Bronco Broadcast
December 14, 2018
New PEIMS/Secretary
iPhones in the Classroom for Music
Music in the classroom helps some students concentrate, but may be distracting for others.
Deciding whether to allow students to listen to music in the classroom is a modern teacher's dilemma. Every single time students need to write an essay or work on a problem, they say, "Can I put my headphones on? I think better that way!" But is that really true? Does music help or hinder concentration? Is there a difference between listening to Bach vs. Lil Yachty, or Skrillex vs. Bad Brains? I know what my high school students say, but I wanted to find out what science had to offer.
Silence Really Is Golden
Research offers little to back up the idea that listening to music improves concentration. In one of several small Taiwanese studies, 133 participants performed reading comprehension tasks while listening to either light classical music, hip hop, or no music at all. Students who performed the reading tasks in silence scored the highest. Music with a higher intensity (such as hip hop) was more distracting and had a greater (negative) effect on task performance and concentration.
Volume plays an even more important role than the type of music played. One study found that the louder the music, the worse the cognitive performance. Further, the type of music didn't matter—eschewing expectations, classical music didn't enhance performance. Data from this study revealed, once again, that silence was the best environment "to maximize performance when engaging in cognitive activity."
There is a positive aspect to music's effect on work performance. Studies have revealed that listening to music leads to positive changes in mood, as well as increased creativity. In fact, in "music-listening work cultures," which students are certainly part of, there's actually a psychological withdrawal when the musical stimulus is taken away.
At this time, I am not telling you to not allow students to listen to music. I am asking you to watch who is listening to music, what music they are listening to, and are they being successful on their assignments and tests. If they are listening to music but not completing work or failing assignments, you may want to rethink their music listening options. ~MP
https://www.wgu.edu/heyteach/should-you-let-students-listen-to-music-in-the-classroom
Happy Holidays
Wear jeans all week if you wear Christmas colors or shirts/sweaters
Dec. 17 - Wear a holiday hat
Dec. 18 - "Talkin' Tree" Bingo - There will be a BINGO sheet put in your box and numbers will be called through Remind 101 between classes. When you win send a student to the office to choose a prize for you.
Dec. 19 - Ugly sweater contest
Dec. 20 - (Changed this) I will have a treat and Wassail for you
Dec. 21 - Your Christmas gift revealed
Lunch Detention
You may assign your students lunch detention based on inappropriate behaviors in your classroom. Please be sure that you always contact a parent when you assign lunch detention. While they are in lunch detention, they will:
- Complete Lunch Detention assignment
- Eat lunch
- Clean the cafeteria
- Work on classwork
Chromebook carts
Please leave the carts locked every night.
Grade Reminders
You are to have 10-12 daily grades and 3 summative assessments each 6 weeks.
Writing on Hands/Arms
UIL Materials
Bronco Pulse
Tuesdays-7th grade
Thursdays-8th grade
December School Events
Dec. 18 -21 - Interim Test
Dec. 21 - End of 3rd 6 weeks
December Athletics/Games
Dec. 17 - Lady Bronco Basketball-Brock, 4:30, Boys Home
Jan. 7 - Lady Bronco Basketball-Jacksboro-Home,4:30, Boys away
Jan. 17 - Lady Bronco Basketball-Peaster, 4:30, Boys Home
Jan. 21 - Lady Bronco Basketball-Tolar-Home,4:30, Boys away
Jan. 28 - Lady Bronco Basketball-Boyd, 4:30, Boys Home
Feb. 4 - Lady Bronco Basketball-Millsap-Home, 4:30, Boys away
Valentine's Dance
Decorating - Wednesday and Thursday after school
Monitoring at the dance - Friday, February 8, 6-9:00 pm