tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19371337917075744092024-03-13T17:56:35.700-05:00Teacher WallTeachers how can we break down the wall? How can we create a wonderful classroom setting where learning is all the matters? This blog will be about the conversations that can help improve education. Please feel free to pick up a sharpie and write on this wall. How can we all improve as teachers and be much more than just another brick in the wall.Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-55161014757940601862011-06-22T20:49:00.000-05:002011-06-22T20:49:45.067-05:00Summer So FarSince Christmas I have been saving up some Best Buy gift cards and finally loaded them up on a purchase. I bought a new laptop this summer and decided on the inexpensive, sleek and small Chromebook. It's not for everyone. But, I am sure I will enjoy using this in the living room while watching tv to browse the net.<br />
<br />
Here is my review on my personal site:<br />
<a href="http://fordee.blogspot.com/2011/06/my-new-chromebook.html">http://fordee.blogspot.com/2011/06/my-new-chromebook.html</a><br />
<br />
My plan is to also write up a review especially for this blog so that I can add my two cents as far as how a Chromebook could be used by schools. Google is starting to lease Chromebooks to both schools and businesses. They might make some sense, but I want to be sure to understand them better before putting my opinion on it.<br />
<br />
Hope summer is treating all of you well. I am busy with going to physical therapy three days a week to work on improving my strength and balance as I recover from my first major flare of Multiple Sclerosis.<br />
<br />
I have also read a number of books this summer:<br />
<br />
The Trilogy - "The Hunger Games"<br />
Tuesday's With Morrie<br />
and I am about to read the first book of "A Song of Fire and Ice" - A Game of Thrones.<br />
<br />
Hope everyone has had a happy and safe summer so far.Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-79397626996804183592011-04-24T12:48:00.002-05:002011-04-24T12:50:02.756-05:00Observer Article About MS Awareness at AHS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">A very nice article in the <a href="http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/atascocita/news/article_6e9407ba-83c2-5a7d-829d-1ea873a01f83.html#user-comment-area">Observer this week about the MS Awareness campaign at our school</a>. Just amazing to see this all in print. :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGuEKti-uMAFOBnMPC2uapMY3MYWk4-GAMK7mvcMYPIkkHugV-WtRrx2W0tNvBZjjo3CmytzWbb4pkxblOrx6VczqRrOkUhA1ogxFGBGRjkPVtydVctOywpnhot7Xzl510E2nG21yi5SA/s1600/4dac8198967d9.image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGuEKti-uMAFOBnMPC2uapMY3MYWk4-GAMK7mvcMYPIkkHugV-WtRrx2W0tNvBZjjo3CmytzWbb4pkxblOrx6VczqRrOkUhA1ogxFGBGRjkPVtydVctOywpnhot7Xzl510E2nG21yi5SA/s320/4dac8198967d9.image.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Duez thanks Ms. O'Brien</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I can not tell you and fully express how grateful I am to everyone. So many have given and wished me well, it is overwhelming. The support has really given me the push I have needed to realize that even if I have been given a bad break, there are so many great people in my life. <br />
<br />
Link to my post about <a href="http://www.mrduez.com/2011/04/operation-bald-eagle.html">Operation Bald Eagle - Head Shaving for MS Awareness</a>.<br />
<br />
Link to my post sharing my <a href="http://teacherwall.blogspot.com/2011/04/my-email-to-our-ahs-faculty-ms.html">Email to the AHS Faculty with lots of pictures of the events during the MS Awareness campaign</a>.<br />
<br />
Link to my <a href="http://teacherwall.blogspot.com/2011/04/ms-awareness-campaign-videos.html">AHS Softball Benefit Game Video & Thank You Video to the AHS Patriettes</a>.<br />
<br />
Link to my former student <a href="http://www.mrduez.com/2011/04/ms-150.html">Sara's MS 150 Post</a> - she rode for me last weekend. :)<br />
<br />
Link to our pics modeling the <a href="http://www.mrduez.com/2011/03/ms-awareness-t-shirt.html">MS Awareness T-Shirts</a>.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnq2IxGxvIVfVaBj8pmZWLokGb8IuPh9v4rB33i5HnbeOVZSMft_PyCe3Y-SE0RwWoMF_55IGMroyt4GmKgoxYOmiu5oCVQ0riC5LXrMHHrX6OrmS27da0w7bU24dBhOW_rnel0QR8yckk/s1600/4dac8198b9059.image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnq2IxGxvIVfVaBj8pmZWLokGb8IuPh9v4rB33i5HnbeOVZSMft_PyCe3Y-SE0RwWoMF_55IGMroyt4GmKgoxYOmiu5oCVQ0riC5LXrMHHrX6OrmS27da0w7bU24dBhOW_rnel0QR8yckk/s640/4dac8198b9059.image.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a serious affair with REAL barbers. :) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykps6rhj-OWAE8Lbyfqkukhh-24QsN7BUgg39JftktUYegOzovdXzUpetMwj0h8SmpuCF5Womn9DvYbC_sybL1NMk0ekDcZN8TY_caFXqTyqm64xKd9KTrKm-FlJvHoUd2DlKVzoXt9e8/s1600/4dac8198a186b.image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykps6rhj-OWAE8Lbyfqkukhh-24QsN7BUgg39JftktUYegOzovdXzUpetMwj0h8SmpuCF5Womn9DvYbC_sybL1NMk0ekDcZN8TY_caFXqTyqm64xKd9KTrKm-FlJvHoUd2DlKVzoXt9e8/s640/4dac8198a186b.image.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Scalia should never have scheduled a test on the same day as the head shaving. These two got him good!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbPexQVbh-s2X-z0N5ugcWhUD6X7NR-o19ZCuj7yX9NKTUWnzjTl6occJ-kvVRkPJZ-rp9_md4MLLydk1xJyouQ6WE6LW70oKIJh9uI5WfAVtluAg_ktTuEUJDaqE9G54q6yow-91fr_Y/s1600/4dac8198c2373.image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbPexQVbh-s2X-z0N5ugcWhUD6X7NR-o19ZCuj7yX9NKTUWnzjTl6occJ-kvVRkPJZ-rp9_md4MLLydk1xJyouQ6WE6LW70oKIJh9uI5WfAVtluAg_ktTuEUJDaqE9G54q6yow-91fr_Y/s640/4dac8198c2373.image.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My former student Kristin did a wonderful job on Mr. Head's head. :) Mr. Head's family has been impacted by MS.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsBHOngSLsIDUfFoWa3ofGt85og672d5_jbZ4hPKqpXPdUbuSoLLbR8C773jsC40Re6Nr_u5En8gYaH-BjM3h9P9WuFrMcaE7hDswWNmA23G7D4UgLpHHZupOnB_fAO118kTB-P5Sl4n8/s1600/4dac8198ad5e9.image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsBHOngSLsIDUfFoWa3ofGt85og672d5_jbZ4hPKqpXPdUbuSoLLbR8C773jsC40Re6Nr_u5En8gYaH-BjM3h9P9WuFrMcaE7hDswWNmA23G7D4UgLpHHZupOnB_fAO118kTB-P5Sl4n8/s640/4dac8198ad5e9.image.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ms. Davison is beautiful with or without hair. Thank you neighbor for raising over $1500 for MS Awareness! You ROCK.</td></tr>
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</div>Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-32917111044433636402011-04-24T12:42:00.000-05:002011-04-24T12:42:16.734-05:00MS Awareness Campaign VideosHere are a few videos from the MS Awareness Campaign that AHS has done.<br />
<br />
AHS-KHS MS Awareness Softball Game Benefit:<br />
<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/43vuX5rjhWE?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
Aidan's thank you video to our AHS Patriette Dance team:<br />
<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wVjNTzFZe-o?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-63420186301078170392011-04-24T12:39:00.000-05:002011-04-24T12:39:31.723-05:00Operation Bald Eagle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Click here for the great video by our wonderful technology ladies at AHS:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://animoto.com/play/l8jY0uYPSJzlpexJurZ0yg">Operation Bald Eagle</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://animoto.com/play/l8jY0uYPSJzlpexJurZ0yg"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxNIRCDL66CONk5n2rDVt5FrYfmzIoh-fzyF3wqdmwDdLSy2rgsVS-SxbgCR_qaCJwWfEE0XOKBzxj9vi2s7h7DjOYmsG7DKwCatwx14JEaa1aMghnc5G2W8MykmQDrmWm3BL2LHVxzjt/s320/Fullscreen+capture+4142011+64900+PM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was a great event. Thanks to everyone at AHS who donated money in jars to each of these people (and many others who raised money, but did not get their hair cut). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Ms. Davison raised over $1500 herself! Thanks to Mr. Scalia for coming up with the head shaving idea. Thanks to Mr. Anderson for helping to organize and advertise. Special thanks to Mr. Campbell who has been organizing and spearheading all of this MS Awareness project. </i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8G5PsLPhJu8estV6D6Q9l5A4eWVDWEAj4FuB-ohTmUwB_ndAS3Xwvi5wkj6IQxBn3R84RZHHdJUqgzciVDujMcad2lNZcqEsUnV5O1x9z30ZcfKD_aGwn3M1pN8GqkKt-DOViugqyAy1/s1600/MS+329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8G5PsLPhJu8estV6D6Q9l5A4eWVDWEAj4FuB-ohTmUwB_ndAS3Xwvi5wkj6IQxBn3R84RZHHdJUqgzciVDujMcad2lNZcqEsUnV5O1x9z30ZcfKD_aGwn3M1pN8GqkKt-DOViugqyAy1/s640/MS+329.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhvOI3rGvlMs40IPL-cXgK5op84rv6Isub-6zRSO1d-EwVpTfSrQLWR8CTmr4R40lKbmfWoGV6Z3RmnwgAlUFO7O-9t77C9IUH4Qj70Zl2JJ11kqe7ciuM1ucsNAVm4U-stEXdYqTqkGk/s1600/MS+333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhvOI3rGvlMs40IPL-cXgK5op84rv6Isub-6zRSO1d-EwVpTfSrQLWR8CTmr4R40lKbmfWoGV6Z3RmnwgAlUFO7O-9t77C9IUH4Qj70Zl2JJ11kqe7ciuM1ucsNAVm4U-stEXdYqTqkGk/s640/MS+333.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Link to all of the pictures from the video:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/karendavis29/OperationBaldEagle?authkey=Gv1sRgCIDn5tSbuPq0jAE&feat=directlink#">Picasa Album - Operation Bald Eagle</a></div></div>Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-59377353104344615942011-04-09T09:48:00.003-05:002011-04-09T09:57:17.987-05:00My Email to Our AHS Faculty - MS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I wanted to take a moment today and write everyone to express how thankful I am about the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_sclerosis" rel="wikipedia" title="Multiple sclerosis">Multiple Sclerosis</a> campaign that Mr. Campbell, Mr. Scalia and many others have helped to orchestrate. Friday was an especially amazing day for me. Seeing all of those orange, blue and white t-shirts, ribbons and wrist bands was awesome.