Trivial Pursuit

This article, written by Jamie McKenzie, examines the differences between trivial questions which hold little meaning for students and those questions requiring critical thinking skills.

Bloom's Taxonomy

Here is a great site listing verbs, sample questions, and potential activities for each hierarchy of Bloom's Taxonomy.

The Friday Memo

Happy Friday!

I hope your Friday has been a good one!

Before I proceed with our announcements, I want to thank you for the professionalism that each of you has displayed in the aftermath of Wednesday's chapel. I know that you were put in the position of answering some awkward questions without any warning, and you handled the situation beautifully. I'm so glad to be a part of your team!

1. Homecoming festivities begin next week, so things will definitely be different around here. Don't hesitate to guide me through the process as this will be my first Trinity Homecoming experience. Please encourage our kids to enjoy the planned events while keeping in mind our expectations.

2. Please remember that parent contact and good communication are essential to the success of a school. Studies show us that the single most important factor in school success is parental involvement. Let's do our part to be proactive with respect to partnering with our parents in the education of their children.

3. Now that we have the school year up and rolling, I will be visiting your classrooms more often. These early visits, or "walk-throughs," are for me to get a feel for what is going on in our middle school and will, for the most part, be unannounced. I will let you know when evaluation visits are coming, and you and I will have the opportunity to speak before and after such visits.

Thanks again for your hard work, dedication, and professionalism. Thanks most of all for putting the kids first!

Have a wonderful weekend!

The Friday Memo

Happy Friday!

Due to our lengthy faculty meeting Monday, I don't really have any points other than this:

1. Have a great weekend.

2. You are a much loved and appreciated Faculty!!

See you Monday!

PS - If my tired brain thinks of anything else, I'll add it this weekend, so you might want to check back here Monday morning!

"Jeopardy!" Games and Other Fun Stuff

Check out these fun SmartBoard and PowerPoint sites for educators. Hopefully you can use some of these resources in your classrooms.

Great SmartBoard Site for Science Teachers

If you teach science, you may want to take a look at this SmartBoard site dealing with the phases of the moon.

Have a good Wednesday!

Remember What I Said About Brain Research?

In yesterday's faculty meeting, we talked some about brain research and how we can utilize it with respect to teaching and assessment. The Dallas Morning News has published this article, well worth the time taken to read it, that discusses some exciting developments in this area.

Have a good day!