#RuralEdChat is a chat that focuses on the needs of the rural educator. This chat has been revised by Tammy Neil (@MathNeil), John Martin (@edventures) and Natalee Stotz (@nataleestotz).
I teach computer science at Suwannee Middle School in Suwannee County Florida. I'm super excited about this year. It's my first year in this school. It will be year number 28 in education. #RuralEdChat
Hey #RuralEdChat! Great to be back! I'm Matt, based in Seattle but distance-teach Computer Science for a rural school in WA. Only changes are increasing excitement and stress about the school year and all the planning left to do!
Hi #RuralEdChat Robin here from Wisconsin. Rounding the bend on (almost) the end of summer session of grad school for mental health counseling. Former teacher & school librarian. Currently work at a state reserve running a summer camp session and helping with education programs.
For those of you that are new to #RuralEdChat this year, we have been here almost every week since May, 2014. We try to cover topics that mean something to those of us in rural schools/areas.
Hi. It's Sharon from 2nd grade in Lake County. We're on fire again. Big Q about whether we will start school on time do to HS & MS full of evacuees. Lots of staff changes. I'm doing a big 5-year cleanout/reorg of my room. #RuralEdChat
For those of you that are new to #RuralEdChat this year, we have been here almost every week since May, 2014. We try to cover topics that mean something to those of us in rural schools/areas.
Thanks, Peg. When I looked back over our past topics, I am amazed at what the #RuralEdChat team has accomplished. It wouldn't work without the team. (We've never all met in person, btw).
Hey there #RuralEdChat ! Natalee from Maine. I teach HS English, Social Studies, Latin, and Religion. This summer I've been working full time for a paddling company and taking 6 grad credits.
Ugh. I hate typos with no edit function. Due to, not do to. Yes, I teach and write and type and tech. Laaa! Speaking of tech, @alicekeeler has been posting a lot about big changes in #GoogleClassroom. #RuralEdChat
A1: I can't wait to have my students sink their teeth into the lessons I've been preparing all year, and to get to adjust them according to what they want to learn more about! #ruraledchat
A1 I get to primarily be in one building this year! I’ll teach all 3rd-5th Graders in our Intermediate Building, and just 3 sections of 1st grade at Primary Building.I’m also going to be “in charge” of all the library books for the Intermediate Building. So excited! #RuralEdChat
I'm starting a new Web Design program at the new school. I can't wait to see what the kids already know and how we can make them globally aware. #RuralEdChat
A1 We have a lot of new teachers/student teachers who don't know what I can do yet. I'm eager to work with them & show them how I can help/support the valuable work they do #RuralEdChat
Our second question will be here before the secretary can make all those amazing intercom announcements that were also in the last 3 emails. #RuralEdChat
Florida has "encouraged" all secondary schools to offer computer science. This is a first step for this school. The kids will be the really excited ones when their websites go live. #RuralEdChat
Yeah, unfortunately we R in a sitch where Lake County has bad fires every summer now. Valley Fire, Jerusalem Grade Fire, Rocky Fire, Potter Fire, Ranch Fire, River Fire...I could go on. We're actually talking about permanently moving school start back to Sept 4 this. #RuralEdChat
A2: we'll be sharing a classroom, and my in-the-room partner teacher, since small enrollment means the class couldn't happen otherwise. Lots of careful coordination. And headphones. #ruraledchat
A1: My answer is always legit the same for this Q every year. Science investigations. They light my fire & they are guaranteed engagement for the kiddos. I do old favs & new discoveries every year. #RuralEdChat
A2: One of the challenges I see is that Ss may not have found their passions yet. We will be doing a lot of personal explorations as we discover topics for their websites. I will have to build in some research time as some of my Ss don't have access at home. #RuralEdChat
I taught summer school & did 2 particularly extra-cool science investigations with the kiddos. 1) We researched edible bugs & then ate some. The owner of the edible bug company even corresponded with us. #ruraledchat
A2 The challenge for me, as it was last year is trying to be as purposeful as I can with my students' learning when I only see them for 22ish minutes once every 3 days. #RuralEdChat
We are going to learn HTML5 and CSS. I know there are lots of Drag & Drop options but I want them to understand the coding. As far as hosting, I'm still working on that part. #RuralEdchat
We're doing similar this year. We're encompassing more than websites, but starting with the premise of "what are problems or challenges you see in school, at home, or in the community?". Later we'll see if tech can help, but start with passion problems. #ruraledchat
A2: Getting everyone comfortable, but also getting everyone to report issues. We plan to be more present and roam the halls. Working pretty good so far. #RuralEdChat
One of the cool things about all this is that the idea for the UV bead investigation came from one of the Twitter edchats. I got the idea from another teacher online. Then I got specifics from Steve Spangler who is online & Tweeting. I love this community! #ruraledchat
Let me know what you find! Lots of what I have isn't the most student friendly, I have trouble making sense of it sometimes, and it's my day job! #ruraledchat
A1: The 1st is obvious. We have evacuees on site right now & fires blazing so we have 2 get past that. The 2nd is equally obvious in my own personal case...TIME MANAGEMENT! That's 1 of the main reasons I'm using this summer to do a big reorg. #ruraledchat
A3 I would like to fine tune the stations I began last year with my students. Want to figure out ways to give them real, authentic opportunities of student choice, while still helping them learn coding the engineer design process and other things like that. #RuralEdChat
A3: I want my Ss to realize they have a voice and that the rest of the world does care about what they think. I also want them to understand intellectual property rights (copyright, plagiarism, etc.).
