Game Based Learning Articles from Edutopia

Okay - a bit of a hiccup to the start of Term 2 - nothing is ever meant to be easy but let's get this back on track again.  

Below are some links from Edutopia - mainly about Game-Based Learning.  As I am not a teacher, I have no idea of how useful these could be, but I am just tossing it out there for you on the off chance that there may be something that you can use. It is a US based site and probably a 'slightly' different clientele than ours, but you never know – there may be a small gem you can use or adapt for your needs.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/10-free-financial-literacy-games-high-school-students

https://www.edutopia.org/article/using-gamification-increase-engagement-during-hybrid-learning

https://www.edutopia.org/article/game-based-learning-middle-school-math

https://www.edutopia.org/article/turning-math-game

https://www.edutopia.org/article/does-our-natural-affinity-games-have-place-classroom

https://www.edutopia.org/article/when-implementing-games-your-classroom-dont-forget-about-chess

https://www.edutopia.org/article/coding-across-curriculum

Articles from Edutopia

 Just putting these out there .. 

https://www.edutopia.org/article/reading-aloud-middle-school-students

https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-make-math-concepts-feel-relevant-students?

Some Special Days for March

There are a few Special days coming up in March to remember.  World Storytelling Day/World Poetry Day and International Day of Forests for a start.   I have links below for people to check them out, if they wish.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Storytelling_Day

https://www.wincalendar.com/au/World-Poetry-Day

https://internationaleventday.com/event/international-day-of-forests/

https://www.internationalwomensday.com/

Then we have National Day of Unplugging - and also Pi Day for those Maths people among us.  Links are added below.  

https://www.nationaldayofunplugging.com/

https://www.piday.org/

Added to this is March being designated as International Ideas Month and also Craft Month.  

More Edutopia Weblinks

Check out the weblinks below - they are from the Edutopia website (which is American based - but may have something you could use). 

Not being a teacher, I am just guessing as to what may be helpful - so I'm hoping that this may be of some use - otherwise check out the Edutopia site for yourself. 

https://www.edutopia.org/article/framework-boosting-high-school-students-math-confidence

https://www.edutopia.org/article/3-math-games-you-can-use-class-today

https://www.edutopia.org/article/using-simple-outdoor-science-lessons-inspire-students

https://www.edutopia.org/article/engaging-students-community-based-projects

Edutopia Articles that may be of interest

 Below are a few weblinks from the Edutopia website, that could be of some use for you all - and if you check the site out, you may find lots more for your interest.  

https://www.edutopia.org/article/strategy-exploring-student-creativity-collaboratively

https://www.edutopia.org/article/school-wide-focus-choice-reading

https://www.edutopia.org/article/10-new-focused-attention-practices

https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-find-games-classroom-learning

https://www.edutopia.org/article/game-based-learning-middle-school-math

https://www.edutopia.org/article/does-our-natural-affinity-games-have-place-classroom

https://www.edutopia.org/article/coding-across-curriculum

I hope that you get something from these articles - and the home site for Edutopia is:

https://www.edutopia.org/

Enjoy the upcoming weekend - and carry on being your awesome selves! 

Some 'Days' to celebrate

March 3rd is World Maths Day, is a chance to put your skills to the test, practice math skills and to get involved in a worldwide event that celebrates the history of maths.  This is a competition run through Mathletics. 

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/world-maths-day/

March 20th is World Story Telling Day, where you can celebrate the art of oral storytelling.  It's also a day for people around the globe to listen to, and tell stories in as many different languages as possible.  Most of us go through the day engaging in oral storytelling without even realising that we are doing so.  Have you made up a bedtime story for your child?  Told a friend about your most embarrassing moment? or retold a childhood memory with a sibling?  These are all oral storytelling examples. 

https://nationaldaycalendar.com/world-storytelling-day-march-20/

World Poetry Day is 21st March.  This is a day to encourage people to read, write, teach and publish poetry, and to recognise the amazing cultural contribution poetry makes to the human society.  Poetry is another form of story telling, and has been used for centuries to pass along knowledge, history and information.  The ancient Bards travelled around the countries, taking their stories, in verse format, to share.

https://observances.global/world-poetry-day/

(Oh, and February 14th is Library Lovers Day - just saying!)   😉

Mindshift Weblinks

Below are a few weblinks that may be of interest to you.  There is a huge range of articles on the MindShift site covering a multitude of subjects and/or ideas.  It is an American site, but there could be something to spark ideas for your class.