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAK-w7TFK3u-_6glpCFhNhOf2lMt0ehfp8OvEx_Itjg5qCvn7MXse_zA4vMstb07piTbiz6Nz5lGIw8SNl5PHYyGRzy38l4tMPrSQSmV-R-ZgO5EYT5nQCwhVb9el7A3o4-MvkvI2WvQ/s1600/AHS_MS_Awareness_Picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAK-w7TFK3u-_6glpCFhNhOf2lMt0ehfp8OvEx_Itjg5qCvn7MXse_zA4vMstb07piTbiz6Nz5lGIw8SNl5PHYyGRzy38l4tMPrSQSmV-R-ZgO5EYT5nQCwhVb9el7A3o4-MvkvI2WvQ/s640/AHS_MS_Awareness_Picture.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MS Awareness T-Shirt Support day at AHS. Thanks to everyone who took the time to come out after school for the pic. Mr. Duez, Aidan and Mrs. Duez are seated at the bottom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Also, I wanted to send along some news about just what is going on with me and what MS is exactly. I do not have the opportunity to see many of you as often as I would like. Obviously, I know this email is very long and I apologize for that and I realize many won’t have the time to read it all. But, I wanted to be sure to include some information that people have been asking me about. Because we have such a large school and are so spread out, I know others might have these same questions on their mind, but may not have the opportunity to ask.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAf5JvApmyz7FM2_638uP166qdelZw5fHQIKa2ifIac-OYIfkS2uYe_KdhBswakE-ZHY8zUlnD_jYzetzhyphenhyphenZAUv2DGq2sSUfPL68kZNr4rHQwN3n5oVYNSv18E7cKLGCCfb_mD7rZj9o/s1600/multiple-sclerosis-demyelinization.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAf5JvApmyz7FM2_638uP166qdelZw5fHQIKa2ifIac-OYIfkS2uYe_KdhBswakE-ZHY8zUlnD_jYzetzhyphenhyphenZAUv2DGq2sSUfPL68kZNr4rHQwN3n5oVYNSv18E7cKLGCCfb_mD7rZj9o/s320/multiple-sclerosis-demyelinization.gif" width="320" /></a></div>When someone hears the scary word “Sclerosis” they figure it must be pretty bad and may not even know what that means. Our awesome Latin teacher Shawn Jennings might know. In Latin it means ‘hardening’ (or scarring). MS is a chronic autoimmune disease of the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_nervous_system" rel="wikipedia" title="Central nervous system">central nervous system</a> in which gradual destruction (hardening and scarring) of the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myelin" rel="wikipedia" title="Myelin">myelin</a> occurs. There is no cure for the disease and most patients see a continuing decline in their health and abilities after being diagnosed.<br />
<br />
The myelin is the sheath or covering of the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peripheral_nerve" rel="wikipedia" title="Peripheral nerve">nerves</a>. In simple terms it is much like an electrical cord. The plastic/rubber portion that covers an electrical cord is like the myelin of the nerves. The inner wiring of an electrical cord is like the nerves itself. When MS attacks it eats away at the myelin and exposes and often destroys the nerve as well. In the same way an old <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extension_cord" rel="wikipedia" title="Extension cord">extension cord</a> might fail to continue to function when the plastic/rubber coating is worn away is exactly what happens with MS. The nerves lose their ability to communicate and deliver signals.<br />
<br />
<span class="zemanta-img separator zemanta-action-dragged"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Symptoms_of_multiple_sclerosis.png" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Main symptoms of Multiple sclerosis. Sources a..." height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Symptoms_of_multiple_sclerosis.png/300px-Symptoms_of_multiple_sclerosis.png" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: 0.8em;" width="209" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 300px;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Symptoms_of_multiple_sclerosis.png">Wikipedia</a></span></span>Because MS strikes the central nervous system and the brain in different areas for different people, it can be a very hard disease to pin point and diagnose. It can also be very strange for people to understand because the symptoms for one person may not even exist for another person. Many times the destruction of these nerves leads to weakness, numbness or tingling, and sometimes pain.<br />
<br />
My MS episodes started in 2010 right before spring break. I suddenly became very, very dizzy in class. It was also accompanied by severe fatigue. Doctors could not quite figure out what was happening until I had a major flare of the disease. That occurred during Thanksgiving weekend last fall. I was unable to get up out of bed one morning. I lost the ability to use my legs and even sit up without assistance. Also my pain level was incredibly high during this flare. This led my primary care doctor to realize my symptoms were much more serious and sent me to a neurologist. That also began the tremendous amounts of testing, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/magnetic-resonance-imaging-mri" rel="webmd" title="Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri">MRIs</a> and a very nasty spinal tap.<br />
<br />
As I began the new year, doctors prescribed high dose treatments of IV and oral steroids to help my body shorten the length of the attack or flare. Currently I have regained a lot of function, but have weakness in my legs (especially my left leg) and some weakness in my arms and hands. My number one symptom is fatigue, often a common symptom for MS patients. About 85% of us have severe fatigue. My pain levels are very manageable. A great way to explain it to someone who is a teacher is this – I have first week legs. Remember how your feet ached and legs burned during the first week back to school? That is how my legs feel every day.<br />
<br />
My sister and aunt also have Multiple Sclerosis. My uncle (through marriage) and his sister have also battled this disease. So MS is something important to my family.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhB2cOnDCaPTZXFDCI71AFTr-VHCupYt5HwwW2i7CLECfFij0jt0x-QEYXVXgwQ0ekHmWVrFZVldNQNYtAWkLRZONjCw4t0rYo4jNH-mxwHcZ_EM_o8atNF-CJhcpRikNdCnMHK_Fefs/s1600/sadie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhB2cOnDCaPTZXFDCI71AFTr-VHCupYt5HwwW2i7CLECfFij0jt0x-QEYXVXgwQ0ekHmWVrFZVldNQNYtAWkLRZONjCw4t0rYo4jNH-mxwHcZ_EM_o8atNF-CJhcpRikNdCnMHK_Fefs/s320/sadie.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Duez and a former student.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
My doctors have been very aggressive in treating this. I will begin daily injections of a drug soon (pending insurance approval). This will help limit the number of flare ups of the disease over a long term period. This is the best course of action available to us right now. When patients have taken this drug during the first year of onset of MS the results have been good. The biggest drawback (besides sticking myself with a needle every day) is the cost. Because MS is categorized a rare disease, the costs for drug therapies are very high. This is part of the reason that the fund-raising campaign is important to me. But, the biggest reason is that the money donated to the MS Society will go towards helping researchers find a cure. They have made incredible strides in the past 10-15 years. With further funding researchers may one day be able to crack this very difficult code and find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis.<br />
<br />
I have adopted an initialism that helps me focus on the positive: <b>DFTBA</b>. It means: <b>"Don’t Forget To Be Awesome."</b> There are days that I feel a lot less than awesome. But, I have to remind myself that MS is not me. It just wants to get in the way of me being “Mr. Duez.” So I say DFTBA and turn on my old self that is buried down there under this MS haze. It has helped me change my mind set in an instant. <b><i>So, DFTBA! </i></b><br />
<br />
Thank you again. I am very fortunate to work at <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atascocita_High_School" rel="wikipedia" title="Atascocita High School">Atascocita High School</a> and I count my lucky stars every day. <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">It’s a great day to be an Eagle!</span></i></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVrB1cO0KjyJHd6yaGd5ni6SiEteTKS2KU9YMHfcp6gJ4QAL0aeXtRhRH0aPinbCmEPpb1dV-U71BfXq6ojnV81KRhcacTqeW4C5jEhnIfHQK9D99mwz3A-ToX7TsuOGr2weDRbgoZJM/s1600/AVID.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVrB1cO0KjyJHd6yaGd5ni6SiEteTKS2KU9YMHfcp6gJ4QAL0aeXtRhRH0aPinbCmEPpb1dV-U71BfXq6ojnV81KRhcacTqeW4C5jEhnIfHQK9D99mwz3A-ToX7TsuOGr2weDRbgoZJM/s640/AVID.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Duez's Junior AVID class with their "Duez Support Shirts." They are GREAT kids. My son Aidan is next to me at the bottom middle. Mrs. Duez brought him in for the end of the day as a surprise.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
A few links that might answer any other questions:<br />
MS Society Website: <a href="http://www.nationalmssociety.org/">http://www.nationalmssociety.org/</a><br />
A tremendous series of videos that depict the personal challenges of those who have MS: <a href="http://www.nationalmssociety.org/we-keep-moving/videos/index.aspx">http://www.nationalmssociety.org/we-keep-moving/videos/index.aspx</a><br />
Great for Advisory: A really wonderful video about a 16 year-old who was diagnosed with MS and raised over $75,000 for MS:<br />
<a href="http://www.nationalmssociety.org/we-keep-moving/videos/jeannette-pennsylvania-video/index.aspx">http://www.nationalmssociety.org/we-keep-moving/videos/jeannette-pennsylvania-video/index.aspx</a><br />
For as much technical information as I've ever seen assembled on one site about MS:<br />
