Useful Information In and Out of the Classroom 12/8/17

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

EquatIO – free for teachers, “Made to help mathematics and STEM teachers and students at all levels, EquatIO® lets everyone create mathematical equations, formulas, Desmos graphs, and more on their computer or Chromebook”  (L:T; SA:M)

MegaFeedback – “Quickly give quality feedback to students with this new tool” (L:T; SA:A)

Mindcipher – great for beginning of the class warmups: “ a social repository of the world's greatest brain teasers, logic puzzles and mental challenges.” (L:T; SA:A)

Crossword Puzzle Generator – Create your own crossword puzzles. Great for teaching vocabulary or concepts (L:T; SA:A)

What is Fat? – a TED-ed lesson; “As the narrative goes, fat is bad. Well, it’s actually more nuanced than that. The type of fat you eat is more impactful on your health than the quantity. George Zaidan examines triglycerides, the varied molecules that make up fat, and how to identify which types of fat you are consuming.” (L:M,H; SA:S)

Original photo by Pat Hensley

Happy Birthday to My Father!

I want to wish my father a happy 98^th birthday today. I am so lucky to have him in my life and he has been the best father that anyone could have. I know that he has made many sacrifices for me to have a wonderful life that I have. Throughout the years I never had any doubt how much he loves me and I hope he knows I feel the same about him. I wanted to share some pictures that I have of him throughout the years. I think he still looks as good now as when he was younger. 

Learning is Important

In Don't Let What's Urgent Keep You From What's Important from @DavidGeurin Blog, David Geurin shares,

“When you spend all your time dealing with urgent matters, not considering what things would have the highest leverage for success, you are simply spinning your wheels. Lots of activity not going anywhere.”

This reminded me of a hiking friend I had named Jane. Jane was an older lady who I looked up to. One day I told her how guilty I felt for hiking instead of being at home and cleaning the house. She told me that the house would always need cleaning and would always be there but the ability to hike would not always be there. I needed to enjoy the day and the friendships along the trail because that is what is really important. Years later Jane had cancer and died. I will never forget the advice she gave me and I recall it every time I feel guilty. I ask myself if what I'm feeling guilty about is really important or can it wait.

Many times, my husband wants to do something and I don't really want to do it but then I stop and ask myself if what I want to do is more important. Will I feel bad if something happens to my husband and I didn't do what he wants to do?

I also ask myself if I will be able to do certain things in 10 years from now. Sometimes I need to think about my age and my health and my ability to do things. I don't want to put off things and then look back later and wish I had done them years ago.

I want my students to think about what is important in their daily lives. I want them to see that learning is important and it is easier to learn the younger you are. You can still learn when you get older but I think your mind has to work harder.

One way I can show my students that I feel learning is important is by setting a good example. I'm always looking for ways to learn new things I take time to read books and magazines, look at videos, do research on new things to see if it's a possibility for me to try. Every year I try to learn something new.

Is learning important to you? How do you show this to your students? Please share.