tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40238381991497379322024-03-09T18:46:21.501-08:00Ms Wendi's World Wonders“Because today, I think I'm leaning on the side of wonder.”
― Melina Marchetta, Quintana of CharynMs Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.comBlogger217125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-61333693589968752552021-03-24T18:39:00.000-07:002021-03-24T18:39:24.874-07:00Wisdom Wednesday: Be Grateful. Be Happy. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ever feel bummed out, disappointed, anxious, unmotivated, or depressed?
Try the three tips in today’s Wisdom Wednesday to help yourself feel happier—quite a bit, actually. Then let me know which idea resonated most with you!</span></blockquote></div><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eVUZp3EMxxw" width="320" youtube-src-id="eVUZp3EMxxw"></iframe></div></blockquote><br /> <p></p>Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-30859266703228455572021-03-17T06:48:00.004-07:002021-03-17T06:48:55.770-07:00Wisdom Wednesday: Develop YOUR Superpower!<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Did you realize YOU have a LEGIT SUPERPOWER in your body?? We all take it for granted. Few of us use it enough, and rarely do we consider all that it can do for our well-being. This is the week to become aware of it, track it and measure it so that we can optimize it, and the life we are living. Enjoy!</span></p><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit !important;" /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zxLBy654ySw" width="320" youtube-src-id="zxLBy654ySw"></iframe></div><br />Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-36891033949816501142021-03-10T08:43:00.008-08:002021-03-10T08:43:55.070-08:00Wisdom Wednesday #7: Take Better Care of You!<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Ever feel down, anxious, or lacking in self-confidence? Today's Wisdom Wednesday provides three tips anyone can do to help yourself feel a little bit better today...if you choose to. :) Sending love and support to all those who need it today. Feel free to share with anyone you know who might benefit from these ideas!</span></p><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit !important;" /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t7OujtenCBA" width="320" youtube-src-id="t7OujtenCBA"></iframe></div><br />Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-46339802626583409012021-03-03T06:49:00.023-08:002021-03-17T06:53:30.231-07:00Wisdom Wednesday: Make that learning stick!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ever feel like you're not remembering information like you want to? Not sure what it means to "study" or how to truly "learn" something? Well, you're in luck. Today's Wisdom Wednesday provides three study tips to push your habits in a more productive direction. Try them this week and let me know how they work for you! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What would you add? What are your experiences? Leave your comments and ideas below. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bmk9TL2F-bw" width="320" youtube-src-id="Bmk9TL2F-bw"></iframe></div><br /> <p></p>Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-23242689376814901632021-02-24T11:10:00.003-08:002021-02-24T11:10:35.887-08:00Wisdom Wednesday: ABCs of Courage and Confidence<p><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who hasn't struggled with courage and confidence in their lives? Today's wisdom comes by request, and I provide 3 tips to help build your confidence a little at a time.
This is your life's work, so you've got to show up with intention, which means you show up ready to do the work you need to do if you want to become even a little bit better.
<br /></span></p><p><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let's build that confidence!</span></p><p><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.870588235294118); font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1dVyFZQqXM8" width="320" youtube-src-id="1dVyFZQqXM8"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Let me know what topic you'd like to see next, and have an astonishing week!<p></p>Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-76821468082812736112021-02-17T05:42:00.001-08:002021-02-17T05:54:11.735-08:00Wisdom Wednesday: Target Practice<p> Ahhh, procrastination. Its power tugs at every single one of us. In today's video, I share three tips for helping overcome the siren song of procrastination. Take a look and let me know what you might do differently today. Feel free to share with anyone you know, including your students, to help them get ideas for optimizing their lives. Then, get started on that next step. :)</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IZxIoAoQ-18" width="320" youtube-src-id="IZxIoAoQ-18"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-50730454400190473942021-02-10T06:57:00.004-08:002021-02-10T06:57:38.213-08:00Build Your Willpower<p><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Those small habits that you're accomplishing? Guess what? You're training your willpower and making it stronger---which, in the long run, helps you when you need willpower for the BIG things. I get that changing or developing even small habits can be challenging, so today I propose a couple of ideas to help you get started on the path you want for success!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5P9zKyjh_wE" width="320" youtube-src-id="5P9zKyjh_wE"></iframe></div><br /><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">What would you like to learn more about in my next video? Comment below!</span>Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-51866539745909147572021-02-03T07:38:00.006-08:002021-02-03T07:38:36.107-08:00Cultivating a Scientific Mindset<p>Although this is designed for my students, I believe deeply in the ideas and processes I present, so they are equally powerful for adults. Please feel free to share with students, along with reflection questions about how the ideas resonate with them, what changes they can make, and how they can re-create lasting habits for a better life!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mR4aEHGFtFw" width="320" youtube-src-id="mR4aEHGFtFw"></iframe></div>You can also talk about making mistakes and how to roll with them, even if you're publishing a video. Does it make a difference? If so, how? What would they have done if they were in my shoes? <br /><p>What would you like to see in my next video? </p>Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-47131110705495866722020-11-10T03:09:00.004-08:002020-11-10T03:17:41.458-08:005 Ways to Thank a Veteran<p> Hint: It's more than just a handshake. </p><p>Words and thank yous are appreciated, but what really means more is how you take advantage of the life you've been given. Take a look. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SytoksDK-6s" width="320" youtube-src-id="SytoksDK-6s"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-14638965910241302342020-10-01T08:19:00.002-07:002020-10-01T08:19:48.005-07:00Differentiating Your Instruction: Six Low-Prep Tips<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4oJEBswD5P9XR4R28t5sStK15iVkKgmiXl-6gyXy8mRz70SMrBrB8atP_vaFTq0Ole_vKuZaU_AAk6OVCbbvKx-SKgGZXQmT7sHaaE9BjOoem0JST5nHRfHRlVM3UjVDPCmj3XMZ8Gw/s2048/Differentiation_Tips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4oJEBswD5P9XR4R28t5sStK15iVkKgmiXl-6gyXy8mRz70SMrBrB8atP_vaFTq0Ole_vKuZaU_AAk6OVCbbvKx-SKgGZXQmT7sHaaE9BjOoem0JST5nHRfHRlVM3UjVDPCmj3XMZ8Gw/w640-h480/Differentiation_Tips.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p>So you have some English Learners in your class and you have no idea how to engage them or where to start. It can be overwhelming to think about!<p></p><p>Here are six fairly low-prep tips to help you consider your content through the lens of English learners or any learners who need support. Which, in my experience, is just about everyone right now. (Thanks, COVID-19.)</p><p>1. Timelines: For those with dense, heavy content and lots of events, people and places, can you break the information down into a timeline with the who, what, where, when, and why it was all so important? Once students have those basic details, then they can expand their understanding. Help with strategies to find the info, or simply create a timeline-style graphic where they can plug in that information.</p><p>2. Tailored questions: Scaffold your questions so that everyone has an entrypoint into the content. For example, have lower language-proficiency students answer direct, in-the-text questions, while more proficient students can answer longer, more complex questions. PLEASE NOTE: ALL of your ELs are powerful thinkers, so you are simplifying questions based solely on their language ability, NOT their intellectual capacity!!</p><p>3. Sentence frames: Scaffolding sentences and questions with frames allows students to focus more on the content or using specific vocabulary words in context, without the added cognitive load of piecing it all together. It sounds like a "gimme", but it's a powerful way to model expectations AND to get them thinking, speaking and writing at academic levels. </p><p>4. Chunk the reading: Do your students <i>really </i>need to read three chapters every night? Or an entire text? Will an excerpt suffice to meet the objectives of student learning? Can you chunk the longer text into multiple parts so that your English learners aren't living in the land of google translate 24/7? What is most important for them to understand? We need to be especially mindful of "busy work" during remote learning when we aren't there with the students to support them. </p><p>5. Add visuals. You know this is my favorite, and there are so many ways to include visuals. Maps, videos, artwork, photos, and even drawing out images together, can help cement learning, vocabulary and understanding in ways that mere words alone will not. Never assume what our students "know". Support them as much as you are able on this learning journey.</p><p>6. Integrate your ELs: Yes, we want students to feel comfortable and supported in our classroom. Simply clustering all the speakers of _______ language together does not equal support. Does clustering all of your English speakers together ensure success? Same for other groups. Everyone is different, and group dynamics are different. Integrate speakers with all of your learners, in breakout rooms or in the classroom. Encourage students to get to know each other rather than setting them apart. Your classroom community will be so much better for it. </p><p>And that's a wrap for today's tips. Comment below and let me know what I can include on the next tips sheet! I'm looking for low-prep, (low-stress) tips that teachers of any content can use. </p>Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-19724521830862881312020-03-31T17:47:00.002-07:002020-03-31T17:47:50.702-07:00A reminder: "Yes, you"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Whew. Days are a blur, and coronavirus has us all in a space where we are being forced to re-invent what we know, who we are, and what we prioritize. It's certainly not easy, but it's also (as long as you are healthy, which I hope you are) something to look at through a lens of adventure. We've been asking for changes to the educational system for so long--be careful what we wish for, hmm?<br />
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Anyway, all that to say, this is tough. It's heartwrenching not to hug your students, it's ridiculously hard to muster enough Jedi mind powers to coax students to log in, answer emails, pick up their phones, or otherwise respond. It's as if all the relationship-building you've done is for naught.<br />
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But then, then, you get those emails where students ask how you are, that they miss you, and that they can't learn the same without you near their side. Colleagues collaborating, checking in, caring. Affirmation, heartache, upside-down norms all in one fell swoop.<br />
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So for those of you struggling in any way, this one is for you. One day at a time. Get a tiny bit better every single day. Process over perfection. Lean into the wisdom you have as educators--acknowledge the mammoth efforts you've already undergone to transform an entire way of teaching and learning in mere days. DAYS. Hours, even. <br />
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There's a saying in the south that sums it up nicely: "Hot Dang!"<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Breathe. </b></span></div>
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Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-9545483218112103862020-01-31T06:07:00.000-08:002020-01-31T06:07:12.704-08:00Multicultural Children's Book Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today is Multicultural Children's Book Day!<br />
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This day is part of a growing effort to highlight multicultural children's books. Here are two books by Carole P. Roman that teach about our neighbors to the far north!<br />
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<em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #242424; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of these books from the publishers to share my review as part of Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2020. As always, all opinions expressed are my own. </em><br />
<em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #242424; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></em>
