Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter

2012-01-24T16:44:00.001-08:00

Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---mid-January 2012 Edition--- (current subscribers: 15,070)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--------SECTION ONE: TEACHING TIPS ------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TEACHER TIP # 1: Use a pocket pencil tree in the front of the room.
Each student's name is on a pocket. They pick up their pencil as they
come in and return it on their way out. Easy way to take roll too.
Misty Koeppen, Kuna, ID

TEACHER TIP #2: Ask parents who travel for business to donate their
unopened hotel soaps for the classroom sink.

Send your favorite teaching tip to me at Kathie@brains.org
Watch for more tips via Twitter: http://twitter.com/kathienunley

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION TWO: HOT TOPICS in Neuro & Educational Psychology------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOT TOPIC # 1: Is ADHD over-diagnosis? Possibly. Is there a gender
bias in the diagnosing? Apparently so, according to new research released
this month. Researchers sent made-up case descriptions to over 1,000
child psychologists and therapist for diagnosing. Some had missing
key diagnostic criteria and other varied only in the gender of the child being
described. The professionals mis-diagnosed ADHD in16% of the cases,
but more disturbing is that they diagnosed ADHD in boys twice as often as
in girls - even when the descriptions were identical.
Bruchmüller, K. (2012). Is ADHD diagnosed in accord with diagnostic
criteria? Overdiagnosis and influence of client gender on diagnosis.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Vol 80(1), 128-138.

HOT TOPIC #2: Watching online videos and media multi-tasking is strongly
associated with negative social well-being among 8 - 12 year old girls.
Researchers studied how interpersonal media use such as emailing, texting,
posting on social media sites as well as non-interpersoanl media use (video
watching, music, etc) affected pre-adolescent girls. All types of media use
correlated with more negative social well being - though the video watching was
strongest. Face-to-face social interaction, however was associated with positive
social well-being. Pea, R. (2010) Media use, face-to-face communication,
media multitasking, and social well-being among 8- to 12-year-old girls.
Developmental Psychology, Jan 23.

More Hot Topics at the webstie: http://brains.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
---SECTION THREE: WEB UPDATES ---
BRAINS.ORG & HELP4TEACHERS.COM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've written a new article entitled "Layered Curriculum® - In a nutshell".
It is posted at the website: http://help4teachers.com/nutshell.htm

I've also spent some time now organizing the articles at both sites. It
had become a bit of a "messy closet" so I was happy to get it cleaned up.
You can now easily read from one series to the next:
http://brains.org/articles.htm
or
http://help4teachers.com/articles.htm

Several Brains.org books are now available in electronic format, including
sections of the Layered Curriculum® text.
http://brains.org/store/index.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION FOUR: KATHIE'S EMAIL
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From our FaceBook Page, Carrie Lyn Asks:
I am trying to understand the idea of LC... It kind of seems to me that it uses
Blooms levels and have students choose from multiple projects that will
meet the objectives? Can you elaborate?

=================
Carrie -
It's a mixture of 3 concepts -
1. Listing the learning objectives and offering choice for how the students learn them.
2. Holding students accountable by grading against the objective (points for learning not doing)
3. Encouraging higher level learning by moving everyone from the concrete through critical thinking.
Details are at the Help4Teachers.com website.
--Kathie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION FIVE: WORKSHOPS / SCHEDULE / MISC CHAT------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As we pass mid-January, we continue to have an unusually warm winter
here in New England. After a chilly sub-zero weekend, we are back in
the 40's today. Hard to believe it is January.

Many of you know I'm a sports fan, so I'm sure you expect me to gloat a
little on our New England Patriots....well, yes, I'm excited. You know where
I'll be on February 5th! (In front of the TV, not in Indianapolis)

In the meantime though, I'm heading down to NYC next week for an
afternoon session "Differentiating the High School Classroom and
Layered Curriculum" in the Bronx. From there I'll go back to
Toronto to do some Train-the-Trainer work with the Toronto District
School Board and I'll finish out the month in Ohio with the teachers in
Millersburg.

I still have a few openings on my spring 2012 calendar for workshops and my
fall 2012 calendar is now open. So, if you are looking to host a Layered
Curriculum® workshop, just let me know.