#RuralEdChat
A3 Working with teachers specifically tiering, scaffolding & differentiating lessons for all abilities. What does that look like & how can it support students? #RuralEdChat
A3: to break down more of the barriers between techonogly and my students. To end the year at them feeling like they could take a crack at any programming challenge, even if they don't know #edtechchat
Wait are you me this year? Or am I you? This year is introducing an "advanced projects/project management" coding course, where they self direct on project but do it in a professional process. #ruraledchat
Um, since I am working with 3rd-5th graders, not exactly. :) But, I would like to think that some of the things we are doing would help my Ss do what you are doing when they are older! #RuralEdChat
Wow. That's extremely limiting & challenging. You must be like Steven Spielberg w/ his malfunctioning shark - just making it work & being inspired to greatness by the necessity of invention. #jaws#necessitymotherinvention#ruraledchat
Hey, especially with coding, it's never too early to teach the iterative process. Especially since it builds in the message of "it's ok if its not perfect! Try again!" #ruraledchat
I love how Tami is all "we're going to do HTML5 and CSS," and I'm all, "we're going to play with owl vomit." Although I will note that we do use some HTML coding in my newspaper class. So there's that. #ruraledchat
This tweet shows the wide variety of experiences that Rural Students can expect. There are no two schools exactly alike, just like no two students are exactly alike.
#RuralEdChat
I agree 100%! I've been teaching this type of class for 4 years now, never had done any kind of programming before this. The problem solving and the fact that there is more than one way to solve things is what I love the most about it. #RuralEdChat
A4: I hope to be able to attend a new conference or two (even if its just via online platforms). I'm also pushing myself to learn more about Java Script so perhaps next year I can have an advanced Web Design class. #RuralEdchat
A4 I've been thinking a lot about this question. I think my focus this year is going to be on equity. I haven't started yet, but the #ClearTheAir chat has 3 books they will be discussing. I am also excited to be attending @Tolerance_org workshop that @ValeriaBrownEdu#RuralEdChat
I love how Tami is all "we're going to do HTML5 and CSS," and I'm all, "we're going to play with owl vomit." Although I will note that we do use some HTML coding in my newspaper class. So there's that. #ruraledchat
One of these days I will get to meet @ValeriaBrownEdu Even though we are both in Florida, we haven't had the opportunity to meet offline, yet. She is doing amazing work.
#RuralEdChat
In reply to
@korytellers, @Tolerance_org, @ValeriaBrownEdu, @ValeriaBrownEdu
A3: I took @mmcdowell13's Rigorous PBL by Design seminar last school yr, so I'm really into the goal of helping students achieve more than 9 mos growth in 9 mos time & also in designing & implementing rigorous, effective, & engaging PBL-based lessons this year. #ruraledchat
All of my past experience with teaching younger students to code has led me to believe that 4th grade is the ideal age to get started. I love my high schoolers but do miss it. #ruraledchat
We have a drawer full of owl pellets and I'm pretty sure some owls of all kinds preserved in our freezer at the reserve. I could video chat in with some frozen specimens. #ruraledchat
#RuralEdChat A2 -Tine is always a challenge. Need to maximize time on task with the kids and less on other stuff. Planning my day in 30-minute segments is a game-changer.
I really like that simple, but meaningful goal of taking curriculum standards & performance expectations & tracking & using the data on student growth to achieve more than 9 mos growth in 9 mos time w/ a mind to progress & proficiency. #ruraledchat
I have some 3rd graders that have loved it too! Check out my class Twitter account @InnovativeBears You can see some videos of what they worked on. #RuralEdChat
I think that's a universal trait of many students. #RuralEdChat
PS. I once shared about the pig roast just to make the sub squirm. She did. I won, even though I didn't get to finish the story about sausage casings.
Inspired reading the plans ahead for you amazing #ruraled folks. Thanks so much for being here. Heading out early to hit the books. See you again soon! Thank you, @TG_Neil#ruraledchat
As we close out this weeks #RuralEdChat we hope you will join us again next week. Our topic will be supporting our new rural educators as well as our new-to-rural educators.
