NPR Podcast Challenge

WELCOME TO NPR'S 2023

STUDENT PODCAST CHALLENGE!

“ We're inviting students from around the country to create a podcast and compete for a chance to have your work featured on NPR!

Students from 5th grade through college are eligible to participate, but the rules vary depending on your grade. RSVP below to learn more. 

Make your voice heard — become a part of NPR's Student Podcast Challenge!

Grades 5-12:

We'll begin collecting submissions on January 6, 2023. Teacher involvement is required.

 

The deadline for submissions is April 28, 2023.” 

Choosing Your Words

In Sorry/thanks from Seth Godin's Blog , Seth Godin states

“If you often find yourself saying “sorry” in a way that doesn’t advance the conversation, it might be interesting to substitute “thank you” instead.”

I thought of ways that this could be used in the classroom.

Instead of: I’m sorry some of you didn’t do your homework.
Substitute: Thank you to those of you who did the homework so they can get better at learning this skill.

Instead of: I’m sorry you can’t “do what you want.”
Substitute: Thank you for willing to take a risk and trying something new.

How you word something can make a big difference on how an assignment is perceived. It might make some people more willing to complete a task.

I’ve heard teachers even tell the class that they are going to learn something hard and it may be difficult. That already has some of the students prepared to not be successful.

Instead, I tell my students that they are going to learn something challenging and it is always fun to face a challenge. Luckily we are all there to support each other so we are not alone when we face these challenges. Challenges can be fun and exciting, especially when we are together with friends.

What a difference this can make when teaching a lesson. The students in my class tend to look forward to learning new things whereas the other class dreads this event.

As teachers, we need to choose our words carefully in order to help our students be successful in our classes and in life.

What do you say differently than others to help your students be successful? Please share.

Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge

Check out the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge! Registration opens for next year’s challenge on December 15th, 2017 and will run until April 15th, 2018. Winners receive $25,000 and past winners and finalists have gone on to speak in front of congress, secure careers in STEM fields and work with some of the foremost scientific leaders of our day and age.

I’d like to highlight this year’s winner, America's Top Young Scientist - 11-year-old Gitanjali Rao.

From a recent press release:

“3M (@3M) and Discovery Education (@DiscoveryEd) have named 11-year-old Gitanjali Rao from Lone Tree, Colo., the winner of the 2017 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge (#YoungScientist). Gitanjali is working to develop Tethys, a sensor-based device that can detect lead in water faster than other current techniques.

Rather than using expensive equipment for testing, Gitanjali’s cost-effective approach to water safety uses a mobile app that populates the water’s status almost immediately. Tethys is designed to be portable and easy to use, allowing individuals to test water safety whenever needed. She hopes to solve the water contamination crisis and decrease long-term health effects from lead exposure.

A seventh-grader at STEM School and Academy, Gitanjali competed alongside nine other finalists during a live competition at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minn. She was awarded the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist” as well as a $25,000 prize.

During the past three months, Gitanjali and the other finalists had the exclusive opportunity to work directly with a 3M scientist to develop their innovations as part of a unique summer mentorship program. Gitanjali was paired with Dr. Kathleen Shafer, a 3M research specialist who develops new plastics technologies that have real-world applications in dentistry and other fields.

Each of the students collaborated with some of 3M’s leading scientists, who provided guidance as they worked through the scientific method to advance their ideas from a theoretical concept into a physical prototype. Together, the 3M mentors and finalists shared their passion for science, reviewed the scientific process and worked virtually through pre-assigned objectives, with resources and support provided by 3M and Discovery Education.

“3M’s commitment to the next generation of science leaders is energized each year by the creativity and ingenuity of these young scientists,” said Paul Keel, senior vice president, business development and marketing-sales, 3M. “Making the world a better place through science starts with a spark of curiosity, which leads to passion – and results in making an impact. 3M is inspired by these finalists and their contributions to making lives better.”

During the final competition, the finalists presented their inventions to an esteemed panel of 3M scientists, school superintendents and administrators from across the country. In addition to presenting their prototypes, the ten finalists paired up to compete in two additional challenges through which they combined multiple 3M technologies to solve a real-world problems.

“Discovery Education proudly joins 3M to celebrate a 10-year commitment to fostering the next generation of passionate innovators,” said Lori McFarling, senior vice-president and chief marketing officer, Discovery Education. “Empowering students with access to innovative learning opportunities sharpens their mastery of critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and ignites their desire to improve the world with science.”

For teachers, students and parents seeking a place to explore the world of scientific innovations and opportunities, Discovery Education and 3M developed the Young Scientist Lab, an interactive portal filled with engaging activities and standards-aligned teaching tools, anchored by the award-winning annual Young Scientist Challenge.”

The Shoe Tying Discussion

In After ~50 Years, I Learn to Tie My Shoes from CogDogBlog, Alan Levine aka CogDog talks about a TED Talk video that shows how to tie a shoe better. I have also heard about this video from other people so I had to watch it. It was amazing! For the past couple of days, I’ve been trying to tie my shows that way and so far, they have stayed tied and they do look nicer. I don’t know why after almost 55 years of tying shoes, I never thought of giving this a try. I have tried different ways for my hiking boots and found a way that helps to keep them tied but I really like this way better.