As always, my best to you and yours,
Kathie

Dr Kathie F Nunley
Layered Curriculum® . . . because every child deserves a special education (tm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are receiving this newsletter because you requested to be on my
mailing list by entering your email address at one of the two websites.
I NEVER share or sell my newsletter list, nor is it used for any other
purpose other than this bi-monthly newsletter. Should you need to be
removed from the list, simply reply to this and let me know.
=======================================================
Layered Curriculum® is a trademark developed by and registered
to Dr. Kathie F Nunley. Usage information available at:
http://help4teachers.com/usage.htm

2012-01-12T18:27:00.001-08:00

Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---January 2012 Edition--- (current subscribers: 15,060)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--------SECTION ONE: TEACHING TIPS ------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TEACHER TIP # 1: Attach a magnet to your eraser using duct tape or
liquid nails. Now the eraser sticks to the whiteboard or any nearby metal
surface - easier than finding it on the floor all the time. Susan D.,
N.Y.

TEACHER TIP #2: I use a sign-out sheet on a clipboard which students
take for a hall pass. I keep another clipboard/sheet next to it. Students
sign BOTH sheets when leaving and returning, so I always have a list in
the room of who is out. Workshop participant, OH.

Send your favorite teaching tip to me at Kathie@brains.org
Watch for more tips via Twitter: http://twitter.com/kathienunley

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION TWO: HOT TOPICS in Neuro & Educational Psychology------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOT TOPIC # 1: Marijuana users of all ages perform more poorly than
non-users on cognitive tasks, especially those that require executive function.
New research shows that early users (people who began marijuana use prior
to age 16) have more difficulty than late onset users. Age of onset, frequency
of use and amount of use were all factors in poor cognitive performance.
Onset of marijuana use during adolescence is now also linked to altered brain
development leading to long-term cognitive impairment.
Gruber, S. et al. (2011). "Age of onset of marijuana use and executive function"
Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, Nov 21 issue.

HOT TOPIC #2: More new research on the advantages of bilingualism out
this month. Most of us have trouble understanding other people's beliefs
due to our own egocentric bias. But people who are bilingual have less interference
from their own perspective and score higher on executive control and false-belief
tasks. Bilinguals are simply better at reasoning about other people's beliefs.
Rubio-Fernandez, P. & Glucksberg, S. (2012) "Reasoning about other people's
beliefs: Bilinguals have an advantage", Journal of Experimental Psychology:
Learning, Memory, and Cognition, Vol 38(1), 211-217.

More Hot Topics at the webstie: http://brains.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
---SECTION THREE: WEB UPDATES ---
BRAINS.ORG & HELP4TEACHERS.COM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With the new year, the websites have been updated and several Brains.org
books are now available in electronic format, including sections of the
Layered Curriculum® text.
http://brains.org/store/index.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION FOUR: KATHIE'S EMAIL
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Kathie,
You came to my school during the 2010-2011 school year to present to our
entire staff. I was so excited after your presentation that I attended a full day
conference later in the school year. This fall was hectic, but I decided to attempt
my first Layered Curriculum Unit in my 7th grade Science class. I can't say
that it was perfect, but it was a fantastic start! I have attached my example
so that maybe it can help someone else who is attempting to get started on
their own units. Thank you for sharing your information with us.
Sincerely, --Beth Rivera, Buerkle Middle School, MO.

=================
Beth,
Thanks so much for sharing your Heredity unit. It's posted at the website.
I look forward to seeing more from you. You're correct in that it takes a
couple of units to work it all out - but that's great that you're so pleased with
the first one! - Kathie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION FIVE: WORKSHOPS / SCHEDULE / MISC CHAT------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Happy New Year everyone!! I hope everyone is enjoying 2012 so far.
It's been a lovely year here in New England.....mostly because I think
someone cancelled winter this year for us! Other than our freak
snowstorm over Halloween, we've had nary a snowflake fall. In fact, they
are still golfing across the street. Who would believe you could golf in
January in New Hampshire!

My plan for January is to continue revamping my books into electronic format
as so many of you are requesting. And, I'm trying to finish up a new one on
the brain. So, January is writing month for me.

