Welcome to tonight’s Tech Chat. Please introduce yourself. Include your name, school and position. Also, tell us about your favorite holiday tradition. #RCSTechChat
I’m Dawn Boyd. I teach 7th grade ELA at Oakland Middle. I am also the Secretary for the Rutherford County Literacy Assoc. (RCLA). My favorite holiday tradition is spending a quite afternoon with my family Christmas Day. The big family gatherings are done by then. #rcstechchat
Elyse Kuntz, Rocky Fork Middle 7th Grade ELA! I think my favorite tradition is decorating the Christmas tree and talking about different memories of all the ornaments! #RCSTechChat
RCLA(@RCLiteracyAssoc) is the local Chapter of the TN Literacy Association. Our goal is to promote literacy, provide resources for teachers & inspire students throughout Rutherford Co. If you are interested in joining RCLA, visit our website https://t.co/lrCaUxkAMj#rcstechchat
I'm Stephanie, Instructional Technology Coach @TFAA_Rams & @BCE_Bucks. Former 4th gr. teacher. I like to dig into my stocking from Santa!! #RCSTechChat
Hello everyone! I am Clarissa Miles the tech coach at Rockvale Elementary and former 3rd grade teacher. My favorite holiday tradition is baking cookies for Santa! #rcstechchat
I’m Dulcie Heim and I teach 7th grade ELA at Oakland Middle School. I am the President of RCLA. My favorite holiday tradition is baking butter cookies with my mom and kids on Christmas Eve. #RCSTechChat
Welcome to tonight’s Tech Chat. Please introduce yourself. Include your name, school and position. Also, tell us about your favorite holiday tradition. #RCSTechChat
I’m Dulcie Heim and I teach 7th grade ELA at Oakland Middle School. I am the President of RCLA. My favorite holiday tradition is baking butter cookies with my mom and kids on Christmas Eve. #RCSTechChat
Welcome to tonight’s Tech Chat. Please introduce yourself. Include your name, school and position. Also, tell us about your favorite holiday tradition. #RCSTechChat
RCLA(@RCLiteracyAssoc) is the local Chapter of the TN Literacy Association. Our goal is to promote literacy, provide resources for teachers & inspire students throughout Rutherford Co. If you are interested in joining RCLA, visit our website https://t.co/lrCaUxkAMj#rcstechchat
Q1 Make sure you reply with A1 and include #rcstechchat in your reply.
What are the most pressing problems you face in addressing the needs of struggling readers and writers?
Hello, I'm Jennifer Burrows and I am with RCLA. I teach at Oakland Middle School 6th Grade ELA. Singing all the wonderful Christmas tunes is my favorite holiday tradition! #RCSTechChat
A1 It seems that one of the biggest problems I face is the sheer number of students that read and write way below grade level. I find it difficult to address the needs of so many different levels of students in a regular classroom. #rcstechchat
A1: I think mine would be when I have those kids blended with really high achieving kids. I have tried using blended groups, but my higher kids just want to give the kids the answer! #RCSTechChat
Q1 Make sure you reply with A1 and include #rcstechchat in your reply.
What are the most pressing problems you face in addressing the needs of struggling readers and writers?
A1- The most pressing problem I think is the lack of reading that is going on at home. I truly feel it is on decline due to increase of devices, busy parents, etc. #rcstechchat
A1: We are not building strong literacy foundations in early elementary as a state. Hence, Read to be Ready. It gives some guidelines, but I'm not sure if districts are adequately ensuring that all students are receiving consistent and comprehensive ELA instruction. #rcstechchat
Yes! I started a project called Reading Matters to try and combat that. I have people write to my students encouraging them to keep learning to read. We keep them in a scrapbook. #RCSTechChat
I completely agree, Tim! There are so many times in a year where I think, "didn't you all learn this in elementary school?" and then we are constantly being pushed to up the rigor! #RCSTechChat
A1 We have implemented teaching literacy with our TN Social Studies Standards this year (Historical Literacy). As a teacher I struggle with differentiation to make sure all students needs are being met so they are able to get the content and read/write. #RCSTechChat
Q1 Make sure you reply with A1 and include #rcstechchat in your reply.
What are the most pressing problems you face in addressing the needs of struggling readers and writers?
