Archive for the ‘What can Dr. Doug do for you?’ Category

Welcome to my blog. The purpose of the blog is to provide free content that will serve as bite-sized staff development material for practicing school administrators, people who wish to be administrators some day, teachers, and parents. I also hope that it will generate some discussion that we can all share to help with your day jobs and life in general.

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How to Help Your Child Choose a Major
College comes with so many different decisions, and quite a few of them involve the major that a student is going to pursue. Before they begin school, have an open and honest discussion with your children to aid them in selecting the best major for them. This sound advice also apply to teachers as they try to advice students regarding which path to follow. Here’s what you need to know.

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I decided is was time to try artificial intelligence for article writing so I took Google’s Bard for a spin. I gave it the prompt “Write a 1000 word article on the pluses and minuses of high-stakes standardized testing in schools” and a few seconds later it offered the article below. See what you think. Can you tell it was written by AI and not a human educator like myself? If I were working the education beat for most media outlets, I would be a bit nervous. I also asked for a “a short story in Swedish about a day at the beach.” What I got was a valuable lesson for someone like myself who has intermediate Swedish skills. Share with foreign language teachers you know. If you want to try it yourself just click here.

High-Stakes Standardized Testing in Schools: The Pros and Cons by Google’s Bard, prompt by Dr. Doug Green

Standardized testing has been a part of American education for over a century. In recent decades, however, the use of standardized tests has become increasingly widespread, with many states and school districts now using them to make high-stakes decisions about student promotion, teacher evaluation, and school funding.

High-stakes standardized tests are those that have significant consequences for students, teachers, or schools. For example, a student who fails a high-stakes test may be held back a grade, a teacher whose students perform poorly on a high-stakes test may be fired, or a school that does not meet its performance goals on a high-stakes test may lose funding.

There are both pros and cons to using high-stakes standardized testing in schools.

Pros of High-Stakes Standardized Testing

Accountability: High-stakes standardized tests can help to hold schools and teachers accountable for student learning. By requiring schools to demonstrate that their students are meeting certain standards, high-stakes tests can help to ensure that all students have access to a quality education.
Data for improvement: High-stakes standardized tests can provide valuable data that can be used to improve instruction and student learning. For example, test scores can be used to identify areas where students are struggling and to target interventions.
Fairness: High-stakes standardized tests can help to ensure that all students are treated fairly, regardless of their background or circumstances. By giving all students the same test, high-stakes tests can help to level the playing field.
Motivation: High-stakes standardized tests can motivate students to work hard and achieve their goals. The prospect of failing a high-stakes test can be a powerful incentive for students to study and do their best.

Cons of High-Stakes Standardized Testing

Overemphasis on test scores: When high-stakes tests are used to make important decisions about students, teachers, or schools, there is a tendency to overemphasize test scores. This can lead to a narrowing of the curriculum and a focus on test preparation at the expense of other important learning goals.
Inaccuracy: High-stakes standardized tests are not perfect measures of student learning. They can be affected by a variety of factors, such as test anxiety, fatigue, and socioeconomic status. As a result, high-stakes test scores can sometimes be inaccurate and misleading.
Disadvantaged students: High-stakes standardized tests can disadvantage students from disadvantaged backgrounds. These students may have less access to resources and support, and they may be more likely to experience test anxiety. As a result, they may score lower on high-stakes tests than their more privileged peers.
Stress and anxiety: High-stakes standardized tests can cause stress and anxiety for students, teachers, and parents. This stress can have a negative impact on learning and well-being.

Conclusion

The use of high-stakes standardized testing in schools is a complex issue with both pros and cons. There is no easy answer to the question of whether or not high-stakes testing is a good thing. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to use high-stakes standardized testing is a political one that must be made by each state and school district.

In recent years, there has been a growing movement to reduce the reliance on high-stakes standardized testing. Some states have eliminated high-stakes testing altogether, while others have moved to reduce the stakes associated with testing. This movement is based on the belief that high-stakes testing is not an effective way to improve education.

The debate over high-stakes standardized testing is likely to continue for many years to come. There is no easy solution to this complex issue. However, it is important to have a thoughtful and informed discussion about the pros and cons of high-stakes testing so that we can make the best decisions for our students.

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How to Know When It’s Time to See a Chiropractor?

by Dr. Brent Wells, D.C. is a good place to start if you are having pain or issues with your back or other joints. I have gone to chiropractors for many years and they have “fixed” a number of nagging issues for me. They will want to see you on a regular basis, but if you can’t afford that they can at least offer relief in the short run.