But I'll be heading back out on the road in February with New York City as
my first stop. We're doing an afternoon on Differentiating the High School
Classroom and Layered Curriculum® in the Bronx. The workshop is open
to outside participants, so if you are in the NYC area and interested, you'll find
the contact info on my calendar page: http://help4teachers.com/calendar.htm

I still have a few openings on my spring 2012 calendar for workshops and my
fall 2012 calendar is now open. So, if you are looking to host a Layered
Curriculum® workshop, just let me know.

As always, my best to you and yours,
Kathie

Dr Kathie F Nunley
Layered Curriculum® . . . because every child deserves a special education (tm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are receiving this newsletter because you requested to be on my
mailing list by entering your email address at one of the two websites.
I NEVER share or sell my newsletter list, nor is it used for any other
purpose other than this bi-monthly newsletter. Should you need to be
removed from the list, simply reply to this and let me know.
=======================================================
Layered Curriculum® is a trademark developed by and registered
to Dr. Kathie F Nunley. Usage information available at:
http://help4teachers.com/usage.htm

2011-12-03T09:39:00.001-08:00

Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---December 2011 Edition--- (current subscribers: 15,163)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--------SECTION ONE: TEACHING TIPS ------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TEACHER TIP # 1: When I have a student who says they are satisfied
with just a mark of 70, I return their test or work back to them next time
with only 70% of it reviewed and graded. When they ask why I didn't
finish scoring their entire test, I tell them if they feel doing 70% is good
enough, then so do I.
Thomas Hoppe, Pelican Falls First Nations HS. Sioux Lookout, ON.

TEACHER TIP #2: I have lap-sized chalkboards for students to practice
math. Each student gets a piece of chalk rolled up in a sock (which
serves as their eraser). We sit in a circle and they must solve
the problem on their board. I can easily see everyone at once and
gauge who needs additional helps.
Stephanie Kelford, Grade 2, Toronto.

Send your favorite teaching tip to me at Kathie@brains.org
Watch for more tips via Twitter: http://twitter.com/kathienunley

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION TWO: HOT TOPICS in Neuro & Educational Psychology------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOT TOPIC # 1: Most people have some type of significant life-changing
event happen to them at some point. Whether you are able to make
meaning out of that event or not can lead to better adjustment and
overall well-being. According to new research, this is true of adolescents
as well. In a study of high school students, those in grade 12 who had
been able to make meaning out of a significant life turning point were
better adjusted psychologically than those who were not.
Tavernier, R. & Willoughby, T. (2011). "Adolescent turning points: The
association between meaning-making and psychological well-being."
Developmental Psychology, Nov 28 preview, no page specified

HOT TOPIC #2: How do you define binge drinking? Your answer depends
upon your age, gender and drinking experience. College students were
asked to define and describe "binge drinking". When asked how many
drinks comprise binge drinking, answers indicated they thought you could
consume more beers without it being considered a binge than wine or
drinks with hard liquor. Also males gave higher numbers overall than
females did. Definitions of binge drinking interestingly included more
references to the motivation and consequences of drinking in addition
to just the number or amount of consumption. Students said they developed
their own definitions based on their experiences and what friends did more
so than school-based or media-based information on binge drinking.
Bonar. E. et al. (2011). "Quantitative and qualitative assessment of university
students' definitions of binge drinking." Psychology of Addictive Behaviors,
Nov 28, preview, nps.

More Hot Topics at the webstie: http://brains.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
---SECTION THREE: WEB UPDATES ---
BRAINS.ORG & HELP4TEACHERS.COM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My new "Enhancing Your Layered Curriculum Classroom" is
now available in an electronic form through Amazon Kindle
store. You can get there through our homepage at:
http://help4teachers.com
or at Amazon.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Looking for Gift Ideas? We carry an array of the best books
on brain-based teaching and learning, as well as Layered Curriculum®
books and training kits. We can ship right to the recipient. Let
us know if your order is a gift and we'll email the receipt to YOU.
We appreciate your support.
http://brains.org/store/index.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION FOUR: KATHIE'S EMAIL
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following email is from Robert Sylwester, professor emeritus at
the University of Oregon (and author of many of the books we sell and
that you all own). His IAE newsletter, (subscriptions are free) has begun
a new project addressing 21st Century educational policies and practices.
This month's article, "Have Schools Become Historical Museums?" is
written by yours truly and in now online at:
http://i-a-e.org/newsletters/IAE-Newsletter-2011-78.html

