Stages rearranging love (ZZ Top)

1 Claire Amos
I enjoy reading Claire's blog - Learning Leading Change. Her latest post had me laughing out loud!

2 Write That Essay
While I'm recommending blogs - this is one to watch (I love the style - it's loose and chatty and bold - 'Genre-based writing methods don't work' - yessir).

3 Same but different
Nice medium.com 3 minute read on same/different dichotomy.

4 Loyalty
Star Wars in the classroom hosted this awesome analysis of how loyalty is a theme in Star Wars.

5 Hero

Speaking of Star Wars - here's a cool video on the hero's journey.

Advice for the young at heart (Tears For Fears)

Distractions can come in all shapes and sizes.

I get distracted very easily.

This week I've been distracted by a new laptop (with a bigger screen) and getting it looking like I want it to - including making adjustments to my blogs.

Amidst all those distractions I did manage to find these gems for you (you're welcome):

1 The interweb is a huge distraction
And it's making us dumber!

2 Ways to beat distraction
Yes - really. Want the energy and ability to stay focused? Read this! Exhausting but fun!

3 Now - keep your students engaged
Okay - once you are zen calm and focused you can help your students stay engaged.

4 Bad behaviour
Distractions can lead to anger and anger can lead to hate (apologies to Yoda). This article provides food for thought on the stuff behind that bad behaviour you're coping with in the classroom.

5 Just saying
Love this Edutopia list of things we should NEVER say in a classroom. Been guilty of a few of these in my younger, less emotionally intelligent years.

You're probably wondering why I'm here (Frank Zappa)

The decision making continuum:

#1 - At one extreme - the very very very carefully considered, rational method

#2 At the other extreme - the seat of the pants method

The real way to learn anything is to go out and experience it and let your curiosity lead you.(Ted, the man with the yellow hat)

1 Modern schools
Here are twenty words to sum up what modern schools should be about. While you can quibble with them I think they sum things up rather well!

2 Curiosity
This is a corner stone of our English programmes. Leadership Freak does a great blogpost on this.

3 Inquiry learning
A great mind/shift article on things to keep in mind when moving into inquiry methods.

4 Staff meetings
Some great advice here about making staff meetings more relevant and engaging (its solution focused stance got me).

5 Leader's responsibilities
This is cool list of the five ultimate responsibilities that leaders have.

I'm not smart enough for this life I've been living (James Taylor)

1 Big Think
NZ in the Rob Muldoon (big) dog days instigated Think Big projects for generating power to our 4 millionish people. 

Big Think is nothing to do with that (phew) - instead it provides super dooper blogs articles and videos from the world's top thinkers!

It probably qualifies for my Jewels for the thirsty blog rather than here but what the hey!

2 I wish my teacher knew...
Great mind/shift article on collecting data. Relax, it's not what you think. I love that question! Go read it!

3 Beyond Measure
Another fine Edutopia site that features Beyond Measure and loads of other documentary films on education that are MUST SEE!! Waiting For Superman is one of my favourites btw.

4 Homework?
From anywhere you stand on the homework vs no homework end of the spectrum, this Edutopia article makes solid sense.

5 Why knowing stuff doesn't really matter!
Nice short read that I have a lot of time for (less is more remember).

Straight, no chaser (Thelonious Monk)

You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

I disagree.

I like new.

Here's some new:

1 Fresh tech for social studies
For the first semester I am teaching social studies (to fill in my timetable). It's been a while - my last social studies class was in my first year of teaching (19 mumble mumble mumble - huh? Okay okay -1983). This may come in handy!

2 25 ideas!
There are so many teaching ideas out there to try. That is SO cool. I have barely scratched the surface with these puppies (puppies...get it). Here are 25 in a bunch (or whatever the collective noun is for puppies).

3 Imagination is more important
Always good to be reminded of this. Who wants to be stale and boring and NOT have students use their imagination? Not this old dog - that's fer damn sure!

4 Inventive games to teach empathy and social skills
Wow - more amazing stuff from mind/shift. This time you get a whole load of stuff to help with growing empathy. Altruism ROCKS my friends!

5 Five competencies
Finally and appropriately - here are five key competencies that we need to foster in the 21st century. can you guess what they are before you look?

How did you do?