Teachers In Space

The friend who e-mailed me this link said, "It's like a field trip, except with no kids!"

http://www.teachers-in-space.org/

Palin's Reading Habits

"Submitted for publication

Dear Editor,

The focus has shifted from Sarah Palin's disastrous performance in the Katie Couric interviews to her better than expected debate performance. Still, I'd like to redirect us to the fact that Sarah Palin could not name a single periodical or newspaper that she read to stay informed. Let's be honest. That is NOT a trick question from the media elite. As a lifelong educator, I suspect this woman does not read. Ever. The way she mangles the English language, both in interviews and even in spouting her memorized talking points, only corroborates that view. People who read know how to use language clearly and effectively.

Sara Stevenson

Middle School Librarian who reads The Austin American-Statesman, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The New Yorker.
Austin, Texas"

(via Stephen Krashen's "Krashen Digest" mailing list)

Children's Book Illustrators for Obama

(via Fuse #8)

Reading Isn't A Numbers Game

So says Regina Powers in the LA Times:

Reading is supposed to be a pleasurable habit. California's reading scores have remained flat since 1971. Research verifies that comprehension and reading test scores improve when students simply read more. So let's encourage reading by allowing kids to choose what to read, unimpeded by the pressure of points, levels and quizzes. 

So say we all!

Critical Thinking About Your Health

Great article in the NYT this morning about using critical thinking when reading about medical studies called Searching for Clarity: A Primer On Medical Studies.  It reveals why you keep reading things in the paper or crappy health magazines like Prevention that change from month to month, year to year.  Eggs are bad for you, eggs are good.  Beta Carotene is good, no sorry, it's bad. Gluscosamine and Chondroitin are good for joints.  No sorry, they don't do anything for you.

The reason is that there has to be a whole lot of evidence pointing in one direction, and then you still need a double-blinded clinical trial to really know what works.  Sometimes those trials confirm the evidence.  Sometimes, as with the beta carotene, they don't.

The three big things to consider: It's important to compare the same things.  The bigger the group studied, the better the results. The third is something called Bayes' theorem.  From the article:

But if one clinical trial tests something that is plausible, with a lot of supporting evidence to back it up, and another tests something implausible, the trial testing a plausible hypothesis is more credible even if the two studies are similar in size, design and results.

That one even messes up the scientists, so it's worth checking out.

Map of the Future

I'm not even sure what this all means, but it's pretty freaky cool.  Check out this interactive Map of Future Forces Affecting Education.  Some are issues we've been discussing in our Information Technology class.  It's blowing my mind.  Can't wait to dig into it further and see what kinds of comments get generated from this project.

(link via Instructify)

Interactive White Boards

They really are quite fun. Doug Johnson and I both had differing, but not exactly opposite, takes on a post put up by Wes Frayer.

I was just wondering out loud about small districts jumping on the IWB bandwagon without enough thought.

Doug thought Wes was viewing the use of IWBs too narrowly.

Wes made a thoughtful comment on Doug's blog and Doug followed up with this post.

This kind of instant kicking around of ideas is what makes me love the blogosphere so much.

What are your thoughts or experiences with IWBs?

Carnival of Elitist Bastards V is Up!

Enjoy the cruise over at The Coffee-Stained Writer.

Gang Lit

Request for ideas:

One of my third graders came to school with a broken arm.  The official story told was that it was from a biking accident.  I have come to find out that a gang member twisted it until it broke.  After they revealed this, my third graders when on to tell about the two main gangs in their trailer park and which ones they wanted to be in when they were old enough, though I think some of them might already be participating.

It was all very depressing but I'd like to know more.  I'd like to read them a good chapter book to get the discussion going, but is there anything suitable for their age group?  Is there a Scorpions or Buried Onions for them?  Those are more for the YA crowd.  I'm stumped and don't have much time to devote to digging around.  Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Get On That Technology Bandwagon!

This morning the always relevant Scott Mcleod had some great links, including this great one from Wesley Fryer.  Hilarious but sad.  It goes right along with what we've been discussing in our Information Technology class.  Remember the article we had to read for this class?  It describes a county that went whole hog buying SMART Boards for every classroom and are having a hard time keeping them up and getting people trained.  You just know some of those $3000 puppies are collecing dust or are being used as nothing more than fancy overheads.

I don't know what the answer is, but I think it might involve presenting the new technology, trying to get some teacher buy-in, then giving them a choice of technologies.  Some will lead the charge with the new interactive whiteboards and get others onboard.  Others could settle for $700 LCD projectors.  If the district leaders still have money burning a hole in their collective pocket, still others could buy some colorful and interactive, you know, books.  Just imagine $3000 for your classroom library.  

Elitist Style

Oh, we're sailing in real style this month, my elite friends. Which is good since my last post for the Carnival was left ashore, alone and forlorn. We have commandeered a luxury liner and will be enjoying all the affectations of the truly snobbish. As I wander the decks I see only well dressed Elitist Bastards in their best dresses and suits. Well, except for those Saudis in theor best robes gathered up on the Aloha Deck.

Our first stop is a small private island where I run into an old friend. Dear dear Thurston. How have you been old friend? We have a game, us elitist Bastards. We like to play that old one where we call the other guy the elitist. How's that going, Thurston? You don't say. That bad, eh? Wow, you got that egghead professor on the run! Cheerio old boy!

Ah, senator! We know you've been playing that game, haven't you? Yes, and he only has one house! What's that game you're playing now? Ha, ha! "Got-your-American-flag-lapel button" indeed! Oh, yes, senator. You had me on that one, to be sure. Quick, how many cars do you have? Nah! Just kidding. Oh, I know. That was rude of them to bring up the 3 foreign jobbies. Of course there's no press here senator. I know, I know. They keep asking all those questions. Oh, I know senator, I know you don't answer many of them. Good for you, I say. What do they think this is? We can't have some inexperienced person in the White House, now can we? Someone with almost no foreign policy experience. What kind of elitists would we be if we allowed just some... Oh, yes. So sorry. Hey! Do that pirate face for me one more time!

There you go! Yes. Arrrrgh. Ha, ha! Yes, yes senator. Oh yes, pirates every time sir. Not those ninja wannabes, no never. Thank you, senator! Yes, I thought that whole "Straight Talk Express" thing was hilarious too. I get the irony too. Since you, you know, don't answer many questions with the media and all...

What? No! No, no, no! Don't throw me off the...AHHHHHHHH!

Crash Another Poll

Do you think Sarah Palin is qualified to be Vice President of the United States?

Its not at 100% NO yet. Let's help them out...

Here it is, at PBS.

Turning Tide

Do check out today's Onegoodmove "links with your coffee" post. Obama has a 52-43 lead on McCain. Now even the conservatives are disgusted with him. George Will: "Under the pressure of the financial crisis, one presidential candidate is behaving like a flustered rookie playing in a league too high. It is not Barack Obama." Alan Greenspan, who endorsed McCain in April, says his tax cut plan is unteneble. McCain said his campaign manager had no ties to Freddie Mac. Being paid $15K a month must not count. And not only does the guy not know how many houses he owns, now we find out he's got thirteen cars including a Honda, Lexus, and Volkswagon when he claims to only buy American. This morning NPR had at him for his potrayal of the media as fawning over Obama. They reported that yesterday he took questions from reporters for the first time since early August. Then he chatted with the press for around twenty minutes. Yesterday he answered questions for only seven minutes. "Straight Talk Express" my butt.

Looks like McCain is joining me in becoming an elitist bastard!