Talk Like Shakespeare Thursday!

I heart Chicago!! In honor of Shakespeare's 445th birthday, Mayor Daley declared this Thursday, April 23 National Talk Like Shakespeare Day. Here are ten tips for getting this going at home and school (provided by http://talklikeshakespeare.org/)

1. Instead of you, say thou. Instead of y’all, say thee.
2. Rhymed couplets are all the rage.
3. Men are Sirrah, ladies are Mistress, and your friends are all called Cousin. [nerd note: sirrah is actually a form of address for a servant or underling]
4. Instead of cursing, try calling your tormenters jackanapes or canker-blossoms or poisonous bunch-back’d toads.
5. Don’t waste time saying "it," just use the letter "t" (’tis, t’will, I’ll do’t).
6. Verse for lovers, prose for ruffians, songs for clowns.
7. When in doubt, add the letters "eth" to the end of verbs (he runneth, he trippeth, he falleth).
8. To add weight to your opinions, try starting them with methinks, mayhaps, in sooth or wherefore.
9. When wooing ladies: try comparing her to a summer’s day. If that fails, say "Get thee to a nunnery!"
10. When wooing lads: try dressing up like a man. If that fails, throw him in the Tower, banish his friends and claim the throne.

I have a few additions to add to the official list:

• If someone is rude to you, throw down a glove (or gauntlet) as an invitation to duel.
• Say "anon" instead of soon.
• Feel free to go off on an extended soliloque about Queen Mab, the fates or other mystical forces if the mood strikes.
• Know a slob, refer to him/her as "Falstaff" for the day
• If you take a wrong turn, get stuck in traffic or any other minor annoyance comes up, declare "I am fortune's fool!" It's oddly cathartic.
• Use "art" instead of are.
• Refrain from taking any boat trips. You may very well end up on washing ashore on an unknown land.
• Refer to friends as "good cousin"
• Use "morrow" instead of tomorrow
• Not that you would ever flick someone off, but just in case, "bite your thumb" instead.

(Excuse the fact that most of my suggestions are from the "not-so-kind" Shakespeare catalog.)

Check www.teachhub.com for other Shakespeare-themed teacher goodness!!! Also, sign up for FREE and be my TeachHUB friend in the community :)

Thou shalt cherish it anon, good cousin.

3...2...1... Lift Off!!

The real TeachHUB.com is now launched!!! We are so excited for the launch and I hope you are too.

Please explore TeachHUB.com, sign up to be MY friend in the TeachHUB.com community, tell your friends and any educators you know!

The TeachHUB blog will now exist on the "Discussions and Blogs" page. There's all kind of other great stuff too - field trip giveaways, quotes and questions of the day, Teacher Spotlights, K-12 News, Teacher recommendations & more.

I hope you like it!!! Please contact me with any questions, comments or suggestions! acondron@k12teachersalliance.com

Space Party YouTube Writing Prompts

1. NASA is celebrating space exploration worldwide.
If NASA asked you to send something into space that represented who you are, what would it be?
Explain why you chose that item and what it would tell people from other countries OR beings from other planets about you.

2. Describe a time in your life when you explore the unknown.
Based on that experience, why do you think people feel the need to explore, both on earth and in space?

Counting Down to Launch

In the last week or so, the blog has gotten a bit blah and I apologize... but it's for good reason. Things have been a little crazy around here because we're FINALLY about to launch the website!!!

We are literally DAYS away. I'm so excited for all of you to see what your input has helped create.

As soon as we're live, I'll link and beg you to tell all your friends to visit, surf and let us know what works and what doesn't.

Thanks for reading!!

Have you heard of Fred?

YouTube Fred is a sensation among students... hitting 1 million subscribers on YouTube. What is that about? This is just horrible. Yet kids watch it every day. He's even got a T-shirt line at Hot Topic. Can anyone explain it to me?

Lessons in Piracy

Arrrggghhh you ready to learn about pirates?

Johnny Depp and Disney started a pirate craze with the release of Pirates of the Caribean. With piracy becoming an epidemic off the coast of Somalia, we can use that craze to our educational advantage.

Now, the opportunity to learn about history, geography, international affairs and even story-telling and ethics while bringing a sense of action and adventure to the classroom.

Today, the US has reported that a US cargo ship had been attacked by pirates off the the coast of Somalia, captured and then retaken from the plundering thieves. The story seems like it was ripped out of the pages of an action flick while calling attention to a major problem in the international world.

Working piracy into your lessons? Here are a few ideas:
Social Studies

• How are real life pirates different than fictional pirates you've seen in the movies?
• What other times in history was piracy a problem? Why do you think there is a rise in piracy now?
• Where is Somalia? Using a map, plot the places mentioned in the article.

English

• Plotting the action of these real life events as if they were a fictional story. (protagonist, antagonist, fit it to dramatic structure)
• Write the story as if you are one of the characters (a passenger on the US ship, a pirate, a Naval officer retaking the ship).

