“Mirror, mirror ,on the wall, am I the prettiest of them all?” The renewed grade 6 and 8 Health curricula explores body image and feelings of satisfaction and dissatisfaction. In grade 6 students are to analyze cultural and social influences on perceptions of and personal standards related to body image and the resulting impact on identities. In grade 8, students assess how body image satisfaction/dissatisfaction and over-reliance on appearance as a source of identity and self-esteem affects the quality of life and self and family.
ILS has added three new DVD resources to support these outcomes:
Coping with the Body Image Blues [22 min.; Gr. 6 to 9]: Everyday teenagers are bombarded with images in the media that make them feel insecure about their own bodies. Using a mix of dramatic vignettes, humorous animations, and real student interviews, the DVD analyzes how a bad self-image can damage self-esteem and also why it’s important to accept one’s body the way it is.
Do You Have an Eating Disorder[19 min.; Gr. 8 to 10]: Teens and young adults describe their struggles with eating disorders. A teenage boy dispels the myth that eating disorders affect only girls.
Teen Truth: An Inside Look at Body Image[23 min.; Gr. 8 to 12]: This DVD captures real people discussing how celebrities, media, sports and peers influence one’s body image and may lead to dangerous habits. Three compelling stories reveal how peer and media influences drove these teens to engage in life-threatening behaviours.
Check the OPAC for information about these additional ILS resources:
Killing Us Softly 3: Advertising’s Image of Women [c2000; 34 min; Gr. 8 and up]
Preventing Eating Disorders, Promoting Positive Body Image [c2003; 12 min; gr. 8 and up]
Shredded [c2005; 22 min.; Gr. 8 and up] — teenage boys, media & body image
The Zit: A Small Tale About a Giant Pimple [c2006; 5 min.; Gr. 5 to 9]
If you are looking for a great book to share with your grade 8 students, you might suggest Uglies by Scott Westerfeld.
If we care about the sustainability of planet Earth, we need to take an active role in protecting that which is precious. ILS has purchased a number of new science DVD series that challenge students to think globally and become responsible stewards of the environment.
Environmental Science for Students[Gr. 6 to 12; 6 DVD's; 23 min. each]: This 6-part series provides a fascinating look at Earth’s environment and some of the most important environmental issues of our time. Accurate explanations, global examples and balanced viewpoints guide students in a exploration of topics that range from global climate change to the degradation of soil. Environmental experts speak about topics of interest and noteworthy case studies showcase real-world examples. The environment’s link to human health, the economy and society is also examined. The series will help students understand the science behind their changing world while considering multiple perspectives. Check out the individual titles in the OPAC for specific information about each DVD. Titles must be booked individually. Titles include: Air Quality; Global Climate; Green Energy; Soil Quality; Sustainability in the 21st Century; and Water Quality.
Eco=Kids Elementary School Series [Gr. 3 to 5; 3 DVD's; 14 to 16 min. each]: This 3-part series is designed to help young students take steps towards making the Earth a better, and more environmentally friendly place to live. The series reports of the state of our planet today. Students learn how to conserve energy, preserve water, and learn about renewable resources while monitoring the use of our natural resources. Titles must be booked individually. Titles include: Part 1–The Earth Needs Your Help; Part 2–How “Eco” Are You?; and Part 3–Things You Can Do.
Eco=Kids Middle School Series [Gr. 6 to 9; 3 DVD's; 14 to 16 min. each]: This 3-part series is identical to the Eco=Kids Elementary School Series. The only difference is that it has been retooled for an older audience. Titles must be booked individually. Titles include: The Earth Needs Your Help; How “Eco” Are You?; and Things You Can Do.
Eco Kids Explore Series [Gr. 6 to 8; 5 DVD's; 11 to 17 minutes]: This 5-part series helps students learn about the problems facing Earth today, and also how to help solve them. As our world grows, so does the demand for energy. The series explores five different types of “green power” which are becoming increasingly popular. Titles must be booked individually. Titles include: Solar Power; Wind Power; Geothermal Energy; Ethanol; and Hybrid Cars.
Are your students on Facebook? Do they like to chat online? Do they know when they have found reliable information? Have they been seduced by advergames? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you need to check out Passport to the Internet, a bilingual, web-based program created by Media Awareness Network and licensed by ILS for the current school year.
