Useful Information In and Out of the Classroom 7/28/2023

Here are some interesting sites that I’ve found this week, thanks to my PLN. As a teacher, I feel we have to keep up to date concerning research in our field and current issues in the education system. I hope some of these inspire you, inform you, and even have you asking questions. Thank you for coming by and visiting!

Note: Each resource is labeled with a level and subject area to make it easier to use.

Levels: E: Elementary; M: Middle; H: High; G: General, all levels; SN: Special Needs; T: Teachers

Subject Areas: LA: Language Arts, English, Reading, Writing; M: Math; S: Science; Health; SS: Social Studies, Current Events; FA: Fine Arts; Music, Art, Drama; FL: Foreign Language; PE: Physical Ed; C: Career; A: All

How rollercoasters affect your body - “In 1895, crowds flooded Coney Island to see America’s first-ever looping coaster: the Flip Flap Railway. But its thrilling flip caused cases of severe whiplash, neck injury and even ejections. Today, coasters can pull off far more exciting tricks and do it safely. Brian D. Avery investigates what rollercoasters are doing to your body and how they’ve managed to get scarier and safer at the same time.” (L:M; SA:H)

Lemon Squeeze – The Lemonade Stand - “Everyone has at one time or another opened a lemonade or Kool-Aid Stand. What a great place to begin an economics lesson. Students can taste test three brands of lemonade and compare prices with taste – is the most expensive the best? Using a reader’s theater students will construct a supply and demand schedule and can create a bar or line graph to demonstrate market interaction between buyers and sellers.” (L:E,M; SA:SS,C)

Why Are Wet Dogs Smelly? - “Squeaks and Jessi made a new friend, Cassie the puppy! They gave her a bath after playing in the mud, but now she smells even worse than before! Why do wet dogs smell so bad?!” (L:E; SA:S)

Lego Building Instructions - “A dump of all available building instruction booklet PDFs from the LEGO website (As of March 2023)” (L:G; SA:A)

Engageable - “Great teaching has always been about more than getting kids engaged, its about developing their ability to engage. We help you do this in a more mindful and measurable way than ever.” (L:T; SA:A)

Original photo by Pat Hensley

Project-based Learning

(Now that summer is here, it is time for me to discuss different educational topics alphabetically. Please join in the conversation and tell me what you think!)

I have used Project-based Learning (PBL) very often in my classroom. It is a way to make learning relevant and meaningful to my students.

Project-based learning is a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging, and complex question, problem, or challenge. PBL is student-centered, meaning that students have a significant amount of control over the learning process. They work in teams to research, plan, and execute their projects, which often result in a public presentation or product.

There are many benefits to PBL, including:

• A deeper understanding of content: PBL requires students to use higher-order thinking skills to solve problems and create products. This leads to a deeper understanding of the content they are learning.
• Increased engagement: PBL is more engaging for students than traditional lectures or textbooks. Students are more likely to be motivated to learn when they are working on projects that they are interested in.
• Improved collaboration skills: PBL requires students to work together in teams. This helps them to develop their collaboration skills, which are essential for success in the workplace.
• 21st-century skills: PBL helps students develop the 21st-century skills that they need to succeed in today's world. These skills include critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and communication.

If you are interested in implementing PBL in your classroom, there are a few things you need to do:

• Choose a topic that is relevant to your students' interests and that has a real-world application.
• Create a driving question that will guide the project.
• Break the project down into smaller tasks that students can complete.
• Provide students with resources and support as they work on their projects.
• Allow students to present their projects to an audience.

PBL is a challenging but rewarding teaching method. If you are willing to put in the effort, it can help your students to learn in a more meaningful and engaging way.

Here are some examples of project-based learning:

• In a science class, students might work on a project to design and build a solar-powered car.
• In a history class, students might work on a project to recreate a historical event.
• In a math class, students might work on a project to design a new game.
• In an English class, students might work on a project to write a play.

PBL can be used in any subject area and at any grade level. It is a versatile teaching method that can be adapted to meet the needs of your students.

Students can be more successful in the classroom by completing project-based activities.

Writing Objectives

(Now that summer is here, it is time for me to discuss different educational topics alphabetically. Please join in the conversation and tell me what you think!)

Teachers develop objectives to help them plan their lessons and assess student learning. Well-written objectives are clear, measurable, and achievable. They should also be aligned with the curriculum and the needs of the students.

There are a few different ways that teachers can develop objectives. One common approach is to use the ABCD model:

• Audience: Who is the target audience for this objective?
• Behavior: What is the desired behavior of the learner?
• Condition: Under what conditions will the learner demonstrate the desired behavior?
• Degree: To what degree of mastery must the learner demonstrate the desired behavior?

For example, an objective for a math lesson might be:

• Audience: Students in 2nd grade
• Behavior: Solve addition problems with two-digit numbers
• Condition: Using a number line
• Degree: With 90% accuracy

Another approach to developing objectives is to use Bloom's taxonomy. Bloom's taxonomy is a hierarchical model of cognitive skills, ranging from simple knowledge and comprehension to more complex skills such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.

When using Bloom's taxonomy, teachers can develop objectives that focus on different levels of thinking. For example, an objective for a science lesson might be:

• Knowledge: Identify the different types of clouds
• Comprehension: Explain how clouds form
• Application: Use a cloud chart to predict the weather
• Analysis: Analyze the factors that affect cloud formation
• Synthesis: Create a model of the water cycle
• Evaluation: Evaluate the effectiveness of different methods for predicting the weather

No matter which approach they use, teachers should make sure that their objectives are clear, measurable, and achievable. Well-written objectives can help teachers to plan effective lessons and assess student learning.

