Lou je m'appelle Lou

A great video to watch before / after / while reading The Reason I Jump - a great book to read before / after / while reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night.

Analyze characters through the lens of brain theory

We all wear emotional, psychological blinders that help us to make sense of the world, but also limit our understanding of the world.  This article describes eight common psychological traps that prevent us from fully and accurately understanding our world.

8 Mistakes Our Brains Make Every Day and How to Prevent Them

Challenge students to analyze how an author has created characters that illustrate these cognitive mistakes, or how these cognitive mistakes have contributed to the plot of a story.

The Scientific Power of Thought

Why is co-constructing criteria such a powerful teaching strategy?  This video demonstrates the importance of students being able to visualize / imagine what they're being asked to produce.  The clearer the student's understanding of the intended product and its qualities the better.

Positive Feedback

Feedback Loops

Harnessing the Power of Feedback Loops | Wired Magazine | Wired.com

A long read - great as an "article of the week" with connections to learning skills and work habits. It could also be used to discuss character traits in a novel seminar.

Q - "How could you use the ideas in this article to improve your note taking skills?"

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

This often quoted, yet unsupported theory, has been refuted by many psychologists. The theory's cultural impact can not be denied. This article discusses the origin of Maslow's ideas and the impact they've had.

BBC News Report: Abraham Maslow and the pyramid that beguiled business

Kurt Vonnegut's "The Shape of Stories"

An infographic depicting Kurt Vonnegut's ideas about constructing plots:

by mayaeilam.
Explore more infographics like this one on the web's largest information design community - Visually.

Internet Trolls Vandalize Facebook Memorial

Newspaper article about social media.  Could be used as a writing prompt: "What could you write to support this family?" or critical thinking question: "How could you explain the thought process of people who choose to vandalize memorial sites such as this one?"  Internet trolls vandalize Facebook memorial for Matthew Kocher, heap grief on family | Toronto Star

Radiolab Podcast - Ally's Choice

This Radiolab podcast is about two sisters divided by racism. One chooses to pass as white, the other chooses to identify herself as black. Neither seems very happy.

Radiolab podcast - Ally's Choice

Ally's Choice handout: google doc

Podcasting assignment from last year's PD day: Escape Radiolab podcast assignment.

Article: An Endorsement For Effective Note Taking

Some of the most successful entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley are known for their effective note taking strategies.  How does effective note taking in school lead to success in the world of work?

FastCompany.com article reformatted in Google Docs

Original Article

Article: 7 Traits of a Highly Effective Mindset

An article that challenges students to reflect on the mindset they bring to their work. Great for discussing the relevance of learning skills and work habits and also as a prompt to generate discussion and build relationships the first week of school.

Google Doc with the article and questions.

Original article

Rethinking Whole Class Discussion | Edutopia

Rethinking Whole Class Discussion | Edutopia

60 Ways To Use Twitter In The Classroom

60 Ways To Use Twitter In The Classroom By Category

amazing-facts-about-writing-and-the-brain-640x2255.jpg (640×2255)

Great infographic connecting writing and cognition...

amazing-facts-about-writing-and-the-brain-640x2255.jpg (640×2255)

Teaching and Learning with Brain Science in Mind

Find us on Google+

From The Atkinson Foundation "Brains the Secrets to Better Schools"

Activating Prior Knowledge Infographic

This and other teaching related infographics can be found at the Wordpress blog An Ethical Island.

Large version:  event3.png (800×2220)

Article: What To Do When Books Make You Cry on Public Transportation

A fun reflection prompt or a model for narrative essay...

What To Do When Books Make You Cry on Public Transportation

24 Great Gatsby Facts | Mental Floss

Trivia and potentially some discussion starters about Fitzgerald and his work:  24 Great Gatsby Facts | Mental Floss

25 Reasons Why Canada Rocks (PHOTOS)

25 Reasons Why Canada Rocks (PHOTOS)

25 reasons why Canada Rocks. Just in time for the Victoria Day Weekend (reason # 5 is our ties to the monarchy). Critical thinking challenge:  Determine criteria that describes a country that "rocks". Students could rank the list, add to the list, dispute the list.

Challenging Article for Senior Students

This is a disturbing story that reminded me of the "Escape!" Radiolab podcast that was featured at our recent PD day. Its a sophisticated analysis of a tragic story. Suitable for senior students perhaps as a follow-up to the podcast.