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #242424; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I read <i>If You Were Me and Lived in Norway: A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the World</i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #242424; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Writing about another country and culture can be daunting, but Carole P. Roman piques the young reader's curiosity with maps, a smattering of Norwegian words, and clear illustrations that are just detailed enough to provide a window into the many facets of Norwegian life. From the city life in Oslo to their love of nature and even the Kirkenes Snowhotel, readers will embark on a journey of exploration of the magic contained within this northerly land of fascinating lifestyles and traditions.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpE0PlqYTtrbVQuRdme-t8e5Y_jvnxA9ug22c4pcqltX2ilbEodYoQnNQX5OybCikI0ir1PysQYeu4_K6liLF0OVzkWsBJm0qyjowlQN4YIWUBadWrvGwu_fqbslAynncyAs0nw3UD674/s1600/If+you+lived+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1548" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpE0PlqYTtrbVQuRdme-t8e5Y_jvnxA9ug22c4pcqltX2ilbEodYoQnNQX5OybCikI0ir1PysQYeu4_K6liLF0OVzkWsBJm0qyjowlQN4YIWUBadWrvGwu_fqbslAynncyAs0nw3UD674/s320/If+you+lived+2.jpg" width="309" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of a series of children's books that showcase windows into<br />the lives of others on our planet. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learn some simple Norwegian while you're at it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0R-dgfpS6yqhriOstDS7J7t5AQasDSp1QGLKpQ0yTzXPxZoQY4Etacjj1NlGZFnR9a0-hJWwy_ZyZzPLdE8WiV2IbVf7znTZyZJ3sM0H-5Gnqa8gMw0a9JyeYjZe82lvodRm2qOW88g/s1600/If+you+lived+in+Norway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1446" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0R-dgfpS6yqhriOstDS7J7t5AQasDSp1QGLKpQ0yTzXPxZoQY4Etacjj1NlGZFnR9a0-hJWwy_ZyZzPLdE8WiV2IbVf7znTZyZJ3sM0H-5Gnqa8gMw0a9JyeYjZe82lvodRm2qOW88g/s320/If+you+lived+in+Norway.jpg" width="289" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good food, cozy homes, and a love of nature are just some<br />of the characteristics that will entice readers to learn more.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #242424; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #242424; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Another book by Carole P. Roman written for young readers is <i>Captain No Beard and the Aurora Borealis, </i>which also takes young readers up into the northern part of our world, up into the Arctic sea. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #242424; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #242424; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">An introduction to the beautiful phenomenon of the Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, I admired the beauty of the rich colors that fill the pages as a tribute to the mystical skies of the north. The story follows Captain No Beard and his pirate crew as they debate the reasons and consequences of stealing the Aurora Borealis from the sky to take home. A timeless lesson taught through the lens of beloved crew members trying to do the right thing even though their leader wants to lead them astray. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #242424; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #242424; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I love that Carole P. Roman doesn't shy away from the scientific terms of the Northern Lights or even Polaris, the North Star, and seamlessly embeds just enough information about the concepts to inform without overwhelming young readers. A deceptively simple story, her writing also incorporates many higher level vocabulary words to enrich descriptions. Readers ready for a challenge will learn from them, while younger readers will still be able to understand the lesson posed even without knowing every word. The colorful pictures will also provide useful context about the unique environment of the North. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #242424; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOasag3UvH7xrH8BmMoJeqmB4WfkyyXJtzxkggQKQIhJkJTsU2HZfhlRxCimXYxLdIwdPaSrI8YE5arJwZ7gg3I_mBfpjC3OPV3V8FM5wrYYzU5ExBpiCjxFQd8_YqHMFJwEiXGlYOuvw/s1600/Captain+no+beard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1504" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOasag3UvH7xrH8BmMoJeqmB4WfkyyXJtzxkggQKQIhJkJTsU2HZfhlRxCimXYxLdIwdPaSrI8YE5arJwZ7gg3I_mBfpjC3OPV3V8FM5wrYYzU5ExBpiCjxFQd8_YqHMFJwEiXGlYOuvw/s320/Captain+no+beard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAJsNI-ssQKP70sG6XUYpMPxuKHOpThHy7vSxWUi3p9VosuR4gllqm2r-HdN2qvUy4DcNB1GkKHmMXOJ26FE5HJZ0_geUCwCY6i5vRphoCC_Yy4Zo3Rq4kIuqJC6Aiqb3TgnNjU-t_hE/s1600/No+beard+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAJsNI-ssQKP70sG6XUYpMPxuKHOpThHy7vSxWUi3p9VosuR4gllqm2r-HdN2qvUy4DcNB1GkKHmMXOJ26FE5HJZ0_geUCwCY6i5vRphoCC_Yy4Zo3Rq4kIuqJC6Aiqb3TgnNjU-t_hE/s320/No+beard+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful illustrations throughout the book will hold<br />young readers' attention.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<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/AVvXsEiMy434-dH7c5PU8h6fcgEemHTVuiFd319xXdMWF31b5lOVbW4kb27G3b_UKMZd83RzTboltznmq_bTf26akLrWKXRyy8XIS3H21Dtw8cgoruD0mUBI9ohvY6VLIWB2bHc39nCjGDrW_3I/s1600/No+beard+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMy434-dH7c5PU8h6fcgEemHTVuiFd319xXdMWF31b5lOVbW4kb27G3b_UKMZd83RzTboltznmq_bTf26akLrWKXRyy8XIS3H21Dtw8cgoruD0mUBI9ohvY6VLIWB2bHc39nCjGDrW_3I/s320/No+beard+3.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A variety of crewmembers each with their own personality,<br />ensure that each reader finds a kindred spirit on this journey.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thank you, Carole P. Roman, for your collection of award-winning nonfiction books that help readers explore, not only in remote Northern locations, but elsewhere around the world!<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you're wondering what comprises a "Multicultural" book, some of the qualities include:<br /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #242424; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>
<ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 28px 40px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: disc;">Books that contain characters of color as well as main characters that represent a minority point of view.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: disc;">Books written by an author of diversity or color from their perspective. Search #ownvoices to discover diverse books written by diverse authors.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: disc;">Books that share ideas, stories, and information about cultures, race, religion, language, and traditions. These books can be non-fiction but still written in a way that kids will find entertaining and informative.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: disc;">Books that embrace special needs or even “hidden disabilities” like ADHD, ADD, and anxiety.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Open Sans, sans-serif;">So there you have it! Explore through reading!</span></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-25013571699777505282020-01-15T07:47:00.000-08:002020-01-15T07:47:21.294-08:00Where does YOUR trash go? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<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/AVvXsEgmX3zrqmQmvCwHWyn3IJx_WKKHeCNgp2cNoFjOMsYMZP3lrLGb9W3eaTyAqa5rzPc_GDxzFgQ8mMJY-bSc-9G9b0HMjrIZtGRgEF2nZRKKCeyHtiOLdMamk9BSriC-G6QZGcUd13h_WWk/s1600/Gulls+and+trash+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmX3zrqmQmvCwHWyn3IJx_WKKHeCNgp2cNoFjOMsYMZP3lrLGb9W3eaTyAqa5rzPc_GDxzFgQ8mMJY-bSc-9G9b0HMjrIZtGRgEF2nZRKKCeyHtiOLdMamk9BSriC-G6QZGcUd13h_WWk/s320/Gulls+and+trash+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gulls and trash.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-ro24iFpoe1IQbIdt-0J6uUEbY4PxA4N_deYp0aisYW25rCmL3n46ixttjwhMYxre10rrOaHZHpc0BUsQbA9MP-k6rz9g-kpFwUA8sQaikbXjXzxEZ7n344UhmT_L-RPC8OZnfwMCE0/s1600/Trash+dump.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-ro24iFpoe1IQbIdt-0J6uUEbY4PxA4N_deYp0aisYW25rCmL3n46ixttjwhMYxre10rrOaHZHpc0BUsQbA9MP-k6rz9g-kpFwUA8sQaikbXjXzxEZ7n344UhmT_L-RPC8OZnfwMCE0/s320/Trash+dump.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Receiving trash dumped from the trucks. Bulldozers will<br />push the trash and compact it over and over. </td></tr>
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<br />
<b>Quiz time: </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
1. How far does your trash travel?<br />
2. Where is "your" landfill? And is it the nearest?<br />
3. How exactly, is a landfill created?<br />
<br />
How'd you do? I had to do some digging to figure out the answers myself, so maybe you did, too.<br />
<br />
By now, if you've been reading my blog or you know me, you can probably guess where these questions are going. My curiosity got the best of me, and yep, you guessed it.<br />
<br />
I took a day trip.<br />
<br />
To the <b>landfill</b>. (Whoop!!!)<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/AVvXsEhnfmhMz0f0JRQ82_F5Bn2uQBmzHImjUSVG5kz7opbFz-0EKtRmOP74ZoFPikVgVewxTTyilSKhD9UQzKnEG8WBJSGkg9myIV1JAJ_4-K2lw4SIzvk-LmjeyKup0Q1UYYs_gEURvtFrcWk/s1600/Entrance.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfmhMz0f0JRQ82_F5Bn2uQBmzHImjUSVG5kz7opbFz-0EKtRmOP74ZoFPikVgVewxTTyilSKhD9UQzKnEG8WBJSGkg9myIV1JAJ_4-K2lw4SIzvk-LmjeyKup0Q1UYYs_gEURvtFrcWk/s320/Entrance.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the landfill. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br />
Mike, of the company Waste Management, had agreed to show me the ropes of our landfill and the first thing we did was examine a satellite view of the landfill area. It was a much-needed visual hook for me since I had no clue how large a landfill was or how it was designed.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSQzxEEXwVcwBzMARRt5IefJA_fHZmTPvAxHWQjxlPf7NFTnVYxhCFrqvVXdpcqPMudmFKwckOzmy3CALMztOmrClBOwV41c_HFzDrWrc29k9WKLqALvSGj51kWqnv5T3PYXpWT62ILw/s1600/Satellite+landfill.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSQzxEEXwVcwBzMARRt5IefJA_fHZmTPvAxHWQjxlPf7NFTnVYxhCFrqvVXdpcqPMudmFKwckOzmy3CALMztOmrClBOwV41c_HFzDrWrc29k9WKLqALvSGj51kWqnv5T3PYXpWT62ILw/s320/Satellite+landfill.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Satellite overview</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I learned that individual parcels of land, aka "<b>cells</b>" or <b>disposal units</b> in waste-management-speak, are about 12 acres in size here. Any landfill expansion occurs via these cells.<br />
<br />
The landfill I visited operates on Randolph County property, which is about 25 miles from my house, and in a completely different county. It costs about $1 million / year to lease, along with convenience sites around the county. (Ours happened to close the week prior to my visit!)<br />
<br />
This particular landfill has a predicted 60 year lifespan if you presume that the 2000 TONS OF WASTE EACH DAY doesn't increase.<br />
<br />
(Ummmm...heyyy. There's a LOT of waste out there, and some recycling centers are starting to close operations, so my unscientific prediction is that 2000 tons is not an amount that will decrease any time soon.) 2000 tons every single day, folks. This landfill serves Chatham, Randolph, Wake and Guilford counties, with Guilford county supplying 700+ of those tons alone. <br />
<br />
<b>How do they ensure the landfills are safe?</b><br />
<br />
A key contaminant is <b>leachate </b>which is the substance formed when waste is in contact with water and flows onto the liner. There are a couple of ways it is handled to prevent groundwater contamination:<br />
1) Pump stations collect it, then it is discharged to the 250,000 gallon tank. From there it is sent to the wastewater treatment plant.<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/AVvXsEh9PDZXMkvBlVSNxuc21NKiWm908Q0YJfAUVcprreSohbmiA3cPVYrPLJuYIZHsn7L1aC7c4wxsBtq34oWMSTjq60asRZafptL3fJ_DOptS3PvvO0yX2AY3YoZjCVdbfTS9XNW3doK1cD8/s1600/Leachate+tank.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PDZXMkvBlVSNxuc21NKiWm908Q0YJfAUVcprreSohbmiA3cPVYrPLJuYIZHsn7L1aC7c4wxsBtq34oWMSTjq60asRZafptL3fJ_DOptS3PvvO0yX2AY3YoZjCVdbfTS9XNW3doK1cD8/s320/Leachate+tank.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leachate tank: 250,000 gallon capacity.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
2) The other protective measure is <b>landfill lining</b>. Modern-day landfills are lined thanks to legal requirements from the Waste Disposal Act of 1992. (although it wasn't until 1998 that unlined landfills stopped operations. )<br />
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<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/AVvXsEgzwXFGpTT5dsNzr3hN9G4eXQ9UGru1nmZqSLuhmmEITFd1UfSB2-7BaCDG0UYZ32EWoCVtE8goh_0oljZmFEuWbc9nTXh9WDJshmSF5rbz2lkA-7iZmBIXTdK1AnOxdYJwKM2604II9gI/s1600/HDPE+rolls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwXFGpTT5dsNzr3hN9G4eXQ9UGru1nmZqSLuhmmEITFd1UfSB2-7BaCDG0UYZ32EWoCVtE8goh_0oljZmFEuWbc9nTXh9WDJshmSF5rbz2lkA-7iZmBIXTdK1AnOxdYJwKM2604II9gI/s320/HDPE+rolls.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HDPE liner rolls: These are rolled out then welded together<br />with special equipment, all while being inspected for any microscopic holes. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<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/AVvXsEgcZgYh4SaB6EpKz8v34jWFU8mUkol_IXvTLhdmg8AITHyfxeI9oa4dGA1YfmvQgXuuY1hig2HO9jSIXjc9XC7KT-Dqju3nOKErgvCZBbJlSuhTE4DzL_YASJF_-oMpiGO-17qc-xBG980/s1600/HDPE+liner.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZgYh4SaB6EpKz8v34jWFU8mUkol_IXvTLhdmg8AITHyfxeI9oa4dGA1YfmvQgXuuY1hig2HO9jSIXjc9XC7KT-Dqju3nOKErgvCZBbJlSuhTE4DzL_YASJF_-oMpiGO-17qc-xBG980/s320/HDPE+liner.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close-up of the liner! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The <b>landfill lining is HDPE material</b> which comes in 20' rolls which are rolled out then welded together. (what a job, eh?) It's essentially 60 mil plastic lain atop two feet of sand protection although the plastic is microscopically inspected for any holes as it's rolled out. This is one component that helps make for a "sanitary landfill", separating trash and leachate from groundwater.<br />
<br />
Semi-annual 3rd party groundwater, surface water, and storm runoff <b>monitoring</b> keeps track of any changes, and if this is the case, further monitoring and corrective action occurs.<br />
<br />
Monitoring also occurs for landfill gases like methane and CO2 in both the soil and the air. A <b>passive solar flare</b> draws out methane generated from the waste, reducing odor and emissions from closed-off cells, too. (btw, closed cells are monitored for an average of 30 years!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcmcyVsIP0cb7bwUkbMNBHVmbxMJAeyzEwbeAmTvDbYT6YPz8rKq_04-oUYPKiZZQF5Fx137TEMQGuHtnRaBkMmpnTt6kEYzu4fTaR17fOG1FzJWkMbyUwKXMEIPa740IK4OPpR31m5E/s1600/Solar+flare.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcmcyVsIP0cb7bwUkbMNBHVmbxMJAeyzEwbeAmTvDbYT6YPz8rKq_04-oUYPKiZZQF5Fx137TEMQGuHtnRaBkMmpnTt6kEYzu4fTaR17fOG1FzJWkMbyUwKXMEIPa740IK4OPpR31m5E/s320/Solar+flare.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passive solar flare to draw out methane</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There's also a stormwater drainage system to collect rainwater and dirt to cover the landfill and serve as a sealant. All in the name of creating a "sanitary landfill".<br />
