Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---mid-May '10 Edition--- (current subscribers: 21,366)
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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: Put your school keys on a carbiner clip so they can hang
on your purse strap and not get lost. - workshop participant, Ft Worth, TX
Teacher Tip # 2: A 4-prong staple remover is an easy way to get a knot out
of a shoe lace. Remington Pt. Kinder teacher, Ft. Worth, TX.
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: More college students are seeking counseling and
psychological help at campus centers than at any other time. A national
survey shows that one in 10 college students are now seeking help on
campus for serious problems such as severe depression, anxiety and
suicidal thoughts. Psychologists theorize the increase is due to the fact
that modern psychiatric medications are now allowing a population of
students to attend college who previously may not and a reduction in
the perceived stigma of seeking psychological help. Munsey, C. (2010).
"More student with more serious psychological issues are showing up
at campus counseling centers." Monitor on Psychology, Vol 41(4), pg 19.
HOT TOPIC #2: The positives of being a bilingual person far outweigh
the negatives. Bilingualism may even delay or slow Alzheimer's disease
and the cognitive decline of old age. Persons who are bilingual have both
language systems running all the time, even when they are in a monolingual
environment. This activity increases function and performance in a variety
of brain regions leading to better overall cognitive skills. The only negative
aspect to being bilingual seems to be that it slows down your language
speed scores and can lead to more "tip-of-the-tongue" moments. A small
price to pay. Price, M. (2010). "Speaking more than one language may
have cognitive trade-off". Monitor of Psychology, Vol 41(4), pg. 13.
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---SECTION THREE: WEB UPDATES ---
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====NEW LC UNITS POSTED====
** Shonna Schrock, in Alton, Illinois sent several 6th grade Science and
Social Studies Units
**Patty Vallee at Noble Middle School in Maine, sent in a math unit.
You can see all the Layered Curriculum® sample units at:
http://help4teachers.com/
All 4 lessons of our four part series on designing Layered Curriculum® units
and a new short video showing part of our Uganda trip are now posted on our
YouTube Channel at: http://youtube.com/brainsorg
====FROM THE BOOKSHOP ====
The Layered Curriculum® text and workbook sets are always sold at a
discounted price direct from our bookshop. Shop for all the best teaching
and learning books at http://help4teachers.com/
After visiting the Springs Alive school in remote Kakiri, Uganda, we have
designed a plan of action. Because of the inconsistencies in student attendance,
the variability and shortage of trained teachers and the poverty level, we want
to help set-up a student-centered learning center for them. We desperately need
teachers to volunteer their class of students (either this year or next year) to
design learning sheets, in a variety of subjects. These will then be taken to
the school in Uganda hopefully in December. Can you help? If so, please
reply to this newsletter and I'll gladly send you an information sheet with
what we need.
The following teachers have already volunteered to help:
**Ann Otwell at Chestnut Log Middle School in Douglasville, GA has volunteered
her students to make middle grade life science and earth science learning sheets.
**Jayne Perkins, a 6th grade teacher in Berwick, Maine has volunteered to help
assemble materials.
**Denise De Felice, in Brazil, an ELL teacher has volunteered to help train adults
in the use of materials via Skype teacher volunteers to help design lesson sheets.
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------SECTION FOUR: KATHIE'S EMAIL -----
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Dear Kathie,
on to other things. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all the years
I have received your newsletter. I first saw you in Kingston, Ontario in the spring of
2004 just before I started my year with one of the "most difficult" classes in the school.
Your talk saved my life that year and put me into the enviable position of the "queen of
differentiation." I did numerous talks with parents on Layered Curriculum, and had
educational assistance wanting to work with me because of how much easier and
understandable it made their jobs. I hope things continue to go well for you.
There are many different programs out there now, but yours still ranks in my
estimation as the best. Thanks again.
Sincerely, Janice Jacklin, Upper Canada District School Board
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Janice - Thank you so much for the note and best of luck to you in your
retirement. Enjoy! - Kathie
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------SECTION FIVE: WORKSHOPS / SCHEDULE / MISC CHAT------
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Gee, is it really mid-May already?? Wasn't it just January, last week?
This has been a fast-moving spring! I know many of you are finishing
out the school year and others still have a few more weeks to put those
final touches on the class. It's not too early though to start to wish everyone
a great summer break.
I've been in Canada this week and spent a wonderful day with new and
mentor teachers from the Toronto District School Board. I look forward
to a trip back up there next week to work with Jeffreys Collegiate Institute
on differentiation. I have new workshops and conferences posted on my
calendar page. There are new open workshops available in New York City,
Missouri and Ontario.
I have some new pictures posted from our Uganda trip on the website. The
disparity between the US and Uganda is hard to describe in words. But, I
did write a bit on it. If you'd like a copy of my article, "The Baby in Red" and
a photo of some of the beautiful Ugandan children I met at the school, reply
to this, or send me an email with "The Baby in Red" in the subject line.
I still have two openings for workshops for back-to-school dates in August and
one September opening as well. If you are looking to schedule a workshop for the next
school year, please send me an email or visit: http://help4teachers.com/
Kathie
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