Mister Brain

Look to this page for the latest happenings in the technology world of Mister Brain at Del Mar Middle School.

 
 
Last Entry June 4, 2009 Another year draws to close, filled with memories both wonderful and challenging. We are all taking deep breaths, making sure we stay present and mindful during these final days of the trimester. We bid farewell to a tremendous group of eighth graders, and are beginning to prepare for the largest sixth grade class in recent memory. Enjoy the summer, take time for yourself and your close friends and family. Don’t forget to read, there are great reading lists on the library web site. Redwood High freshmen start the year with a required text from the RHS 9th grade reading list. Study hard for your finals this week, it is the last test(s) you will need to take this school year (phew!). Speaking of tests, the high school technology proficiency test is available to our 8th graders. More information can be found here: http://www.tamdistrict.org/instr/assessment/computers/ The HS exam schedule: comprof-reg.pdfhttp://www.tamdistrict.org/instr/assessment/computers/http://www.tamdistrict.org/instr/assessment/computers/Mister_Brain_files/comprof-reg.pdfshapeimage_1_link_0shapeimage_1_link_1shapeimage_1_link_2
Current Events Don’t forget to sign off for all your books and materials so you can get your yearbook. Advisory Healthy relationships are important to every member of the Del Mar community, and we are making sure we cover this territory as an advisory. Cyber safety and citizenship will be our main focus these next few weeks. Check the Advisory blog for news and updates. English/Social Studies For the third trimester, we are still focusing on mutual respect in our small-class setting. However, we are making sure to be more thoroughly prepared for the rigors of high-school academics by increasing the responsibility both in and outside of class for school work. Our final month will focus on language arts work. Writing towards a portfolio selection is the main thrust for May. One of the exciting new opportunities we are working with in partnership with the Leadership classes, is a Del Mar Youth Court. Rubric_web_sites.doc Reading and writing are an ongoing part of every day in our class. We are learning how to broaden our intake and output. Manifest Destiny continues to be a focus, as we use the game to learn about United States history. It is also a jumping-off point for discussions centered on science and the human condition. http://www.gmtgames.com/nnpd/main.html Check the LA/H Schedule blog for specific assignments, deadlines and activities. Interesting Links: http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/documents/desktop_publishing/list3.cfm http://www.typography-1st.com/typo/prnc-des.shtml http://www.siggraph.org/education/materials/graphics_design/mitchell_S96/chap1_3.htm STORYBOARD LINK http://accad.osu.edu/womenandtech/Storyboard%20Resource/ storyboardMaster.pdf Mister_Brain_files/Rubric_web_sites.dochttp://www.gmtgames.com/nnpd/main.htmlhttp://www.gmtgames.com/nnpd/main.htmlhttp://writing.colostate.edu/guides/documents/desktop_publishing/list3.cfmhttp://writing.colostate.edu/guides/documents/desktop_publishing/list3.cfmhttp://writing.colostate.edu/guides/documents/desktop_publishing/list3.cfmhttp://www.typography-1st.com/typo/prnc-des.shtmlhttp://www.typography-1st.com/typo/prnc-des.shtmlhttp://www.siggraph.org/education/materials/graphics_design/mitchell_S96/chap1_3.htmhttp://www.siggraph.org/education/materials/graphics_design/mitchell_S96/chap1_3.htmhttp://www.siggraph.org/education/materials/graphics_design/mitchell_S96/chap1_3.htmhttp://www.siggraph.org/education/materials/graphics_design/mitchell_S96/chap1_3.htmhttp://accad.osu.edu/womenandtech/Storyboard%20Resource/http://accad.osu.edu/womenandtech/Storyboard%20Resource/http://accad.osu.edu/womenandtech/Storyboard%20Resource/Mister_Brain_files/storyboardMaster.pdfhttp://www.foundationforreedschools.com/shapeimage_3_link_0shapeimage_3_link_1shapeimage_3_link_2shapeimage_3_link_3shapeimage_3_link_4shapeimage_3_link_5shapeimage_3_link_6shapeimage_3_link_7shapeimage_3_link_8shapeimage_3_link_9shapeimage_3_link_10shapeimage_3_link_11shapeimage_3_link_12shapeimage_3_link_13shapeimage_3_link_14shapeimage_3_link_15


What’s my name?

Yes, it really is Mr. Brain


Birthplace

I was born in Berkeley, so I’m a rare Bay Area native.


Teaching Experience

I’ve been teaching since 1989, almost all of that time as a technology teacher and curriculum integration specialist.


I also teach computer competency classes for aspiring teachers at San Francisco State University.


Education

• Bachelors Degree, English, UC Santa Barbara

• Multi-subject credential, San Francisco State University

• Masters Degree, Instructional Technology, San Francisco State

• Always learning from my students, families, colleagues and the big, wide, wonderful and wacky world.


Classroom

My office adjoins the cyber_lounge where I am most often found.


Classes

In addition to my consulting with every classroom and teacher regarding technology integration and facilitation, I teach an 8th grade advisory, two sections of Integrated Projects, one sixth grade, and one mixed seventh and eighth. I also will be teaching an innovative core Language Arts/Social Studies curriculum for eighth grade.


My Colleagues

I work closely with all teachers and staff.


The technology department at Del Mar includes Al Hart, Director of Technology, Valerie Torres, Librarian, and Janet Cerni, technology leader. We also have RUSD support personnel on campus at regularly posted hours.


At Reed School, Theresa Perrault is the facilitator, and at Bel Aire, it is Lori Mustille. Apple certified technicians provide technology support at all sites.

Click here to contact me: jbrain@marin.k12.ca.us

Click the baseball picture for Mr. Brain art, and click the computer for files to download.

*NETS ISTE website

Integrated Projects

Grade Six


We move from a self-publishing venture to our final project: Journeys.


Integrated Projects

Grades Seven/Eight


Trimester three will allow students to continue both group and individual projects. The Hero’s Reality mosaic story grows ever more complex, and the students are producing fantastic writing as a result.

http://my-ecoach.com/project.php?id=14287