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/53553/five-best-practices-teachers-can-learn-from-dungeon-masters

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/54872/how-dyslexia-is-a-different-brain-not-a-disease

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/50874/what-happens-to-student-behavior-when-schools-prioritize-art

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/55169/what-happens-in-your-brain-when-you-make-art

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/54504/three-simple-tech-tools-to-make-math-thinking-visible

Enjoy!

Mindshift Blog Articles

Check out these articles when you get a moment - it is interesting to note in the first one concerning reading, that the data shows that American students are having as many problems with reading as ours are, along with the same concerns being made by their teachers.  I guess the highlight from that is: We are NOT alone and it ISN'T just us!  Poor comfort maybe, but possibly a comfort anyway!

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/54452/why-deeply-diving-into-content-could-be-the-key-to-reading-comprehension

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/54514/how-tech-tools-can-reduce-anxiety-and-strengthen-relationships-with-students

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/54389/3-ways-to-shape-math-into-a-positive-experience

Enjoy your weekend - 7 weeks to go to the end of Term!      (If anyone is counting)

Genre's and Weblinks

The latest genre display is up - and it is DIARY this time.  
There's a range of titles from historical to humour, and hopefully will appeal to a range of tastes.  

Below are also some links taken from the 'Conversation' blog, about educational thoughts and ideas.  I have just grabbed a few that could be topical, so maybe log on and have a look for yourselves. 

https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-is-it-ok-to-listen-to-music-while-studying-125222

https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-how-was-maths-discovered-who-made-up-the-numbers-and-rules-121509

https://theconversation.com/keep-your-job-options-open-and-dont-ditch-science-when-choosing-next-years-school-subjects-123012

https://theconversation.com/explainer-whats-the-difference-between-stem-and-steam-95713

Fundraising for Maths & Science Camps

https://www.schoolsplus.org.au/stem-adventures/

Please visit the website above to give a tax deductable donation and support local students who are keen to stretch their mental skills and understanding in challenging ways.

Since 2016, Tennant Creek High School has been providing opportunities every year for teams to engage and compete in the Science and Engineering Challenge as well as the Maths Enrichment Camp.

These two events offer students alternative non-sporting opportunities to extend themselves and explore the areas of Maths and Science in fun and competitive environments. 

The students carry out fundraising each year to help support travel costs and competition fees.  Those who have attended these events have shown an increased interest in Maths and Science as well as improvement in their attitudes to learning.  

The camp theme is FUN, THINKING & FRIENDSHIP. 

STEAM - powering today's classroom

Below are a few links to articles about schools and STEAM in classrooms and the benefits or otherwise to our students.  I found the one about Math and STEM being a social justice issue fascinating, especially given my inherent dislike of maths and numbers.
  
Take a look when you have a moment and see what you think.

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/oct17/vol75/num02/The_STEAM-Powered_Classroom.aspx

https://www.gettingsmart.com/2019/01/how-steam-education-benefits-students-at-a-young-age/

https://www.gettingsmart.com/2019/06/why-math-and-stem-education-is-a-social-justice-issue/

Maths and Sports

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/53767/getting-physical-how-the-flagway-game-sparks-learning-and-love-of-math

Check out the above link  - it's another small gem from the MindShift website about a program called FlagWay which is changing students attitudes to Maths.  It's sort of like a combination of Maths problems and Parkour.   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkour

I am no fan of Maths, as I'm sure some of you know - but I can see this being fun for the kids.