Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
Tuesday, April 03, 2012
Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---April 2012 Edition--- (current subscribers: 14,684)
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News and updates to Kathie Nunley's Layered Curriculum® Sites for Educators:
http://Help4Teachers.com
http://brains.org
unsubscribe and email change links at the bottom
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--------SECTION ONE: TEACHING TIPS ------
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have them work the practice problems out as a group, then stamp them
off as they finish. We give points for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place team.
No name, workshop participant, Montana.
TEACHER TIP # 2: With any academic subject, once it is done, make a
storyboard from the content. Fun, tactile, group activity and easy to
observe and grade. MaryAnn B., 5th grade, IL.
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: Researchers used a large pool of elementary children
from diverse ethnic backgrounds who were below average in both literacy
and math at the end of first grade. Half the students were retained a year
and half were promoted onto the next grade. They then tracked the
students through elementary grades using the Woodcock Johnson
test annually. The retained students received a one year boost in
achievement early on, however that boost had completely disappeared
by the end of the elementary grades.
Moser, S.;West, S.;Hughes, J. (2012). " Trajectories of Math and Reading
Achievement in Low-Achieving Children in Elementary School: Effects
of Early and Later Retention in Grade. Journal of Educational Psychology,
Mar 19 preview, nps.
HOT TOPIC #2: There is a reciprocal relationship between math interest
and math ability that begins before school even starts. Researchers have
found that preschooler's interest in math predict their math performance
later and preschoolers math skills also predict interest in math later.
Fisher, P. et al. (2012, March 26)."Early Math Interest and the
Development of Math Skills.". Journal of Educational Psychology, preview, nps.
More Hot Topics at the website: http://brains.org and at :
http://help4teachers.com/
Also new topics via Twitter: http://twitter.com/
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---SECTION THREE: WEB UPDATES ---
BRAINS.ORG & HELP4TEACHERS.COM
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The 4-part video series on designing Layered Curriculum® units is available
for viewing at the website: http://help4teachers.com/
along with other hot topic videos.
News from the Bookshop:
The Bookshop now offers FREE shipping on all orders over $40
http://brains.org/store/index.
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------SECTION FOUR: KATHIE'S EMAIL
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Dr. Nunley,
I am sharing the Layered Curriculum teaching method with other
teachers in my district. A high school language teacher asked me the
following question: "What do you do with a chatty class, when I am
conferencing with a student a lot of the other students are sitting
around chatting." I offered that maybe she needs to change some of
the choices in her unit, make them intriguing so the students want to
work on them. I would love to hear your suggestions? Any help is very
much appreciated. Jayne Perkins, Berwick, Maine
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Hi Jayne,
Thanks for the note. That sounds like one of those inherent problems
in education, regardless of teaching methodology - off task students!
I agree, re-looking at options on the unit sheet to provide things that
will engage more students is a good idea. Also, tighten deadlines.
My general rule is that when kids are off-task, they perceive they have
the time to be off-task, so add a little time pressure. Also, just basic
rules of the room - they need to know when it's OK to have peer
chatter and when it isn't.
Best, Kathie
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------SECTION FIVE: WORKSHOPS / SCHEDULE / MISC CHAT------
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I send you greetings on this sunny, yet blustery day in New England, as I
watch the daffodils erupt from their winter hideaway. I hope all is well in
your little corner of the world, and that you are enjoying the changing of
the seasons.
Spring is busy for me and I'll start the month with a trip to Maine this week to
work with the teachers at the Eric L Knowlton school in Berwick. From there
I'll return to Toronto for the Ontario Association for Students At Risk Conference.
I'll finish the month with a trip to Montreal.
There are a lot of new Layered Curriculum® workshops on the calendar
and most of them are open to outside participants. There are upcoming new
open workshops in Maine, NYC, Ontario, Alabama, Manitoba and Ohio. Plus an
entire series in the southern Africa region including Namibia, Botswana and
South Africa. http://help4teachers.com/
My fall calendar is nearly full, but there are still a couple spots open if you are
interested in hosting a Layered Curriculum® workshop at your location. Just
send me an email or check the information at: http://help4teachers.com/
As always, my best to you and yours,
Kathie
Dr Kathie F Nunley
Layered Curriculum® . . . because every child deserves a special education (tm)
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