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Solar System Travel Brochure

Before you go on a vacation, you need to know about the place you’re going, right? You need to know what kind of weather to expect, what the accommodations are, what activities there are to do. Get students hooked on learning about the solar system by telling them they’re going to take a vacation to another planet.

Now, they need to learn about the planets. This could be research-based or whole class lecture or group work.

And once you’ve got them excited about the planets, have them pick the one that’s most interesting to them. Let them tell you why – is it the rings? Is it the moons? The storms or the thick atmosphere? Then, let them convince you to go there on vacation. Encourage them to use all the creativity they can – maybe there is a rollercoaster in the craters of Mercury or an excursion to Enceladus.

With this assessment, a teacher can see how well a student understands the characteristics of one planet. But, possibly more importantly, a teacher can measure how well a student can apply what they’ve learned about a planet to a new situation, which might be more revealing about the student’s skills. As an added bonus, this assessment adds in some core content standards as well 🙂

What do you think about this assessment? Would it work for your students?

As extra practice, try a magic picture reveal digital worksheet! As students get more answers correct, the pixels of the picture are revealed one by one. Very engaging, and easy to implement digitally! Watch a preview video of the solar system magic picture reveal digital worksheet here.

Decomposition Unit Plan for Middle School Science

A lot of what we teach in middle school science – carbon cycle, soil formation, recycling of matter, nitrogen cycle – relates to decomposition. Here are a few good ideas to implement in your decomposition unit plan in your middle school science classroom.

It helps to start the year with a brief unit explaining how things decompose and how that fits into the ecosystem.

I teach it from 2 different angles – compost and detective work.

My students have no idea what compost is. We’re a suburban upper middle class school district. Perhaps they have a tomato plant or two in their garden, but compost is foreign to them. So I start the year with some facts about compost. Let’s see how much you know.

Turns out every one of those statements is true. (TBH I was a little surprised about the masking tape.)

Once you have them hooked on compost, use some informational text to help them learn more. I use a “newspaper” type of text coupled with some guiding questions.

Middle schoolers love gore, and I indulge them a little in my decomposition unit plan. We talk about what happens to the human body, or any animal, when it decomposes and how detectives use the predictability of decay to determine the time of death. I show them a slide show that is (disappointingly, to them) devoid of photos of decaying bodies and then ask them to imagine how a detective can use this information. Then they use what they’ve learned to complete a creative writing task.

Continue to press on with an experiment. You know the one – you put various compostable objects and some that aren’t compostable into zipper bags and then check them out every few weeks to see how they change. Every middle schooler loves to watch things decompose. Include this lab in your middle school decomposition unit plan and your kids will love it!

Finally, wrap it all up with ties to the carbon cycle (and global warming) and the nitrogen cycle.

If you’re interested in seeing more about this unit, check it out in my TpT store here!

Learn how to start a compost pile on my blog by clicking here.

Top 3 Coronavirus TED Talks

We’ve been bombarded with the news and anyone with an television,radio, or computer has probably had all they can take about Coronavirus. TED offers a few interesting pieces of information that I haven’t seen anywhere else so I thought I’d share them with you.

Social distancing, closed gyms, salons and restaurants, face masks – how long will it go on? Alex Rosenthal offers some advice in When is a pandemic over? The pandemic continues, he asserts, until herd immunity is achieved. The 3 strategies he discusses – Race through it, Delay and vaccinate, and Coordinate and crush – offer different scenarios but Rosenthal suggests that Delay and vaccinate is the slow and steady approach that will result in the fewest deaths and in the greatest achievement in scientific knowledge to prevent future pandemics.

A virus detection network to stop the next pandemic offers some hope that this won’t happen again if we learn the lessons we need to learn from the pandemic now. Detection of viruses quickly coupled with connecting with other health care providers throughout the world offers the ability to coordinate systems and empowers health care workers.

Finally, Which is better: soap or hand sanitizer? offers a little insight into how to keep yourself from getting infected.

