Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---September '09 Edition--- (current subscribers: 21,602)
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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: Put a tray by the door with the worksheet or handouts that
students will need that class period. They pick it up as they come in.
M. Sitter, Polson HS, MT.
Teacher Tip #2: Make a point of making fun of yourself every so often and
never make fun of a student unless they make fun of themselves in front of you.
Humor is crucial. Your students are more sensitive than you are, model that
and respect it. Kristina Peterson, Two Eagle River School, MT.
Send your favorite teaching tip to me at Kathie@brains.org
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------SECTION TWO: HOT TOPICS in Neuro & Educational Psychology------
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HOT TOPIC # 1: Ever heard of orexin neurons? These neurons, found only
in the hypothalamus of the brain, secrete a unique protein called orexin. These
proteins regulate, sleep, wakefulness, and food seeking. Problems with orexins
can lead to things like narcolepsy and obesity. (for more info on this see the
article by Denis Burdakov in the June 1, 2006 issue of "Neuron.") Psychologists
though now have found these neurons also play a major role in reward processing
and alcohol, nicotine and cocaine addiction. All 3 of these drugs activate these
unique neurons and a better understanding of how they are regulated should lead
to improved help for persons with substance abuse issues. Dr Gary Aston-Jones,
"Orexin Neurons, Reward SEeking and Addiction." APA Conference,
August 8, 2009, Toronto, ON.
HOT TOPIC #2: Interested in the psychology of time? You may want to look at
Phil Zimbardo's new work on how life is all about temptation. Can you delay gratification
or do you have to have things now? Are you filled with regret or looking forward?
According to Zimbardo, we can all be characterized as either present-oriented,
past-oriented, or future-oriented people. His new research shows that whether or
not a child can delay gratification at the age of 4, is the best predictor of success in life.
The famous "marshmallow experiment" in the 1970's involved offering a child a
marshmallow now, or if they could wait a few minutes, get 2 marshmallows instead.
They tracked those children for 30+ years. Those that could wait (at the age of 4)
did better in all grades of schooling, were more confident and had an overall higher
quality of life as adults. Dr Philip Zimbard, "A Conversation with Philip Zimbardo
and Frank Farley" APA Conference, August 8, 2009, Toronto, ON.
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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 copy of the 90 minute VHS Layered Curriculum® video
to the Layered Curriculum® study kit for individual teachers, to make a
"deluxe" version. Available at: http://help4teachers.com/
http://youtube.com/brainsorg
===We have a new Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/layered.
=== Layered Curriculum® Text and Workbook Sets. (special pricing) are
always available at the either help4teachers.com or the brains.org shop:
We appreciate your business. http://www.brains.org/store
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I cannot imagine why your Layered Curriculum is a good idea. My 12th grade
English teacher is employing something very similar. When she explained the
A, B, and C grade assignments, I was simply astounded. Allowing students to
do C work, and nothing more, seems a step in the wrong direction to me. Why
is telling students that they don't need to do work deserving of any grade better
than average a good idea? What is this supposed to do for my education? Aren't
we supposed to encourage students to excel?
Yours, Z.J. , 12th grader (location withheld)
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Hi Z,
Thanks so much for writing. It sounds like there may be some miscommunication
with your English class. In a Layered Curriculum® classroom, ALL students are
expected and/or required to attempt ALL three layers - C, B and A. It would never
be permissible to allow students to just do C layer work, then stop. In addition, the
C layer is not indicative of "average" work, but is a layer to start adding to your
bank of knowledge on the topic. Teachers would expect students to do exemplary
work at all layers, including the C layer.
I hope your experience with it improves with time. Thanks again for your note,
Dr Kathie Nunley
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------SECTION FIVE: WORKSHOPS / SCHEDULE / MISC------
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I believe most everyone is now "back-to-school" and fall is in the air!
(At least it's fall here in New England....I've had to put the big comforters
back on the beds, and jackets are required for the morning school journey).
I so enjoy hearing from everyone as they settle in to the new year. My good
friend Deetta Bird in Salt Lake City wrote how excited she was to be back
with a terrific new curriculum, despite having only 35 desks for her 44 students
in her 4th period Junior English class - ahhh, I almost miss those Utah-sized
classes!!
I had an absolutely delightful August. I met so many wonderful, interesting and
exciting teachers as I travelled from one end of this country to the other and north
to south. I'm looking forward to seeing what new Layered Curriculum® units
you all share with us this fall. I'm still sharing with you all some of the things I
learned at the annual APA conference last month.
This month, I've got a trip out to Yankton, South Dakota for a morning keynote
on the brain and differentiating with Layered Curriculum®, and from there, I'm
off on a real adventure to work with the Beaufort Delta Education Council in
Inuvik, Northwest Territories - look that one up on your wall map...by the way,
that 2-day session is open to outside guests if anyone is up for a real
adventure!
school next year, my Spring / Summer 2010 calendar are now open. You can get
information at: http://help4teachers.com/
brochure.
I'm still planning a trip later this year to the Springs Alive Village School in Uganda
and will update you all in the next newsletter as to their current needs and some
ideas for how to help. You can see what we're doing at: http://help4teachers.com/
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
