Good Morning! Happy Easter! Sylvia, Academic Coach / ENG Tchr at Title 1 HS ... I'm singing this morning, but still wanted to be joyous in my discussion with friends! #HackLearning
Hello #HackLearning. Sorry I am not able to join the chat today. I'm enjoying some time with my family for spring break. Sorry to miss @markbarnes19 chat on JOY.
A1: It’s hard to make learning fun when #teachers are limited on resources - science teachers need more funding for classroom experiments and demonstrations! #HackLearning#EDT520#edtech207
Sad that educators have to "Hack" Joy. This should be easy for educators that WANT to be educators. Use your passions, take time to get to know students, use students' passions, and use student inquiry. (Just my 2 cents this AM.) #HackLearning
A1 My def'n of fun is very different from my students -- I want them to hone their skills & master standards - creativity, thus, comes in purposefully planning lessons that have value. #HackLearning
A1: Teachers sometimes mix up priorities, putting curriculum, classroom management, and other things ahead of joyful learning. This poor prioritizing is a huge hurdle.
#HackLearning
A1: Reluctant learners (teachers and students).
Students who are used to the game of school— worksheets, lectures, etc.
Sometimes administration and standardized testing.
The “desire” for grades.
The list goes on #HackLearning
A1: Pessimism, discouragement, and laziness are my top three that I’ve seen. Ss get so discouraged when they can’t do something the first time around. #HackLearning
A1: It’s hard to make learning fun when #teachers are limited on resources - science teachers need more funding for classroom experiments and demonstrations! #HackLearning#EDT520#edtech207
A1 The only hurdle is it takes more time to make learning fun but so worth it. Students are focussed, engaged, and try their best when learning via games #HackLearning
Morning #HackLearning
Debbi - HS tech from NJ.
What not everyone thinks spreadsheets are fun?
It's attitude. Pretend it's fun even if maybe it's not so. Having an up beat attitude goes a long way:)
A1 Teacher Hurdles: Trying to cram in curriculum, classroom management, not sure of how to increase engagement, not collaborating with other teachers. #HackLearning
A1: As a HS teacher I have to prepare students for the real world. Not all the work you do as an adult is fun. It is an art to recognize that some skills are bridges to fun and engaging activities. Students have to be able to execute those assignments with precision #hacklearning
Yes I've seen this a lot lately. When i teach #gaming I explain that problems are part of the process and to expect them. Then solving the problem become such an awesome achievement:)
#HackLearning
A1: Pessimism, discouragement, and laziness are my top three that I’ve seen. Ss get so discouraged when they can’t do something the first time around. #HackLearning
A1 Teacher Hurdles: Trying to cram in curriculum, classroom management, not sure of how to increase engagement, not collaborating with other teachers. #HackLearning
A1 There are always obstacles of time , finance, resource, etc... Show up to be with the kids, learn with the kids, love on the kids and the fun will happen. Don't take yourself to seriously. #HackLearning
A2 I once asked my nephew who the fav uncle was ... he replied, "the one who talks to us." Instead of judging my sts who are not working, I ask questions and provide additional support. #HackLearning
A2: Unhappy students are unmotivated students. Giving them choice and the option to pursue their interests in relation to the content opens them up to learning. #HackLearning#EDT520#edtech207
1 hurdle Ts face ... is when they feel they HAVE to make everything "fun". Sometimes work is HARD and dirty. And sometimes that's when the biggest payoff is. I believe BALANCE is the key to learning successfully. #HackLearning
A2: I think teachers who truly know their students can tell when they are a bit “off” and this help them accordingly. Teachers must pay attention to their students every day. #HackLearning
A1~ sometimes we as teachers get in our way and create stumbling blocks when trying to do the job alone... we need more collaboration, humble ourselves & remember why we chose this noble profession 😊 #hacklearning
As in most things in our field, It's all about relationships. If you have them with your kids you'll know when someone needs a little extra...
#HackLearning
A2: Anxious and depressed kids rarely present this way. They may smile, when they're actually frightened or sad. The best way to remove these "masks" is to ask more than "how are you?" and to look for other signs, like being aloof and disinterested in school work.