<a href="http://ms.about.com/">http://ms.about.com/</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvHEhYtZoB3KiQoWqPvCXbyJRYF_qdE0xa2XEPmbhA54_M59_Msf8JFDTXBxhdjoTOJCYQgLO5ZorkdJbhBBWdayNakxvzI-INGwqngQMxZMqyMac8Lwxj0wFvr_4FeeDRumSooBtAJk/s1600/204888_10150145940971570_703116569_7202661_4944310_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvHEhYtZoB3KiQoWqPvCXbyJRYF_qdE0xa2XEPmbhA54_M59_Msf8JFDTXBxhdjoTOJCYQgLO5ZorkdJbhBBWdayNakxvzI-INGwqngQMxZMqyMac8Lwxj0wFvr_4FeeDRumSooBtAJk/s640/204888_10150145940971570_703116569_7202661_4944310_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Duez with two of his AVID seniors who have been with him in AVID for four years.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="zemanta-related"><h6 class="zemanta-related-title" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 1em 0 0 0;">Related articles</h6><ul class="zemanta-article-ul"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.everydayhealth.com/multiple-sclerosis/understanding-multiple-sclerosis.aspx">What Is Multiple Sclerosis?</a> (everydayhealth.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.everydayhealth.com/multiple-sclerosis/multiple-sclerosis-flares.aspx">Understanding and Coping with MS Flares</a> (everydayhealth.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.everydayhealth.com/multiple-sclerosis/10-things-new-ms-patients-should-know.aspx">10 Things New MS Patients Should Know</a> (everydayhealth.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.everydayhealth.com/multiple-sclerosis/specialists/florida-heat-too-much-for-my-ms.aspx">Florida Heat Too Much for My MS?</a> (everydayhealth.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.brighthub.com/health/conditions-treatments/articles/112525.aspx">Understanding Multiple Sclerosis Flares</a> (brighthub.com)</li>
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</script></span></div></div>Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-17193115749595142732011-01-03T18:56:00.002-06:002011-01-03T18:56:38.856-06:00Sir Ken Robinson AnimatedI have not posted in quite a long time, mostly due to health problems. But, I wanted to share this...<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">This is pretty awesome. I have heard the speech before, but seeing it animated and brought to life really got me thinking. I recognized something. In education today we seem to think that what works for one teacher should work for all to inspire learning. Yet right at the heart of what he is talking about is divergent thinking and I believe divergent teaching sometimes helps to facilitate that.</span><br />
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<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zDZFcDGpL4U?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zDZFcDGpL4U?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-5378363260180750002010-09-09T21:53:00.002-05:002010-09-09T21:55:07.878-05:00WICR Wednesday 9/8/2010Our second installment of the WICR Wednesday lesson.<br />
This one was sent by our great AVID and English teacher on our faculty. :)<br />
<br />
<b>WICR Wednesday Challenge #2:</b><br />
<br />
Last week we introduced WICR and explained that the "AVID philosophy involves integrating the four WICR elements into every classroom on a routine basis since they encompass four crucial skill areas for college-bound students."<br />
<br />
Each week we want to share a strategy that we use in both our AVID elective classrooms and our academic classrooms. These strategies are not "AVID" strategies. They are simply best teaching practices that students say help facilitate their learning.<br />
<br />
<b>Philosophical Chairs </b><br />
Philosophical Chairs is a strategy that both my AVID kids and my English III kids love. It encompasses all four of the WICR elements. Attached is a detailed power point explaining the process.<br />
<br />
Basically, a teacher would use this strategy to foster a group discussion in an orderly fashion.<br />
<br />
The <b>W</b> or writing takes place before and after the discussion. I have kids write their opinion or answer to the question down before we start and then reflect on how their opinion has changed based on what they heard.<br />
<br />
The<b> I</b> or inquiry and the<b> C</b> or collaboration happens during the actual discussion. Students can ask questions, defend their ideas, and discuss in a structured manner.<br />
<br />
The <b>R</b> or reading should happen first. They need to have read an article, part of a novel, or passage before they come to class so that they have an opinion to share. I have attached an article that our district director shared with us that I have used in my AVID elective class concerning sagging pants. The kids really seemed to enjoy it. Join the challenge and try a Philosophical Chairs lesson with your students!!<br />
<br />
If you have any questions, please see any site team member or any teacher on campus that has attended a Write Path training session. Philosophical chairs is covered in almost all of the disciplines. We do have Path training coming up in September. If you are interested, please let a site team member know.<br />
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/14091305/AVID-HISTORY-PATH-Philosophical-Chairs-PPT" style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto; text-decoration: underline;" title="View AVID HISTORY PATH: Philosophical Chairs PPT on Scribd">AVID HISTORY PATH: Philosophical Chairs PPT</a> <object data="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf" height="500" id="doc_238387660325764" name="doc_238387660325764" rel="media:presentation" resource="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=14091305&access_key=key-dq7nwjbqxq41sr9juse&page=1&viewMode=list" style="outline: none;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><param name="wmode" value="opaque"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><param name="FlashVars" value="document_id=14091305&access_key=key-dq7nwjbqxq41sr9juse&page=1&viewMode=list"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><embed id="doc_238387660325764" name="doc_238387660325764" src="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=14091305&access_key=key-dq7nwjbqxq41sr9juse&page=1&viewMode=list" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="500" width="100%" wmode="opaque" bgcolor="#ffffff"></embed> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></object><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/37185221/Saggin-Pants-Article" style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto; text-decoration: underline;" title="View Saggin Pants Article on Scribd">Saggin Pants Article</a> <object data="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf" height="500" id="doc_696887669191714" name="doc_696887669191714" rel="media:document" resource="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=37185221&access_key=key-89ys8wuc0ywudyi8edr&page=1&viewMode=list" style="outline: none;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf"><param name="wmode" value="opaque"><param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="FlashVars" value="document_id=37185221&access_key=key-89ys8wuc0ywudyi8edr&page=1&viewMode=list"><embed id="doc_696887669191714" name="doc_696887669191714" src="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=37185221&access_key=key-89ys8wuc0ywudyi8edr&page=1&viewMode=list" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="500" width="100%" wmode="opaque" bgcolor="#ffffff"></embed> </object> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/12410807/Using-Philosophical-Chairs" style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto; text-decoration: underline;" title="View Using Philosophical Chairs on Scribd">Using Philosophical Chairs</a> <object data="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf" height="500" id="doc_852390646068897" name="doc_852390646068897" rel="media:document" resource="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=12410807&access_key=key-1dbhdgwdd70qm72k8f68&page=1&viewMode=list" style="outline: none;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf"><param name="wmode" value="opaque"><param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="FlashVars" value="document_id=12410807&access_key=key-1dbhdgwdd70qm72k8f68&page=1&viewMode=list"><embed id="doc_852390646068897" name="doc_852390646068897" src="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=12410807&access_key=key-1dbhdgwdd70qm72k8f68&page=1&viewMode=list" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="500" width="100%" wmode="opaque" bgcolor="#ffffff"></embed> </object> </span>Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-37438782509426212772010-09-01T20:45:00.001-05:002010-09-01T20:47:44.917-05:00WICR Wednesday 9/1/2010Today was our first WICR Wednesday of the year. It is an idea that has been done before by many other AVID schools. But, our district director really pushed us to work on this as a district this year. Here is how it works: We have a scheduled Wednesday for each AVID elective teacher and coordinator in the district. On that week that the person is assigned, they will send their WICR Wednesday lesson to our district director and she emails it out to all the AVID coordinators across our district. Then they sent it out to their faculty.<br />
<br />
Good idea and great way to spread the AVID way. <br />
<br />
My WICR Wednesday choice was straight stolen from one of the examples that our director sent out. But, I thought it captured what WICR is perfectly and sets the stage for the rest of the WICR Wednesday emails through out the year.<br />
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<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Hello Eagleland,</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">This week, your AVID site team invites you to take the One-Week WICR Challenge.<br />
WICR is an acronym used by AVID to highlight four key aspects of curriculum in a successful classroom: <br />
Writing<br />
Inquiry<br />
Collaboration<br />
Reading<br />
</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The AVID philosophy involves integrating these four elements into every classroom on a routine basis since they encompass four crucial skill areas for college-bound students. <br />
How to Take the One-Week WICR Challenge:<br />
Print out the attached WICR Week Tally Sheet and fill it out each day, noting the ways you incorporate writing, inquiry, collaboration, and reading into your curriculum. At the end of the week, you'll be able to assess how successfully you involved your students in WICR. If you notice any deficits, make an effort next week to find ways to improve the balance of WICR in your routine. <br />
(I've also attached a chart which lists some examples that fit into each part of WICR in case you need a few ideas!)<br />
