Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---December '09 Edition--- (current subscribers: 21,497)
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News and updates to Kathie Nunley's Layered Curriculum® Sites for Educators:
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: Spray glue bottle lids with Pam spray - no more stuck lids.
M. Tittle, Kindergarten, Eagle Mtn. Elem.
Teacher Tip # 2: Use sticky note to have students write down one concept
he/she learned during class. Students post sticky note on door frame as
he/she exits class. Waine Bourgeois, Eagle-Mtn., Saginaw ISD.
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: A study started in 1993 with 1st-graders in Baltimore
compared 2 preventive intervention programs and tracked the children
through their high school graduation. One set of 1st graders were exposed
to a classroom-centered (CC) intervention which used a combination of
teacher instruction and curriculum improvements along with the
Good Behavior Game to reduce aggressive behaviors and improve academic
performance. The second group used a Family-School Partnership program
promoting parent involvement based on the work of Canter & Canter. After
tracking the students through all their school years, the CC intervention was
associated with higher scores on achievement tests, increased high school
graduation and college attendance, and reduced odds of special education
service use. Bradshaw, C. et al (2009). Longitudinal impact of two universal
preventive interventions in first grade on educational outcomes in high school.
Journal of Educational Psychology, 101, 926-937.
HOT TOPIC #2: Traditionally, young school children have been evaluated for
learning problems by measuring reading, calculation skills, phonological
processing, inhibition, and processing speed. However, one of the strongest
predictors of math problem-solving in children involves a lack of cognitive
growth in Working Memory (WM). Children in 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade who show
little or slow growth and low levels of performance in WM, are at-risk for serious
math difficulties in later grades. Swanson, H.L, Olga, J, Xinhua, Z. (2008).
Growth in working memory and mathematical problem solving in children at
risk and not at risk for serious math difficulties. Journal of Educational
Psychology. Vol 100(2), 343-379.
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------SECTION THREE: WEB UPDATES------
at HELP4TEACHERS.COM and BRAINS.ORG
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FROM THE BOOKSHOP
If holiday shopping for a colleague or your child's teacher - try our
special book bundles or light-hearted music CD's by Monte Selby. Also -
===> 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
===>We've added a deluxe version of the individual Layered Curriculum®
study kit. Available at: http://help4teachers.com/
FROM OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL
=>Here are the links to my New Video Tips and Hot Topics that have posted
since the last newsletter & our 2 "Most Watched Videos"
#20-Defining Differentiated Instruction:
http://www.youtube.com/
#19-How to Do Oral Defense:
http://www.youtube.com/
#18-Layered Curriculum Tip: The Learning Objectives
http://www.youtube.com/
Our Two "Most Watched Videos" are:
#15-"Improving your Child's IQ (birth-2)"
http://www.youtube.com/
#12-"Attention Deficit Disorder"
http://www.youtube.com/
You can see all my video tips and hot topics including the new ones on
Layered Curriculum right from the homepage of both websites
or access the channel at: http://youtube.com/brainsorg
You can also get daily Teaching tips and "follow" me at:
http://twitter.com/
------SECTION FOUR: KATHIE'S EMAIL-----
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Hi Kathie, I wanted to let you know that since your visit to Inuvik I have been
trying Layered Curriculum in my Grade 12 Biology class. The results have
been awesome. Some students are taking a little while to adjust but others
are really turned on. I especially like how this is working with my overachievers.
They are really driven by getting the highest mark but what they are really
getting is a much deeper connection to concepts in Biology. One of my
students went and researched eyes in invertebrates and compared them
to the human eye. He was so excited to present this orally to me that he
was shaking. He said he has felt anxious all week but in a good way!
The class average on the latest quiz was7% higher than on the first quiz.
Some students who are hard workers, but who struggle with multiple choice,
went from getting 60s to 70s. Many of these kids I have been teaching
Science since grade 10 and this is the first time I have been able to help
them boost their ability on multiple choice questions.
Thanks for your presentations. I really enjoyed hearing about your
research and your teaching style and I will keep you tuned in to the
results of applying these ideas in my class. I told the kids that I fully
believe they will all pass the Alberta Diploma Exam and NOT have to
upgrade. For a lot of them that is motivation enough to buy into Layered
Curriculum.
Mahsi cho and Quiyannaini (Gwich'in and Inuvialuit for thanks),
Sheena Adamson, Samuel Hearne Secondary School, Inuvik, NWT.
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------SECTION FIVE: WORKSHOPS / SCHEDULE / MISC CHAT------
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Happy Holidays to all. December certainly brings a festive spirit. Now
that we've had our first snowfall of the season here in New England, the
holly berry door wreaths, candle-lit windows and the lights on the town
green, all transform our little town into a Currier and Ives Postcard.
I'll be leaving here tomorrow though for a week on the road. First stop,
Texas, for a little family pre-holiday celebration, then it's back to Toronto
for a few days with several schools again in the Toronto District School
Board, where differentiation is moving swiftly through their high schools.
The new Ministry of Education's emphasis on separating ongoing
"assessment" from final "evaluation" makes Layered Curriculum a perfect
fit for differentiating their high schools.
We're working on new workshops for Pennsylvania, Alberta, and Texas.
As soon as any new workshop is confirmed, I post that information on
the calendar http://help4teachers.com/
your school next year, I still have 3 openings for Spring 2010, and several
dates open on my calendar for Summer and Fall 2010, You can find
more information on hosting a workshop at:
http://help4teachers.com/
As always, my best to you and may we find peace on Earth during this holiday season,
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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