<br />
One other aspect that I hadn't thought of was the use of explosives to create new cells because of the granite in this area. Huge boulders of granite are crushed on site to provide gravel for the roads in the landfill area, and were located up and behind the cells I viewed.<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/AVvXsEhUNcSV-XYLUY2fvJdNfevQY3f_IXhKjpZdQTnev3NBwMVMP5nR9kL_mXYiqzGAEMr_7ZBMXkvUT4Qnb7HnZOg6y8m9yV5RPbNk8wzNP6slpBS7L2Tu8rCxq9dbgC_vkcr03g4UmIPxlNg/s1600/Granite2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNcSV-XYLUY2fvJdNfevQY3f_IXhKjpZdQTnev3NBwMVMP5nR9kL_mXYiqzGAEMr_7ZBMXkvUT4Qnb7HnZOg6y8m9yV5RPbNk8wzNP6slpBS7L2Tu8rCxq9dbgC_vkcr03g4UmIPxlNg/s320/Granite2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Granite rocks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEiITI2ZiCXgnH24y-7XHyzwh88v2qQ77RLtDANC59t3g1JpwnIx8PTfo2bNoXJECUDaGVwIDeWKAxO0u_Xw0_EF-UxTfcSkK1lcr-_VOFfPKLHiUCKwQg-QxhpEgNblLsZgDF6tO5uvJ-M/s1600/Granite+boulders.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITI2ZiCXgnH24y-7XHyzwh88v2qQ77RLtDANC59t3g1JpwnIx8PTfo2bNoXJECUDaGVwIDeWKAxO0u_Xw0_EF-UxTfcSkK1lcr-_VOFfPKLHiUCKwQg-QxhpEgNblLsZgDF6tO5uvJ-M/s320/Granite+boulders.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Granite boulders</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEgJqHzp5PBYQA1QRTZjR4Nk9J4qbcMro2wuGnc4OhjgTshbWSShxkpnk9vAwNpVYM8KwkliXB2Ty98KBZ5GfrloSvBSkSJpRFzltFcUtl_BY-Y9QNBwAqZfhWdkTSKNH5TqZzECtIQGwXU/s1600/Rock+crusher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqHzp5PBYQA1QRTZjR4Nk9J4qbcMro2wuGnc4OhjgTshbWSShxkpnk9vAwNpVYM8KwkliXB2Ty98KBZ5GfrloSvBSkSJpRFzltFcUtl_BY-Y9QNBwAqZfhWdkTSKNH5TqZzECtIQGwXU/s320/Rock+crusher.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock crusher on site to take care of the granite!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Maybe this is all old news to you, but it was super new to me to actually see it and gain the visual of how many processes are at work.<br />
<br />
<b>Surprises:</b><br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Wastewater treatment sludge gets dumped into the landfill, too! But that's primarily during wet weather. During drier weather, it's spread on fields. </li>
<li>Leachate is sent to the wastewater treatment plant, but knowing that it then gets dumped back in the landfill, then hey, there's your "cycle".</li>
<li>Those gulls? They migrate, so you won't see as many in the warmer months!</li>
</ul>
<div>
<b>Things to think about:</b></div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>More recycled goods are finding their way into the landfills due to increasing costs of recycling. Some areas (like some in Asheboro) have stopped recycling altogether...</li>
<li>By weight, food waste is the largest item in American landfills--and that releases a LOT of methane. </li>
<li>"Compostable" materials that end up in a landfill will NOT decompose as expected because the waste is compacted too tightly to allow oxygen in. Without the aerobic access, breakdown will NOT occur. </li>
<li>**the social justice aspect of landfill placement was not brought up--but there has been a concerted uptick in efforts to keep nearby residents informed about the landfill and any changes.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<b>Biggest takeaway: </b></div>
</div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>No surprise here, but the biggest takeaway for me is how change HAS to happen at the consumer end. Buy less, use and reuse more of what we can. Definitely lessen food waste, my friends, and choose nature over shopping. :)<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/AVvXsEhuUe9r8fKJyAcjf0J-3BVfpSHXgblVDTcAimIY9P3sOAHbIpYGcfqXmnOeZ53Ga3YzOyvaS5pv19eNJUMnR5T2RQWMI2C1Z2BcTa5yXOLi2KfoA-KjDiZluWQ4I_m2oVK5uuuU6rSP9y8/s1600/Arrival+to+site.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUe9r8fKJyAcjf0J-3BVfpSHXgblVDTcAimIY9P3sOAHbIpYGcfqXmnOeZ53Ga3YzOyvaS5pv19eNJUMnR5T2RQWMI2C1Z2BcTa5yXOLi2KfoA-KjDiZluWQ4I_m2oVK5uuuU6rSP9y8/s320/Arrival+to+site.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flow of trucks into the landfill were nonstop. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEj34NfRqfvKFvG9Wo7uPVC_afsnNxGerd_R_0L5i3yWmHFyBwQkvg8_cNxPrOs03RFgzaN36gzZmWxC30HWvbiTvi3TNqxOZj_kiJNVbSxWi8E6qRB-X2vmuu084kpNQ0KoLRS_K5-vAw0/s1600/Landscape.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34NfRqfvKFvG9Wo7uPVC_afsnNxGerd_R_0L5i3yWmHFyBwQkvg8_cNxPrOs03RFgzaN36gzZmWxC30HWvbiTvi3TNqxOZj_kiJNVbSxWi8E6qRB-X2vmuu084kpNQ0KoLRS_K5-vAw0/s320/Landscape.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cell landscape.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
*Mike was a great host showing me around on this rainy day. Any mistakes in this blog are mine alone. </div>
</div>
Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-43287998205654573452020-01-02T17:13:00.000-08:002020-01-02T17:15:08.984-08:0010 Quickstart Planning Ideas for our ELs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLro0d4hJxiQVrUB8A-Hza3SbDyiCFrxDE27-R0yAjYaZLnSwxis9UOPFo5t32OZRz_YIiRbFM4eCSRJHrZebPpDve8z1JgQw6pbhmXtHkXY0fZamD_ZdiYoHX6tDvUu2cs6ILFGYObE/s1600/10+Quickstart+Planning+Ideas+for+ELs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLro0d4hJxiQVrUB8A-Hza3SbDyiCFrxDE27-R0yAjYaZLnSwxis9UOPFo5t32OZRz_YIiRbFM4eCSRJHrZebPpDve8z1JgQw6pbhmXtHkXY0fZamD_ZdiYoHX6tDvUu2cs6ILFGYObE/s640/10+Quickstart+Planning+Ideas+for+ELs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A colleague recently asked me about top tips for working with English language learners, and I know everyone is BUSY, but here are my top ten albeit far from covering all the bases. I know each of these topics could be an entire source of hours of PD--my challenge to you is to take one idea and build it out within your context, with your particular learners. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Words as visuals:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Visuals in the form of pictures, photos, graphics, tables, diagrams, charts, etc., are akin to gold in the world of language learning. What we often forget is that visuals also include written words, because, hey, alphabets are visuals, too. No matter how many times you may say a word it helps students to actually see entire key words and the letters so they can associate sounds. It’s also useful to see where words stop and start; if you’ve ever heard someone speaking a language foreign to you, it’s quite a challenge to believe they ever take a breath when they’re talking. Everything sort of runs together until you see it. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Along with “traditional visuals”, remember to display key words, phrases, and even sentences where everyone can see them. Practice saying them together because confidence stems from proper pronunciation, knowing when to use a word within its context, and being able to associate it with a photo or nonlinguistic visual. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Nonlinguistic visuals:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Any time you possibly can, include visuals in your instruction. Maybe it’s a photograph, a diagram, chart, graphic, or my two favorites: maps and sketches, either pre-made or created in front of students. Maybe you use an evocative visual to generate questions. Or part of a visual to predict or focus on details before zooming out to the larger, perhaps surprising, context. It could be one you add to each day and use as an ongoing reference. Maybe you cut up multiple visuals and allow student groups to piece them together, allowing them to analyze details more closely. There are so many ways to use visuals, and I’d be hard-pressed to recall a time when visuals were not engaging, at least for a few minutes. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Even if you think it “takes too much time” to find a representative visual, challenge yourself to incorporate at least one per lesson, and at least one map per unit. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Visual notetaking:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Those who know me know I love to sketch out key ideas, fast friends in the phonics world (“cup” vs “cop”), vocabulary words and nuances, my syllabus, stories, instructions, and even students’ weekend recaps. It’s what I love to do. Sketching slows down instruction to a pace that permits connections to occur and deepen. When we throw information at students for 90 minutes, common sense dictates that most of it will not stick. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Using visual notes, where students take time to sketch a quick visual representation of something they just learned, a takeaway every 10 minutes of a vocabulary concept, content-based idea, prediction, connection, or novel idea, helps cement learning just a little bit more. It’s a tangible method of recording/gauging student learning, a ready formative assessment that teachers can use for classes--even as large as 50-60--in only 2-3 minutes. Plus, it’s fun! (gasp!) No artistic talent required. Pinky promise. The worse you draw, the more inviting it is for students to give it a try.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Language:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">No matter what content area you teach in, emphasize academic language, the language of your area of expertise. What specific content words do they need to know to be able to express themselves sufficiently? Which words, phrases and questions would experts in your field use to express their understanding? It may seem silly, but I think it’s increasingly important for students to use academic language in class because it demonstrates </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">register</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> and how speaking differs according to audience and context. You’re going to explain something differently to your friend than you would to your principal, mom, younger sibling or a Senator. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The challenge is that this requires teachers knowing what their desired outcomes of learning are. One of the first questions I ask co-teachers (and myself!) is </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">what do you need students to walk away knowing today/ this week?</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Maybe it's one key idea, maybe it's 5, but knowing that answer is critical and helps inform lesson planning like a boss. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Language policy:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Ever controversial, you’ll decide your classroom language policy regarding students’ use of their native language. Will you be ok with students speaking in their native language in class? Many teachers aren’t. I personally love hearing and watching students navigate a topic in their native languages, but the outcome (let's say they're brainstorming a list or writing a story) must be in English. This is especially useful for newcomers. It makes sense because thinking still occurs in their default comfort language and I guarantee we would appreciate this scaffold if we were studying in another country. When students talk to me, I listen to what they're saying, and rarely admit I know any amount of their languages--so they have to TRY to speak. Encourage them, be patient, and support their ideas, and decide how much and when you think it’s beneficial to use their native language(s). </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Assumptions:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I will never forget how deeply I prayed for others to know I was intelligent when I lived overseas and wasn’t yet fluent in Czech. I was acutely aware of reactions to my stilted language or roundabout descriptions when I didn’t know more precise language. That feeling has powered my empathy for language learners; I can’t emphasize enough how teachers should assume learners come with knowledge even if they can't express it fully. Our learners have been through some incredible experiences and carry loads of life lessons; how can we help them tap into that knowledge in a new language and cultural norms? Culturally responsive teaching starts with checking our own biases at the door.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Questions:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Prepare different types of questions for different levels of learners before class begins. Align questions with your standards and what you expect students to learn that day. Consider the same text, but start with knowledge questions and work your way “up”. Every level of questioning, despite what some Bloom’s taxonomy experts may say, can be challenging to answer for someone. A simple example is to ask a newcomer to point to the main character or ask who the main character is, then ask a learner with a higher language proficiency what they can infer by the character's posture. These are scaffolds without shame, as your questions become building blocks for student confidence. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Outcomes:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Students should be able to apply their learning and demonstrate it tangibly in a way that isn't always an old-school test. What will that look like? Who will see it? How will it be assessed? How else can they use the information and transfer knowledge of content or process skills to other classes? Are there any immediate real-life applications you can leverage during the lesson or unit? Will your outcomes be the same each week or month? Will there be some sort of pattern? Do you have models of your expected outcomes that students can aspire to? </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Try adding a tangible outcome for each lesson, whether it’s an oral response or something written, encourage students to </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">produce</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> language in some form, perhaps as an exit ticket, class video, individual or collective visual representation, parking lot, or journal, to name a few. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Audience:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">My best advice? Extend beyond your classroom to see who else can serve as the student's audience. Are there younger, older, or similar-aged peers who could be an audience, mentor or peer evaluator? How about other teaching colleagues (co-planning across disciplines!), or even community members who could serve as experts? I know plenty of teachers who want to connect virtually; Twitter, Google Hangouts, and Skype are the place to look! Bottom line: how can you provide more opportunities for students to use the language authentically and with a different purpose than for merely a grade? </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Assessment: </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Ah, yes, saving the best for last. So many micro-decisions! Formative vs summative? Orally vs in writing? Project-based vs essay? Self-assessed or peer-assessed? Rubrics or checklists? For a grade or for completion? Re-takes or no re-takes? Late work accepted, and if so, how long? Points off for late work, or is evidence of their learning “enough”, no matter how late?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Before you decide your form of assessment, you have to know what you expect students to learn. Assessment ensures students are on the right track to reaching learning objectives; we can’t assess whether footsteps are on the right path if we don’t have a clear destination. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Rubrics are especially helpful and concrete for providing clear learning expectations and can serve as a guide for students, peers, and teachers. They help immensely with grading, too, since it's so easy to drift off into grading "all the things". </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Speaking of “all the things”, lessen the sense of overwhelm and help your students focus by emphasizing 2-3 areas of focus (max) in their writing or speaking assessment. Clarify whether you are assessing content knowledge or language ability. Be clear about what you are considering and looking for. Assessments can be verbal, written, one-on-one, group-based, multimedia, cross-curricular, art-based, and more. They can be quick or more extensive--it’s your call. Use what works for your students and critically, for your reflection on how to best proceed with subsequent instruction. We don't want to be judged solely on our test-taking ability, and neither do our students. </span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-a3fc76a8-7fff-01ff-d127-8592366fd0ba"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I know this was a long post, so thanks for reading all the way through. Please add other ideas that have proven successful for you in the comments below!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">Visit my earlier post about <a href="http://mswendisworld.blogspot.com/2017/09/i-know-there-are-ton-of-resources-on.html" target="_blank">modifications for ELs.</a> with infographic. </span></span></div>
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Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-15430717515790280302019-08-02T10:00:00.000-07:002019-08-03T18:36:53.136-07:00Where does your plastic water bottle go? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<figure class="graf graf--figure graf--layoutOutsetRowContinue is-partialWidth" name="57e9" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 47.053%;"><img class="graf-image" data-height="3024" data-image-id="1*UJgS4IhU16-vPhQuP6VNGg.jpeg" data-width="4032" height="480" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/600/1*UJgS4IhU16-vPhQuP6VNGg.jpeg" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /></figure><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipm2M6u6u4ZmRvUV7PQgnPzQpQ9w7J4ql9XhHMEjYEEoSQTBkW_ULzDVEnRcJ7u5Ym3taqVNrPW_LEIAty1TlBofzYbtjBiJkv09K3QcQSLF9KNFRyDGpJ4XB-QLzRmiPaw_-k5Mzadj0/s1600/IMG_8705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipm2M6u6u4ZmRvUV7PQgnPzQpQ9w7J4ql9XhHMEjYEEoSQTBkW_ULzDVEnRcJ7u5Ym3taqVNrPW_LEIAty1TlBofzYbtjBiJkv09K3QcQSLF9KNFRyDGpJ4XB-QLzRmiPaw_-k5Mzadj0/s640/IMG_8705.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The temporary home of your recycling.</td></tr>
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Ever feel smug when you toss a plastic water bottle into the recycling bin, proud that you’ve “done your part” to help the planet? </div>
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Yeah, me, too. </div>
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Ever take that feeling a bit further and marry it with curiosity to see what happens afterward? Where does that bottle go? What happens to it, and all the other recycled materials? </div>
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Not long ago, I succumbed to my curiosity and was shocked at how little I knew. I’d assumed so much, yet a trip to our nearest MRF (material recovery facility) wasn’t to the facility 10 miles away. It was nearly an hour, my first misconception of many. </div>
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Entering the MRF parking lot, I saw dozens of bales of crushed materials 10, 12, 15 feet high. When I later asked if those were materials from a few days or a week, I was informed all those bales were from ONE DAY. And I was there at midday. This facility processes 700 tons of material. Every. Single. Day. That’s 40 truckloads of finished product per day. </div>
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Whoa. </div>
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<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;"><img class="graf-image" data-height="3024" data-image-id="1*sdWRALae6iNx0Gu2lka1Ew.jpeg" data-is-featured="true" data-width="4032" height="480" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*sdWRALae6iNx0Gu2lka1Ew.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
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<figure class="graf graf--figure" name="4cda" style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><figcaption class="imageCaption">Bales are wrapped with steel wire and compressed with hydraulic pressure.</figcaption></figure></td></tr>
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In North Carolina, our raw material (aka, recycled goods) are mixed into single stream, which means we don’t have to sort it all. That works well for travel and transport but it then requires manual separation along with machine separation at the facility. Cardboard, mixed paper, aluminum and H2O bottles are all baled, but for obvious reasons no glass. (Glass is sent to other counties, where it is sorted by color.) You won't be surprised to learn there’s even a term for the increasing amount of cardboard being processed: “Amazon Effect” thanks to the uptick in online ordering.</div>
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From there, they go to a secondary processor where the material is broken down further. Plastics, for example, can be used to create items like fleece and carpet. </div>
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MRFs are vertically integrated, using their technology and know-how to reduce the footprint of their products. It is, they admit, tough to strike a balance between minimal packaging and packaging strong enough to withstand pressure seals, altitude drops and freshness challenges during transport and shelving. Vertical integration is increasingly important with recent shifts in recycling and waste policies overseas. The more ways we can reuse our own waste the better. </div>
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Multiple machines work in tandem to sort through the recyclables. Cardboard sorters, glass breakers, conveyor belts that “shoot” lighter objects over the top into separate containers, magnets for steel, air repellants for aluminum, and scanners for PET products are all part of the process. Not to mention the hand sorters bent over conveyor belts laden with an array of materials that sneak through or can’t be categorized. </div>
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Seeing these crazy materials in the recycling area are a powerful reminder that recycling is ultimately accomplished through a trifecta of human labor, the producer, the consumer before even reaching the recycling facilities. </div>
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<figure class="graf graf--figure graf--layoutOutsetRow is-partialWidth" name="a9f4" style="width: 26.474%;"><img class="graf-image" data-height="4032" data-image-id="1*VTt75JK4CES7z8OzCYQYJQ.jpeg" data-width="3024" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/400/1*VTt75JK4CES7z8OzCYQYJQ.jpeg" /></figure><figure class="graf graf--figure graf--layoutOutsetRowContinue is-partialWidth" name="2fe8" style="width: 26.474%;"><img class="graf-image" data-height="4032" data-image-id="1*PqbplGswcBC5TFl-i4lhaA.jpeg" data-width="3024" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/400/1*PqbplGswcBC5TFl-i4lhaA.jpeg" /></figure><figure class="graf graf--figure graf--layoutOutsetRowContinue is-partialWidth" name="57e9" style="width: 47.053%;"><img class="graf-image" data-height="3024" data-image-id="1*pkWS8iG4Y9iLeI2LfdnzEA.jpeg" data-width="4032" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/600/1*pkWS8iG4Y9iLeI2LfdnzEA.jpeg" /></figure><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="graf-image" data-height="3024" data-image-id="1*rDPEAX-ohowwo25xhU5Yfw.jpeg" data-width="4032" height="300" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/600/1*rDPEAX-ohowwo25xhU5Yfw.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<figcaption class="imageCaption" style="left: -100%; width: 653px;">Just some of the objects that defy recycling categories. </figcaption><figcaption class="imageCaption" style="left: -100%; width: 653px;">Oxygen tanks, concrete, shoes, and more. The sticky notes </figcaption><figcaption class="imageCaption" style="left: -100%; width: 653px;">in the last photo prompted me to wonder (and lament) </figcaption><figcaption class="imageCaption" style="left: -100%; width: 653px;">how much non-recycled material passes through our </figcaption><figcaption class="imageCaption" style="left: -100%; width: 653px;">schools on any given day. </figcaption><figcaption class="imageCaption" style="left: -100%; width: 653px;"><br /></figcaption><figcaption class="imageCaption" style="left: -100%; text-align: left; width: 653px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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</figcaption><br />
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<img class="graf-image" data-height="4032" data-image-id="1*KXWaAspEJFUK4IKtVJ2TtA.jpeg" data-width="3024" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/400/1*KXWaAspEJFUK4IKtVJ2TtA.jpeg" style="text-align: left;" /></div>
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<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;"><img class="graf-image" data-height="3024" data-image-id="1*KktCDEaTQIbXIbnBh1NqtQ.jpeg" data-width="4032" height="300" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*KktCDEaTQIbXIbnBh1NqtQ.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Materials move on conveyor belts as they are sorted. There are nearly-ceiling-high<br />mounds upon mounds of material that never seem to go down.</span></td></tr>
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<div class="graf graf--p" name="1a28">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Why can’t plastic bags be recycled? </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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I used to think it was because of what they were made of, but alas, it’s much simpler than that. Plastic bags are known as “<b>tanglers</b>” — and they are considered the #1 Tangler — because of their tendency to get tangled in part of the machinery that reminded me of oversized bicycle chain links. Plastic bags, ropes, cords, hoses, even VHS tapes, and similar items fall into the Tangler category. </div>
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Tangled items require that the system is stopped and workers have to physically climb onto these screens. The more items that are entangled, the more frequent the stoppages, detrimental when you’re processing 700+ tons a day. </div>
<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;"><img class="graf-image" data-height="4032" data-image-id="1*50K2neHGRToSBXgbIGlbcA.jpeg" data-width="3024" height="640" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/400/1*50K2neHGRToSBXgbIGlbcA.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="479" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manual extraction of even the tiniest tanglers, which seems so incredible to me<br />
given all the high tech machinery. Plastic bags are the #1 Tangler!<br />
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<figcaption class="imageCaption" style="font-size: medium; left: -112.526%; text-align: left; width: 652.984px;"><br /></figcaption></td></tr>
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<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;"><img class="graf-image" data-height="4032" data-image-id="1*O0KWw93nPseWc4CQoVGdfg.jpeg" data-width="3024" height="640" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/400/1*O0KWw93nPseWc4CQoVGdfg.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="479" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plastic entangled, awaiting extraction<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8o5yUUGx2dTam555S7FyYtcrui45aArIMDXRufBTZI73yCeNI4YaaOFdtfohyphenhyphenJmD3PKCu-xeonW-xJoM60krp8ND3LV0ZivxG2sfdJ7LQAeipZPnyRWJ_RknYYmNdzjGsz9mKVjG4U0/s1600/IMG_8688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8o5yUUGx2dTam555S7FyYtcrui45aArIMDXRufBTZI73yCeNI4YaaOFdtfohyphenhyphenJmD3PKCu-xeonW-xJoM60krp8ND3LV0ZivxG2sfdJ7LQAeipZPnyRWJ_RknYYmNdzjGsz9mKVjG4U0/s640/IMG_8688.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<figure class="graf graf--figure graf--layoutOutsetRowContinue is-partialWidth" name="f586" style="width: 47.053%;"><figcaption class="imageCaption" style="left: -112.526%; width: 212.526%;"><br /></figcaption></figure><br />
<div class="graf graf--p" name="d4ee">
Now you know why plastic bags, bread bags, cereal bags, etc, cannot be recycled. Resist the temptation to bag your other recycled materials, too, because if they’re in a bag, chances are they won’t be accepted.<br />