=================
Dear Kathie (and educator friends and colleagues),

The Information Age Education Newsletter will begin a year-long series
of informative thought-provoking articles that will explore various
elements of the scientific/technological developments and cultural
issues that will affect 21st century educational policy and practice.
Cognitive neuroscience and computer technology have especially
experienced an unprecedented growth since the millennium, and
many of these developments will have profound educational implications.

The authors of the series articles are respected scholars and
practitioners. Each brings a different perspective to the challenge
of how to develop a credible 21st century educational program that
makes effective use of the dramatic educationally significant developments
that are occurring within our society. This series of non-technical articles
is one of several related initiatives that will eventually lead to a bottom-up
workable consensus, a contemporary American Philosophy of Education.
Become part of that process. - Robert Sylwester

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION FIVE: WORKSHOPS / SCHEDULE / MISC CHAT------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
December greetings from a beautiful day here in New England. I hope
the day finds you well and enjoying the holiday season. We had a
record warm November, so I can't complain about the frosty 20 degree
morning that greeted me today. But now the sun is shining and the
frost forgotten.

It's going to be a great month. As you saw above, Bob Sylwester
posted my new article this week in his IAE project - great series.
Also, many of you have asked for my books to be made available in
electronic form, so the first one "Enhancing Your Layered Curriculum
Classroom: Tips, Tune-ups and Technology" was posted in Amazon's
Kindle store this week.

My travels this month will take me back to Toronto to continue our
Layered Curriculum® training with the Toronto District Schools and
to Lansing, New York for a Layered Curriculum® workshop with the
Lansing Central School District. New workshops are on the calendar
for Berwick Maine and the Ontario Students at Risk Conference in
April. Check the calendar page: http://help4teachers.com/calendar.htm

I still have workshop openings for March and May of 2012 as well
as the Fall of 2012, if you are looking to host a Layered Curriculum®
workshop this next year. Just email me.

As always, my best to you and yours,
Kathie

Dr Kathie F Nunley
Layered Curriculum® . . . because every child deserves a special education (tm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are receiving this newsletter because you requested to be on my
mailing list by entering your email address at one of the two websites.
I NEVER share or sell my newsletter list, nor is it used for any other
purpose other than this bi-monthly newsletter. Should you need to be
removed from the list, simply reply to this and let me know.
=======================================================
Layered Curriculum® is a trademark developed by and registered
to Dr. Kathie F Nunley. Usage information available at:
http://help4teachers.com/usage.htm

--
To unsubscribe/change profile:
http://www.listcast.com/x?u=136496789y-e4965d77

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Our address:
54 Ponemah Rd | Amherst, New Hampshire 03031

2011-11-15T17:53:00.001-08:00

Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---mid-November '11 Edition--- (current subscribers: 15,242)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--------SECTION ONE: TEACHING TIPS ------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TEACHER TIP # 1: I do "Think, Pair, Share" in my class. I allow students
time to think, then pair w/ a partner to share ideas. This saves students
from having to share with the whole class when they are unsure.
January Dabrowski, Orangeville District Secondary School, ON

TEACHER TIP #2: Teacher-in-Role: The teachers takes on a temporary
character to introduce a new topic or concept - NOVELTY.
Tony Culp, Orangeville District Secondary School, ON

Send your favorite teaching tip to me at Kathie@brains.org
Watch for more tips via Twitter: http://twitter.com/kathienunley

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION TWO: HOT TOPICS in Neuro & Educational Psychology------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOT TOPIC # 1: Most people associate adolescence as a period of
social anxiety. In fact, it is a key period for the development of serious
anxiety problems. Researchers have studied the relationship between
pubertal timing and social anxiety in 12 - 17 year olds. Early maturing
girls had the highest levels of social anxiety. Early maturing boys and
on-time maturing girls had lower levels. Blumenthal, H. et al. (2011).
Developmental Psychology, Vol 47(4), 133-1140.