Passport to the Internet is an Internet literacy tutorial for students in grades 4 to 8. It includes 5 modules that help students to develop critical thinking skills in order to use the Internet safely and ethically both for personal use and for research. Students begin by selecting an avatar. As they work through the modules with your guidance, they receive a passport stamp for each completed activity.
MODULES:
MyFace: A social networking site that challenges students to create an interesting profile while still protecting their privacy.
Co-Co-s Choco Match: An advergame that teaches tricks used by online advertisers to hook young consumers.
Study Space: A research assignment that teaches students how to select reliable websites and how to use Boolean operators.
Web Cafe: An introduction to web surfing that shows students how to judge what is behind a link, e-mail, banner ad, or search result before clicking on it.
Instant Pigeon:An IM program which engages students in four conversations teaching them to make ethical choices. It explores managing online relationships and dealing with cyberbullying.
Located in Desk Tools, the programand is meant to be used with teacher guidance including pre and post discussions. An extensive teacher’s guide is provided. Each module takes approximately 1 to 2 hours to complete. Your elementary teacher-librarian has been introduced to the program and will have ideas to help you incorporate the modules into your instructional plan for the year!
You’ve heard the debate about the chicken and the egg. That same debate is often applied to teaching. Which comes first, and is the lucky winner more important than the runner-up? In my opinion, there is no debate — teaching is both an art and a science. In the hands of a master teacher, teaching is an art. The teacher is attuned to student needs and intuitively provides for them. I am not one of those fortunate few; I tend to lean on the side of science and technique.
Two new professional resources have been added to the ILS collection to help you develop and refine your teaching repertoire.
The Art and Science of Teaching: A Comprehensive Framework for Effective Instruction by Robert Marazano: This 3-part resource includes a book and 2 DVD’s. The first DVD discusses: establishing and communicating learning goals; tracking student progress; celebrating success; and and helping students interact with new knowledge, practice and deepen their understanding. The second DVD discusses: engaging students; establishing and maintaining rules and procedures; and creating and maintaining effective relationships.
Moving Forward with Understanding by Designby Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe: This 2-part resource will help you understand the difference between teaching for understanding and teaching for simple knowledge acquisition. A backwards design framework is used to identify major understandings/outcomes and the planning sequence for designing learning opportunities that will help students achieve the outcomes.
Response to Intervention is a new educational strategy for managing student behavioural problems. RTI uses a 3-tiered organizational structure to help those students who are struggling in order to ensure that they receive just the right instruction or intervention in order to be successful. With RTI, schools identify students at risk for poor learning outcomes, monitor student progress, provide planned interventions, and adjust the interventions as required.
To learn more about RTI, check out the three new resources:
Pyramid Response to Intervention: RTI, Professional Learning Communities and How to Respond When Kids Don’t Learn by Buffum, Mattos & Weber [Solution Tree, C2009]
Understanding Response to Intervention: A Practical Guide to Systemic Implementationby Howell, Patton & Deiotte [Solution Tree, c2008]
The Power of RTI: Classroom Management Strategies (K-6) [DVD; 68 min.; c2008]: This DVD focuses primarily on Tier 1 techniques which addresses: classroom rules, routines & schedules; positive behavioral expectations; simple strategies to manage defiant and non-compliant students; targeted use of rewards & feedback; structured lessons to incorporate meaningful student choices; management of daily classroom transitions.
Planning for assessment is a critical component of instruction. A balanced assessment program includes a variety of assessment strategies that are matched with specific student outcomes. Diagnostic assessments are used to determine where students are at before the learning process begins. Formative or on-going assessments are used to inform/adjust classroom instruction and to provide useful feedback to students. Summative assessment occurs at the end of learning and provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate what they know, understand, and can do.
Check out the two new DVD resources to learn more about diagnostic and formative assessment.
The Power of Formative Assessment to Advance Learning (ASCD, c2008): Contains 3 DVD programs and a user’s guide. Topics include: what formative assessment is, when it can be used, and how it differs from summative assessment; a 6-step process for implementing formative assessment in the classroom; and strategies to use to discern that students have learned and understood the content and outcomes.
Failure is Not an Option 3 — Effective Assessment for Effective Learning (Hope Foundation, c2008): In the 3-DVD program, leading experts present the underlying concepts for “assessment for learning” and teachers illustrate “theory into practice” in their classrooms. Experts include Carol Tomlinson, Michael Fullan, Jay McTighe, Ken O’Connor, and others.