Why Did Jodon Romero Kill Himself On Live Television?

7 Key Principles That Make A Web Design Look Good

7 Key Principles That Make A Web Design Look Good

Useful tool for the critical analysis of the design of a website. Students could apply these principles when designing their own website or write a critical review of a website.  Also useful for critical thinking about poster design, presentation design and infographic design.

How Teachers Can Sell Love of Learning to Students

Dan Pink: How Teachers Can Sell Love of Learning to Students | MindShift

Dan Pink is the author of Drive.  In his latest book he writes about the importance of motivation and engagement. In this article he applies the ideas to education.

RSA Animate video of Daniel Pink TED Talk

Writing Prompt

NASA Discovers Water World Planet

Water World on Space.com

1000 light years away there's a world a bit larger than our own that is believed to be covered by an ocean with no land at all.  What might an intelligent water based society be like? Could technology develop without fire? How would metallurgy develop without fire? Or electricity.

Possible Prompt:

Imagine you're a teenaged blogger on this water world. Write a blog post that reveals something about your life, and your society. Engage your readers with your anecdotes of life on your watery world.

Blogging in the 21st-Century Classroom | Edutopia

Blogging in the 21st-Century Classroom | Edutopia

Me to We: Global Voices

Romeo Dallaire

From: "The Fight Like Children, They Die Like Soldiers"

"Roméo Dallaire found the two teenage deserters at a remote United Nations outpost in the northeastern corner of the war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo. They were in opposing militias, but shared a few things in common. Both were kidnapped and forced into war. Both managed to escape, and neither wanted to be a soldier anymore."

Great article from Me to We about Romeo Dallaire's book, They Fight Like Soldiers, They Die Like Children

Additional articles from Me to We available from their archive: Me to We "Global Voices" Archive

Viral Videos

Media Strand: Viral Videos

In this TED Talk,  Kevin Allocca explains why  some videos go viral. The attached document included two articles from TIME magazine that explain the financial side of viral videos (you're not going to get rich) and the attempt by corporations to create viral videos.

Curriculum Connections:

 Audience Responses

1.4 explain why the same media text might prompt different responses from different audiences (e.g., explain why seniors and teens might respond differently to a political speech; suggest reasons why not all their peers like the

same type of music)

 Production Perspectives

1.6 explain how a variety of production, marketing, and distribution factors influence the media industry (e.g., suggest reasons why a film company is using the marketing strategies revealed on its website to market a specific new release; suggest reasons why particular products are

advertised in a specific magazine)

Google Doc Articles from TIME on Viral Videos

Classroom Connections:

Creative Task

How might the characters from one of the texts we've studied in class end up in a viral video? Demonstrate in your answer your understanding of the characters you select and your understanding of the factors contributing to a video going viral on YouTube.

Application Task

Research three viral videos. How well do they demonstrate the criteria Kevin Allocca outlined for the factors that cause videos to go viral? Create a presentation that applies Kevin Allocca's analysis to your chosen videos.

Close Reading Analysis Task 

Which of the two article is a better example of a well organized essay? Evaluate the organizational structures of the two articles and explain why one is superior to the other. Demonstrate your understanding of each author's purpose and intended audience.

News Paper Report vs TV News Report

Many students misunderstand the OSSLT's news report task.

Having had limited experience with actual newspapers, students default to the model of news reporting they're familiar with: the live report. This leads to many news reports that are told in the present tense and  in the first person.

These google docs describe a lesson comparing a video of an Ellen Degeneres' interview with Brad Pitt to a newspaper report about the same interview.  Comparing News Reports and Newspaper Reports Lesson Plan

The lesson plan links to an in-class interview assignment and a handout describing the OSSLT news report using writing traits language.

Studying and Learning Techniques

Article for metacognition and critical thinking: http://goo.gl/ZSbY2

I really like this article because it's complicated. It raises some important questions:

1. Is there a difference between studying and learning?
2. What strategies work well for learning facts vs learning how to respond creatively / critically to a challenge?
3. Why is it important to consider an author's purpose and intended audience while reading?

I think the article would be a valuable tool in both grade 9 and grade 12 classes, but obviously would require greater support in the junior grades.  The original posting contains additional images and can be found here:  Neurobonkers Blog

New Book for Grade 10/11

From Goodreads:
A gleeful and exhilarating tale of global conspiracy, complex code-breaking, high-tech data visualization, young love, rollicking adventure, and the secret to eternal life—mostly set in a hole-in-the-wall San Francisco bookstore

Robin Sloan did such a great job of building the world of Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore that twice he had me googling character names and events just to be sure they were actually fictional.