HOT TOPIC #2: When learning a foreign language, pictures help.
That's true as long as the student is not too over-confident in the power
of the picture to help. Researchers had students learn new foreign
vocabulary from words, from pictures and from pictures paired with
words. The pictures were helpful in the learning process except for those
students who were overconfident in their view of depending on the picture.
Carpenter, S. & Olson, K. (2011). " Are pictures good for learning new
vocabulary in a foreign language? Only if you think they are not."
Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition,
Jul 25 issue.

More Hot Topics at the webstie: http://brains.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
---SECTION THREE: WEB UPDATES ---
BRAINS.ORG & HELP4TEACHERS.COM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New Layered Curriculum® Units:
Thanks to Jayne Perkins in Maine who sent a couple of new units for middle
school social studies and science.

See all the sample units at:
http://help4teachers.com/samples.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Brains.org Bookshop carries Layered Curriculum® texts,
workbooks, videos and training kits. We appreciate your support.
http://brains.org/store/index.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION FOUR: KATHIE'S EMAIL
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kathie, I am just learning really how to implement Layered Curriculum®
into my Honors World History classes. It seems like formal assessments
in the form of paper and pencil tests are really taken out of the format. What
about in situations, like my own, where we are required to give a department
test over each unit? Would you just give a unit grade for the unit and also
give a separate test grade for the department test or add the department
test in as points within the layers? Is this defeating the point of Layered
Curriculum because you are adding the formal assessment back into the
picture? Thanks for your time! Pam B., Georgia.
======================

Hi Pam. You've brought up a common point of confusion with Layered
Curriculum® - formal assessment. First, I'll tell you that most teachers
still use formal written assessment (e.g: paper-pencil tests). You can
have them at the end of every unit, every other unit, or as needed. These
can be teacher-made, department-made, or even state mandated. How
you combine the marking is also up to you. You may want to have the unit
worth 50% of their grade and the test worth 50% - or 80 / 20... there is no
right way to do it - make it fit your needs. - Kathie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION FIVE: WORKSHOPS / SCHEDULE / MISC CHAT------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I want to wish everyone here in the US a pleasant Thanksgiving.
Next week we all take a few days off to enjoy feasting on traditional
turkey, stuffing, potatoes, squash and pies. Enjoy!

I recently returned from Canada where they had their Thanksgiving
weeks ago. I had a great day with school counselors at the Ontario
School Counselor Association's conference. I'll be heading back
up to Ontario this week to work with the teachers at the Orangeville
Secondary School on Friday.

I've got new workshops in the works for Ontario, Maine, Missouri
and the southern region of Africa. To see a list of all my workshops,
check the calendar page: http://help4teachers.com/calendar.htm

If you are looking to host a Layered Curriculum® workshop this school
year, I have a few spring openings left and my summer and early fall
calendar for 2012 is now open. 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)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are receiving this newsletter because you requested to be on my
mailing list by entering your email address at one of the two websites.
I NEVER share or sell my newsletter list, nor is it used for any other
purpose other than this bi-monthly newsletter. Should you need to be
removed from the list, simply reply to this and let me know.
=======================================================
Layered Curriculum® is a trademark developed by and registered
to Dr. Kathie F Nunley. Usage information available at:
http://help4teachers.com/usage.htm

2011-11-05T15:19:00.001-07:00

Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---November '11 Edition--- (current subscribers: 15,249)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--------SECTION ONE: TEACHING TIPS ------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TEACHER TIP # 1: Gather students at the rug after independent reading
to share their thoughts and "wonderings" about their reading.
Judi Ropogo, K-6, Orde St. PS, Toronto.

TEACHER TIP #2: My classroom door can be a "Magic Door." If kids
come in with an attitude, or swear by accident, then they must physically
walk through the door and park their attitude outside before returning. I
remind them we are in the class to have fun as well as learn in a positive
atmosphere. Lea Konforte, Harbord, C.I., Toronto.