In the age of global networks and with the advent of “Googling,” finding information is not a problem. Our challenge as educators is to connect our students to reliable and current information and to equip them with the attitudes, knowledge, and skills to become 21st century citizens who are confident lifelong learners.
Check out the following PDF documents that describe how to incorporate subscription databases provides by Information and Library Services and the provincial Multitype Database Licensing Program into learning experiences.
Thank you to the many teachers who responded to the request for feedback regarding the databases Global Issues in Context and Science Resource Center. After a more thorough evaluation, I am delighted to inform you that Information and Library Services has acquired both products. As a one year added bonus, the vendor has provided History Resource Center World.
All three databases are available from the Resources Online webpage.
Global Issues in Context has the look and feel of webpage portal. It is aimed at educating middle years and high school students about contemporary topics using multiple perspectives, and does so by combining audio, video, images, maps, and text into a single, integrated user experience.
Science Resource Center is an in-depth, curriculum-oriented science database that provides a one-stop resource for all science-related research needs. Suitable for upper middle years students and high school students, it explores topics related to biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, math, environmental science, life science, medicine, space science, computer science, technology, history of science, science and society, science as inquiry, science-related biographies and more.
History Resource Center World is a virtual library of the resources needed for high school students to study world history within a flexible, comprehensive and convenient search tool.
Check out these new DVD resources that support Health Education, Wellness, and Media Studies:
Date Rape: A Volition of Trust[Gr. 9 to 12; 28 min.]: Reinforces that concepts that rape has its roots in hate crime, underscores the rule of dating — “No” means “No”, and includes interviews with rape survivors.
Open Arms? Open Eyes! Power, Control and Abuse in Teen Relationships [ Gr. 8 to 10; 27 min.]: Identifies abusive behaviours in teen dating, points out warning signs, and offers advice on what to do when involved in such a relationship.
Ten Signs of Relationship Abuse [ Gr. 9 to 12; 28 min.]: Helps students identify the warning signs of dangerous dating relationships.
Teen Truth: An Inside Look at Drug and Alcohol Abuse [Gr. 7 to 12; 21 min.]: Much of this video was shot by teens. It weaves together footage of real drug addicts in recovery with teens who are casually experimenting with drugs. The DVD uses driving music, impactful graphics, and raw imagery to show the dangerous path to addiction.
Advertising, the Media and Your Health [Gr. 7 to 11; 19 min.]: This program looks at the power of the media and advertising in young peoples’ lives.
The following professional learning resources that support brain-based learning, multiple intelligences, and differentiated instruction have been added to the ILS Professional Library:
Becoming a “WIZ” at Brain-Based Teaching: How to Make Every Year Your Best Yearby M. Sprenger (c2007) — contains information on how to translate the latest research on learning, memory, and the brain into effective, enjoyable classroom practice.
Unleashing the Potential of the Teenage Brain: 10 Powerful Ideas by B. Corbin (c2008): contains ten ideas that integrate new & existing theories into practice. Each idea includes a case study, descriptions of the changing roles/expectations, and guidelines for creating an optimal learning environment.
Brain-Based Teaching with Adolescent Learning in Mind by G. Crawford (c2007): This 2nd edition looks at recent research and presents how-to strategies for motivating teens with inquiry, relevance, and collaboration.
ShoutingWon’t Grow Dendrites: 20 Techniques for Managing a Brain-Compatible Classroom by M. Tate (c2007): Shows how to cultivate a classroom environment that delivers brain-compatible lessons and manages classroom behaviours at the same time.
Pick and Plan: 100 Brain-Compatible Strategies for Lesson Design by B. Utter (c2007): Reviews building blocks of the brain and includes brain-friendly lesson plans.
Instructional Strategies for the Differentiated Classroom 1-4 [120 min.]: ASCD DVD programs and support materials that examine learning contracts, learning preferences, tiered assignments and complex instruction.
Instructional Strategies for the Differentiated Classroom 5-7 [105 min.: ASCD DVD programs and support material that examines RAFT assignments, centers, and webquests.
“Mirror, mirror ,on the wall, am I the prettiest of them all?” The renewed grade 6 and 8 Health curricula explores body image and feelings of satisfaction and dissatisfaction. In grade 6 students are to analyze cultural and social influences on perceptions of and personal standards related to body image and the resulting impact on identities. In grade 8, students assess how body image satisfaction/dissatisfaction and over-reliance on appearance as a source of identity and self-esteem affects the quality of life and self and family.
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