SWITCH!!

Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard

by Chip Heath, Dan Heath

Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard

Thanks to the team at Don Johnston for telling me about this book. I'm not such a great nonfiction reader, but this book has been really life-changing for me. I'm trying to use their principles in my workshops, consulting, and work with students. The authors review decades of research from a range of disciplines, to give strategies for making change . . . and making it stick!

Sounds pretty boring, right? Let me say that:
• I was embarrassed on an airplane for frequent LOLs - funny stuff!
• I was embarrassed on a subway in NYC when I realized that everyone else had left the train, and we were at the 'end of the line' - I'd missed it because I was so engrossed!

Find it on Amazon, or my fave used books site, www.abebooks.com

Hope others enjoy it as much as I did! Below is an image, and a quick 'heads up'!

IPEVO Point to View Document Camera

Many of you have asked about the mini document camera that I use at workshops. I'm using the IPEVO Point to View document camera, also called P2V. I love it because it's:
- portable
- lightweight
- durable
- small

It allows me to easily show items to a large group, and is truly plug and play (okay, after a 1-time software install or download!)

Here are a few ways I use P2V (just as teachers use Elmo):
a) for presentations, showing small materials (e.g., for my workshop of 800 + last month in Los Angeles)
b) reading books, with no one whining, 'I can't see!'
c) showing student work as we discuss it, such as engaging in T.A.G. conferences (tell what you like, ask questions, give advice)
d) showing a sample art project

Please share other uses you're finding, and other portable doc cameras that you like.

Now, for the where: I got mine at a local Big Box store (Staples?) but you can order online:
http://www.ipevo.com/prods/Point-2-View-USB-Camera/IPEVO

Musselwhite Bingo!

Musselwhite Bingo

Teachers often use bingo for activities such as developing quick recognition of sight words (knowing that students need to read those high frequency words in ¼ second to enhance comprehension). Here’s a new twist on bingo, to keep students engaged.

First, as many others recommend (e.g., Cheryl Sigmon, http://www.cherylsigmon.com/, Word Wall Activities, www.teachingfirst.net ), it’s better if students write their own words, instead of just handing them a bingo board. That connects the reading and writing, and gives an authentic purpose for writing Word Wall words. Also, that ensures that students have the words in different locations.

Now, for the fun, Musselwhite:

1st bingo = Bingo

2^nd bingo = Tingo

3^rd bingo = Thringo (are you getting the pattern here?)

4^th bingo = Fingo

5^th bingo = Pingo (why? Because a pentagon has 5 sides)

You’ll find that students stay on task far longer, and respond more quickly, trying to get to that next level!