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Of course, the best solution is to reduce the number of bags we use, BUT if you do want to recycle your plastic bags, most local grocery stores have facilities to handle them. Just look for a box usually located near the front of the store. There you can recycle plastic bags, bread bags, bags from paper towels and toilet paper, and more. Otherwise, your plastic bags have a direct ticket to the landfill where breakdown is nearly impossible. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">What shocked me the most? </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="graf graf--p" name="0a47">
2/3 of the products processed have <b>NO VALUE</b>. That, in turn, means the MRF has to pay (!) to get rid of nearly 70% of what is brought in to the facility. After it’s been picked up and transported and run through the machines. <b>70%!</b></div>
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<div class="graf graf--p" name="d41d">
To be fair, even though much is shipped out, MRFs are making concerted efforts to recycle materials to produce their own products, particularly with ramifications of other countries no longer accepting our raw materials. Our MRF, for example, is starting to include PET-based clamshell packages to reuse them for fresh fruit packaging. (most places do not recycle all those clamshell take-out containers yet!)</div>
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<div class="graf graf--p" name="eb65">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">My biggest takeaway?</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="graf graf--p" name="c272">
I admit I was overwhelmed by all the waste. I understand quite clearly now that recycling is NOT the key. REDUCING what we use is the biggest step we can make, and that starts with our shopping habits. Rethinking packaged goods we routinely buy — how much plastic is used? How much extra packaging? Even our online buying habits — how can we consolidate purchases into fewer deliveries and boxes? It's more than just plastic bags. </div>
<div class="graf graf--p" name="c272">
<br /></div>
<div class="graf graf--p" name="7db4">
I’m far more mindful of what I use and how I dispose of items, but I have a long way to go. Needless to say that smug feeling of “recycling to help the planet” no longer sustains me like reducing does. </div>
<div class="graf graf--p" name="7db4">
<br /></div>
<div class="graf graf--p" name="7db4">
<i><b>What is one step you can take today to reduce the waste you create?</b></i></div>
<div class="graf graf--p" name="7db4">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<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/AVvXsEhNT2zIThow5zM9ibF8jJPgttjP9eVs7nNZluQDmXctbWbSVwRu1pr3YDwCQL4FxzKPmUSuihJLXBcvu4WASz3w-XLfIgnOonAEybo25TFEZTnlvym0PAPorQz9rn6-6kwgPcOhlrbYax4/s1600/IMG_8701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNT2zIThow5zM9ibF8jJPgttjP9eVs7nNZluQDmXctbWbSVwRu1pr3YDwCQL4FxzKPmUSuihJLXBcvu4WASz3w-XLfIgnOonAEybo25TFEZTnlvym0PAPorQz9rn6-6kwgPcOhlrbYax4/s640/IMG_8701.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating new understanding, but not the amount of waste!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="graf graf--p" name="7db4">
<br /></div>
<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/AVvXsEjtMcLanEKJst8WMieSij31HtLAUEjmkafZCUp6Lkodw5C6AmtQXD1yQqz_JccaiitG95b5cF1hJK6ug0HMj5VDKJKbOSfDyRn_RZJ2tm02aoqT7u69OGANWzQHDgSMeHJrM-gIbIdxJVc/s1600/IMG_8703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMcLanEKJst8WMieSij31HtLAUEjmkafZCUp6Lkodw5C6AmtQXD1yQqz_JccaiitG95b5cF1hJK6ug0HMj5VDKJKbOSfDyRn_RZJ2tm02aoqT7u69OGANWzQHDgSMeHJrM-gIbIdxJVc/s640/IMG_8703.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's almost like art...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="graf graf--p" name="7db4">
<br /></div>
<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/AVvXsEjtZ-24I_xEaIbi8fMiLHwXvLyVpQE-_j0rHZ4XKGk07lTj-473TtsJYAjtqiFWgzZdQ23oMMz65mgRA1TqqMM7iEumG9LbTkcalkOWERvA9U3SYVnvS8rQ6btz3uCIsQAl6RD26xG14lA/s1600/IMG_8704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZ-24I_xEaIbi8fMiLHwXvLyVpQE-_j0rHZ4XKGk07lTj-473TtsJYAjtqiFWgzZdQ23oMMz65mgRA1TqqMM7iEumG9LbTkcalkOWERvA9U3SYVnvS8rQ6btz3uCIsQAl6RD26xG14lA/s640/IMG_8704.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How much are we contributing every single day? Imagine if each of these strips were people,<br />
and each person was contributing 10 items of recycling per day. That's less than reality,<br />
but still... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<figure class="graf graf--figure graf--layoutOutsetRowContinue is-partialWidth" name="b5d6" style="width: 417.875px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Reduce. </span></figure><figure class="graf graf--figure graf--layoutOutsetRowContinue is-partialWidth" name="b5d6" style="width: 417.875px;"><span style="font-size: large;">That is all. </span></figure><br />
<br />
<br />
<figure class="graf graf--figure graf--layoutOutsetRow is-partialWidth" name="9c67" style="width: 50%;"><img class="graf-image" data-height="3024" data-width="4032" /></figure><figure class="graf graf--figure graf--layoutOutsetRowContinue is-partialWidth" name="dbeb" style="width: 50%;"><img class="graf-image" data-height="3024" data-width="4032" /></figure><figure class="graf graf--figure graf--layoutOutsetRow is-partialWidth" name="f420" style="width: 36.006%;"><img class="graf-image" data-height="4032" data-width="3024" /></figure><figure class="graf graf--figure graf--layoutOutsetRowContinue is-partialWidth" name="b5d6" style="width: 63.994%;"><br /></figure><br />
<div class="graf graf--p graf--empty" name="44aa">
<br /></div>
</div>
Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-45425347887841301542019-05-14T12:08:00.001-07:002019-05-15T12:23:10.564-07:00My ZeroWaste Challenge: How Low Could I Go? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
#ZeroWaste is a buzzword I'd been hearing quite a bit the past couple of years, but dismissed it as something out of my realm.<br />
How could I possibly live with zero waste? Or with only enough waste to fill a mason jar? It seemed impossible, and so I convinced myself not to even try.<br />
<br />
That is until I saw that <a href="https://www.climategen.org/our-core-programs/trainings/zero-waste-challenge/" target="_blank">Will Steger's ClimateGen.org</a> was going to conduct a #ZeroWaste challenge, and I decided to give it a go. I read ideas, watched a webinar, and prepared mentally and physically to do this. Although I admit I the days leading up to the challenge I purged items I felt might thwart my efforts, kind of like eating all the bad stuff before your Diet Day #1.<br />
<br />
But there were two other items that loomed large.<br />
<br />
<b>Pre-challenge:</b><br />
1. I needed to prepare a <b>compost container</b> if I was going to do this right. I simply used a trash bin and drilled holes throughout. Nothing fancy, but it does the trick. I then emptied out my trash and recycling to start clean.<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/AVvXsEjoNBHH4KTZHhSjTbCMO4SJSL8SOI3JyGNhS_cggFwsjt_q1iYssUXD6EGoPYQGTSs8Mx_NLHR-YGAIEP0e3_dquKjh2mpEYkxR2IZjUX0KeQ2vCIDQ6CKLH5rSyRQoQ8bo55kNU0xta4k/s1600/Plastic+recycling.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNBHH4KTZHhSjTbCMO4SJSL8SOI3JyGNhS_cggFwsjt_q1iYssUXD6EGoPYQGTSs8Mx_NLHR-YGAIEP0e3_dquKjh2mpEYkxR2IZjUX0KeQ2vCIDQ6CKLH5rSyRQoQ8bo55kNU0xta4k/s640/Plastic+recycling.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drilling holes for what would turn out to be the ZeroWaste<br />
secret weapon: composting. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
2. <b>Shopping</b> was my other big preparatory challenge. I realized right away how difficult it is to buy items without excessive plastic wrap or packaging, so that was a huge takeaway. Much of this #ZeroWaste success was going to stem from what I brought home in the first place! (I don't live near a bulk food place or an accessible farmer's market, both of which would help immensely.) I do use reusable bags, though, for both produce (when it's not already wrapped up) and my groceries, to reduce my plastic bag footprint.<br />
<br />
<b>During Challenge:</b><br />
Throughout the challenge, researching how to properly dispose of different containers also took time. Pre-challenge, if I was in doubt, I'd haphazardly choose the trash or the recycling for different containers. Alas, slowing down, cleaning them out, and understanding which containers were truly recyclable helped me reduce A LOT more trash. It also made me curious about the balance of using potable water for rinsing containers to the benefits of recycling. I tried to be mindful of how much water was used, but still felt guilty.<br />
<br />
There are a lot of nuances to recycling, though, and I think that's what makes it tough.<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/AVvXsEgdYBR_JCGqBMTT0enhqHP_KNdVaFMTnRGtjsZqEPIweVBbizlfUfFQB_n5xtNpSo7pSoPuYK29VijxhgRHDfWjJxLodmzfou27gANWs769ZQWja-WErd-DOicqElrmAu2LXGtwqY5Ngi4/s1600/Measure+plastic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYBR_JCGqBMTT0enhqHP_KNdVaFMTnRGtjsZqEPIweVBbizlfUfFQB_n5xtNpSo7pSoPuYK29VijxhgRHDfWjJxLodmzfou27gANWs769ZQWja-WErd-DOicqElrmAu2LXGtwqY5Ngi4/s640/Measure+plastic.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did you know if plastic containers are smaller than a sticky note<br />
you can't recycle them? That means no K-cups. Also, all those<br />
plastic cups that have a larger mouth than base? No dice on the<br />
recycling. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEjRZFc-A2tDB2y-TaCk54rTkpcwwBc2LMOf8ozZsh8el2SQkxdh2lux7s-XVWuTSq4c0SZfwP-e6oRJvJ3NANdUGEhqhro4IWnTTp4_XARcZ6pyI1NT6542uvC4t-TqbVfHknqM9b9KpgU/s1600/Plastic+bags.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZFc-A2tDB2y-TaCk54rTkpcwwBc2LMOf8ozZsh8el2SQkxdh2lux7s-XVWuTSq4c0SZfwP-e6oRJvJ3NANdUGEhqhro4IWnTTp4_XARcZ6pyI1NT6542uvC4t-TqbVfHknqM9b9KpgU/s640/Plastic+bags.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plastic can be recycled, but that's not all! Check out all the other plastic<br />
you can repurpose and recycle. Basically, if you can stretch the plastic and it's<br />
clean, you can recycle it. If it's a tougher plastic (think frozen veggie bags), then<br />
no dice on the recycling. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Results: </b><br />
After 12 days, all of my trash fit into this popcorn container. I was excited by our success and since it did get a little easier I continued many of the habits I picked up after only 12 days. After 6 weeks, I had only accumulated a single bag of trash which I could lift with one finger because it was that light.<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/AVvXsEhhTZeuYsGS0imQI552zFrjs4_JrUpRMrbzEYW8HmwHNplg4O8T14FLICCrCcrTvIwLJ4TTvettSjrAxWn2fPuswFcSRorbwodexqh6h3STwddyd2bo12VNRCq24FfDOfsNzIeaTaGBNIg/s1600/Popcorn+container.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTZeuYsGS0imQI552zFrjs4_JrUpRMrbzEYW8HmwHNplg4O8T14FLICCrCcrTvIwLJ4TTvettSjrAxWn2fPuswFcSRorbwodexqh6h3STwddyd2bo12VNRCq24FfDOfsNzIeaTaGBNIg/s400/Popcorn+container.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trash from 12 days!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEjSxjxmhfwWyxs2DIQFOQBG73-FKJRrWqPQ1x5RwpvLMUfrF4F6l6fMqFSDN-5uI6FXtF0Se3AAJvT9EWcArf-LuMgVokvBeQ3sLR8vIpYw_kwXwsMSeO9-Bs95upnrAb5L5RN-h1KSbo4/s1600/Trash+bag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxjxmhfwWyxs2DIQFOQBG73-FKJRrWqPQ1x5RwpvLMUfrF4F6l6fMqFSDN-5uI6FXtF0Se3AAJvT9EWcArf-LuMgVokvBeQ3sLR8vIpYw_kwXwsMSeO9-Bs95upnrAb5L5RN-h1KSbo4/s400/Trash+bag.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trash from 6 weeks, liftable with a single finger. Recycling is in the container<br />
on the left. The puppy was not harmed or recycled. :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Post-challenge:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>My takeaways?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
1. <b>Shop smarter.</b> Bring home less packaging, reduce your waste. Ask "do I really need this"?<br />
2. Food waste is heavy. By <b>reducing food waste</b>, or at least<b> composting</b> what is wasted, your trash will be a LOT less lighter and --bonus! -- a lot less smelly!<br />
3. Use <b>reusable bags</b> and if you must use plastic, recycle them at stores with recycling boxes because that means they have special machines to take care of them.<br />
4. Recycling well takes thought and time. <b>Ask questions</b>, do your research, and at least TRY.<br />
5. <b>Rethink sell by and use by dates</b>. They often have "cushion" time for consumers, so just because the date is "today", it is most likely good for another couple of days. Use common sense.<br />
6. <b>Buy misshapen fruits and vegetables</b>. They might be "ugly" but they are still nutrient-laden and can taste great!<br />
7. <b>Share what you learn. </b>Each recycling district is a little different, as are regulations for businesses vs households, so the more you can share, the easier it will be for others to join in.<br />
<br />
Although I won't be able to fit all of my trash into a mason jar for two years, this 12-day challenge turned into far more than I expected and forever changed my thinking. I have a long way to go, but these strides have helped me (re)move a mountain (of trash).<br />
<br />
How about you? How low can you go with your waste?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-83905032553415344352019-01-20T18:23:00.000-08:002019-01-20T18:23:39.931-08:00What Do YOU Love About Education?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Education has gotten a pretty wicked rap as of, well, forever, I suppose. There's always a lot we can do better, but recently I was asked this question:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>What do you love about education?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Those of you who know me, know I've needed to do some serious soul-searching around my reasons to stay in teaching this past year, but this question served as a sort of life preserver for me, helping me remember what I do love about education. The response needed to be fairly spontaneous and brief so I boiled it down to 6 quick points:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpUwYYWTeFP0YqJ0zs4E3a-2GVF9noC826pBQNhEbB7Eu-Bj-SA4Wz17EC7DO8beLDaelGOn5h0czSMBhBuplDi3BlkzBGNpGiEspsB0wHnSwqlf_F1E3hCMYHP7qjSRxFrAaI8ThYmc/s1600/What+I+love+education.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpUwYYWTeFP0YqJ0zs4E3a-2GVF9noC826pBQNhEbB7Eu-Bj-SA4Wz17EC7DO8beLDaelGOn5h0czSMBhBuplDi3BlkzBGNpGiEspsB0wHnSwqlf_F1E3hCMYHP7qjSRxFrAaI8ThYmc/s640/What+I+love+education.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1) When you learn something new, your brain physically CHANGES and that, to me, is fascinating! And we all know a changed mind can be a very powerful thing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