A1: My students need practice and consistent feedback to improve their writing. The workload can be overwhelming from a teacher grading standpoint. I have had to work to build in shorter writing tasks, but they also need the "paper" mentality to prepare for college #rcstechchat
Question 2 Please respond with A2 and include #RCSTechchat in your response.
What strategies have you found to be successful in motivating your reluctant readers or those who don't care about their performance?
A1: Finding enough time to double back and cover basic skills that weren't retained or taught the year/years before. For many students, I often feel like I'm starting at ground zero in middle school. #RCSTechChat
A2 I try to motivate my students by allowing them to have choice when possible. I also try to find texts that have a high interest level for the students. I have not figured out a way around the “boring” stories they’re required to read for tests and such. #RCSTechchat
A1: My students need practice and consistent feedback to improve their writing. The workload can be overwhelming from a teacher grading standpoint. I have had to work to build in shorter writing tasks, but they also need the "paper" mentality to prepare for college #rcstechchat
A2: DATA!!!! I constantly use goal setting to help build interest in their own performance. Having them track and trace their own scores and see their scores in comparison. It backfires sometimes, but often it works! #RCSTechChat
Question 2 Please respond with A2 and include #RCSTechchat in your response.
What strategies have you found to be successful in motivating your reluctant readers or those who don't care about their performance?
A2: DATA!!!! I constantly use goal setting to help build interest in their own performance. Having them track and trace their own scores and see their scores in comparison. It backfires sometimes, but often it works! #RCSTechChat
A2: Giving students as much voice and choice as possible. Finding three things to encourage even if all the student writes is one sentence. Sharing my love of reading and writing. #RCSTechchat
A2: I have used drama to act out different scenes, poems, historical sources, etc. I think selecting appropriate MODERN texts can help reach those readers who are disconnected. My text selections are often the most important decision I make in lesson #rcstechchat
A2 I definitely have to choose tasks that students can relate to...and I always introduce it with something very engaging to get their curiosity going. #RCSTechChat
A2: DATA!!!! I constantly use goal setting to help build interest in their own performance. Having them track and trace their own scores and see their scores in comparison. It backfires sometimes, but often it works! #RCSTechChat
A2: As for reading, I try to start my year with a high interest low rigor text to get students involved and high interest. This year my kids latched on to The Outsiders, last year my kids got hooked on our Dystopia unit! #RCSTechChat
A2 Allowing students to explore and find what they love to read....even if it is not on their Lexie level. Reading aloud to struggling readers helps too! #RCSTechChat
Question 2 Please respond with A2 and include #RCSTechchat in your response.
What strategies have you found to be successful in motivating your reluctant readers or those who don't care about their performance?
A2 We have a comp. each 9 weeks for the class that reads the most books. Students fill out a sort book report that includes recs. for other students. My 6th period loves to read! Healthy comp. & rewards always help. I also try & keep up to date with popular YA books! #RCSTechChat
Question 2 Please respond with A2 and include #RCSTechchat in your response.
What strategies have you found to be successful in motivating your reluctant readers or those who don't care about their performance?
They do, but I also have some kids that focus entirely too much on data and when they score 2 points below a goal or bomb a test they breakdown and shut off from the class. #RCSTechChat
Literacy is not only the ability to read and write, but also includes being competent in a specific area. The meaning has been expanded in recent years to include the ability to use numbers, computers, images, and the ability to communicate and gain knowledge. #RCSTechChat
Question 3 Please respond with A3 and include #RCSTechchat in your response.
What are you doing to increase literacy with your Tier 3 and ELL students?
A3 #rcstechchat
For both groups of students, we work with them in small groups when possible. Lower level texts to teach skills for Tier 3. Reading for ELL students requires a lot of small group help with figurative language and connotation.
A3. We work daily on fluency. I work hard on having students in text they can be successful with. We talk all the time about stretching our skills in bite size increments. #RCSTechChat
Question 3 Please respond with A3 and include #RCSTechchat in your response.
What are you doing to increase literacy with your Tier 3 and ELL students?