Send your favorite teaching tip to me at Kathie@brains.org
Watch for more tips via Twitter: http://twitter.com/kathienunley

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION TWO: HOT TOPICS in Neuro & Educational Psychology------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOT TOPIC # 1: In case you need one more reason to get rid of plastic water
bottles in your school, here new research on Bisphenol-A (BPA), which is
found in many food grade plastics. It is a serious endocrine disruptor. For
a long time, researchers have suspected it causes brain development problems
in children, but new research shows even a very small amount (well below
the FDA's safe daily limit estimate of 50 g/kg/day)can impair both visual and
spatial memory in people of all ages as it reduces the actual spine density
on dendrites in the prefrontal cortex, and has an effect on the hippocampus. .
Eilam-Stock, T. et al. (2011). "Bisphenol-A impairs memory and reduces
dendritic spine density in adult male rats." Behavioral Neuroscience,
Oct 17 issue preview. No pagination specified.

HOT TOPIC #2: Research released this past summer shows that elementary
teachers believe that shy / quiet children are less intelligent and assume
they will do more poorly academically than their more talkative peers. In a
study involving hundreds of elementary teachers, researchers found these
attitudes among teachers lead to different teaching strategies as well. Teachers
tend to use more high-powered and social learning strategies with talkative /
exuberant children and more indirect teaching strategies with quiet children.
Coplan, R. et al. (2011). "Is silence golden? Elementary school teachers'
strategies and beliefs regarding hypothetical shy/quiet and exuberant/talkative
children." Journal of Educational Psychology, Jul 11 edition.

More Hot Topics at the webstie: http://brains.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
---SECTION THREE: WEB UPDATES ---
BRAINS.ORG & HELP4TEACHERS.COM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New Layered Curriculum® Units:

Dorota Blondowski in Afton, Iowa sent a new 8th grade science unit.
Josh Vagi in Algonac, Michigan sent a new 8th grade social studies unit.
Jaime Stuart in Lebanon, Maine sent a new 4th grade social studies unit

See all the sample units at:
http://help4teachers.com/samples.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Brains.org Bookshop is open again! We apologize for the delay in
shipping materials last week. We were closed due to a state-wide
power outage. We are back now and caught up on all orders.

We carry Layered Curriculum® texts, workbooks, videos and training kits.
http://brains.org/store/index.htm
We appreciate your support.

=> We always offer the Layered Curriculum® TEXT and WORKBOOK set
for the direct, discounted price of $42.00 as well as individual multi-media
study kits for teachers.

You can order any of these and other recommended books at either online bookshop:
http://brains.org/store

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION FOUR: WORKSHOPS / SCHEDULE / MISC CHAT------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Happy November. I'm a wee bit late getting this November issue out,
but we've had a whopper of a week here in New England. You may
have heard that we were hit with a very un-seasonal snow storm
last week which closed down a significant portion of the northeast.
So we were dark for 6 days. No power, no heat, no water.....talk about
a pioneer experience!!

We're back now and just in time as I'm heading out tomorrow for
Toronto and the Ontario School Counselor Association's conference.
Later this month, I'll return to Ontario to work again with the teachers
in Orangeville.

I've got new workshops going up on the calendar and my southern
African trip next June is shaping up to be a fascinating trip through
3 countries and 6 cities. I'll be in Namibia, Botswana and South
Africa and look forward to another visit to this beautiful region.
If you are in the southern Africa region, many of these workshops
will be open to outside participants, so I hope you will join us.
To see a list of all my workshops, check the calendar page:
http://help4teachers.com/calendar.htm

If you are looking to host a Layered Curriculum® workshop this school
year, my spring, summer and early fall calendar for 2012 is now open.
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)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are receiving this newsletter because you requested to be on my
mailing list by entering your email address at one of the two websites.
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=======================================================
Layered Curriculum® is a trademark developed by and registered
to Dr. Kathie F Nunley. Usage information available at:
http://help4teachers.com/usage.htm

2011-10-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

Dr Kathie Nunley's Educator's Newsletter
---mid-October '11 Edition--- (current subscribers: 15,302)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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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TEACHER TIP # 1: Rather than using a school planner for assignments
(which can overwhelm some students) just have them make a daily
list of assignments on one sheet of paper, changing ink color with each
subject. Then they can highlight or cross out as completed.
Muskego-Norway teachers.

