#miched Archive
The #michED chat is a grassroots effort dedicated to giving teachers, students, and parents across Michigan a bigger voice in the conversation about education in our state. We welcome all voices through a variety of projects, media, and social networking. We’re trying to address educational issues through apolitical conversation, spreading ideas and stories of success from Michigan classrooms across the state, and helping teachers and students regain the courage to connect and demonstrate that schools in Michigan are creating amazing opportunities for learning. We want the face and voice of education in Michigan to be a mural of shared experiences and positive examples of connected learning.
Wednesday October 26, 2016
Tyler from Clinton, MI. How is everyone doing tonight?
Meg from Grand Rapids, I am an education student and joining for the first time!
Ben from St. Joseph checking in to the chat, go Cubs!
Hello! Rachelle from St. Clair. Secondary Supervison Instruction & PD for . I've been avoiding election talk
Hi! Adam from VA. Principal
Q1: How can we teach the election in all classes?
How about a warm welcome and some follows for Meg - joining our fine profession? https://t.co/W7v2w9qGsG
Meg from Grand Rapids, I am an education student and joining for the first time!
Hello . Tara from Zeeland, 8th math. In and out tonight. Questions look like great discussions & ideas will be shared.
Jeremey in W Michigan. Env sci and biology. Ss discovered these woolly aphids on our last outing https://t.co/a1CPxsCC73
Hello ! Mr. C, English Language Teacher from Ann Arbor, MI!
A1: teach by talking about human issues, not just politics. Lots of other stuff on ballots too ...
A1 Every content area has material impacted by local, state and national elections. Draw attention to issues ss care about
Shout out to a teacher Ed student joining in from Siena Heights!
A1 As a former SS teacher, I focused on creating a safe environment for kids to share their views - keeping the focus upon respect
A1) we had a lot of people use and are using
Hi! I'm Liz and I am currently student teaching in a 2nd grade classroom!
Interesting. What are the names on the right of the electoral votes?
smaller states have smaller groups or even single students. Large states (Texas, California, Florida) entire classes
A1: Carefully! Need to respect all pov and focus on helping kids figure out their own opinions
A1 Using to incorporate real time election teaching points into classrooms with leveled texts appropriate to grade level.
No, the role of votes, candidate stances, and the electoral college. They vote how they would if they could
are students able to vote individually?
Sounds like is a very popular site with folks
A1. Running mock elections
Q2: How can we move students beyond the candidates to specific issues?
hey friends! Checking in a bit late from Lansing. This topic is right up my alley!
Absolutely. For either Clinton, Trump, or third party
So it is a more, detailed mock election?
Agreed! We are hosting our own on 11/3 at 7 pm if you want to join!
A2: We are running a school-wide PBL w/ candidates who will be building reps. Used https://t.co/Cntvd52ptO to address issues.
Not to mention the important perspectives that our English Language Learners bring to our classrooms during this time.
A2: Can’t wait to here the answers here. Listening to 9 years old bash certain candidates make me sad/nervous.
Listening to 9 y/os tell others “you don’t belong here” because that’s what Trump says.
yes, but through this they learn issues, stances, the process, etc.
A2: Keep issues at the center of the disc. Design opportunities for research. Teach Claim, Evidence, Reasoning structure
It did take all of those things...I was fortunate to have great kids, parents, and admin
So kind of like Fact Checking. https://t.co/oEFHfcWWii
A2: Keep issues at the center of the disc. Design opportunities for research. Teach Claim, Evidence, Reasoning structure
A2 so many issues in environmental sci are about trade offs. Seldom is a candidate all right/wrong. Discuss implications of policy
Absolutely Spot On https://t.co/RcofrymXjd
A2: Keep issues at the center of the disc. Design opportunities for research. Teach Claim, Evidence, Reasoning structure
A2) You have to teach the foundations of the issues (history). Start with grassroots movements.
Chat about "Being and Effective Leader in Education"
Join TOMORROW @ 8pm
Preaching the language! https://t.co/aYZf4lwRN4
A2: Keep issues at the center of the disc. Design opportunities for research. Teach Claim, Evidence, Reasoning structure
A2 Through "claim and evidence" we can analyze and understand the different political platforms/issues of each party.
A2: I like to have students research and present specific issues on a spectrum of positions. Then have class vote their view.
A2. Talk about the issues. Don't mention party lines and let them focus on their own opinions and civil discourse
So important that we push kids into these grey areas! Very rarely will they agree 100% with either side.
I like the nuance that you are bringing here.
A2 We can also include teaching about Persuasive Language during elections.
A2) I also like having Ss take ideological surveys to dive deeper into their positions
Definitely, we always bring in rhetoric up.
A2: One of my goals in looking at issues was to get students to see that they don't agree 100% with either major party.
Q3: Given the tone of the current campaign, how can we promote civil discourse between students?
A3. Working on the norms of civil debates. Teaching effective ways to persuade and reach consensus
A3: Model it! Talk about tone and implicit meaning. Someone X but really means Y. Is that effective? civil? productive?
