Category Archives: Education

Are You Ready for 2ndary?

Here’s an article that covers valuable skills for students entering middle school. It is titled “Are Your 5th Graders Ready for Middle School?” by Yonina Lermer click here

One of those skills is the importance of staying organized.  Reading the article, I also thought about the distractions that come with navigating a middle school environment for the first time. The article also discusses time management tips, and the art that note taking can become. Digital age communication skills is another area to reflect on. There are number of really cool lessons provided through Common Sense Media that can help develop how a student prioritizes and maintains their digital footprints. One of the biggest tests is accountability and helping students develop a sense of consistency as it relates to a 2ndary life style.

Families, what do you think about this article? Students, how do you feel about your strengths and challenges in these kinds of skills? For those of you that have moved on into high school and higher ed what tips would you have for 5th graders entering middle school for the first time?

Summer Reading 2022 @ El Paso Public Library

Check it out! This one’s to motivate our participants to make time for reading. Also extending the opportunity to any of our incoming 6th graders and other Canyon Hills Middle School Cobras. During the first week of school, for students that submit their certificate of completion for their reading goals we’ll have a prize raffle with your name in it. Don’t let the summer pass you by without making some time for reading. Here’s an active link include in the flier to elpasolibrary.beanstack.com. You can also register in-person at branch libraries.

We’ll have copies of this flier available at our Community Chess Connection meetings at the Richard Burges Branch Library up until July 14th.

Scholarship Opportunities @mssusyruiz

I’ve been teaching middle school now long enough to know students that are making that transition into higher ed and opportunities beyond grade school. If college is in your path and you’re in need of financial assistance, I recommend you follow Ms. Susy Ruiz if you’re on Instagram. Her handle is @mssusyruiz

She posts on a daily basis the latest updates on scholarships for students of all backgrounds and interests. Each post includes a summary of the scholarship opportunity with instructions on how to apply. If you were once enrolled in my class and need further assistance for understanding an opportunity and applying feel free to have your family reach out. I’d be more than glad to help our Cobras with their applications for scholarship and financial assistance. In my experience transitioning into life as an undergraduate (I attended New Mexico State University the summer after graduating from Andress High School), there is no way that I would’ve been able to make that happen without the financial aid and especially the scholarships I was fortunate enough to discover before graduating from high school. This included an annual scholarship from the local Theta Delta Lambda Foundation and a tuition scholarship from the Supercomputing Challenge in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Ms. Susy Ruiz posts will connect you to a lot more opportunities out there for students looking to attend college/university study.

If you’re on IG, follow! Below is a screen shot of her page. You can also find the link in the Student Resources link.

On Teaching…

A great resource to reference for ideas On Teaching. A collection of stories published in The Atlantic from, “the most experienced teachers in America’s education system on their careers, their schools, and the history they’ve witnessed”. I discovered this collection from an edutopia article by Sarah Gonser titled “Good Teaching Is Not Just About the Right Practices”.

On Teaching: click here
The Atlantic

Below, I will note quotes from the stories On Teaching.

“An estimated 12 million students – or nearly a fifth of all students in the U.S. – don’t have internet at home.” ‘What Teachers Need to Make Remote Schooling Work by Kristina Rizga click here

+ “Effective teaching is not just about good assignments…Teaching is also about engaging students: talking to them about their work with a piece of paper in hand every day, encouraging them, helping them develop their skills in the moment.” – Robert Roth

The Value of Podcasting

This semester we took the time to experiment with podcasting. There was also an ELL lesson I provided during PD about Powerful Podcasts that was noted in the recommended lessons for Ellevation. We utilized podcasting as a way to open the week and also as a reflection tool for students to have a chance to document their thoughts on certain activities or as think alouds for activities and projects. Our podcast is called The Humanities Minute and part of a network that I imagine as the 2ndary Podcast Network. It’s a network that seeks to collaborate with other middle school campuses interested in providing students with a platform to document what they’re learning and to share their perspective on their educational experience and issues that are taking place in the world.

