The Spring Break Cranky Edition of the Education Buzz–Life's a Carnival

Welcome to the Spring Break Carnival! I was going to be clever, witty and springy, but instead after trying to finalize my yearbook, I'm cranky, snarky and… See I was going to come up with another adjective, but my brain feels a little mushy and I've got nothin', zero, zippo, nadda…

So-o-o-o let's just get to it in a streamlined, no-nonsense (or maybe some minimal nonsense) version of the Education Buzz and see what's happening in the EduSphere. 

Thankfully, there are some people with some creativity left. I can only surmise they have never been a yearbook adviser. Annette Berlin offers 16 ways to stir your child's creativity. And while you're stirring up stuff, you can check out Jeron Shelton's post about developing talent.

Digitalteach talks about a teacher tech program that actually works. What a world, what a world.

Darren from Right on the Left Coast ponders just where the line is drawn for teachers.

Parenting is… discusses government mandated napping in California. Jeez Louise, I wonder what Darren from Right on the Left Coast would have to say about that?

Education Closet talks about the recent budget crisis effecting so many states and what it's doing to education.

Pat over at Successful Teaching talks about the importance of first lines and thinking about  grabbing the  attention of your students when your making your lesson plans.

If you find yourself laid off in this current budget crunch, Money Crashers talks about six things to consider before opting to go back to school.

Joanne Jacobs talks about her little chat with Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

Mr. Teacher over at Learn Me Good talks about sprouting seeds and knuckleheads.

Whoa, sometimes I think Old Andrew from over at Scenes from the Battleground and I must live in the same house. Check out his "10 Reasons Why I Shouldn't Tidy My House."

Tim over at Assorted Stuff grabbed my attention when he began his post with "Any other public school educators getting tired of being told you're overpaid."

Mamacita talks about blogging in her post, "The Blog is Dead! Long Live the Blog!" Jeez Louise, I was worried there for a moment and thought may be my blog had died and nobody told me.

Steve Spangler talks about Science Fairs and what is the right age for participating.

And speaking of participating, if you want to participate in the next Education Buzz, Mamacita has graciously agreed to host our next one on March 30 over at Scheiss Weekly. You can use this handy, dandy form to submit. Deadline for submissions is Saturday, March 26.

Before I go though, I have a post below that you might find interesting. It's not at all lighthearted, but it's important. See what you think.

If you would like to host an edition of the carnival, please let me know by emailing me at mybellringers@gmail.com. Also, don't forget to let me know if you find any broken links or problems with this edition of the Ed Buzz.

As always…

“I’ve got this feeling that there’s something that I missed…”
–Snow Patrol

And, if I did, my apologies.

Life's a Carnival–-the Education Buzz Edition #5

Welcome to the Fifth Edition of the Education Buzz--an eclectic smattering of things buzzing about the EduSphere. 

Get your mindset right. Are you ready for some Friday Night Lights?

Make sure you have your ID card with you. If you're not classified as a highly qualified teacher, you're not going to get in. Nancy Flanagan from Teacher in a Strange Land asks if a test can determine who really is a qualified teacher.

Would someone pah-leese tell Mr. Teacher that while his orange tickets might improve his test scores, they are not going to get him into the game.

Where does everyone want to sit? Let's ask Darren from Right on the Left Coast. Although his Back to School night went well, there's always that one parent and I think he's sitting over there.

Pat over at Successful Teaching wants to sit over by the band so she become one with the tubas. It's that salamander-transformation-thing she's got going on. Jeez Louise, what some teachers will do to eke out better writing from their students.

Would you please scoot over and let Old Andrew in.  He wants to know if you're one of those people who question special education needs and then are accused of thinking that A Christmas Carol "should have ended with Scrooge going over to Bob Cratchit’s house and giving Tiny Tim a good kicking…"

And if all of that doesn't get you yakking, scoot over some more and make way for the Dancing Crocodile and find out why rote learning doesn't stink. 

Are y'all watching the field? What in the world is the drill team doing down there? Put your left brain in, take your right brain out, put your left brain in and then shake it all about, let's do the hokey pokey and… Sharper Brains gives us the latest in learning styles or rather the lack there of. 

At halftime, you might want to head up to the press box and see TeachTechTopia about some apps for iPads.

Well the Education Optimists have finally decided to join our fun-filled extravaganza. I'm including both of their posts because (Shameless Self-Promotion Warning: like me they were named one of the best education blogs of 2010 by the Washington Post). One deals with a new initiative called VIVA which will make you happy, and other other deals with value added scores of individual teachers that made me all rather very sad and wondered what part of all that was optimistic.


I hate to leave everyone on a sad note, so make sure you check out my post on "Picture Day, Math Humor & Bad Hares." It's guaranteed to make you smile.

If your post was included, please link back to the carnival. Otherwise, I'll get snarky and may not include you next time. If you are interested in submitting a post, please check our guidelines first and then use this handy dandy form to submit. The carnival will appear back here in two weeks on Wednesday, Oct. 13. Submissions are due by 5 p.m. CST on Saturday, October 9.

Please let me know about any broken links or problems.  As always…

“I’ve got this feeling that there’s something that I missed…” 
–Snow Patrol

And, if I did, my apologies.