#HackLearning
A1. We think about and approach student engagement in various ways, but I think fun/engagement largely reduces to the language we use to gather and prepare Ss for the activities of their day. What we say to Ss requires forethought and planning, even scripting. #HackLearning
A2 Pay attention, listen, visit with every kid every day. Know them beyond their school performance. You will pick up in the signs if you are tuned into the person. #HackLearning
A2: Unhappy students do not see how the content they are learning is personal to their lives. Learn about what motivates disengaged students through individual discussions and find a bridge between the content and their lives. #hacklearning
First of all understanding that nothing truly great gets done in the short term, and secondly celebrating all victories even the small ones. #HackLearning
Instead of “fun” we could use these terms interchangeably: meaningful, important, engaging, empowering, valuable, useful, for example. I too struggle w/finding more appropriate sub 4 word “fun” because it has so many negative connotations. It shouldn’t though. #hacklearning
A2 If you have a relationship with your students you notice when they are sad, mad etc., take the time to talk to them and encourage. Relationships, relationships #HackLearning
A1: Time is often given as the biggest obstacle. It sounds cliche but need to plan smarter and more purposeful lessons. Don’t try to fit in everything every day. Be realistic when planning #HackLearning
A2 build relationships from the start, Check in with kids, pay attention to their body language share find those personal connections and build on them #hacklearning
I ask my students that all the time and get THE SAME answer! They want to be treated like people not statistics. It's all about relationships!
#HackLearning
A2 I once asked my nephew who the fav uncle was ... he replied, "the one who talks to us." Instead of judging my sts who are not working, I ask questions and provide additional support. #HackLearning
Hmm., I'll play Devil's Advocate. If it's not fun, I'm not doing it.
I love me work, so I never really work. Why can't learning be this way for kids?
#HackLearning
A2~ #hacklearning ...We as educators must first establish relationships w/our Ss and find out what makes them " tick", likes/dislikes and when teaching& learning unfolds, you know what strategies work to engage them &foster their investment in themselves & the class as a whole
It starts with ensuring your units tell a story that relates to your students community and culture. Then provide choice throughout to ensure the content becomes truly personal #HackLearning
It’s necessary to pause sometimes to see this and take time to build a relationship. Don’t identify a Ss with a grade but learn about who they are to engage them. #HackLearning
A2: Anxious and depressed kids rarely present this way. They may smile, when they're actually frightened or sad. The best way to remove these "masks" is to ask more than "how are you?" and to look for other signs, like being aloof and disinterested in school work.
#HackLearning
I don’t even want to admit how many times I’ve gotten frustrated w/Ss who don’t seem to get it ‘cause I think they “should”. Lost my teaching way at those moments. #HackLearning
Student sends you a file created using "Mac Pages" but you have Windows.
Save it and change the file extension from .pages to .zip. You can then view the file. #hacklearning
A2 Look for quiet, defiant, disengaged learners. Help them find joy by incorporating their passion and interests, getting to know them and building relationships. Show that you value them. #HackLearning
A2: The Ss who don’t participate or hang out with the friends. In this situation we have to be their friend, give them a reason to be excited to come to your class. #HackLearning
A2) kids not getting emotional needs met need time with someone who is mirroring their feelings. Don’t jump to fixing these kids, they don’t want to be fixed, they want to be heard and felt. Just listen #hacklearning
A2 it’s all about being present and aware. It’s not hard to see when a kid is “off” if you’re observant and have built a relationship with your Ss from day #1. The relationship comes first, of course. #HackLearning
I think there is a fine line between engaging and fun. Fun isn’t always engaging, but often times engaging is fun for students. At least in my experience. Engaging lessons and projects are the memorable ones. #HackLearning
A3 Greet sts as they enter your room ... try playing positive music .. I added a board to my room that includes a positive saying. Develop a class mantra. #HackLearning
I'll keep all of these in mind Elisa. When I say a certain activity will be "fun" my HS Ss look at me like I just grew an extra appendage. Word choice counts! #hacklearning
My opening day activity is having students create Bitmoji presentations. They must find 10 different Bitmoji's that show me who they are:)
#hacklearning
So, we're big on pushback in all #HackLearning books. How do you respond to the teacher of school leader who says, "You can't hug; it's a risky behavior in today's sensitive society"
My opening day activity is having students create Bitmoji presentations. They must find 10 different Bitmoji's that show me who they are:)
#hacklearning
A3: Greet them at the door at the beginning and give high fives to all Ss. And more philosophically for the second answer, be the teacher you needed when you were younger. It’s the small things that count. #HackLearning