Last semester, I bookmarked this article titled “Why Podcasting Is #Trending Since ‘Serial’ and Why Your Class Should Be Doing It”. Below are some notes from the article. I’ve had a passion for podcasting for many years born out of my experience as a radio dj for eight years on college radio and my hobby of assembling mixtapes. It’s something I hope to continue to develop through my teaching and collaboration with others that are interested in exploring the podcast world and how we can maximize our access to digital technology to teach. Holler if ya hear me! mrleebooks@gmail.com

Mr. Lee

 

“I have always believed in the power of audio.”

…Yes! Love how Monica Brady-Myerov defines podcasting.

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Check out Listenwise.com for lessons! Listenwise is an award winning listening skills platform. This group harnesses the power of listening to advance literacy and learning in all students.

“Listenwise provides free access to a collection of more than 1,900 audio stories from NPR curated for classroom use, featuring relevant topics that align with curriculum in English language arts, social studies and science.”

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Student Podcast PODCAST click here
Podcast featuring great student podcasts

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“We are on the forefront of an exciting time when audio can bring the world into the classroom, and students can use audio to share what they know with the world.”

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“Audio allows us to create movies in our minds, and this is highly engaging for students. It allows them to connect at a deeper level to the content they are learning.”

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21st Century skills and competencies addressed creating podcasts: communication, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.

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“…listening to podcasts can promote deeper learning for students using a modality that has not been traditionally featured in the classroom.”

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“Recording and sharing what they learn validates their knowledge and empowers them.”

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What is your podcasts purpose? Will it inform, persuade, analyze, reflect, tell a story, or some combination?

…wonderful idea for a graphic organizer or opening activity and for teaching author’s purpose!

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“Teaching and learning with podcasts can help to improve listening skills.”

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“…listening is the 2nd highest skill employers want from new hires.”

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“Teach with listening. Engage with listening. Create with listening.

 

Brady-Myerov, Monica. “Why Podcasting Is Trending Since ‘Serial’ and Why Your Class Should Be Doing It.” EdSurge, Listenwise, Nov. 2019, www.edsurge.com/news/2019-11-05-why-podcasting-is-trending-since-serial-and-why-your-class-should-be-doing-it?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ad&utm_content=fb-ad.

Youth Culture Power #YCP

A great resource to check out! Youth Culture Power, A #HipHopED Guide to Building Teacher-Student Relationships and Increasing Student Engagement. Brought to you by a collaborative with a timeless connection to the culture of Hip Hop as all around creators from the beats to the rhymes. J Rawls & Lil’ Sci have created an inspiring resource for educators to not only read but also listen to as well. You can support by purchasing the text at Amazon and can access the album that connects to the reading and vice versa on Amazon Prime or the physical copy at the groups BandCamp.

Got a few notes about the text at my Twitter page @mrleebooks #YouthCulturePower

12 Tips on How to Practice

I first heard of Wynton Marsalis when I was in college volunteering as a radio disc jockey. I found a vinyl record called Black Codes (From the Underground).  I was most familiar with his brother Branford Marsalis who worked on film soundtracks to some of my favorite Spike Lee films. Wynton Marsalis’ advice on 12 tips for how to practice is great advice for any skill students and teachers are hoping to improve. I specifically thought about chess, especially when it comes to the skill of developing one’s ability to concentrate. The video includes some interesting information about the connections to brain science and practice! Check it out!

Wynton Marsalis Gives 12 Tips on How to Practice: For Musicians, Athletes, or Anyone that Wants to Learn Something New: click here

AVID WICOR

“The WICOR Model reflects and promotes the expertise and attitudes that will serve students well in their academic lives and careers.” For more information on the WICOR Model please visit AVID’s curriculum page avid.org/curriculum/ashx

These are key areas of learning that student’s must engage in to prepare their academic lives beyond the public school system.

Click on the image to enlarge and read the fine print.

The Great Debaters & the Story of Melvin Tolson

This year we jumped into understanding Persuasive Text & Media. Along with the content we’re studying and thinking about there are always some great films to connect to student learning. This semester’s recommendation is The Great Debaters. An amazing film starring Denzel Washington. Its based on the true life story of poet and English teacher Melvin Tolson, a professor at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas who in the 1930s lead a group of African American students to the national debate championships. Also highly recommended for Black History Month discussions and screenings!

Below is an excellent documentary on the behind the scenes preparation of the young actors starring in The Great Debaters film at Debate Camp!