T.G.I.F. Newsletter - Polarizing Education, Hearing All Voices, and Cognitive Load

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This is the 38th T.G.I.F. Newsletter. This newsletter will always be free. Your support helps with site costs and provides some much-appreciated motivation. 🙏. You can keep me energized with a coffee ☕, or by using the button below. Thank You!

T.G.I.F. is a weekly newsletter featuring educational news, and teaching, personal development, and professional learning resources.

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Recommendation - If you haven’t tried Poo~Pourri* you’ve been missing out. Protect the atmosphere of your "teacher" restroom with fresh fall smells*.

Hello Friends and T.G.I.F.

This was a strange week. Monday and Tuesday were spent off school grounds in planning sessions. Extended planning time is such a gift. We had time to plan our new learning expedition without the feeling of being rushed. Then, we went on a field trip this Wednesday, which left only two regular days of school. The week seemed to fly by.

😁 Here are some things I thought were worth sharing this week.

The News

Here are some articles that grabbed my attention.

• Polarized - The political turbulence surrounding education is choppier than at any other time in my career. I do know when parents, schools, and teachers are on the same page, kids benefit. Will it always be like this?
• All Voices - I appreciate those students who are always quick to participate in class. I’ve also come to realize that introverted students have much to offer that often goes unsaid. Educational technology can offer ways for all students to have their voices heard.
• Resource - Hurricane Ian and General Hurricane Teaching and Learning Resources. This was the most violent storm in Florida’s history. You’ll find a few video summaries along with hurricane science resources.
• 🎃 Halloween Resources - Build a Jack-O-lantern with Google Slides, create a Halloween rebus story with Google Docs, pen Halloween drag-and-drop poetry with Google Drawings, and try a Skittles math activity in Google Sheets.
• Constructive Criticism - I asked, “What’s the best piece of constructive criticism you’ve ever received as a teacher?”, and the thread took off. There’s some good advice in the replies.

• Writer’s Workshop - A playlist of 29 Ted-Ed videos providing lessons on verb tenses, writing descriptively, false news, and more.

Growth

Personal Development and Wellness Resources

• Career - Your career is important, but you are not your career. You’re more than that. This career advice is shaped by economics, psychology, and math. Best of luck finding your flow.
• Brain Freeze - Cognitive load refers to the volume of information your working memory is processing at any given moment, and how the intake of too much information can impact cognitive capacity. Basically, when you’re brain is on overload it just doesn’t work well. Try practicing tab management, time-management strategies, and batching tasks.
• Self Reliance - One of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s most famous quotes is, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” Turns out his work and philosophy translate into numerous helpful rules for living. He also reminds us to “be yourself”.

Inspiration

Here is a quote I’ve been revisiting this week:

"Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them." - Ralph Waldo Emerson*

Favorite Things

• 🙏 Colleagues - It feels good to work in a school full of caring and professional colleagues. Teachers are special people full of persistence, creativity, compassion, passion, and stress. October 5th was World Teacher's Day. World Teachers' Day aims to focus on "appreciating, assessing and improving the educators of the world" and to provide an opportunity to consider issues related to teachers and teaching. [source] Teachers are part of the glue that holds society together. Give all of your teacher friends a high-five, they deserve it.
• 👕 Plaidurday - Today is Plaidurday. Here are 10 ways to celebrate. My favorite is #10 - Look good, feel good, and spread some cheer, because we’re all connected by a common thread.
• 📅 On This Day - Georgia Tech defeats Cumberland, 220-0 in the most lopsided football game in history. Georgia Tech was coached by John Heisman, whose name is on football’s most famous trophy. [source]
• 🔧 Gadget - Fujifilm Instax Smartphone Printer* - This is a printer for your smartphone. It works via Bluetooth. I could have fun with this in the classroom. It prints out small pictures that fit nicely in journals, on lockers, and on creative notebook work.

Have a great weekend!