TEACHER TIP #2: Applesauce "cups" wash in the dishwasher and work
great for science or art. Diana, Judson ISD, San Antonio

Send your favorite teaching tip to me at Kathie@brains.org
Watch for more tips via Twitter: http://twitter.com/kathienunley

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------SECTION TWO: HOT TOPICS in Neuro & Educational Psychology------
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HOT TOPIC # 1: Interesting new research out on risk factors for initiating use
of alcohol and other drugs during middle school years. There appears a
significant correlation between emotional stress and initiating substance use.
Children who experience stressful life events in grade 6 were at a higher risk
for initiating an illicit substance by grade 8. (Children who initiate use before
grade 6 had significantly higher symptoms of depression). Children with
high levels of separation anxiety / panic symptoms were at a very low
risk for alcohol initiation. And those middle-schoolers who strongly perceived
teacher support in school were at a significantly lower risk of alcohol initiation.
McCarty, C. et al (2011). "Emotional health predictors of substance use
initiation during middle school." Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. preview n.p.s.

HOT TOPIC #2: Four and five-year olds can benefit from computerized reading
games, but only when given individualized feedback and correction. A Dutch
study had a large group of low SES children use a computerized tutoring
program to play games designed to improve literacy skills. Half the children
received individualized feedback including oral corrections from the computer.
Those children's code-related literacy skills increased as a result. The children
who played the games without the individualized feedback did not have skill
improvement. It's also interesting to note that children with inhibitory control
problems scored disproportionately low when working in a computer
environment without personalized feedback.
Kegel, C. & Bus, A. (2011). "Online tutoring as a pivotal quality of web-based
early literacy programs." Journal of Educational Psychology, preview, n.p.s.

More Hot Topics at the webstie: http://brains.org
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---SECTION THREE: WEB UPDATES ---
BRAINS.ORG & HELP4TEACHERS.COM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Brains.org Bookshop carries Layered Curriculum® training materials.
http://brains.org/store/index.htm
We appreciate your support.

New Books:

=> "ENHANCING YOUR LAYERED CURRICULUM CLASSROOM:
Tips, Tune-ups and Technology" This is my newest book for
Layered Curriculum® teachers. $22.00

=> We always offer the Layered Curriculum® TEXT and WORKBOOK set
for the direct, discounted price of $42.00 as well as individual multi-media
study kits for teachers.

You can order any of these and other recommended books at either online bookshop:
http://brains.org/store

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------SECTION FOUR: KATHIE'S EMAIL ------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kathie, I'm enclosing several lessons I created while teaching physical
science. I have enjoyed using your ideas for the last several years.
Thanks for all you do. Grant Stock, High School Principal, MO

------------------------------------------
Grant,
Thank you so much for sharing your work. They are now posted on our
samples page: http://help4teachers.com/samples.htm
- Kathie

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------SECTION FIVE: WORKSHOPS / SCHEDULE / MISC CHAT------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mid-term already! How time flies. We are in full color here in New England
this week - tis the season we all anxiously await and yet hard to predict.
But if you are looking for fall color - this is a good weekend to get to
the northeast.

Last week I was in Idaho for the Idaho Science Teacher Association's
annual conference, combined with the ICTM math teachers. It was
a great day, despite the fact that we were hit with an unexpected snowstorm
upon leaving! Most of us were a bit underdressed for the snow - and
we had to use make-shift snowbrushes to clean off the cars.

I'll be heading to Michigan next week for a Layered Curriculum® workshop
with teachers in the Montabella Community Schools. New workshops are
going up on the calendar for Toronto, New York and South Africa.
To see a list of all my workshops, check the calendar page:
http://help4teachers.com/calendar.htm

If you are looking to host a Layered Curriculum® workshop this school year, my
spring and summer calendar is now open. 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)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are receiving this newsletter because you requested to be on my
mailing list by entering your email address at one of the two websites.
I NEVER share or sell my newsletter list, nor is it used for any other
purpose other than this bi-monthly newsletter. Should you need to be
removed from the list, simply reply to this and let me know.
=======================================================
Layered Curriculum® is a trademark developed by and registered
to Dr. Kathie F Nunley. Usage information available at:
http://help4teachers.com/usage.htm