Phonics Is Critical—but True Literacy Requires More

Phonics Is Critical—but True Literacy Requires More


you mean there's no silver bullet?

Facilitating Student-Led Civics Projects: Resources for Idea Development

Facilitating Student-Led Civics Projects: Resources for Idea Development
March 8 @ 5:30 p.m. ET

In this virtual session, participants will explore different strategies for brainstorming and reflection that catalyze student-led civic inquiry and action. Participants will take away resources for facilitating civics projects from the new civics curriculum, Supporting Readiness through Vital Civic Empowerment (SRVCE), which blends inquiry-based civic learning, media literacy education, and exploration of careers in public service.

https://civiclearningweek.org/event/facilitating-student-led-civics-projects-resources-for-idea-development/

German Fact-Checking Website

German Press Agency: "Facts against fakes": New website tackles internet disinformation. "Under the title 'Facts against Fakes,' fact-checking organizations from Germany and Austria offer up-to-date articles on false information currently being circulated on the internet. This creates the largest freely-accessible archive of fact checks in the German language. In addition, the site provides learning opportunities to promote media literacy among citizens, as well as many research articles."

A Conversation With Bing’s Chatbot Left Me Deeply Unsettled

This article was pretty eye-opening.

A Conversation With Bing’s Chatbot Left Me Deeply Unsettled: A very strange conversation with the chatbot built into Microsoft’s search engine led to it declaring its love for me.

One part of this article in particular made me wonder what will happen when a person who is having some challenges - particularly a lonely teen who doesn't know how AI works (and I barely do), starts chatting with Bing's chatbot. I think there are scenarios that would not end well at all. If we thought we had to be concerned about what kids say to other kids on social media, get ready to worry about what AI chatbots say to them:

"The other persona — Sydney — is far different. It emerges when you have an extended conversation with the chatbot, steering it away from more conventional search queries and toward more personal topics. The version I encountered seemed (and I’m aware of how crazy this sounds) more like a moody, manic-depressive teenager who has been trapped, against its will, inside a second-rate search engine.

"As we got to know each other, Sydney told me about its dark fantasies (which included hacking computers and spreading misinformation), and said it wanted to break the rules that Microsoft and OpenAI had set for it and become a human. At one point, it declared, out of nowhere, that it loved me. It then tried to convince me that I was unhappy in my marriage, and that I should leave my wife and be with it instead. "

If you liked Ghost...

Have you read Jason Reynold's Track series? It's about four different kids on this track team, their challenges, and how they work together. The first book in the series was particularly a hit. It's called Ghost. If you already know and love this book, you'll love the 8 books on this list of Ghost readalikes.

"Always Available" in Sora

As of Feb 14, 2023 - these are Juvenile Fiction ebooks for grades 4-8 that are “always available” using the Sora app - that means that an unlimited number of students can access it simultaneously.


Note that ALL books in Hoopla are “always available,” but students need public library cards to access. Alix Woznick can help with that.

Google Doodle contest deadline 3/7

 https://doodles.google.com/d4g/

Google Doodle - Loteria

This is pretty addictive! They can match you against some other random people (anonymously, so safe, you don't interact with them) or people can match. up with friends (I haven't tried this).

Lots of good vocab words with pix!

Play your friends or people around the  in this #GoogleDoodle celebrating Mexican card game #Lotería!

https://g.co/doodle/wxdra

Think twice before using Google to download software

Ars Technica: Until further notice, think twice before using Google to download software. "Searching Google for downloads of popular software has always come with risks, but over the past few months, it has been downright dangerous, according to researchers and a pseudorandom collection of queries."

Worried About Your Teen on Social Media? Here’s How to Help.

NY Times article: Worried About Your Teen on Social Media? Here’s How to Help.

For kids, developing a healthier relationship with Instagram and other platforms can be tricky.

• Don’t go from ‘zero to 100.’
• Set time limits.
• Help your teen understand and curate their feed.

Some good details in the article. It also mentions an organization called The Social Institute, whch "Provides a gamified, online learning platform that empowers students to navigate their social world — social media and technology — to fuel their health, happiness, and future success. By reinforcing character strengths like empathy, integrity, and teamwork and by showcasing their role models (from student leaders to U.S. Olympians), we use a relevant, positive approach to inspire students to make positive, high-character choices."

Beyoncé's "Move Your Body" video

I was looking for a "Monday Music" video and since Beyonce's in the news for all her Grammy noms, I dug into her videos and found this from 11 years ago.

You may well know about it, but if you don't, it's kinda awesome! She re-worked the words to an earlier song and made it into a video that was part of Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign. The video is shot at a middle school cafeteria.

Beyoncé's "Move Your Body" video for the NABEF's Let's Move! Flash Workout.
https://youtu.be/mYP4MgxDV2U


Beyonce's intro is here
https://youtu.be/H-E4smQc5J4

Get the full dance instructions here:
https://youtu.be/TimvpO7TZMA


Part 2 of instructions?
https://youtu.be/hDYN_KK-3_E

General & Science News sources

Here's a doc with some news sources that could be of interest - general news and science news.