I've had too many "what's an underline?" questions this year. I'm worried about their tech lit skills! Hand them a phone and they totally got it though! #RCSTechChat
A3: I think still using the same skills that I use with my intro ELL students, but more complex. I also think just slowing down when speaking to the class and when letting them work through thoughts. They are constantly translating..give them a minute! #RCSTechChat
A3: In previous years, a solid peer buddy has been helpful to those students. Also vocabulary before hand, pre-highlighting text, and using the translate features in PowerPoint for support during class instruction. #rcstechchat
Question 4 Please respond with A4 and include #RCSTechchat in your response.
How do you use technology to differentiate in the classroom? If you don’t use technology, what’s holding you back?
A3 I feel it is always nice to build a relationship with their RTI/ELL teacher. Quickly finding out reading deficits...to better help these students in the classroom...small group work most definitely! #RCSTechChat
Question 3 Please respond with A3 and include #RCSTechchat in your response.
What are you doing to increase literacy with your Tier 3 and ELL students?
A3 I have to remind my ELL students that they need to be patient because English doesn’t always translate literally. It will come - they more they hear and read, the sooner they will understand.
A3: Providing other student samples of work. Showing all the levels of work to give students scaffolded steps to increase their understanding. Using Lexile levels to give students reading at their level. #RCSTechChat
A4 I use technology in several ways. Flipped activities are good for instruction or reteaching. Some resources have read aloud options, annotating, visuals and leveled texts and questions. #rcstechchat
Question 4 Please respond with A4 and include #RCSTechchat in your response.
How do you use technology to differentiate in the classroom? If you don’t use technology, what’s holding you back?
I had an ELL student that used Google Translate on her phone in class constantly. Having that translation actually made her feel more comfortable with her work. #rcstechchat
A4 So many resources! Immersive Reader in Microsoft apps, @commonlit, @ReadWorks, @Newsela, iReady Reading, - all very helpful to differentiate w/ technology. #RCSTechChat
A4 Thanks to my awesome tech coach @smithstrcs I have started some blended learning this year. I can choose activities for students to work on so I can work with small groups. #RCSTechChat
A4 I have been using QR codes for different answers- kind of like those old choice books where you could pick your endings-. I also like Forms. I get kind of nervous about technology. #rcstechchat
A4: I think I use technology the most for flipped classrooms. I HATE lecturing to my kids, and am much more of a self explore kind of educator. I use crowd sourcing activities for pre-reading and then lessons on nearpod! Not a true flip, but close! #RCSTechChat
A4: Instead of walking students through a PowerPoint at the front of the room, I let them work through the PowerPoint at their own speed using laptops. This gives them opportunity to look up and research anything they might need. #RCSTechChat
A4: Previously I had access to @hapara_team and it was amazing for this. I could digitally build and assign what each student and group needed. I haven't fully explored the Microsoft offerings #rcstechchat
I've thought about trying this! I always worry about those kids who go too quickly and think they got everything, but they don't, and also those kids who move at a glacier pace. #RCSTechChat
I've thought about trying this! I always worry about those kids who go too quickly and think they got everything, but they don't, and also those kids who move at a glacier pace. #RCSTechChat
Question 5 Please respond with A5 and include #RCSTechchat in your response.
What resources do you use to increase literacy in the classroom both tech based and/or non-tech resources?
A5 #rcstechchat
I use Nearpod, Playposit, CommonLit, Teams, Word, Padlet, and Flipgrid. I have Edulastic but the kids won’t start using it until next week.
A5: Increasing literacy is tough, but I go back to interest. Let them have a choice and a say with the literature they are using, but have them working on the same skill. Put them in charge of their literacy! #RCSTechChat
A4 So thankful for the laptops we have in our classrooms this year!! I assign groups different tasks based on their levels. We use technology every day... lessons, bellwork, exit tickets, computer programs! I love blended learning! Something for everyone! #RCSTechChat
Question 4 Please respond with A4 and include #RCSTechchat in your response.
How do you use technology to differentiate in the classroom? If you don’t use technology, what’s holding you back?
A5 We use a Question Creation Chart. If they can come up with some really in depth questions, I think it helps them to comprehend it better, then they can use those questions to help others too. #rcstechchat
I use all of these as well! I think Flipgrid is my newest addition and is a work in progress! I do loooove e some Edulastic though! Great resource! #RCSTechChat
A5 I use a fluency center, apps like Epic! Books & Teach Your Monster To Read, and in the last year annotating text with students has been huge. #RCSTechChat
Question 5 Please respond with A5 and include #RCSTechchat in your response.