If watching the news cycle through the frightening things causes you distress, these three TED talks might give you the information you need without all the panic.

14 Ways to Differentiate Instruction

I know you won’t be shocked to hear me say that every student is different. They have different background knowledge, different experiences, different skill sets, different processing speed, different interests, and different interpersonal skills. Expecting every student to respond to every assignment in the same way isn’t responsible pedagogy.

Here are 14 easy ways to differentiate instruction so that every student has access to the skills and content you’re trying to teach:

Choice boards. A choice board is usually a 9 box grid with 9 different activities, all that teach or measure the same skill but approach it with a different modality. For example, a choice board may include a creative writing task, an expository writing task, a video task, a Q&A task, a creative arts task, a research task, and possibly even a musical or food-related task. Choice boards are great when assessing knowledge is more important than skills. For example, you want students to tell you the important characteristics of the desert rather than demonstrate that they can use a topic sentence correctly.

Scaffolding. In a scaffolded assignment, students at different readiness levels receive different assignments. The assignments may differ in expectations and rubric, or they may differ in the amount of guidance or hints provided. Scaffolding is tricky – students become aware that their assignment is “different” and sometimes that leads to discomfort.
Heterogeneous Grouping. Assignments can be differentiated by skill level or by interest simply by putting students into groups. Pairing a higher level student with a lower level student helps them both, although in different ways. Pairing a student who is very good at writing with a student who is strong in math helps them both. Forming heterogeneous groups according to interest provides the opportunity for everyone to learn.
Homogeneous Grouping. In some situations, it makes sense to put the strong students together or to put all of the students who are good at art together. This especially works when assignments offer students choice – the good writers will create something written and the good artists will create something visual. It also works well when scaffolding – you can adjust the expectations and the amount of guidance according to the group dynamics.
Self Pace. Allowing students to work at their own pace helps build responsibility and work ethic. At the beginning of a practice session, provide students with a checklist or flow chart of what they need to do. A simple example: “Complete questions #1-5 then check your work. If you get 100%, move on to questions 6-10. If you get any questions wrong, come see me.”
Mini-Lessons. It’s not unusual to hear me say in my classroom “Everyone who got #3 wrong, join me at the table in the back,” or “I’m reteaching this concept in 5 minutes if you want to join me.” No judgement, just an opportunity to re-teach a skill to particular students who need it. This works best during an activity in which students are determining their own pace.
Stations or Task Cards. Stations can combine many of the above techniques. In a station activity, students rotate between different physical locations in the classroom. Perhaps at one station they watch a video, then the read an article, then they complete a worksheet, then they do a hands on experiment, then they listen to a mini lesson from you. The best station activities are ones that allow students to rotate through the stations in any order, allowing you to group students and scaffold according to need.
Flash Cards. Quizlet, Quizziz, and Boom cards are digital flash cards that students can use to practice skills or content at their own pace.

Deliver instruction using varying modalities. Use lots of visuals, videos, and graphics but also use music and opportunities for students to draw or act. If you don’t want to use a choice board to let them choose their own modality, then switch up the modality you’re using so that every student has a chance to be most comfortable with your teaching style.
Use your Room. The physical arrangement and decorations/displays in your classroom can help every child access knowledge. Arrange desks and place students in the place that works best for them. Use anchor charts and displays that appeal to different learning styles.
Tech. There are many websites that allow for differentiated instruction and assessment. Here’s a link to a pretty well curated selection.
Game Based Learning. My favorite differentiation technique is to use games in the clasroom. Students love them, and a well designed game will reach every child at their ability level.
Breakouts or escape rooms. There is no limit to the amount of ways you can use a breakout or a virtual escape room in your classroom. I’ve used them to introduce new content, as review lessons, as day-before-a-break-and-I-don’t-want-to-start-something-new, getting to know you activities, and end of year activities. They’re great in person with locked boxes and puzzles, and they’re also great virtually with a completely digital product.
Flipped Classroom. Have students complete the notes at home and use class time to reinforce and practice.

