Late again!

This week my excuse for being late is the MS Halloween Dance, other Halloween activities, and student conference preparation.
My PD for the week of October 23rd Reflections:
Podcasts
Truth for Teachers this week was the first part of an interview with Sarah Plumitallo and Tamara Russell. The focus was about strategies they use in their classrooms that help them connect with students living in poverty. Although I do not teach high poverty students some of the strategies still apply to any teacher because they are all about building relationships with students in an authentic way. I also have scholarship students who do not live in poverty, but they are in a significantly lower income bracket than their classmates. This podcast help reinforce the importance of not judging and helping all students get the services or support they need.
Science Friday This week's episode talked about Leonardo DaVinci's life of art and science, the quest for a method of testing for impairment due to pot consumption, how to patch the latest wi-fi security bug, the findings of a recent stellar explosion, the health risks associated with wildfires, and some of the developments from Blade Runner 2049 that are no longer merely science fiction. My favorite piece was about Leonardo because he dissected living things and examined human anatomy in such minute detail to learn how to draw and paint faces more accurately. The Mona Lisa is a perfect example of how subtle muscle movements can make her smile look different from different locations.
MindShift This was a new blog that was recommended by a co-worker. It was interested because this episode touched on restorative justice and how it is being implemented at KIPP academies in California to replace a more traditional discipline model. Interesting stuff and I found it linked to math because the relationships have to come first and it also should involve voice and choice if it is going to be successful.
Videos
#IMMOOC Episodes 3 and 4
Tara Martin was the guest speaker for Episode 3. She is the one who suggested making blogs easier to read by putting headings throughout like I have done on this one. I also realized that Tara indirectly taught me how to use Tweetdeck and I appreciated the love she gave to me as a new Twitter user. That is the kind of support she talked about getting from the Twitter community and how those ideas lead her to be innovative and come up with her #Booksnaps idea. I really enjoyed hearing about how she has used the Twitter community to expand her horizons. She also talked about tweeting with an image and tagging people so your blog gets more notice. She believes in blogging because even if you don't get many people following you that you are still growing as a person and as a teacher by writing the blogs.
Patrick M. Martin was the Episode 4 guest and I really enjoyed hearing about his experience with being an innovative administrator. It was great that he included students when they were deciding to go to 1 to 1 Chromebooks with his students. I loved that they took the time to ask students for their feedback on technology and how they would use it. It was interesting that they saved so much money by the students telling them they wouldn't use computer cases. I wonder how this might apply to moving into the new building.
Reading
Becoming the Math Teacher You Wish You'd Had the thirty minutes of reading I did for this book was some case studies following things successful math teachers do to encourage deeper thinking and understanding in math classes. I like how closely related this book is to the concepts that Jo Boaler talked about in the "How to Learn Math for Teachers" class I took this summer.
Local Contacts
Networking with a 6th-grade science teacher at a local independent school. We have been emailing back and forth and haven't gotten around to meeting up yet, but we try to do that at least once a school year to share resources and ideas for teaching.