Introduction

• It can be difficult to know when is the right time to see a chiropractor. While it might be easy to ignore or muster through pain and limited movements, this can drastically affect your lifestyle. If you’re not able to move or do the things you love it can prove to be very troublesome, both mentally and physically. Below are a few signs that you can use to tell when it might be time to make an appointment.

The Benefits of Using Chiropractic Care

• Using chiropractic care comes with a handful of health benefits. One of the most important is that it helps to decrease tension and improve flexibility. Regular treatments can also naturally treat degenerative joint and tissue problems, such as arthritis.
• Chiropractors also use massage therapy to help with relieving pain and inflammation. If you’re a little nervous about having adjustments done, you could instead opt for a healing massage. In addition to this, physical rehab is usually offered. This can help with improving your range of motion while using hands-on techniques to train your body.

How Often Should You Get a Chiropractic Adjustment?

• How Often Should You Get a Chiropractic Adjustment? will vary depending on your needs. Some chiropractors might recommend one or two treatments each week while others will only need to see you once a month.

Six Signs That You Need to See a Chiropractor

• 1. You Have a Limited Range of Motion
  One of the most tell-tale signs that you need to see a chiropractor is that you have a limited range of motion. This indicates that your body has a joint problem that is limiting your mobility. Why this happens depends on various issues, but it’s mainly caused by arthritis or spine injuries. A chiropractor will help to realign your joints and muscles by doing different types of manipulations. They will feel around areas on your back, neck, and shoulders, to find places of tension. They might even ask you to do specific stretches so they can better see how your body moves. Once they identify problematic areas, they will expertly move your body in a way to help provide relief. This will also improve circulation in the area which can prevent future flexibility issues.
• 2. You’re Suffering From Chronic Pain
  If you suffer from chronic pain, such as in your face, back, or neck, it might be time to stop by a chiropractic office. Chronic pain can be treated by a chiropractor with the use of spinal manipulations. Because your spine interacts with most areas of your body, these manipulations will help to treat inflammation and tension almost anywhere.
• 3. You Have Intense or Frequent Headaches
  Headaches are caused by a variety of different things. This includes stress, tension, spending too much time on the computer, environmental stimuli, or an underlying medical condition, like extreme intracranial pressure or tumors. A chiropractor will adjust your neck in certain directions to help release tension. Known as cervical manipulation, this adjustment uses force to apply pressure to your neck’s joints. This helps to realign them while also reducing any pressure in surrounding muscles. Besides adjustments, your chiropractor will also recommend natural ways to prevent headaches, such as avoiding teeth clenching and drinking plenty of water. After a few treatments, you should find that your headaches will decrease in their pain and number.
• 4. There’s Shooting Pain Down Your Legs
  Shooting pain down your legs shows that your body is having nerve problems, such as sciatica, or has a herniated disc.
  To help relieve this pain, a chiropractor will do spinal manipulations. These will stop muscle spasms while also releasing endorphins to help naturally relieve pain. A handful might also use a special device, such as an activator, that stimulates your nerves. Rather than using their hands, a chiropractor will move this device up and down your spine to apply short impulses to surrounding joints, muscles, and nerves.
• 5. You Have Severe Sinus Congestion
  Some might be surprised to learn that chiropractors can help with healing sinus congestion. In fact, chiropractors often successfully treat this issue without you needing to take medications for it. By using manipulations on your upper spine, they’ll be able to release pressure around your main sinus passageway resulting in fluid drainage. They might also apply pressure to certain portions of your face near the nasal cavities to stimulate the nerves.
• 6. You Tend to Sit Often
  If you have a job that requires you to sit for hours each day, you might want to stop by a chiropractic office. A sedentary life can put a lot of pressure on your spine, especially if you use a poor sitting position. Chiropractic care can improve your spine’s health and encourage you to use correct posture. (Doug: You should also look into getting a desk that lets you stand or sit.)
• Knowing the right time to see a chiropractor can be tough. By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll know when your body requires this extra help. Check out the references below for more information.

Dr. Brent Wells, D.C.

• Dr. Brent Wells, D.C. is the creator of Better Health Chiropractic & Physical Rehab which has multiple locations throughout Alaska. He belongs to the American Academy of Spine Physicians (AASP) and the American Chiropractic Association. He founded Better Health Chiropractic & Physical Rehab and has been a chiropractor for over 20 years. His practice has treated thousands of patients from different health problems using services designed to help give long-lasting relief.
• Dr. Wells is also the author of over 700 online health articles that have been featured on sites such as Dr. Axe, Organic Facts, and Thrive Global. He continues his education to remain active and updated in all studies related to neurology, physical rehab, biomechanics, spine conditions, brain injury trauma, and more.