Keep reading the Wednesday WICR e-mails for suggestions for how to strengthen each of these areas. If you need extra help, seek out a site team member. We'll be happy to assist you.<br />
Have a great week!<br />
Our AVID Elective Teachers are:<br />
More about AVID on the Humble ISD District site: http://www.humbleisd.net/avid<br />
To see what Mr. Duez is doing in his AVID class each week - http://avidahs.blogspot.com</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/36778647/WICR-Week-Tally-Sheet" style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto; text-decoration: underline;" title="View WICR Week Tally Sheet on Scribd">WICR Week Tally Sheet </a> <object data="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf" height="500" id="doc_563075749374798" name="doc_563075749374798" rel="media:presentation" resource="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=36778647&access_key=key-1hm48qtekvn3t4evu5yo&page=1&viewMode=list" style="outline: none;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></span></font><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></font></span><font class="Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf"></span></font><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></font></span><font class="Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><param name="wmode" value="opaque"></span></font><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></font></span><font class="Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"></span></font><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></font></span><font class="Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></span></font><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></font></span><font class="Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></span></font><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></font></span><font class="Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><param name="FlashVars" value="document_id=36778647&access_key=key-1hm48qtekvn3t4evu5yo&page=1&viewMode=list"></span></font><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></font></span><font class="Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><embed id="doc_563075749374798" name="doc_563075749374798" src="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=36778647&access_key=key-1hm48qtekvn3t4evu5yo&page=1&viewMode=list" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="500" width="100%" wmode="opaque" bgcolor="#ffffff"></embed> </span></font><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></font></span><font class="Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></object></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/36778620/WICR" style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto; text-decoration: underline;" title="View WICR on Scribd">WICR</a> <object data="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf" height="500" id="doc_775599810296039" name="doc_775599810296039" rel="media:document" resource="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=36778620&access_key=key-f6uibt4egyt5vaus05l&page=1&viewMode=list" style="outline: none;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf"> <param name="wmode" value="opaque"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="FlashVars" value="document_id=36778620&access_key=key-f6uibt4egyt5vaus05l&page=1&viewMode=list"> <embed id="doc_775599810296039" name="doc_775599810296039" src="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=36778620&access_key=key-f6uibt4egyt5vaus05l&page=1&viewMode=list" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="500" width="100%" wmode="opaque" bgcolor="#ffffff"></embed> </object> </span></span></span>Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-83041085792251162802010-08-13T22:37:00.000-05:002010-08-13T22:37:18.285-05:00New Social Studies Training @ Summer Creek<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I very much enjoyed working with the new <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_studies" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Social studies">social studies</a> teachers today. It is an honor to have been asked to work with all of you and I hope I was able to help in some small way. We are lucky to have you in <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humble_Independent_School_District" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Humble Independent School District">Humble ISD</a>. But, you guys are also joining the best group in our district. Our social studies teachers are incredible!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">If there is anything I can do to be of help, please let me know.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Here are the notes from today's session: <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/35867068/New-Ss-Avid-Fall-2010">http://www.scribd.com/doc/35867068/New-Ss-Avid-Fall-2010</a></div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=a5c7c51c-26be-40f6-8bce-0e1445dd3a22" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; float: right;" /></a></div></div>Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-18311451247591892802010-08-09T08:08:00.002-05:002010-08-09T08:08:05.268-05:00What is World History Pre-AP? The VideoI did a little "What is World History Pre-AP?" video last year. I am using most of it again this year. Changed the music and the beginning, but I kept a lot of what I had last year. I am not 100% sure I like it because the quality is not as good as the other two videos. <br />
<br />
But, I think it accomplishes my objectives:<br />
1) Explain what we will be studying - or at least give a brief overview.<br />
2) Explain how class will function.<br />
3) Give the kids a brief taste of a few of the projects we'll work on this year.<br />
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Here's the video. What do you think?<br />
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<object height="225" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13991443&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=ff9933&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13991443&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=ff9933&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/13991443">What Is WH PreAP</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/fordee">Mr. Duez</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-35396674516007686612010-08-08T18:34:00.000-05:002010-08-08T18:34:01.368-05:00Time Magazine: The Case Against Summer VacationReally interesting read. Is summer an "outdated legacy of the farm economy?" Or as the article seems to suggest, can it be a time for grass roots creativity to provide enrichment for kids?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,2005654,00.html">Time Magazine: The Case Against Summer Vacation</a><br />
<br />
What do you think?Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-11722620526473444672010-08-07T22:47:00.000-05:002010-08-07T22:47:23.386-05:00Rules Video for 1st Day of School 2010As I mentioned in my last post, I am working on my introductory videos to my class. This is the rules video. It's short but sweet. I want my students to remember the rules. I want them to be simple, but flexible. I want them to be positive and supportive. I also stole them from my wonderful wife, who is much smarter than I am. :)<br />
<br />
The three rules are:<br />
1. Be Prompt.<br />
2. Be Prepared.<br />
3. Be Polite.<br />
<br />
They pretty much cover everything needed in my classroom. Get to class on time. Be ready to learn. And be good to everyone in the class. <br />
<br />
Again Aidan is my star for the show. I like that he adds a little comic relief to RULES. Going over rules for the classroom on the first day can be dry and for kids it can seem unnecessary. At least Aidan has added some fun to it and maybe they just might connect to them a little better?<br />
<br />
Here's the video. What do you think?<br />
<br />
<object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13969254&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=ff9933&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13969254&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=ff9933&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/13969254">Rules WH 1stDay</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/fordee">Mr. Duez</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><p>My rules video for the first day of class. <br />Be prompt, prepared and polite. :)</p>Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-25870971749004355552010-08-07T16:19:00.000-05:002010-08-07T16:19:35.302-05:00Expectations Video for 1st DayEach school year I do a video to show on the first day. It's a video introduction to the class, explains expectations and rules. The first video I produced this year is the "Expectations Video." I wanted to post it here and get some reaction before I put it in the can. <br />
<br />
I'm also working on the rules video and the video that explains my World History class and how it will function. Those will be done this week. I am excited to have these finished well in advance of the first day this year. Too often I'm editing a video to prepare for the NEXT day and that is just crazy. It takes far too much work.<br />
<br />
Of course, having Aidan in my videos is always a lot of the fun. He's crazy. But, it is far more effective to have Aidan explain classroom rules and expectations to the kids than it is for me to stand up there and say it. What happens by 7th period on the first day of school? The kids have heard the same lectures about rules and procedures all day long from each teacher. It ends up sounding like Charlie Brown's teacher. Plus, this helps to save my voice and it delivers the expectations and rules in a very consistent format. And on top of all of that, I can post it on my website for the rest of the year. It is a wonderful way to explain the class to parents.<br />
<br />
What do you think?<br />