No doubt that differentiation is absolutely key. How do you use it in your classroom? What’s your best tip to add to this list?

When the kids don’t have school

In parts of the US, schools have closed for the summer, and teachers have breathed a sigh of relief. For many, the act of balancing their own children with the demands of teaching remotely is nearly impossible.

There are many “plans” being suggested for what happens to school in September. One plan I’ve heard of that brings chills up my spine is “alternate day.” In this plan, half of the students in a school will attend on “A” day and receive remote instruction by their teachers on “B” day. The other half of the students will attend on “B” day and be instructed remotely on “A” day. Of course, this means teachers are in school both A days and B days, managing students in person and remotely at the same time. I don’t know if that plan will fly – if there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that education bureaucracy reveals guidelines at the last possible moment.

Aside from the fact that this is twice as much work for the teachers, it also brings to question what teachers do about their own children who are, presumably, attending school only half the time. Who supervises these children when their parents are at work?

I can lose sleep imagining all of the ways September can be bad, and I’m grateful that I’m not the one making these tough decisions.

If you need to take time off from work to care for your children because your children are home due to school or daycare closures because of Coronavirus, there is a Federal plan in place to help you. It’s called Families First Coronavirus Response Act and it provides emergency paid leave for people who need time off for this reason. It is available until the end of 2020, although it’s forseeable that it will be extended if the stay at home orders continue, and provides 2/3 of your normal pay, up to $200 per day, for up to 12 weeks. Additionally, the 12 weeks don’t need to be taken all at once but can be taken on an hour by hour basis.

If you need to apply for federal relief to care for your family, more information can be found about the Families First Coronavirus Response Act here.

Boom Cards for Middle School?

Boom cards are all the rage nowadays for elementary school teachers.

Boom Cards are digital interactive flash cards and they’re a great resource for distance learning. If you’re not familiar, follow this link to a sample Boom Card deck or click here for my basic Boom Card tutorial.

The majority of users I know, however, are all elementary teachers. As a 30+ year middle school teacher, I was excited to find a new remote learning resource, especially one that is easy for teachers to use and easy for students to learn.

The Boom Card interface isn’t as user friendly as other digital resources so I avoided it for a while. Another reason I was avoiding Boom Cards is that I thought it costs $35 per year to use, and I wasn’t sure if it was appropriate for my middle schoolers. Yesterday, I poked around a little and discovered that there is a free membership that is pretty robust – you can create your own Boom Card decks or purchase from a huge library. There are also many free decks available. Click here to join!

The first set I created was a review set for one of my classes who are learning about subatomic particles. To review how to calculate protons, neutrons, and electrons, I would have probably played some kind of game in class, but now that we’re learning remotely, I had to think outside the box.

The atomic structure set I created has 28 cards. Each one provides information necessary to determine either the atomic number, mass number, the number of protons, neutrons, or electrons.

One of the reason I like Boom cards is that it allows student a second chance if they get the question wrong. I also like it because students can set their own pace while they’re studying. Oftentimes in school, review games become races to see who can finish first and speed isn’t a factor in Boom Cards.

Here’s a link to the atomic structure Boom cards for sale in my TpT store.

Boom cards available in my TpT Store:

Life Science

Physical Science

Earth Science

Free Course offerings from the San Diego Zoo Global Academy

Some great offerings for science students, teachers, and parents:

We’re Here Together – #WereHereTogether – 12 weeks worth of free content available for teachers and students ages 13 and up. Each week offers a different on-line learning module.

San Diego Zoo Bids Farewell To Giant Panda Gao Gao | KPBS

Here are the courses:

Cats – cheetahs, lions, tigers
Mammals – rhinos, elephants, giraffes
Monkeys – Old World monkeys, baboons
Primates – great apes, gorillas, orangutans, lemurs
Bears – polar bears, giant pandas
Birds – penguins, condors
Endangered species
Marsupials and Monotremes – kangaroos, koalas
Reptiles

All courses are free and require a free registration. Access the courses here.