Here is the video:

This had me thinking about the ways that students learn. They learn one way and if it works for them, they keep doing things the same way. It is hard to find a better way if we don’t try new things.

I love knitting socks and there is always a big discussion about knitting heels. I have tried short row heels, gusset heels, fleegle heels, and finally the fish lips kiss heel. The last one was the easiest and best for me.  Now I don’t want to try anything new because I found the one I like. But how do I know that I won’t find one better?

I usually read the same genre of books and don’t branch out. I love to read romance novels and even some mystery novels by the same authors. For the past couple of years, I have really pushed myself to read nonfiction books and found out that there are some interesting ones out there. If I didn’t push myself to do this, I don’t think I would have read the great books that I have.

I love knitting, crocheting, and spinning yarn but I’ve been doing this for almost ten years now. Even though I love it, I feel like I need to explore other ways of being creative. I used to do digital scrapbooking but stopped for a few years when my favorite website closed down. Now I’m starting back with it again and I’m enjoying it. I am also exploring brush lettering and calligraphy which I find very challenging.

How do you tie your shoes? What have you done to challenge yourself? Please share.

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The Big Love Challenge

“The BIG LOVE Challenge requires you to spread unconditional kindness, compassion and care for ten days to as many people as possible – not just family members, friends and those nice people you met on holiday. We mean everyone - even people not on your Christmas card list.”

and it is free!

“Every day for 10 days you’ll be sent a collection of novel suggestions, exercises and ideas. Some are simply attitudes to adopt, others are tasks to complete – but they’re all optional. You can choose as many (or none) of the ideas on a given day that you want - but like anything in life that requires some effort, you get from the exercise what you put in. Some ideas may involve a small monetary outlay, but most cost only your time. Towards the end of the challenge you'll also be presented with the opportunity to join an exciting group project.”

Read more about The Big Love Challenge here.

Verizon Innovative App Challenge 2016

The Verizon Innovative App Challenge “is a nationwide contest in which middle and high school students are challenged to develop concepts for mobile apps that solve a problem in their community. It’s a unique, hands-on learning program that teaches collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, and entrepreneurship, as well as STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skills and coding. It builds on students’ excitement about technology and aims to equip them with skills they need to succeed in the jobs of the future.”

Who Can Enter – “Teams of students affiliated with schools and nonprofit groups/clubs can enter the contest, along with an adult advisor. The students must be in grades 6 through 12, and the teams must have five to seven members plus their advisor. Teams can register with their school (public, private, or parochial) or any nonprofit group or club that is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. They must be located in the United States”

Team Advisor – “The team advisor must be at least 18 years old and be an employee of the school or nonprofit organization that is hosting the team. What do advisors do? Team advisors are responsible for completing the registration, authorization, and release forms and for mentoring the team throughout the App Challenge. Advisors can register as many teams as they want.”

Registration begins in August. Teams who win Best in State can win $5000 and Best in the Nation can win $15000.

Here are the Official Rules and Guidelines.

Being Brave

In If You Never Try to Be Brave, It Certainly Won’t Happen from Bud the Teacher, Bud Hunt shares,

“It pains me that the climate in schools is so risk-averse and so anti-teacher that teachers who are really good at what they do are also hesitant to lean in to something different – for so many reasons.

And

If you don’t ever face the scary things, you can’t ever work on being brave.  And being brave, even just a little bit and even just a little of the time, is so important."

Let’s face it, veteran teachers have been burned enough that it can be scary trying something new.

Sometimes our school decided to try a new strategy school wide. This means incorporating it in my lesson plans and showing that I’m using it and how I’m using it. By doing this, I’m spending a lot of time changing how I teach and what I do. I take time to get vested in this and willing to give it my all. What frustrates me at the end of the year is that many other teachers haven’t bothered trying this and then the school just drops this new strategy and it disappears. When this happens over and over again, I feel like why should I even bother!

Sometimes I have a great idea and I really want to try something new. Yet, I know that there will be many who shake their head at my ideas and try to discourage me. There may be some that laugh at me and some how will tell me that I’m wasting my time.

But I’m not willing to give up and throw in the towel. I want to try and keep on trying. I want to be brave enough to try something new. What is the worst thing that can happen? That it won’t work. I don’t think that by trying new strategies or techniques, that I will harm my students.

Many students have told me that they have respected me more because I was willing to keep trying to find ways to help them instead of giving up. When they see that I’m not willing to give up, it helps them to keep on trying. I tell them that I can relate to their frustration because I’m trying right along side them and that we will support each other. They see me as a role model and are willing to work at things even though they are difficult.

I think when our students see the teacher afraid to try or are willing to give up, I am sending the wrong message that everything is hopeless. To me, this is more damaging then failing. I explain to my students that we have to keep trying different things until we find the key that will open up their understanding but if we never try, and then we know we will never find the key. At least by trying, there is hope. With hope, you have everything.

How do you show your bravery in your class? What impact does it have on your students? Please share.