<object height="231" width="410"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13962928&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=ff9933&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13962928&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=ff9933&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="410" height="231"></embed></object><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/13962928">2010 Expectations WH 1stDay</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/fordee">Mr. Duez</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
This is a short video clip that explains classroom expectations in World History for 2010-2011.Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-5314741925132253332010-08-07T11:02:00.001-05:002010-08-07T11:05:10.593-05:00Thoughts on the upcoming year...This week I went into school a couple of different days and worked on getting my room setup. Since our high school is used EVERY summer for summer school (although we have FIVE different high schools within our district that could host) we have to pack everything up. This is tough. Everything must come down off the walls and we have little storage space. The only place we can store anything is in a small wardrobe. So getting setup for a new school year can be a lot of work.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhstE_G82S_77nAfjN0WNTYwpEBGpy7XzwZzc34HqILJhyXoaMCt0UKHcIYq1vrJEMpq7RlHWpsUU9vZ8ZQjx69WOCPh-Av-5-cFhdkOeuhg2qt8muZJxTjrxekKnEe68c-KJP0XLmyUI/s1600/summer2010+677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhstE_G82S_77nAfjN0WNTYwpEBGpy7XzwZzc34HqILJhyXoaMCt0UKHcIYq1vrJEMpq7RlHWpsUU9vZ8ZQjx69WOCPh-Av-5-cFhdkOeuhg2qt8muZJxTjrxekKnEe68c-KJP0XLmyUI/s400/summer2010+677.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">what a mess! End of the first day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>What I have decided is that getting the physical work of my classroom setup was most important this year, in particular. I haven't been feeling well over the past 6 months. So slowly chipping away at my room and doing so in a low stress way was important to me. <br />
<br />
I am glad to say that most of the 'heavy lifting' is all done. Posters are up, desks are moved into position, bookshelves filled with books, my desk has all it's supplies inside. There are still some major things to do, like organizing my filing cabinet and getting my AVID stuff setup. But, I am a lot further down the road than in year's past.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhmgRjE1GaSwE4-Q2XwPy_xI4ZTDftu2T84hUzLWdr-mkUUUTeMPmgCe16emljGWAme4H-BlArX1pAQzKegfIFVsZKvpzqUyubj6IY8CIGUin94Jpoh4CWsD4RBW3560WLmK855fnjtQ/s1600/summer2010+682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhmgRjE1GaSwE4-Q2XwPy_xI4ZTDftu2T84hUzLWdr-mkUUUTeMPmgCe16emljGWAme4H-BlArX1pAQzKegfIFVsZKvpzqUyubj6IY8CIGUin94Jpoh4CWsD4RBW3560WLmK855fnjtQ/s400/summer2010+682.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am really lucky to have two great windows in my room. This year I have moved my desk to the back a little further. My goal is go give the kids more prime real estate in the classroom. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>It is important this year because part of the problem I'm having health wise is managing stress and dealing with extreme fatigue. Over the past month I have made a lot of progress, but the school year's first day (8-16 for teachers, 8-23 for kids) is ominous. It was my hope at the beginning of the summer that I would be coming back to school fully healed. Now I realize that it is going to be a long term process. I will probably not be 100% myself for nine to twelve months. It is going to have to be a more different school year than I have ever taught before. <br />
<br />
My schedule is really interesting. I have the first two periods for planning/conference. Then I teach the remainder of the day. This worries me greatly because the stress of teaching five straight periods without a break is going to wear me down. But, I have to keep the faith in the diet, vitamins and supplements I am taking. I also have to be sure to get to bed very early and get as much rest as possible.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHk2HKzQQNo0JtqdtBAvIyQfUSozZ-GWrQTxVe_RcpFg9MIO98WrW3vT_vcW-T4n7IeHi8Re55WouDvBp1Tc4PM-0LEurF8g3fnzZ-BvXBdJkQG3_wpFrWBMjp4shuC9jIk0TUTBYQ6o/s1600/summer2010+684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHk2HKzQQNo0JtqdtBAvIyQfUSozZ-GWrQTxVe_RcpFg9MIO98WrW3vT_vcW-T4n7IeHi8Re55WouDvBp1Tc4PM-0LEurF8g3fnzZ-BvXBdJkQG3_wpFrWBMjp4shuC9jIk0TUTBYQ6o/s400/summer2010+684.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Because of the influence of reading TLAC I have realized that grouping my desks by twos works for me best. This gives me the opportunity to 'shoulder' every student as they are working. I can walk around the room and get a much better feel for how they are working. In the past I have had desks grouped in threes and sometimes positioned against a wall or side board. This is going to be very liberating. And I believe much more comfortable for my students.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I can do it. But it is going to mean really taking the next step in my development as a teacher. This year I will have to develop more student centered learning situations. Situations where I am not the "sage on the stage." Learning situations where the students are doing the heavy lifting and I am supervising. There is no doubt I am ready to accomplish this next step. What is going to make it work is a very strong beginning to the school year. It will be essential to create a climate in the classroom where students are on board and trust what we are trying to do.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WgXGqe2rvL6DQTISdBsxRUIeDm8eZ5Oa988jfAhxYLmvX9A-uZeO4oO5SlkRR_Rst1TX1z2ZG7qrZosS8Jlqq8mGbbyQ9ct5ZLlm-Xvmwah2JfN3GmWAXuDFH387La3I2foKeop4nE8/s1600/summer2010+690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WgXGqe2rvL6DQTISdBsxRUIeDm8eZ5Oa988jfAhxYLmvX9A-uZeO4oO5SlkRR_Rst1TX1z2ZG7qrZosS8Jlqq8mGbbyQ9ct5ZLlm-Xvmwah2JfN3GmWAXuDFH387La3I2foKeop4nE8/s400/summer2010+690.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very excited to make my room much more functional and much more comfortable for learning.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>About two weeks ago I was petrified at the prospects of starting this year. I am beginning to see a path forward though and I do believe strongly that I can get this done. Hopefully in the process I can become an even better classroom manager and teacher than before.<br />
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One of the cool things I am working on for our school is this sign:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YABY1L-vELRnm2SiLm_OhbpqluW8ESMb10t_hHQ9uG62XM38iYT4Bw_r38LFkCteVDnCPb04P5LYFKnpwTXaBOUSiZb4kH9dYxcGH2TUqoUzqYEu0ABAmu5zg3pw1njXMB_oTEd2E_w/s1600/AHS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YABY1L-vELRnm2SiLm_OhbpqluW8ESMb10t_hHQ9uG62XM38iYT4Bw_r38LFkCteVDnCPb04P5LYFKnpwTXaBOUSiZb4kH9dYxcGH2TUqoUzqYEu0ABAmu5zg3pw1njXMB_oTEd2E_w/s400/AHS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We are going to post them in our faculty mail room (we have over 200 mail slots!) and in our 4 teacher work rooms in each of our learning communities. The idea is that teachers can tap the sign - or just simply be reminded of the spirit we had this summer during our professional development. I very much enjoyed doing the PD on Teach Like a Champion and I hope it had an impact on some of my colleagues. Using some of the techniques in the book, I hope to become better and more efficient in the classroom this year.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>A few more pics of my classroom:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4rOtzfV0cij0B9TV-rccmbOuRfBVl2wwTa00pZu5fJLxQ4Vnvc43d0QDkguWo8w1IWf66uIJNk9JFxgI1diMNvMBVo__5B6sUVWyTGgQTf6-H1OYcmQbMtBe0AY1pexD6uoFD2oIK98/s1600/summer2010+694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4rOtzfV0cij0B9TV-rccmbOuRfBVl2wwTa00pZu5fJLxQ4Vnvc43d0QDkguWo8w1IWf66uIJNk9JFxgI1diMNvMBVo__5B6sUVWyTGgQTf6-H1OYcmQbMtBe0AY1pexD6uoFD2oIK98/s400/summer2010+694.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxRltrh4BJf1U-WRO2q1PiAKUtEO3b4jp6F5OECWkKFCLDyKInWNNPAgVp2yaoKNyMAQs2-AsLtoPLu06gT1oqT8Hg4U6Fc57Kfz1c57wVOoNvVtVHDnoV1ECJOZ6BsUASaS8Zfhw1zs/s1600/summer2010+688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxRltrh4BJf1U-WRO2q1PiAKUtEO3b4jp6F5OECWkKFCLDyKInWNNPAgVp2yaoKNyMAQs2-AsLtoPLu06gT1oqT8Hg4U6Fc57Kfz1c57wVOoNvVtVHDnoV1ECJOZ6BsUASaS8Zfhw1zs/s400/summer2010+688.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrPZqf2oYC3_XKDKaU-T-hr9BYIBAYoAMSlt6ZJbnzHe0U7kJ8DP-gLfVwQ3f5rGSWiCNScqujVEnBRN5uOGp9e6pt7sa5T4shJZpAHDv0t3Q-uZiySYzAEOFCBMND-Kseq1n2DydZ8U/s1600/summer2010+691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrPZqf2oYC3_XKDKaU-T-hr9BYIBAYoAMSlt6ZJbnzHe0U7kJ8DP-gLfVwQ3f5rGSWiCNScqujVEnBRN5uOGp9e6pt7sa5T4shJZpAHDv0t3Q-uZiySYzAEOFCBMND-Kseq1n2DydZ8U/s400/summer2010+691.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</script></span></div>Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-21154588193102005642010-07-29T21:50:00.001-05:002010-07-29T21:53:07.404-05:00Thursday 7-29-10 ACP Class. AVID and Teach Like a ChampionTonight we discussed AVID and some of the techniques from the book Teach Like a Champion. Here are my presentation notes. If anyone has any questions, or needs any help, please let me know.<br />
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<a title="View What is AVID? Powerpoint on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/13324395/What-is-AVID-Powerpoint" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">What is AVID? Powerpoint</a> <object id="doc_832465484758334" name="doc_832465484758334" height="500" width="100%" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf" style="outline:none;" rel="media:presentation" resource="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=13324395&access_key=key-2l3sy4eh78scy0o4zwzo&page=1&viewMode=slideshow" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/searchmonkey/media/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" > <param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf"><param name="wmode" value="opaque"><param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="FlashVars" value="document_id=13324395&access_key=key-2l3sy4eh78scy0o4zwzo&page=1&viewMode=slideshow"><embed id="doc_832465484758334" name="doc_832465484758334" src="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=13324395&access_key=key-2l3sy4eh78scy0o4zwzo&page=1&viewMode=slideshow" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="500" width="100%" wmode="opaque" bgcolor="#ffffff"></embed> </object> <br />