Science

• Pirate booty is often precious medals and gemstones. What a better way to teach about the periodic elements and geology - questioning what traits make those natural resources so valuable.

Math

• Counting pirate's gold, estimating the value of stolen ships, using specific numbers from the story in your practice problems.
• Make a treasure map that requires students to count paces (answering unit-specific problems to determine how far to go) to find their way to the classroom treasure. This may seem juvenile, but I think it could be great fun in high school too. Students could track their way using locker and room numbers for a school-wide treasure hunt.

Outside the classroom, there are educational opportunities to learn about real life pirates as well.

Chicago's Field Museum is hosting the "Real Pirates" exhibit that has gotten rave reviews all over town (and from my pirate-obsessed friend who teaches 6th grade Social Studies). William Mullen of the Chicago Tribune writes:

As exhibits go, this one is full of surprises that explode a lot of popular ideas about who pirates were and how they lived and died.

Personally, I can't wait to unmask the real pirates behind the fiction of fantasy.

How do you use current events in your classroom? Share in the comments section!

Interview with NASA Educator

If your class can't got to space camp, space camp can come to you. NASA offer virtual fieldtrips that bring NASA experts to your classroom. NASA educator Dave Mazza answered a few questions about his work in this week's TeachHUB Ed Celeb Interview.


What different kinds of field trips and educational experiences does NASA Glenn offer?

NASA Glenn Digital Learning Network offers 45 to 60 minute programs about Humans in Space, Ratios and Proportions, Simple Machines, Humans to Mars, Asteroids, Our Planet Earth, Rocket Science, The Space Shuttle, The Solar System and Beyond, The Moon, Apollo Revisited, and Galileo, The Origins of Science. Descriptions of each of these can be obtained at our website http://dln.nasa.gov/ along with the other NASA Center DLN offerings.

How are “virtual” field trips through the Digital Learning Network different than typical field trips?

The NASA field trips with the Digital Learning Network are highly interactive with the students and teachers. They all relate what they are learning in the classroom to how they apply to real world situations. They stress the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. We have NASA Specialists and NASA Engineers present to the students and allow the students to ask any question about NASA, Space, or anything they have always wanted to know.

Why do you think this program is value to educators and students?

They show Real World applications of the material they are learning in the classroom. Students will often ask why do we need to learn this stuff and we show them how and why they are learning. We also bring multiple forms of learning from text, video, and voice to try and hit everyone's learning capability. Also, we are not here to replace the teacher but to help explain concepts they are teaching in the classroom and also give them the chance to let us know how else we can help them with their classroom teachings. For example, the Simple Machines and Ratios event were created from a request from teachers.

What first got you interested in the study of space and space exploration?

I became interested in space when NASA sent the first Man to the Moon in 1969. As I watched Neil Armstrong step foot on the Moon, I then knew space travel was my direction. I have always been an explorer, as I used to hike woods and parks just to see what I could find. Travel into the Solar System and Beyond would be the ultimate travel. Now, if we can do it faster and better, we hope that will inspire students who will be the next generation of Astronauts, Engineers, and Scientists.

Can you describe the work you’ve done for NASA, aside from being a NASA educator?

My NASA career started at the Glenn Research Center in 1982. The engineers and scientists have to create reports to present their work and finding to their peers across the NASA Center's and different Societies they belong to. I helped them prepare graphics and manuscripts for submissions to be published. I played a major role in setting up computer networks and programs to help us in these projects. During this time, I would train co-workers on how to use the software and hardware newly installed in the department. I moved form the publishing department to the video and multimedia area and created many training applications and online materials for Astronauts and Corporate and regional pilots on the NASA research. During this time I have met and became friends with some really neat people.

How did you become a NASA educator?

I guess education has always been a part of my life and I really enjoy helping others. I pick up on different things quickly and would help others who had questions. I was able to get into distance learning and brought my knowledge of television production to the videoconferencing world to help take student and teacher to places that NASA has they would normally never get to see. Places like the International Space Station, Wind Tunnels, Reduced Gravity Aircraft and Astronaut training Facilities.

What topics are the most recommended by teachers and educators?

All of our topics are highly recommended by teachers, the most popular are Humans in Space, Rocket Science and The Solar System and Beyond.

The Digital Learning Network gives you a unique opportunity to interact with students. What has been your most memorable moment from the digital classroom?

I would have to say the most memorable moments have to be the reaction of the students and teachers K-12 when they see how water reacts in Space or when the event ends and you hear them saying how they now understand what they were learning.

What question is the most asked by kids?

The most asked question.... well you asked, How do you go to the bathroom in space?

How can teachers organize this experience for their students?

To best organize these experiences, teachers can look at what they are teaching and review the website and see how the NASA Programs could fit their curriculum. They could also request a DLN overview during their in service days and see how the DLN works from registration to the Day of the event.

process chart

Translating the Stimulus for Teachers

There's been a lot of talk about stimulus funds are starting to roll out this month, but what does that actually mean to you?

Your frozen budget might be thawing... and then flooding. Here are a few things you should know about the stimulus.