2) We literally DO NOT KNOW what our potential is, and what we are capable of learning and doing! Why wouldn't we strive to find out?<br />
<br />
3) I love that there are people who defy the rules, in a good way. The ones who defy the naysayers and odds of success to go beyond what is thought to be possible.<br />
<br />
4) I love that the Sustainable Development Goals have refocused the vision of 193 countries to provide more equitable learning opportunities for girls and those for whom education is limited.<br />
<br />
5) I love that education is so multifaceted, that learning and understanding is contextual, that it looks different in different places. And it should.<br />
<br />
6) I love education because it alchemizes learning and the applying of information. Without this alchemy we cannot progress, but with this alchemy, we can truly discover how our world works and how to make it a better place!<br />
<br />
Yesterday, I engaged in conversation with new folks downtown, and was genuinely hyped to talk about and share what our school and students are doing. It is such a good feeling to focus on the positive.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So here's my suggestion for you, dear readers. Consider why YOU love education, revisit those reasons, unearth them, sit with them, and take them to heart. It's awfully easy to feel overwhelmed with the levels and facets of work we need to do beyond our content areas. That's why it is even more critical we continue to remind ourselves why we came here in the first place. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-76817153611440317762018-04-11T16:53:00.001-07:002018-04-11T16:57:55.956-07:00Why You Need to Try Tourbuilder with Newcomers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The past three days have been full of wonder with my newcomers. I've never used Tourbuilder with our newest arrivals before, and <b>now I know it needs to be one of the first tools I use. </b><br />
<br />
In <a href="https://tourbuilder.withgoogle.com/" target="_blank"><b>Tourbuilder,</b></a> students can create interactive story maps, and it has been unbelievably powerful seeing my students' faces when they find their homes, places of importance, and track their journeys from home to the United States.<br />
<br />
My students are documenting their journeys, and with each stop, they can upload multiple pictures as well as text--far more than just a caption! This is an ideal way to chunk writing activities, including different verb tenses, family members, characteristics of places, emotions, future destinations (goals!), etc. When they saw their locations plotted via Google Earth afterwards, it was a whole new level of magic. It was as if a dam had burst with all the little things that have made them who they are--and here, finally, was a unique opportunity to express that sense of self with poignancy and nuance that their emerging language alone hasn't allowed them to.<br />
<br />
There are so many opportunities I can imagine with Tour Builder, (although we never want to wear something out, so prudence and intention are key!), and the responses so far this week from my newcomers have shed a whole new light on them and their backgrounds for me. In case you were wondering, yes, the tours they create can be private or shared, and they can always go back in to edit. Tours are automatically saved, and they can access them as long as they have the account.<br />
<br />
But, wow, just wow. The wonder I saw on my students' faces, the conversations it sparked, and the drive to express what they did, what they saw, who they knew, and everything about home, was overwhelming. There were tears shed this week, attesting that this is indeed a powerful tool.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0cuBNio1xGyagvHppco8I8mcM-QMBcbSpHfmqgf4x-s3BQaP_bCxS4DAoOPT6rwkVhhMUfW1u-hQx76T-p9JvsCJPVbUMO-8ZP4uPO2Ow2wnCDU1qmNTrSPKdZW0sz6hphJnwjVUBls/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-04-11+at+7.39.35+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1058" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0cuBNio1xGyagvHppco8I8mcM-QMBcbSpHfmqgf4x-s3BQaP_bCxS4DAoOPT6rwkVhhMUfW1u-hQx76T-p9JvsCJPVbUMO-8ZP4uPO2Ow2wnCDU1qmNTrSPKdZW0sz6hphJnwjVUBls/s400/Screen+Shot+2018-04-11+at+7.39.35+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-77918251389552915162018-04-01T17:40:00.004-07:002018-04-01T17:40:42.927-07:00REAL Research! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjDY8mQ3x45ZdXqpBpW2btvTEBXsOlKo4YOLohYJMcMDXec14_as8WFW-mNVsKO6W9HsDNrei2NkcIuJH23VFmoFpn52y4QXLnH1zD4BLI5JZn7_dIDdYHAlz8JdEscl9alPJgL5MtWk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-04-01+at+8.37.42+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="724" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjDY8mQ3x45ZdXqpBpW2btvTEBXsOlKo4YOLohYJMcMDXec14_as8WFW-mNVsKO6W9HsDNrei2NkcIuJH23VFmoFpn52y4QXLnH1zD4BLI5JZn7_dIDdYHAlz8JdEscl9alPJgL5MtWk/s400/Screen+Shot+2018-04-01+at+8.37.42+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you find Savoonga, Alaska, on a map?</td></tr>
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Life's been busy lately, and my blogging, something that helps keep me grounded, has (obviously) gone to the wayside. I plan to start back soon, but I also wanted to let my readers know you can now join me on another site for a different sort of adventure. I'm honored to be a PolarTREC teacher this year, and I will be posting journals based on my upcoming research expedition at this site:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.polartrec.com/expeditions/migration-and-carry-over-effects-in-arctic-seabirds#.WsF5XcvdtDs.twitter" target="_blank">Migration and Carry-Over Effects in Arctic Seabirds </a></span><br />
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My actual expedition will be later this summer, but please subscribe as I will be posting pre-expedition journals with my geeky learning. I'm THRILLED about this opportunity to deepen my understanding of the interconnections in the Arctic! Our international research team will be looking at climate change, sea ice extent and their impacts on migratory patterns in Arctic Seabirds. We will be working out of Savoonga, Alaska, a Siberian Yupik community on St. Lawrence Island!<br />
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There are a handful of journal entries already, homework during our recent orientation in Fairbanks to get us accustomed to using the platform. Come take a look!<br />
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If you want to know more about how I get to dig into bird vomit, then you'll want to follow along!<br />
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Oh, and by the way, PLEASE add some questions you have, and I'll be glad to research them, respond to them, and/or bring them along on my journey to investigate with the team.<br />
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Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-47889213252742587302018-03-08T08:11:00.001-08:002018-03-08T08:11:07.948-08:00The template side of visual notes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ever have students just wait for you to tell them what to write down for notes? Or wait for you to change the "slide", search for the highlighted words, then bury their heads down to write while you try to talk? Yeah, that. They're not thinking, and chances are, they're not connecting what they are copying or making sense of it. Chances are even greater that we--and they--will not revisit those notes, thus denying them of all effectiveness.<br />
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When guiding students how to take notes, I like creating templates for them to follow. They're still guided, but require a lot more thinking and connecting. I also make it a point to revisit notes for different purposes and for reference multiple times which helps them understand the value of finding those key details and main ideas.<br />
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The beauty of templates is their ability to chunk information, which just helps make our brains happy. Once we can chunk information, imagine those chunks as building blocks which can be manipulated, moved around and connected. And yes, that all happens over multiple touches on the notes. No notes, no matter how fantastic and detailed, will ever be useful if we don't USE them.<br />
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So, all that being said, here are just a couple of recent templates I used with my language learners in recent classes to help guide their focus and help them sift through a LOT of information.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6plD62NxeI6CGCVmoAIC8NpicchWi-LOU8_Z8Cd3_1nJHb_HowTEvwFfyxjMQxpkeH6d2_Z0qXhu6Vv3f5zP5N8gGtgglZjsDVyKCSEPG4vALM_DcyDJzSaJ7yOV9pAEBMa2Dk_ooDU/s1600/IMG_6053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6plD62NxeI6CGCVmoAIC8NpicchWi-LOU8_Z8Cd3_1nJHb_HowTEvwFfyxjMQxpkeH6d2_Z0qXhu6Vv3f5zP5N8gGtgglZjsDVyKCSEPG4vALM_DcyDJzSaJ7yOV9pAEBMa2Dk_ooDU/s400/IMG_6053.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students were able to watch the video on their own computers,<br />allowing them to replay and stop as needed to take the notes.<br />Many TEDx/ TED videos also have captions to further support<br />students as they follow along. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRzGTXNB8jMmpDXRMfdht53wYJryt5550OZ87zyzQDkkid39feKXE-8mwoecyoHASFTYPFPC1JNu-CIyZqj88epQNO-brJEyUUHEBkugZHkVDIru9u6ffSCPqPlxOGO0Dly4aeX2WJ-Q/s1600/IMG_6055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRzGTXNB8jMmpDXRMfdht53wYJryt5550OZ87zyzQDkkid39feKXE-8mwoecyoHASFTYPFPC1JNu-CIyZqj88epQNO-brJEyUUHEBkugZHkVDIru9u6ffSCPqPlxOGO0Dly4aeX2WJ-Q/s400/IMG_6055.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite parts of these guided notes is seeing what<br />students extract as an important quote. They're very telling, and<br />often demonstrate powerful listening. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTAQNKL_RAyYmCNvwfn6HrXeYh_7u89sNgktT1ZjbREkq05siV2BM7-iKpb4ybjDX7IUgVJ6IO1MgRCcMcHG0WXbc-jJHpqLHF0aw66E_Jfq-5WCxB_t8kHX29IdvI7G_ub7g0P6O3F-A/s1600/IMG_0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTAQNKL_RAyYmCNvwfn6HrXeYh_7u89sNgktT1ZjbREkq05siV2BM7-iKpb4ybjDX7IUgVJ6IO1MgRCcMcHG0WXbc-jJHpqLHF0aw66E_Jfq-5WCxB_t8kHX29IdvI7G_ub7g0P6O3F-A/s400/IMG_0017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viewing notes from a TEDx Talk entitled Laws of the Wild: A<br />Strategic Approach Against Wildlife Trafficking by Onkuri<br />Majumdar. Follow<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fah2gLQeztw" target="_blank"> this link to watch</a>.<br /><h1 class="title style-scope ytd-video-primary-info-renderer" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: var(--ytd-video-primary-info-renderer-title-color, var(--yt-primary-text-color)); font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--ytd-video-primary-info-renderer-title-font-size, 1.8rem); font-weight: 400; line-height: 2.4rem; margin: 0px; max-height: 4.8rem; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-shadow: var(--ytd-video-primary-info-renderer-title-text-shadow, none); transform: var(--ytd-video-primary-info-renderer-title-transform, none);">
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The following are guided notes from a NEWSELA article introducing South Africa, with clearly delineated reading sections. Students could then focus on finding important details and adding sketches to help retention. I anticipated that the history section, with its many dates and details, would be challenging, so I simply drew a line with stars to correlate to each date, with only the first event supplied by me. Yes, they're still guided notes, but far more cognitively demanding than mindlessly copying words from a powerpoint slide.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxP4T6Mm7hOpoKIM7O0cwlAMbQr_0OogWKVq4GIOlQmdomn7zGYHEiJPd_HdHEmktSevRgEsTpLAvuyHGSJl1RUeIxDws2Ajbj0IG32kgswd7Ke4vDh2WXQfNOsmC4uOS9qlHqgfBikrE/s1600/IMG_6061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1600" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxP4T6Mm7hOpoKIM7O0cwlAMbQr_0OogWKVq4GIOlQmdomn7zGYHEiJPd_HdHEmktSevRgEsTpLAvuyHGSJl1RUeIxDws2Ajbj0IG32kgswd7Ke4vDh2WXQfNOsmC4uOS9qlHqgfBikrE/s320/IMG_6061.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some students chose not to use color at all, while others went<br />all out and said they thought it was "relaxing" to make notes<br />like this. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFfvBeFeKcbiziLNQp3SBg7ni_idIYACD6nv2N1Z2kDrZhpviOnk55lO7kCwgUMz_06zB9VRjDgnC3b47mWquN5EQIkXc17eMAUuD1FB23BgU2Nmx3b5OB3Wztv93oCfNyjLXBbRbNHY/s1600/IMG_6062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="1600" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFfvBeFeKcbiziLNQp3SBg7ni_idIYACD6nv2N1Z2kDrZhpviOnk55lO7kCwgUMz_06zB9VRjDgnC3b47mWquN5EQIkXc17eMAUuD1FB23BgU2Nmx3b5OB3Wztv93oCfNyjLXBbRbNHY/s320/IMG_6062.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbe_1bPwLOiwgSeKXqzKe-uRew-8zEIPJBgiqtC6e-D_M6IEAfWBkbzh4h6o3e8I0sE55Pr2SMwnyGiAqBcg-JLoasaT9zDukMkHWKt6ZP6LADprK3tO8qTJ_MYj6izQKLnfgk49OHn0/s1600/IMG_6063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="1600" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbe_1bPwLOiwgSeKXqzKe-uRew-8zEIPJBgiqtC6e-D_M6IEAfWBkbzh4h6o3e8I0sE55Pr2SMwnyGiAqBcg-JLoasaT9zDukMkHWKt6ZP6LADprK3tO8qTJ_MYj6izQKLnfgk49OHn0/s320/IMG_6063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kzYhTpG-WKVV2NSw4L9I0BI1gJxynRjtKkPgSQi8E26EI-CcyuOGr7H-fja8HlmHCUiePbps79aFnadZ_o9yLpDebQT6IK8VDxj2gqnH2oj8rBB0mmhIKGiVaxSweasu274ATmwnWSA/s1600/IMG_6064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="1600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kzYhTpG-WKVV2NSw4L9I0BI1gJxynRjtKkPgSQi8E26EI-CcyuOGr7H-fja8HlmHCUiePbps79aFnadZ_o9yLpDebQT6IK8VDxj2gqnH2oj8rBB0mmhIKGiVaxSweasu274ATmwnWSA/s320/IMG_6064.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice anything about the definition vs the image for "preserve"?<br />Nailed the synonym, but not the context. I wouldn't have<br />known without the sketch. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffXcsTfaBwFNz00ui20lnod4wg1cnF_sRl_qZAEi7UdxrWsEf-uNsyXRhVDrgX4HKVv8kf0tNHXoRx0xBsUXdS1Gh1zmF6p0r1-giDRpG-oRdYg9p9YHnMjA4ON-1ULlGQEuFh38eYNI/s1600/IMG_6059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1011" data-original-width="1600" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffXcsTfaBwFNz00ui20lnod4wg1cnF_sRl_qZAEi7UdxrWsEf-uNsyXRhVDrgX4HKVv8kf0tNHXoRx0xBsUXdS1Gh1zmF6p0r1-giDRpG-oRdYg9p9YHnMjA4ON-1ULlGQEuFh38eYNI/s320/IMG_6059.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This template was an attempt for students to be introduced to WWII,<br />to get an overview before we dug into heavier content. Students were<br />encouraged to find more for each section, then use the middle to use<br />their notes for sequencing and more of a story.<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5YjytN0ExW0DV7FGz2TnTW0eQE1JFNBik2HECj4l0U6ubiqVVXpKww1K2OsgcmxydwWtp1mM36o7Rmw5vgdzKqMqFBSflGSBJJEZnNZ56rcmaxhCm7j2liy_Kb1UZtGI6TwPoZZBc6Y/s1600/IMG_6066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5YjytN0ExW0DV7FGz2TnTW0eQE1JFNBik2HECj4l0U6ubiqVVXpKww1K2OsgcmxydwWtp1mM36o7Rmw5vgdzKqMqFBSflGSBJJEZnNZ56rcmaxhCm7j2liy_Kb1UZtGI6TwPoZZBc6Y/s320/IMG_6066.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A simple research starter sheet for our current topic. Space for the<br />top left quadrant was for a cluster diagram, key words in the<br />top right quadrant, quick sketches of the images they wanted<br />to include in their research draft, and tracing the route of their<br />trafficking topic with a simple map. Maybe not everyone <br />needs to use this, but it's a jumping-off point <br />and scaffold to help those who do need the help. </td></tr>
