The American Experience

TweetMic | Publish Your Audio on Twitter

via tweetmic.com

This seems really cool. Easy way to post audio for followers. May make this the tool for student produced announcements, news, and reviews.

Thanks, Mr. Scoble: http://twitter.com/Scobleizer

Posted via web from Michael's posterous

Highland Park Schools to Stop Ranking Students

I hope that this will start a trend for public schools. Every training and professional development dealing with grades emphasizes that numerical assessments are to provide feedback and should not be used to compare students. Class rank based solely on GPA contradicts that philosophy. 

The students that succeed at the university level are not always the students with the highest grades or class rank. The best indicator of success is the student's experience and performance with rigorous coursework. For a schools like Highland Park where nearly all students participate in rigorous classes and perform well, the separation between top and bottom is so minimal that dividing the group by percentages inhibits some students that would qualify for admittance or scholarships if class rank was not a consideration. 

Here is the HPISD report, let me know what you think:

HPRank

Can Rafael Nadal Survive His Own Grueling Style of Tennis?

via nytimes.com

The weather has been great. The new roof is fantastic. Federer has a chance to be crowned the greatest ever and our American hope, Andy Roddick, is charging through the draw with little resistance, but without Rafa, this year lacks excitement. Don't get me wrong, I got caught up in Andy Murray's 5-setter that ended under the lights of the new roof and it'd be nice to see another Williams sister final, but for me, one of the most interesting aspects of sports, especially professional sports, is the potential of seeing something you've never seen before. That's one of the aspects that separates amateur athletics from the professional ranks, the "wow" factor of being blown away by a shot, a move, a throw, a catch, a goal, a performance that makes one doubt his vision. That's what Nadal brings.

For your Rafa fix during Wimbledon: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/21/magazine/21nadal-t.html?ex=1261454400&en=c7aa6b49fe4f129a&ei=5087&WT.mc_id=GN-D-I-NYT-MOD-MOD-M103-ROS-0609-HDR&WT.mc_ev=click

Posted via web from Michael's posterous

i before e, except, except, except … « Grammar Police a.k.a. GrammarCops

via grammarcops.wordpress.com

When will the madness end? Every day I gain more sympathy for my students. Even the few rules "we" have aren't reliable. Funny how some think language is so black and white. It's as fluid as the tides and as instructors of communication, we must remain be pliable.

Read for yourself: http://grammarcops.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/i-before-e-except-except-except/

Posted via web from Michael's posterous

TheEngTeacher: Y'all use the plural of you? - Teacher Stumpers

Check out this website I found at viigo.im

Interesting discussion of the plural forms of the word "you." Being from Texas, "y'all" is part of my vernacular and I would always catch flack when visiting family in Buffalo. I'd spend the summer deleting it from my vocabulary and I'd return for school in the fall with a new phrase, "you guys." Tough code switching for a 4th grader.

Now I know what's acceptable: http://viigo.im/04hT#

Posted via web from Michael's posterous

Pete Sampras, a Tennis King Content to Stay Home

via nytimes.com

Growing up, playing and watching tennis, I rooted for Andre Agassi, but for the two weeks of Wimbledon, I knew Pete Sampras would serve and volley and win. The best serve of his generation combined with relentless pressure of crashing the net put opponents on their heels and then a flight home.

With Rafael Nadal not playing in this year's tournament, the path seems cleared for Roger Federer to win and pass Pete for the most major tournament wins. It doesn't look like Pete will be there to pass the torch if it happens. He's never been one for the spotlight, but for the fans and Federer, it would be fantastic. Might even be a neat experience for his kids. I wish he'd consider making the trip.

The article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/29/sports/tennis/29sampras.html?_r=1&hpw

Posted via web from Michael's posterous

Screen Capture with Skitch.com (@theEngTeacher)

Special thanks to @theEngTeacher (Twitter) for this one. She recommended skitch.com for screen capture. This will help me create handouts and tutorials for my classes, especially the visual media and journalism sections. 

Really neat how the software allows the user to annotate on the image captured. I plan on putting these images into iMovie to create neat little instructional tools for the students and fellow teachers.

Sample:

  

SoulPancake | What's Your Ten-Word Biography?

via soulpancake.com

This may be our first day activity. What's your ten-word biography?

Samples at:
http://www.soulpancake.com/view_post/410317/whats-your-ten-word-biography.html

from @rainnwilson on Twitter (yes, Dwight from "The Office")

Posted via web from Michael's posterous

The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan

via hulu.com

I just saw that Billy Mays has passed away at his Tampa home. This has hit me hard. This summer I started watching his show "Pitchmen" with Mays and Anthony Sullivan. It's great!

I saw the news first on the Twitter feed from @anncurry.

Posted via web from Michael's posterous

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teachers

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teachers

via miltonramirez.com

I'm always looking for ways to be a better educator. These will work for professionals in many arenas. Probably work well for students ready to take the next step and become leaders.

Here is the link to the specific blog post: http://www.miltonramirez.com/2009/06/seven-habits-of-highly-effective.html#

Posted via web from Michael's posterous