A3: model civil discourse by listening. Stop myths & no insults. acknowledge the culture wars that have amplified divisions
A3) sheesh, difficult. I didn't show the debates, just discussed them. Embarrassing. Always return to issues and experience
A3: model respectful behavior and routinely help students find the facts.
A3 This, above all, is a time to educate our students about language targeting ways to agree and disagree respectfully…
A3) civil discourse has to start with reflection, why we treat people the way we do. We have a FOR chapter that assists with that
A3: I could imagine a modeling of the language used in . Analyzing clips of a debate. Ss debating about a meaningful topic.
I know a teacher who had his students watch the debates on mute and analyze body language.
A3: For project we recommend having students create civility rubrics to judge the debates and class discussions
A3) Have students reverse their point of view and advocate for a different canidate. They can see where other people are coming from
Great idea. Silent immaturity.
Hello - arriving late, but interested in the topic!
https://t.co/hLi3M7p3fi
A3: Remind students that loudest and most often doesn't = winner. It may look good in a sound bite but rarely does over time
A3: find common ground - focus on the common values shared by left and right
This would be great to integrate character traits as well as discussing the debate topics.
A3: Let's be honest most adults struggle with this (see Facebook) but so important for our democracy.
This election has been difficult to find common ground
I actually used Facebook posts as examples to teach Yellow Press today in AMH. Known as "click bait" now
Q4: Some studies suggest that the incidents of bullying have risen because of the negativity of the election. Agree or disagree?
We have one thing above Facebook, they have to say it in person. Keep that always in their brains that they need to OWN their words
A4 Might use negativity as a nonexample. Cutting another at the knees does not make one taller. Prompt: How do we effectively argue?
A4) Agree 100%. Political prejudice has risen significantly due to propaganda exposure via social media
A4. Regardless of election, civil rights is in question and in spotlight
I think there is a rise in casual racism/degradation that they see. As with all bullying the power is in the bystander majority
Exactly. If you score the debates on actual plans in place for once POTUS, you could have a quick 10 minute session.. 😅
A4: I don't believe Ss have respect for candidates to let it influence them to bully. 0 out of 52 4th grdrs have any desire 2B prez.
This is a good point. With movements like Matter these issues have already been festering.
A1) Hold a 'mock election' in which students select candidates, create different political parties, & use media to expose project
A4 With that said, entire tone of the election from both sides has taken the level of discourse to new lows. Bullying? No. Rude? Yes
More than likely lessons learned at home.
but what they hear at home or from other adults may cause them to become defensive and take it out on others
A4: Agree that the tone of the election has influenced a negative tone among students
Interesting. Did you do an actual survey or discussion? You don't think that they are influenced by the candidates' ideas?
Yes and schools always are a reflection of its society https://t.co/Rn9tSn1kc0
This is a good point. With movements like Matter these issues have already been festering.
I am hesitant to go full bullying on that. Argue in an inappropriate way? Sure. Definite decline in civility.
A1 I would focus the election down ballot to state and local issues. The POTUS gets the headlines but local affects their lives more
A4: certainly seems possible. Their have been plenty of bad examples of behavior.
I asked for show of hands. Lots of laughs at even considering the notions. Ideas come from home not Trump or Hill.
A4 Great issue for to tackle. During ’s elections we had S candidates promoting day
I teach in predominantly Hispanic school They hate Trump Not sure there is much nuance in their view but they recognize racist tone.
Q5: How can we teach students to objectively critique issues, media coverage, & their own opinions?
A3: Encourage students to create their own opinion. Also, to stay away from social media to avoid media's influence on own choice
I am a member of the Latino community & faced this during my S Teaching. I told my Ss that we have a voice and a vote.
A5: Push thinking beyond emotional response byt asking: Where's your line of reasoning? What's your evidence?
A5. Establish a set of norms that all must respect and adhere to in order to respect all opinions
A5: I like to encourage them to check multiple sources for info. and fact checker sites.
A5) deviate from MC/TF and work with critical thinking and context skills. Learners, not test takers.
Right. I think many influences besides the candidates drive that.
A5) Encourage students to use a variety of resources before making a decision and use evidence to support their opinion.
A5 In a political world ripe with claims, we must base our claims in evidence. Facts.
I remember allowing Ss to rest in the morning. As they had been watching the until late w/ family.
Agreed, I hate it when I hear students stating opinions as a fact with no substance behind them.
A4: I agree. Personally, I have experienced some negative comments connected to ethnicity that have arisen from this election
Q6: How can we use the popularity of the national election to also address state and local election issues?
A6 I would say they are interconnected. What happens at one level will affect the others. Thus, our national election sets the tone.
A5: Encourage students to formulate their own ideas and beliefs. Then use that as a basis to engage with media, & critical issues
A6) depending on demographic, look into how our politicians have voted on issues that the candidates are passionate about
A6: Why do state & local politicians attach or distance themselves to top of ticket? Where are they similar? Different?
A6: Local issues give a chance for students to have a voice and choice in their communities.
. So you continue to support doing NOTHING, because it doesn't upset the adults. It also doesn't help kids.
A6) We require that our government Ss attend school board meetings to help understand the issues in our district.