References

• What Is Spinal Manipulation? Healthline
• The Relationship Between Sedentary Behavior, Back Pain, and Psychosocial Correlates Among University Employees – US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health

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Introduction

• People learning and working from home whether by choice or necessity have a challenging proposition. Guidelines, rules, and boundaries should be in place, ideally before instruction or work begins. If you’re already into it, don’t be afraid to take a few minutes to reassess goals and routines for day-to-day instruction and overall accomplishments. While this article focuses on learning from home, working from home offers many of the same challenges.

Long-Term Goals

• One of the first conversations to have with yourself should be about long-term goals for completing education or work. Whether you have your eye on a selective college or alternatives to college like a gap year or a job, you should understand that high school, in whatever form it may take, is the stepping stone to future success.

Short-Term Goals

• When there are no bells telling you to hurry up, sometimes it’s hard to get started on the work that needs to be accomplished. At home, there are many distractions like computer games, TV, and even chores. Find a quiet place that will help you focus and leave the distractions elsewhere. Create short-term goals for each unit of study and for each day. Whatever your preference, you can set reasonable expectations for how long you should focus on each discipline and whether you prefer to work on one subject all day or break classes up into hourly chunks. Timers and timetables are both useful.

Study Basics

• Without the guidance of a regular classroom teacher in the room, you might not intuitively know some of the processes that are used to help you excel. You should gather supplies before you start and have a designated workstation. Of course, learning from home comes with more flexibility than a traditional school, but keeping school supplies in one place and neatening your desk at the end of each day are good habits to acquire no matter where you learn.

Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning

• While some home learning lacks any real-time interaction with a teacher, some of it does. This is likely to be the case for younger learners. Be sure your schedule indicates when it’s time to join online (Zoom) meetings and be sure to be there. Many schools still take attendance and some even use it as part of your grade. Also, be sure to know what the situation is with grading. Is it pass-fail, or are there certain expectations that will lead to a letter grade? If so be sure to make notes on that and check to see on a regular basis if you are checking all of the boxes. Getting good grades can be easy if you are organized and do everything that is expected.

Snacks and Exercise

• One thing you have constant access to at home is your refrigerator. While an occasional snack can help keep your focus, too much food can result in unwanted weight gain. Try drinking non-calorie drinks like water. Although diet sodas don’t have any calories they are not generally recommended by many nutritionists. For adults, tea and coffee are good choices.
• Exercise is also important for keeping you mentally sharp. Be sure to get up and move around frequently and schedule times at least twice a day for tinges like walking, jogging, biking, or lifting weights. Many people also report benefits from things like meditation and yoga. Consider getting a desk that goes up and down so you can spend some work time standing.
• Learning at home and learning at home effectively are not necessarily the same thing. Help yourself by setting up routines and habits to get the most out of homeschooling.

Craig Middleton

• Craig is a New York City-based retired business consultant, who is an expert in education and cultural trends. He has a Masters of Business Administration and a Masters in Education from St. Johns and loves sharing his knowledge on the side through his writing. If you have any questions or comments you can direct them to Craig at craigmiddleton18@gmail.com.

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Live feed from Iceland volcano – This is so cool (hot) that I didn’t want to wait for my daily post to share it. Enjoy. @verityjx @BeckePhysics @somafm

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Purchase this ACOUSTIC WALL ART here.

Today’s post is special. I have a good friend who is recovering from heart and cancer surgeries. When we get together, we take turns playing favorite YouTube music videos. This is for him and anyone who wants to stimulate their brain. Enjoy and share. Dr. Doug

Classical: ach: Toccata & Fugue in D minor – Original Canadian Brass with Peter Schickele = If you like brass and Bach this is a winner. @CanadianBrass

Religious: Home Free – How Great Thou Art – This is my favorite hymn. You don’t have to believe in God to enjoy this as the background is insanely beautiful. @HomeFreeGuys

Folk: Psalm 136 with Béla Fleck and Sierra Hull – As a banjo player Bela is my idol. I think you will find that Sierra can keep up with him. @belafleckbanjo @sierrahull

Ukulele: Taimane Gardner, the Ukulele Virtuoso | Taimane Gardner | TEDxMaui – She mixes Bach’s Fugue in D minor with some flamenco stuff. This is VERY COOL. @taimanegardner @TEDxMaui

