MiddleWeb's New Resources (435)

From our newsletter: • Relieving Math Anxiety • The Connected Educator • Birds Gotta Flock • Beyond Pottermore • The Arts & Critical Thinking • Classroom Workouts • Instant Translation • Honoring Heroes through Service • Holiday Fever • Quick Links (free subscription)

 

Relieving Math Anxiety

Brain research has already shown us that math anxiety can cause some kids to choke — as surely as a tied score with 10 seconds left on the clock. But new findings from the University of Chicago suggest that students who experience anxiety during math tests can learn to overcome their fear. Using fMRI technology to track blood flow in the brain, UC researchers found that students working on math challenges who were able to engage portions of their brain associated with cognitive control and the regulation of negative emotions more often solved problems correctly. And they say this engagement can be taught. Education Week writer Sarah D. Sparks summarizes the findings in this post. For all the details, see this article published by the journal Cerebral Cortex.

 

Teaching for the 21st Century

The Connected Educator by Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach and Lani Ritter Hall describes how educators can work together in local and global networks, connecting, collaborating and harvesting knowledge they can apply in their schools and classrooms to advance student learning. Look inside and order a paper or Kindle version at Amazon.

Birds Gotta Flock

Whether you’re studying birds, slime mold or other examples of Emergence, it's a concept that will likely capture your students’ attention instantly. In nature, and even among human beings and computers, we find examples where animate things appear to act collectively in groups with no single thing in charge. PBS’s NOVA offers an engaging 12-min. video and vivid slides to demonstrate these phenomena. And a Q&A session with American scientist and professor John H. Holland highlights the complexity of emergence.

Beyond Pottermore

While we wait for J.K. Rowling’s Pottermore to move beyond beta testing, kids can enjoy new books from other favorite YA authors. Rick Riordan’s Son of Neptune launched in October. It’s the second entry in the former middle level teacher's projected 5-book Heroes of Olympus series. And Christopher Paolini concludes the Inheritance cycle, which first introduced 15-year-old dragon fighter Eragon in 2003. Intermediate readers can enjoy another Wimpy Kid adventure, Cabin Fever, from Jeff Kinney. These authors' sites offer lots of online activities. Tweens and teens who enjoyed N.D. Wilson's 100 Cupboards trilogy may enjoy The Dragon’s Tooth, first in the new series Ashtown Burials. ALSO: For a peek at the upcoming movie based on Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games, see the first trailer and the Atlantic’s response. Other good sources of tween/teen book info: Reading Rants and Tweendom.

 

The Arts & Critical Thinking

Sure, arts learned at school can provide life-long enrichment. But Andrew Miller points out that they can build critical thinking skills, too. Consider how, at a California school, an atom is re-envisioned more authentically as a beehive and a traditional resume blooms into a colorful poster. While Miller points to the importance of classes dedicated to arts subjects (music, visual arts, performance), he encourages all teachers to use students’ creative thinking skills to build understanding of core subjects. His thoughts on arts integration reinforce recommendations from the White House’s 2011 report, Reinvesting in Arts Education: Winning America’s Future Through Creative Schools.

Classroom Workouts

Bringing physical activity into the classroom has huge benefits: “it aids cognitive development, increases engagement and motivation, and is essential to a whole child approach to education” according to this podcast at ASCD's Whole Child website. Hear Jill Vialet, founder of a nonprofit that transforms play in urban schools; Michael Opitz, author of Literacy Lessons to Help Kids Get Fit & Healthy; and Andria Caruthers, a DC principal who emphasizes academics and healthy lifestyles. For more research bolstering the learning/moving relationship, see this CDC report (esp. pp 21-23). To find active lessons and videos arranged by grade level and content area, try this NC Fit Kids website.

Instant Translation

Could you use some help communicating with students and their parents when English isn’t their first language? Tim Holt, a 25 year teacher and administrator, has some suggestions for you: Start with a smart phone. Add Word Lens. Take a photo of a sign and watch it change into another language almost instantly. It’s on iPhone now, Android promised soon. For spoken language, you can use Google Translate, already on both platforms and ready now for phrases and short sentences. Two-way translating, in person or via Skype? Holt recommends vocre for now -- and imagines a time soon when apps will handle much more lengthy, complex speaking.

 

Honoring Heroes through Service

Heroism, injustice, civil disobedience: all come to mind with the 56th anniversary of Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery, AL, bus (12/1/55). ReadWriteThink has collected interviews and lesson plans to help your students learn more of the Rosa Parks story. And to help you prepare for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service (1/16/12), the National Corporation of Community Service has an online booklet that not only highlights Dr. King’s leadership but has service learning ideas for the classroom and in the community.

Holiday Fever!

Jingling bells are just ahead, and intermediate teacher Brent Vasicek has some good suggestions to sustain everyone’s learning as the semester progresses toward the winter holiday break — including some practical ideas for handling squirrely distractions in the classroom.

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MiddleWeb's Quick Links

Didn't find quite what you need? Here's a quick look at some other resources of interest.

• Defeat Dr. Vick’s Evil Plans in this interactive math game from MD Public TV and Johns Hopkins.

• Google Jockeying is gaining popularity in classrooms. Not familiar? Here are 7 Things You Should Know.

• Here’s another take on Interactive White Boards, with heaps of comments. (Click on last time's newsletter - below - for our earlier resource)

• Say what you think at the Gates-sponsored TeacherWall video collection.

• Tips on how to find your grading compass, from teaching expert Carol Ann Tomlinson.