Stabilization
One lump of the stimulus money is allocated to Stabilization. States and districts can use that money to save jobs, fill funding gaps in the budget and potentially pay for construction projects and school modernization (computers, networks, getting broadband, etc.).

Teacher Translation: Hopefully, this money means jobs will be saved, at least for the next two years. Your school might also get a 21st century spruce up too.

Accountability/Tracking
Administrators will be expected to account for how stimulus spending fits ARRA criteria and improves student achievement.

The money is going out in two rounds. In order to get the second round of funding, states/districts have to PROVE the money is making a difference.

Teacher Translation: Any school purchases or requests you make should explain how it applies to the following stimulus criteria, be backed up with research that shows its effective OR you should explain how YOU will track its effectiveness in producing student achievement.

ALSO Teacher effectiveness evaluations will now be reported to the federal government and it will have to reflect students achievement. This will likely mean that schools and districts will have a lot of pressure to streamline the evaluation process. Be on your toes!

Title 1
Title 1 funds can be used for just about anything. Focus will likely be on

Teacher Translation: If you work at a Title 1 school, don't let your principal tell you there isn't money for what you want. Just use the stimulus buzz words to make your case. Got ideas for big change? Pitch 'em now.

Special Education
Funds can be used to obtain assistive technology, provide tech training & SPED Professional Development for all teachers, and improve data-driven strategies in the field.

Teacher Translation: It's all about professional development here. You don't have to be a SPED teacher to learn how to better teach students with disabilities. With inclusion being the new trend, all teachers need SPED training.

Hopefully, there will be new ways to make IEPs less of a pain. Cross our fingers!

Ed Technology
Funds can buy Ed Tech hardware, curriculum-enhancing software, Ed Tech professional development, distance learning technology and data analysis systems.

Teacher Translation: Now's the time to get your interactive whiteboards, computers for the classroom, and curriculum software AND sign up for workshops and courses in Ed Tech.

Innovation
“If you're just filling gaps, filling holes, that will disqualify you from other dollars,” Arne Duncan said.

Teacher Translation: In pure Obama fashion, the goal of this stimulus is change. Will this change take place? Hard to say, but it's your chance to get those big changes you want done.

"Race to the Top" Grants
In 2010, $4.35 billion in grants will be awarded to states and districts available who effectively used stimulus funds to:

• Create college and career-ready standards and assessments
• Implement comprehensive data systems
• Increase the distribution of quality teachers and overall improvements toward teacher effectiveness
• Improve the state's low-performing schools

Teacher Translation: This probably won't affect your day-to-day too much, but it's good to know. Odds are, district administrators will be answering to the state on these directives over the next two years, so these words will be ringing in your ears.

The When - Stimulus Time Table

What's the stimulus buzz in your school/district? Share in the comments section!

Erasing My Sanity!

Just rediscovered Kimberly Chambers' Erasing My Sanity on my bookshelf. It's a collection of one-liners that capture the all-too-true reality of teaching that will test the sanest of individuals.

Here are a few of my faves:

• Stress is... Grading a complete set of tests using the wrong answer key.
• You receive a make-over gift from your class. What are they trying to say?
• A parent wants to know why you made grammatical corrections to their note.
• Your principal revokes your personal days off for mandatory training.
• The lesson plan is followed only when you're absent.
• A parent thinks its rude to teach manners in class.
• Wouldn't it be great to be a teacher and make a coach's salary?
• For some mysterious reason, every student made a 100 on the test...

What pushes your sanity to the brink? Share in the comments section.

What's my grade?

This week, it's back to school after a week of spring break and a week of the Blackboard site being down. It's all about playing catchup, clarifying extended deadlines, grading the influx of midterms and second papers that will now come in at the same time (when I had so perfectly planned one to be before spring break and one after) and answering the age old question:

What's my grade?

I've been getting this question a lot lately, which surprised me because their grades are posted in the Blackboard Gradebook and the syllabus details how the grades breakdown (10% for papers, 30% participation, etc). Since they only have one paper completed, they only officially have one grade - which is the one posted online.

Am I crazy to think that's a sufficient grade marker until they turn in more work?

(Which, by the way, will be updated with a midterm and second essay in a week.) I think the problem lies in the participation grade.

I'm one of those teachers who counts participation for a big part of the grade. As long as students do the three posts on the discussion board a week and any other assignments, they get the points. Ideally, I use this to ensure that students:

1. actively participate which will improve their grades all around and
2. hopefully, not worry about their grades as much

I've always just tallied the grades at the end of the term since I can go week by week to double check (I heart online classes!) and because it weeds out any students who withdrew throughout the course. This term, though, it's an anomaly of students expecting more thorough accounting of their grades. When I was in college, we NEVER got updates on participation grades. You just knew if you participated and tracked your official grades according to the syllabus.

Do you think that's enough? Should I switch it to a week-by-week checklist or should I make my adult students take ownership of tracking their participation?

In a more fun survey: How many times have you been asked this question today, this week or this term (I'm guessing countless for the last one)?