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<object width="410" height="277"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4127193&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=ff9933&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4127193&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=ff9933&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="410" height="277"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/4127193">What is AVID 2009?</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/fordee">Mr. Duez</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><p>This is the 10 minute, Parent Night version.</p><br />
<a title="View Socratic Seminar on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/14090768/Socratic-Seminar" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">Socratic Seminar</a> <object id="doc_76748841660428" name="doc_76748841660428" height="500" width="100%" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf" style="outline:none;" rel="media:presentation" resource="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=14090768&access_key=key-2kwyz4psskx462z054rm&page=1&viewMode=list" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/searchmonkey/media/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" > <param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf"><param name="wmode" value="opaque"><param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="FlashVars" value="document_id=14090768&access_key=key-2kwyz4psskx462z054rm&page=1&viewMode=list"><embed id="doc_76748841660428" name="doc_76748841660428" src="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=14090768&access_key=key-2kwyz4psskx462z054rm&page=1&viewMode=list" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="500" width="100%" wmode="opaque" bgcolor="#ffffff"></embed> </object> <br />
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<a title="View Engagement Strategies from Teach Like a Champion on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/34984257/Engagement-Strategies-from-Teach-Like-a-Champion" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">Engagement Strategies from Teach Like a Champion</a> <object id="doc_789571821297778" name="doc_789571821297778" height="500" width="100%" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf" style="outline:none;" rel="media:presentation" resource="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=34984257&access_key=key-xw4o248by5wz3e8cfd4&page=1&viewMode=list" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/searchmonkey/media/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" > <param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf"><param name="wmode" value="opaque"><param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="FlashVars" value="document_id=34984257&access_key=key-xw4o248by5wz3e8cfd4&page=1&viewMode=list"><embed id="doc_789571821297778" name="doc_789571821297778" src="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=34984257&access_key=key-xw4o248by5wz3e8cfd4&page=1&viewMode=list" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="500" width="100%" wmode="opaque" bgcolor="#ffffff"></embed> </object>Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-14898125693209593062010-07-28T08:19:00.001-05:002010-07-28T08:21:37.035-05:00ACP Class from Tuesday, July 27th 2010Had a wonderful time last night working with the ACP class. Here are the power points and some of the videos we watched in the class.<br />
<div>Remember to read the Tips for the New Teacher for Thursday and we'll discuss that in a Socratic Seminar at the beginning of class. Then we'll talk about Engagement Strategies for students from the book Teach Like A Champion.</div><div>Please email me: david.duez@gmail.com about any kind of questions you might have. Feel free to give me a call if you'd like to come in and observe.<br />
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/31177833/Classroom-Teaching-Tips" style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto; text-decoration: underline;" title="View Classroom Teaching Tips on Scribd">Classroom Teaching Tips</a> <object data="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf" height="600" id="doc_320712575405558" name="doc_320712575405558" style="outline: none;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><param name="wmode" value="opaque"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><param name="FlashVars" value="document_id=31177833&access_key=key-2qnwab2kyai09ejtv5e&page=1&viewMode=slideshow"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><embed id="doc_320712575405558" name="doc_320712575405558" src="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=31177833&access_key=key-2qnwab2kyai09ejtv5e&page=1&viewMode=slideshow" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="600" width="100%" wmode="opaque" bgcolor="#ffffff"></embed> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></object><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/14090768/Socratic-Seminar" style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto; text-decoration: underline;" title="View Socratic Seminar on Scribd">Socratic Seminar</a> <object data="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf" height="600" id="doc_810565490463129" name="doc_810565490463129" style="outline: none;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><param name="wmode" value="opaque"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><param name="FlashVars" value="document_id=14090768&access_key=key-2kwyz4psskx462z054rm&page=1&viewMode=slideshow"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><embed id="doc_810565490463129" name="doc_810565490463129" src="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=14090768&access_key=key-2kwyz4psskx462z054rm&page=1&viewMode=slideshow" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="600" width="100%" wmode="opaque" bgcolor="#ffffff"></embed> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></object><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
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Classroom Strategy from Youtube, 1st grade:<br />
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Classroom Strategy from Youtube, 6th grade:<br />
<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XroJtR9gQc8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XroJtR9gQc8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
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<a href="http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=Teach+Like+a+champion&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=14369985755811001145&ei=JbvoS5CeGIGBlAfSjcnmCg&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CC4Q8wIwAg#ps-sellers">Teach Like a Champion by Lemov</a>. Great book. Highly recommend it. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOklZ3V8GB8hcNCBd_Ccm6klwLFn7PcFXfCYNX5EJWLcvZJFfAd-OHU71wCynHyh0YhnbmWNSfaxxZgijxWYuMo8knOSTB6qbApJjV1VkdozVQTN4QpXq4ZnsGhvZLVVjK1tihYHanhY/s1600/books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOklZ3V8GB8hcNCBd_Ccm6klwLFn7PcFXfCYNX5EJWLcvZJFfAd-OHU71wCynHyh0YhnbmWNSfaxxZgijxWYuMo8knOSTB6qbApJjV1VkdozVQTN4QpXq4ZnsGhvZLVVjK1tihYHanhY/s320/books.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><div class="product-attr" style="color: #676767; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">By D. Lemov - John Wiley & Sons (2010) - Paperback - <nobr>352 pages</nobr> - <nobr>ISBN 0470550473</nobr></div><div class="product-desc" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Teach Like a Champion offers effective teaching techniques to help teachers, especially those in their first few years, become champions in the classroom. These powerful techniques are concrete, specific, and are easy to put into action the very next day. Training activities at the end of each chapter help the reader further their understanding through reflection and application of the ideas to their own practice.Among the techniques: Technique #1: No Opt Out. How to move students from the blank stare or stubborn shrug to giving the right answer every time. Technique #35: Do It Again. When students fail to successfully complete a basic task?from<span id="ps-extra-desc" style="display: inline;">entering the classroom quietly to passing papers around?doing it again, doing it right, and doing it perfectly, results in the best consequences. Technique #38: No Warnings. If you're angry with your students, it usually means you should be angry with yourself. This technique shows how to effectively address misbehaviors in your classroom. The book includes a DVD of 25 video clips of teachers demonstrating the techniques in the classroom.</span></div><br />
Here is a sample from the DVD:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EC0ltKOwF_A&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EC0ltKOwF_A&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div>Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-68303845474295070202010-07-18T20:13:00.000-05:002010-07-18T20:13:42.768-05:00"On Facebook, Telling Teachers How Much They Meant" - NYTimes ArticleI really love this article. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/14/nyregion/14facebook.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=education">"On Facebook, Telling Teachers How Much They Meant" - NYTimes Article</a> "... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">people who are 20, 30 or 40 years beyond graduation are using Facebook to re-establish relationships with teachers and express gratitude and overdue respect."</span>Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-52934343818578461952010-07-17T17:11:00.000-05:002010-07-17T17:11:20.668-05:00"Focus" as the New Literacy<a href="http://peterpappas.blogs.com/copy_paste/2010/07/students-remembering-focus-context-information-literacy.html#comment-6a00d8341d880253ef013485808f73970c">Peter Pappas posted a thought provoking video and his take on "Forget About Remembering, It's Focus that's the New Literacy."</a> I wanted to embed the video here that Peter shared and also discuss what he wrote and my thoughts. <br />