Mr Penubra will launch many discussions about the things we value, and the decisions we make. The twenty-somethings in the book are wondering about the school and career decisions they've made while being caught up in an exciting 500 year old mystery.

Know Yourself / Be Yourself

Great short video of Neil deGrasse Tyson.  Articulate. Direct. Earnest.

Neil deGrasse Tyson: Be Yourself

"The greatest persons who have ever been in society were never versions of someone else..."

Why Grammar Matters - Point / Counterpoint

This entry from the Harvard Business Review Blog

Google Doc: The original article I Won't Hire People Who Use Poor Grammar provoked an interesting discussion on Reddit.  I've brought the two together in the google doc.

The discussion features a wide variety of points of view.  I think the topic is useful both as an example of why grammar can matter (I'd add the concept of purpose and audience to the discussion), and also as an example of reasoned argument.  The Reddit discussion could be contrasted with other internet "commentary" that quickly degenerates into name calling.

Thanks to Ashley Crawford and Keith Pearce at MDHS for the link.

Why Do We Read?

Google Doc:  How To Read A Book

Blogger John Michael Morgan has a very utilitarian view of reading. He reads a lot. He reads with a purpose. I wonder how students would respond to his advice and his sense of purpose when he reads?
I suspect he might speak to / for a number of our students, but I'd also hope some students would be able to present an alternative point of view.

Getting to Know Your Students

ESPN 6 Things You Should Know About...

Here's a text form that might engage your students and provide them with a platform to introduce themselves to you.  ESPN Magazine runs an occasional feature that presents the essential "things" you need to know in order to understand a person.  The link is a collection of articles featuring:

• Carlos "Pablo" Cosby, Bodyguard for Terrell Owens
• Norm Chryst, 24-year tennis tournament umpire
• Jill Craybas, currently 63rd on the WTA Tour
• Tom "Tsquared" Taylor, a professional video game player

Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah

Ishmael Beah article

Great text for grade 11/12.  Rich source for further research and critical analysis.

Reading and Writing

A great blog posting about what an aspiring writer has learned from her reading...

KSENIA ANSKE

"I write every day and I read every day, because Stephen King said to do so in his book On Writing. I used to not allow myself read fiction, I used to read books about writing. I thought reading a lot of fiction was a waste of time. I was wrong, very very wrong. So I've abandoned reading books about writing (King's On Writing being the exception), and started reading novels exclusively. And, you know what? I'm learning more about writing by reading actual fiction! The more different books by different authors I read, the more I start seeing patterns everywhere - in story, dialogue, beginnings, endings, character development, descriptions, plot, you name it."

Become a better writer by reading...

Prezi for New Alton High School Info Nights

21st Century English

The question was: "What does 21st Century English look like?"  This is what Kerry Sagar and I came up with...

Great new text for grades 9/10

The Fault in our Stars

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

-- amazon.ca

John Green on interpreting novels:

Q. Is there a reason you choose to say “books belong to their readers,” rather than tie up loose ends outside of the book? J.K. Rowling recently came out with a statement about the futures of all of her characters; do you expand on your characters in that sense?

A. I don’t think it’s the author’s place to tell readers what happens to characters outside the text of a novel, because I don’t think the characters (in an extra-textual way, at least) belong to the writer. An author can talk about his/her own reading of the story, or her intentions, but his/her “opinion” on extra-textual matters is irrelevant.

(So I would argue that J. K. Rowling saying that Dumbledore was gay does not make Dumbledore any more or less gay than he already was. It’s easy to read the novels thinking Dumbledore is gay; I suppose it’s also possible to read the novels thinking he isn’t. But all that matters is the text. The only authoritative source for the Harry Potter novels is the text of the Harry Potter novels, and if J. K. Rowling announced tomorrow that Hermione was actually a Jedi Knight who time-traveled to Hogwarts from the Star Wars universe, it would not in any way change the novels or Hermione.)

I realize that many of you disagree with me about this, and that’s fine. Together, we decide what books are, how to read them, and whose voice counts. But I’ve thought pretty hard about this stuff for a fairly long time, and you’re very unlikely to convince me to “reveal” something, particularly something that I literally do not think can be revealed.

Source: John Green's Fault in our Stars FAQ