Resource Roundup
Resources for the Middle School Teacher
February 13, 2013
African American History Month Resources
Celebrate Black History Month by highlighting the African American artists, educators, icons, and influential leaders that have impacted our nation’s history and culture with these PBS Learning Media resources.
These boards showcase African Americans who have or are currently impacting American society, including one short board that argues against African American history month, stating that historians and the public should be attentive to African American perspective in all renditions of history every day–that a month should be unnecessary.
http://edudemic.com/2013/02/african-american-history-month-teaching-resources/
A Cleaner Internet
This web browser extension removes unwanted ads/recommended videos on YouTube and other sites!
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2013/01/a-simple-tool-for-cleaning-up-your.html
Instagram From a Famous Figure Assignment
What would Marco Polo send to his Instagram followers? What would Leonardo Da Vinci, or Thomas Jefferson post? For Language Arts, what would Katnis or Peeta from the Hunger Games be posting? This is a simple, fun and engaging way to get students familiar with one of the most popular social marketing sites on the web without needing computers.
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Instagram-From-A-Famous-Figure-Assignment
16 Websites to Teach and Learn Vocabulary
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/02/16-websites-to-teach-and-learn.html
Student Interactives & Teacher Resources from Learner.org
Annenberg Learner's multimedia resources help teachers increase their expertise in their fields and assist them in improving their teaching methods. Many programs are also intended for students in the classroom and viewers at home. All Annenberg Learner videos exemplify excellent teaching.
Examples of Student Interactives include: Amusement Park Physics, Parallax, Conversions, Effects of dams on salmon popuations, Thirteen Colonies, Development and Future of the European Union, Triangle Model of the Cultural Framework, Limerick Factory, Volcanoes, and many more!
Google's Search Education Page
Help students learn how to do internet research. Lesson plans, strategies, and examples to help students become stronger researchers!
Thanks for the tip, Andrew!
http://www.google.com/insidesearch/searcheducation/index.html
Six Metaphors to Explain Math
This tip explains well-known math metaphors, and provides six creative examples of metaphors that allow math teachers to use known concepts to explain unknown or confusing mathematical concepts.
The Mathematics of Spider-Man
10 Awesome STEM Jobs
There is so much more to STEM than just being a "scientist". What about becoming a music data journalist, NASA Rover Driver, ESPN Statistician, 3D Printing Materials Manager, a Professional Hacker, or a Legoland Designer?
The BEST Science Online (Henry’s List)
Common Core and Social Studies
A nice collection of websites, digital tools, presentations, and other resources to help social studies teachers implement the standards from the Common Core into their classes.
http://www.socialstudiescentral.com/content/common-core-and-social-studies-classroomGo Social Studies Go
Go Social Studies Go is essentially a series of multimedia books about common social studies topics. The site is divided into four main sections; World Geography, World Religions, World History, and U.S. History. Within each section is a series of booklets containing text, pictures, videos, and links to additional resources.
The Problem of Textspeak in Middle School
Whether you call it textspeak, techspeak, or a reason for Shakespeare to spin madly in his grave, technology is impacting the way we think, connect, and communicate. And while it’s not all bad, this whole textspeak thing is a little annoying, especially in middle school when students are changing fast, socializing constantly, and learning to challenge the status quo.
The infographic below takes a look at textspeak–where it’s used, what it means, and how those who “speak” it actually feel about it. (Only 11% think it negatively impacts their writing skills–because they’d know, right?)
http://www.teachthought.com/technology/the-problem-of-textspeak-in-middle-school/
How to Design Text Based Questions and Teach Students to Answer Them (with exemplars)
Grammy in the Schools
Grammy in the Schools creates opportunities for high school students to work with music professionals to get real-world experience and advice about how to have a career in music. And that includes any kind of music career – audio engineer, concert promoter, electronic music producer, manager, musician, music journalist, singer, songwriter – any music career.
They also shine the spotlight on schools,students, and teachers who are doing really cool things with music. In fact, they just created the GRAMMY Music Educator Award to honor the role of music teachers.
The Resource Roundup Library
Miss the previous editions? Find them here...
February 5, 2013
January 18, 2013
January 9, 2013
Jamie Neibling
Martial Artist, Thinker, Reader, Learner
Email: jneiblin@nkcschools.org
Twitter: @jamieneibling