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<br />It is crucial to note, however, that THESE NOTES ARE NOT THE END of the learning journey! They are not fancy, but they help CHUNK information, again a critical strategy for learning and retaining knowledge. They are used as reference tools, guides, and places we can add information to as we continue learning. Students learn that these are a foundation to use for future writing and a means of deepening understanding.<br />
(BTW, they are much more interesting for teachers to view, and it's much easier for me to determine where the misunderstandings are so I can address them.)<br />
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There are so many ways to incorporate visual notes in your classroom. Give it a try--I'd love to know how you use them with your students!<br />
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Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-39691226678830189812018-03-05T18:45:00.000-08:002018-03-05T18:45:42.534-08:00A glimpse of "real" visual notes in the classroom<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I often hear teachers say they simply don't have time to use visual notes with everything else they have going on.<br />
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I get that. Totally.<br />
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Today's post is quick and shows other ways that visual notes show up in my classroom. Check out some pics below to spark your own ideas.<br />
I'm calling this #realvisualnotes, since they're not touched up, digitized or fancified in any way.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6FNo-UW5NO_bpHcRTEiIGyTFsrUaUzlavgTjzDG1f5Inbmz-SPHWe1UPbur6ul475ZgwbGDhCdXDnnLorbFGGnszB4g41poMsiRFuTcOyX_qlr9vR1P83vXZqEXS1R-ve5NtMp1kejk/s1600/IMG_4660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6FNo-UW5NO_bpHcRTEiIGyTFsrUaUzlavgTjzDG1f5Inbmz-SPHWe1UPbur6ul475ZgwbGDhCdXDnnLorbFGGnszB4g41poMsiRFuTcOyX_qlr9vR1P83vXZqEXS1R-ve5NtMp1kejk/s400/IMG_4660.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Talking through the process of analyzing viewpoint and synthesizing information.<br />Works so much better for me, too, so I know what students see and hear in<br />instruction. The bonus? See below, as two students volunteered to re-draw<br />the notes on paper so it "doesn't get lost". </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxgQRWjMOQigjIxwKuvcKccei6YEO4O2ZnfRfUlzWyTsxy7WzJp-iUSmiKkgVpETk0JS0iIdNyt_IgjJFMcb5-ZH85Zs-bR_vuSC5RS3JCXiLvGeBJ582LrhPolUrb_euD1Fca3-G0_U/s1600/IMG_4661+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxgQRWjMOQigjIxwKuvcKccei6YEO4O2ZnfRfUlzWyTsxy7WzJp-iUSmiKkgVpETk0JS0iIdNyt_IgjJFMcb5-ZH85Zs-bR_vuSC5RS3JCXiLvGeBJ582LrhPolUrb_euD1Fca3-G0_U/s400/IMG_4661+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volunteers re-drawing the notes about viewpoint analysis and synthesis.<br />#notmakingthisup</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmCy4QYKIrQm-cftvrZJUOAzeB2QfD9sSNN8sDy6N25wJghwlRI9jfbw6DmEsY0gAWGhILLl1t5rAWAt6pGkWs8qwJ3MbrBFhVD5NQ45hyHaYaly076RBKiLXgbBx7AomP2lKeZzArMU/s1600/IMG_5796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="1600" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmCy4QYKIrQm-cftvrZJUOAzeB2QfD9sSNN8sDy6N25wJghwlRI9jfbw6DmEsY0gAWGhILLl1t5rAWAt6pGkWs8qwJ3MbrBFhVD5NQ45hyHaYaly076RBKiLXgbBx7AomP2lKeZzArMU/s400/IMG_5796.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again, using sketches as we talk about research reminders. It helps keep student<br />attention, and allows time for info to soak in a bit more. It also tends to invite<br />more questions than just telling students verbally. It opens dialogue, which is<br />often a good thing, and serves as a shared reference point. </td></tr>
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<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/AVvXsEi3fQwRPJO8dnWQHh6whDYYVseSHUGQgtye4lnXx3yvESXPdvxdZYdTbwVIpQjM6ovyIu07u8zIuy-eJ5imuyFZq7-rHbQsip7cM20b8lIzf5mWkZhaadNyvxy133IuigRKOKDhd2Mv-bg/s1600/IMG_4763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fQwRPJO8dnWQHh6whDYYVseSHUGQgtye4lnXx3yvESXPdvxdZYdTbwVIpQjM6ovyIu07u8zIuy-eJ5imuyFZq7-rHbQsip7cM20b8lIzf5mWkZhaadNyvxy133IuigRKOKDhd2Mv-bg/s400/IMG_4763.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teaching students the "why" of using visual notes leads to a bit of brain<br />science. Love how this visual works as a representation of the brain and its<br />parts. It's kinda like rocket science, but we've got this. :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEjtYzYRrBgnMGor9CEgDbuSlFKBxI1A42jtT7akzIZ1NMEPQgZfgQRtd_4HzTK-1S72O4oCWXOILp1RoI0sAcGPzU644jvXjPU6N97QPewq10meMGgwjbrO8HyUkeDy-voz3gmcvmIjBH4/s1600/IMG_1093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1196" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYzYRrBgnMGor9CEgDbuSlFKBxI1A42jtT7akzIZ1NMEPQgZfgQRtd_4HzTK-1S72O4oCWXOILp1RoI0sAcGPzU644jvXjPU6N97QPewq10meMGgwjbrO8HyUkeDy-voz3gmcvmIjBH4/s640/IMG_1093.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geography vocabulary done in groups using the whiteboard.<br />Nothing fancy, but the understanding is evident.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTG5hACRDGDFR4BFjYpJ65EAOOqd_y0UCTQfYARfRyNvQP0QSsk5XKFxi-B9u6ps9W3OOrIxMQjUIVAl77paJh_xr9ev1nzrBnRA8-OJWTdjfXVA5K1WAhIU2KxHDAQDF9EtVJsTDuHk/s1600/IMG_1630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1196" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTG5hACRDGDFR4BFjYpJ65EAOOqd_y0UCTQfYARfRyNvQP0QSsk5XKFxi-B9u6ps9W3OOrIxMQjUIVAl77paJh_xr9ev1nzrBnRA8-OJWTdjfXVA5K1WAhIU2KxHDAQDF9EtVJsTDuHk/s400/IMG_1630.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using sketches on sticky notes to get the overall picture<br />of information, and to sequence moveable pieces.<br />#stickynotelove</td></tr>
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<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/AVvXsEgDBSDOxGAT3UCVUpk5WurJuQX15Dwnx4zFVNJpqkUQFPGka5zKUiZI8SPehl0fBGt9WCX8_KRDy2xN6heSAikJuoipHUO4Nrvo2kfnLxs2_mq9iR-rMaOmOQWIoEy6L-PhkuXMtpmd9hg/s1600/IMG_4828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBSDOxGAT3UCVUpk5WurJuQX15Dwnx4zFVNJpqkUQFPGka5zKUiZI8SPehl0fBGt9WCX8_KRDy2xN6heSAikJuoipHUO4Nrvo2kfnLxs2_mq9iR-rMaOmOQWIoEy6L-PhkuXMtpmd9hg/s400/IMG_4828.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My son's notes as he studied for a middle school history test. </td></tr>
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<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;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSA6D5xpA9SQ0fA816p4wjBZhuZn5jZqoUHmg6oVHRLMtESfibswAT2MYo0DFiIAvM4i0iSMHnSJpzZWJn9tBRE_KoPEn98wwekNibmWgS5XWJQYfHMWNunsKIzQqQeDXaQRzBn_PksI4/s320/IMG_4836.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can't help but draw when you're blessed with a huge <br />whiteboard and markers!<br />#sketchplayground</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSA6D5xpA9SQ0fA816p4wjBZhuZn5jZqoUHmg6oVHRLMtESfibswAT2MYo0DFiIAvM4i0iSMHnSJpzZWJn9tBRE_KoPEn98wwekNibmWgS5XWJQYfHMWNunsKIzQqQeDXaQRzBn_PksI4/s1600/IMG_4836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZXSN2sMjV_H5mm6IT2un5YyTv8Ju5bwZ3H5MIhfWJwBKbA4_zJScYsZ8SXI_76D89s7QsnPfCqZa3pDlbYNrnvcIFhacmLKS68X6Sffz0cRY2K5ubVXCka2ACtaCvKFMTNEAoy2nqYI/s1600/IMG_5336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZXSN2sMjV_H5mm6IT2un5YyTv8Ju5bwZ3H5MIhfWJwBKbA4_zJScYsZ8SXI_76D89s7QsnPfCqZa3pDlbYNrnvcIFhacmLKS68X6Sffz0cRY2K5ubVXCka2ACtaCvKFMTNEAoy2nqYI/s400/IMG_5336.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, it's sideways. I apologize, but here's a simple way to<br />optimize student engagement--having them draw selfies<br />to label (newcomers) rather than use a textbook image.<br />Yes, it takes longer, but it's just so much more fun. </td></tr>
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So, yes, those sketches you see online can be gorgeous! Beautiful! Polished!<br />
But....<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">remember that visual notes are FUNCTIONAL above all else</span></b>.<br />
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Use them to enhance the process of learning in whatever way you deem fit. Be creative, and unafraid to give it a try.<br />
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Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-8923570445337787992018-01-27T11:05:00.005-08:002018-01-27T11:17:46.942-08:00Here's the Activity I Used to Get to Know My New Students <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm not big on spending a lot of time on the first day of class going through all rules and expectations without context. Due to the interactive nature of my language class, I like to observe first, which helps me ground the rules in a more tangible way.<br />
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Here's an example of an activity I use to get to know students during their first day with me. Please feel free to use it, tweak it, and by all means, send me suggestions on how I can make it better!<br />
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I based the entire activity on this video, one that always makes me laugh and tear up at the same time. It's a wonderful story, and true to boot.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jU4oA3kkAWU/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jU4oA3kkAWU?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<b>Part one:</b><br />
Divide students into groups of 3-5.<br />
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Provide students with a list of vocabulary words from the video. Ask them to write a story using as many words as possible with their group members. (10-15 minutes, depending on your context)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyqcZQS3H7m4TUzoXi5futHYjvAw2OXxjPuiHwAazKY6DjcK9qx9UE4u1cicrKrJ8rmbOdmjSf0GdADYWu_uwEhSGhUxQM1P_eafWBqe13tADsAu0qXgKIy-2oZU8WoxGkCUN0ADFKLc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-01-27+at+1.33.04+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="665" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyqcZQS3H7m4TUzoXi5futHYjvAw2OXxjPuiHwAazKY6DjcK9qx9UE4u1cicrKrJ8rmbOdmjSf0GdADYWu_uwEhSGhUxQM1P_eafWBqe13tADsAu0qXgKIy-2oZU8WoxGkCUN0ADFKLc/s400/Screen+Shot+2018-01-27+at+1.33.04+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Next step: </b><br />
<b>Observe:</b> How do students get started? How do they work together? Does one person lead or do they bounce ideas off of each other equally? Are they intentional about word choice, taking their time to craft a solid story from specific words, or do they go down the list and craft a story built on one word after another in order?<br />
<b>Listen: Conversation overheard during the story writing:</b><br />
"Is it American football or soccer? It could be either, but I think ______ because _______. What do you think?"<br />
"That sounds good, but how do I put all of that into a sentence?"<br />
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"What words can we connect?"</div>
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"What makes the most sense?"</div>
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"Let's plan the big story, then use the words for details."</div>
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<b>Part two: </b></div>
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Share stories with the class.</div>
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Let's see what really happened in the story! Play the video up until 1:12, before the boys start acting on their decision. </div>
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Now, students have to create a sketch and rationale to explain what they predicted the boys would do. (again 10-15 minutes tops) </div>
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<b>Observe</b> who's doing the thinking, the drawing, the talking...who is providing feedback, how they navigate differing ideas or who says they have no idea. Who is taking the reins with the drawing versus the writing portion?</div>
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<b>Listen to the conversations: </b></div>
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"They're kids. How much help will they have?"</div>
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"Do you think they like to explore? Would they go faraway to play on another island?"</div>
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"What if what they make doesn't work?"</div>
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"When will they do this? What if they have school?" </div>
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<b>Part three:</b><br />
<b>Watch </b>the rest of the video. (I rewind to the beginning) Focus again on solutions!<br />
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<b>What you'll hear after watching the video in its entirety:</b><br />
"Do they have school in places like that? They have to, right? Doesn't everyone have school?"<br />
"I don't think I could live there because my family drives me crazy."<br />
"Can we learn more about that place?"<br />
"Do they wear shoes?"<br />
"How do they get electricity?"<br />
"That would be so cool. Their people looked really proud."<br />