I am in no way affiliated with San Diego Zoo Global Academy.

I’m not on camera, am I?

My husband has been working from home basically as long as I’ve been. We are lucky – we have big enough house and a yard to escape from each other. We also don’t have any children living at home, so we can spread out or be together depending on mood (mostly mine, admittedly).

Video Conference Free Stock Photo - Public Domain Pictures

When we’re “at work,” he takes our office on the ground floor of our split level and I take the kitchen with my laptop. We can close the door and both be on Zoom or Google Meets without disrupting each other.

But he’s in the office. Where I keep my desktop computer. And my text books. And various other miscellany I occassionally need to reference while I’m working. So there are times when I need to go into “his” space during the work day. And I’m in the kitchen. Where we keep the food. So he’s in “my” space now and again also.

We’ve developed a certain Zoom etiquette with each other over the past few weeks.

We aim our cameras away from the other person when we’re on a video call. If I’m not dressed for success, I don’t want to be in his business. And I certainly don’t want my 12 year olds having any extra distraction than usual.
We’re silent if the other person is on a call. He doesn’t interrupt me to ask if I know where the mayo is, and I don’t ask him to proofread an email.
We discuss our schedules. I know when there’s something critical in his life and he knows when I’m on with administration or students. If one of us is on a video call with coworkers, the other might pop in to say hi, but I stay away when he’s with clients and he stays away when I’m with students or administrators.
When the work day begins, it begins. I often say “Have a nice day” when he leaves the kitchen. He usually laughs and says “Drive carefully” or something equally eye-roll-inducing.
When the work day ends, it ends. We leave the computers and phones behind and try to emotionally distance ourselves from work, even though we can’t physically distance ourselves.

How do you maintain your relationship while working at home?

Stress Relief for Teachers

I barely sleep anymore. It’s a combination, I’m sure, of the lack of excitement in my days and the very vivid imagination that has me convinced that this is a zombie apocalypse instead of a pandemic.

Somewhere around dinner time every day, I look up from my laptop and notice that the day has progressed without me. The angle of the sun is different than it was when I first stuck my nose to the grindstone, and I still have plenty more to do. My days are riddled with stress. I alternately attend zoom meetings, grade papers, teach remote classes, plan for tomorrow, and send (literally billions of) emails to parents, students, case managers, guidance counselors begging for missed assignments. Even though I’m a 30 year veteran, EVERYthing has to be recreated for this quarantine situation and my days blend into a blur of multi-tasking frenzy.

Everyone needs a way to destress. Here are my new favorites:

Reduce caffeine. That first cup sharpens my senses and makes me able to concentrate. The second cup makes me jittery and hyperproductive. Everything after that is evil.
Socialize. Depending on your state’s current restrictions, Zoom with your sisters, have a virtual happy hour with your buddies, go for a socially distant walk with your neighbor. Everyone needs human contact, and, even if you’re currently quarantined with a dozen people, everyone needs variety in their human contact.
Reduce alcohol. It’s a temporary solution that leads to long term problems. A glass of wine on the patio after dinner is one thing. Dulling your senses so you don’t have to think about the zombies is another.
Calm. It’s an app that leads you through guided meditations, sleep stories, ASMR, and breathing exercises. At one point, they offered a free year for teachers. If that’s not available, anyone with the app can send you a free month (Here’s a link from my account).
Yoga. There are a ton of free videos on YouTube to guide you through basically any level of practice. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced practitioner, whether you want to do a 5 minute practice or a 50 minute practice, even if you want a practice for bad knees or guided for seniors, it’s easy to find what you’re looking for.

