Ideas @ MEHMS

inspired by dangerously irrelevant: we should make meh buttons

http://www.absorbentprinting.com/political-products/buttons/custom-buttons-offset-printed/price/1

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-outthere4apr04,1,7251622.story

Twin post on The Deputy Head.

twin post on The Deputy Head:

This idea has been sitting on my desktop since last week; we hit a wild learning storm at MEH, and I’ve been away from updating since Friday. Ms. Coulter has an innovative idea for helping students with spelling difficulties. When I was an elementary classroom teacher I always had a word wall where we’d post challenging words. Ms. Coulter’s taken it one step further: each student has their own blank notebook where they alphabetize challenging words. When she corrects a paper, she’ll amend a spelling error and then the student can include the corrected word into their “private dictionary.” They can use it as a desktop reference when they’re writing. This is so empowering–student’s don’t have to stress about asking, and they’re in charge of identifying their own areas for growth.

Watch Dave Eggers get passionate about learning w/ kids.

From The Deputy Head 10 March, 2008

Do cell phone cameras and iPods have a place in the classroom? Many of you know that the locked drawer in my office often hosts rogue cell phones, cameras, iPods, etc… The official policy is that these sorts of devices should be turned off and in the locker. What’s the big deal ? (link courtesy of Dr. Scott McLeod–please note that parents may want to watch these before sharing w/ their students) These are some examples of students catching teachers taking it too far. Isn’t there a medium? If students are using these devices to learn and to communicate, should we (educational leaders) be brainstorming ways to use film/video/mp3 in the learning we do w/ kids at school.

Edulicious blogged recently about digital storytelling w/ students. Why can’t kids construct the story using technologies with which they’re already comfortable (shooting video on a cell phone, mashing up an mp3 soundtrack, etc…)?

Check out the NYC Public Schools million cell phone pitch (follow link, click case studies, click million).

My classes are only 45 minutes long and so I need to make the most of the time. I’ve started using this online timer to help the class keep track of their “work time”. If I say they have 7 minutes to work on something, I pop this timer up on the big screen and let the students monitor how much time is left. I’ll leave the timer running in the background if I’m working on other applications (like PowerPoint). A ringer goes off when it is finished so keep the volume turned up (but not too much).

I was cleaning out my email and found this one:

Hi All:

I hope you remember this game.

During our recent Professional Development this game was shown, we played it and had a blast! It can be adapted to any subject. I have attached the one I just prepared for math 7. I have played this with 3 classes and they love it. The excitement level was high and some of the clues from the students were awesome!

Example: Rectangular Prism - Clue from one student: It’s shaped like a shoe box, Answer: Rectangular Prism

Have fun!

Mo.

Get the Powerpoint template here: Miles a minute math

As students create presentations, webpages, and other publications they often need pictures and images to go with them.  There are many place students can go to find high quality, educational pieces. Here are two good ones.

• Library of Congress
• Smithsonian Images

Also, delicious/MEHMS has a few additional links.  Students (and teachers) should obey all copyrights

How cool is this? The first 30,000 pages have been unveiled of a vast encyclopedia which aims to catalogue every one of our planet’s 1.8 million species.

The Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) - described as the “ultimate field guide” - is to encompass all six kingdoms of life, and even viruses.

This is definitely an educational tool worth checking out!

-John

I just moved the deputy head to it’s new home. Until I can import old posts to the new site, they will continue to reside here.

–Vincent