Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
Thursday, May 03, 2012
Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---May 2012 Edition--- (current subscribers: 14,657)
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News and updates to Kathie Nunley's Layered Curriculum® Sites for Educators:
http://Help4Teachers.comhttp://brains.org
unsubscribe and email change links at the bottom
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--------SECTION ONE: TEACHING TIPS ------
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either 4, 8 or 12. Each child can only speak using the number of words
according to their cube number. It causes them to focus on their thinking
and use more concise language. Kathleen Schratz, Ryerson Community
School.
TEACHER TIP # 2: I call the roll changing all children's names to begin with
the sound of the day.They respond by changing my name to begin with the
same sound. V. Fleming, grade 1, ON
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: Preschool / elementary students who come from harsh
home environments with punitive discipline practices, and/or exposure
to violence show declines in academic performance and function. This
decline is greatly exacerbated if the students also experience victimization.
Schwartz, D. et al. (2012, Apr 16). The Link Between Harsh Home
Environments and Negative Academic Trajectories Is Exacerbated by
"Victimization in the Elementary School Peer Group." Developmental
Psychology, preview, no page specified.
HOT TOPIC #2: The positive feedback bias refers to previous studies
showing that white teachers give more positive feedback to minority
students. New research indicates this may be tempered by stronger
support systems from colleagues and administration. In the new study,
white teachers were less prone to the positive feedback bias in high-
support schools. The support system though tempered the effect only
on the feedback given to Black students. White teachers show the bias
toward Hispanic students, regardless of school support network.
Harber, K. et al. (2012). "Students' Race and Teachers' Social Support
Affect the Positive Feedback Bias in Public Schools." Journal of Educational
Psychology, Apr 30., 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/
Additional Hot Topic videos are posted at http://help4teachers.com/
The bookshop is now offering free U.S. Shipping on all orders over $40.
http://brains.org/store/index.
Thank you also for supporting our new advertisers at the website. The ads
support our humanitarian work in Uganda.
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------SECTION FOUR: KATHIE'S EMAIL
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Dear Kathie, If you don't mind, would you answer one question for me,,
( since you're a experienced parent) ,, is there anything you wish you had
known way earlier about autism when your child was an infant? I know you're
a very busy lady,, but then I do know you've already raised your child with
autism to a very successful, happy person. Any strategy or advice you
could give me would be greatly appreciated.. I'm in the beginning of a long
journey,, & thank you again for taking the time to respond to my email.. :)
Hugs, marlee & boys
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Marlee,
The one strategy I give all parents of young children with autism is to focus
80% of your time and effort on what they CAN do and only 20% on their
weaknesses. This includes school too. My experience has been that teachers,
aids and in general, the whole IEP process emphasizes a child's weaknesses
and puts most of the effort into "fixing" those. Realizing there is a lot of pruning
going on in the brain as it develops, I feel that putting the emphasis and time
on the stronger areas, provides greater results in the long term. (As a closet
farmer, I can't help but use the analogy of the garden: You can spend a lot of
time trying to take out and prevent weeds, but if you put your focus on larger,
stronger crop plants, there is little room for the weeds).
Best to you,
Kathie
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------SECTION FIVE: WORKSHOPS / SCHEDULE / MISC CHAT------
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Happy May Day....a couple days late. I hope you had the chance to enjoy
a May Day basket of flowers this week - and that you gathered a few for
someone else too.
I just returned from a great day in Montreal. Thank you so much to the
teams from the "Leadership Committee for English Education in Quebec".
We had a great first day and I'm looking forward to our project.
Next week I'll be heading back to New York City for a day at the International
High School at LaGuardia Community College. That will wrap up my travels
for May, and I'll start preparing for my 2 week series in Southern Africa in June.
I have many new Layered Curriculum® workshops on the fall calendar and
have now opened my spring 2013 calendar. If you are looking for a workshop
to attend, my dates and locations are posted on the calendar page:
http://help4teachers.com/
Or if you are interested in hosting a Layered Curriculum® workshop at your location,
just send me an email.
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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