in a class is highly influenced by their previous
emotional experiences with that subject. Unfortunately, until recently, little
research has been conducted on the importance of teacher's enthusiasm
for teaching and teacher's personal enjoyment of teaching. An interesting
international research co-operative is focusing on the importance of
teacher enjoyment among math teachers. When teachers enjoy teaching
math and their students perceive that they are enthused about their subject,
the students also enjoy the subject more, form more positive emotions
about math, and are more apt to pursue additional course work.
Frenzel, A., et al. (2009). Journal of Educational Psychology, 101, (3), 705-716
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------SECTION THREE: WEBSITE UPDATES------
at HELP4TEACHERS.COM and BRAINS.ORG
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We have a couple of new items and resources that have been developed
over the summer.
===We've added a "deluxe" version of the new Layered Curriculum® study kit
for individual teachers. In addition to the narrated DVD of slides designed
to accompany the texts and workbook, a deluxe version is now available which
includes our 90 minute video "Layered Curriculum®". You can order it now at
http://help4teachers.com/
ideas. I posted 4 Teaching Tip videos this past month, which are currently available
to view. As I head to the APA convention this weekend, I'll add a couple more to
include some of the latest research coming out of the educational psychology world.
You can view them and / or subscribe to the weekly updates at:
http://www.youtube.com/
need to click the yellow "subscribe" button next to the video screen and create a
YouTube account. You do not need a YouTube account however to view the videos.
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WHAT'S AT THE Brains.org BOOKSHOP???
Layered Curriculum® Text and Workbook Sets. (special pricing), Layered Curriculum®
Video Training Kits, all sorts of recommended books on a variety of subjects specific
to education. We appreciate your business. http://www.brains.org/store
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Over the summer, I'm writing my Layered Curriculum for Middle School
Life Science and Earth Science (I teach both). I find that I'm getting into a
rut when it comes to activities at the C-Layer. Is this appropriate? I've
come up with about 14 different types of activities (mini lecture, vocab
activity, poster project, rap/song/poem, etc.) that I reuse (changing the
content) for every unit . Is this right, or should I be changing the activities
with each unit to give more variety? Jim D. , Las Vegas, NV.
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Hi Jim,
Thanks for your note. Yes, I know it's very tempting to make a "template",
especially for C layer and then just insert the latest topic. (I used to jokingly
say I would just use the search and replace feature on MSWord - take out
"bird", insert "mammal"....). But you are correct in that you will find yourself
in a rut and so will the students. You may be better off making a large
assortment of C layer-type activities, and then mix and match them as
the year goes on and you see what the students enjoy. Mixing it up a bit as
things go along would be better. I'll be anxious to see what you put together!
Happy Summer. - Kathie
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------SECTION FIVE: WORKSHOPS / SCHEDULE / MISC------
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Happy August. For most of us, August means "Back to School Time", that
season unique to our profession. It's an exciting, yet a bit bittersweet as
we say so-long to summer. We've had an extremely mild summer here in
New England. While personally, I've enjoyed the cool temperature, I sure
would have enjoyed less rain.
I'm looking forward to getting back out on the road later this week. August
is always exciting for me as I start off with my annual trek to the APA convention.
This year it's in Toronto. I'll try to share a bit with you right away this
weekend via our new YouTube video channel:
Polson, Montana; Ft.Wayne, Indiana; Cotulla, Texas; and Green Bay, Wisconsin
for Differentiating with Layered Curriculum workshops. I can't wait to meet everyone -
It should be a terrific month!
If you are planning ahead for the school year and looking for a workshop to attend,
you will find my calendar at: http://help4teachers.com/
school next year, my Spring / Summer 2010 calendar are now open. You can get
information at: http://help4teachers.com/
brochure.
As always, my best to you and yours,
Kathie
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Workshop information is available at the website
http://help4teachers.com/
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/
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Dr Kathie F Nunley
Layered Curriculum