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As a history teacher, I do believe that factual information is important. It's the backbone of what we do. Each unit of learning, I ask my students to know certain people, events, places and vocabulary. Why? Can't they just "look it up?" Sure they can. But, committing certain facts to memory helps to give students the tools and ability to take that learning to the next level. For instance, discussion or debate about dropping the A-bomb on Japan would be incomplete without a history of the events of the war in the Pacific during WWII. <br />
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I love the idea that teaching our students to be fluent about sources and information relevancy and believe it is critical. Pairing a 'focused literacy' with a solid background on the facts of our history, that is a powerful combination. Once they leave our classrooms they should be even more prepared to do the work of self education. That is what each student is going to need to be able to do in the future. The kinds of jobs they are preparing for are uncertain to us today. The world is just changing at such a fast pace. (Who would have thought that there would be an internet in 1988, when I graduated from high school? Imagine what life and employment will be like in just 20 years!) So when they get out there and are working in a certain field, to advance they may need to seek out to find where to learn new skills. Having that self reliance and confidence that a student can turn to the internet, book, hit the library, or seek out information from the right sources is what can make the difference.<br />
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I agree with Peter that filtering and focusing is essential. With so much information at their fingertips (or in their pocket on their smart phone), the students who are successful will use the correct sources to help them. But, I also agree with an idea from a previous thought in one of my <a href="http://teacherwall.blogspot.com/2010/07/myths-and-opportunities-of-technology.html">posts this week from Alan November</a>. Today we have so much information that it is awfully easy for people to seek out the most 'comfortable' answer to them, regardless of accuracy. Since there is a partisan viewpoint for everything under the sun, how can students filter it all? There is FoxNews for conservatives and an MSNBC and Huffington Post for more liberal leaning people, just to name a few of the obvious examples. <br />
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We must also teach students that there are many sides to most stories. My deep belief and faith is in the power of ideas. And I believe that the best ideas should win. Teaching students the art and skill of literacy filtering is critical. It should be done at all levels of education. That "focus" that Peter writes about in his blog entry is essential.<br />
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So how can we cut through the the ideas here and create a concrete and actionable approach for teachers? Teaching solid researching skills isn't impossible. We teach in the AVID College Readiness Curriculum the ASFI process:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGVewlMkZpqAlHHbyeVuT2_lGb_-6lVgTX0qSceofXH62WQbnX66rqa62DSdxxR-usCXNg1PNLvadnVy_xfxWJjmPleosJF3oGmhorzZSzuOqj97D6ZT2lDOynxwJngz0GcfZK-78MXQ/s1600/ASFI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGVewlMkZpqAlHHbyeVuT2_lGb_-6lVgTX0qSceofXH62WQbnX66rqa62DSdxxR-usCXNg1PNLvadnVy_xfxWJjmPleosJF3oGmhorzZSzuOqj97D6ZT2lDOynxwJngz0GcfZK-78MXQ/s400/ASFI.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Under each of these elements are skills that students can learn to help them in the process of "Focus" when it comes to research and learning. <br />
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I have only just scratched the surface with my work on these fundamentals. Each year I have added a little more and nudged my students closer to being better at them. I think all teachers should not be over burdened by the huge task of preparing our learners for their future, but rather keep getting better each year. We can get there. Sharing and building a strong network and community of teaching experts is the way to get there. I have learned much from my professional learning community out here on the internet and I am inspired every day by the people that make it up. People like Peter Pappas who has made me think today. Thanks!Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-48707928383360721442010-07-17T10:40:00.000-05:002010-07-17T10:40:11.528-05:00An Excellent Review of Teach Like a ChampionHere is an excellent review of Teach Like a Champion. I love how she does a super job of putting it into her own context. You can tell it was read, digested, analyze and resulted in a thoughtful analysis.<br />
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<a href="http://www.missteacha.com/?p=2224">Review of Teach Like a Champion @ MissTeacha's Confessions from the Couch</a>Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-83203471529877841882010-07-15T10:19:00.004-05:002010-07-15T18:22:00.408-05:00Myths and Opportunities of Technology in the Classroom<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I came across this video through <a href="http://www.angelamaiers.com/">Angela Maiers Educational Services Blog</a> and Angela saw it on <a href="http://sharonsshare.blogspot.com/2010/07/building-learning-communities.html">Sharon's Share</a>. </div></span></span><br />
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<blockquote><a href="http://vimeo.com/3930740"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Myths and Opportunities: Technology in the Classroom by Alan November</span></a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/novemberlearning"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Brian Mull</span></a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Vimeo</span></a>.</blockquote><blockquote>In this video presented by Mobile Learning Institute, Alan tours his hometown of Marblehead, MA and comments on the historical global vision of his community. Alan challenges us to think about the emerging role of “student as contributor” and to globalize our curriculum by linking students with authentic audiences from around the world. (For more, read Alan’s article, Students as Contributors: The Digital Learning Farm, found at <a href="http://novemberlearning.com/resources/archive-of-articles/digital-learning-farm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">http://novemberlearning.com/resources/archive-of-articles/digital-learning-farm</span></a>.</blockquote><br />
What do you think about this video? First, I believe it is artfully produced and directed. I like the style and the metaphor. But, I also love his premise. Isn't it our job as educators to help students learn how to produce and be productive? Isn't a great way to start this creative and collaborative fire to have students working in the digital realm to create content?<br />
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I have been doing this each year with our Video Project. It is a big part of our year and probably one of the top three things kids enjoy about my class. They feel very much like they are creating content and teaching the class. On top of that, with the power of being able to use the internet to share their work. The students end up teaching the world, or with anyone that shares in the content. <br />
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Amazing how this has evolved from when I was first working in technology in education - setting up computer labs to speed kids through software so that they could pass the state test. (Although I'm sure it didn't help them at all!) I love the idea of students learning how to create content, yet still learning the core objectives and learning skills that are in our curriculum. But, it takes a little creativity and patience to get it done. Especially in today's educational landscape. The excuses for not being able to do something are usually greater than the force of will needed to get them accomplished.<br />
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Some have said to me, "How can you waste time on a project where kids are creating videos and presenting them to the class? How will you get through all the information that the State of Texas wishes the kids to know for the test?" Well, they are working in that realm of learning the information and curriculum. It's not like I'm having them do a video project on Alien Sightings! They are learning about social studies and World History topics. To be able to learn that information as they analyze a writing prompt, design a thesis to answer a question, and use the skills to present that information to the class and the world is a powerful thing.<br />
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It is simply my belief that if the students can do some independent learning to create content, they learn how to learn. There is no way to teach them everything they need to know today. The power is giving them a chance at learning how to harness all this information that is at our finger tips to learn from it and teach it to others. The odds are that most of my students will be preparing for jobs that I can't even imagine right now. Their futures are unknown. The most powerful thing I can provide to them now is the opportunity to build their confidence in becoming independent learners. It will be on their own that they seek out ways to improve themselves in the future. <br />
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How can you challenge your students in this way? <br />
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Check out my Video Project Blog from a couple of years ago in my World History class here: <a href="http://videoproject09.blogspot.com/">http://videoproject09.blogspot.com</a>Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-27743297641613563942010-07-08T12:14:00.003-05:002010-07-08T12:23:27.902-05:00Great AVID StoryTeachers give student a little extra aid for college<br />
