Mar
27
2009
27
2009
Movie Trailer Review: Where the Wild Things Are
Yes, it's true. I'm reviewing a movie review. But when you watch it, you'll understand why.
Spike Jonze of "Being John Malkovich" fame (amongst other image-rich movies and videos) is directing a movie version of the Maurice Sendak classic, Where the ...
Mar
25
2009
25
2009
Teaching Secrets: Finding a Job That You Love
Know a teacher who got a pink slip? Maybe my newest post at Teacher Magazine can help. Click here for the article.
It's Step 1 of my Top Secret New Teacher Handbook. Hope it creates some shortcuts, a machete even, through ...
Feb
18
2009
18
2009
Starting from scratch in teacher training
I recently heard Judy Willis (of "syn-naps" fame) speak at a conference. In her pre-teaching life, she was a neurologist and she brings her knowledge to the classroom and to her lectures. (See my recently published article in Teacher Magazine, "My ...
Jan
29
2009
29
2009
Is EdTech changing how students think or is it addressing the changes in student thinking?
Science Daily is reporting that there has been a shift in how students are thinking as a result of their use of technology. They believe it possibly lowers critical thinking skills and analysis. Additionally, they wonder just how much schools ...
Jan
28
2009
28
2009
My New Interactive Whiteboard…an update
OK, you know when you get a new puppy and you love it and you couldn't live without it and then you find out it has hip dysplasia?
That's a little of what my relationship is like with my new ...
Jan
25
2009
25
2009
Marketing Metacognition
So I just got the January MindWare catalogue and I realize that here we have a toy catalogue that is solely for metacognitive purchases. So this got me thinking: how can schools market metacognition? I realized, of course, that until ...
Jan
24
2009
24
2009
Asking for Student Opinions Isn’t Risky, It’s Rewarding
I was reading this great article from Slate Magazine about the cheese that is Billy Joel. And I thought back to many a car trip singing his "Themes from an Italian Restaurant." I also remembered just how many times I'd ...
Jan
23
2009
23
2009
Metacognitive Poetry: Writing About Thinking While Writing Lesson
Here's a great metacognitive lesson that integrates poetry. Or is it a poetry lesson that is metacognitive? (Shrug) I believe that good writing and great structure can be taught through mimicking great authors. Using this philosophy as my guide, my ...
Jan
20
2009
20
2009
Recalling your own Metacognition
I've been working on metacognitive lessons with my middle schoolers in an attempt to teach reflection and the act of thinking about thinking. Anyway, one of the most important elements in teaching about thinking is in your own remembering of ...
Oct
26
2008
26
2008
“Hit a Jew” Day. Um, er…
I'm not sure what one can say about this latest story. AP reports that a number of students at a St Louis middle school are facing suspension for a spirit day gone awry. But how "Hug a Friend Day" de-evolved ...