What resources do you use to increase literacy in the classroom both tech based and/or non-tech resources?
a5 I worked with a social studies class today. They wrote about an aspect of westward expansion. Then we created a game with @BloxelsBuilder that followed that scenario.
A5: For SS literacy I have to expose students to as many sources as possible- documents, maps, etc. We do mnemonic source analysis and class discussions, group write arounds, think-pair-share, etc. If I had more daily tech we could use to annotate. #rcstechchat
A5 In math we use vocabulary maps and lots of visual models to help us through what we are reading...in additional texts to generate interest. BrainPop has some articles to explore as well that relate to math topics. #RCSTechChat
A5 #rcstechchat
I use Nearpod, Playposit, CommonLit, Teams, Word, Padlet, and Flipgrid. I have Edulastic but the kids won’t start using it until next week.
A3 #RCSTechChat many of our high school ELL love to read, but it is easier to read in their native language. That can carry over to reading more in English.
A5 Kids seem to have so little background knowledge, it's hard to know where to begin because being literate is no longer just about reading and writing.
Only one more question to go. Remember you need to complete the form before you log off.
Question 6 coming in one minute.
Please wait for the link to the form before logging off.
#rcstechchat
Question 6
Please respond with A6 and include #RCSTechchat in your response.
What resources would you like to have that aren’t currently available to you?
@Academic911 You can put together videos, and information all in one spot for studetns to watch and listen to. You can make your own sort of channel for them, I think. #rcstechchat
Question 6
Please respond with A6 and include #RCSTechchat in your response.
What resources would you like to have that aren’t currently available to you?
A6: Wow this is a tough one! I know this is strange, but with so many "clickers" and things out there I would rather get a class set of iPods that I can have all the apps downloaded on. It would allow for an "equal playing field" and a lot quicker access. #RCSTechChat#Needy
A6: Wow this is a tough one! I know this is strange, but with so many "clickers" and things out there I would rather get a class set of iPods that I can have all the apps downloaded on. It would allow for an "equal playing field" and a lot quicker access. #RCSTechChat#Needy
The county has paid for the district version so we have all the bells and whistles. Definitely give it a shot when you have time. There is an online library of pre-made videos you can use or you can make your own. #rcstechchat
A6 I don't know specifically. I just appreciate the ELA teachers and tech coaches sharing what apps and resources they come across...especially that can be applied in math. #RCSTechChat
I do, especially for little things where they don’t really need the laptops - like looking up definitions or playing Kahoot, exit tickets, etc. I actually have some kids that will type whole essays in Word on their device. #rcstechchat
A5 #RCSTechChat we have condensed readings for each set of history standards that are easier to read and have less information than textbooks. Students have been more motivated to read those than the textbook.
A6: Magic- "shoot for the stars" list. A student device for each child (take home). A Google Expedition/Youtube 360 VR set so my students could "travel". More time for S 2 S collaboration to improve writing. Modern workspace furniture. 1 trillion dollars 😊 #rcstechchat
A6 I am thankful for all that the county has provided for us and the help @Melinda__Reed gives us at OMS. It helps that I have @DBoydsClass across the hall! #RCSTechChat
Question 6
Please respond with A6 and include #RCSTechchat in your response.
What resources would you like to have that aren’t currently available to you?
A5 #RCSTechChat we have condensed readings for each set of history standards that are easier to read and have less information than textbooks. Students have been more motivated to read those than the textbook.
I want to thank everyone for joining us tonight. It’s been great. Make sure you fill out the form so you get your PD credit.
https://t.co/G5rJJs5qyC#rcstechchat
I wanted to promote next week's chat before everyone logs off tonight! We are very fortunate to have @spurlockb_rcs hosting next week's chat and we hope you can all join us again! The topic will be Growth Mindset! It's going to be a very powerful hour of chat! #rcstechchat
A6 #RCSTechChat I need to read all the answers for question 5 to get some ideas. I’m not real sure about what is out there for high school and especially ELL.