"They wouldn't have known if they didn't try."<br />
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<b>Part three: </b><br />
<b>Discuss</b> other challenges the boys faced to highlight an underlying persistence in the face of multiple challenges.<br />
Have students write what they would do if they had been in the same situation, and lastly, ask students to explain a challenge they've faced and how they solved it. Emphasize the solutions!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCn3AvmPWng4dh63ZzeS6nEUhLeB353JqC-qZADuZcmV00o017u24igKdaHCZkcMKvSh7l0PEcHNb71kTVs3WbJxYSzc6noEGha_3J9mcXD9EKf376DCYgsGKF2vwrvL9x3agv68aBxlw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-01-27+at+1.52.39+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="662" data-original-width="628" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCn3AvmPWng4dh63ZzeS6nEUhLeB353JqC-qZADuZcmV00o017u24igKdaHCZkcMKvSh7l0PEcHNb71kTVs3WbJxYSzc6noEGha_3J9mcXD9EKf376DCYgsGKF2vwrvL9x3agv68aBxlw/s400/Screen+Shot+2018-01-27+at+1.52.39+PM.png" width="378" /></a></div>
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Discussions about whether football means American football or soccer...space as in outer space or room for something? What kind of tournament? Interestingly enough, I did this with two classes on the first day. One whole class was adamant that it was about a soccer tournament, while the groups in the other class insisted it would be about boat racing. Same list of words, yet how different the background knowledge, connotations, and connections were!<br />
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Guessing lends an air of anticipation of course, to see if they're "right", but it also validates their knowledge of the words that they chose to use. Working in groups allowed them to participate in a low-stakes way, using their different strengths for speaking, writing, teamwork, and art. They were given chances to speak and explain their work twice, while the rest of the class listened. All critical language learning skills, but also enlightening for me to view their behavior norms.<br />
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Together, all of this information showed me who might have more of a growth mindset than others, who persisted through the task and who sat back to let others carry the load. I could see who was more creative and who was more straightforward and "logical", and through their conversations and questions, I could tell whose empathy and curiosity were ignited. I could tell who was up for a challenge, who was reluctant to get involved in their group, and which group members hesitated to let someone "in". I could also tell who took the challenge as something fun vs something more competitive.<br />
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The short writing responses (individual work) about challenges they've faced and what they would have done in the same situation are also quite telling. You can see how this type of activity can be a whole lot more meaningful for going over class expectations; using appropriate moments during the activity, then using it as a reference in subsequent lessons--both the content of the video and the process work of the students. It all makes much more sense to the students, and as teachers, we can be on point with specific examples of great work already!</div>
Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-77975574992165161382018-01-23T18:16:00.001-08:002018-01-23T18:16:35.995-08:00Three Reasons to Have an Authentic Audience In Your Classroom<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"...and your culminating oral presentation will be done in front of a panel of community members..."<div>
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Gasp. </div>
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"But, Ms. P, why? We thought this was a language class?"</div>
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"Exactly! And the more realistic your use of the language, the better!"</div>
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Yep, that's what went down when I told my students their final project for our PBL was going to be a presentation for members of our local community. They weren't so sure about that, and proceeded to tell me all kinds of reasons why they shouldn't "have" to do that. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NkEUfjuN4BOqpjxVac42utR83RMLH8G7lFyu7codah53-ovC_GMKP9vLYFinyHYIx-kunnmw3gW46SatQKWUZ_mKfkr7KxabDe7-xKhvqjhvQmO2ZKxHwnD7zfdMOKqRgBlpMWKtVKE/s1600/IMG_5762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1600" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NkEUfjuN4BOqpjxVac42utR83RMLH8G7lFyu7codah53-ovC_GMKP9vLYFinyHYIx-kunnmw3gW46SatQKWUZ_mKfkr7KxabDe7-xKhvqjhvQmO2ZKxHwnD7zfdMOKqRgBlpMWKtVKE/s400/IMG_5762.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Several students, with 2 of the panel members, after their presentations.<br />No stress here! All smiles! :)</td></tr>
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<div>
Of course, I had plenty of reasons why they should, and their presentations ended up being part of their final exam. Here are three reasons why you should consider inviting community members* in to help evaluate, or simply observe, your students more often:</div>
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1. I<b>t provides the community with opportunities</b> to understand our students and </div>
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alleviate misconceptions, to understand the structure of school, and to listen to our students with a specific purpose. Inviting others into our classrooms offers a low-stakes way of entering into what can be an intimidating arena for those who haven't been in an academic setting or high school in quite some time. Asking them to lend their thoughts and feedback makes the experience more valuable for all involved. </div>
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2. <b>It develops mutually beneficial partnerships</b>, ones that can help students as well as their parents adjust and integrate more fully into a new community. It serves as an acknowledgement that others have experiences and insights which can enrich what students learn, and can connect students with various types of community resources. </div>
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3. <b>It introduces/ continues to expose students to different kinds of people </b>with different values, cultures, experiences, and aspirations. One of our panelists yesterday was a former social worker who had worked with gang members and could answer several controversial and complex questions my students asked him. The fact that they were comfortable having these conversations impressed me, and demonstrated how seamlessly the invitation helped create meaningful interactions among students and community members who are now valuable resources. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNpbKMmPya8NRnAYb96_LmDAYJFTyobPTfPqpTyqjli6xGR86FH7KuaQoaRO49UQzq0EE1ToM1SAvyfTpo4nmremvo8f5Uttk0L2Vsk1S-Y8zZR-dIpmlgNWWVczQ6444pJQTPjQmPMo/s1600/IMG_5759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNpbKMmPya8NRnAYb96_LmDAYJFTyobPTfPqpTyqjli6xGR86FH7KuaQoaRO49UQzq0EE1ToM1SAvyfTpo4nmremvo8f5Uttk0L2Vsk1S-Y8zZR-dIpmlgNWWVczQ6444pJQTPjQmPMo/s320/IMG_5759.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Our classroom has been greatly enriched by guests, both face to face and virtual over the years, both in formal and informal capacities. Yesterday, however, was the first official adult panel to help evaluate during a final exam. Their feedback was helpful and on point, and the extra time afterward spurred rich discussion based on the students' presentations. </div>
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I couldn't have asked for it to work out any better! You can bet I'll be doing this again, so students, if you're reading this, you'll know exactly what to expect. </div>
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**Note: Panel members were provided with checklist-style rubrics with specific elements to look for. It was the same list students had, plus a section for comments about what they did well, and areas to improve upon. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88yqUfzGzRSz7hquaJfI_9wIXeB3v54GoQILTshqkGogOFhBcHLLyRVzpv2ou-n7h9fCmJ0Y4MslGmglX8frZOMe-ISPb_6a-J0kACADlW3xX5odkASiTYWaOh4IgkK-L-LygbbVHrfQ/s1600/IMG_5758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88yqUfzGzRSz7hquaJfI_9wIXeB3v54GoQILTshqkGogOFhBcHLLyRVzpv2ou-n7h9fCmJ0Y4MslGmglX8frZOMe-ISPb_6a-J0kACADlW3xX5odkASiTYWaOh4IgkK-L-LygbbVHrfQ/s320/IMG_5758.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zx1jrCvCOzOhvLIsRp7Wei8-TYApR2erkhDIHW3bEZwjVvkSaPitY4iHCV8pCg9CuX2Et-aYrE6e8j08iuDfXTsrNLFGTh3EGyELlK01Y77Sp9gMkgltiJ6u-3yT20ofInIu3X6ag3w/s1600/IMG_5769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zx1jrCvCOzOhvLIsRp7Wei8-TYApR2erkhDIHW3bEZwjVvkSaPitY4iHCV8pCg9CuX2Et-aYrE6e8j08iuDfXTsrNLFGTh3EGyELlK01Y77Sp9gMkgltiJ6u-3yT20ofInIu3X6ag3w/s320/IMG_5769.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHxOpxPPhpcTJfiUJ6bpoAdlsIWldniCeHvAqaGEUvyltyFJpQ2usO3kqQDi-VtPZrbxlsgxrgmPHYdIiMUOYbV0Y5Nvzv4XKN-NZRURCW5uy22OFXjz09QpXwMWah3q7LnNzkJjRMvE/s1600/IMG_5768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHxOpxPPhpcTJfiUJ6bpoAdlsIWldniCeHvAqaGEUvyltyFJpQ2usO3kqQDi-VtPZrbxlsgxrgmPHYdIiMUOYbV0Y5Nvzv4XKN-NZRURCW5uy22OFXjz09QpXwMWah3q7LnNzkJjRMvE/s320/IMG_5768.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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The basic checklist/rubric for panel members to use as an evaluation guide, aligned precisely with the students' eval tool. (No surprises!)<br />
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*community members also includes our students' parents!</div>
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Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-68747036920983602962018-01-18T19:44:00.004-08:002018-01-18T19:44:48.478-08:00A Planning Template for Using Visual Notes in the Classroom: Video<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My goal this year is to share more ideas about using visual notes in the classroom and I wanted to leap out of my comfort zone by using video. Here's my first one, and I hope it's helpful. </div>
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I'd love feedback and suggestions, and would especially love ideas you want me to address about visual notetaking.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="540" src="https://spark.adobe.com/video/7DfM3cCxhBTC1/embed" width="960"></iframe><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for stopping by. #SketchMore #ThinkMore</span></div>
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Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023838199149737932.post-53247711143012338952018-01-17T12:08:00.000-08:002018-01-17T12:16:42.624-08:005 Reasons to use the Talking Points app <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I finally started using this app last semester, after having it on my to-do / to-try list for nearly a year, and short and sweet? It has changed the community in my classroom.<br />
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<b>Here's why I love it so far:</b><br />
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1) <b>It's free.</b><br />
#Free<br />
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2) <b>It translates your written messages to the languages you select.</b> If you have one student whose parents speak Swahili, another whose parents speak Gujarati, and yet more who speak Nepali and Spanish, you type in English, and the app provides translations. Recipients receive messages in their native language, and when <b>they </b>respond, you see the English version.<br />
#MindBlown<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYk8FsRQV4odWIrQpR2GK3dZNalUXkfuzO_Sm5JMLSKu6plqEhxiiofjwcPRiwQGV3cxC3DgucdKxgi7rsXkaqNjcvCpFa2sOK3grWLNGC3kA4olBXegWE0760LOaGqFAceswdH4Teag/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-01-17+at+2.47.57+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="1189" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYk8FsRQV4odWIrQpR2GK3dZNalUXkfuzO_Sm5JMLSKu6plqEhxiiofjwcPRiwQGV3cxC3DgucdKxgi7rsXkaqNjcvCpFa2sOK3grWLNGC3kA4olBXegWE0760LOaGqFAceswdH4Teag/s640/Screen+Shot+2018-01-17+at+2.47.57+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Languages offered, and more are coming! </td></tr>
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3) I can send <b>positive messages</b> with the click of a button. I can include pics of student work, pics of their child in class (working, of course!), and even small successes that might otherwise get lost in the sometimes monumental efforts of having notes translated. I can also check in with parents if a child is having a bad day--to see if there's another "why" to their behavior that will help me help them.<br />
#Timely<br />
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4) I can <b>send reminders</b> for class, school, or community events, thereby helping parents (especially our newcomer families) learn more about how to get involved. This includes opportunities that would be beneficial for their child in an academic realm, too. (I've tried the Remind app also, but this app is far easier and more practical for me)<br />
#CommunityBuilder<br />
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5) <b>It's easy</b>. I can send messages from my laptop within seconds. (or from my phone!) I just leave the page up during class, and take a minute to let parents know their child has just written some truly insightful work, responded impressively to a controversial conversation topic, or knocked it out of the park with their new vocab in the paragraph they wrote. I can tell parents I love their child's attitude today, and that they pushed through frustration to find a solution. I've also just reached out to tell parents how grateful I am for their child in my class.<br />
#GratitudeSnaps<br />
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A simple sentence, 60 seconds to write and send, and a world of difference for several families already. I guarantee you'll be looking at your students through a fresh lens to find something good to write home about!<br />
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I can't wait to find other ways to use it this semester!<br />
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Ms Wendi, Lifelong Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618034106498754946noreply@blogger.com1