Yoga Woman Pose Clipart Free Stock Photo - Public Domain Pictures

Run. I did the Couch to 5k program last summer, at the ripe age of 54, and found it utterly life changing. The sense of accomplishment, the knowledge of my own ability to do anything I wanted, and the general improvement in my own outlook on life keep me running even now. Tough class 1st period? Go for a jog. Difficult parent meeting? Take a run. Husband taking a nap on the couch while you’re juggling dinner, laundry, and a class of 4th graders? Hit the sidewalk.
Journal. Write down how you’re feeling (what do you think this blog is for?). Naming your emotions gives them less power over you.
Mow the lawn. For years, my son was in charge of our lawn and gardens. In his more difficult teenage years, I wasn’t allowed to plant a plant or push the lawnmower. He wanted total control, and, happy to get that off my list, I let it go. He moved out last year, and, even though I can still occassionally persuade him to come do our lawn, I discovered that the act of pushing a lawnmower coupled with the satisfaction of a freshly mowed yard is enormously satisfying. It’s not unusual for me to mow the front yard during my prep if 3rd period was particularly difficult.

Green Lawn Free Stock Photo - Public Domain Pictures

Please tell me. What’s your favorite way to destress?

8 Steps for Dealing with difficult parents during Remote Schooling

File:Complaint Department Grenade.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Some parents are more challenging than others.

We all have war stories. I’ve had parents defend their children’s lies, accuse me of losing papers that their child hadn’t handed in, and tell me they didn’t think the detention I assigned was appropriate. They didn’t think I liked their child. They send emails demanding an explanation for every point taken off an essay. They complain when you take too long to grade tests. It’s your fault if their child plagiarizes or cheats because you hadn’t told them not to.

The war stories are as varied as children are, but the result is the same – you feel defensive because they’re either making unreasonable demands or unwarranted accusations.

Now that we’re remote schooling, the parent complaints have shifted. “It’s too hard for my child to understand this since you’re never available for extra help” was an email sent to me 2 hours after I’d held an extra help Zoom that her child didn’t attend. “He says he turned it in on time” refers to an assignment that was turned in, blank, three hours late.

Let me start by saying that if you’re at fault, then you need to fix it. These 8 steps are for when you’re not at fault but are taking the heat.

What’s the best way to deal with parent conflict?

Prevention is the best cure. The best way to handle conflict with the parents of your students is before it happens. From the outset, reach out to parents. Build rapport by sending frequent emails like “Johnny did a great job today during the class discussion on turtles” and “Suzie has been extra sweet to the new girl in class.” Think of these little emails as setting up the expectation that you want what’s best for their kids. Later, when there is an issue, the parents will already have the mindset that you’re a good guy.
The Ol’ Sandwich Technique. Be sure you sandwich any criticism of the student between compliments. “Jerry has lovely penmanship. I just wish he wouldn’t demonstrate it by writing on the walls of the boy’s room. Although I must compliment his use of metaphors.”
Ask Questions and listen to the answers. “How did Diane’s math teacher help her last year?” and “What would be a better way to communicate with you?” help give you a better understanding of what they’re looking for and establish you as a problem solver.
Whose team are you on? Find things that you agree on. When a conflict arises, the tone you need to set is “We both want the same thing.” Of course I don’t want Mary to feel that her effort isn’t appreciated and Peter is welcome to come for extra help any time he wants. Accusations, blame, or any other tone will escalate the problem.
You’re the authority. No matter how few years you have under your belt, approach every conflict with the attitude that you have the skills to help this child.
Look beyond the grades. It’s a shame that Billy gets a zero on this assignment, but hopefully he’ll learn that plagiarism is a mistake.
Document everything. As knowledgeable, supportive, accommodating, and helpful as you are, some people can’t be pleased. Document every effort you made to support their child. You’ll likely never need it, but 6 months from now, when they accuse you of not offering extra help, you can document the 4 offers that their child didn’t take advantage of.
Don’t take it personally. It’s not personal, even though, I know, it feel personal. Parents want the best for their child, and sometimes we don’t agree on what “the best” is. It’s not your fault. Unless it is your fault, in which case you’d better fix it.