And I think it depends on how old the kids are, too. IMHO, it’s easier to see if a kid is sad when they’re younger. As kids get older they learn to hide or pretend. Usually learn this from adults, unfortunately. #HackLearning
A3 Music... Build a class play list. Give each kid a choice. Let the music play during class. Change the role of class from a teaching platform to a learning lab. #HackLearning
A3: Give students choice; make lessons inquiry-based so students can explore topics they’re interested in; let students work with peers so they collaborate and find mutual passions #HackLearning
I frequently eat lunch with my students and listen. We learn a lot about each other through Morning Meeting. If I am invited to their sports game, play, or recital...I go! When planning, I remember who enjoys drawing, singing, gaming, and playing sports. Q3 : #HackLearning
A3: I’m going start 4th quarter with a student survey. I need to know what my students want to learn before they transition to Summer and next school year. Their voice is the most important in the building #HackLearning
A3 Remember the moments you feel joy and try to create those moments for Ss. Pique curiosity to keep them coming back for more. Curiosity makes them seek answers which engages them and helps them find ‘joy’. #HackLearning
This hack isn't loud but asking Ss to keep a journal and writing sincere notes to them there makes students feel seen and valued and brings joy to the class #HackLearning
Yes. Ask them genuine questions or make conversation about the things that are happening outside of school. It makes a difference ‘cause we know how it feels when a colleague does the same for us. ‘Oh! You remembered!’ #HackLearning
A3 share your passions and have genuine conversations with Ss. Don’t ever pass up a chance to say hello or ask a S about heir day. Remember relationships first, relationships always, relationships last #hacklearning
A1) My biggest struggle in making all my lessons fun is time. When you are teaching so many subjects daily it’s like spinning plates. I never feel like I give them all the time they diserve or make the lessons as big and vibrant as I want to because I lack time. #hacklearning
Disagree. I teach 9-12 grade and I know when something is not quit right with everyone of my kids. And I have 112 Ss. Relationships. Relationships. Relationship:)
#HackLearning
And I think it depends on how old the kids are, too. IMHO, it’s easier to see if a kid is sad when they’re younger. As kids get older they learn to hide or pretend. Usually learn this from adults, unfortunately. #HackLearning
A3 As admin, I ask Ts to let me know what Ss have done well & then make sure to congratulate Ss on the good work. Always puts a smile on their face. #hacklearning
My opening day activity is having students create Bitmoji presentations. They must find 10 different Bitmoji's that show me who they are:)
#hacklearning
I agree. I bring this up, though, because I've seen it. Knew a principal who pulled a teacher aside for hugging a pre-schooler. Said "It's inappropriate." Can you believe this?
#HackLearning
A1.2) With that being said I think it’s all about how you hype up a lesson and your energy. Teachers are getting burnt out and their energy can hold them back from making the lesson fun. Creative is also getting stifled from admins #hacklearning
A3: Learning menus - would take a lot of planning for a new teacher, so not an immediate fix, but too interesting to ignore... https://t.co/LDF9oRLCZh My actual hack for bringing immediate joy...COFFEE, of course. Always helps me put on a smile. #HackLearning#EDT520#edtech207
My opening day activity is having students create Bitmoji presentations. They must find 10 different Bitmoji's that show me who they are:)
#hacklearning
Absolutely, it took me a while to realize that it is ok to let a student go on a tangent in class that deviates from the content if it energizes the student and his/her peers #HackLearning
I agree! Often hard for Ts to uncover that in upper levels and Ss can get a label such as disruptive, disrespectful, uncooperative which can be a false representation of the Ss. #HackLearning
A2) I feel like unhappy students can be quick to spot once you know your class. It’s about building that relationship and being able to talk to them or allow them to share during morning meeting to get that off their chest so they can make a new #hacklearning
Thanks @markbarnes19 and the @hackmylearning crew for always designing incredible chats ... I can't wait to review all the wonderful hacks for this week. Have a wonderful week friends! #HackLearning
Join #HackLearning chat April 8 at 8:30-9:00am EDT when Angela Stockman @AngelaStockman will be guest moderator leading chat on the "hacky" topic of Writing Workshop.
A3: 1.) Try to see your classroom through your students’ eyes. Is this a lesson you’d want to experience at their age? If not, fix it! 2.) Give yourself grace. It’s okay if things don’t go as planned every now & then. Use it as a learning opportunity and move on. #HackLearning
High fives, pats on back, side hugs...dance moves w/praise songs, chants like ours~
Praise,support,encouragement clap,clap,clap , clap, clap (chanted 3x)...shine,shine,Shinetastic (use hands to close palm, open palm for sun shining😊)
As a teacher educator working with adults, I have found the little things matter. Surprise chocolate bowls on the table, a fun activity, music and taking care to show them they matter. #HackLearning