Here are some additional tips for teachers when developing objectives:

• Start with the end in mind. What do you want students to be able to do by the end of the lesson?
• Be specific. What exactly do you want students to know or be able to do?
• Use action verbs. What are the specific actions that students will take to demonstrate their learning?
• Be measurable. How will you know if students have achieved the objective?
• Be achievable. The objective should be challenging, but it should also be within reach of the students.
• Align with the curriculum. Make sure that the objective is aligned with the learning standards for the grade level.

By following these tips, teachers can develop objectives that will help them to effectively teach their students. Objectives need to be realistic and attainable in order to help students be successful.

Networking for Teachers

(Now that summer is here, it is time for me to discuss different educational topics alphabetically. Please join in the conversation and tell me what you think!)

One of the best things to do during the summer is Networking. Too often, teachers want to hibernate during their summers but this is the best time to network. Without the pressure of lesson plans and parent/teacher conferences, there is time to network with other teachers and educational professionals who can help in so many ways. Networking is an important part of being a teacher. By networking, teachers can improve their job prospects, stay up-to-date on the latest teaching trends, and grow personally and professionally.

Networking is important for teachers for a number of reasons, including:

• Job search and career advancement: Networking can help teachers find new jobs, get promoted, and take on leadership roles. When teachers network, they meet other educators who can provide them with job leads, offer advice, and write letters of recommendation.
• Professional development: Networking can help teachers stay up-to-date on the latest teaching trends and learn new skills. When teachers network, they can attend conferences, workshops, and online courses. They can also share ideas and resources with other educators.
• Personal and professional growth: Networking can help teachers grow personally and professionally. When teachers network, they meet other educators who share their interests and values. They can also build relationships with mentors who can help them develop their skills and confidence.

Here are some ideas for networking for teachers:

• Attend professional conferences and workshops. This is a great way to meet other educators and learn about new teaching trends.
• Join professional organizations. This is a great way to connect with other educators in your field.
• Volunteer your time at local schools or organizations. This is a great way to get involved in the community and meet other educators.
• Use social media. There are many social media platforms that can be used to connect with other educators.
• Reach out to your former professors and colleagues. They may be able to help you find a job or offer you advice.

Here are some additional benefits of networking for teachers:

• Access to resources. When teachers network, they can tap into a pool of resources that they might not otherwise have access to. This includes things like lesson plans, materials, and professional development opportunities.
• Support and collaboration. Networking can provide teachers with a sense of support and collaboration. When teachers know other educators who are facing similar challenges, they can feel less alone and more confident in their abilities.
• A sense of community. Networking can help teachers feel like they are part of a larger community of educators. This can be especially important for teachers who work in isolated settings.

If you are a teacher, I encourage you to start networking today. There are many ways to do this, so find a method that works for you and get started!

The First US Serial Killer, a Murder Castle, and a Post Office

While this is not about a specific stamp, this is a topic that might interest stamp collectors. Those that collect World’s Fair stamps or are interested in the post office might find this story interesting.

H.H. Holmes is considered to be the first known serial killer in the United States. He was born Herman Webster Mudgett in Gilmanton, New Hampshire, in 1861. He was a gifted student and attended medical school at the University of Michigan, but he was expelled for stealing cadavers.

After leaving medical school, Holmes traveled around the country, working as a doctor, pharmacist, and businessman. He was also a con artist and a thief.

In 1888, he moved to Chicago and built a three-story hotel, which he called the "Murder Castle." The hotel was designed with secret passages, trapdoors, and rooms that could be locked from the outside. The "Murder Castle," was located in the Englewood neighborhood, a few miles west of the fairgrounds.

The World's Fair was a perfect place for Holmes to operate. The crowds and the chaos provided him with the perfect cover, and he was able to lure and murder his victims with impunity. The hotel was designed with secret passages, trapdoors, and rooms that could be locked from the outside. Holmes lured his victims to the hotel, often by posing as a doctor or a businessman. He would then murder them and dispose of their bodies in a variety of ways, including burning them, dissecting them, or burying them in the basement.

The exact number of Holmes's victims is unknown, but it is estimated to be between 20 and 200. He was eventually caught and convicted of the murders of Benjamin Pitezel and his three children. He was hanged in 1896.

The Murder Castle was demolished in 1938, and a post office was built on the site in 1939. The post office is still standing today, and it is said to be haunted by the ghosts of Holmes's victims.

There are a few different theories about why the post office was built on the site of the Murder Castle. One theory is that the city wanted to erase the memory of Holmes and his crimes. Another theory is that the city wanted to take advantage of the location, which was close to the World's Fairgrounds.

Whatever the reason, the post office is now a reminder of one of the most infamous serial killers in American history. It is also a reminder of the dark side of human nature.

Here are some additional facts about the Murder Castle and the post office:

• The post office is located at 611 W. 63rd Street in Chicago.
• The post office is a modest, yellow brick building.
• There are rumors that the basement of the post office is haunted by the ghosts of Holmes's victims.
• The post office is still in operation today.

The Murder Castle and the post office are both important parts of Chicago's history. They are a reminder of the city's dark past, but they are also a reminder of the city's resilience. The post office stands on the site of one of the most horrific crimes in American history, but it is also a place where people can go to send and receive mail. It is a symbol of hope and renewal in the face of tragedy.

References:
https://www.history.com/topics/crime/murder-castle
https://harpers.org/archive/1943/12/the-master-of-the-murder-castle/
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-hauntings-h-h-holmes-murder-castle-post-office/