07:07 AM CDT on Thursday, July 8, 2010<br />
By JEFFREY WEISS / The Dallas Morning News<br />
</b>Link: <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/070810dnmetrichkid.1cb4416.html">Dallas Morning News Story</a><br />
<blockquote>Dewan Woods' new Boston College hoodie is a welcome reminder of North Texas. The sweatshirt was a gift for the incoming freshman, one of many gifts to help set him up in college.</blockquote><blockquote>Woods just graduated from Richardson's Berkner High School, an honored product of a program designed to give a leg up to at-risk students who show a particular spark of promise. Woods delivered on that promise in high school, earning scholarships from his chosen college and from the Dell and Gates foundations.</blockquote><blockquote>Those grants will pay for his education and room and board through graduate school. But a kid needs more than his studies, a dorm room and a laptop to settle into college life far from home. Things like bedding, a desk lamp, cold weather gear for the Boston winters, and plane tickets to get him there and back.</blockquote>I encourage you to read the rest of the story. Really nice. Also I wanted to link to the Berkner Cardboard Confessional video. Very inspiring. <br />
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<a href="http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=121032&title=Cardboard_Confessional___Berkner_HS_Class_of_2009">LINK to the Video</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioM87yJneGS_mh1Ka8R-I1qOs1g5u1khbdJEbWnbni7oPdHH734z8sssH1jliJoJdgi9SDziXmoXWqEKlNOSOyqqoDBeDrLA5G_zr5SfiBA3IFoIcFYAyE4NaiXIhpOVg5f9AUMiQV4Ec/s1600/Fullscreen+capture+782010+121926+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioM87yJneGS_mh1Ka8R-I1qOs1g5u1khbdJEbWnbni7oPdHH734z8sssH1jliJoJdgi9SDziXmoXWqEKlNOSOyqqoDBeDrLA5G_zr5SfiBA3IFoIcFYAyE4NaiXIhpOVg5f9AUMiQV4Ec/s320/Fullscreen+capture+782010+121926+PM.jpg" /></a></div>Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-59620019593533177142010-07-05T11:17:00.002-05:002010-07-05T11:23:25.867-05:00Prep for Staff Development - Teach Like a ChampionLots to do this month, including rest and relax. :)<br />
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My number one goal is to get my presentation ready for our summer staff development for school. I'll be working with two other awesome teachers to present a chapter from <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1CMvuFLfxc">Teach Like a Champion</a>. What we have decided to do is use chapter 4:<br />
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<blockquote>Chapter Four. Engaging Students in Your Lessons.</blockquote><blockquote>Technique 22. Cold Call.</blockquote><blockquote>Technique 23. Call and Response.</blockquote><blockquote>Technique 24. Pepper.</blockquote><blockquote>Technique 25. Wait Time.</blockquote><blockquote>Technique 26. Everybody Writes.</blockquote><blockquote>Technique 27. Vegas.</blockquote><blockquote>Reflection and Practice.</blockquote><b><i>Do any of you use these techniques already? What has worked for you and what have you struggled to implement. </i></b> I know my #1 thing I learned from TLAC was Cold Call and Pepper. I like it because Pepper is 'game like' and I know my kids will enjoy the competitive nature of it. Also I do a poor job of covering vocabulary. Honestly, with my pre-AP kids I feel like they should be more independent with vocabulary, people and events. They should be learning them outside of our lessons at school by reading their book, taking notes, creating flash cards, etc. BUT, I still need to check on their learning. Doing it in this informal way will be a wonderful tool for me to use. Quick, simple and effective.<br />
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I also dabble in Vegas a bit (as you can see from the costume shot of me in the banner above). But, I know Vegas needs to be sharp and quick to be effective. I would love to do more hats and costuming. It is just fun and the kids really perk up. Problem is that it costs $ to do so and it is an investment. But, one I am willing to add to and build on each year. <br />
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Our professional development is during the last week of July and first week of August. I always enjoy these sessions because it is great to catch up with everyone after they have been away for the summer. And most people are very open and willing to learn. We aren't burdened by the work of the school year yet. <br />
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I would like what we have to show the faculty also be inspirational. Teaching Like a Champion is indeed a great message. I am not a big Notre Dame fan, but I love how their players tap the "Play Like a Champion Today" sign as they exit the locker room to the playing fields. Hopefully we can instill that same kind of spirit in our faculty.<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We are also going to be utilizing the <a href="http://www.techlearning.com/article/19610">Mobi Interwrite Tablet</a> during our training. One of our technology teachers is leading that up and I think it will be great for the faculty to see the Mobi in action and hopefully it can enhance our lesson. </div>Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-8583971191292654282010-06-27T10:44:00.001-05:002010-06-27T10:49:13.041-05:00Modified DBQ Examples from 2010 Dallas I SI History I Strand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The image below is what we used for our example of a Modified DBQ. The others are what we created in class. Great examples of how you can get this done in a classroom and help your students work with sources and write a thesis.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH2Vm9yxGEjFM880YHefH-sFlRVstIewpxBxNKDT52exWutSO_8Y6Ewenqpj8X20PbU8Hd2OEdDmLY3tr9ieAtOJVpSijW9W57tlOyD1msyRjHzSado2ufnytQ65yroKIPM7QbsyEH1I/s1600/Picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH2Vm9yxGEjFM880YHefH-sFlRVstIewpxBxNKDT52exWutSO_8Y6Ewenqpj8X20PbU8Hd2OEdDmLY3tr9ieAtOJVpSijW9W57tlOyD1msyRjHzSado2ufnytQ65yroKIPM7QbsyEH1I/s320/Picture1.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOd_y2fpVEImOWzMPwi_174jBcqU6vtWIrH_1werFHuDtL-Jej1FDx4hWAfE2zIApKxX5TH9gHJABDlevrJkon_SUiHkVr5QWCvJ3UDss51lJTJG3lHx014F9uG_gHyYtrUgsKOqL9bn8/s1600/SI_DBQ+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOd_y2fpVEImOWzMPwi_174jBcqU6vtWIrH_1werFHuDtL-Jej1FDx4hWAfE2zIApKxX5TH9gHJABDlevrJkon_SUiHkVr5QWCvJ3UDss51lJTJG3lHx014F9uG_gHyYtrUgsKOqL9bn8/s200/SI_DBQ+003.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3oOOmvoBBOR5pua_Qt1or_1zntLmUc8vneYo3L4SvMUhaFnHcFMZJr0kLmFpFdALFXxAgU38xx5uyWMb7GWGhplBTdeZAGI9Q32Zl900UHYM-8t-2mp4aUOUGqZFwlQZ2-5QWEfb8_0/s1600/SI_DBQ+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3oOOmvoBBOR5pua_Qt1or_1zntLmUc8vneYo3L4SvMUhaFnHcFMZJr0kLmFpFdALFXxAgU38xx5uyWMb7GWGhplBTdeZAGI9Q32Zl900UHYM-8t-2mp4aUOUGqZFwlQZ2-5QWEfb8_0/s200/SI_DBQ+001.jpg" width="149" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJY4d42U9us6S2UAYUk_DfxEiaQ5JsIMP7df6yPaoAmss9juoRHcwXuOcD9uYTEa_aZ-y_y_oHmiXWynonlqeN0529eYIz5yMkNyUO3QAsXwrCcKBWWKGmth3nLV0EW0aVqFzfd8R0Mw/s1600/SI_DBQ+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJY4d42U9us6S2UAYUk_DfxEiaQ5JsIMP7df6yPaoAmss9juoRHcwXuOcD9uYTEa_aZ-y_y_oHmiXWynonlqeN0529eYIz5yMkNyUO3QAsXwrCcKBWWKGmth3nLV0EW0aVqFzfd8R0Mw/s200/SI_DBQ+005.jpg" width="149" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdako9H5ke7TBBUSRtmbmEd9NTGvwJukQmKb2f9uT0gWzGBcp71eoQuoZw9Suw7wgXM62suPzG10NolXaQqFLBcmaOAhbes8xhyWihL-J2isvm58C4Eu3kXhvq4s9aSwsmqCZWTReyPU/s1600/SI_DBQ+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdako9H5ke7TBBUSRtmbmEd9NTGvwJukQmKb2f9uT0gWzGBcp71eoQuoZw9Suw7wgXM62suPzG10NolXaQqFLBcmaOAhbes8xhyWihL-J2isvm58C4Eu3kXhvq4s9aSwsmqCZWTReyPU/s200/SI_DBQ+007.jpg" width="161" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXE7_8sSTA2i_Rt8NSQsRV1zLy6qiqH93gI0SGNzyY294fUIJkp7ykMFUE14TQTTj_d21VUgFP4pyoE3NoYCAthIiM_kkDaavfFALVezM7SVptInpn4y-MGfvytcXsbao4_g8xJaHYhV0/s1600/SI_DBQ+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXE7_8sSTA2i_Rt8NSQsRV1zLy6qiqH93gI0SGNzyY294fUIJkp7ykMFUE14TQTTj_d21VUgFP4pyoE3NoYCAthIiM_kkDaavfFALVezM7SVptInpn4y-MGfvytcXsbao4_g8xJaHYhV0/s200/SI_DBQ+009.jpg" width="168" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VbH5rG-DHpgCcWWHtR5qd0rPhdyVG_KTu_bGxuLlb40V_TV7izfnEdTrDrUC4kdbjqlW7GIcw_EkHDcAk6suDweLPrQG75IyfuoeYYvqalU6HIRvgb9tV5iMXuFgVJWLp4vmFoIy1LY/s1600/SI_DBQ+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VbH5rG-DHpgCcWWHtR5qd0rPhdyVG_KTu_bGxuLlb40V_TV7izfnEdTrDrUC4kdbjqlW7GIcw_EkHDcAk6suDweLPrQG75IyfuoeYYvqalU6HIRvgb9tV5iMXuFgVJWLp4vmFoIy1LY/s200/SI_DBQ+011.jpg" width="156" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nVN9noiYg7RxgRaQfGuPks-0KeWvzf2_2-yn0oyQXb4frHx1qr0r9PPwKK8_1TILdNXznwO-Mo4kNuQOdmVu9L_rQ2L32m8Fon8tdyCQfsb4gXQGNjdVFBXmEE9ZHSqFp-PSmFpRnWQ/s1600/SI_DBQ+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nVN9noiYg7RxgRaQfGuPks-0KeWvzf2_2-yn0oyQXb4frHx1qr0r9PPwKK8_1TILdNXznwO-Mo4kNuQOdmVu9L_rQ2L32m8Fon8tdyCQfsb4gXQGNjdVFBXmEE9ZHSqFp-PSmFpRnWQ/s200/SI_DBQ+013.jpg" width="136" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">click on each image above to make them larger. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We had a good time on Thursday working with primary/secondary sources and also with "Modified DBQs." There were some great examples of how you could work on this with your students. Thanks!</div>Duezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13297380628744711569noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937133791707574409.post-7855875036279156542010-06-27T10:25:00.001-05:002010-06-27T10:25:06.367-05:00Text Responses and Graphic Organizer Examples from 2010 AVID SI Dallas I History StrandHere are some examples of the work we did in the Dallas I AVID History I strand. These are examples of graphic organizers and text responses.<br />
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You can flip through, pause and reverse with the lower left buttons. <br />
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