Take 5! Integration Update - February 23, 2011 (Vol.2/#17)

Issue #17

“Take 5” is a weekly update containing information related to teaching and learning for today and beyond...

Take just 5 minutes (or less) to look over these resources and see what might be helpful for your and/or your students. Better yet, set aside at least 15-30 minutes a week (yes, that's been increased from last year!) to focus on finding resources and ideas that will improve student learning and prepare them for their future!


===================================

Tips and Tools for Teachers

• Life.com – The Power of Historical Images – (Perfect for Black History Month) Begin a discussion with this collection of photos from Life.com — or have students use them to create a presentation or expository piece on a segment of history. Show an image with no captions and have students discuss what they think is going on. So many ideas you can come up with from images here. Getty Images purchased the rights to Life’s photos and has made them available for use at Life.com.  More information can be found at this Edutopia article. (NOTE: The site also includes "Today's Top Photos" on their home page -- watch history being made in the Middle East/North Africa) 

 

• Flashcards – (see sample quiz item above) From Dictionary.com, create your own study guide or use one already made — works great for vocabulary in any subject, foreign language, or anything else that has one right answer. (Thanks to Kathy Herman, HS, for this tip!)

Ponderings

• Teacher Blogging or Venting? (article) - PA teacher strikes nerve with 'lazy whiners' blog
  ... If you are a blogger (or know of any teachers who blog in any form), take a quick look at this article and consider the implications. This teacher occasionally used her personal blog to vent her frustration with her students' lack of motivation, and more. She claims "free speech," but even "free" often has hidden costs! Here are some excerpts from the article:

  • "My students are out of control," Munroe, who has taught 10th, 11th and 12th grades, wrote in one post. "They are rude, disengaged, lazy whiners...
  • Munroe did not use her full name or identify her students or school in the blog, which she started in August 2009 for friends and family. Last week, she said, students brought it to the attention of the school, which suspended her with pay.
  •  "She could have been any person, any teacher in America writing about their lives," he said, pointing out that Munroe blogged about 85 times and that only about 15 to 20 of the posts involved her being a teacher. "It's honest and raw and a little edgy depending on your taste. ... She has a deep frustration for the educational system in America."

Learning Opportunities

• 1. In-District Professional Development Opportunities
• 2. NWO's STEM Education Inquiry Series (at Rossford High School!) - Thurs., March 24th (from 5-8pm) a low-cost, local opportunity for elementary teachers and JH/HS science, math, and technology teachers offered 7 times from September 23 - April 14, 2011.
•  3. In the right margin of this blog, enter your email to receive future postings into your email Inbox (Take 5s and more!) -- plan on 1-3 posts per week.

;-) Just for Fun?!?! (and a little learning, perhaps)

Another set of gems from the photos at Life.com... Called "Heavy Stuff on Top of People," this could be used for a science/physics lesson, perhaps? (visuals only, no demonstrations or experiments!) People REALLY did stuff like that back then too, huh? Remember... do NOT try these at home!!!