Classical: Mason Williams – Classical Gas w/ Deborah Henson-Conant – This is a very cool classic song with a harp accompaniment. @HipHarpist

Rock: Stevie Nicks – Edge of Seventeen (Official Music Video) – I never get tired of this song. I hope you like it too. @StevieNicks

PercussionRoyal Marines Corps of Drums and Top Secret Drum Corps | The Bands of HM Royal Marines – If you know any percussionists, please share this with them. @RMBandService

Rock: Guns N’ Roses – Sweet Child O’ Mine on iPhone (GarageBand) – Every GarageBand instrument & instrument setup used for #GunsNRoses #SweetChildOfMine can be found in this video

Folk: Punch Brothers cover Gordon Lightfoot’s “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” 3/3/22 Boston, MA – Chris Thile and Punch Brothers with Noam Pikelny, Chris Eldridge, Gabe Witcher, and Paul Kowert perform Gordon Lightfoot and Tony Rice’s “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” @LessThanFace1 @punchbrothers @christhile

Bagpipes: Shipping Up To Boston/Enter Sandman – Bagpipe Cover (The Snake Charmer x Goddesses of Bagpipe) This is a mix of Irish tunes and metal for you on the Bagpipes with 3 Female Bagpipers all the way from the US, Scotland and India. This video is very well done. @yourbestvids @DropkickMurphys

Rock: Rush – Tom Sawyer (Bass Cover) by a very young girl. She is incredible. Getty Lee is considered a top bass player, and she is playing his entire part. @EllenPlaysBass

Broadway: Six from Six: The Musical on Broadway – This is an Animatic of the final number, which to my tastes should be a big hit. If you like it a little searching will find videos from the actual show that I saw and really enjoyed on 2/18/2022. @TheTobyMarlow @MucyLoss

Movie Hit Song: This Little Girl Singing ‘Let It Go’ Inside A Ukrainian Bomb Shelter Will Melt Your Heart. Just in case you haven’t seen this yet I had to post it. @jamescrugnale @Independent

Song for early readers: Peace Love and Hope – David Perry Origina – This would be a good song for elementary teachers to play. It is especially good for beginning readers. @DavidPerryTunes

Folk: Northwest Passage (Stan Rogers) – The Water Boys (A Cappella Cover) – If you aren’t a Stan Rogers fan here is your chance to get started. @WaterBoysUW @Stanfest

Soul: Blues Brothers: Soul Man – SNL – Today’s song “Soul Man” by The Blues Brothers was recorded LIVE at the Universal Amphitheater in September 1978, a few months after they debuted on SNL as the musical guest on April 22, 1978. @dan_aykroyd @nbcsnl

1050s Ballad: “In the Still of the Night along with a lot of 1950s icons – The Five Satins perform this memorable song. If you’re my age you will love this. If you don’t remember the 1950s you can still get a kick out of this. @safeshare_tv

Rock: Joan Jett & Dave Grohl ~ Cherry Bomb 2015 – This is a favorite of mine. It’s a rock number for a woman, but Dave does it justice. @joanjett @foofighters

ABBA: ABBA’S DANCING QUEEN Like You’ve NEVER Heard It Before! Simon Cowell Won’t Forget This AGT Audition – Debbii Dawson WOWS Simon & the Judges with her GORGEOUS Original Version of a Pop Classic with Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara, and Howie Mandel on America’s Got Talent 2022. @debbiidawson @AGT @SimonCowell @heidiklum @SofiaVergara @howiemandel

Metal: Miley Cyrus and Metallica “Nothing Else Matters” Live on the Stern Show You don’t have to be a fan of Miley or Metallica to enjoy this. It starts with a talk with Howard Stern. The singing starts at about the 2:40 mark. @Metallica @MileyNewsAccess @MileyCyrus @HowardStern

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Forging strong relationships with students should be top of your to-do list. As teachers prepare for back to school, this should be at the top of the list. @DrDougGreen @tes

Recent Book Summaries, Original Work, and Guest Posts

The Innovator’s Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity by George Couros

Sweden’s Cashless Economy: Pros & Cons – Great Student Debate Topic @DrDougGreen DrDougGreen.Com

Helping Children Succeed: What Works and Why by Paul Tough

Failing at the business of school – The corporate/political class is failing schools by expecting them to be more like businesses. @DrDougGreen @tes

Are You Smarter Than Bill Gates? If you are an educator you probably know more about education than he does. @DrDougGreen @tes

Sexting Panic: Rethinking Criminalization, Privacy, and Consent by Amy Adele Hasinoff @amyadele

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